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Norman Chappell
Norman Chappell (31 December 1925, Lucknow, India – 21 July 1983) was an English character actor, known for numerous roles in television and film. Biography Born in India during the British Raj, Chappell appeared mainly in television series as a character actor, usually in light comedy roles. He was best known for his roles in the '' Carry On'' films and in '' The Avengers'' (five appearances " Dead of Winter", " The Gilded Cage", " Dial A Deadly Number", " Dance with Death" and " Fog"). He often portrayed slightly pompous types of which his role in " The Gilded Cage" was a good example. He also appeared in a number of comedy sketches performed in the early 3-2-1 TV shows hosted by " Ted Rogers". Selected filmography * ''The Day the Earth Caught Fire'' (1961) – Hotel receptionist (uncredited) * '' Petticoat Pirates'' (1961) – Johnson * '' The Pot Carriers'' (1962) – Prisoner Robert * '' Jigsaw'' (1962) – Andy Roach * '' The Punch and Judy Man'' (1963) – Footman * '' C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Avengers (TV Programme)
''The Avengers'' is a British Spy fiction, espionage television series that aired from 7 January 1961 to 21 April 1969. It initially focused on David Keel (Ian Hendry), aided by John Steed (Patrick Macnee). Ian 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 screened as one-hour episodes for its entire run. The first 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, ABC Weekend became Thames T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
80,000 Suspects
''80,000 Suspects'' is a 1963 British drama film directed and written by Val Guest and starring Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Yolande Donlan and Cyril Cusack. It is based on the 1957 novel ''Pillars of Midnight'' by Elleston Trevor. An outbreak of smallpox in Bath, England leads to a race to contain the virus. The film was not released in the United States. Plot On New Year's Eve in the city of Bath, Dr. Steven Monks diagnoses a mystery patient with smallpox and triggers a citywide quarantine to contain the outbreak. His commitment to the task is affected by the deterioration of his marriage following his clandestine affair with a family friend. His wife Julie becomes infected with the virus. The medical team gradually contains the outbreak until only one case remains, that of Ruth Preston, the woman with whom Monks had been having an affair and the wife of his close colleague Clifford. Ruth is traced to a deserted hotel where she is sheltering, lonely and desperately ill. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nearest And Dearest (1972 Film)
''Nearest and Dearest'' is a 1972 British comedy film directed by John Robins and starring Hylda Baker and Jimmy Jewel. A spin-off from the ITV (TV network), ITV sitcom ''Nearest and Dearest'' (1968–1973), it was written by Roy Bottomley and Tom Brennand and produced by Hammer Films in conjunction with a film subsidiary of Granada TV. Baker and Jewel are feuding brother and sister Nellie and Eli Pledge, owners of Pledge's Purer Pickles. Plot On their father's death, Eli and Nellie Pledge inherit a pickle factory in Colne, in the north of England. The warring siblings struggle to keep the decrepit "Pledge's Purer Pickles" afloat, hampered by severe lack of funds, zero business acumen and by having inherited a workforce that is a decade beyond retirement age. While Nellie works hard to keep the business going, Eli prefers to indulge in the delights of beer, cigarettes, gambling and women. The annual Summer holiday is soon upon them and the entire factory is closed down. Nell ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Au Pair Girls
''Au Pair Girls'' is a 1972 British sex comedy film directed by Val Guest and starring Gabrielle Drake, Astrid Frank, Me Me Lai and Nancie Wait. Part of the British 1970s softcore sex comedy genre, the film also includes appearances by mainstream actors Trevor Bannister, Richard O'Sullivan, John Le Mesurier, Ferdy Mayne, Geoffrey Bayldon and Johnny Briggs. A sequel, ''Glamour Incorporated'', was also to have been directed by Guest but was never produced. Plot Four young female au pairs are seen arriving at Heathrow Airport. They are then taken to the office of the Overseas Employment Agency in London, which has arranged placements for them. Anita Sector is assigned to Mr and Mrs Howard. She does not prove popular with Mr Howard as she manages to flood the house while taking a shower and then disappears on a date with Malcolm, a man who preyed on her at the airport. They visit a casino where Anita meets Sheik El Abab and disappears with him after Malcolm loses money at the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Magnificent Six And 1/2
''The Magnificent Six and 1/2'' was a British comedy film series for the Children's Film Foundation. Based on Hal Roach's popular Our Gang series of shorts, "Six and 1/2" followed a group of seven children on their fun misadventures. Created by Harry Booth and Roy Simpson, the series ran in cinemas from 1968 to 1972, with three series and eighteen half-hour episodes in all. Following the first two series, Booth and Simpson decided to bring their children's series to television, eventually creating a very similar series called ''Here Come the Double Deckers!''. The final "Six and 1/2" series was produced by a different company and featured an entirely new group of children in the cast. Series One (1968) The first series of ''The Magnificent Six and 1/2'' starred Len Jones as the group's leader, Steve, Brinsley Forde as prankster Toby, Suzanne Togni as tomboy Liz, Ian Ellis as rather large Dumbo, Michael Audreson as the clever Whizz, Lionel Hawkes as the always hungry Stodger, and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carry On Henry
''Carry On Henry'' is a 1971 British historical comedy film, the 21st release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It tells a fictionalised story involving Sid James as Henry VIII, who chases after Barbara Windsor's character Bettina. The film is based on the "secret history" concept, with a manuscript revealing that Henry VIII had two additional wives. A widowed Henry VIII has a marriage of state to Marie of Normandy, the favourite cousin of King Francis I of France. Henry does not consummate the marriage, because he is repulsed by her habit of eating garlic before coitus. Marie starts an extramarital affair with a courtier. When Henry realizes that his wife is pregnant by another man, he tries to get rid of her without negating his alliance to Francis. He eventually agrees to acknowledge Marie's child as his own, but he is determined to marry his new love interest Catherine Howard. The film was followed by " Carry On At Your Convenience" 1971. Plot The ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carry On Loving
''Carry On Loving'' is a 1970 British comedy film, the 20th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was directed by Gerald Thomas and features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Terry Scott and Bernard Bresslaw alongside newcomers Richard O'Callaghan (in his first ''Carry On'') and Imogen Hassall (in her only ''Carry On'' role). The dialogue veers toward open bawdiness rather than the evasive innuendo characteristic of the earlier films in the series. The film was followed by '' Carry On Henry'' in 1971. Plot Various events involve a dating agency run by Sid Bliss and his longtime girlfriend Sophie Plummett. Their "Wedded Bliss" agency purports to bring together lonely hearts using computer-matching technology, but couples are actually paired up by Sophie. Bliss consistently avoids marrying Sophie, enthusiastically pursuing Esme Crowfoot, a seamstress and client who consistently rejects his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toomorrow (film)
''Toomorrow'' is a 1970 British science fiction musical film directed by Val Guest and starring Olivia Newton-John. Guest said in an interview: "That was Harry Saltzman’s great idea. That was the first space musical." Plot A group of students pay their way through school by forming a pop band, Toomorrow. Sonic vibrations from a special instrument, a "tonaliser", cause an extra-terrestrial to abduct the group and have them entertain the Alphoid population. Cast Production James Bond film producer Harry Saltzman entered into a three-picture deal with Don Kirshner. Kirshner had been the initial producer of the musical output from the Monkees. However, according to director Val Guest, Kirshner and Saltzman grew to loathe each other during the increasingly troubled production. Saltzman hired novelist David Benedictus to write the first draft, but after 30 pages neither Saltzman nor Guest felt it was working. Guest conceded that it was "very well written, but a little bit too 'h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Journey To Midnight
''Journey to Midnight'' is a 1971 British made-for-television horror film featuring two episodes derived from the 1968–1969 anthology television series ''Journey to the Unknown'' starring Chad Everett and Julie Harris, directed by Roy Ward Baker and Alan Gibson. The film contains the following episodes: *"The Indian Spirit Guide" (original broadcast: October 10, 1968 on ABC) *"Poor Butterfly" (original broadcast: January 9, 1969 on ABC) Sebastian Cabot is featured as host who introduces the two episodes. Joan Crawford was also due to appear as co-host, but her scenes were ultimately cut. Her segments appeared in the 1970 television film ''Journey to the Unknown''. Plot "Poor Butterfly" Directed by Alan Gibson, the first segment features Chad Everett as a man who receives an invitation to a costume party and has no idea why he got the invitation. When he arrives at the party, everyone is dressed like it's the 1920s and they act like it is too. Based on a story by William ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Mini-Affair
''The Mini-Affair'' (originally titled ''The Mini-Mob'') is a 1968 British romantic comedy film directed by Robert Amram and starring Georgie Fame, Rosemary Nicols and John Clive. Music is provided by the Bee Gees. Plot summary A leading pop star and a pirate DJ are kidnapped by a trio of girls in swinging London who are desperate for marriage. Cast * Georgie Fame as Georgie Hart * Rosemary Nicols as Charlotte * John Clive as Joe * Bernard Archard as Sir Basil Grinling * Lucille Soong as Lucille * Rick Dane as Mike Maroon * Julian Curry as Ronnie * Gretchen Regan as Marianne * Madeline Smith as Samantha * Clement Freud as Stephen Catchpole * Totti Truman Taylor as Aunt Grace * Clive Dunn as Tyson * Roy Kinnear as fire extinguisher salesman * Eric Pohlmann as world banker * William Rushton as Chancellor of the Exchequer * Irene Handl as cook in Chinese restaurant * Guy Middleton as Colonel Highwater * Ben Aris as TV producer * Milton Reid Milton Rutherford Reid (2 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
How I Won The War
''How I Won the War'' is a 1967 British black comedy film directed and produced by Richard Lester and starring Michael Crawford, Jack MacGowran, Roy Kinnear, Lee Montague, and John Lennon in his only non-musical acting role. The screenplay was by Charles Wood (playwright), Charles Wood based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Patrick Ryan (author and journalist), Patrick Ryan. The film uses a variety of styles such as vignette (entertainment), vignettes, Fourth wall, straight-to-camera, and docu-drama to tell the tale of the fictional 3rd Troop, the 4th Musketeers and their misadventures through the Second World War. The screenplay takes a comic and absurdist attitude towards the conflict through the Western Desert Campaign in mid-late 1942 to the crossing of Ludendorff Bridge, the last intact bridge on the Rhine at Remagen in early 1945. Synopsis Lieutenant Goodbody is an inept, idealistic, naïve, and almost relentlessly Jingoism, jingoistic wartime-commissioned (not regula ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Doctor In Clover
''Doctor in Clover'' (U.S. title: ''Carnaby, M.D.'') is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Leslie Phillips, James Robertson Justice and Shirley Anne Field. The film is based on the 1960 novel of the same title by Richard Gordon. It is the sixth of the seven films in the ''Doctor'' series. British singer Kiki Dee sang the film's title track. Plot The film is based at the (fictitious) St Swithin's Hospital, where Dr Gaston Grimsdyke, an accident-prone doctor and cad, is more interested in the nurses than the patients. Grimsdyke is sacked from his job as a medical officer at a men's prison, for his misbehaviour with the Governor's daughter, so he enrolls in a refresher course with his old medical tutor Sir Lancelot Spratt, who is determined to make him a successful surgeon. Grimsdyke discovers that a plum senior medical post is shortly to become vacant, and starts scheming to be considered, instead of his cousin, who has already been unofficially o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
