Ronald Allen Movies

A restaurant worker (Lanah Pellay) is fired from a posh London eatery, so the man returns with a band of terrorists, who have their own ideas about how to run a restaurant, and they begin feeding new customers with old customers. Motorhead provides the music. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide

An emotionally disturbed cult member loses grip on his sanity and sets off on a killing spree. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) assists U.N.I.T. in its efforts to find out why the Mars Probe 7 project has suddenly cut of all radio contact with earth. The mystery deepens when one of the astronauts successfully returns from Mars, only to begin behaving like a lunatic. Written by Don Houghton and debuting March 21, 1970, the seven-episode "The Ambassadors of Death" was the second Doctor Who adventure to be lensed in color. Unfortunately, only black-and-white prints exist for episodes two through seven. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the seven-part story "The Ambassadors of Death," the returning astronauts from the Mars Probe 7 project have apparently been kidnapped. In the course of U.N.I.T.'s investigation, Liz Shaw (Caroline John) notices that the amount of radiation in the recovery capsule would have been fatal to an ordinary human being. But before she can act upon this information, Liz is kidnapped herself. Written by Don Houghton, "The Ambassadors of Death, Episode 3" originally aired on April 4, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode presently exists in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the seven-part story "The Ambassadors of Death," the mystery surrounding Mars Probe 7 deepens. It is now clear that the astronauts involved in the probe have been replaced by alien duplicates. Warned that the earth will be destroyed if the duplicates -- referred to as "ambassadors" by their superior -- are not returned to their own planet, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) concludes that someone on earth is trying to cause an interplanetary war for his own evil purposes. Written by Don Houghton, "The Ambassadors of Death, Episode 5" originally aired on April 18, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode presently exists in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the five-part story "The Dominators," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) is able to free himself and Jamie (Frazer Hines) from the Dominators' clutches. He must now make a final, desperate effort to prevent the Dominators and their Quarks from destroying the planet Dulkis. The success of this effort hinges upon the willingness of the Dulcians to forego their pacifistic credo and take up arms against their enemies. Written by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln under the joint pen name Norman Ashby, "The Dominators, Episode 5" first aired on September 7, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Doctor Who's sixth season was launched on August 10, 1968, with episode one of the five-part "The Dominators." The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his friends land on the planet Dulkis, an orb populated entirely by pacifists. The tranquility of Dulkis is sorely threatened by the invasion of the warmongering Dominators and their minions, the Quarks. But for what sinister purpose have the Dominators arrived? This adventure was written by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the five-part story "The Dominators," the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) warns the citizens of the planet Dulkis that their world is in danger of wholesale energy depletion at the hands of the Dominators. Alas, the Dulcians are strict pacifists and refuse to defend themselves or their planet. Meanwhile, Jamie (Frazer Hines) fights off the Dominators' minions, the deadly Quarks. Written by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln, "The Dominators, Episode 3" first aired on August 24, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The murder of a secret agent appears to be tied in with a seemingly normal suburban wine shop. Following the evidence trail, Steed finds that the shop conceals a photographic darkroom. As an upshot, Cathy finds herself attending a séance conducted by a spirtualist (Alice Landon) who sidelines in blackmail. Written by Ludovic Peters, "The Secrets Broker" made its British TV debut on February 1, 1964; its first American exposure was delayed until March 28, 1991. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This meticulous re-creation of the sinking of the Titanic was adapted by Eric Ambler from the best-selling book by Walter Lord, and it preceded the blockbuster Titanic by almost 40 years. The film covers the life and death of the huge vessel from its launching celebration to that fateful night of April 14, 1912, when the "unsinkable" ship struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Of the 2224 passengers on board, 1513 were drowned as a result of the bad planning of lifeboats and escape routes. Kenneth More heads a huge and stellar cast, with 200 speaking parts, as second officer Herbert Lightoller, from whose point-of-view the story unfolds. Also in the cast are Laurence Naismith as the ill-fated Captain Smith; Michael Goodliffe as conscience-stricken ship's designer Thomas Andrews; Tucker McGuire as feisty American millionaire Molly Brown, whose courage and tenacity saved many lives; and Anthony Bushell as the captain of the Carpathia, who launched a noble but vain rescue mission once he was apprised of the disaster. Also appearing are two future TV favorites: The Avengers' Honor Blackman as a woman who believes that she has nothing to live for, and The Man From UNCLE's David McCallum as a wireless operator. The climactic sinking of the vessel is re-created with painstaking accuracy; filmed in "real time," it is a mere 37 minutes shorter than the actual tragedy. Two years before the film's release, an American TV adaptation of A Night to Remember set a precedent as the most elaborate and technically complex "live" broadcast of its time. Some viewers will find this movie a more accurate and gripping representation of this sea disaster than the romance-heavy Titanic. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide