Barry Stokes Movies
- 1985
En route to a business meeting in Paris, newly promoted American magazine editor Lily Conrad (Cheryl Ladd) boards the legendary Orient Express. Her she is unexpectedly with her long-ago lover, aristocratic Englishman Alex Woodward (Stuart Wilson). It turns out that this rendezvous was no accident, and before long the couple's passion is rekindled. Variously aiding and abetting the course of True Love (which of course is lovelier the second time around) are such sidelines characters as Lily's brash travelling companion Susan Lawson (Ruby Wax) and Alex's stuffy, tradition-bound father Theodore Woodward (John Gielgud, who earned an Emmy nomination for his performance). Filmed on location in Italy, France and England, Romance on the Orient Express debuted March 4, 1985, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Love means never having to say that you're ugly in the extravagant fantasy film Enemy Mine. Earthling Dennis Quaid is Davidge, one of many space warriors engaged in a bloody extraterrestrial battle against the Draconians. Crash-landing on a faraway planet, Davidge is forced into an "up close and personal" with the Drac (Lou Gossett Jr.), a repellant, reptilian creature. Evidently a bivalve, the Drac gives birth to a baby Drac just before expiring. Now a reluctant foster father, Davidge tries to keep himself and the baby alive while the war continues to rage all around them. The special effects (courtesy Industrial Light and Magic) are serviceable if not brilliant, and the acting is okay so far as it goes. What socks over Enemy Mine is Rolf Zehetbauer's awe-inspiring production design and Chris Walas' superb makeup work. Though a favorite on home video, the film deserves to be seen on a wide theatre screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dennis Quaid, Louis Gossett, Jr., (more)
- 1983
- PG
In this period adventure, Cameron Mitchell and Peter Graves star as a pair of Americans seeking their fortune overseas at the dawn of the 20th century. When they discover valuable oil reserves in Persia, they attempt to claim them for themselves, but their plan is not received enthusiastically by the locals, and they soon find themselves battling foes on all borders. Guns and the Fury also stars Michael Ansara and Albert Salmi. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Graves, Cameron Mitchell, (more)
Hawk the Slayer will appeal most to undiscriminating fans of the sword-and-sorcery genre. The title character, played by John Terry, is on a lifelong quest for "The Power", an enchanted flying sword. Alas, Hawk's evil brother Voltan (Jack Palance) likewise covets The Power. A plethora of violence ensues, culminating in a slow-motion duel to the death between hero and villain. Among Hawk's comrades are a dwarf and an elf, who are "R2D2 and C3PO" in everything except name and appearance. Hardly the best of its kind, Hawk the Slayer is redeemed by the unbridled hamminess of Jack Palance, who seems to be the only one who realizes that the whole affair is to silly to be taken seriously. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Palance, John Terry, (more)
In this sophomoric sci-fi parody of sci-fi movies, a group of curvaceous space aliens travel from Betelgeuse (the location of their home planet) to Earth in search of the hunky human men they need to revitalize their race. The film is also known as Outer Touch. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Stokes, Tony Maiden, (more)
- 1979
An truly international production if there ever was one, this costume epic was based on a Japanese comic book, directed by a noted French filmmaker, and features a primarily British cast. Oscar (Catriona MacColl) is a young woman whose father, a career military man, wanted a boy. Rather than surrender to his disappointment after she was born, Father took to dressing Oscar in boy's clothes and raising her in a masculine fashion. While privately Oscar acknowledges her feminine side, she still dresses as a man and has gained an honored position as a guard to Marie Antoinette (Christina Bohm). In her younger days, Oscar was deeply infatuated with Andre (Barry Stokes), the son of the family's housekeeper, and when the French Revolution begins to catch fire, Oscar and Andre's paths cross for the first time in years. However, with the assault on the Bastille, Oscar and Andre find themselves fighting on opposite sides of the political fence. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Catriona MacColl, Barry Stokes, (more)
An extraterrestrial alien lands in England in search of edible protein for his home planet. After attacking a young couple necking in a car, the creature assumes the body of the hapless male (Barry Stokes) and stumbles through the woods, trying to get used to his new physical form. The next morning he inadvertently trespasses on property owned by Jessica (Glory Annen), who lives in seclusion with her lesbian lover Josephine (Sally Faulkner). Jessica is friendly and invites the stranger inside when she notices him limping, though Josephine hates all men and guards their relationship jealously. He identifies himself as "Anders" (the name of the boy he killed) and quietly follows them back to the farmhouse. Both women are disturbed by Anders' bizarre behavior; he doesn't know what tea is, isn't quite sure where he came from, and vomits when he tries to eat the salad they prepare. But when Jessica begins to suspect that Josephine has taken her jealousy and hatred of males to murderous extremes in the past, she starts thinking of Anders as a possible ally. Meanwhile, Anders tests chickens, a parakeet, a fox, and a pair of policemen for their comestible value, and finally turns his appetite towards his hostesses. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Handyman Bob (Barry Stokes) and his wife Margaretta (Penny Meredith) move into a new town, and as Bob sets up shop doing odd jobs and repairs, he discovers that more than a few of his neighbors are a bit on the eccentric side, including a clumsy policeman named Knowles (Chic Murray), a sexually adventurous schoolmarm (Sue Lloyd), and Squire Bullsworthy (Bob Todd), who has more than a passing interest in corporal punishment. Handsome Bob also finds he's a fast favorite with the local housewives, who seem to have more than small repairs on their minds. This saucy British comedy was later re-released under the title Confessions of a Handyman, though it is otherwise unrelated to the popular "Confessions Of ..." comedies starring Robin Askwith. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Stokes
- 1973
In this melodrama, a stepmother may be incestuously involved with her step daughter. A new man comes into their lives and promptly ends up sleeping with both of them. At the same time, someone is murdering people with an axe. The question then becomes, are any of the three main characters involved in the hackings. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
