 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968  G, 139 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Cast: Keir Dullea, William Sylvester, Gary Lockwood, Daniel Richter, Douglas Rain, Leonard Rossiter, Margaret Tyzack, Robert Beatty, Sean Sullivan, Frank Miller, Bill Weston, Ed Bishop, Alan Gifford, Ann Gillis
The story begins millions of years ago during a crisis on Earth when starving apes, seeking water rights, could only shake their arms at the Others across the stream. Then, one day, a mysterious monolith appeared to probe and direct their brains. Over time, the apes learned that they could change their world through the use of tools, which provided means to obtain food. Skip ahead to the year 2001: apes have evolved into humans, tools into weapons, and Earth is again in crisis. Overpopulation has caused another food shortage, nuclear megatonnage threatens the entire surface of the planet, and, once again, a mysterious monolith has been discovered–this time on the moon. And now, mysterious radio signals from Jupiter are aimed at Earth. A space shuttle is sent to Jupiter to investigate. The genius of this film is the awe it inspires in us as the music sets the tone. Johann Strauss' "Blue Danube," for example, accompanies the docking of the space ship. The pace of both docking and ballet are deliberately slow–a perfect match. While the film does not provide a clear narrative, Arthur C. Clarke's novel does. In this case, reading the book before viewing the movie increases one's understanding. The film received an Oscar for Best Special Effects; three other nominations were received, including Best Director.
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The American 1998  TV, 90 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Paul Unwin
Cast: Matthew Modine, Diana Rigg, Brenda Fricker, Aisling O'Sullivan, Paul Hickey, Andrew Scott, Eva Birthistle, T.P. McKenna, Phillip O'Sullivan, Ian Fitzgibbon, Joe Pilkington, Ed Bishop, Alison McKenna, David Heap, Anita Reeves
Based on Henry James' 1877 novel, this story is set in the post-Civil War era when an American, Christopher Newman (Matthew Modine), arrives in Paris where he is more than a little impressed with European society. Christopher falls in love with Claire (Aisling O'Sullivan), but her mother Madame de Bellegarde (Diana Rigg) and her older brother Valentin (Andrew Scott) oppose Claire's marriage to Christopher because he does not represent French aristocracy. The problem might be solved when Christopher gains evidence that Madam de Bellegarde may have murdered her husband, and he finds himself in the position of blackmailing his way into European society.
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Doppelganger 1969  G, 97 min.
Genre: Sci-Fi
aka: Journey to the Far Side of the Sun
Director: Robert Parrish
Cast: Roy Thinnes, Ian Hendry, Patrick Wymark, Lynn Loring, Loni von Friedl, Herbert Lom, George Sewell, Vladek Sheybal, Ed Bishop, George Mikell, Franco De Rosa, Philip Madoc
This unusual sci-fi film is entertaining. A new planet is found by a British agency headed by Jason Webb (Patrick Wymark) in the 21st Century. The reason that it had not been found earlier is that it is in an orbit identical to Earth's, but directly opposite Earth on the other side of the Sun. British astrophysicist John Kane (Ian Hendry) and American astronaut Colonel Glenn Ross (Roy Thinnes) set off on an expedition to investigate the phenomenon with interesting results.
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The Lords of Discipline 1983 R, 102 min.
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Director: Franc Roddam
Cast: David Keith, Robert Prosky, G.D. Spradlin, Barbara Babcock, Michael Biehn, Rick Rossovich, Judge Reinhold, Bill Paxton, Matt Frewer, John Lavachielli, Michell Lichtenstein, Mark Breland, Malcolm Danare, Greg Webb, Ed Bishop
Set at Carolina Military Institute in the Deep South, racism is the theme of this story when the school admits its first Black cadet. Cadet Will McClean's'' (David Keith) faculty mentor (Robert Prosky) gives him the mission of trying to prevent the plots of a secret group, "The Ten," who are cadets determined to support their out-dated way of life.
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The Master of Ballantrae 1984  TV, 150 min.
Genre: Adventure
Director: Douglas Hickox
Cast: Richard Thomas, Michael York, John Gielgud, Brian Blessed, Timothy Dalton, Nickolas Grace, Ian Richardson, Finola Hughes, John Hallam, Ed Bishop
Based on the Robert Louis Stevenson story, this is a remake of an earlier film starring Errol Flynn. In this made-for-TV version, Michael York takes on the Flynn role of the Scottish brother who fights the British king–and his own brother.
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S.O.S. Titanic 1979 TV, 150 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: William Hale
Cast: David Janssen, Cloris Leachman, Susan Saint James, David Warner, Ian Holm, Helen Mirren, Harry Andrews, Beverly Ross, David Battley, Ed Bishop
This made-for-TV film is another accounting of the Titanic disaster in which over 1500 people were lost. It tells the story through the personal lives of those on board, both fictional and real. John Jacob Astor (David Janssen), who was lost, and Molly Brown (Cloris Leachman), who survived, are highlighted. Worth a look.
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The War Lover 1962 N/R, 105 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Philip Leacock
Cast: Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner, Shirley Anne Field, Gary Cockrell, Michael Crawford, Bill Edwards, Chuck Julian, Robert Easton, Al Waxman, Bob Kanter, Ed Bishop, George Sperdakos
Two pilots–daredevil, World War II bomber pilot Capt. Buzz Rickson (Steve McQueen) and his co-pilot, 1st Lt. Ed Bolland (Robert Wagner)–fall in love with Daphne Caldwell (Shirley Anne Field) who adds to their list of hoped-for conquests in the air and on land.
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| 1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2. The American (1998)
3. Doppelganger (1969)
aka: Journey to the Far Side of the Sun
4. The Lords of Discipline (1983)
5. The Master of Ballantrae (1984)
6. S.O.S. Titanic (1979)
7. Saturn 3 (1980)
8. The War Lover (1962)
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