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Francis De Wolff
Francis Marie de Wolff (7 January 191318 April 1984) was an English character actor. Large, bearded, and beetle-browed, he was often cast as villains in both film and television. Life and career Born in Essex, he made his film debut in '' Flame in the Heather'' (1935), and made many other appearances in such films as ''Fire Over England'' (1937), ''Treasure Island'' (1950), '' Scrooge'' (1951), as the Ghost of Christmas Present, ''Ivanhoe'' (1952), ''Moby Dick'' (1956), '' Saint Joan'' (1957), '' From Russia with Love'' (1963), and ''Carry On Cleo'' (1964). He is perhaps best remembered, however, as a supporting player in horror movies of the 1950s and 1960s, many of them for Hammer Films. These include ''Corridors of Blood'' (1958), ''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' (1959), ''The Man Who Could Cheat Death'' (1959), ''The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll'' (1960), '' Devil Doll'' (1964), and ''The Black Torment'' (1964). His last film appearance was in ''The Three Musketeers'' (1973). ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Smallest Show On Earth
''The Smallest Show on Earth'' (US: ''Big Time Operators'') is a 1957 British comedy film, directed by Basil Dearden, and starring Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, Peter Sellers and Margaret Rutherford. The supporting cast includes Bernard Miles, Leslie Phillips, Francis de Wolff, George Cross, June Cunningham and Sid James. The screenplay was written by William Rose and John Eldridge from an original story by William Rose. Plot Matt and Jean (Travers and McKenna) are a young couple with a longing to visit exotic places such as Samarkand. Matt inherits a cinema from his great uncle. When they look over their new property, they first mistake the modern Grand for it. They are soon disillusioned to learn that the cinema they actually own is the old decrepit Bijou Kinema (nicknamed "the flea pit"), which is sandwiched between two railway bridges. Along with the cinema come three long-time employees: Mrs. Fazackalee (Rutherford), the cashier and bookkeeper; Mr. Quill (Sellers), the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1959 Film)
''The Hound of the Baskervilles'' is a 1959 British gothic-mystery film directed by Terence Fisher and produced by Hammer Film Productions. It is based on the 1902 novel of the same title by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It stars Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes, Sir Christopher Lee as Sir Henry Baskerville and André Morell as Doctor Watson. It is the first film adaptation of the novel to be filmed in colour. Plot In London, Dr. Richard Mortimer asks Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson to investigate the death of his friend Sir Charles Baskerville, in Dartmoor, found dead by heart failure, lying in the moor surrounding his estate, Baskerville Hall. Mortimer believes that his good friend had been scared to death by the vision of a ghost hound, the same that centuries before killed Sir Charles' ancestor, the devilish Sir Hugo, and relates the story of the "curse of the Baskervilles", portrayed in a flashback scene. Mortimer tells Holmes that he also fears for the life of Sir Henry Bask ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rookery Nook (1970 TV Drama)
''Rookery Nook'' is a 1970 British television production by the BBC. Sources The BBC's production was based on the play '' Rookery Nook'', one of the Aldwych farces, by Ben Travers. First showing First transmitted by the BBC on 19 September 1970, it was made in colour on videotape, but survives only as a monochrome telerecording. Revival The BBC's film was revived in 1994 by the National Film Theatre, the UK's leading revival house. Cast * Richard Briers ... Gerald Popkiss * Arthur Lowe ... Harold Twine * Joan Cooper ... Gertrude Twine * Irene Handl ... Mrs. Leverett * Elizabeth Knight ... Rhoda Marley * Moray Watson ... Clive Popkiss * Francis de Wolff ... Putz * Geoffrey Lumsden ... Admiral Juddy * Mary Millar Irene Mary Wetton (26 July 1936 – 10 November 1998), better known by her stage name Mary Millar, was an English actress and singer best remembered for her role as the second actress to play Rose in the successful BBC sitcom ''Keeping Up Appea ... ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Saint (TV Series)
''The Saint'' is a British mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the United Kingdom on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It was based on the literary character Simon Templar created by Leslie Charteris in the 1920s and featured in many novels over the years. In the television series, Templar was played by Roger Moore. Templar helps those whom conventional agencies are powerless or unwilling to protect, often using methods that skirt the law. Chief Inspector Claud Eustace Teal is his nominal nemesis who considers Templar a common criminal, but often grudgingly tolerates his actions for the greater good. NBC picked up the show as a summer replacement in its evening schedule in 1966 because of the strong performance in the United States of the first two series in first-run syndication. The programme, therefore, ended its run with both trans-Atlantic primetime scheduling and colour episodes. It also proved popular beyond the UK and US, eventually airing in over 60 countries ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Ordeal Of Richard Feverel (TV Series)
''The Ordeal of Richard Feverel'' is a 1964 British period television series which originally aired on BBC 2 in four episodes from 12 September to 3 October 1964. It is an adaptation of the 1859 novel of the same title by George Meredith.Baskin p.69 The only television adaptation produced, all four episodes are believed to still exist, although they are unavailable for public viewing. Cast * David Cargill as Adrian Harley * Barry Justice as Richard Feverel * Hugh Burden as Sir Austin Feverel * Betty Hardy as Mrs. Bessy Berry * Anna Carteret as Lucy Desborough * Mary Kerridge as Mrs. Doria Forey * Barbara Lott as Lady Blandish * Anne Castaldini as Clare Forey * Adrian Ropes as Ripton Thompson * Patrick Connor as Tom Bakewell * Felix Felton as Hippias Feverel * Alan Lawrance as Benson * Annabel Barton as Mrs. Mount * David Langton as Lord Falcon * Francis De Wolff as Farmer Blaize * Peter Pratt as The Hon. Peter Brayder * Arthur Hewlett a Mr. Thompson * Nicholas Roylance as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Doctor Who
''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS. The TARDIS exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. With various companions, the Doctor combats foes, works to save civilisations, and helps people in need. Beginning with William Hartnell, thirteen actors have headlined the series as the Doctor; in 2017, Jodie Whittaker became the first woman to officially play the role on television. The transition from one actor to another is written into the plot of the series with the concept of regeneration into a new incarnation, a plot device in which a Time Lord "transforms" into a new body when the current one is too badly harmed to heal normally. Each acto ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Danger Man
''Danger Man'' (retitled ''Secret Agent'' in the United States for the revived series, and ''Destination Danger'' and ''John Drake'' in other overseas markets) is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the programme and wrote many of the scripts. ''Danger Man'' was financed by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. Series development The idea for ''Danger Man'' originated with Ralph Smart an associate of Lew Grade, head of ITC Entertainment. Grade was looking for formats that could be exported. Ian Fleming was brought in to collaborate on series development, but left before development was complete. Like James Bond, the main character is a globetrotting British spy (although one who works for NATO rather than MI6), who cleverly extricates himself from life-threatening situations and introduces himself as "Drake...John Drake." Fleming w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Richard The Lionheart (TV Series)
Richard the Lionheart was a British ITV television series which ran from 1961 to 1963, aimed at younger audiences. It began with the death of King Henry II, and put forward the traditional view of King Richard the Lionheart as a hero, and his brother Prince John (played by Trader Faulkner) as the villain. Richard was played by Irish actor Dermot Walsh who said, "he was not always all one would like to see as a man. We have concentrated on his good side." Richard was perhaps a product of his time. A man brimful of contradictions. A brilliant general, but a poor ruler. A sensitive poet and singer. The producers claimed that the series was based on fact as far as possible; though as little was known of Richard's personal life, "we have taken some liberties here and there," according to associate producer Brian Taylor in a ''TV Times'' article indicating the start of the series. Other regular characters in the series included Sir Gilbert (Robin Hunter), Sir Geoffrey (Alan Haywoo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maigret (1960 TV Series)
''Maigret'' is a British television series made by the BBC and which – following a pilot episode broadcast in 1959 – ran for 52 episodes from 1960 to 1963. Based on the Maigret stories of Georges Simenon, the series starred Rupert Davies in the title role. Unlike most BBC series produced in the 1960s, all episodes (bar the pilot) have survived intact, and are available as a complete set on DVD and blu-ray. In 2022 the series was broadcast by UK television channel Talking Pictures TV. Cast The series starred Rupert Davies as the Police Judiciaire detective Commissaire Jules Maigret, who took up the role in 1960 after Basil Sydney, who had played Maigret in the pilot episode, was unable to continue. The main cast were:- * Ewen Solon as Lucas * Neville Jason as Lapointe * Victor Lucas as Torrence * Helen Shingler as Madame Maigret Episodes included such well-known faces as Stratford Johns, Leon Cortez, Terence Alexander, Roger Delgado, William Franklyn, Michael Goo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Avengers (TV Series)
''The Avengers'' is a British Spy fiction, espionage television series, created in 1961, that ran for 161 episodes until 1969. It initially focused on David Keel (Ian Hendry), aided by John Steed (Patrick Macnee). Hendry left after the first series; Steed then became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants. His most famous assistants were intelligent, stylish and assertive women: Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman), Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), and Tara King (Linda Thorson). Dresses and suits for the series were made by Pierre Cardin. The series ran from 1961 until 1969, screening as one-hour episodes for its entire run. The pilot episode, "Hot Snow (The Avengers), Hot Snow", aired on 7 January 1961. The final episode, "Bizarre", aired on 21 April 1969 in the United States, and on 17 May 1969 in the United Kingdom. ''The Avengers'' was produced by ABC Weekend TV, a contractor within the ITV (TV network), ITV network. After a merger with Rediffusion London in July 1968 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Three Musketeers (1973 Live-action Film)
''The Three Musketeers'' (also known as ''The Three Musketeers (The Queen's Diamonds)'') is a 1973 swashbuckler film based on the 1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas. It is directed by Richard Lester from a screenplay by George MacDonald Fraser, and produced by Ilya Salkind. It stars Michael York, Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay, and Richard Chamberlain as the titular musketeers, with Raquel Welch, Geraldine Chaplin, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Charlton Heston, Faye Dunaway, Christopher Lee, Simon Ward, Georges Wilson and Spike Milligan. The film adheres closely to the novel, and also injects a fair amount of humor. It was originally proposed in the 1960s as a vehicle for The Beatles, whom Lester had directed in '' A Hard Day's Night'' and ''Help!''. It was shot by David Watkin, with an eye for period detail, in Madrid and Segovia, Spain. The fight scenes were choreographed by master swordsman William Hobbs. The musical score was composed by Michel Legrand. ''The Three Musketeers'' premiered ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Black Torment
''The Black Torment'' (a.k.a. ''Estate of Insanity'') is a 1964 British gothic horror film directed by Robert Hartford-Davis and starring John Turner, Heather Sears and Ann Lynn. The film is set in 18th-century Devon and was scripted by brothers Donald and Derek Ford. In terms of plot and setting it shares many similarities with the Hammer Horror productions of the 1960s, but was made by a smaller studio, Compton Films (see Tony Tenser). The Ford brothers later scripted ''Corruption'' (1968), also directed by Robert Hartford-Davis. Plot The film opens with Lucy Judd, a young woman, running in panic through a nocturnal wood. She is tracked down and cornered by a figure in black who puts his hands around her throat. The scene then switches to daytime and a horse-drawn carriage containing Sir Richard Fordyke and his new bride Elizabeth, who is being brought from London to meet her new father-in-law for the first time. Elizabeth is nervous and anxious, hoping to make a good impre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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