Francis Megahy Movies

Entrepreneur and aspiring film producer Kevin Johnson is presumed dead when his car is pulled out of the harbor after an accident, and a British documentary film crew comes to Los Angeles to trace the story of his rise and fall in this mockumentary. While Johnson rubbed elbows with movie stars and Hollywood power brokers, most of whom remember him fondly on camera, his greatest talent seems to have been his gift for schmoozing and his willingness to tell people what they want to hear (and get them what they want for the evening). He got his start by bribing a travel agent, Fred Barrett (Guy Siner), to put him next to the right people on flights to and from L.A., and with the help of agent Ricky Ryan (John Hillard), he begins pitching his script idea to anyone and everyone who might listen. However, it was Kevin's willingness to find female companionship for men in power (and eagerness to blackmail his new "friends") that helped get him financing for his project just before his car hit the water. James Coburn, Pierce Brosnan and Dudley Moore appear as themselves, and director Francis Megahy plays the leader of the documentary film crew. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

In London's crooked underground, a two-bit thief (Robin Mitchell) witnesses a killing and must flee from the goons who want to see him dead. After eluding capture, he puts all his money on the long shot that might just make him rich. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

In this British romance, a lively London lad decides to create a little excitement by dreaming up a convincing story involving the theft of a Rembrandt; he then tells the story to a local newspaper. According to the imaginative imp, the painting was stolen by a motely gang who worked for a powerful South African guerilla leader. Unfortunately for the boy, there is a real Rembrandt thief about, and he is out to get the boy before his lies end up getting the crook captured. Meanwhile, the boy is in love with a pretty girl, about whom he frequently fantasizes. He does get together with the girl for a while, but the she jilts him. Fortunately, by the story's end, the crook is captured, she returns, and happiness ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

One of the more effective installments of the BBC Hammer House of Horror series, this moody, tightly-paced tale involves a series of gory murders in which the predominantly male victims have their hearts and other vital organs ripped out with a hook-like weapon. The most bizarre element in the killer's grisly modus operandi is the connection to a notorious murderess of yore, who is believed to have trained a giant eagle to tear out the hearts of her former lovers. The details of her grisly exploits are documented by a writer who is assisting police with their investigations. The Thrillervideo release contains the edited-for-TV version, missing much of the original's sex and violence, and features a pun-heavy wraparound by horror hostess Elvira. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

One of the most violent series on mainstream British television, the weekly, 50-minute cop drama Target made its BBC1 debut on September 9, 1977. Patrick Mower headed the cast as the two-fisted, impeccably dressed Detective Superintendent Hackett, with frequent movie villain Philip Madoc as his immediate superior, Det. Chief Supt. Tate. The program proved to be so bloodthirsty that, bowing to public pressure, the BBC yanked it off the air after only 18 episodes. It has been speculated that Target has not been rerun since 1978 because of the dated quality of its scripts rather than its body-and-bullet count. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide