Bartleby 1970 PG, 78 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Anthony Friedman Cast: Paul Scofield, John McEnery, Thorley Walters, Colin Jeavons, Raymond Mason, Charles Kinross, Neville Barber, Robin Askwith, Hope Jackman, John Watson, Christine Dingle, Rosalind Elliot
Based on a story by Herman Melville, this is the tale of Bartleby (John McEnery) who withdraws from society, preferring to live in his solitary world. He takes a job with an accountant (Paul Scofield) but is fired after he is unable to perform his tasks. Even then, Bartleby shows up for work daily until he enters a hospital and it is learned that he suffers from several ailments. The accountant is at first happy to be rid of Bartleby but later suffers over Bartleby's death. Plodding.
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Frankenstein Created Woman 1967 N/R, 92 min. Genre: Horror / Drama / Thriller
Director: Terence Fisher Cast: Peter Cushing, Susan Denberg, Robert Morris, Barry Warren, Thorley Walters, Duncan Lamont, Peter Blythe, Derek Fowlds, Alan MacNaughtan, Peter Madden, Philip Ray, Ivan Beavis, Colin Jeavons, Alec Mango, Bartlett Mullins
Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) brings Christina (Susan Denberg), back to life after she commits suicide. But, he slips the soul of her lover, who has been executed, into her body. When Christina regains consciousness, she sets out to seek revenge against those responsible for the execution.
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The French Lieutenant's Woman 1981 R, 127 min. Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Karel Reisz Cast: Meryl Streep, Jeremy Irons, Hilton McRae, Emily Morgan, Charlotte Mitchell, Peter Vaughan, Liz Smith, Leo McKern, David Warner, Alun Armstrong, Lynsey Baxter, Jean Faulds, Colin Jeavons, Patience Collier
This "story within a story" is centered on two actors, Anna and Mike (Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons), who have roles as Victorian lovers. While their fictional characters overcome adversities, the actors who play them lose in their own romantic relationship.
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Great Expectations 1981 TV, 300 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Julian Amyes Cast: Gerry Sundquist, Derek Francis, Joan Hickson, Patsy Kensit, Colin Jeavons, Stratford Johns, Phillip Joseph, Graham McGrath, Tim Munro, John Stratton, Christine Absalom, Sarah-Jane Varley
This offering from the BBC TV miniseries focuses on the life and times of humble Pip (Graham McGrath as young Pip and Gerry Sundquist as older Pip) who dreams of grandeur and finds when he grows up that an unknown benefactor (Stratford Johns) has bestowed a fortune on him enabling him to become a gentleman in the Victorian world of the social elite.
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Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil 1985 TV, 150 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Jim Goddard Cast: John Shea, Bill Nighy, Tony Randall, Jose Ferrer, Carroll Baker, Lucy Gutteridge, David Warner, Warren Clarke, Michael Elphick, Stratford Johns, Robert Urquhart, Colin Jeavons
In 1933, two young Germans come of age. Helmut (Bill Nighy) joins Hitler's SS, while his brother, Karl (John Shea), joins the SA. After the SS wins out over the SA, Karl is imprisoned at Dachau but is released because of Helmut's influence and sent to the Russian Front The story follows Helmut and Karl throughout World War II and shows how Nazi influences changed them.
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Jane Eyre 1983 TV, 239 min. Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Julian Amyes Cast: Timothy Dalton, Zelah Clarke, Sian Pattenden, Judy Cornwell, Robert James, Kate David, Mary Tamm, Carol Gillies, James Marcus, Jean Harvey, Joolia Cappleman, Eve Matheson, Damien Thomas, Colin Jeavons, Kate David
Young Jane Eyre (Sian Pattenden) is raised in a cruel orphanage. When she grows up, Jane (now played by Zelah Clarke) takes a job as a governess at the English manor of the mysterious Edward Rochester (Timothy Dalton). Jane is attracted to Rochester, and he returns her affections. But, plans for marriage are interrupted by the secret Rochester keeps hidden in his attic. Jane leaves, but when disasters affect Rochester, she returns, and her courage and love will bind them together. This excellent BBC production will certainly satisfy fans of the gothic genre.
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The Master Blackmailer 1992 TV, 100 min. Genre: Mystery
Director: Peter Hammond Cast: Jeremy Brett, Edward Hardwicke, Robert Hardy, Norma West, Gwen Ffrangcon Davies, Colin Jeavons, Nickolas Grace, Serena Gordon, David Mallinson, Sarah McVicar
Based on Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverto," this made-for-TV offering brings Jeremy Brett back as master sleuth Sherlock Holmes. Art dealer Milverto (Robert Hardy) is also a master blackmailer who has high society Londoners under his control. Sherlock Holmes goes undercover as a plumber to get the goods on Mr. Milverto. Faithful to Doyle's story with some additional, but unnecessary, material added.
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| 1. Bartleby (1970)
2. Frankenstein Created Woman (1967)
3. The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
4. Great Expectations (1981)
5. Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil (1985)
6. Jane Eyre (1983)
7. The Master Blackmailer (1992)
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