Mandie Fletcher Movies

A disturbed woman starts getting friendly advice from some of the great murderers of history in this black comedy from Great Britain. Introverted Jody Greenwood (Jane Horrocks) and her bolder sister Beth (Imelda Staunton) both live under the thumb of their domineering mother Iris (Brenda Fricker). Jodie has romantic feelings for Dr. Ted Phillips (Jonathan Pryce), a local physician at least twenty years her senior, while Beth has become involved with a hunky male stripper, but both sisters feel paralyzed to do much about their relationships while Iris is still around. One night, Jody is visited by the ghost of Maj. Herbert Armstrong (Edward Woodward), a locally infamous man who made his small town famous with the spectacular murder of his wife. After he passes on some advice about how to achieve personal freedom, Jody kills Iris with an axe and hides the body with Beth's help. However, bad blood arises between Jody and Beth, and, after a nocturnal visit from well-known murderer Dr. Crippen (Hywel Bennett), Jody is inspired to pick up the hatchet again, doing away with Beth and her stripper. Jody beats the case against her in court and wins the heart of Dr. Phillips, but unfortunately she starts getting visits again ... . Jane Horrocks's performance as Jody won her the Best Actress award at the 1994 Catalonian International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Once again, Edmund Blackadder is jealous of his betters; in this case, the object of his envy is the Scarlet Pimpernel. Determined to prove himself as fearless and daring as that "damn'd elusive Pimpernel," Edmund heads to France (a country that makes him violently ill) to rescue aristocrats on his own. Meanwhile, Edmund's patron, the portly Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie), struggles in vain to put on his trousers. "Nob and Nobility" first aired on October 1, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

To alleviate the Prince Regent's financial problems, Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) arranges for the Prince (Hugh Laurie) to marry the fabulously wealthy Amy Hardwood (Miranda Richardson). A series of improbable plot twists result in Edmund tying the knot with Amy himself. Worse yet, Amy turns out to be "The Shadow," a notorious highwayman (or highwaywoman?). Also known as "Cape and Capability," this Blackadder episode originally aired in England on October 15, 1987. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The third series of Blackadder episodes (logically telecast in England under the blanket title Black Adder the Third commenced on September 17, 1987, with "Dish and Dishonesty." Inasmuch as the series' time frame has been moved up to the late 18th and early 19th century, star Rowan Atkinson is now cast as the descendent to the two previously seen members of the odious Blackadder clan. As butler and Dogsberry to the Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie), Edmund Blackadder (Atkinson), and his crony Baldrick (Tony Robinson) continue their underhanded efforts to advance themselves in the British Higher Orders. In this episode, Blackadder manages to get Baldrick elected a Member of Parliament -- but only to keep himself from being banished from the Social Register by William Pitt the Younger (Simon Osborne). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) seethes with jealousy when Sir Walter Raleigh, freshly returned from the New World, presents Queen Elizabeth (Miranda Richardson) with a potato. Vowing that anything Sir Walter can do, he can do better, Edmund sets out on an exploring expedition of his own. Alas and alack, he secures the services of England's least reliable mariner, Captain Redbeard Rum (Tom Baker). "Potato" was first telecast on January 23, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Ever anxious to one-up his fellow man, Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) enters a beer-drinking contest. On the same day as the Big Event, who should show up but Edmund's puritanical, teetotalling uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Whiteadder (Daniel Thorndike, Miriam Margoyles). Adding to Edmund's woes is an unfortunate run-in with a turnip and an ostrich feather. "Beer" made its first British television appearance on February 11, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The second series of Blackadder episodes ended on February 20, 1986, with "Chains." In response to a series of high-profile political abductions, Queen Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson) adopts a strict no-ransom policy. Almost as if on cue, Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) and his crony Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry) are kidnapped by Prince Ludwig of Germany (Hugh Laurie). Edmund's peril intensifies when he is placed in the hands of a Spanish interrogator (Max Harvey) right out of a Monty Python sketch. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi