Acting
Francis Matthews
Born September 2, 1927 · Holgate, York, Yorkshire, England, UK
Died June 14, 2014 · aged 86
No biography available.
Known For
Ike · 1979Ike
★ 6.81979
MovieDramaHistory
Eisenhower the military man is the focus of this mini-series, his relationships with the other wartime leaders, and, very discreetly, his personal relationship with his driver, Kay Summersby.
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood · 1987Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
★ 6.41987
MovieDocumentary
A retrospective of the films of Britain's Hammer Studios, renowned for making stylish horror films in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Included are clips from Hammer productions and interviews with actors, actresses, directors and producers who worked on these films.
Dracula: Prince of Darkness · 1966Dracula: Prince of Darkness
★ 6.71966
MovieHorror
Whilst vacationing in the Carpathian Mountain, two couples stumble across the remains of Count Dracula's castle. The Count's trusted servant kills one of the men, suspending the body over the Count's ashes so that the blood drips from the corpse and saturates the blackened remains. The ritual is completed, the Count revived and his attentions focus on the dead man's wife who is to become his partner; devoted to an existence of depravity and evil.
The Hellfire Club · 1961The Hellfire Club
★ 5.41961
MovieAdventureDrama
Years after fleeing his ancestral home with his mother, Jason returns home to claim his birthright, only to find his way blocked by his evil cousin Thomas. In order to reclaim his title, Jason must do battle with his cousin, who calls upon the members of the deadly Hellfire Club to stop him.
The Revenge of Frankenstein · 1958The Revenge of Frankenstein
★ 6.61958
MovieHorrorScience Fiction
Rescued from the guillotine by his devoted dwarf Fritz, the Baron relocates to Carlsbruck, where he continues his gruesome experiments.
Murder Ahoy · 1964Murder Ahoy
★ 7.11964
MovieDramaThriller
During an annual board of trustees meeting, one of the trustees dies. Miss Marple thinks he’s been poisoned after finding a chemical on him. She sets off to investigate at the ship where he had just come from. The fourth and final film from the Miss Marple series starring Margaret Rutherford as the quirky amateur detective.
A Woman Possessed · 1958A Woman Possessed
★ 7.01958
MovieDrama
English doctor John Winthrop (Francis Matthews) must protect his new wife, Ann (Kay Callard), from his wealthy and entirely too overbearing mother, Katherine (Margaretta Scott), who has some strong opinions about her son's new union. But things go too far when John accuses Katherine of trying to kill Ann with medication. Could she do such a thing -- and will these three ever have a good relationship?
All About 'Thunderbirds' · 2008All About 'Thunderbirds'
2008
MovieDocumentary
A look at the story behind Thunderbirds (1965).
Movies
Ike · 1979Ike
★ 6.81979
MovieDramaHistory
Eisenhower the military man is the focus of this mini-series, his relationships with the other wartime leaders, and, very discreetly, his personal relationship with his driver, Kay Summersby.
Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood · 1987Hammer: The Studio That Dripped Blood
★ 6.41987
MovieDocumentary
A retrospective of the films of Britain's Hammer Studios, renowned for making stylish horror films in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Included are clips from Hammer productions and interviews with actors, actresses, directors and producers who worked on these films.
Dracula: Prince of Darkness · 1966Dracula: Prince of Darkness
★ 6.71966
MovieHorror
Whilst vacationing in the Carpathian Mountain, two couples stumble across the remains of Count Dracula's castle. The Count's trusted servant kills one of the men, suspending the body over the Count's ashes so that the blood drips from the corpse and saturates the blackened remains. The ritual is completed, the Count revived and his attentions focus on the dead man's wife who is to become his partner; devoted to an existence of depravity and evil.
The Hellfire Club · 1961The Hellfire Club
★ 5.41961
MovieAdventureDrama
Years after fleeing his ancestral home with his mother, Jason returns home to claim his birthright, only to find his way blocked by his evil cousin Thomas. In order to reclaim his title, Jason must do battle with his cousin, who calls upon the members of the deadly Hellfire Club to stop him.
The Revenge of Frankenstein · 1958The Revenge of Frankenstein
★ 6.61958
MovieHorrorScience Fiction
Rescued from the guillotine by his devoted dwarf Fritz, the Baron relocates to Carlsbruck, where he continues his gruesome experiments.
Murder Ahoy · 1964Murder Ahoy
★ 7.11964
MovieDramaThriller
During an annual board of trustees meeting, one of the trustees dies. Miss Marple thinks he’s been poisoned after finding a chemical on him. She sets off to investigate at the ship where he had just come from. The fourth and final film from the Miss Marple series starring Margaret Rutherford as the quirky amateur detective.
A Woman Possessed · 1958A Woman Possessed
★ 7.01958
MovieDrama
English doctor John Winthrop (Francis Matthews) must protect his new wife, Ann (Kay Callard), from his wealthy and entirely too overbearing mother, Katherine (Margaretta Scott), who has some strong opinions about her son's new union. But things go too far when John accuses Katherine of trying to kill Ann with medication. Could she do such a thing -- and will these three ever have a good relationship?
All About 'Thunderbirds' · 2008All About 'Thunderbirds'
2008
MovieDocumentary
A look at the story behind Thunderbirds (1965).
The Mark of the Hawk · 1957The Mark of the Hawk
★ 3.41957
MovieDramaHistory
The man called Obam struggles with the increasingly hostile forces facing each other in a colonial African country. The African natives want their land and lives back from the British colonists. Obam's motives are questioned by his own people, in particular his brother Kanda. With the help of his wife Renee and missionary Bruce Craig, will he be able to get things under control before the country self-destructs? Written by Greg Bruno
Rasputin: The Mad Monk · 1966Rasputin: The Mad Monk
★ 5.81966
MovieHorror
Rasputin, a crazed and debauched monk wreaks havoc at the local inn one night, chopping off the hand of one of the drinkers. As the bitter locals plan their revenge, the evil Rasputin works his power over the beautiful women who serve at the Tsar's palace. Even the Tsarina herself is seduced by his evil ways and, as his influence begins to dominate government policy, there is only one course of action left... to destroy him before he destroys them all.
The Beauty Jungle · 1964The Beauty Jungle
★ 5.31964
MovieComedyDrama
A Bristol typist joins the world of beauty contests.
Bhowani Junction · 1956Bhowani Junction
★ 6.11956
MovieAdventureRomance
Anglo-Indian Victoria Jones seeks her true identity amid the chaos of the British withdrawal from India.
Corridors of Blood · 1958Corridors of Blood
★ 6.21958
MovieDramaHorror
In 1840s London, Dr. Thomas Bolton [Boris Karloff] dares to dream the unthinkable: experimenting with anesthesia gases to make surgery pain-free. While doing so, his demonstration before a panel of his peers ends in a horrific mishap with his patient awakening under the knife; he is forced to leave his position in disgrace. To complicate matters, he becomes addicted to his own chemical experiments and gets involved with a criminal gang led by Black Ben [Francis de Wolff], and a ruthless killer Resurrection Joe [Christopher Lee]. Unfortunately, this shady partnership leads Dr. Bolton to further ruin, culminating in his unwitting participation in murder — for which he becomes the first victim of a blackmail scheme.
Target: Captain Black!Target: Captain Black!
MovieActionScience Fiction
Brand New Super Space Theatre Movie
Crossplot · 1969Crossplot
★ 5.51969
MovieThrillerAction
A successful London ad-exec hires a beautiful Hungarian girl to pose for some modeling shots, little realising that she has overheard an assassination plot and is now being hunted by some dangerous killers.
A Stitch in Time · 1963A Stitch in Time
★ 7.41963
MovieComedy
An accident in the butchers shop leads Norman Pitkin and Mr Grimsdale to the hospital where, after causing the normal amount of chaos, Pitkin finds Lindy, a little girl who hasn't spoken or smiled since her parents were killed in an aeroplane accident. Pitkin decides to help.
The Yellow Pill · 1969The Yellow Pill
★ 9.01969
MovieTV MovieScience Fiction
A murderer is examined by psychiatrist John Frame, who is surprised to find the criminal knows many details of his private life.
Roman Holiday · 1987Roman Holiday
★ 4.71987
MovieRomanceComedy
Remake of the 1953 original. Princess Elysa is touring Rome, and decides to get "out and about" away from her normal life. She meets with an American reporter and his photographer, who show her the sites. The reporter is initially more interested in a story than the Princess, but begins to fall for her.
Just Like a Woman · 1967Just Like a Woman
★ 5.71967
MovieComedy
Lewis and Scilla's rocky marriage finally breaks apart – a situation made worse by the fact that Scilla is a key part of the television show that Lewis produces. But while Lewis copes by picking up a passing starlet, Scilla indulges her passion for bathrooms by getting one custom-designed by an ex-Nazi architect!
Bitter Harvest · 1963Bitter Harvest
★ 6.21963
MovieDrama
A pretty young woman will do anything to escape her deadly dull existence in the backlots of Wales. But when she reaches the bright lights of London is the price too high?
The McGuffin · 1986The McGuffin
★ 6.51986
MovieDramaThriller
Paul Hatcher has a habit of spying on the neighbors across the way, something that gets him into deep trouble. Hatcher is a movie critic, and for awhile it looks like his main problem is keeping reality and the silver screen separate. But then a double murder occurs across the street after some mobsters cannot find an incriminating negative. After Hatcher discovers where the negative is hidden, he is bumped to the top on the assassins' hit list.
The Intelligence Men · 1965The Intelligence Men
★ 6.11965
MovieComedy
A chance meeting with a Schlecht agent forces a humble coffee shop manager into the secret world of spies in Swinging London. With the help of his MI5 friend, he poses as the recently dead Major Cavendish who had managed to infiltrate the dreaded organization; he knows that they are intending to assassinate someone - could it be the famous Russian ballerina who has recently arrived for an appearance at Covent Garden?
That Riviera Touch · 1966That Riviera Touch
★ 6.01966
MovieComedy
Eric and Ernie decide to take a holiday to the South of France and unwittingly become mixed up with a band of jewel thieves.
Small Hotel · 1957Small Hotel
★ 7.01957
MovieComedy
The dining room of the Jolly Fiddler has long been presided over by Albert, an aged but very shrewd waiter. A past master of the gentle art of fiddling, he extracts the maximum profit from his job while managing to endear himself to both the customers and staff. Then, there's a visit from Mr Finch, who feels it's time Albert was replaced.
TV Shows
Screen Two · 1985Screen Two
★ 7.11985
SeriesDrama
Series of single made-for-television dramas.
The Avengers · 1961The Avengers
★ 7.81961
SeriesCrime
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners. Jonathan Steed - an urbane, proper gentleman spy - teams with various assistants throughout the series' run, including Dr. David Keel, Cathy Gale, Emma Peel and Tara King, to repeatedly save the world from diabolical schemes plotted by equally diabolical evil-doers (among them robots and man-eating monsters).
Brookside · 1982Brookside
★ 6.21982
SeriesDrama
The ground-breaking soap set in a housing estate on the outskirts of Liverpool.
Heartbeat · 1992Heartbeat
★ 7.21992
SeriesCrimeDrama
Set during the 1960s in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield, this enduringly popular series interweaves crime and medical storylines.
The Saint · 1962The Saint
★ 7.41962
SeriesCrime
Simon Templar is The Saint, a handsome, sophisticated, debonair, modern-day Robin Hood who recovers ill-gotten wealth and redistributes it to those in need.
The Adventures of Robin Hood · 1955The Adventures of Robin Hood
★ 6.41955
SeriesFamily
The legendary character Robin Hood and his band of merry men in Sherwood Forest and the surrounding vicinity. While some episodes dramatised the traditional Robin Hood tales, most episodes were original dramas created by the show's writers and producers.
Taggart · 1983Taggart
★ 6.41983
SeriesCrimeDrama
Taggart is a Scottish detective television program. The series revolves around a group of detectives initially in the Maryhill CID of Strathclyde Police, though various storylines have happened in other parts of the Greater Glasgow area, and as of the most recent series the team have operated out of the fictional John Street police station across the street from the City Chambers.
No Hiding Place · 1959No Hiding Place
★ 4.81959
SeriesCrimeDrama
No Hiding Place is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967.
It was the sequel to the series Murder Bag and Crime Sheet, all starring Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent, later Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart.
Morecambe & Wise · 1961Morecambe & Wise
★ 6.51961
SeriesComedy
The Detectives · 1993The Detectives
★ 6.91993
SeriesComedy
The absurd adventures of two defective detectives, who - despite unbelievable incompetence - somehow manage to solve their cases (or be nearby when the cases are solved) and retain their jobs.
Detective · 1964Detective
★ 9.01964
SeriesCrime
A BBC anthology series featuring adaptations of detective stories over 45 episodes in three seasons that ran from 1964 to 1969. As with many BBC programmes made before the early 1970s, many of its episodes no longer exist. Of the eighteen episodes from the first season only twelve are currently known to exist; likewise six of the sixteen editions from the second run are considered lost, and just one of the final ten survives in the archives.
Interpol Calling · 1959Interpol Calling
★ 7.31959
SeriesCrimeDrama
The adventures of Interpol policemen Duval and Mornay as they fought against international drug-running, homicide, robbery and forgery.
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons · 1967Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
★ 7.51967
SeriesAnimation
Captain Scarlet heads up an international intelligence agency as they battle against the Mysterons, an alien species from Mars that vows vengeance after a misunderstanding with humans.
Paul Temple · 1969Paul Temple
★ 7.31969
SeriesCrime
Paul Temple is a British-German television series . It features Francis Matthews as Paul Temple, the fictional detective created by Francis Durbridge, who solves crimes with the assistance of his wife Steve. Paul Temple used overseas locations in France, Malta, Germany and elsewhere.
Out of the Unknown · 1965Out of the Unknown
★ 7.11965
SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyDrama
Out of the Unknown is a British television science fiction anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2 in four series between 1965 and 1971. Each episode was a dramatisation of a science fiction short story; some were created for the series, but most were adaptations of already published stories.
The first three years were exclusively science fiction, but that genre was abandoned in the final year in favour of horror and fantasy. A number of episodes were wiped during the early 1970s, as was standard procedure at the time.
Richard the Lionheart · 1962Richard the Lionheart
★ 9.01962
SeriesFamily
A kid-friendly take on the exploits of King Richard the Lion Heart, from his participation in the Crusades, to his capture in Austria, to his final return to England.
The World of Hammer · 1994The World of Hammer
★ 6.81994
SeriesDocumentary
The World of Hammer is a thirteen-part British documentary series created and written by Robert and Ashley Sidaway for Channel 4. Initially broadcast from 12 August to 4 November 1994, the series is narrated by English actor and frequent Hammer collaborator Oliver Reed.
The Human Jungle · 1963The Human Jungle
★ 8.21963
Series
The Human Jungle is a British TV series about a psychiatrist, made for ABC Television by the small production company Independent Artists for transmission on ITV. Starring Herbert Lom, it ran for two series which were first transmitted during 1963 and 1965.
Trinity Tales · 1975Trinity Tales
1975
SeriesDramaComedy
On their way to London for the Rugby League final, a group of northerners start telling each other stories, in the manner of Chaucer's pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales.
Ike · 1979Ike
★ 7.31979
SeriesDrama
Ike, also known as Ike: The War Years, is a 1979 television miniseries about the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The screenplay by Melville Shavelson is based on Kay Summersby's 1948 memoir Eisenhower Was My Boss and her 1975 autobiography, Past Forgetting: My Love Affair. The series aired from May 3–6, 1979 on ABC.
During World War II, General Dwight D. 'Ike' Eisenhower serves as supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Western Europe. On a personal level, he has an extramarital affair with his driver Kay Summersby.
Beautiful People · 2008Beautiful People
★ 6.82008
SeriesDramaComedy
Beautiful People is a British comedy drama television series based on the memoirs of Barneys creative director Simon Doonan. The series takes place in Reading, Berkshire, in 1997, where thirteen-year-old Simon Doonan and his best friend Kylie dream of escaping their dreary suburban surroundings and moving to cosmopolitan London "to live amongst the beautiful people." The first episode aired on BBC Two on 2 October 2008 and recorded overnight ratings of 1.5 million viewers and positive critical reaction. Episodes are self-contained, but do follow a loose story arc throughout the course of each series. The second and final series finished airing on 18 December 2009.
Don't Forget to Write! · 1977Don't Forget to Write!
★ 6.21977
SeriesComedy
Once a successful playwright, George Maple is now procrastinating, lacking self-confidence and suffering from writer's block. He is seen at home with his supportive wife Mabel, son Wilfred and daughter Kate. They're frequently visited by neighbour Tom Lawrence, a confident, suave and successful playwright, and cleaner Mrs Field.
A Little Big Business · 1963A Little Big Business
1963
SeriesComedy
Marcus Lieberman passes on the secrets of the furniture trade to his young son, Simon.
All About George · 2005All About George
2005
Series
A comedy drama about the trials and tribulations of a couple whose extended family never seem to fly the nest.