Jack Smethurst Movies
Sometimes a family title, among the nobility of England, goes to the "collateral" heirs -- people not in the direct line of decent, like cousins, great-nephews and the like. On rare occasions, these people are not even aware that they are about to be elevated to the House of Lords, and they have been living more-or-less ordinary lives. In this comedy, the family which lacks direct heirs is the Royal Family of England -- as all of the likely heirs have died one after the other in swift succession. In this comedy, the "collateral heir" is an exuberant, fence-busting All-American slob (and pretty good rock n' roll musician) by the name of Ralph (John Goodman). Unknown to him, his grandmother had an affair with a royal prince. Ralph's a good guy, and eager to please. He recognizes the importance of the royal hoopla to England and works very hard to fit in as its new designated king. He is assisted by the ever-unctuous, very serious family factotum Willingham (Peter O'Toole). The trouble is, he doesn't have instincts for politics English-style, and he is constantly "putting a foot wrong," as they might say. The most difficult situation for him is when he develops a new love interest, and she's not "acceptable" to the upper crust. In addition to being hounded by the tabloids, he finds that "the good of the state" requires that he drop his new girlfriend. Things really come to a head just before Ralph's coronation as king. Reviewers generally loathed this feel-good comedy, but audiences seem to have enjoyed it tremendously, and it has done well in video and TV airings. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Goodman, Peter O'Toole, (more)
Based on a true story, Chariots of Fire is the internationally acclaimed Oscar-winning drama of two very different men who compete as runners in the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), a serious Christian Scotsman, believes that he has to succeed as a testament to his undying religious faith. Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross), is a Jewish Englishman who wants desperately to be accepted and prove to the world that Jews are not inferior. The film crosscuts between each man's life as he trains for the competition, fueled by these very different desires. As compelling as the racing scenes are, it's really the depth of the two main characters that touches the viewer, as they forcefully drive home the theme that victory attained through devotion, commitment, integrity, and sacrifice is the most admirable feat that one can achieve. (Ian Holm was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor in his role as Abrahams' coach), and this powerful film ended up with four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Original Score. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, (more)
- 1975
In this comedy a prejudiced couple innocently wins a racial tension easing contest. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1972
This theatrically-released feature represents a spinoff of the popular British television series of the same name, which screened on ITV to enthusiastic audience response from 1970 to 1971. The narrative concerns Walter Bingley (Wilfred Pickles) and Ada Bingley (Irene Handl), a middle-aged couple preparing to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, sans the knowledge that their loved ones are currently preparing a surprise party for them. The day starts to go awry when Arthur (Arthur English), one of Walter's colleagues, nearly ruins the surprise; the couple then lapse into a never ending series of catastrophes, including a quarrel over a blonde wig, Walter's discovery that he's lost the money for Ada's present, an accident that finds Walter being struck down by an automobile, and much more. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Handl, Wilfred Pickles, (more)
- 1971
In this comedy, a London school teacher has full hands trying to cope with rowdy slum kids when they go for their annual camping excursion. The film is based on a popular British television series. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1969
A serial killer is keeping Chief Inspector Rowan (Gilbert Wynne) busy late at night, much to the frustration of his young wife, Jenny (Linda Marlowe). After being picked at random in a police lineup, self-styled lothario Pete Laver (Donald Sumpter) is arrogant and disdainful to Rowan, and he even makes crude remarks about Jenny when she stops by her husband's office. Pete is released for lack of evidence, and that evening, Jenny is slashed to death by the killer while showering. Choked with rage, Rowan shadows Pete relentlessly, hounding him night and day until he can catch him in a mistake. The maniac strikes again, murdering a prostitute, and Pete is stuck without an alibi, so it appears that the crime has been solved. Judge Lomax (Jack May), long known to be tough on crime and social decay, presides over the case, but in the preceding weeks, his wife and colleagues have noticed a change in his behavior. His temper is short, his demeanor is cold, and he sometimes appears disoriented. Soon it becomes apparent that the judge has been the culprit all along, donning a black leather suit and an ill-fitting wig to commit his crimes. Stoked on pornography and willing to resort to transvestism to elude capture, the judge falls completely under the spell of his dementia and is confronted by the police on the waterfront, pleading for help and waving a pistol. Also available under the titles He Kills Night After Night After Night, Night After Night, and Night Slasher. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
- 1966
The usally elegant and classy Francesca Annis is the fickle heroine of the British Run With the Wind. The girlfriend of boxer Sean Caffrey, Annis summarily dumps her beau in favor of the usual charming guy with guitar (Shawn Phillips). By the time Annis learns she's made a mistake, Caffrey has vowed never to take her back...and he doesn't. This slight piece was evidently designed as a vehicle for balladeer Shawn Phillips. Surprisingly, the character he plays is none too appealing-but then, neither is the film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In this drama, a former RAF pilot is hired to fly a suspicious package from France to England. Trouble ensues when the pilot decides to keep it for himself without realizing that his employer anticipated his treachery and planted a bomb on the plane. Fortunately, the boss's secretary intervenes and saves the pilot. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gregoire Aslan, Tracy Reed, (more)
- 1962
This well-wrought romance takes place in Lancashire, England in an industrial area where Vic (Alan Bates) and Ingrid (June Ritchie) work in the same factory. He is a draftsman who wants only a physical relationship with the woman of his choice (Ingrid), and she is a typist who wants true love with the man she is interested in (Vic). In carefully handled scenes throughout, Vic and Ingrid get together but with consequences neither could have foreseen. Ingrid becomes pregnant, and that one indisputable fact tests the mettle of their relationship more than anything else they could have imagined. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alan Bates, June Ritchie, (more)
- 1961
Alfred Lynch and Sean Connery star as a pair of klutzy RAF members, during World War II, who are more interested in running petty confidence scams that toting rifles. Though they doggedly avoid extra effort of any kind, Pope (Lynch) and Pascoe (Connery) are sent on a top-secret mission. The more the duo screws up, the more they succeed in pulling off their assignment, and through no real input of their own they become heroes. On the Fiddle more closely resembled an American service comedy than a British film, thus it was logical that its U.S. title was Operation SNAFU. During the James Bond craze, the film was retitled Operation Warhead and Sean Connery's participation was played up in the ads -- complete with the anachronistic inclusion of bikini-clad starlets! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alfred Lynch, Sean Connery, (more)
- 1958
This first entry in the long-running (some would say interminable) British "Carry On" series is at base a collection of motheaten army jokes, albeit served up with freshness and energy. Future Doctor Who star William Hartnell plays Sergeant Major Grimshaw, whose fondest wish is to win the coveted Best Troop Award before his retirement. Alas, this may never come to pass: his newest batch of conscripts include some of the biggest and stupidest foul-ups in military history. Popular comedian-cartoonist Bob Monkhouse and cockney bombshell Shirley Eaton head up the supporting cast, which includes such "Carry On" stalwarts-to-be as Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey and Kenneth Williams. Carry On Sergeant was very loosely based on The Bull Boys, a novel by R. F. Delderfield. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Hartnell, Bob Monkhouse, (more)
