Anthony Simmons Movies

This refreshingly realistic British cop show starred David Jason as Detective Inspector William George "Jack" Frost of Denton, whose seeming indifference to orthodox police procedure, his carelessness in handling the paperwork necessary to his profession, and his ofttimes overbearing arrogance was but a smokescreen for his keen sense of observation and his dedication to his job. Bruce Alexander co-starred as Frost's uptight boss, Superintendent Norman Mullett, who, though constantly vexed by Frost's flippant attitude -- not to mention his profanely colorful vocabulary -- could not deny that Frost always got results, even while rubbing the higher-ups the wrong way. Others in Frost's orbit knew that the detective was at heart an old softie, with humanity and compassion oozing from every orifice. Among Frost's colleagues were WPC (and later DC) Hazel Wallace (Caroline Harker), DS George Toolan (John Lyons), and Sgt. Brady (James McKenna). Based on a series of novels by Ronald D. Wingfield, A Touch of Frost debuted over ITV1 on December 6, 1992. Turning out anywhere from three to six 120-minute episodes per season, the series remained in production throughout the first decade of the 21st century. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Nine-year-old Thelma (Cassie Barasch) is the sweet little girl next door who engages in blackmail, robbery, and murder in this amoral melodrama. Neighbor Robert (John Hurt) is a bank employee who leaves his wife for Delores (Karen Young) after he embezzles money from work. He tries to bribe Thelma with the gift of a camera, but she uses it to photograph evidence and pin the murder of a child on him. When little Elizabeth (Ellie Raab) is shot and killed by Thelma with a gun she steals from John, he is charged with her kidnapping and murder. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Day After the Fair is a two-part TV adaptation of Thomas Hardy's On the Western Circuit. The unhappy wife (Hannah Gordon) of a brewery owner takes pity on a lonely, pregnant serving girl (Sammi Davis). The illiterate servant prevails upon her protector to write a letter to the London man (Martyn Stanbridge) whom the servant met briefly at a carnival. Almost in spite of herself, the brewer's wife finds herself the referee in the affaires d'amour of the lower orders. Taped in England, both parts of Day After the Fair were telecast in the U.S. back to back on March 12, 1988, as a double-header attraction on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Black Joy is the lightly ironic title of this British culture-clash comedy. Trevor Thomas heads the cast as a Guaynan youth who is under the delusion that life will be easier for him in London. No sooner does Thomas set foot in England than he gets tangled up in one disaster after another. The catalyst for most of Our Hero's travails is "assimilated" Caribbean Dave Beaton, who delivers an antic performance as a streetwise con artist. Black Joy has its melodramatic moments, but it's worth enduring the more intense sequences to get to the exuberant climax, wherein Thomas finally learns to stand up for his basic rights. Black Joy was adapted from Dark Days and Light Nights, a stage play by Jamal Ali. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The lives of two couples are examined through three vignettes in this episodic drama. A man (Brian Phelan) picks up his girlfriend (Ann Lynn) after she finishes her shift as a nightclub dancer. They go for a moonlight stroll along the river but soon begin playing petty games with each other's emotions. Meanwhile, a new mother (Judi Dench) is left at home with the baby after her uncaring husband (Norman Rodway) heads out for a night on the town with his best friend (Joe Melia). A tragic accident soon brings the couples together. This was the third film for actress Judi Dench and earned her a British Academy Award as Most Promising Newcomer of 1966. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Time Without Pity carried the name "Joseph Losey" on the credits -- the first time in three years that the blacklisted director was permitted to use his own name on a film. This British-made suspense film was based on a play by Emlyn Williams. Michael Redgrave stars an anguished father whose son (Alec McCowan) is accused of murder. With time running out, Redgrave struggles to prove his son innocent of the charge. The paranoia prevalent in Time Without Pity can be attributed to Losey's own experience at the hands of the HUAC, though this element never gets out of artistic control. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi