Simon Ward Movies
London-born Simon Ward had pretty fair idea of what he wanted to do with his life from an early age. At 15, Ward became a member of what was later formalized as the National Youth Theatre. Trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, he made his professional stage debut with the Northhampton Repertory in 1963 and his London theatrical bow one year later in The 4th of June. His first film appearance was an uncredited role as one of the sociopathic students in Ken Russell's If.... (1968). In 1972, he played the title role in Young Winston (Churchill, that is), and the following year played the Duke of Buckingham in Richard Lester's The Three Musketeers (1973). He was also seen as a fictional Nazi functionary (the "nice" one, with whom the audience is supposed to identify) in Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973). Later film roles ran the gamut from author/veterinarian James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small (1977) to Zor-El in Supergirl (1984). Simon Ward is the father of actress Sophie Ward. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1973
Taped in London and originally telecast by the BBC, this ABC Afternoon Special combines comedy, drama, and song to introduce young children to the marvels of William Shakespeare. In the course of a lively 46 minutes, John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson read excerpts from Hamlet, Richard III, and As You Like It; Lynn Redgrave and Simon Ward perform quickie comic blackouts, encapsulating some of the Bard's more lighthearted efforts; and Paul Jones sings "Maria" from West Side Story, which of course is an updating of Romeo and Juliet. The revels are ended as the entire cast joins in on a rendition of "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," from Cole Porter's Broadway musical Kiss Me Kate. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, (more)
- 1972
This historical drama is an account of the early life of Winston Churchill (Simon Ward), including his childhood years, his time as a war correspondent in Africa, and culminating with his first election to Parliament. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simon Ward, Robert Shaw, (more)
- 1971
This science fiction/fantasy is loosely based on a story by John Wyndham (best known for The Day of the Triffids). Scientist Collin (Tom Bell) stumbles across a parallel world in which President Kennedy is not shot, Vietnam hasn't happened, and Ottilie (Joan Collins), the woman he loves, dies unexpectedly of a heart condition. While he is happy enough with the rest of his new world, he can't stand by and let his true love die in his original world, and he determines to return to his own place and time to save her. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1970
When two teenage girls fantasize about their sexual yearnings, one is stalked by a psychopathic murderer. Wynne (Jenny Agutter) is adopted by a family and soon has a massive crush on her stepbrother George (Bryan Marshall). Her friend Corrine (Clare Sutcliffe) is Wynne's virginal friend who alludes to being sexually experienced. The two go into the woods where Corrine is raped and killed by an unknown assailant who has terrorized the countryside with his brutal carnage. When George is accused of the crime, Wynne must prove he is innocent in this thrilling slasher feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jenny Agutter, Bryan Marshall, (more)
- 1969
- PG
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The key image of this film occurs early on, as a hideous monster removes its face, only to reveal itself as Baron Frankenstein in a mask. Hammer's fifth installment in the series sees the transformation of doctor into monster complete. Peter Cushing's portrayal of the Baron here is all insanity and hatred, rather than the misunderstood (if unethical) genius of previous entries. Frankenstein transplants the brain of an insane doctor into Freddie Jones' body, creating a pathetic, misshapen beast, while using blackmail and rape to control the people around him. This was director Terence Fisher's favorite film, and his pacing and composition have rarely been better. Jones (the nasty showman in The Elephant Man) is great at communicating the disorientation and helpless agony of his condition, and while Cushing's character is more one-dimensional than usual, he does his normal excellent job as the Baron. Hammer's next installment was the silly Horror of Frankenstein before Fisher returned to end the series with Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Cushing, Veronica Carlson, (more)
Rebellious students at an English private school plan a violent revolt against their repressive environment in director Lindsay Anderson's highly acclaimed but extremely controversial drama. Centering on a small group of non-conformists led by Mick Travis (Malcolm McDowell), the film paints a distinctly negative picture of the British school system and, by extension, English society. Seeing the powers-that-be as humorless, bureaucratic, and needlessly restrictive, Mick and his cohorts indulge in small acts of rebellion, including sneaking into town to romance a local waitress. Their actions are discovered and punished with harsh beatings, leading the students to plot revenge. This effort culminates in the film's most famous sequence, a surrealistic depiction of a bloody uprising by the students against the adult world. Daring and unpredictable in content and form, If... mixes color and black-and-white cinematography as easily as it mingles satire with dark fantasy. The film's ambiguous attitude toward violence caused controversy at the time, as many commentators saw the film as a potential incitement to violence. It became a great success among younger, counter-culture audiences who appreciated the audacious shock tactics and embraced the satirical, anti-establishment message. Often compared to Jean Vigo's French classic Zéro de conduite, which also featured surrealistic boarding-school rebellion, If... has become a high point in the cinema of youth rebellion. Anderson and McDowell later collaborated on O Lucky Man! (1973), Look Back in Anger (1980), and Britannia Hospital (1982). ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Malcolm McDowell, David Wood, (more)
