Peter Hammond Movies
- 1953
Alf Donkin (Jerry Desmonde) and his two nitwitted brothers (C. Dernier Warren and Mark Daly) adopt an orphaned baby girl. She grows up to be the delectable Pauline Stroud, whose beauty and vulnerability prompts the good-hearted Alf to be all the more protective of her. When Pauline falls in love with a crook (Peter Hammond), Alf and his siblings try to prevent their foster child from making the mistake of her life. Alf's Baby was based on It Won't Be a Stylish Marriage, a play by A.P. Dearsley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
The third season of The Avengers arrived with the happy news that Cathy Gale would henceforth be John Steed's full-time partner, displacing such second-season "temps" as Venus Smith (Julie Stevens) and Dr. Martin King (Jon Rollason). Even so, the first episode of the season, "Brief for Murder," found Steed methodically plotting Cathy's murder. It's all part of a master plan to trap a pair of crooked lawyers (Harold Scott and John Laurie), but this isn't made apparent until after Cathy has (apparently) shuffled off her mortal coil. Written by the dependable Brian Clemens, "Brief for Murder" originally aired in England on September 29, 1963; it was first shown in America on March 5, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Still on the trail of drug kingpin Ronnie Vance, Dr. Keel goes undercover to join Vance's gang at the suggestion of secret agent, John Steed. Threatened with death from a narcotics-laden hypodermic, Vance confesses to the murder of Keel's fiancée. Much to Steed's delight, Keel agrees to remain as his permanent partner. This episode introduced Ingrid Hafner in the semi-regular role of special agent Carol Wilson. Written by series stalwart Brian Clemens, "Brought to Book" was originally telecast January 14, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Producer-writer Brian Clemens was in top form with this episode, which originally aired on February 15, 1964. Cathy Gale adds to her already impressive leather wardrobe when she joins a motorcycle gang. No, she hasn't "gone punk," she's merely trying to help Steed find the location of an insidious electronic jamming device. As for Steed himself, he has quite a time with a pair of "old witches," namely the Peck Sisters (Athene Seyler and Nora Nicholson). "Build a Better Mousetrap" made its American cable TV debut on April 1, 1991, arousing amusement over the episode's depiction of "typical" 1960s British teens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Going undercover, Cathy Gale joins the board of directors of a highly suspicious munitions firm. It's all part of a master scheme to infiltrate an organization specializing in smuggling and assassination. But before she can put all the pieces together and trap the head villains, Cathy is herself targetted for elimination -- which, curiously enough, was her partner Steed's intention all along. Originally telecast October 20, 1962, "Bullseye" was written by Eric Paice. The episode made its first American appearance on January 30, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Cathy poses as a journalist to find out why a circus clown (Robert Rietty) is trying to murder Steed. It turns out that the clown is a functionary of the Mafia, and that Steed is getting too close for comfort to the "organization's" American drug-smuggling operation. It also turns out that the clown wants to escape the clutches of the Mafia himself. . .or does he? Originally telecast in England on March 2, 1963 (and finally shown in America on February 27, 1991), "Conspiracy of Silence" was written by Roger Marshall. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
A British secret service agent is killed near a nuclear submarine dry dock. Hoping to solve the murder, Steed poses as a metalurgist and heads to the shipyard himself. Here he comes face to face with his old enemy Kolchek (Peter Arne), whose plans go far beyond simple one-on-one murder. Nyree Dawn Porter, who according to several sources was the producer's original choice for Cathy Gale (the character played by Honor Blackman during The Avengers' second and third season), guest-starred as Liz Wells. Written by James Mitchell, "Death on the Slipway" was originally telecast June 24, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Discovered lying on the side of a road, an auto crash victim turns out to have a fortune in diamonds hidden in his stomach. Following the trail of evidence, Steed and Cathy discover that the estate of a dying philanthropist is slowly and methodically being stolen and smuggled out of the country. First telecast November 17, 1962, "Death of a Great Dane" was written by Roger Marshall and Jeremy Scott. The episode was broadcast in America on February 5, 1991 -- and, some 23 years earlier, was refilmed as the "Mrs. Peel" episode "The 50,000-Pound Breakfast." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Posing as a crooked airline steward, Steed is able to join an international diamond smuggling ring. After arriving in New York, he is accused of killing a girl in a traffic accident and cannot account for his actions during the tragedy. Suspecting that Steed has been drugged, Keel investigates, thereby uncovering an insidious and wide-ranging blackmail scheme. Written by Max Marquis, "Diamond Cut Diamond" was originally telecast live on February 18, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Invited to visit the country estate of a renowned historian, Cathy discovers that her host has vanished and that his highly suspicous ward (Janine Gray) has taken his place. Before long, Cathy finds herself being stalked by a shadowy assassin. Will Steed arrive in time to save Cathy from a grisly fate -- and just who is her mysterious assailant? Written by Brian Clemens, "Don't Look Behind You" was first telecast in England on December 14, 1963. American viewers who saw the episode for the first time on March 19, 1991 would recognize guest star Janine Grey for her appearance on two other "cult" spy series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Get Smart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Having recently left The Avengers, Ian Hendry (aka Dr. Keel) is conspicuous by his absence in this episode. Going it alone this time around, Steed is assigned to a spacecraft center where radiation shields are being manufactured. One of the scientists has somehow been exposed to radiation, and it is up to Steed to determine whether this was by accident or design. Videotaped several months before its telecast, "Dragonsfield" was written by Terrence Feeley. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Originally scheduled as a live telecast on March 18, 1961, this Avengers episode was instead committed to videotape and broadcast on April 8. Steed and Keel put a tail on recently released convict Frank Preston, hoping that he will lead them to the money that he stole. But before Preston can reach his destination, he is waylaid by a gang of crooks, who likewise want to get their hands on the stolen lucre. The episode comes to a nailbiting climax as a wounded Preston forces Keel to help him retrieve the loot, which is secreted in a slimy sewer. "Hunt the Man Down" was written by Richard Harris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Dr. Keel investigates the disappearance of one of his patients' husbands, a noted scientist working on a hush-hush government project. Suspecting that there's dirty work afoot, Steed convinces Keel to impersonate the missing scientist. Complicating matters is the fact that one of the villains' accomplices is an anesthetist at the hospital where an injured Keel is brought for treatment. Written by Terrence Feely, "Nightmare" was originally telecast live on January 28, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Unbeknownst to Keel, Steed uses him as the courier for a new medical formula, printed on a tiny microdot. Arriving at a Swiss medical convention, Keel hands over his conference card (containing the microdot, of course) to a young lady of his acquaintance. Thus the girl finds her life in danger, while Keel comes face to face with the person who framed him for murder in the previous week's episode. First telecast April 29, 1961, "One for the Mortuary" was written by Brian Clemens. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Steed is assigned to transport a shipment of live corneas to Switzerland to be used in a delicate eye-graft operation. But when one of the surgeons involved is murdered, Steed and Cathy uncover a sinister plot involving a sightless millionaire (John Carson). Also figuring in on the proceedings is a cache of valuable jewels. Written by Martin Woodhouse, "Second Sight" was originally broadcast in England on November 16, 1963; it remained unseen in America until March 14, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
While returning from a vacation in Chile, Dr. Keel tries to help the victims of a cyclone in Mexico. He soon stumbles onto a particularly nasty example of industrial pollution. Another doctor swears vengeance against the wealthy financier responsible for this ecological outrage, forcing Keel to put his return-to-England plans on hold and to prevent a brutal (if somewhat justified) murder. Written by John Lucarotti, "The Far Distant Dead" was originally broadcast August 19, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
This episode was originally telecast May 27, 1961. The title refers to an organization that specializes in "persuading" people to do their bidding via brutal beatings. The head of the crooks is a man called The Deacon (Willoughby Goddard). The current target for the Frighteners is a man who disapproves of his daughter's fiancée, a man who specializes in marrying wealthy women in order to square his debts. As Steed tries to establish a link between the fiancée and the Frighteners, Dr. Keel goes undercover in hopes of exposing the Deacon, or at least to beat him at his own game. "The Frighteners" was written by Berkley Mather. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Steed suspects that there's more than meets the eye when a scientist's lab is broken into but not robbed -- at least, not obviously robbed. Investigating, Steed and Cathy follow the trail of evidence to the "golden eggs" of the title, each of which contains a deadly viral microbe. Racing against time, Cathy (who knows more about biochemistry than Steed) tries to prevent a wholesale epidemic. Written by Martin Woodhouse, "The Golden Eggs" was originally telecast in England on February 2, 1963, then was shown on American cable TV on February 21st. . .28 years later. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Steed searches high and low for Mister Lo (Robert Lee), an infamous gold smuggler. His investigation leads to a group of disgruntled military men who use their ill-gotten gains for a surprisingly worthy cause. Elements essential to the plot include a mysterious check for 5,000 pounds, a Chinese restaurant, and a suddenly militaristic Cathy Gale. Written by Roger Marshall and Phyllis Norman, "The Golden Fleece" was originally telecast on December 7, 1963. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
After lapsing into a comatose state, a rocket scientist suddenly disappears from view. Investigating the situation, Steed and Cathy discover that the missing scientist was deeply influenced by the occult. When the man is found dead, the Avengers immerse themselves in the world of Black Magic to uncover the killer. Intended as Cathy Gale's introductory episode, "Warlock" had to be extensively re-edited when it was decided to delay its telecast until January 26, 1963, by which time Cathy was firmly established on the series. Written by Doreen Montgomery, the episode didn't make it to American television until February 20, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
Adapted from the 1932 comic novel by Stella Gibbons, this version of Cold Comfort Farm stars Sarah Badel as Flora Post, a precocious 19-year-old whose parents were lost to the Spanish plague. Left with only 100 pounds a year for survival, Flora writes to several relatives in hopes of finding one that will take her in and offer her the stockings-and-furs lifestyle to which she has become accustomed. Eventually, she is invited to Cold Comfort farm where, as an aspiring author, Flora comes into contact with a group of individuals quirky enough to provide inspiration for years to come. The cast includes Alastair Sim and Brian Blessed, and the story itself was adapted again in John Schlesinger's 1995 film starring Kate Beckinsale. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- 1952
Director Charles Saunders based his screenplay for Come Back Peter on a play by A.P. Dearsley. The story concerns an elderly British couple (Humphrey Lestocq, Kathleen Boutall) who move from their old home to smaller but comfortable newer digs. The couple is then invaded by their grown children, who insist upon moving in with them. Some laughs, some tears, some pretzels, some beers. Come Back Peter went down easily in a brisk 80 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
Based on what some consider to be Elizabeth Bowen's best novel, The Death of the Heart focuses on one of her primary themes, a young woman's first love. Portia Quayne (Jojo Cole) is orphaned, and at the age of 16 she must go live with her relatives, Anna (Patricia Hodge) and Thomas Quayne (Nigel Havers). The time is 1937, and this upper-crust couple are a bit too selfish and amoral (Anna) or just aloof (Thomas) for Portia; she cannot relate to them. Complicating matters is young Eddie (Daniel Chatto), a high-society do-nothing who awakens Portia's romantic ardor and then makes fun of her in front of her friends. Besides, he is interested in Anna. Portia cannot tolerate either her home environment or her mistreatment at the hands of Eddie, and she runs away looking for help from a sympathic Major Brutt (Robert Hardy). ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jojo Cole, Patricia Hodge, (more)
- 1952
In this comedy, an off-center widow and her eccentric daughters must deal with a series of comic mishaps while they wait for one of the daughters to have a baby. The nervous father-to-be complicates matters. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1948
Mother Bouthall urges her youngest daughter to leave home after realizing that by working to keep her children at home with her she is harming them. ~ All Movie Guide
