Alan Cooke Movies
British director Alan Cooke specialized in made-for-television movies and has made many on both sides of the Atlantic. He started out as a theater director following WWII. He entered television work during the 1950s and directed his first television movie, The Ship That Couldn't Stop (1961). He also directed episodes of such series as The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes and Out of the Unknown. In 1979, Cooke emigrated to the United States and became a director of television series episodes. His credits in this area include Lou Grant, Matlock, and Beauty and the Beast. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi- 1990
Filmed in both England and Europe, the weekly 60-minute British action series TECX starred Rob Spendlove as Chris Tierney, a former teacher and wine grower. Acknowledging Tierney's high intellect and crimesolving abilities, Italian criminologist (and Raymond Chandler buff) Fabio Cavalcanti (Urbano Barberini) asked Chris to help him establish a globe-trotting private-detective agency known as TECX. The new firm was answerable primarily to Brussels-based Souverain Associates, headed by Isabelle Souverain (Stephane Audran). Although Jenny Agutter is often listed as a star of this series, her role as Kate Milverton was more in the nature of a recurring guest character. Originally telecast on Britain's Central Television in 1990, the 13-episode TECX was syndicated in America to local PBS outlets beginning in 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1984
This episode was filmed on location in Seattle, where Jessica (Angela Lansbury) has been asked to deliver a university lecture. During her first few days in town, Jessica is impressed by the efficiency and vast intellect of her temporary secretary David Tolliver (Andrew Stevens). When his wealthy girlfriend is murdered, David is fingered as the main suspect, whereupon Jessica endeavors to clear the young man's name--and in the process, she unearths a hotbed of academic intrigue. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
This made-for-television biopic tells the story of phenomenal Rumanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci, a little girl who blew away the judges at the 1976 Summer Olympics by getting an unprecedented series of six perfect scores. Unfortunately, though the games were a dream come true, her subsequent life was a nightmare that culminated in a suicide attempt. Fortunately that was Nadia's lowest point and she was able to make a comeback in time to have a happy ending. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Leslie Weiner, Johann Carlo, (more)
- 1982
This adaptation of William Shakespeare's drama of an aging king and the deceit and treachery that envelops his family as they fight over his estate features Mike Kellen, David Groh, Kitty Winn and Darryl Hickman. The DVD version features bonus features accessible on computers with DVD drives -- a teacher's guide to King Lear, and a text for this edition of the play. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Mike Kellin
- 1979
The new, pro-American president of the island nation of San Christos is on the verge of breaking off diplomatic relations with the U.S. At the core of the crisis is a new Diptheria vaccine produced in American and sent to the children of San Christos. It appears as though the vaccine is tainted, and has caused several deaths. Quincy (Jack Klugman) and Sam (Robert Ito) are dispatched to San Christos in hopes of learning all the facts--and, in the process, avoiding a devastating international incident that would greatly benefit the new president's political enemies. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1977
This BBC production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the fifth (at least!) dramatization of Victor Hugo's novel Notre Dame de Paris. It should not confused with the elaborate 1982 TV-movie version starring Anthony Hopkins as deformed hunchbacked bell ringer Quasimodo, if only for one important reason: The BBC version was shot on videotape, then transferred (unsatisfactorily) to film. The Hunchback, usually the star role in most versions of this tale of 15th- century Paris, is played by the relatively unknown Warren Clarke, while the biggest name in the production, British actor Kenneth Haigh, is top-billed as Claude Frollo, Archbishop of Notre Dame. Michelle Newell is gypsy girl Esmerelda, whose strange alliance with Quasimodo motivates the interwoven intrigues of Hugo's story. This Hunchback of Notre Dame was closer to the original than most versions, but because of its ragged pictorial quality was forgotten almost immediately after its American TV debut in July of 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1976
This CBC anthology consisted of six hour-long dramas about immigrants in Canada, and how life in the Dominion was perceived through the protagonists' eyes and experiences. Individual episode titles included "Honour Thy Father," "Kaleshnikoff," "The Day My Grandad Died," "Turncoat," "Yesterday Was Years Ago," and "Maria." First telecast on November 28, 1976, Here to Stay ran until January 9, 1977, when it was succeeded by the potpourri public-affair series For the Record. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1975
The short stories of prolific British author Graham Greene were grist for the mill in this weekly British anthology. Shades of Greene featured some of the best character actors in the United Kingdom, all of whom seemed thrilled at playing full leads rather than their usual supporting roles. Among the noteworthy writers who adapted the 19 stories for television were John Mortimer, William Trevor, and Clive Exton. Individual titles included "When Greek Meets Greek," "Cheap in August," "The Root of All Evil," and "A Little Place Off the Edgeware Road." Telecast variously in a 25-minute and 50-minute format, Shades of Greene was presented by Thames Television from 1975 to 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1970
- PG
The Mind of Mr. Soames can be described as a melodramatic Charly. John Soames (Terence Stamp) is a hospital patient who has been in a coma for 30 years. Doctor Bergen (Robert Vaughn) attempts to revitalize Soames by transplanting an infant's brain in the patient's head. When Soames awakens, he has the mental capacity of a baby, but Dr. Bergen is certain that he can accelerate the maturation process, which he does in a matter of weeks. But the pressure on Soames' emotional stability is such that he tragically snaps during a live TV broadcast. Adapted from a novel by Charles Eric Maine, The Mind of Mr. Soames raises more questions than it can possibly answer, but works well on the level of solid science fiction. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Terence Stamp, Robert Vaughn, (more)
- 1967
The victorious Don Pedro is returning to Messina after his latest successful skirmish. His troops include his wicked brother Don John, young Claudio and Benedick, a witty confirmed bachelor from Padua. They are welcomed by the governor, Leonato, as well as by his beautiful daughter Hero and Hero's cousin Beatrice, the latter as confirmed in her maidenhood as Benedick is in his bachelorhood. Claudio quickly falls in love Hero, but through a series of complications, Leonato comes to believe it is Don Pedro that wishes to woo his daughter. Eventually, however, Hero and Claudio are brought together and their marriage plans are announced. At the same time, Don Pedro begins a campaign to bring Beatrice and Benedick together. Just before the wedding of the young lovers, Don John deceives laudio and Don Pedro with lies about Hero's purity; at the wedding, Claudio denounces her as a whore and calls off the marriage. Beatrice concocts a plot to discover the source of these lies, said plot involving faking Hero's death. Don John is eventually unmasked as the perpetrator, the young couple again becomes engaged, and Beatrice and Benedick admit their attraction to each other and plan their own wedding. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi
- 1964
Ford Madox Ford's beloved novel comes to the small screen in this 1964 BBC mini-series starring Judi Dench and Ronald Hines. Christopher Tietjens (Hines) is an Eduardian aristocrat caught in a treacherous love triangle involving his cruel, socialite wife Sylvia (Jeanne Moody) and pretty suffragette Valentine Wannop (Dench). As the drums of World War I start to beat, Christopher heads to war. Meanwhile, suppressed passions and strict social obligations lead to an intense personal struggle that mirrors the chaos Christopher experiences on the battlefield. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
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