Pamela Stirling Movies
- 1979
A star-studded supporting cast enhances the enjoyment of the four-episode Doctor Who adventure "City of Death." On holiday in modern-day Paris, the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Lalla Ward) experience what turns out to be a "crack in time." Before long, they have joined forces with a private eye named Duggan (Tom Chadbon) in thwarting the villain of the piece: Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover), who plans to steal the Mona Lisa -- but for reasons that go far beyond financial gain. First telecast September 29, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 1" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1979
In the third episode of the four-part story "City of Death," the Doctor (Tom Baker) discovers that Count Scarlioni (Julian Glover) has been stealing and selling valuable works of art in order to raise funds for his time-travel experiments. But there is a more pressing matter at hand: Romana (Lalla Ward) and detective Duggan (Tom Chadbon) are in immediate danger of losing their lives at the Count's hands. Catherine Schell co-stars as Countess Scarlioni. First telecast October 13, 1979, "City of Death, Episode 3" was written by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, (more)
- 1965
Ingrid Thulin plays a Polish inmate of the Dachau concentration camp who is liberated at the end of the war. Presumed dead, Ingrid returns to visit her husband (Maximillian Schell) She finds that his grief was fleeting at best; his new mistress is his "deceased" wife's daughter (Samantha Eggar) from a previous marriage. Since Ingrid's identity is masked by plastic surgery, she subtly re-enters their life without undue stress for either husband or daughter. But when the husband figures out the ruse, he murders his young paramour in the bathtub (a moment lavishly exploited in the print ads for this film) and plots to kill Ingrid for her money. A textbook case of implausibility, Return from the Ashes was adapted from an equally unbelievable novel by Hubert Monteilhet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maximilian Schell, Samantha Eggar, (more)
- 1958
Ray Milland doubles up as star and director of The Safecracker. Set during WW II, the film casts Milland as professional cracksman Colley Dawson, who is rescued from prison by Army major Adbury (Ernest Clark). Dawson is offered a deal: if he'll agree to embark upon a dangerous mission behind enemy lines, he'll be given his freedom. The mission, of course, is to break into a Nazi safe and steal a list of German spies operating in England. Before one can say "Robert Wagner", Dawson is trained as a commando and parachuted into Belgium for the "caper" of his life. Supposedly based on a true story, The Safecracker was lensed in Europe and released stateside by MGM. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ray Milland, Barry Jones, (more)
- 1958
In this romantic comedy, a young woman spends all her time caring for her ailing mother. The one bright spot in her life is her African pen pal. Her mother finally dies, and the woman immediately sets off for Africa to meet the pen pal. There she finds that he is too busy chasing elephants to notice her. Instead she ends up falling for his brother.The two brothers find themselves entangled in various adventures involving African wildlife. The film was shot on location in Africa. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Belinda Lee, Michael Craig, (more)
- 1957
Ten-year-old Canadian Braden brags about his horse riding abilities while living in Scotland. Luckily when a shepherd is in trouble he is able to save the man and prove his mettle. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1955
In this lively British romantic comedy, a baronet decides that his son needs to experience life outside of his blue-blooded world and so takes him to Paris to sample its earthy pleasures. Meanwhile, the son has his own plans; he wants to find his father a good woman because he believes his father has spent too much time cooped up on his lonely estate in Scotland. Many merry mix-ups ensue as the two well-meaning fellows try to find the right woman for the other. Fortunately, by the story's end, romance prevails and everybody involved is happy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alec Guinness, Odile Versois, (more)
- 1954
Based on a true story, The Divided Heart is an effective, high-gloss British soap opera. Cornell Borchers stars as Inga, a young German woman who disappears and is presumed killed during WW2. Inga's infant son is placed in an orphanage; years later, the boy is adopted by childless couple Sonja (Yvonne Mitchell) and Franz (Armin Dahmen). The adoptive parents' future happiness is shattered when Inga returns, insisting that the child be returned to her. The film is scrupulously fair to both Inga and Sonja, giving generous screen time to the wartime horrors experienced by the former and the eminent parental suitability of the latter. Of the supporting cast, Alexander Knox stands out as the judge presiding over the climactic custody battle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cornell Borchers, Yvonne Mitchell, (more)
- 1950
The Lost People is a pedantic British drama set in a large, abandoned German theatre just after the War. A disparate group of homeless refugees huddle together within the structure. As they get to know each other, old wounds are opened, social and religious clashes break out, recriminations melt into reconciliations, and the theatre threatens to become a metaphor for the World At Large. In fact, it's not a threat but a foregone conclusion. The Lost People is based on Cockpit, a play by Bridget Boland. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1949
In this melodrama, a London girl falls happily in love with a Frenchman and immediately goes blind. Convinced her affliction is a Divine punishment for her sins, she joins a convent. The good sisters know she does not belong there and gently convince her to leave. Shortly after returning to secular life, the Frenchman marries her and they move to France to live in his parents' manor. There, the poor bride begins feeling like an unwelcome guest and like someone wants her dead, but cannot prove it. She expresses her fears, but no one believes her and after a particularly terrible fight, she miscarries. Feeling unloved by her own husband, the poor woman returns to England. There she undergoes a potentially dangerous but successful operation to restore her sight. Still upset her husband's lack of belief, she returns to France to prove her allegations. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Margaret Lockwood, Paul Dupuis, (more)
- 1945
That daring pulp-novel detective Sexton Blake is back again in The Echo Murders. David Farrar stars as Blake, a Sherlock Holmes wannabe who takes on a gang of Nazi spies. While solving a series of baffling murders, Blake is captured and beaten by the bad guys, but emerges from his ordeal none the worse for wear and with hardly a crease in his trousers. In one scene, our hero uses acid to burn off the ropes that bind his hands, miraculously doing no harm whatsoever to his wrists. Of interest is the presence in the cast of future British leading man Dennis Price, who like David Farrar seems to be grateful to have the work. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Farrar, Dennis Price, (more)
- 1944
Fact, fiction and espionage are combined in this drama that follows the exploits of Eisenhower's top aide, Mark Clark, and other important Allies as they journey to an important meeting held on Algeria's coast. The precise location of this vital secret gathering is upon a piece of film which must not fall into enemy hands, lest the Allied honchos get captured. The film is hidden in a German colony in Algiers. It is up to one of Britains top spies to bring it to safety. He is hindered by a Nazi spy who follows him. He is assisted by an American woman and a French woman. They are successful and gun-play ensues as they try to flee the country. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Mason, Carla Lehmann, (more)
- 1937
Jean Renoir's epic account of the French Revolution juxtaposes the opulent life of King Louis XVI with the poverty of the commoners who rose up to overthrow the monarchy in 1789. The film's title comes from the rallying song which grew out of the peasants' march on the Bastille, the song that ultimately became the French national anthem. Filmed with a cast of thousands, the focus is on two members of a large volunteer battalion who help the revolutionary army in its takeover of the Tulleries, which resulted in the publication of the Brunswick Manifesto and ultimately led to King Louis' downfall. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Renoir, Lise Delamare, (more)
