Department S: "A Small War of Nerves" (television)
Role: Greg Halliday. Department S was British TV show starring Peter Wingarde and Jack Fabiani that ran from 1969-70. The title referred to an elite Interpol department that got all the toughest cases. In this episode, an unbalanced scientist (played by Tony) is on the run with a sample of a deadly chemical that could kill a million people. "A Small War of Nerves" can be found on an out-of-print PAL VHS compilation tape of classic British television shows put out by ITC and released in the UK only, entitled A Night in TV Heaven Volume 3.
The HopkinsVille site mentions Tony guest-starring on a British television show in 1971 as well, an episode of The Man Outside entitled "Cuculus Canorus." I have been unable to find out anything more about this other than that The Man Outside was a show about a man who gets involved in mysteries (kind of like Murder She Wrote perhaps?), starring Rupert Davies.
The Three Sisters (television)
Role: Andrei. Tony's biographies have this BBC production of Chekhov's play down for 1969 rather than 1970 but I think 1970 is correct, judging by some databases I've reviewed. Check the description for the 1967 theatrical version on my 1960s page for a synopsis. Also starring: Janet Suzman, Michele Dotrice, Eileen Atkins.
Danton (television)
Role: Danton. BBC story of George Jacques Danton, a driving force behind the French Revolution who was sent to the guillotine himself for objecting to the ensuing Reign of Terror led by Robespierre. Screenplay by Arden Winch. Also starring: Alan Dobie, Tenniel Evans.
Uncle Vanya (television)
Role: Astrov. BBC version of Anton Chekhov's play about how a provincial family's quiet life is turned upside down by the arrival of the head of the family and his beautiful young wife. Also starring: Freddie Jones, Ann Bell.
Hearts and Flowers (television)
Role: Bob. Play by Peter Nichols about a TV host (along the lines of David Frost) and his architect brother and other family members attending their father's funeral. Click here to see a rare picture from this BBC production. Also starring: Donald Churchill, Priscilla Morgan.
The Great Inimitable Mr. Dickens (television)
Role: Dickens. BBC; followed the life of 19th c. writer Charles Dickens through scenes from his famous novels. Written by Ned Sherrin. Also starring: Sybil Thorndike, Freddie Jones.
The Peasants' Revolt (film)
Role: Wat Tyler. Historical short about the rebellion of British peasants in 1381 against taxation to finance an ongoing war with France. It is listed as a theatrical production for 1969 at the HopkinsVille site, but I'll go with Tony's authorized biography on the matter of its being a film. Co-stars unknown.
1971
The Architecht and the Emperor of Assyria (theater)
Role: the Emperor. Avant-garde production of an allegorical play by Fernando Arrabal, featuring a nearly bare stage and two nearly bare actors under a barrage of spotlights. Also starring: Jim Dale.
A Woman Killed with Kindness (theater)
Role: John Frankford. Play by Thomas Heywood about a couple whose idyllic marriage is compromised when the husband brings home an impoverished friend who becomes his wife's lover. Also starring: Joan Plowright, Frank Barrie, Derek Jacobi.
Coriolanus (theater)
Role: Coriolanus. Shakespeare's tragedy about a Roman military hero who becomes too popular and powerful for some people's liking. Tony replaced Christopher Plummer in the lead role. Also starring: Constance Cummings, John Moffatt, Denis Quilley.
Decision to Burn (television)
Role: unknown. Short play by Kevin Laffan, part of a Yorkshire Television series called The Ten Commandments. Unfortunately I can't find any plot info for it. Also starring: Helen Cherry, Gerald Sim.
When Eight Bells Toll (film)
Role: Philip Calvert. Movie version of Alistair Maclean's nautical thriller. Features Tony as an iconoclastic secret service agent thwarting contemporary piracy off the coast of Scotland. Also starring: Robert Morley, Nathalie Delon, Jack Hawkins. Incredibly cheesy spy movie music. It was only ever released on VHS in the UK, and is now out of print.
1972
The Taming of the Shrew (theater)
Role: Petruchio. Shakespearean comedy about how Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, woos the shrewish Katherina and tames her into obedience. Also starring: Joan Plowright, Susan Tracey.
Macbeth (theater)
Role: Macbeth. Supernatural Shakespearean tragedy in which MacBeth and his Lady scheme and murder their way to the throne of Scotland and ultimately to their doom. Also starring: Diana Rigg, Gawn Grainger, Alan MacNaughton.
Poet Game (television)
Role: Hugh Saunders. BBC play by Anthony Terpiloff, the story of a poet struggling to save his marriage and his craft from the perils of alcoholism and fame. Also starring: Billie Whitelaw, Cyril Cusack.
The Edwardians: Lloyd George (television)
Role: David Lloyd George. Eight-part British series that provided portraits of prominent individuals from the reign of Edward VII. According to one of Tony's biographies, writer Keith Dewhurst's portrayal of Lloyd George as adulterous caused his family to threaten to sue the BBC. Also starring: Annette Crosbie, Tholey Walters.
Young Winston (film)
Role: David Lloyd George (again). Epic historical drama about the childhood, military career and early political life of Winston Churchill. Tony has only a small part near the end of the movie. Also starring: Simon Ward, Anne Bancroft, Robert Shaw. This was released on VHS in both full and abridged versions but is now out of print and rare. The soundtrack by Alfred Ralston, with some selections from the classical composer Sir Edward Elgar, was only ever released on vinyl LP. The screenplay by Carl Foreman, based on Churchill's autobiography My Early Life: A Roving Commission, was released as a book, also now out of print. The book contained pictures from the movie but, alas, none of Tony. You can, however, see one at the HopkinsVille site by clicking here (click on the thumbnail for a bigger version).
