The Charge of the Light Brigade 1968 PG, 130 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Tony Richardson Cast: Trevor Howard, Vanessa Redgrave, John Gielgud, Harry Andrews, Jill Bennett, David Hemmings, Peter Bowles, Donald Wolfit, Ben Aris, Mickey Baker, Leo Britt, Mark Burns, John J. Carney, Helen Cherry, Ambrose Coghill
The British defeat by the Russians in the 1854 battle at Balaclava, Turkey, during the Crimean War is the subject of this anti-war film. Seeking glory, Lord Cardigan (Trevor Howard) leads his Light Brigade on a mission to gain a victory over Russian troops. But, when the battle begins, wrong decisions are made by incompetent officers that prove disastrous when they find themselves in the middle of Russian forces.
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Hamlet 1969 G, 119 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Tony Richardson Cast: Nicol Williamson, Gordon Jackson, Anthony Hopkins, Judy Parfitt, Mark Dignam, Marianne Faithfull, Roger Livesey, Anjelica Huston, Michael Elphick, Ben Aris, Michael Pennington, Gordon Jackson, Clive Graham, Peter Gale, John J. Carney
Filmed as a play, this is another version of Shakespeare's play about the Danish prince, Hamlet (Nicol Williamson), whose father was killed. Soon after the king's murder, his widow Gertrude (Judy Parfitt) marries Claudius (Anthony Hopkins) who was the king's brother. The ghost of the king talks to Hamlet and tells him to be kind to Gertrude but to murder Claudius. To accomplish the goal and avoid suspicion, Hamlet fakes madness. His "madness" sets off a string of deaths–including those of Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet's chief counsel Polonius (Mark Dignam), and Polonius' daughter Ophelia (Marianne Faithfull) who had loved Hamlet, and Hamlet as well.
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Lady Chatterley 1992 N/R, 110 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Ken Russell Cast: Joely Richardson, Sean Bean, James Wilby, Shirley Anne Field, Amanda Murray, Ken Russell, Ben Aris, Judith Paris, David Sterne, Soo Drouet, Brian Blessed
Based on three related D.H. Lawrence novels, this is the story of Lady Chatterley (Joely Richardson) who is married to the sickly, old Sir Clifford Chatterley (James Wilby). Bored with her life, she starts an affair with hired hand Mellors (Sean Bean). Originally a British TV miniseries, the film was cut for theatrical release.
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The Plague of the Zombies 1966 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Horror / Thriller aka: The Zombies
Director: John Gilling Cast: Andre Morell, Diane Clare, John Carson, Brook Williams, Jacqueline Pearce, Alexander Davion, Michael Ripper, Marcus Hammond, Dennis Chinnery, Ben Aris, Louis Mahoney, Roy Royston
Doctor Thompson (Brook Williams) becomes suspicious over the mysterious deaths that are occurring in the village. He asks his mentor, James Forbes (Andre Morell), to investigate, and it is soon clear that the mad squire (John Carson) orders young workers killed and, through voodoo, the squire brings the bodies back to life as zombies to work in his tin mine. But there are obstacles to James' cleaning up this mess. Good plot and atmosphere.
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Tommy 1975 PG, 111 min. Genre: Musical / Drama / Fantasy
Director: Ken Russell Cast: Roger Daltrey, Ann - Margret, Oliver Reed, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Keith Moon, Robert Powell, Tina Turner, Jack Nicholson, Ben Aris, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, Paul Nicholas, John Entwistle, Barry Winch
The story in this rock opera involves young Tommy (Roger Daltrey) who became deaf, dumb, and blind when his father was murdered. Tommy's mother Nora (Ann-Margaret) and stepfather Frank (Oliver Reed) take Tommy to a specialist (Jack Nicholson), but nothing happens–until Tommy discovers pinball. Tommy becomes a world champion pinball player. He even beats the Pinball Wizard (Elton John) and gains fame and fortune. The film is based on the Who's rock opera and features great performances by Eric Clapton, Elton John, and Tina Turner. Ann-Margret was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Actress.
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Up at the Villa 2000 PG-13, 115 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Philip Haas Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sean Penn, Anne Bancroft, James Fox, Jeremy Davies, Derek Jacobi, Massimo Ghini, Dudley Sutton, Lorenza Indovina, Clive Merrison, Roger Hammond, Linda Spurrier, Ben Aris, Anne Ridler, Ann Bell
Based on W. Somerset Maugham's romantic thriller set in Italy during the 1930s, this film features Kristin Scott Thomas in the role of the beautiful young widow, Mary Panton, who is currently residing in a villa. Intrigue evolves from Mary's one-night affair with an illegal immigrant, Karl Richter (Jeremy Davies), while she is also being courted by both playboy Rowley Flint (Sean Penn) and the very respectable Sir Edgar Swift (James Fox).
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| 1. The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968)
2. Hamlet (1969)
3. Lady Chatterley (1992)
4. The Plague of the Zombies (1966) aka: The Zombies
5. Tommy (1975)
6. Up at the Villa (2000)
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