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.
|  | |
Brideshead Revisited 1981 TV, 660 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Charles Sturridge Cast: Jeremy Irons, Anthony Andrews, Phoebe Nicholls, Diana Quick, Jane Asher, Simon Jones, Claire Bloom, John Gielgud, Richard Hope, Laurence Olivier, Stephane Audran, Brian Hayes, Charles Keating, Roger Milner, Jenny Runacre
Set around the era of World War I and World War II, this 11-hour miniseries reveals the problems of a particular British aristocracy. The tale is spun through the friendship of two young men–Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte (Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews)–who came from diverse backgrounds and meet at Oxford.
|  | |
The Leading Man 1996 R, 96 min. Genre: Drama
Director: John Duigan Cast: Jon Bon Jovi, Anna Galiena, Lambert Wilson, Thandie Newton, Barry Humphries, Patricia Hodge, Diana Quick, David Warner, Kevin McKidd, Nicole Kidman
Renowned playwright Felix Webb (Lambert Wilson) finds himself in a precarious position balancing attention to his wife, Elena (Anna Galiena), against moments with his mistress, Hilary (Thandie Newton), who is starring in his latest play. Sensing Felix's despair, the leading man in the play, Robin Grange (Jon Bon Jovi), offers to seduce Elena in order to distract her away from Felix's activities with Hilary. But the best-laid plans often go awry, and this is no exception.
|  | |
Nostradamus 1994 R, 118 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Roger Christian Cast: Tcheky Karyo, F. Murray Abraham, Rutger Hauer, Amanda Plummer, Julia Ormond, Assumpta Serna, Anthony Higgins, Diana Quick, Michael Gough, Maia Morgenstern, Magdalena Ritter, Bruce Meyers, Leon Lissek, Michael Byrne
Set in France during the 16th century, this story explores the life of doctor/scientist Nostradamus (Tcheky Karyo) whose Jewish family posed as Catholics to escape the Inquisition. As a student of scientist Scalinger (F. Murray Abraham), Nostradamus develops medical theories and creates herbal cures but loses his wife Marie (Julia Ormond) and their two children to the Black Plague. Nostradamus then moves to a remote village where he marries a widow, Anne (Assumpta Serna), with whom he begins a large family. At Scalinger's urging, Nostradamus begins writing and publishes a book of prophecies that includes the forecast of King Henry II's (Anthony Higgins) death. After seeing the book, Queen Catherine de Medici (Amanda Plummer) takes an interest and, later, after the King dies, gives Nostradamus lifelong protection from the Inquisition court, and he continues his prophecies.
|  | |
The Phantom of the Opera 1983 TV, 100 min. Genre: Drama / Horror
Director: Robert Markowitz Cast: Maximilian Schell, Jane Seymour, Michael York, Jeremy Kemp, Diana Quick, Ferenc Beganyi, Pal Kovacs, Philip Stone, Paul Brooke, Andras Miko, Gellert Raksanyi, Laszlo Nemeth, Jeno Kis, Laszlo Soos, Denes Ujlaky
This classic story is brought to TV with several deviations from the original story–a major one being that it is set in Budapest rather than Paris. After orchestra leader Sandor's (Maximilian Schell) singer wife (Jane Seymour) receives a bad review and commits suicide, Sandor gets into a fight with the critic (Philip Stone) and is burned with acid. Sandor takes refuge beneath the opera house, and five years later emerges as the masked Phantom. He falls in love with chorus girl Maria Gianelli (also played by Seymour) who greatly resembles his dead wife. Maria is in love with the director of the opera, Michael Hartnell (Michael York), but the Phantom tutors Maria and terrorizes the cast and all those who stand in the way of Maria's stardom. Good cast and scenery.
|  | |
Revengers Tragedy 2002 N/R, 109 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Alex Cox Cast: Christopher Eccleston, Eddie Izzard, Derek Jacobi, Diana Quick, Andrew Schofield, Anthony Booth, Margi Clarke, Alex Cox, Marc Warren, Fraser Ayres
This nearly unintelligible comedy/drama is based on Thomas Middleton's 17th-century play and uses dialog from that era with modern settings. Years after the poisoning of his fiancee by the Duke (Derek Jacobi), unstable Vindici (Christopher Eccleston) makes plans to extract revenge on not only the Duke but his entire aristocratic family. A dark and violent tale.
|  | |
Saving Grace 2000 R, 94 min. Genre: Comedy / Drama
Director: Nigel Cole Cast: Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson, Martin Clunes, Tcheky Karyo, Jamie Forman, Bill Bailey, Valerie Edmond, Phyllida Law, Clive Merrison, Leslie Phillips, Tristan Sturrock, Diana Quick, Linda Kerr Scott, Denise Coffey, Paul Brooke
"Saving Grace" is a British comedy that travels well across the sea into America's mainstream. The plot revolves around the proper, middle-aged, widow Grace Trevethan, who turns her greenhouse into a hydroponic marijuana farm in order to pay off family debts.
|  | |
| 1. The Big Sleep (1978)
2. Brideshead Revisited (1981)
3. The Leading Man (1996)
4. Nostradamus (1994)
5. Ordeal by Innocence (1984)
6. The Phantom of the Opera (1983)
7. Revengers Tragedy (2002)
8. Saving Grace (2000)
In The News
|