Eric Thompson Movies

Two brothers looking to avoid becoming pawns of the establishment come up with a better way of making a living -- through theft -- in this satiric comedy. David Tremayne (Oliver Reed) is a successful London architect, and his younger brother Michael (Michael Crawford) is weighing his options after being kicked out of school. The brothers share a bemused disgust with the world around them and a desire to get through life without the burden of labor; toward this end, one day they begin plotting an elaborate scheme to steal the British Crown Jewels. Mind you, they don't intend to sell them, or even keep them very long -- the idea is to return them after a week, simply to prove that it could indeed be done, and make themselves famous in the process. After studying the procedures of Scotland Yard's Bomb Disposal Unit, the inner working of the Tower of London's Jewel Room, and the London ambulance services, the Tremaynes come up with a foolproof plan -- they call in a bomb threat to the Tower, and they are able to enter the Jewel Room posing as men from the bomb squad. They then feign injury and are able to escape in an ambulance. It all seems simple enough, and it actually works, until Michael "forgets" his part of the agreement to take half of the responsibility for the theft. The supporting cast includes Edward Fox, Frank Finlay, and Harry Andrews. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In the first episode of the four-part story "The Massacre of St. Bartholomew's Eve," the Doctor (William Hartnell) and fellow TARDIS crewman Steven Taylor (Peter Purves) arrive in Paris in the year 1572, on the eve of the the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. The Doctor is prevented a quick getaway because of his startling resemblance to the Abbott of Amboise (also played by Hartnell). Meanwhile, Steven's religious convictions may cause a rift between himself and the Doctor. Written by John Lucarotti, "War of God" first aired on February 5, 1966; this episode is believed to have been lost. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A lonely barber invents an imaginary family for the benefit of his customers. He tells them he is married with two children, but in reality spends his time playing chess with another lonely friend. Barber Figg (John Bennett) believes his marriage proposal to a young widow with two children will cure his isolation. After spending time with the woman, he decides being alone isn't really all that bad under the circumstances. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Suspecting that he has been slated for murder by his avaricious wife, Caribbean dictator General Mendoza fakes his own death. To keep his daughter Carmelite (Bandana Das Gupta) out of harm's way, Mendoza arranges for her to be kidnapped. Steed and Keel are brought into the case when Carmelite is kidnapped for real, and the motive behind it all turns out to be political rather than monetary. Originally telecast live on February 4, 1961, "Crescent Moon" was written by Geoffrey Bellman and John Whitney. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Ken G. Hall, Australia's premiere filmmaker of the 1930s, was responsible for the surprisingly elaborate romantic drama Lovers and Luggers. Former Hollywood film favorite Lloyd Hughes plays famed concert pianist Daubenay Carshott (no, really!) who gives up his musical career for the love of the luscious Lorna (Shirley Ann Richards). At Lorna's behest, Carshott heads to Thursday Island and becomes a pearl diver, allowing Hall to indulge in some pretty fancy underwater footage. Therafter, things move at a rapid pace towards a spectacular finale. Lovers and Luggers was freely adapted from a novel by Gurney Slade. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide