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.
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The Elephant Man 1980 PG, 125 min. Genre: Drama
Director: David Lynch Cast: Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie Jones, Michael Elphick, Hannah Gordon, Helen Ryan, John Standing, Dexter Fletcher, Lesley Dunlop, Pat Gorman, Phoebe Nicholls, Claire Davenport
In the 1800s, John Merrick "The Elephant Man" (John Hurt) suffered from neurofibromatosis, a terribly disfiguring disease and has spent most of his life as a carnival freak. He is befriended by Dr. Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins) who sees more in Merrick than his outward appearance. Treves brings Merrick to the hospital where he works, and, for a short time, Merrick gains human dignity. But, Treves begins to question his own motivations after the press learns about Merrick's hospital stay and exploits him. The film received eight Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Actor (John Hurt), and Director.
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Fairytale: A True Story 1997 PG, 99 min. Genre: Family / Drama / Fantasy
Director: Charles Sturridge Cast: Florence Hoath, Elizabeth Earl, Paul McGann, Phoebe Nicholls, Peter O'Toole, Harvey Keitel, Bill Nighy, Bob Peck, Anton Lesser, Tim McInnerny, Jason Salkey, Lara Morgan, Adam Franks, Guy Witcher, Joseph May
Based on a true story, this plot revolves around two English girls who took a photograph, in 1917, of what is assumed to be fairies. The picture was taken to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Peter O'Toole), who vouched for its authenticity, and it was published in a magazine.
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Gulliver's Travels 1996 TV, 188 min. Genre: Adventure
Director: Charles Sturridge Cast: Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, James Fox, Ned Beatty, Edward Fox, Robert Hardy, John Standing, Alfre Woodard, Geraldine Chaplin, Peter O'Toole, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Phoebe Nicholls, Karyn Parsons, Edward Petherbridge, John Wells
An all-star cast, Jim Henson's special effects, and good performances make this made-for-TV miniseries a joy to watch and is probably the most faithful retelling of the Jonathan Swift social satire. Lemuel Gulliver (Ted Danson) returns home to Mary (Mary Steenburgen) after a long absence and acts out his wild adventures that include the tiny Lilliputians, the huge Brobdingnags, the Laputas (the no-common-sense scientists), and the intelligent horses surrounded by wild humans.
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Maurice 1987 R, 140 min. Genre: Drama
Director: James Ivory Cast: James Wilby, Hugh Grant, Rupert Graves, Denholm Elliott, Simon Callow, Billie Whitelaw, Ben Kingsley, Barry Foster, Judy Parfitt, Phoebe Nicholls, Patrick Godfrey, Mark Tandy
Two Cambridge underclassmen (James Wilby and Hugh Grant) fall in love with each other and then find diverse ways of dealing with homosexuality in the class society of Edwardian England.
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The Missionary 1982 R, 90 min. Genre: Comedy
Director: Richard Loncraine Cast: Michael Palin, Maggie Smith, Trevor Howard, Denholm Elliott, Michael Hordern, Phoebe Nicholls, Graham Crowden, David Suchet, Tricia George, Valerie Whittington
The Reverend Charles Fortescue (Michael Palin) is assigned to run a mission home for "fallen women" in Africa, but he finds it impossible to resist their temptations. Not hilarious like Palin's Monty Python work–but good location scenery.
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Persuasion 1995 PG, 103 min. Genre: Drama / Romance
Director: Roger Michell Cast: Amanda Root, Ciaran Hinds, Corin Redgrave, Susan Fleetwood, Phoebe Nicholls, Fiona Shaw, Judy Cornwell, John Woodvine, Samuel West, Sophie Thompson, Simon Russell Beale, Felicity Dean, Emma Roberts, Richard McCabe
Based on Jane Austen's novel, this is the tale of two 19th-century people, Anne Elliot (Amanda Root) and Captain Wentworth (Ciaran Hinds), who belong to different worlds in society but rise above criticism and pursue their romance and eventual happiness.
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Second Sight 1999 TV, 180 min. Genre: Drama / Mystery
Director: Charles Beeson Cast: Clive Owen, Claire Skinner, Stuart Wilson, Phoebe Nicholls, Rebecca Egan, Selina Boyack, Stephen Critchlow, Ben Smith, Louise Atkins, Donald(2) Douglas, Eddie Marsan, Jonell Elliott, David Fahm, James Greene, Glyn Grimstead
When Chief Inspector Ross Tanner (Clive Owen) realizes that he is going blind, he relies on his deputy, Catherine Tully (Claire Skinner), to become his second set of eyes in solving the brutal murder of a young man. There are a number of suspects, but Tanner hides the fact of his loss of vision and continues his work to solve the case.
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Women in Love 1969 R, 132 min. Genre: Drama
Director: Ken Russell Cast: Glenda Jackson, Oliver Reed, Alan Bates, Jennie Linden, Eleanor Bron, Alan Webb, Michael Gough, Vladek Sheybal, Catherine Willmer, Phoebe Nicholls, Sharon Gurney, Christopher Gable
Glenda Jackson won the Academy Award for Best Actress in her role of Gudrun, whose cruel treatment of her husband, Gerald (Oliver Reed), leads to his suicide. Set in England during the 1920s, Gudrun's marriage is contrasted to her sister Ursula's (Jennie Linden) happy wedded life. A nomination was received for Best Director.
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| 1. Brideshead Revisited (1981)
2. The Elephant Man (1980)
3. Fairytale: A True Story (1997)
4. Gulliver's Travels (1996)
5. Maurice (1987)
6. The Missionary (1982)
7. Persuasion (1995)
8. Second Sight (1999)
9. Women in Love (1969)
In The News
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