The Big Sleep 1978 R, 99 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama / Romance / Thriller
Director: Michael Winner Cast: Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles, Richard Boone, Candy Clark, James Stewart, John Mills, Joan Collins, Oliver Reed, Edward Fox, Harry Andrews, Colin Blakely, Diana Quick, Richard Todd, James Donald, John Justin
This version of "The Big Sleep" features Robert Mitchum in the role of private detective Philip Marlowe, and the setting is now in London during the 1970s. Marlowe is hired by elderly General Sternwood (James Stewart) to investigate a blackmail attempt. In the process, Marlowe becomes involved with Sternwood's daughters (Sarah Miles and Candy Clark), and, before the case is solved, several murders take place.
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Charlie Bubbles 1968 N/R, 89 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Albert Finney Cast: Albert Finney, Billie Whitelaw, Colin Blakely, Liza Minnelli, Timothy Garland, Alan Lake, Richard Pearson, Peter Sallis, Charles Lamb, Nicholas Phipps
Charlie's (Albert Finney) life seems to revolve around only three relationships–his wife Lottie (Billie Whitelaw), son Jack (Timothy Garland), and his secretary Eliza (Liza Minnelli)–until he decides to try life on his own and sails off in an orange hot-air balloon.
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The Dogs of War 1980 R, 102 min. Genre: Action
Director: John Irvin Cast: Christopher Walken, Colin Blakely, Tom Berenger, Hugh Millais, Paul Freeman, JoBeth Williams, Robert Urquhart, Pedro Armendariz Jr., Ed O'Neill, Winston Ntshona
Soldier of fortune Jamie Shannon (Christopher Walken) becomes involved in the overthrow of an African dictatorship. This movie depicts what happens when greed takes over.
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Equus 1977 R, 137 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Sidney Lumet Cast: Richard Burton, Peter Firth, Colin Blakely, Joan Plowright, Harry Andrews, Eileen Atkins, Jenny Agutter, Kate Reid, John Wyman, Elva Mai Hoover, Ken James, Patrick Brymer
Through an act of violence, stable boy Alan Strang (Peter Firth) has blinded the horses he is supposed to tend. Dr. Dysart (Richard Burton) is called in to psychoanalyze Alan in order to find unconscious motivations for his cruel actions. Richard Burton was nominated for an Oscar for his role as the psychiatrist.
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Evil Under the Sun 1982 PG, 102 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama / Thriller
Director: Guy Hamilton Cast: Peter Ustinov, Colin Blakely, Jane Birkin, Nicholas Clay, Maggie Smith, Roddy McDowall, Sylvia Miles, James Mason, Denis Quilley, Diana Rigg, Emily Hone, John Alderson, Paul Antrim, Richard Vernon, Barbara Hicks
In this Agatha Christie story, a famous actress, Arlena Marshall (Diana Rigg), is murdered while visiting an idyllic beach resort, and detective Hercules Poirot (Peter Ustinov) investigates. Suspects include Arlena's biographer Rex (Roddy McDowall), Broadway producers Odell and Myra Gardener (James Mason and Sylvia Miles), Arlena's husband Kenneth (Denis Quilley), Kenneth's lover Daphne (Maggie Smith), millionaire Sir Horace Blatt (Colin Blakely), Arlena's lover Patrick (Nicholas Clay), and Patrick's wife Christine (Jane Birkin). Poirot has his work cut out for him when he learns more about the suspects–all of whom had motives to kill Arlena.
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Galileo 1975 PG, 145 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Joseph Losey Cast: Topol, Edward Fox, Colin Blakely, Georgia Brown, Clive Revill, Margaret Leighton, John Gielgud, Michael Gough, Michael Lonsdale, Richard O'Callaghan, Tim Woodward, Judy Parfitt
When his findings about planetary movement contradict teachings of the Church, 17th-century scientist Galileo (Topol) renounces his theory but privately continues to believe in it and hopes that time will prove him right.
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It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet 1975 G, 94 min. Genre: Family aka: All Things Bright and Beautifu
Director: Eric Till Cast: John Alderson, Colin Blakely, Lisa Harrow, Bill Maynard, Richard Pearson, Paul Shelley, Rosemary Martin, Raymond Francis, Liz Smith, John Barrett
Based on James Herriot's books about life as a 1930s' veterinarian in Yorkshire, John Alderson plays the kindly doctor who ministers to animals in this enjoyable family film.
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King Lear 1984 TV, 158 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Elliott Cast: Laurence Olivier, Diana Rigg, Anna Calder-Marshall, Dorothy Tutin, Colin Blakely, John Hurt, Leo McKem, Jeremy Kemp, Robert Lindsay, David Threlfall, Brian Cox, Edward Petherbridge, Robert Lang, Geoffrey Bateman, John Cording
King Lear (Laurence Olivier) is aging and wants to leave his kingdom to the daughter who can prove that she loves him the most. When daughter Cordelia (Anna Calder-Marshall) remains steadfast in refusing to play her father's game, Lear exiles her. The other two daughters–Regan and Goneril (Diana Rigg and Dorothy Tutin)–plot to deceive their father. Meanwhile, Gloucester (Leo McKem) and his sons Edgar and Edmund (David Threlfall and Robert Lindsay) experience their own family problems, which are based on honesty and also the lack of trust. Tragedies lie ahead for both families. This version of the Shakespeare tragedy was first aired on television and won the Emmy.
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The Long Ships 1963 N/R, 124 min. Genre: Adventure
Director: Jack Cardiff Cast: Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, Russ Tamblyn, Rosanna Schiaffino, Oskar Homolka, Colin Blakely, Lionel Jeffries, Edward Judd, Beba Loncar, Clifford Evans
Vikings and Moors clash in the search for the mystical Golden Bell containing a fortune in gold.
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Loophole 1980 N/R, 105 min. Genre: Drama aka: Break In
Director: John Quested Cast: Albert Finney, Martin Sheen, Susannah York, Colin Blakely, Jonathan Pryce, Robert Morley, Alfred Lynch, Christopher Guard, Tony Doyle, Gwyneth Powell
An architect, needing extra money, agrees to help a gang of bank robbers break into a high-security vault inside a London bank.
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A Man for All Seasons 1966 N/R, 120 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Fred Zinnemann Cast: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw, Leo McKern, Orson Welles, Susannah York, Vanessa Redgrave, Nigel Davenport, John Hurt, Corin Redgrave, Colin Blakely, Cyril Luckham, Jack Gwillim, Thomas Heathcote
This historical epic of a turning point in English history centers on Catholic Cardinal Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield), who disputes Henry VIII's (Robert Shaw) desire to divorce Anne Boleyn. Once Henry sets himself up as head of his new Church of England, More stands up for his principles and resigns. This film won six Academy Awards; among them were Best Picture, Director, and Actor (Scofield). Wendy Hiller and Robert Shaw were also nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Actor.
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Murder on the Orient Express 1974 PG, 127 min. Genre: Mystery / Drama / Thriller
Director: Sidney Lumet Cast: Albert Finney, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave, Michael York, Jacqueline Bisset, Lauren Bacall, Wendy Hiller, Martin Balsam, Richard Widmark, Jean-Pierre Cassel, John Gielgud, Anthony Perkins, Rachel Roberts, Colin Blakely
Agatha Christie's detective Hercule Poirot (Albert Finney) investigates a murder that takes place on a train trip from Calais to Istanbul. This is an exciting movie with an exceptional cast of characters. Ingrid Bergman won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. There were five other nominations, including Best Actor (Albert Finney).
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Nijinsky 1980 R, 125 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Herbert Ross Cast: Alan Bates, George De La Pena, Leslie Browne, Alan Badel, Colin Blakely, Jeremy Irons, Ronald Pickup, Ronald Lacey, Vernon Dobtcheff, Janet Suzman
This is a good film biography of the brilliant, early 20th-century ballet star, Vaslav Nijinsky (George De La Pena), and his involvement in a homosexual affair with the Ballet Russe's manager, Sergei Diaghilev (Alan Bates).
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The Pink Panther Strikes Again 1976 PG, 103 min. Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Blake Edwards Cast: Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom, Colin Blakely, Leonard Rossiter, Lesley-Anne Down, Burt Kwouk, Andre Maranne, Richard Vernon, Dick Crockett, Paul Maxwell, Byron Kane, Briony McRoberts, Dudley Sutton, Hal Galili, Robert Beatty
French Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is again in charge of the case. This time, Clouseau is the intended victim of an assassination by his ex-boss who is now out of the asylum. Former Chief Inspector Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom) intends to take over the world. Will Clouseau avoid the killer (Leslie-Anne Down) and stop Dreyfus?
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The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes 1970 PG, 125 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Billy Wilder Cast: Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely, Genevieve Page, Christopher Lee, Tamara Toumanova, Clive Revill, Irene Handl, Stanley Holloway, Mollie Maureen, Catherine Lacey
This Billy Wilder film is effective as it studies the famed sleuth, though it is often slow-paced. In it, he solves several cases to the amazement of Dr. Watson, but not to the amazement of the audience.
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Saturday Night and Sunday Morning 1960 N/R, 90 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Karel Reisz Cast: Albert Finney, Shirley Anne Field, Rachel Roberts, Hylda Baker, Bryan Pringle, Norman Rossington, Avis Bunnage, Edna Morris, Colin Blakely, Peter Madden, Robert Cawdron, Irene Richmond, Anne Blake
This was Albert Finney's vehicle for stardom in which he plays Arthur Seaton, an unhappy factory worker in Nottingham. Brenda (Rachel Roberts) becomes his mistress–an unwise move–but finally Arthur's reason prevails and he opts for Doreen (Shirley Anne Field).
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Something to Hide 1972 N/R, 100 min. Genre: Drama aka: Shattered
Director: Alastair Reid Cast: Peter Finch, Shelley Winters, Colin Blakely, John Stride, Linda Hayden, Harold Goldblatt, Rosemarie Dunham, Jack Shepherd, Graham Crowden, Helen Fraser
A pregnant woman, Lorelei (Linda Hayden), becomes the unwelcome houseguest of Harry Field (Peter Finch) after he comes to her aid.
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This Sporting Life 1963 N/R, 134 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Lindsay Anderson Cast: Richard Harris, Rachel Roberts, Alan Badel, William Hartnell, Colin Blakely, Vanda Godsell, Arthur Lowe, Anne Cunningham, Jack Watson, Harry Markham, George Sewell, Leonard Rossiter, Wallas Eaton
Frank Machin (Richard Harris) is a former Yorkshire coal miner who gains fame and fortune as a rugby player. Frank has it all–except love, and now he pursues a romance with his landlady, the widowed Mrs. Hammond (Rachel Roberts). All goes well for a short time, but when Mrs. Hammond grows tired of Frank, their doomed romance leads to tragedy.
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The Vengeance of She 1968 G, 101 min. Genre: Adventure aka: Ayesha, the Return of She
Director: Cliff Owen Cast: John Richardson, Olinka Berova, Edward Judd, Colin Blakely, Jill Melford, George Sewell, Andre Morell, Noel Willman, Derek Godfrey, Daniele Noel
This is a remake/follow-on of 1965's "She." A spell is placed on young French woman Carol (Olinka Berova), and she is taken to Kuma, by orders of the King (John Richardson) to replace Queen Ayesha. However, Carol's boyfriend Philip (Edward Judd) doesn't care for that one bit.
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| 1. The Big Sleep (1978)
2. Charlie Bubbles (1968)
3. The Dogs of War (1980)
4. Equus (1977)
5. Evil Under the Sun (1982)
6. Galileo (1975)
7. It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet (1975) aka: All Things Bright and Beautifu
8. King Lear (1984)
9. Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980)
10. The Long Ships (1963)
11. Loophole (1980) aka: Break In
12. A Man for All Seasons (1966)
13. Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
14. Nijinsky (1980)
15. The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)
16. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
17. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)
18. Something to Hide (1972) aka: Shattered
19. This Sporting Life (1963)
20. The Vengeance of She (1968) aka: Ayesha, the Return of She
In The News
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