Pat Jackson Movies
In the late '30s, Jackson made short documentaries with the British GPO Film Unit, including Big Money (co-directed with Harry Watt) and The First Days (co-directed with Humphrey Jennings and Harry Watt). In 1944 he helmed his first feature, the World War Two semi-documentary Western Approaches (aka The Raider), and over the next twenty years made several notable films, including the mystery Shadow on the Wall and the horror spoof What a Carve Up! (aka No Place Like Homicide). Since the '60s he has worked chiefly in television. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1975
- PG
The early years of the future King Arthur are recounted in this film from Sidney Hayers. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
- 1969
In this children's film, set in London, slum kids help an African prince keep away from evil kidnappers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1968
Regarded by many as the best-ever episode of The Prisoner, "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" was written by Vincent Tilsley. Number Six awakens with the belief that he is actually another man -- to be exact, an Army colonel (Nigel Stock). Failing to recognize his own face in his own mirror, the confused protagonist also learns that "The Colonel" has been missing for a full year. The answer to the mystery rests in the hands of one Professor Seltzman (Hugh Schuster), the inventor of an insidious intellect-transfer machine. Clues essential to the action include a reference to Number Six's former fiancée, and an inventory of the former intelligence agent's code names. Also appearing are Zena Walker as Janet and Clifford Evans as the new Number Two. As originally conceived, "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" was supposed to have been the series' ninth episode, but instead was rescheduled as episode 13 on British television, making its first appearance on January 7, 1968. When The Prisoner was rebroadcast in America on CBS, the intended episode chronology was restored, and "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" was properly shown right after episode number eight ("Dance of the Dead") on August 3, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Number Six awakens one morning to find that his appearance has been radically altered and that he has been reassigned the "identity" of Number Two. Compounding his confusion, he comes face to face with the new Number Six, who looks exactly like his "old" self (Patrick McGoohan plays both roles). It's all part of a scheme by the New Number Two (Anton Rodgers) to break down the protagonist's resistance --- and possibly, his sanity. Jane Merrow costars as Alison, a woman claiming to have a mental link with Number Six (but which one?) Written by Terence Feely, "The Schizoid Man" first aired in England on October 29, 1967, and in America on July 6, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1967
In this episode of the British television series The Prisoner, medical researchers at the Village have discovered a way to tap into the human mind and observe a person's dreams and sub-conscious thoughts. Number Six (Patrick McGoohan) becomes a test subject, and as he is unconscious, his imaginings are adjusted until he believes he's in Paris on a rendezvous to sell the secrets he learned as an espionage agent. Number Two, the leader of the mysterious Village, is played in this episode by Colin Gordon; Katherine Kath and Sheila Allen also appear. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1967
Written by Roger Woddis, this episode of The Prisoner guest stars Patrick Cargill (also seen in the previous episode "Free for All") as super sadistic New Number Two. Delighting in tormenting the villagers, Number Two drives at least one of them, Number 73 (Hilary Dwyer), to suicide. Hoping to avenge the woman's death, Number Six begins his own campaign of psychological warfare, utilizing such "weapons" as his collection of Bizet recordings! In addition to resembling an installment of the much later CBS series, Survivor, this episode also predates American Gladiators by offering an "extreme sport" known as Kosho. Originally slated as the 14th episode of The Prisoner, "Hammer into the Anvil" was seen as episode number 10 when it first aired in England on December 10, 1967. It was placed in its original chronology for American television, where it was first seen on August 31, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1964
Children all over the city have eaten what they believed was candy. It is then discovered that it is actually a slow-acting, deadly poison. This drama centers on the efforts of the police to find these children before it is too late. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
The original British title for No Place Like Homicide was What a Carve-Up. This level of sophistication was maintained for the film itself, a horror film parody served up by members of the Carry On gang. There's a wisp of plot about an wealthy recluse who apparently dies, then equally apparently comes to life again to bump off his greedy relatives. For the most part, the scripters use the story as an excuse for irreverent and tasteless haunted-house gags. No Place Like Homicide was a remake of the deadly serious 1933 Boris Karloff vehicle The Ghoul, though a cursory comparison of the two films reveals precious little resemblance between them. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kenneth Connor, Sidney James, (more)
- 1962
In this crime drama, an ex-con goes looking for his late cellmate's hidden loot. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Don't Talk to Strange Men. That's the advice given to impressionable country lass Christina Gregg. But Christina yearns for excitement, so she pays no attention. Only a series of unforseen circumstances prevent Christina from keeping her date with handsome Conrad Phillips. Turns out that Phillips is a sex fiend, so everything turns out OK. Except, of course, for Phillips' previous victims. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1958
Based on Robb White's novel 3DOur Virgin Island3D (the film's original title), this harmless location-filmed comedy boasts an unusually impressive cast. With their combined life savings of $85, fiercely independent archeologist Evan (John Cassavetes) and his wife Tina (Virginia Maskell) purchase an island in the tropics. They create an idyllic home-away-from-home with the help of resourceful islander Marcus (Sidney Poitier). All is serene until Tina becomes pregnant--but the fun 3Dreally3D begins when she goes into labor while stranded with her husband in a rickety boat in the middle of the ocean. The "Philip Rush" credited as screenwriter is actually a joint pseudonym for blacklisted Hollywood scriveners Ring Lardner Jr. and Ian McClellan Hunter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Cassavetes, Virginia Maskell, (more)
- 1957
The Birthday Present is a bitter half-hour anecdote stretched to 100 minutes. Tony Britton plays a British toy salesman who purchases a watch for his wife's birthday while visiting the Continent. Not wishing to pay the customs duties, he hides the watch upon his return to England. Britton is caught with the goods, and his life is never the same afterwards. Intended as a slice of raw realism, Birthday Present plays more like a cautionary social studies film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Britton, Sylvia Syms, (more)
- 1956
This British drama is a soft-pedalled paean to the nursing profession. The story takes place in a large hospital, where several aspiring nurses receive their training. Special attention is paid to novice nurse Pat (Delphi Lawrence), who is more concerned with landing a wealthy husband than ministering to the sick, and fellow trainee Susan (Belinda Lee), who is torn between marrying her doctor-lover or continuing her studies. Mandy Miller, one of Britain's best child performers, is effectively cast as a dying heart patient. The Feminine Touch is based on a novel by Sheila MacKay Russell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Baker, Belinda Lee, (more)
- 1952
The British Something Money Can't Buy offers a few smaller-scale variations on themes previously explored in the 1946 Hollywood Oscar-winner The Best Years of Our Lives. Harry Wilding (Anthony Steel), a high-ranking wartime military officer, has trouble adjusting to his go-nowhere civilian job and the monotony of his home life. Harry's wife Anne (Patricia Roc) tries to make things easier for her husband, but there are no easy answers to his plight. The inherent drama of the situation is leavened by moments of gentle humor, not to mention the warm rapport between stars. The supporting cast includes hirsute comic actor (and longtime David Niven crony) Michael Trubshawe and the venerable A. E. Mathews, at the time billed as England's oldest working actor. Director Pat Jackson co-authored the perceptive screenplay of Something Money Can't Buy with James Lonsdale Hudson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patricia Roc, Anthony Steel, (more)
- 1951
The producers of Quartet and Trio concluded their cycle with this omnibus film, which features three stories based, as in the previous film, on tales by W. Somerset Maugham. "The Ant and the Grasshopper" concerns Tom Ramsey (Nigel Patrick), a fiscally unstable young man who is constantly borrowing money from his brother George (Roland Culver). Eventually, George falls on hard times and is forced to sell the family estate, just as Tom marries a wealthy woman and is in a position to purchase it. In "Winter Cruise," Miss Reid (Kay Walsh) is an aging spinster taking a voyage aboard a cargo ship. She has little to do but engage the others on board in conversation, which the passengers find so annoying that they arrange a ship-board romance for her with Pierre (Jacques Francois), a porter, in the hopes that it will keep her quiet. And "Gigolo and Gigolette" features Glynis Johns as Stella Cotman, whose husband Syd (Terence Morgan) earns his living as a performer in a high-wire act. Stella is terribly worried that Syd's risky profession will lead to his death, so she takes their life's savings to a casino in hopes of winning enough that he can retire. However, her plan hardly goes as she hoped. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nigel Patrick, Roland Culver, (more)
- 1951
White Corridors was based on Yeoman Hospital, a novel by Helen Ashton. Told episodically, the story concentrates on the day-to-day activities in a busy hospital, where research pathologist Neil Marriner (James Donald) conducts experiments in the hopes of curing diseases impervious to penicillin. Marriner is aided in this endeavor by lady surgeon Dr. Sophie Dean (Googie Withers), who happens to be in love with him. After a tragedy occurs for which Marriner holds himself responsible, the film builds steadily to an exciting climax involving a untested -- and potentially dangerous -- serum. The top-rank British supporting cast includes Barry Jones, Moira Lister, Petula Clark, Basil Radford, Dagmar (later Dana) Wynter, Bernard Lee, and, in a minor role, future "Dr. Who" Patrick Troughton. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Googie Withers, Gerard Heinz, (more)
- 1950
A murder is witnessed by the victim's little daughter (Gigi Perreau), who immediately goes into a state of shock. All the girl has seen is the shadow of her mother's killer, but the audience knows that the murderer is Ann Sothern. At first Sothern is secure that the girl will never be able to identify her, but as the child shows signs of recovering, Sothern panics. Though the murder was unintentional and the killer is quite fond of the little girl, she nonetheless begins scheming to put the potential witness out of the way. Quite tense at times, especially in the last scene, Shadow on the Wall represents one of the few unsympathetic performances by the otherwise likable Ann Sothern. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ann Sothern, Zachary Scott, (more)
- 1944
Western Approaches was produced by Britain's Crown Film unit, with the cooperation of The Royal Navy. Lensed in vibrant color, this 83-minute documentary is a tribute to the Merchant Seamen of WW2. Merchant convoys from several allied nations are shown in action, under some of the most treacherous battle and weather conditions ever captured on celluloid. Highlights include the escape of a "wandering" vessel from a German submarine. Though some of the line deliveries in the staged scenes are awkward (no professional actors were used), Western Approaches scores on its authenticity and integrity. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
