John Breslin Movies
- 1994
- PG
Unlike the barren and forbidding moors elsewhere in England, Return of the Native's Egdon Heath attires itself in vibrant wildflowers, mossy hillsides, winding streams, arching footbridges, and undulant meadows. An enchantress would be at home in this place, but not Eustacia Vye, portrayed by Zeta-Jones. Though coveted by every man in Egdon Heath -- and every boy old enough to stare -- the beautiful Eustacia longs for the smoking chimneys and broad stone buildings of Paris. When a native of Egdon Heath, Clym Yeobright Ray Stevenson, returns from his job in Paris as a jeweler, Vye stuns him with her beauty and marries him in hopes of persuading him to take her to Paris. But, alas, Clym is a clod at heart. He vows to remain in Egdon Heath to teach and edify. After his eyesight deteriorates, Eustacia turns her attentions to rakish Damon Wildeve Clive Owen, and the plot begins to churn and curdle. ~ Mike Cummings, Rovi
- Starring:
- Catherine Zeta-Jones, Clive Owen, (more)
- 1970
Jon Pertwee stepped into the role of Doctor Who in the series' seventh-season opener, "Spearhead From Space." Written by Robert Holmes, this adventure finds the Doctor exiled to earth by the Time Lords as punishment for his behavior during the sixth-season finale "The War Games." In the first episode of this four-part adventure, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) of U.N.I.T. investigates a mysterious meteor shower with the help of scientific advisor Dr. Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw (Caroline John). While all this is going on, the "new" Doctor materializes in his familiar police box -- and before long he, too, has joined the investigation. Beginning its run on January 3, 1970 "Spearhead From Space" was the series' first color episode. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Caroline John, (more)
- 1970
In the second episode of the four-part story "Spearhead From Space," the "new" Doctor (Jon Pertwee) joins U.N.I.T. members Brig. Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) and Dr. Liz Shaw (Caroline John) in investigating a strange meteor shower. The trio soon discovers that the meteorites are pods for the Nestene Consciousness -- and it isn't long before they are gathered up by a sinister plastics manufacturer named Channing, who uses the pods to create the Autons, deadly creatures with weapons for hands. First telecast January 10, 1970, "Spearhead From Space, Episode 2" was written by Robert Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Caroline John, (more)
- 1970
In the third episode of the four-part story "Spearhead From Space," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) squares off against the alien Autons, who, in league with plastics manufacturer Channing, have arrived on earth as a vanguard for the invading Nestene Consciousness. Unfortunately, neither the Doctor nor his colleagues at U.N.I.T. are much of a match for the Autons, whose deadly weapons are built into their hands. Equally unfortunate is the fact that the Doctor has been denied the use of his trusty TARDIS, forcing him to deal with the enemy minus any sort of electronic assistance. First telecast January 17, 1970, "Spearhead From Space, Episode 3" was written by Robert Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Caroline John, (more)
- 1970
In the conclusion of the four-part story "Spearhead From Space," the final pod has been found and the Nestene Consciousness is able to reconstruct itself on Earth. This will mean disaster for everyone on the planet unless the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) finds some way of disabling the Consciousness' warriors, the Autons. More than one commentator has noticed the remarkable resemblance between this Doctor Who continuity and Nigel Kneale's sci-fi classic Quatermass II. First telecast January 24, 1970, "Spearhead From Space, Episode 4" was written by Robert Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jon Pertwee, Caroline John, (more)
- 1959
Filmed on location, Shake Hands With the Devil is set in Ireland during the "troubles" of 1921. James Cagney plays a brilliant medical professor who doubles as head of the Irish Republican Army. Cagney convinces one of his more pacifistic students, Don Murray, to join the underground struggle against British rule. Murray suffers a crisis of conscience when his sweetheart Dana Wynter is taken hostage by the IRA and is slated for execution by the zealous Cagney. Several members of Dublin's Abbey Players appear in supporting roles in Shake Hands With Devil. Watch for Richard Harris in the small part of Terence O'Brien. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Cagney, Don Murray, (more)
- 1957
This British drama chronicles the exploits of a brutal Liverpudlian gang leader/would-be rock star who finds himself inducted into the army. The troubled youth undergoes basic training and emerges a man. Later his best friend from boot camp is killed by the camp bully. Courageously, he stands up to the bully and wounds him. Fearing retribution, he flees the barracks. Time passes and he eventually rights the wrong, matures, and marries his singing partner. Songs include: "Isn't It a Lovely Evening?" "These Dangerous Years," and "Cold, Cold Shower." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- George Baker, Thora Hird, (more)
