Rosemary Anne Sisson Movies
- 2003
This fourth TV movie inspired by the classic, long-running mystery series Murder, She Wrote is also the first based on a novel, namely Lyn Hamilton's The Celtic Riddle. Angela Lansbury recreates her role as mystery writer-cum-amateur sleuth Jessica B. Fletcher, who on this occasion has journeyed to Ireland, there to attend the reading of the will of an old friend. Naturally, the bequeathing is chock-full of bizarre conditions and codicils, but the reading itself takes second place to the series of murders which follow. The police do their usual "thorough" investigation and come up with nothing, leaving it to Jessica to assemble the clues, many of which are maddeningly cryptic, and all of which are somehow linked to a huge hidden treasure. Filmed on location, Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle first aired May 9, 2003, on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angela Lansbury, Joe Michael Burke, (more)
In this frothy outing, a helpful twin temporarily leaves college to pretend to be a fashion model in order to help keep her sister out of trouble. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rick Springfield, Andrea Roth, (more)
Based on the novel by Dorothy L. Sayers, this made-for-TV mystery features two of her best-known characters: Harriet Vane and Lord Peter Wimsey. Novelist Vane (Harriet Walter) is vacationing after being cleared on charges of murder when she stumbles across the body of a man who has been killed on the beach. The only footprints in the sand besides her own are those of the victim, and Vane is at a loss to explain what has happened. Finding herself a homicide suspect again, Vane calls upon her friend Lord Wimsey (Edward Petherbridge) to help solve the crime, and the two soon find they've stumbled upon a plot involving murder, suicide, and political radicals. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Walt Disney Pictures produced this ambitious, animated tale of sorcery and swordfighting. Taran (voice of Grant Bardsley), is an assistant to Dallben (voice of Freddie Jones), a pigkeeper in the mythical land of Prydain. Taran longs to be a knight, and he's given his chance to live out his dream when he is sent out in search of a magical black cauldron which can either be a powerful instrument of good or a bottomless fount of evil, depending entirely upon who should find it. However, Taran is not the only one in search of this talisman -- the Horned King (voice of John Hurt) wants the cauldron to shore up his sinister powers and raise an army of the dead, and with the help of the all-seeing pig Hen-Wren, the wicked one may make his hideous plans a reality. The Black Cauldron had the distinction of being the first animated feature from Disney to receive a PG rating from the MPAA, due to some frightening scenes of black magic. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Grant Bardsley, Susan Sheridan, (more)
A French model (Stefanie Powers) poses for an artist (Stacy Keach), and they begin an affair. It doesn't last, however, and the model moves on to a married man (Timothy Dalton), while the artist has an affair with his benefactor (Lee Remick). This TV miniseries is based on a novel by Judith Krantz. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stefanie Powers, Stacy Keach, (more)
For many aficionados of Kenneth Grahames' The Wind in the Willows, the definitive film version was seen in Disney's omnibus animated feature Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949). Even so, this 1983 British adaptation is every bit as accomplished and worthwhile as the Disney film. Consisting of three short stories, each lasting about 20 minutes, the film features most of Grahame's beloved anthropomorphic-animal characters, specifically Toad, Rat, Badger and Mole. The animation was accomplished with a stop-motion process, reminiscent of George Pal's Puppetoons. The Wind in the Willows was directed by Mark Hall, of Count Duckula and Danger Mouse fame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
This Disney Studios attempt at entering the horror genre is a British production based on the chilling novel by Florence Engel Randall. An American family, headed by composer Paul Curtis (David McCallum) and his wife Helen (Carroll Baker), is renting an old mansion in England. The mansion's owner is Mrs. Aylwood (Bette Davis), who lives in a small guest house on the property. The mansion is surrounded by dense, forbidding woods. The Curtis children, Jan (Lynn-Holly Johnson) and Ellie (Kyle Richards), explore the forest. Mrs. Aylwood is continually searching the woods for her daughter -- whom she lost there 30 years ago. Over time, the children come to be haunted by the spirit of the daughter, Karen (Katherine Levy). The film was originally released in 1980 with an ending that included a huge alien from another planet. The studio pulled back the film after test audiences laughed at the special effects, and re-released the movie in 1982 with a new ending that circumvented the alien. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, Carroll Baker, (more)
Though she owns a large estate and is herself a noblewoman, Lady St. Edmund (Helen Hayes) is anything but rich. Indeed, if she cannot raise the money needed to pay taxes on the estate, she and the large crew of orphans she has taken in will be thrown out. Legend has it that one of her ancestors, a pirate, hid a substantial treasure in gold coins somewhere in the mansion. Lady St. Edmund has not lost sight of the legend, but neither has she found the coins. With the willing help of her children and her valet-of-all trades, Priory (David Niven), she is doing her plucky best to keep the wolf from the door. However, the thieving duo of Bundage and Grimsworthy (Leo McKern and Vivian Pickles) have decided to mount a search for the legendary loot themselves and have persuaded Casey (Jodie Foster), a waif from L.A., to pose as Lady St. Edmund's long-lost granddaughter and help find and steal the loot. This being a Disney production, one can be confident that good will somehow prevail. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Niven, Helen Hayes, (more)
- 1976
- G
The Littlest Horse Thieves is a Walt Disney Production. Set in early 20th-century England, the film concerns three Yorkshire children who take pity on the ponies that are used as beasts of burden in the coal mines. The kids "liberate" the ponies with the help of a sympathetic groom. This action arouses so much public sympathy that the miners threaten to strike if the ponies are returned to their living deaths in the pits. A plot-solving last minute rescue segues into a joyous celebration, stage-managed by twinkly old Lord Harrogate (played by the indispensable Alastair Sim). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alastair Sim, Peter Barkworth, (more)
- 1975
Summer 1925: Richard Bellamy (David Langton) curries favor with millionaire Sir Guy Paynter (Robert Hardy), whose influence may enable Richard to attain an important government post. But things go awry when Sir Guy begins showering undue attention upon Richard's young wife Virginia (Hannah Gordon). And in the "downstairs" world, kitchen servant Ruby (Jenny Tomasin) announces that she has a new beau. Written by Rosemary Anne Sisson, "Such a Lovely Man" made its British TV bow on October 26, 1975, and was subsequently seen in America on March 6, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Summer, 1921: With newlyweds Richard and Virginia Bellamy (David Langton, Hannah Gordon) still on their honeymoon, Richard's ward Georgina (Lesley Anne-Down) decides to throw a wild costume party at Eaton Place. Amidst the festivities, an unexpected tragedy strikes. Meanwhile, the downstairs staff prepares to greet the new governess for Virginia's children. Written by Rosemary Anne Sissons, "Laugh a Little Louder Please" was originally telecast in England on September 21, 1975, and in the United States on January 30, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Summer, 1928: Once again, Georgina (Lesley-Anne Down) has become involved with her giddy society friends. The merry little group faces disaster and disgrace when they "borrow" Richard Bellamy's (David Langton) car for a fateful joyride. A grim courtroom scene caps this somber episode, which was written by Rosemary Anne Sisson. First seen in England on November 30, 1975, "Joke Over" subsequently aired in the United States on April 10, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1975
Vacationing at a Scottish Highlands fishing lodge, the members of the Bellamy household cross swords with taciturn groundskeeper McKay (Jack Watson) and his equally truculent wife (Georgine Anderson). As Hudson tries to get to the bottom of McKay's curious behavior, James Bellamy (Simon Williams) realizes with startling suddenness that he has fallen in love with his half-cousin Georgina (Lesley-Anne Down). Written by Rosemary Anne Sisson, "Will Ye No Come Back Again" was first broadcast in England on November 23, 1975. American viewers finally saw the episode on April 3, 1977. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Two children ride the same pony in this Disney film, but neither one is happy about sharing the animal they both love. James Ellison is rich and wears leg braces; on the pony, she is not crippled. Scotty Pirie is a poor farm boy, and he loves to ride the pony as well. The two dispute the ownership of the pony, and the townspeople create many complications through their support of one or the other. Eventually, the two become friends, and while the ownership issue is resolved, it is not so important anymore because they have learned to share the pony between them. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Craig, John Meillon, (more)
- 1974
January, 1916: Still mired in a Home Office job, James longs to rejoin his regiment along the western front. Feeling James' pain, his wife Hazel (Meg Wynn Owen) decides to pull a few strings on her husband's behalf. Meanwhile, Georgina (Lesley-Anne Down) nearly collapses from exhaustion during her rigid training as a volunteer nurse, while Rose (Jean Marsh) confidently holds down a "man's job" as a bus conductor. Written by Rosemary Ann Sisson, "Tug of War" first aired in England on October 12, 1974, and in the United States on February 1, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
Season four of Upstairs, Downstairs concentrated on life in the Bellamy household during WWI. The first episode of the new season, "A Patriotic Offering," was set in September of 1914. Having been among the first to enlist, James Bellamy (Simon Williams) is in the trenches of France, as his family and servants anxiously await news of his progress. Meanwhile, Lady Prudence Fairfax (Joan Benham) has persuaded James' wife Hazel (Meg Wynn Owen) to take in a Belgian refugee family at Eaton Place. While Hazel is more than willing to do her patriotic duty, there are some very serious issues concerning the refugees' hygienic habits -- or lack of. Written by Rosemary Anne Sisson, "A Patriotic Offering" first aired in England on September 14, 1974, and in America on January 4, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1974
October, 1917: While the Bellamy household staff is participating in a charity show, staged in the Eaton Place drawing room by the indefatigable Lady Prudence Fairfax (Joan Benham), all of London is rocked by a German air raid. One of the bombs falls near the Bellamy home, causing a great deal of damage, but no casualties. Still, there is cause to worry amongst the "upstairs" and "downstairs" people: James Bellamy (Simon Williams) is reported as missing in action at Passchendaele. Written by Rosemary Anne Sisson, "The Hero's Farewell" first aired in England on November 16, 1974, then in the United States on March 7, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1973
With Hudson (Gordon Jackson) in tow, James Bellamy (Simon Langton accepts the invitation of his old friend Lord "Bunny" Newbury (John Quayle) for a weekend party at Somerby, His Lordship's lavish estate. Things get sticky when Lord Newbury's erstwhile fiancée, Lady Diana Russell (Celia Bannerman), falls for James. Meanwhile, head butler Hudson is sorely tempted to leave the Bellamys' employ and accept a position at Somersby. Written by Rosemary Ann Sisson, "A Change of Scene" was originally telecast in England on November 10, 1973, then shown in America on November 17, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
