Barry Letts Movies

Lewis Carroll's beloved tale comes to the screen once again in this BBC production starring Kate Dorning, Ian Wallace, and Jonathan Cecil. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Ten years before Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility was transformed into a lavish theatrical feature by director Ang Lee, the property was adapted as a rather less lavish but no less entertaining British TV miniseries. Irene Richard and Tracy Childs starred as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, two attractive sisters from a prominent British family. When the Dashwoods go broke after the death of their father, the flighty Marianne and the more reserved (and, need we add, more intelligent) Elinor go on an exhaustive search for proper, and properly wealthy, husbands. Sense and Sensibility was served up in three 60-minute portions by the BBC. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Previously adapted for British television in 1962, Charles Dickens' novel The Old Curiosity Shop was given the BBC miniseries treatment a second time beginning December 9, 1979. On this occasion, Natalie Ogle starred as Little Nell, resourceful granddaughter of an elderly shopkeeper (Sebastian Shaw) addicted to gambling. Despite the formidable villainy of malevolent dwarf Daniel Quilp (Trevor Peacock), Nell struggled valiantly to save the shop from passing into other hands -- and to save her grandfather from himself. Wisely, this adaptation retained the tragic ending that stirred up a storm of controversy when the novel was originally published. The Old Curiosity Shop ran for nine half-hour episodes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "The Android Invasion," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) have discovered that the "typical" English village of Devesham is actually a replica on the planet Oseidon, housing a training program for an android army controlled by the Kraals. It is the first stage of a scheme to replace humans with android lookalikes, the better to take over the world. Alas, the Doctor may not be able to expose the Kraals, inasmuch as he is facing almost certain death. Written by Terry Nation, "The Android Invasion, Episode 2" originally aired on November 29, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Android Invasion," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah (Elisabeth Sladen) have arrived back on Earth, to warn the populace that an army of androids, controlled by the Kraals, are about to infect the planet with a deadly virus. Alas, the Doctor's UNIT contact, the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney), is out of town, so the warnings go unheeded. Only the Doctor's expertise in the field of electronics stands between Mankind and the Kraals. Written by Terry Nation, "The Android Invasion, Episode 4" originally aired on December 13, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "Planet of the Spiders," the crooked Lupton (John Dearth) has stolen the powerful blue crystal coveted by the spider empress of the planet Metebelis 3. The empress' minions take over Lupton's mind, enabling the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), who brought the crystal to Earth in the first place, to determine that mankind will be destroyed unless the precious item is returned to its rightful owner. Meanwhile, Sarah (Katy Manning) is captured and transported to Metebelis 3 as a means of drawing the Doctor out. Written by Robert Sloman, "Planet of the Spiders, Episode 4" originally aired on May 25, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the six-part story "Planet of the Spiders," a trio of spider-like creatures from the planet Metebelis 3 are ordered to go to earth to retrieve a powerful blue crystal previously "borrowed" by the Doctor (Jon Pertwee). Unfortunately, there are several other parties interested in the crystal, which is subsequently passed from hand to hand like a hot potato -- with astonishing consequences for the Doctor and his friends. Written by Robert Sloman, "Planet of the Spiders, Episode 2" originally aired on May 11, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the "transitional" six-part Doctor Who story "Planet of the Spiders," the Doctor returns the precious blue crystal to the Great One, the spider-empress of the planet Metebelis 3. As expected, the crystal endows the empress with incredible powers -- too incredible, in fact. The events of the past five episodes cause the Doctor to come face to face with his own fears, shortcomings, and inner demons -- leading, inevitably, to the fourth of his periodic "regenerations" (and a farewell to Jon Pertwee). Written by Robert Sloman, "Planet of the Spiders, Episode 6" originally aired on June 8, 1974, as the final episode of Doctor Who's 11th season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The four-part adventure "Carnival of Monsters" begins on a positive note, as the Doctor (Jon Pertwee), finally released from his earthly exile, takes Jo (Katy Manning) for a trip in his newly repaired TARDIS. Unfortunately, the time-traveling machine still has a few bugs in it, and instead of landing on the blue planet Meteblis 3 as the Doctor had intended, the TARDIS materializes on the "S.S. Bernice," a 1930s-vintage ocean liner. But are the Doctor and Jo really adrift on the Indian Ocean, or is everything around them merely an illusion? Written by Robert Holmes, "Carnival of Monsters, Episode 1" first aired on January 27, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the second episode of the four-part story "Carnival of Monsters," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and Jo (Katy Manning) have apparently materialized on an ocean liner in the year 1935. But the time-travelers soon discover that the ship is actually a tiny scale model and that they have been miniaturized and trapped inside a carnival sideshow device called the Miniscope. Written by Robert Holmes, "Carnival of Monsters, Episode 2" first aired on February 3, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the conclusion of the five-part story "The Daemons," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) is unable prevent the Master (Roger Delgado) from stealing the powers of Azal, last of the Daemon race. It takes an act of awe-inspiring selflessness on the part of the Doctor's companion, Jo (Katy Manning), to persuade Azal not to destroy the world at the Master's behest. But the story is far from over as the Doctor tries yet again to put the Master out of commission for good and all. The miniature shot of a church exploding resulted in an abundance of call-in complaints to the BBC. Written by Barry Letts and Robert Sloman, "The Daemons, Episode 5" originally aired on June 19, 1971, as the final episode of Doctor Who's eighth season. (All five episodes were edited into a single compilation special on December 28, 1971, and it is this version that has traditionally been telecast since). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In the third episode of the five-part story "The Daemons," the renegade Time Lord the Master (Roger Delgado) has summoned the spirit of Azal, last of the Daemon race. Though in the past Azal has benefited mankind with his scientific expertise, the Master hopes to use the spirits awesome powers for his own evil purposes -- and the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) may not be able to thwart this scheme. Written by Barry Letts and Robert Sloman, "The Daemons, Episode 3" originally aired on June 5, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi