Edwin Richfield Movies

John Hurt plays the British jockey Bob Champion in this true story of how Champion overcame cancer and the rigors of chemotherapy for an impressive personal and professional comeback. Just as Champion is in the middle of a vacation in Kentucky, he finds out he has cancer, and, like others before him, submits to the full, painful treatments of multiple injections and radiation, suffering as much or more from the cure as from the illness (these treatments are graphic). Gaunt and nauseous, Champion also endures realistic meetings with his doctors that hold forth no guarantee of a cure. His eventual remission leads to yet another grueling physical schedule to get him back into shape for the Grand National Steeplechase -- a 30-fence, well-publicized race that offers difficult hurdles for both the horses and their jockeys. If the 115-minutes running time of this film were cut in places, it would create a better, trim and slim, fast-paced telling of an even more focused tale. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Colin Baker -- green shoes, orange spats, striped trousers, and all -- steps into the role of the newly regenerated Doctor in the four-part adventure "The Twin Dilemma." In order to accustom himself to his new body, the Doctor hopes to take a brief sabbatical. This, alas, is not to be, as both the Doctor and his companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant) find themselves at the mercy of yet another dangerous adversary. Written by Antony Steven, Doctor Who: The Twin Dilemma, Episode 1 was originally telecast on March 22, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the four-part story "The Twin Dilemma," the Doctor (Colin Baker) and Peri (Nicola Bryant) have been abducted by the giant slug Mestor (Edwin Richfield), who has also kidnapped twin mathematicians Romulus and Remus Sylvest (Gavin and Andrew Conrad). Mestor intends to force the twins to help him unleash millions of deadly Gastropod eggs upon the Universe -- and, of course, the Doctor and Peri must be killed in the process. Written by Antony Steven, Doctor Who: The Twin Dilemma, Episode 3 was originally telecast on March 29, 1984. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the six-part story "The Sea Devils," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) has apparently smashed the efforts by the reptilian Sea Devils to destroy mankind. This, however, does not entirely eliminate the perpetrator of the present crisis, the Doctor's old nemesis the Master (Roger Delgado). Nor is the Doctor able to prevent mankind from getting itself into future scrapes of this nature! Originally shown on March 25, 1972, "The Sea Devils, Episode 4" was written by Malcolm Hulke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the six-part story "The Sea Devils," the Master (Roger Delgado) has broken out of prison and headed out to the high seas. Here he hopes to summon a race of bipedal earth reptiles called the Sea Devils. The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) must prevent these creatures from helping the Master eliminate all human life on earth -- though, at present, he isn't quite sure what is going on beneath the waves. Originally shown on March 4, 1972, "The Sea Devils, Episode 2" was written by Malcolm Hulke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fourth episode of the six-part story "The Sea Devils," the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) tries to "reach" the title characters, a race of bipedal earth reptiles. Knowing that the Master (Roger Delgado) intends to use the Sea Devils to wipe out all mankind, the Doctor attempts to appeal to the creatures' better nature and advanced intelligence -- just as he'd previously done with the Devils' distant relations, the Silurians. But negotiations quickly break down, and the earth is once more plunged into peril. Originally shown on March 18, 1972, "The Sea Devils, Episode 4" was written by Malcolm Hulke. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Nigel Kneale's Quatermass TV series spawned a brief film series produced over an eleven-year period; 1967's Quatermass and the Pit, released in the US as Five Million Years to Earth, was the third and (until 1979's Quatermass Conclusion) last. As in previous chapters in the Kneale saga, the film begins with a baffling scientific discovery. This time it's a bunch of prehistoric skulls, discovered during a subway excavation in the heart of London. Sequestered in a lab, the skulls start to emanate a bizarre force over the populace, resulting in death and destruction. Professor Quatermass (Andrew Keir) concludes that the skulls are the residue of an extraterrestrial invading army -- a theory which (as usual) is scoffed at by the authorities until it's almost too late. Blessed with superb special effects and an expertly sustained tension level, Quatermass and the Pit is easily the best of the short-lived "Quatermass" series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Steed and Emma attend an auto rally where they participate in a car treasure hunt. But it isn't all fun and games: our hero and heroine are searching for a valuable object, hidden in one of the cars by a murdreed agent. This is the one with the deadly "thrill-ride" sequence, with Emma as the unwilling participant. Written by Michael Winder, "Dead Man's Treasure" originally aired in England on October 21, 1967; its American debut followed on March 13, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this drama, the devilish Chinese villain has concocted a deadly gas. He tries it out in a small English town and is delighted to discover that it is terribly effective. He then travels to the Thames with his daughter. There he has an explosive encounter with the hero who stops the evil plot. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

How could anyone steal a huge albino elephant? To solve the mystery, Cathy poses as a hunter and pays a visit to Noah's Arc, a game preserve specializing in supplying animals to zoos. Meanwhile, Steed picks up a few stray clues, including a most unusual pair of handcuffs. Written by John Lucarotti, "The White Elephant" was originally broadcast in England on January 4, 1964; it made its American cable TV debut over 27 years later, on March 22, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this British crime drama, bank robbers accidently detonate a bomb left over from WW II while tunneling into a bank vault. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

When a traveling salesman arrives to hawk his wares in an economically depressed Italian village, the last thing he expects is to be assailed by the most beautiful single girls in town, but that is exactly what happens. The reason for it stems from the fact that all but one of the town's eligible bachelors have left to find work. The only available man left is a wealthy emigrant. He is looking for a wife and the impoverished parents of the daughters push their children to compete for his love. This creates considerable conflict until the village elders step in and decide that the rich man's bride will be selected by the first outsider to enter the village. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Treating a girl who has ostensibly attempted to jump into the Thames, Dr. Keel discovers that the girl is not the person who was reported to have jumped. Hoping to determine the girl's true identity, Keel and Carol Wilson follow the trail of clues to an East European circus. Figuring largely in the proceedings is one Zibbo the Clown (Kenneth J. Warren), whose jolly face belies his sinister intentions. One of the few Avengers episodes not to feature Patrick Macnee as John Steed, "Girl on the Trapeze" was written by Dennis Spooner and originally aired live on February 11, 1961. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide