Marjorie Yates Movies
- 1996
Between 1972 and 1975, the notorious hooded psychopathic killer, Donald "The Black Panther" Neilson, kept British authorities on their toes and locals terrified with his series of post office robberies and murders. This docu-drama chronicles his crime spree that ended in 1975 with the kidnapping and murder of an adolescent heiress. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Donald Sumpter, Debbie Farrington, (more)
- 1992
- PG
Terence Davies' blissful, evocative and non-narrative follow-up to his Distant Voices, Still Lives follows a few months in the life of 12-year-old Bud (Leigh McCormack), in impressionistic snatches of his everyday existence growing up in the Liverpool of 1956. Bud's world is influenced by his mother (Marjorie Yates), his older sister Helen (Ayse Owens), and his older brothers John (Nicholas Lamont) and Kevin (Anthony Watson). Bud is a lonely and quiet child whose moments of solace occur when he sits in rapture at the local cinema, watching towering and iconic figures on the movie screen. The movies give Bud the strength to get through another day as he deals with his oppressive school environment and his burgeoning homosexuality. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marjorie Yates, Leigh Mc Cormack, (more)
- 1986
Peter Ustinov stars once more as Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie's insufferably brilliant Belgian detective. Unlike many of Ustinov's earlier Poirot vehicles, which were set in the 1930s, the made-for-TV Dead Man's Folly takes place in contemporary England. Jean Stapleton costars as an American mystery novelist who organizes a "murder hunt" at a sprawling English manor. It isn't long before several of the guests are also sprawling--on the ground, stone cold dead. American-born British stage star Constance Cummings makes a rare TV appearance as a mysterious noblewoman. Dead Man's Folly was lensed on location at West Wycombe Park in Buckinhamshire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Ustinov
Director Stephen Frears' Loving Walter combines 1982's Walter, produced for Britain's Channel Four, and its sequel, 1983's Walter and June. Based on the best-selling book by David Cook, the story details the plight of Walter (Ian McKellan), a moderately retarded man, after the deaths of his parents. No concrete provisions have been made for Walter's upkeep, so he is thrown into an institution, where for the first time he is subjected to the casual cruelties of the "normal" world. Walter is rescued from an uncertain future through the love of June, played by Sarah Miles. Frankie Connolly plays the young Walter, while Arthur Whybrow and Barbara Jefford are his parents. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ian McKellen, Sarah Miles, (more)
In a novel and intriguing approach to storytelling, director David Hare has created an engaging mystery and human drama that ostensibly focuses on an innocent dinner party but is really about something else. Jean Travers (Vanessa Redgrave) is an old-maid schoolmarm who has lived in Wetherby, a small town in northeastern Yorkshire, all of her life. She is still haunted by memories of a passionate love affair with a young man who was later murdered while on military duty in Malaysia nearly 35 years ago in the '50s. One evening, Jean invites a group of friends over for dinner; the group is comprised of two couples, one of which spends the time sniping at each other. A young man, John Morgan (Tim McInnerny) is also in the dinner party. Jean thinks he was brought along by one of the couples; the couples, in turn, believe he was invited by Jean -- in short, he is a total stranger that everyone assumes is a friend of someone there. As the evening progresses, political topics of the moment are brought up and chewed over; Margaret Thatcher, Richard Nixon, and other notables of the era are discussed, and various comments are made on the laziness of today's youth. The dinner party ends, and the next day John Morgan comes back to visit Jean. While she is in the midst of preparing tea for them both, he takes out a gun and kills himself. The shock waves from his senseless act later reverberate among the dinner-party guests, as the police investigator tries to piece together the man's background and the dinner party itself. Questions are raised about his motives, and viewers see the dinner party again, moment by moment, in an entirely new light. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vanessa Redgrave, Ian Holm, (more)
Jaclyn Smith is a curious choice to play the title character in the made-for-TV biopic Florence Nightingale. This fact, however, never enters into the consciousness of the viewer, thanks to Smith's excellent performance. Some liberties are taken with the details of the life of "The Lady with the Lamp," notably the addition of a largely speculative romance between Florence and her young swain (Timothy Dalton). The best scenes--and the most accurate--occur during the Crimean War sequences and during Nightingale's strenuous efforts to form the Red Cross. Co-produced by Tony Richmond, Jaclyn Smith's husband, Florence Nightingale debuted April 7, 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jaclyn Smith, Timothy Dalton, (more)
- 1982
Director Stephen Frears paints a bleak and cynical picture of the ordinary Brit's ability to relate to someone less fortunate in this hard-hitting look at the world of the mentally handicapped. Walter (Ian McKellen) is a kind-hearted man who is mentally challenged. Walter's parents are remote and insensitive to him; his mother is constantly saying things that are cutting, and his father pays more attention to his pigeons than his son. Walter, however, loves the pigeons since they're only living beings in his life who are not hurtful. One day, tragedy strikes and Walter has to be interned in a mental institution. Paradoxically, his desire to help others finally finds an outlet there. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ian McKellen, Barbara Jefford, (more)
- 1981
- R
The later years of the life of author D.H. Lawrence are dramatized in this screen biography. Following the controversial reception of his novel The Rainbow, David Herbert Lawrence (Ian McKellen) and his wife Frieda (Janet Suzman) leave England for the U.S., where they hope that Lawrence's bold themes will be received in a more tolerant climate. Such is not the case, and the Lawrences travel first to Mexico, and then to Italy while David attempts to complete and then publish his best known (and most controversial) work, Lady Chatterley's Lover. However, as the furor over the book taxes David's well being, tuberculosis saps his physical health. The supporting cast includes John Gielgud as censorship crusader Herbert G. Muskett and Ava Gardner as Mabel Dodge Luhan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ian McKellen, Janet Suzman, (more)
- 1977
In this children's movie, an adorable alien, Glitterball, is discovered by two moppets after he is inadvertently abandoned on Earth. The kiddies attempt to help Glitterball get home. They succeed and his is rescued by his beautiful mother ship. This film was released five years before Steven Spielberg made his classic E.T. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1975
- R
Peter Cushing stars as a police investigator whose search into a series of murders--committed during the full moon--leads him to a French zoo run by a strange keeper. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Peter Sellers gives a splendid, understated performance in this gentle comedy-drama. Liz (Donna Mullane) and Mark (John Chaffey) are a pair of poor children trying to get by on the streets of London. In their travels, Liz and Mark get to know Sam (Sellers), a one-time music hall performer who these days performs for change with his dog on streetcorners. Sam takes the youngsters under his wing and helps remind them of the simply joys of living that they've forgotten in their hardscrabble lives. Also released as The Optimists of Nine Elms, The Optimists features several original songs by Lionel Bart and an incidental score by George Martin, best known as the man who produced The Beatles' recordings. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Sellers, Donna Mullane, (more)
