Patrick Westwood Movies

This is not the same kind of film as the 1962 production, Tom Jones. In fact, it is a "nudie musical", as evidenced by the presence of singing star Georgia Brown in the dual role of Jenny Jones and Mrs. Waters. The project originated as a Las Vegas stage presentation, with Nicky Henson in the lead. The plot of the Henry Fielding novel about the "boy born to be hanged" is followed in spirit rather than to the letter, with busty Joan Collins thrown in like a lagniappe as a lady highwayman. Wandering through the proceedings are such English stalwarts as Trevor Howard and Terry-Thomas. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Secret of Boyne Castle stars Kurt Russell as an American exchange student in Ireland. Russell and his Irish friend Patrick Dawson find themselves waist-deep in intrigue when they get involved with a defecting Iron Curtain scientist. After a wild chase through the Hibernian countryside, Russell and Dawson are trapped by enemy agents, who hope to hoodwink the boys into revealing the location of a secret message in their possession. The Secret of Boyne Castle was first shown in British theatres as the feature-length Guns in the Heather. It was then converted into a three-part installment of TV's Wonderful World of Disney, which was telecast in the US on February 9, 16, and 23 1969. A few years later, the project was rebroadcast under the title Spy Busters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bart's cousin Jacqueline (Kathy Bennett) is conned out of the $10,000 she needs to square her family's debts by the inimitable Big Ed Murphy. It seems that Murphy claims he's invented a machine that can manufacture money--not counterfeit, but the genuine article. In order to get Jacqueline's cash back, Bart (Jack Kelly) must somehow beat Big Ed at his own crooked game. Originally played by John Dehner in the previous episode "Greenbacks, Unlimited", Bug Ed Murphy is herein portrayed by Andrew Duggan, who was then starring in another Warner Bros. TV series, Room for One More. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

American-International's standing "haunted castle" set is exhibited to peak advantage in Roger Corman's Pit & the Pendulum. Save for the climax, Richard Matheson's script bears but little resemblance to the Edgar Allen Poe original, though there are pronounced echoes throughout of Poe's The Premature Burial. Vincent Price stars as Nicholas Medina, the son of a notorious Spanish Inquisition torturer. Nicholas' wife Elizabeth (Barbara Steele) has died under mysterious circumstances, prompting Elizabeth's brother Francis (John Kerr) to arrive at the Medina castle to investigate. The tormented Medina believes that Elizabeth was buried alive, and is convinced that he can hear his wife's voice calling out to him. In truth, Elizabeth has faked her death, part of a plan concocted with her lover Dr. Leon (Anthony Carbone) to drive Medina mad. She succeeds in this goal (albeit to her own grief, as the film's very last shot reveals), pushing Medina over the brink. Convinced that he's his own father, Medina dons Inquisition robes, straps Francis to a table, and arranges for a huge steel-bladed pendulum to slowly, slooooowwly descend on his helpless victim. You'd never know that Pit & The Pendulum was shot on the budget and schedule of a B western; the film is consistently good to look at, with eerily evocative color camerawork (Floyd Crosby) and sumptuous art direction. Stock footage of the climactic torture sequence would later find its way into the 1966 spy spoof Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, which also starred Vincent Price. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bret (James Garner) is determined to foil the never-ending efforts by Big Ed Murphy (John Dehner) to rob the bank owned by Col Dutton (Wendell Holmes). Figuring that the best way to save Big Ed from himself is to remove the temptation, Bret conspires with Foursquare Foley (Gage Clarke) to steal the bank's money themselves, then hide it in a safe place. In fact, Foley has already dug a tunnel under the bank for this purpose...a fact that should have put Bret on guard from the get-go. This final episode of Maverick's third season also marks the next-to-last appearance by James Garner as Bret Maverick (discounting the later TV and movie sequels). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Working the London beat, American reporter Raymond Houston (Barry Sullivan) is in danger of losing his job because of his chronic gambling. As a last-ditch effort to remain employed, Houston arranges to spend a night in a wax museum, then write an article about his nocturnal experiences in the museum's "Murderer's Den." As the evening drags on, Houston becomes more and more frightened, convinced that at least one of the waxwork murderers will come to life before the sun rises. This episode is based on a famous 1931 short story by eminent suspense writer A.M. Burrage (and appropriately enough, the "A" stands for "Alfred"). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Travelling through India on the Bombay Express, Leonard Barrett (Warren Stevens), a man without an enemy in the world, is suddenly consumed with hatred. The object of Barrett's vitriol is another passenger, a seemingly harmless old peddler named Kumar (Patrick Westwood) who enters Barrett's compartment, carrying a rooster. Inevitably, a murder occurs--but who is the real victim? This is the final episode of One Step Beyond's first season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Rock Around the World purports to be the life story of pop singer Tommy Steele, engagingly played by himself. The film traces Steele's The Cyclops -- which also featured Gloria Talbott. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this suspenseful crime drama, a decent British sailor stationed in France is forced to smuggle gold when one of the gang members mistakes him for their contact who was killed. Real trouble ensues when the seaman is arrested and interrogated by a group of international police. He finally proves his innocence to them and at their request becomes their spy. He returns to the gang and soon finds that they and the police think he is double-crossing them all. The poor sailor ends up badly beaten by cops and crooks alike until at last he helps the cops get the smugglers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The Deadly Game was originally released in England as Third Party Risk. Lloyd Bridges stars as an ex-GI living in Spain. Accused of murdering an army buddy and betraying his country to the Enemy, Bridges must work overtime to clear himself. Though the leading ladies are forgettable, some excellent work is turned in by the male cast contingent, including British reliables Finlay Currie and Ferdy Mayne. Director Daniel Birt adapted the screenplay of The Deadly Game from a novel by Nicholas Bentley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The British Passing Stranger stars Hollywood actor Lee Patterson as a deserting American GI. He drifts about until he falls in with a gang of gunrunners. He wants to quit, but can't until he makes enough money to support himself and his love Diane Cilento. Just before this is possible, Cilento's ex-boyfriend blows the whistle on the crooks. Just long enough not to wear out its welcome, The Passing Stranger is a passing good little film noir. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This British production stars Claudette Colbert as a socialite who marries wealthy plantation owner Jack Hawkins. The newlyweds move to Hawkins' plantation in Malaya, where she quickly bores of her dead-end existence and harbors dreams of extramarital affairs. When the natives prove restless, however, Colbert loyally stays by her husband's side and helps him defend his property. Outpost in Malaya was originally released in Great Britain as The Planter's Wife. The film represented Claudette Colbert's first non-Hollywood film project--though hardly her last. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide