Barbara Shelley Movies

Having recently left The Avengers, Ian Hendry (aka Dr. Keel) is conspicuous by his absence in this episode. Going it alone this time around, Steed is assigned to a spacecraft center where radiation shields are being manufactured. One of the scientists has somehow been exposed to radiation, and it is up to Steed to determine whether this was by accident or design. Videotaped several months before its telecast, "Dragonsfield" was written by Terrence Feeley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Scorpio crew attempts to get its hands on the hyper-accelerated Photonic Drive, which will provide their ship with unimaginable speed and destructive capabilities. Unfortunately, the Drive is currently controlled by the Space Rats, a band of deranged "speed junkies." There is nothing for the crew to do but attempt the abduction of the Drive's inventor, Dr. Plaxton (Barbara Shelley) -- but can she be trusted? "Stardrive" was originally broadcast on October 19, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A palatable combination of horror and science fiction, Blood of the Vampire takes place in 19th century Transylvania-and never mind that all the locals have cockney accents. British stage star Donald Wolfit, who never spoke when shouting would do, plays the vampiric Dr. Callistratus. Though we see Callistratus being dispatched in traditional stake-through-the-heart fashion during the opening credits, it isn't long before he returns to life, this time in the guise of a prison warden. Using his criminally insane charges as his guinea pigs, Callistratus drains their bodies of blood in order to stay alive. In the film's incredibly busy climax, Callistratus is prevented from carving up the toothsome Madeleine (Barbara Shelley) by his hunchbacked assistant Carl (Victor Maddern). We didn't see the kitchen sink, but we'll bet that that's in here somewhere too. Often mistaken for a Hammer film production (mainly because it was written by perennial Hammer scrivener Jimmy Sangster), Blood of the Vampire was actually produced by the short-lived Artistes Alliance Ltd. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This not-so-subtle variation on Val Lewton's classic Cat People (1942) is enlivened by the presence of exotic Barbara Shelley -- who would later grace many Hammer Studios productions (most notably Terence Fisher's Dracula -- Prince of Darkness) with her feline beauty. Shelley plays Leonora, a woman who believes she has inherited a curse which will transform her spirit into the body of a ferocious, man-eating leopard. Though her disbelieving psychiatrist (Robert Ayres) tries to persuade her that this belief is merely a by-product of her rage toward her unfaithful husband, the vengeful "phantom" cat she releases from her subconscious triggers the curse and spells doom not only for those who betrayed her, but perhaps for Leonora's own soul as well. Despite a superb performance by the smoldering Shelley and noir-ish direction from Alfred Shaughnessy (though nothing to compete with that of Jacques Tourneur), it's hard to overlook the obvious parallels to Lewton's film, which outclasses it in nearly every respect and makes the entire effort seem unnecessary. Produced by British Lion, this film was later distributed in the United States by the ubiquitous American International Pictures, sometimes under the title Cat Woman. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

In this British crime drama, the sister of a suicide victim begins to question the real reason for her sibling's death after she learns that 7,000 pounds were removed from her bank account just prior to her death. She asks her sister's banker, but he claims to know nothing. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Planet of Fire," the Doctor's (Peter Davison) efforts to return Turlough (Mark Strickson) to his home planet Trion are stymied when the TARDIS is redirected to the volcanic planet Sarn. The Doctor's abduction has been engineered by his old enemy, the Master (Anthony Ainley), with the considerable assistance of the shape-shifting robot Kamelion. Written by Peter Grimwade, "Planet of Fire, Episode 2" first aired on February 24, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Planet of Fire," Turlough (Mark Strickson) is reconciled with his past on the planet Trion, while the evil Master (Anthony Ainley) is again caught in one of his own traps. Now the Doctor (Peter Davison) must figure out a way to neutralize the pesky shape-shifting robot Kamelion -- with Kamelion's full permission. Nicola Bryant becomes a series regular as the Doctor's new American companion, Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown. Written by Peter Grimwade, "Planet of Fire, Episode 4" first aired on March 2, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

McFadden (Murray Melvin) invites two old college acquaintences to a large Victorian mansion in the country, ostensibly for a weekend of game hunting. Duller (Vivian Mackerell) is sullen and rude, though an excellent shot. Talbot (Larry Dan) is easygoing but puzzled as to why he was asked along, especially when his companions continually ridicule and abuse him. Things get even more curious when Talbot begins having strange hallucinations; he finds himself transported back into time, bearing witness to the trials and tribulations of a young woman (Marianne Faithfull) who once resided in the house. Finally, McFadden admits that he invited Talbot and Duller to the mansion because there are rumors that it is haunted, and he chose them both as likely subjects to draw any spirits out into the open. As the visions become more frequent and detailed, Talbot is thrust into a strange supernatural realm of incest, arson and madness that may be impossible to escape from. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide

Man in the Dark is a quickie British suspenser geared for double-feature bills. William Sylvester stars as a blind composer of hit songs. Sylvester's wife Barbara Shelley hates him beyond measure. She contrives with her lover, artist Rickie Seldon, to kill Sylvester, but the composer has the last ha-ha. The so-called popular songs heard on the soundtrack of Man in the Dark, including the title number, suggest that William Sylvester is not only blind but tone-deaf. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"Site Three" is a top-secret missile base in this British meller. Geoffrey Toone stars as Sexton Blake, the Sherlock Holmes clone created by committee for the "pulps" and comic books. With his faithful young assistant Tinker (Richard Burrell), the all-knowing, all-seeing Blake try to ferret out an espionage ring operating within Britain's space program. A key ingredient to the proceedings is the truth serum developed and utilized by Blake. Murder at Site Three was based on Crime is My Business, a novel by W. Howard Baker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Nigel Kneale's Quatermass TV series spawned a brief film series produced over an eleven-year period; 1967's Quatermass and the Pit, released in the US as Five Million Years to Earth, was the third and (until 1979's Quatermass Conclusion) last. As in previous chapters in the Kneale saga, the film begins with a baffling scientific discovery. This time it's a bunch of prehistoric skulls, discovered during a subway excavation in the heart of London. Sequestered in a lab, the skulls start to emanate a bizarre force over the populace, resulting in death and destruction. Professor Quatermass (Andrew Keir) concludes that the skulls are the residue of an extraterrestrial invading army -- a theory which (as usual) is scoffed at by the authorities until it's almost too late. Blessed with superb special effects and an expertly sustained tension level, Quatermass and the Pit is easily the best of the short-lived "Quatermass" series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A movie star is typecast as a ruthless gangster. His troubles begin when he gets reality confused with his job and becomes deluded into believing that he really is a mobster. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Taped in Britain, The Dark Angel is an extra-long entry of PBS' Mystery series. Peter O'Toole heads a cast of dissipated, decadent 19th century aristocratic types. The script is based on a novel by Sheridan LeFanu, whose fascination with vampirism and "the undead" precipitated Bram Stoker by nearly thirty years. As in most gothic novels, the characters are motivated by greed, lust and the desire to hide Deep Dark Family Secrets from the outside world. The Dark Angel was originally presented in several weekly installments, here boiled down to 150 minutes for videocassette convenience. The film bears absolutely no relation to the 1935 Hollywood period drama of the same name. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide