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Dracula
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SYNOPSIS Dr. Seward's family-run Insane Asylum has a new neighbor. Yes, it's that wacky Transylvanian, Count Dracula. Once the Count joins in Seward's circle of friends, however, chaos ensues. Mina, the daughter's best friend, is drained of blood, and Lucy, Seward's daughter, is smitten with the Count, despite the presence of her fiance. But no matter, Van Helsing is on his way to save the day! Hooray!
This is yet another retelling of the classic story of Dracula. Made in 1979, it stars Frank Langella as Dracula, Sir Lawrence Olivier as Van Helsing, Donald Pleasance as Dr. Seward, and Kate Nelligan as Lucy. And, in a bit part worthy of Sylvester McCoy is, um, Sylvester McCoy, playing the part of Walter, a butler. (Despite my best attempts at enlivening the plot, the movie is a bit of a downer.)
REVIEW Not being a great fan of vampire films, especially the Dracula ones, I watched this one solely for the eye candy (vis Sylv and Frank Langella). I do like it better than the Gary Oldman Dracula -- there are no buckets of blood being thrown about in this one. But it's not a movie I actively seek out. As you can see from the sounds, Sylv's speaking part was rather limited (yes, those are ALL of his lines from the movie) and for much of the movie you can see him as the camera pans. You'd really have to ask someone who enjoys vampire films if this movie is good or not. I'm afraid I just don't enjoy 'em enough to be a good judge.
7 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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Secret Policeman's Ball
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SYNOPSIS John Cleese put together several variety shows to help raise money for Amnesty International. The first was entitled The Secret Policeman's Ball. Several famous comedians were featured in the live production (which was performed for 4 nights) including Rowan Atkinson, Peter Cook, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Eleanor Bron. They also featured musical guests like Pete Townsend. The variety shows were popular enough for Cleese to hold a few more throughout the years.
So what does this have to do with Mr. McCoy? One of the groups who performed in the original Secret Policeman's Ball was Ken Campbell and a few of his former Roadshow folks: Sylveste McCoy and David Rappaport, most notably. During the 8 minutes they are on, Sylv does the famous "Indian Shirt Trick," hammers a nail into his nose, and escapes from some Metropolitan Police handcuffs while a model train (with attached fork) is set to hurtle toward his heart.
REVIEW I first saw the 8 minutes of Roadshow when a friend showed me The Secret Policeman's Other Ball, an out of print video compilation of the first two Policeman's Balls. I enjoyed it so much, I searched high and low for a copy of the video (and found it). Later on, Amnesty International re-released a video of the original Ball with proceeds going back to the charity. I ended up buying one of those too. (Be sure to watch the entire video. The game show with Terry Jones and John Cleese is one of the funniest things I've ever seen.) There's now a multi-disc DVD set with all of the Balls available.
11 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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Three Kinds of Heat
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SYNOPSIS The Paper Chase Guy (Robert Ginty) and two gorgeous Amazons are chasing after a Chinese Mob courier named Harry Pimm (Sylvester McCoy). During the course of the movie, Pimm flies between JFK airport and Heathrow several times. No one is really sure why. He fires off his Uzi during a fashion show (no one is really sure why). And he shoots Mary Tamm and Trevor Martin. (No one is really sure why.)
A more serious synopsis: Eliot Cromwell (Robert Ginty), an Interpol agent, is trying to find Black Lion's courier, Harry Pimm (Sylv). He recruits JFK airport policewoman Terry O'Shea (Victoria Barrett) to help him, mostly because she's 6' tall and beautiful. They join forces with Hong Kong policewoman Major Shan (Shakti) because she knows more about Black Lion and because she's 6' tall and beautiful. And the important question is, who is Leo Kalb?
REVIEW Just to warn you, I classify this movie as the second worst movie I've ever seen. It's so bad it's funny. And it's a shame Mystery Science Theater isn't in production any more; this would be the ideal movie for them. Still, my favorite scene is when Sylv swears at Mary Tamm and then later shoots her. A classic wav played on IRC is pim.wav (when I say, using the nick Harry_Pimm, "Harry_Pimm shoots Mary Tamm"). OK, so that's a bit sad. Then again, so is the movie.
For more sadfan info, check out Harry Pimm's togs. With his white suit and white hat, he looks remarkably like the New Adventures 7th Doctor. I find it hard to believe the 7th Doctor would gun down people with an Uzi, though.
12 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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Spellbreaker, Secret of the Leprechauns
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SYNOPSIS Young Mikey Dennehy is visiting his grandfather in Ireland. While there, he and his grandfather have to help the Leprechauns who live on Fairy Hill. After all, it isn't often that the King of the Leprechauns falls in love with Nuala, Queen of the Dead.
REVIEW Once again, Patrick, Flynn, and the other Leprechauns return to the screen in this sequel to Leapin' Leprechauns. And despite its being a sequel, it's actually a very good film. King Kevin shines in this movie in particular as he falls head over heel in love and later must endure a Fairy Initiation to undo Nuala's spell. And Sylv is just as cuddly in this flick as he was in the first.
7 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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The Mumbo Jumbo
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SYNOPSIS What happens when you bring together such fine British talent as Brian Blessed, Joss Ackland, Richard O'Brien, John Inman, and Sylvester McCoy? Well, if you give them a decent script, you might get a decent movie. But the world will never know...
Young Tom Doubting (Jamie Walters) is on hard times. Out of work, evicted, girlfriend gone, crappy script, the usual tale of woe. But at his direst moment, he happens upon a bum who gives him a cheap plastic heart and tells him about a beautiful missing princess (Melinda Messenger) who needs rescuing. Tom's up for the job and sets off for the far-away island of Sinmouth. While there he meets some interesting characters. The butcher, the, er major, and the, um - well we never know what Tallman's job is, but perhaps he's a candlestick maker... ;-) (There is a rub-a-dub-dub scene later in the movie which originally put this thought in my head.)
Anyway, the Mayor of the village (Ackland) has summoned The Mumbo Jumbo in hopes that he can save the missing Princess Vanilla. And when he meets Tom, he's convinced he's found the Mumbo Jumbo. So it's up to Tom to confront the mysterious Mr Bounder (Blessed), the local fertilizer manufacturer. Can Tom save the princess before he and everyone else in the village become the world's best fertilizer?
REVIEW I wanted to like this movie, I REALLY did. But it didn't try to help me do this in any way, shape, or fashion. Firstly, it wasn't very funny. Secondly, it couldn't decide whether to be a hip musical/dance movie or a Carry On-style flick. Thirdly, Sylvester McCoy looked too much like Wilfred Brimley for my liking. (Still, the bits with him and his teddy bear were precious.) Now that I've seen this movie, I have a quandary... do I think it's as bad as Three Kinds of Heat, better than it, or worse? Hmmm, this is going to be difficult. I'll get back to you folks on that.
11 files, last one added on Jul 24, 2008
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