Paul Annett Movies
- 1991
This video is made up of four mini-thrillers from a popular television anthology series. The first is "People Don't Do Such Things," about a soured marriage; "Youth from Vienna," centering on a fountain of youth that gives unexpected results; "Skeleton in the Cupboard," about a man with a terrible secret; and "Bird of Prey," the mystery of a dead parrot's giant egg. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Ian Ogilvy headed the cast of the obscure three-part British miniseries Menace Unseen. Ogilvy played Duncan Free, a computer consultant. When one of his co-workers was murdered, Duncan used his technological savvy to determine the culprit -- who, of course, had no intention of being exposed. Boasting an unusually strong supporting cast, Menace Unseen was distributed by Anglia Television in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In this romantic tragedy, Eleni (Angela Gerekou) is betrothed to Petros (Andreas Manoslikakis). However, she's not marrying him for love (she finds him irritating) but because his rich father paid for her operatic training in Athens and got her father out of debt. Eleni really loves Alan (Alex Hyde-White), the American professor who is her music teacher. Caught between her duty as a loyal daughter (and member in good standing of her village) and the love she feels for Alan, Eleni does not know what to do. In the meantime, Alan and Petros might resolve that issue for her. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angela Gerekou, Alex Hyde-White, (more)
- 1985
"A Scandal in Bohemia" is the title of the first of a series of episodes of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes -- an excellent adaptation of a Sherlock Holmes mystery story, produced in Britain for Granada TV. In this episode, Jeremy Brett portrays the famed detective who, with the help of his companion Dr. Watson (David Burke), aids the King of Bohemia in recovering letters written to his mistress, the beautiful Irene Adler (Gayle Hunnicutt). This episode is unusual because Holmes shows considerable romantic interest in the intriguing Irene. This historically accurate series re-created the adventures of Conan Doyle's Victorian detective with impeccable faithfulness to the original story, sometimes to the extent of re-creating the illustrations which accompanied the original story publication in the Strand Magazine during the late 19th century. 13 of the Holmes short stories were adapted in this series, which was followed by two sequels, The Return of Sherlock Holmes and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, as well as several TV movie adaptations. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Brett, David Burke, (more)
- 1985
"The Final Problem" is the last episode of the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, an excellent adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories produced in Britain for Granada TV. In this episode directed by Alan Grint, Jeremy Brett portrays the famed detective aided by his companion Dr. Watson (David Burke) as they fight to the finish with Holmes' nemesis Professor James Moriarity (Eric Porter). This episode was written by John Hawkesworth and is one of the most famous of the Holmes stories; it was intended by Doyle to be his final Holmes publication. It is an excellent adaptation of the original story first printed in the Strand Magazine during the late 19th century. This series was followed by several sequels, as well as four feature-length TV movie adaptations. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Brett, David Burke, (more)
- 1985
"The Dancing Men" is an episode of the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, an excellent adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories, produced in Britain for Granada TV. In this episode directed by John Bruce, Jeremy Brett portrays the famed detective aided by his companion Dr. Watson (David Burke) as they investigate the source of a series of curious drawings that are being seen by Elise Cubitt (Betsy Brantley). The drawings are extremely disturbing to the young woman, and her husband is concerned for her well-being. Written by Anthony Skene, this episode is one of the more famous of the Holmes' stories; the faithfulness to the original story first published in the Strand Magazine during the late 19th century is exceptional. This series was followed by related sequels, as well as four TV movie adaptations. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Brett, David Burke, (more)
- 1985
"The Cooper Beeches" is an episode of the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, an excellent adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories, produced in Britain for Granada TV. In this episode, directed by Paul Annett, Jeremy Brett portrays the famed detective, aided by his companion Dr. Watson as the two help a governess, Violet Hunter (Natasha Richardson), who is employed by a strange couple -- Jephro Rucastle (Joss Ackland) and his wife (Lottie Ward). This episode, written by Bill Craig, re-creates the adventures of Conan Doyle's Victorian detective with impeccable faithfulness to the original story first published in the Strand Magazine during the late 19th century. This series was followed by a sequel, as well as several TV movie adaptations. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Brett, David Burke, (more)
- 1985
"The Solitary Cyclist" is an episode of the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, an excellent series of adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories, produced in Britain for Granada TV. In this episode, directed by Paul Annett, the renowned Jeremy Brett portrays the famed detective aided by his companion Dr. Watson (David Burke). Here, Holmes aids Violet Smith (Barbara Wilshere) in discovering the identity and intentions of a curious follower. This episode, written by Alan Plater, is one of the most enjoyable of the Holmes stories and is faithful to the original story first published in the Strand Magazine during the late 19th century is exceptional. This series was followed by several sequels, as well as some feature-length TV movie adaptations. ~ Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Brett, David Burke, (more)
- 1984
An old building falls victim to the wrecker's ball. When the dust clears, the demolition crew discovers the three-centuries-old remains of a satanic cult. Barbi Benton, Gareth Hunt and Brian Deacon (in a dual role) head the cast of this British TV movie. And the Wall Came Tumbling Down debuted in American over the USA cable network on January 5, 1985, in tandem with another British import, Last Video and Testament. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Jeremy Brett stars as Conan Doyle's immortal consulting detective Sherlock Holmes in this television mystery series. Originally telecast on the BBC, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes made its American premiere in 1984 as part of PBS' Mystery anthology series. David Burke costars as Dr. Watson, while Rosalie Williams occasionally pops in as Holmes' housekeeper Mrs. Hudson. Series one and two ran in 1984 and 1985 as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, series three and four in 1986 and 1987 as The Return of Sherlock Holmes, series five and six in 1991 and 1992 as The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, and the seventh series in 1994 as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeremy Brett
- 1983
Created by Lynda LaPlante, the British TV drama series Widows focused on the wives of three professional criminals, all of whom were apparently killed during a bungled robbery. Taking matters in their own hands, the widows, led by Dolly Rawlins (Ann Mitchell), vowed to finish the larcenous job that their husbands had started, and to wreak vengeance on those responsible for their widowhood. They were joined by a fourth woman, Bella O'Reilly (played first by Eva Mottley, then by Debbie Bishop), who claimed that her boyfriend was also part of the original caper. First telecast from March 16 through April 20, 1983, Widows was followed by Widows II, which aired from April 3 to May 8, 1985. On this occasion, it was revealed that one of the "dead" husbands was still alive, and very insistent that he be cut in on the loot. The subsequent rounds of betrayal and backstabbing culminated in a third series, She's Out. Widows was remade for American television in 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Mitchell, Maureen O'Farrell, (more)
- 1982
This drama is about a lonely young girl who fantasizes about adventures with Peter Pan and develops a friendship with a lonely old woman to escape her sadness. ~ Steve Huey, All Movie Guide
- 1980
This sporadically telecast British series was based on the "Tuppence and Tommy" stories by Agatha Christie. James Warwick and Francesca Annis starred as upper-class couple Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, who never seemed to go anywhere without stumbling over a mystery or murder. Most often, Tommy would have preferred to let the proper authorities handle the matter, but that just wasn't good enough for his capricious and adventurous young wife. Also seen in most of the series' eleven episodes was Reece Dinsdale as Albert. First broadcast in the U.K. in 1980, Partners in Crime was seen in America as an irregularly scheduled component of the PBS anthology Mystery. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- James Warwick, Francesca Annis, (more)
- 1972
In this little horror film, a wealthy sportsman (Calvin Lockhart) invites a house full of guests to a big-game hunt that he's devised. He's sure that one of the guests is a werewolf, and he intends to stalk it, find it, and kill it. As a film viewer, you are alerted at the outset that a mystery awaits and that clues will be unveiled that can point to the identity of the werewolf. In fact, near the conclusion, the film has inserted a 30-second interlude during which you must decide, once and for all, who the hunted beast is. This film is based upon a story by James Blish titled There Shall Be No Darkness. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1965
Short-statured British comedian Charlie Drake starred in this weekly slapstick comedy series, uniquely tailored to his acrobatic talents. Drake was cast as Charlie, an accident-prone worker who paid weekly visits to the Labour Exchange in hopes of finding a lasting job. Unfortunately, Charlie's ineptitude resulted in his being sacked a few hours after being engaged, and before long he had toted up some 1,000 job failures. Still, the ever-optimistic Charlie returned again and again to the Exchange, much to the dismay of his contacts Mr. Whittaker (Percy Herbert) and Mr. Pugh (Henry McGee). The Worker was originally telecast in a half-hour format, from February 27, 1965 to September 17, 1970. When the property resurfaced from October 7 to November 25, 1978, it was as a 15-minute component of the British variety series Bruce Forsyth's Big Night. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlie Drake, Percy Herbert, (more)
