Brian Blessed Movies
Although mention of his name may not turn heads in the States, Brian Blessed's booming, authoritative voice will. A brute actor from Mexborough, Yorkshire, with the stature to back his vocal chords, Blessed's unique ability to inject his characters with a quick wit and cunning guile helped him thrive in both film and television since his small-screen debut in 1962. A lifelong adventurer who spent his childhood days enthralled by the wonders of BBC radio's The Lost World, Blessed was frequently tardy for classes due to his unyielding desire to learn the secrets of the farthest corners of the world. He endeared himself to British audiences with his role as PC "Fancy" Smith in the popular BBC crime series Z Cars, and followed that up a few years later as Porthos in the 1966 U.K. miniseries The Three Musketeers. Blessed progressed into feature films with a role in The Christmas Tree that same year, and though he frequently returned to television for roles in such hits as The Avengers and Doctor Who, impressive performances in The Trojan Women (1971) and Man of La Mancha (1972) showed his diversity and effectiveness on the big screen, as well. In 1976 alone, Blessed appeared in no less than six made-for-TV efforts, and, by the '80s, he began to attract attention overseas. Perhaps the actor's most widely seen performance was that of the heroic Prince Vultan in Mike Hodges' 1980 comic-book, sci-fi adventure Flash Gordon, and a subsequent performance as King Richard IV in the hit 1983 BBC comedy Black Adder reinforced his status in Britain. Blessed next stole the show as Long John Silver in the 1985 miniseries Return to Treasure Island. His Shakespearean skills took center stage for Kenneth Branagh's Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), and Hamlet (1996), and, in 1999, Blessed directed himself in a U.K. version of King Lear. That same year, he gained even more international exposure when he essayed a small role in Star Wars: Episode 1 -- The Phantom Menace and provided vocal work for Disney's Tarzan. As video-game producers began courting actors to provide vocal work for their interactive adventures, they tapped Blessed to appear in such titles as Kingdom Hearts and Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior. After taking the lead in the 2003 horror film Devil's Harvest, Blessed once again traveled back in time for a role in Oliver Stone's Alexander (2004). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1978
Blake (Gareth Thomas) and his fellow escapees pilot the Liberator to the prison planet Cygnus Alpha. Here he frees several convicts who agree to join Blake in his ongoing battle against the Federation. Unfortunately, several of these new insurgents fall ill to a deadly virus. The only serum capable of curing the fallen warriors is possessed by religious fanatic Vargas (Brian Blessed) -- and he is none too sympathetic to Blake's noble cause. "Cygnus Alpha" was originally telecast on January 16, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gareth Thomas, Sally Knyvette, (more)
Filmed in Israel and Spain, the four-hour made-for-TV The Story of David stars Timothy Bottoms as the Biblical king. The "David and Goliath" legend is presented as credibly as possible, while David's later disastrous romance with Bathsheba (Jane Seymour) is handled with taste and decorum. Also in the cast are Anthony Quayle as King Saul, and Terence Hardiman as Bathsheba's unfortunate warrior husband Uriah. Ernest Kinoy's teleplay does justice to the Biblical text, without lapsing into wearisome "thees", "thous" and other such archaic dialogue. The Story of David premiered in two parts on April 9 and 11, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
When the Saxons threaten the safety of England in 500 AD, a strong warrior known as Arthur works to bring a number of tribes together to fight off the invaders. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
This 13-episode miniseries was adapted from the book by Robert Graves, which chronicles the tumultuous life and times of Claudius (Derek Jacobi), who despite a deformed leg and a speech impediment through prophecy becomes the Roman Empire. An aging Claudius looks back at the bizarre and treacherous times through which he's lived and sets them down in a secret history that is not to be read until after his death. The distinguished cast of I, Claudius includes John Hurt as Caligula, Brian Blessed as Augustus, Sian Phillips as Livia, Margaret Tyzack as Antonia, and Patrick Stewart as Sejanus. The home-video release also includes the documentary The Epic That Never Was, which looks at producer Alexander Korda ill-starred attempt to film Graves' novel in the mid-1930s. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Derek Jacobi, Sian Phillips, (more)
- 1975
- PG
The early years of the future King Arthur are recounted in this film from Sidney Hayers. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Appointment with a Killer began life as a British TV movie, then took up residence in the US as part of ABC's Wide World Mystery anthology. As with most videotaped thrillers of this ilk, the cast is headed by a well-known American actor, in this case Joanna Pettet. The plot concerns a murder that remains unsolved for five years. Ms. Pettet may well be the next victim unless she can determine the killer's identity post-haste. Tony Anholt and Freddie Jones costar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Dale Wasserman's long-running Broadway smash comes to the screen in this musical based on Miguel de Cervantes' classic satire Don Quixote de la Mancha. Cervantes (Peter O'Toole) is arrested and put in prison by the soldiers of the Spanish Inquisition after staging a comic performance which mocked the Spanish government. Cervantes' fellow inmates are eager to divvy up his belongings, but the author is desperate to save a manuscript of his latest work; in order to win the prisoners over, he stages, with their assistance, his latest comedy about the delusional knight Don Quixote (O'Toole). Don Quixote, with the help of his loyal manservant Sancho Panza (James Coco), is determined to battle evil, though he most often finds himself combating windmills. Don Quixote encounters the beautiful virgin Dulcinea -- personified by a jailed prostitute, Aldonza (Sophia Loren) -- and is certain he has found the love of his life. However, tragedy befalls Don Quixote when a band of savages rape Dulcinea as he sleeps, and he must decide where his greatest loyalty lies when his niece Antonia (Julie Gregg) arrives, asking Quixote to please return home to his family. In a move which was widely criticized at the time of the film's release, Peter O'Toole's singing voice was dubbed for most of his musical numbers, while Sophia Loren did all of her own vocal tracks. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter O'Toole, Sophia Loren, (more)
- 1972
Henry VIII and His Six Wives is a feature film based upon the 1971 BBC miniseries The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Keith Michell weathers several makeup changes as the much-married titular monarch. While the miniseries was able to explore the political and personal reasons for the selection (and sometimes rejection) of the wives, the shortened version concentrates chiefly on such highlights as the birth of Queen Elizabeth and the execution of Anne Boleyn. The film is constructed in flashback form, with an aged Henry recalling his marital record. Side note: Donald Pleasence appears as Thomas Cromwell in Henry VIII and His Six Wives; Pleasence's daughter Angela had played Katherine Howard, Bride No. 5, in the original Six Wives of Henry VIII. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Keith Michell, Donald Pleasence, (more)
The Trojan Women is a film of the ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides, which is a highly mannered, ritual-like stage play. It was not easy to transform it into a movie while remaining faithful to the play, but there are many rewards for the patient viewer. The score by Mikis Theodorakis (Zorba the Greek) fits the story beautifully, and the film's re-creation of the ancient Mediterranean is memorable. Finally, the original play, despite its great age, has what are still considered among the finest roles ever written for women. The story concerns the trials and tribulations of the women of Troy at the time of Greek conquest and the truth and chilling power of the curses they hurl at their captors, who have slain every male of their nation, including the infants. Particularly notable is the performance of Irene Papas as Helen, a woman of infinite guile, whose abduction by Paris led to the whole debacle in the first place. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katharine Hepburn, Geneviève Bujold, (more)
- 1971
Adapted from the 1932 comic novel by Stella Gibbons, this version of Cold Comfort Farm stars Sarah Badel as Flora Post, a precocious 19-year-old whose parents were lost to the Spanish plague. Left with only 100 pounds a year for survival, Flora writes to several relatives in hopes of finding one that will take her in and offer her the stockings-and-furs lifestyle to which she has become accustomed. Eventually, she is invited to Cold Comfort farm where, as an aspiring author, Flora comes into contact with a group of individuals quirky enough to provide inspiration for years to come. The cast includes Alastair Sim and Brian Blessed, and the story itself was adapted again in John Schlesinger's 1995 film starring Kate Beckinsale. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
Noted novelist and sometime film director James Clavell, wrote, directed, and produced this adaptation of J.B. Pick's novel, set during the Thirty Years' War of 1618-1648. During the chaotic confrontations and shifting alliances of the war, a hidden valley protected from the outside world becomes an oasis of peace. Vogel (Omar Sharif), a one-time school teacher now on the run, travels into the peaceful valley. Following Vogel a short time later is a rag-tag and exhausted army, led by The Captain (Michael Caine). Utilizing Vogel as a mediator, the Captain arranges a truce with the valley population -- pledging to protect the people of the valley from invasion in return for food and shelter during the cold winter months. At the end of the season, the army leaves to fight another battle, Vogel is asked to depart from the hidden valley, and the valley and its population continues on and endures. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Caine, Omar Sharif, (more)
- 1970
- R
In this British tragi-comedy taking place among emotionally bankrupt upper-class Scottish countrymen, Peter O'Toole plays Sir Charles Henry Arbuthnot Pinkerton Ferguson, a mentally disturbed Scotsman, living on his uncared-for farm, who also harbors an incestuous yearning for his sister Hilary (Susannah York), who is staying with Sir Charles after a fight with her husband Douglas (Michael Craig). However, while at a local sheep auction, Hilary encounters Douglas and she realizes she still loves him. Hilary and Douglas agree to meet that night at a country dance. But Sir Charles finds out about their intended rendezvous and at the dance that night, continually interrupts Hilary and Douglas's reunion. Sir Charles further hampers a reconciliation by allowing Hilary to think that Douglas is the father of a maid's illegitimate child. Hilary, in reaction, goes wild and becomes the complete party girl, propositioning the band leader but going off with Jock (Brian Blessed), the real father of the maid's child. When Sir Charles finds Hilary asleep in his car the next morning, and Hilary tells him of her antics of the night before, Sir Charles lapses into a deep depression as he realizes that his sister is lost to him. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter O'Toole, Susannah York, (more)
- 1969
This time the villain is a treacherous double agent named Merlin (Peter Barkworth), who uses sleeping gas to elude his captors. Knocked cold by the snooze gas, Steed, Tara, and Merlin awaken in a deserted -- and heavily guarded -- small town. Handcuffed to Merlin, Steed must rely upon his aid to escape their new surroundings, which will soon be "ground zero" for an atomic bomb detonation. Written by Brian Clemens, "The Morning After" debuted in England on Jnauary 29, 1969; its scheduled January 27 American playdate was pre-empted by a late-breaking news special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This film is taken from the popular British television series. Alf Garnett (Warren Mitchell) is a middle-aged bigot who loves the Queen and all that for which the kingdom (or what is left of it) stands, right or wrong. He puts up with his dizzy wife, Else (Dandy Nichols), his liberated daughter (Una Stubbs), and her long-haired, liberal-minded husband (Anthony Booth), who causes him no end of grief. Till Death Us Do Part is the exact blueprint used for the popular U.S. television series All in the Family. Alf dreams of being knighted by the Queen, gets drunk at a wedding reception, and struggles with the changing world within the framework of his narrow-minded stubbornness. Ray Davies of the Kinks provides the title track for this offbeat but true-to-life comedy feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warren Mitchell, Dandy Nichols, (more)
- 1968
The British television series Til Death Do Us Part was the forerunner to the American TV hit All in the Family. The original series' Archie Bunker was Alf Garnett, a bigoted, profane cockney played by Warren Mitchell. The "Edith" was the dimwitted Else, portrayed by Dandy Nichols. The British series' catchphrase was not "Stifle yerself, dingbat" but instead "You silly moo!" Eschewing the heavy-handed social commentary indulged in by All in the Family producer Norman Lear, Til Death Do Us Part existed principally to invoke loud (and sometime embarrassed) gusts of laughter. Several feature films were spun off from the property: the first of these, Alf 'N' Family flashed back to Alf and Else's marriage, skipped ahead to the wedding of the Garrett's daughter Rita (Una Stubbs) to unwashed hippie Mike (Anthony Booth), and concluded with the family's move from their crowded flat to a home in the suburbs. Alf 'N' Family was scripted by Til Death Do Us Part creator Johnny Speight. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Invited to an airborne costume party, Steed and six other guests find themselves stranded on a desert island. The castaways then learn that there's a highly trained assassin in their midst. As the festivities degenerate into a campy replay of Ten Little Indians, Emma tries to figure out a means of rescuing her partner. As was the case with many fifth-season episodes, this one benefits from a superb guest-star roster, including Donald Sutherland, Brian Blessed, and Charlotte Rampling. Written by Brian Clemens, "The Superlative Seven" first aired in England on April 8, 1967, and made its American TV bow on April 21 of that year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
In this holiday tale three London urchins find adventure as they struggle to bring a Christmas tree across town to a hospital. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
It is possible that Alexandre Dumas' classic swashbuckling novel The Three Musketeers has undergone more stage, film, and TV adaptations than any other literary property. Whether this is true or not, it is a matter of record that Britain's BBC offered two separate miniseries versions of the Dumas work within 12 years of each other. The second such miniseries, a ten-parter, was staged in 1966, with Jeremy Brett (who would later gain international TV popularity in the role of Sherlock Holmes) as D'Artagnan. Other noteworthy regulars in this weekly, 25-minute Three Musketeers were Brian Blessed as Porthos and Mary Peach as Milady de Wynter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Blessed, Gary Watson, (more)
- 1962
The incredibly durable cop show Z Cars (pronounced "Zed Cars") was one of the great guilty pleasures of British television -- a program which everyone watched, but no one would admit to watching. Created by Troy Kennedy Martin, the series focused on a "typical" crime-ridden Liverpool police precinct. The cars driven by the law-enforcement officers were all Ford Zephyrs, hence the series' title. Understandably, there was a huge cast turnover during the series' 16 years on the air, with some of the original regulars leaving early on to star in the spin-off show Softly Softly. Debuting in a weekly 25-minute slot in 1962, Z Cars had expanded to 50 minutes weekly by the time its run ended in 1978; 667 episodes were filmed in all -- an astronomical figure by anybody's standards, even American television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stratford Johns, Frank Windsor, (more)
