Roger Marshall Movies

A teenager considers an opportunity that could save her life or end it in this streetwise drama from director Alan Jacobs. Rascal (Jessica Romero) is fifteen years old and attending high school in East Los Angeles. Rascal is also one of the leaders of a gang of young Latinas who inherited their turf from older girls from the neighborhood. Rascal's gang often fights with a rival band of African-American teens, and as the long standing territorial battle goes on, the violence increases and the stakes grow higher. But Mr. Shannon (Danny Glover) is an English teacher at Rascal's school who believes she has a real talent for writing, and wants to offer her a chance to escape the cycle of crime around her. Mr. Shannon is lobbying for Rascal to be accepted in a writing workshop for promising young students in Iowa. However, Mrs. Castro (Elizabeth Pena), the principal, knows Rascal best as a severe disciplinary problem, and is against having her represent the school. Even if Rascal is able to persuade Mrs. Castro that she's worth a chance, she knows that loyalty is very important to the gang, and trying to leave could be even more dangerous than staying. Down For Life also features Snoop Dogg, Kate del Castillo and Emily Rios. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The British adventure series Travelling Man starred Leigh Lawson as Lomax, a drug cop who was railroaded into prison on a trumped-up bribery charge. Released after serving two years, Lomax swore to track down the man responsible for framing him, and also to locate his own son, who had fallen victim to drug peddlers. To this end, Lomax traveled along the many British canals in a battered narrowboat, solving the problems of various guest stars at sundry ports of call, à la The Fugitive. Created by Roger Marshall, the 13-episode Travelling Man was broadcast by Granada Television from 1984 to 1985. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Police procedure collided head-on with stargazing in this 6-part British drama series. Anton Rodgers headed the cast as Scotland Yard detective David Gradley. While tracking down an elusive culprit, Gradley detected a pattern in the miscreant's crimes, one related to the signs of the zodiac. Thus, our hero enlisted the services of astrologer Esther Jones (Anouska Hempel) to solve the case. ~ All Movie Guide

In this thriller, two lovers begin plotting the murder of the girl's wealthy grandmother so they can collect her inheritance. They decide they will frighten her to death by telling her that the world's young people have decided that all old people should be killed because they are too troublesome to care for. When a youthful protest group marches past her home, the poor grandmother falls dead from fright. Unfortunately for the greedy granddaughter, she made a little change in her will before she died. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In a disturbing movie about psychosis, Hayley Mills plays Susan Harper, a young student who tries to help a rich, emotionally ill and sinister young man, Martin Durnley (Hywel Bennett). Martin is a schizophrenic who assumes the personality of a six-year-old boy when he is in his "nice" phase. Susan talks a store manager out of pressing charges against Martin after he steals a toy duck. Martin wants to take the toy to his mongoloid brother, who is in an institution. Martin's stepfather, Henry (Frank Finlay), enraged by his shoplifting, evicts Martin despite the pleas of his mother, Enid (Phyllis Calvert). Martin, again acting like a young child, is taken in by Susan's mother, Joan Harper (Billie Whitelaw), who runs a boarding house. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

X-rays of a car crash victim reveal that the man had a stomach full of valuable diamonds. Naturally, Steed and Emma are called in to investigate. They follow clues all the way to the prestigious Litoff Organization, a group of financiers with an agenda all their own. First telecast in England on October 14, 1967, "The 50,000 Pound Breakfast" was a remake of the 1962 episode "Death of a Great Dane." Both were written by Roger Marshall. American viewers didn't get to see this one until February 28, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Though its title suggests a spoof of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., this Avengers episode actually concerns a young woman named Georgie Price-Jones (Liz Fraser), who for reasons unknown is pretending to be Emma Peel. This is annoying enough, but when several people of Georgie's acquaintance turn up dead, things really take a nasty turn. Meanwhile, the real Emma Peel is in the clutches of a mercenary art dealer, who intends to auction her off to the highest bidder. Chock full of clever inside jokes and snappy one-liners, "The Girl from Auntie" was written by Roger Marshall; it was first shown in England on January 22, 1966, and in America on June 6 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Why are a group of otherwise reserved middle-aged military officers suddenly behaving like teenaged delinquents and performing dangerous stunts which invariably result in death? Steed wants to find out, and to do so, he rejoins his regiment. Ultimately, Steed is himself targeted for death, forcing Emma to undergo a bizarre and deadly ritual to rescue her partner. Written by Roger Marshall and directed by the versatile Charles Crichton, "The Danger Makers" first aired in England on February 12, 1966; perhaps significantly, it was seen in America on July 4 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

For reasons unknown, a certain species of birds -- the martlets -- is disappearing from the face of the earth. Investigating this curious turn of events, as well as a sudden rash of crop failures, Steed and Emma cross the path of a most politically incorrect gentleman, who is in a cahoots with a band of biological terrorists. Faced with an ultimatum and a deadline -- pay forty million pounds, or suffer horrible consequences -- the British government must rely upon The Avengers to make the world safe for martlets once more. Written by Roger Marshall, "Silent Dust" was originally shown in England on January 1, 1966; though it was never seen on American network television, the episode was later included in the series' syndicated package. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Britain's Merton Park Productions briefly put its Edgar Wallace series on the back burner for the 1965 sci-fier Invasion. Per its title, the film involves a massive invasion of earth by extraterrestrials. Keeping within its tight budget, the film depicts only a handful of the invaders, who are fended off by the staff of a small hospital. Head doctor Edward Judd, who is caring for an imprisoned alien, decides to protect his patient from the invaders, who plan to kill the prisoner before he can betray them. Armed with little more than his wits, Judd saves himself and his charge. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this crime drama, a rivalry within a publishing house turns deadly when theft and blackmail get involved. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

For reasons which remain unclear until the episode's midway point, Steed and Cathy enlist the aid of veteran criminal J. P. Spagge (Patrick Magee) to rob a bank of three million pounds. Even more confusing is the fact that Cathy is subsequently arrested for Spagge's murder. Even when an "explanation" is provided, Cathy remains in dire peril -- at the hands of the man she supposedly killed. Written by Roger Marshall, "The Gilded Cage" was originally broadcast in England on November 9, 1963; American viewers were given their first glimpse of the episode on March 13, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Set-Up was another in the long-running British second-feature series based on the works of Edgar Wallace. Maurice Denham plays a businessman who blackmails ex-con Brian Peck into committing a robbery. Peck is told to break into Denham's house and steal some valuable jewels so that the businessman can collect the insurance. But when Peck arrives at the crime scene, he comes across the body of Denham's wife--and is promptly accused of the murder. Inspector Jackson (John Carson) is the dogged detective who unravels the insidious plot woven by the crafty Denham. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide