Wanda Ventham Movies

In the second episode of the four-part story "Time and the Rani," the newly regenerated Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) must deal with the renegade Time Lady known as the Rani (Kate O'Mara). Hoping to create her own time manipulator by brain-draining the Doctor and other intergalactic geniuses, the Rani has chosen as her headquarters the peaceful planet Lakertya -- thereby breaking the peace in the process. Originally shown on September 14, 1987, "Time and the Rani, Episode 2" was written by Pip and Jane Baker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "Time and the Rani," the Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) frees the reptilian residents of the planet Lakertya, then prepares himself for a final showdown with the Rani (Kate O'Mara), whose time-manipulating device could result in the end of the planet, if not the entire universe. The explosive climax takes place on an asteroid hovering high over Lakertya, a triumph of "making a lot out of a little" for the series' artistic designer Geoff Powell. Originally shown on September 28, 1987, "Time and the Rani, Episode 4" was written by Pip and Jane Baker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This four-part Doctor Who adventure is motivated by the discovery of an ancient skull that seems to predate humankind by several million years. Professor Fendelman (Dennis Lill) and his staff perform a brain scan on the skull -- thereby potentially exposing the universe to the wrath of the Fendahl, a malevolent force from Gallifreyan mythology. The Doctor (Tom Baker), Leila (Louise Jameson), and (briefly) robotic dog K-9 are literally drawn into the action in "Image of the Fendahl, Episode 1," which was written by Chris Boucher, and first aired on October 29, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "Image of the Fendahl," the title character, a malevolent figure of Gallifreyan mythology, assumes its original form after 12 million years of dormancy, using the hapless Thea Ransome (Wanda Ventham) as its medium. Knowing only too well the destructive potential of the Fendahl, the Doctor (Tom Baker) must stop this evil entity from regaining its power -- a process already well under way, thanks to a group of black arts practitioners led by Maximillian Staehl (Scott Fredericks). Written by Chris Boucher, "Image of the Fendahl, Episode 3" first aired on November 12, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Written by David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke, the six-part Doctor Who adventure "The Faceless Ones" got under way on April 8, 1967. Returning to contemporary London, the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his friends attempt to land at Gatwick airport. Their efforts are confounded by the fact that the TARDIS is in the path of an oncoming jet. But this is a minor problem compared to the terrors that await the crew at the hands of the sinister Chameleons. Only this episode and the third chapter of "The Faceless Ones" are presently known to exist. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the six-part story "The Faceless Ones," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) has tumbled to the fact that the Chameleon Tours air service is actually controlled by aliens who hope to repopulate their dying planet by stealing the personalities of their customers. Now, of course, the Chameleons have no choice but to kill the Doctor -- and for a brief, horrifying moment, they appear to have done just that. Written by David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke, "The Faceless Ones, Episode 3" originally aired on April 22, 1967. Though this and one other episode exists, the remaining four chapters are apparently lost forever. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the six-part story "The Faceless Ones," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) again tries to prevent the alien Chameleons from robbing unwary Earthlings of their personalities. Putting his own life on the line, the Doctor makes a last-ditch effort to rescue Ben and Polly, who are still nowhere to be found (actors Anneke Wills and Michael Craze do not appear in this episode). Written by David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke, "The Faceless Ones, Episode 5" originally aired on May 6, 1967. This episode evidently no longer exists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When a builder writes a serious drama, the world views it as a comedy and it turns into a huge success. ~ All Movie Guide

Number Six learns of an impending assassination, "Plan Division Q," in which the target is the Retiring Number Two (Andre Van Gyseghem). Actually, these plans were deliberately divulged by the New Number Two (Derren Nesbitt), who hopes thereby to discredit Number Six. With no one willing to believe that an assassination is about to take place, Number Six finds that his fate may rest in the hands of a watchmaker (Martin Miller) and his daughter (Annette Andre). Written by Michael Cramoy, "It's Your Funeral" was supposed to have been the 10th episode of The Prisoner, but instead was telecast in England as episode number 11 on December 17, 1967. Its original chronology was restored when it debuted in America on August 10, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When the Soviet Prime Minister accepts a beautiful English bulldog as a gift from the British government, he has no idea that the dog has a highly sensitive bug in its stomach. This lively British espionage farce follows what happens after the dog becomes sick. It's a sticky situation, for if a Russian vet examines the creature, he will surely find the device. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Colin (Michael Crawford, who much later won a Tony Award for his role in Broadway's Phantom of the Opera) is an uptight schoolteacher whose housemate, Tolen (Ray Brooks) is a consummate womanizer. Colin imagines a long line of young women in tight white sweaters on his stairwell, waiting to get into Tolen's room. Jealous of Tolen's incredible success with the ladies, Colin asks Tolen for advice on how to get a girl. When Tolen's advice doesn't seem very practical, Colin decides that his first order of business is to get a bigger bed. Colin is also trying to find a third roommate to take a spare room. Tom (Donal Donnelly), who seems compelled to paint everything in sight, happens by the house, and inserts himself in the spare room without so much as saying "hello." Nancy (Rita Tushingham of A Taste of Honey) is new in town, and wanders the streets of London in a fruitless search for the YWCA. She runs into Colin and Tom at the dump, where they are procuring a gigantic bed. They offer her a ride, and proceed to race through London on the bed. Colin seems too shy to speak much to Nancy, despite Tom's encouragement. Eventually, the trio reach Colin's house, where Tolen works his gruff magic on Nancy, and havoc ensues. Capturing late 1960s London in black-and-white, Richard Lester's The Knack. . .and How to Get It was released between the director's two successes with the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night and Help. The script, by Charles Wood (An Awfully Big Adventure) is based on a play by Ann Jellicoe. Future stars Jacqueline Bisset, Charlotte Rampling, and Jane Birkin appear briefly amid all the attractive young women in the film. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide