Ken Hannam Movies

Peter Davison stars as bespectacled, aristocratic private detective Albert Campion in this two-part adaptation of Margery Allingham's novel Mystery Mile. An American judge named Crowdy Lobbett (Brian Greene) has been targetted for extermination by a criminal organization known as "Simister" (clearly the villains are dangerous but illiterate). Heading from the US to England, Lobbett crosses the path of Campion, who offers his services. Before this case has reached its conclusion, our hero has been confronted with not one but two sudden and mysterious disappearances. In America, "ystery Mile" was telecast November 22 and 29, 1990, as part of the PBS anthology Mystery! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Directed by Peter Hammond and based on one of the short stories originally penned by mystery legend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Devil's Foot" follows Holmes (Jeremy Brett) and Watson (Edward Hardwicke) in what was meant to be a relaxing vacation on the Conish coast. Rather than finding solitude, however, the sleuthing duo find themselves looking at a frightful succession of murders and quickly set out to apprehend the culprit at fault. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

British sci-fi author John Wyndham's classic horror piece Day of the Triffids was first filmed as a 95-minute theatrical feature in 1963. Though more thoughtful than most alien-invasion pictures, this tale of a meteor shower that results in huge, mutated, ambulatory maneating plants had to be compressed a bit for the feature version. A more in-depth adaptation of Triffids showed up as a British TV miniseries in 1981. This version starred John Duttine and Emma Relphe in the roles played in 1963 by Howard Keel and Nicole Maurey. This version of Day of the Triffids was telecast by America's Arts cable service (later known as A&E) in the spring of 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Australia was a powerhouse in world swimming competitions long before the U.S.'s Mark Spitz was a gleam in his father's eye. Foremost among these sports heroes was high-spirited Dawn Fraser, who won four gold medals at three Olympics (1956, '60 and '64). This clear-sighted biographical drama explores Fraser's life before, during and just after her competitive years. Fraser was forever getting herself into trouble, and she consistently rebelled against authority. Among the many dramatic events which marked her career, she was banned from Australian swimming for 10 years after stealing a flag during the Tokyo ('64) Olympics. The movie underscores her strong family ties and her attachment to Balmain, the working-class suburb of Sydney she grew up in, which makes her later career as a Member of Parliament for the area easier to understand. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This Australian drama, set in 1915, follows a restless ex-soldier's journey through self discovery. He is currently the editor of a small town newspaper. Though once a thriving gold-mining town, his home is now rundown and sleepy. The editor lives with his pregnant wife. He walks with a limp as he was crippled while serving in the Australian army. He was part of the Gallipoli landings in 1915. His disability is the source of his difficulties at home and in the community. He seldom talks meaningfully to his wife. Instead, he prefers to hobble off to the river every morning before work. There he remembers his childhood. At the river he meets a beautiful painter; they soon become involved. He goes to a picnic with her and her urban pals, but he feels intimidated by them. He gets drunk and stumps off sans cane. He falls into an old mine shaft, and there, relives Gallipoli. He remembers that he crippled himself, and he also sees that the painter can live without him. He therefore, comes to a certain peace and returns to his normal life. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

One of several feature film versions of the late 19th century novel by Rolf Boldrewood, this frontier adventure is set not in the Wild West of the U.S., but in the equally untamed Australian Outback of the same era. Two brothers, Jim (David McCallum) and Dick Marsten (Ronald Lewis) follow in their father's footsteps by leaving home to seek adventure as gunfighters. They become outlaws in the roving band led by stylish Captain Starlight (Peter Finch), who leads them on a series of escapades robbing banks and rustling cattle. Though they find the excitement and romance they craved, the Marstens soon become disillusioned with a life on the run and begin to wish that they could resume the mantle of honest, hard-working citizens. Unfortunately, events transpire to put the entire Starlight gang out of operation before the brothers can recommence their formerly law-abiding ways. Produced by Britain's Rank Organization, Robbery Under Arms (1957) was followed by a television series remake in 1985 and a handful of other films set against the colorful backdrop of the Australian frontier, including The Man from Snowy River (1982) and Quigley Down Under (1990). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi