Andrew Marshall Movies
- 1991
Debuting September 3, 1991 over BBC1, the long-running British sitcom 2.4 Children was all about an ostensibly typical family, the Potters. Despite their veneer of normality, the family invariably found itself experiencing all sorts of abnormal and surrealistic adventures, in the manner of the American comedies Married: With Children and Malcolm in the Middle. For the record, Ben Porter (Gary Olsen) ran a plumbing business with attractive assistant Christine (Kim Benson); Ben's wife (Belinda Lang) held down several dead-end jobs before launching a catering business with her friend Rona (Julia Hills); and the couple's kids, Jenny (played first by Claire Woodgate, then by Claire Buckfield) and David (John Pickard), were like most other wisecracking sitcom kids, only more so. One of the most endearing aspects of the series was its endless stream of pop-culture references, including Ben's referring to son David as "Puggsley," and the contemptuous nickname "Jake the Klingon" bestowed upon Ben's main business rival Jake Klinger (Roger Lloyd Pack). The 57th and final episodes of 2.4 Children was seen on December 30, 1999. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Belinda Lang, Gary Olsen, (more)
- 1989
The British sitcom Sob Sisters was the tale of two siblings, Dorothy (Polly Adams) and Liz (Gwen Taylor). Accustomed to living in style and comfort, Dorothy was jostled back to reality when her wealthy husband died, leaving her penniless. Conversely, Liz had always existed on the edge of poverty, and was openly contemptuous of the privileged class. When Dorothy and Liz found themselves obliged to share the same flat, each sister had to learn to adjust to the other -- and of course, it wasn't easy. Seven half-hour episodes of Sob Sisters were aired by Central Television from May 26 to July 7, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
- R
Produced for London Weekend Television, Wilt is based on the novel of the same name by Tom Sharpe. Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith, stars of the internationally popular TV series Not Necessarily the News, head the cast as Henry Wilt and Inspector Flint. Though master of his own destiny on the lecture circuit, Wilt is a natural-born doormat in his day-to-day life. He also has a bad habit of inadvertently gumming up the various investigations conducted by Inspector Flint. Things come to a head when the hapless Wilt is implicated in a murder, allowing the zealous Flint to persecute -- er, prosecute -- the poor man to the full limit of the law. With its parade of eccentric character and Gilbert & Sullivan-style plot complications, Wilt can't help but raise chuckles. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Griff Rhys Jones, Mel Smith, (more)
- 1986
This British sitcom can be accurately described as Tripper's Day without Tripper. With the departure of star Leonard Rossiter (aka Norman Tripper), supporting actor Bruce Forsyth was promoted to the leading role. Simultaneously, Forsyth's character, Cecil Slinger, was promoted to manager of the Supafare Supermarket formerly helmed by the estimable Mr. Tripper. This "new" series lasted 12 half-hour episodes over a two-year period (September 3, 1986 to October 14, 1987), during which time Tripper's staff experienced quite a turnover, with virtually the entire cast replaced for the series' second season. Like its predecessor, Slinger's Day was the brainchild of Brian Cooke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
Armed with his familiar catch phrase "Tempting, isn't it?," comic actor William Franklyn headed the "repertory company" of versatile actors who appeared on the British comedy anthology The Steam Video Company. Written by Andrew Marshall and David Renwick, each of the series' six half-hour playlets were spoofs of specific horror movies or genres. Episode titles included "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll," "Creature From the Black Forest Gateau," "I Was Hitler's Bookie," "The Secret of Plankton Lodge," "Amityville II, Luton Town 3," and "The Fall of the House of Franklyn." The Steam Video Company aired courtesy of Thames Television from January 19 to February 23, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
Imagine Monty Python's Flying Circus crossed with Dr. Strangelove, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what went on in the uproarious "black" British sitcom Whoops! Apocalypse. Three of the world's superpowers collide head-on in their efforts to replace the recently deposed Shah of Iran: U.S. President (and former silent movie star) Johnny Cyclops (Barry Morse), half-loony British Prime Minister Kevin Pork (Peter Jones), and senile Soviet premier Dubienkin (Richard Griffiths). The fly in the ointment is flamboyant international terrorist Lacrobat (John Cleese), who is determined to get his mitts on the all-powerful Quark bomb. If it is possible to invoke laughter from the prospect of wholesale nuclear annihilation, then this series succeeded beyond all expectations. Originally telecast in six half-hour episodes from March 14 to April 18, 1982, Whoops! Apocalypse was later pared down and released as a single "feature film" on home video, and was ultimately adapted as a genuine theatrical feature film in 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Barry Morse, John Barron, (more)
