Film: 1970s & 1980s

Jump to: 1971 * 1973 * 1976 * 1977 * 1981 * 1983 * 1985 * 1989

Note: Plot summaries focus on Alun Armstrong's character and may contain spoilers.

 

1971:

Get Carter
Release Date	3 March 1971 (US)	Keith before Keith after
Role	Keith Supporting role, first half of the film.
Also Starring	Michael Caine as Jack Carter
Jack Carter returns to Newcastle to find out who killed his brother Frank. Frank's co-worker Keith attends the funeral gets involved in Carter's investigation. After Keith is beaten up by thugs, Carter tosses some money at him and says, "Here, get yourself a course in karate." Keith remains in his bedsit nursing his wounds, while Carter continues his quest for revenge.
My Rating	5 out of 5 stars. A must-see for fans.
Notes	Get Carter was Alun Armstrong's screen debut. He heard that a film was being made in Newcastle, and he wrote a letter to MGM and sent a passport photo when a headshot was requested. He was invited to meet director Mike Hodges, who was looking to cast local talent rather than big-name stars or Americans like the studio wanted. Read more at Screen Daily. In March 2011, Alun Armstrong attended the 40th anniversary celebration of Get Carter in Tyneside. Presenting a special award to director Mike Hodges at the Royal Television Society awards, Armstrong said: "There is enormous affection for Get Carter in this part of the world, and real appreciation and respect for what Mike Hodges did in putting us on the map. Get Carter also made the Geordie accent acceptable. When the film opened in America it was the cockney characters they couldn't understand!"
Availability	Region 1 (US) DVD available on Amazon. Available to watch on Amazon Instant Video. Region 2 (UK) DVD available on Amazon UK.

 

1973:

The Sex Victims
Role	George Supporting role
Also Starring	Ben Howard as Jack; Jane Cardew, Felicity Devonshire
Jack, a lorry driver who has recently exchanged routes with his friend George, sees a naked girl riding a horse along a quiet forest road. He returns hoping to see her again but is confronted by a tramp who warns him about strange sights in the forest. He joins a local riding club and, after seducing the woman who runs the stables, he finds the girl and she willingly submits to his advances. She agrees to meet him again if he will bring George along. George is reluctant, but he comes with Jack only to find the police who tell them the girl has been dead for weeks. George confesses to killing her, but the police also suspect Jack of being involved and he can't convince them otherwise.
Notes	Also known as Victim. According to IMDB, his name is spelled Alan in the credits; however, he listed as Alun Armstrong in the credits accompanying a review by Keith Alain in the BFI's Monthly Film Bulletin (May 1973).
Availability	Not released on DVD.

 

The 14
Release Date	19 December 1973 (US)	Alun Armstrong (background) in The 14
Role	Tommy
Also Starring	Jack Wild as Reg; Liz Edmiston as Sylvia
Fourteen orphaned siblings fight for their right to stay together after the death of their mother.
Notes	Also known as Existence and The Wild Little Bunch. Unfortunately, in the version I saw - under the name Existence, runtime 90 minutes - all of Alun's scenes were cut out apart from one where he's in the background (pictured). From the dialogue I gathered that Tommy was the boyfriend of the teenage sister Sylvia. He apparently left after the mother's funeral, and "bleedin' good riddance!"
Availability	Not released on DVD. I found a DVD-R of the aforementioned version on iOffer, but although Alun Armstrong is listed he is not in it.

 

1976:

Don't Tell the Lads
Role	Unknown
A 26-minute dramatized health and safety documentary on lead poisoning in the workplace. The story shows what happens when a worker in a battery factory is found to have excessive blood lead levels during a medical check-up.
Availability	This video was produced by the Central Office of Information for the Health and Safety Executive and was available for rent or purchase by businesses to show to their workers.

 

The Likely Lads
Role	Milkman Three brief scenes between the 50 minute to 1 hour mark.
Also Starring	James Bolam as Terry; Rodney Bewes as Bob
This film based on the comedy series sees the lads having women troubles. Alun Armstrong makes a brief appearance as a milkman who gauges Terry's newly single status when he cancels his yogurt order.
My Rating	4 out of 5 stars. Very brief but funny appearance.
Notes	Alun also appeared in an episode of the television series Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? as Dougie Scaife.
Availability	Region 2 (UK) DVD available on Amazon UK.
*click images to enlarge*
Get away from there, ya little buggers!	She's not as pretty as that last one is she?	Cancel yogurt
Extra pint?	Mystery woman	Resume yogurt

 

1977:

A Bridge Too Far
Release Dates	15 June 1977 (US); 23 June 1977 (UK)
Role	Corporal Davies One main scene at around 1 hr., 17 min. plus several background scenes
Also Starring	Anthony Hopkins as Lt. Col. John Frost; Anthony Milner as Private Dodds
An account of the Battle of Arnhem in World War II. Corporal Davies is one of the British troops under Lt. Col. John Frost. Davies brings a chicken with him on the plane - based on a true incident of a soldier who did not want to be separated from his pet chicken. (The chicken is not seen again.) Once in Arnhem, Davies and his comrade Dodds blow up an enemy position on the bridge. They survive the mission, but are later shot and killed as the situation in Arnhem becomes desperate.
My Rating	4 out of 5 stars. Epic film with an all-star cast. A heroic moment with some humour for Alun.
Availability	Region 1 (US) DVD, Collector's Edition and Blu-ray available on Amazon. Available to watch on Amazon Instant Video. Region 2 (UK) DVD, Collector's Edition and Blu-ray available on Amazon UK.
*click images to enlarge*
A man and his chicken	On guard (far left)	Made it so far Doddsie
I heard you, boyo	In position	No way out

 

The Duellists
Release Dates	31 August 1977 (France); December 1977 (UK); 14 January 1978 (US)
Role	Giles Lacourbe About four scenes in the first half of the film.
Also Starring	Keith Carradine as D'Hubert; Harvey Keitel as Feraud
Feraud and D'Hubert of the French Hussars fight a series of duels over the years after Feraud takes offence at a minor incident. Giles Lacourbe is a Hussar who acts as second to D'Hubert. After D'Hubert is wounded in the first duel, Lacourbe urges him to make up with Feraud, but Feraud refuses. Later in a restaurant, Lacourbe teases D'Hubert that his duel has made him popular with the ladies and that he should fight another to make his reputation. But when they are spotted by Feraud's second, Lacourbe suggests they leave by the back lane. However, there is no avoiding another duel. Years later, Lacourbe meets D'Hubert in a tavern and warns him that Feraud is there, but again there is no escape. Lacourbe arranges for the duel to be fought on horseback, which the cavalry regiment expects. D'Hubert survives, but the matter is not settled yet.
My Rating	3 out of 5 stars.
Notes	Alun has played a second in a duel two other times: in Onegin (1999) and in Garrow's Law series 1, episode 3.
Availability	Region 1 (US) DVD available on Amazon. Region 2 (UK) DVD available on Amazon UK.
*click images to enlarge*
Why don't you make it up?	Offer refused	All the little girls adore you
You're a savage and notorious duellist	Feraud is behind you	A compliment to the cavalry

 

1981:

The French Lieutenant's Woman
Release Dates	August 1981 (UK); 18 September 1981 (US)	Does the lady wish to be found?
Role	Grimes Only one very brief scene in an office at around 1 hr., 37 min.
Also Starring	Jeremy Irons as Charles Smithson; Meryl Streep as Sarah
Victorian gentleman Charles Smithson, who is engaged to be married, falls in love with the wild, eccentric Sarah, but she vanishes after they have a passionate romance. Grimes is an enquiry agent hired by Smithson to find Sarah. Meanwhile, in modern times, two actors have an affair while playing the roles of Charles and Sarah in a film.
Availability	Region 1 (US) DVD available on Amazon. Region 2 (UK) DVD available on Amazon UK.

 

1983:

Krull
Release Date	29 July 1983 (US)
Role	Torquil Large supporting role
Also Starring	Ken Marshall as Colwyn; Lysette Anthony as Lyssa; Freddie Jones as Ynyr; David Battley as Ergo; Liam Neeson as Keegan; Robbie Coltrane as Rhun; Todd Carty as Oswyn
The planet Krull has been taken over by the Beast and his army of Slayers. Princess Lyssa intends to marry Prince Colwyn to unite their rival kingdoms against a common enemy, but the wedding is attacked by Slayers. Lyssa is taken captive by the Beast who wants her as his Queen because it is prophesied that the one she choses will rule the world and their son will rule the galaxy. Both Kings are killed, leaving Colwyn to succeed his father. He sets out to rescue Lyssa from the Black Fortress advised by Ynyr the Old One, who shows him where to find the Glaive - an ancient star-shaped weapon. They are joined by a hapless magician who calls himself Ergo the Magnificent, and Rell the Cyclops follows them. Taking a shortcut, they are waylaid by a gang of ten escaped prisoners led by Torquil. Colwyn wants them to follow him to the Black Fortress, but Torquil thinks he's a lunatic. Ynyr strikes a nerve by mentioning Torquil's sons, who will be enslaved if the enemy is not defeated. Colwyn produces the key to unlock their manacles, which is held only by the King and his Lord Marshal, and Torquil realises who he is. Torquil says he'll keep his chains until they succeed in their quest or die with them. The Black Fortress moves to a different place every day at sunrise, so to learn its location they visit the Emerald Seer. Torquil steals jewels from the Seer's cave but later finds they've turned to stone. The Seer says they must go to the Emerald Temple in the Great Swamp where his visions will not be blocked by the Beast. On the way there, they are attacked by Slayers, and one of Torquil's men drowns in quicksand. The Beast kills the Seer and replaces him with a Changeling who attacks Colwyn but is stopped by the Cyclops. Still in need of the Black Fortress's next location, Ynyr visits the Widow of the Web, whom he once loved. She sacrifices herself to let Ynyr escape her web, but he too dies after delivering the information to Colwyn. They ride Fire Mares to reach the Iron Desert by dawn the next day. Scaling the Black Fortress, several of Torquil's men are killed including Rhun, who tells Colwyn the mission was worth it. The Cyclops is crushed holding a door open despite Torquil's efforts to brace it with his axe. Keegan pushes Torquil out of the way of a laser blast and is killed. Torquil and Oswyn - the last surviving member of his gang - are trapped by spikes that pin them to a wall. Colwyn uses the Glaive to free Lyssa and together they use the flame from their wedding ceremony to defeat the Beast. Torquil and Oswyn are freed, and Ergo and the Seer's apprentice Titch also escape. The Black Fortress is destroyed and Krull is free. Torquil intends to keep his manacles as a reminder, but Colwyn gives him the key, thereby making him his Lord Marshal.
My Rating	3 out of 5 stars. A pretty lame story with cheesy dialogue that some of the actors fare better with than others. Still, it has some great visuals plus Alun being all heroic in leather trousers - which alone is worth the price of admission.
Notes	Lysette Anthony and Robbie Coltrane both had their voices dubbed by other actors. Thankfully, Alun's accent apparently passed muster with the Americans. The behind-the-scenes "Journey to Krull" has brief clips of Alun at a read-through and being fitted with weapons.
Availability	Region 1 (US) DVD available on Amazon. Available to watch on Amazon Instant Video. Region 2 (UK) DVD available on Amazon UK.
*click images to enlarge*
I follow no man at all	How did you know I had sons?	We are now an army
Once a thief	They were emeralds	Slayer slayer
The false Seer	His Magnificence reckons he can cook	Catching the Fire Mares
Keegan's death	Spiked	Survivors

 

1985:

Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire
Role	Maxwell Randall Co-starring role
Also Starring	Phil Daniels as Billy the Kid; Eve Ferret as Mrs Randall
Musical about a snooker rivalry between the brash young Billy the Kid and world champion Maxwell Randall who is known as the Green Baize Vampire. He wears ghoulish makeup and sharp teeth and promotes the image of himself as a vampire by filming commercials where he rises from a coffin. Billy's manager T.O. is in debt to the Wednesday Man, who persuades him to arrange a match between Billy and Maxwell. T.O. stirs up the rivalry by sending a reporter to get them to make disparaging remarks about each other. In the song "I Bite Back," Maxwell objects to claims that he was born in Transylvania ("I couldn't even spell it!") or that he bit a Bible salesman ("Well, only for a lark!"). Maxwell agrees to the match but adds the condition that whoever loses will never play professional snooker again. T.O. wants to back out so Billy's career isn't ruined, but the Wednesday Man insinuates that he has arranged for Maxwell to lose. But Maxwell wins the first 8 frames out of 17. Billy is about to give up hope when he learns from the Wednesday Man that the whole thing was a set-up to ruin him. Billy is then revitalised and goes on to win the next 8 frames. The last match comes down to one ball remaining. Maxwell appears to use magic to prevent Billy's ball from going in, but Billy prevails.
My Rating	3 out of 5 stars. This film is incredibly bizarre. Still, Alun as a vampire ... or a guy who thinks he's vampire ... or something.
Notes	The character of Maxwell Randall is loosely based on snooker world champion Ray Reardon - who was known as Dracula because of his dark widow's peak and sharp-toothed grin - while Billy the Kid is modeled after Jimmy White. According to the programme notes, Phil Daniels and Alun Armstrong did all the snooker scenes themselves.
Availability	Region 2 (UK) DVD available on Amazon UK. Available to watch on Amazon Instant Video. Available to buy on iTunes.
*click images to enlarge*
"When do I get to say me line?"		Interview with the vampire
Snooker champ	"I bite back"

 

Number One
Release Dates	March 1985 (UK)	Alun Armstrong in Number One
Role	Blackpool Sergeant Appears for about five minutes near the end.
Also Starring	Bob Geldof as Harry Gordon
Amateur snooker hustler Harry "Flash" Gordon is presented with an offer he can't refuse when a local gangster pressures him to play professionally. During the World Snooker Championship, Flash is arrested in Blackpool for brawling in a pool hall. Alun Armstrong plays the Blackpool sergeant who books him and then arranges a match between Flash and a snooker-playing policeman. Flash gains his release when he realises he has to lose to the policeman so the other cops can win their bets.
My Rating	Not rated. I couldn't be bothered to watch the rest of this film.
Notes	Strangely enough, this is one of two films about snooker featuring Alun Armstrong in the same year, though he doesn't play in this one (see Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire above). Phil Daniels also appears in both.
Availability	Region 2 (UK) DVD available on Amazon UK.

 

1989:

The Childeater
Role	Uncle Stefano
Also Starring	Lucy Rivers as Betty
In 1954, when Betty misbehaves her father says that her Uncle Stefano eats bad girls. Then she is sent to stay with her uncle and aunt on their remote Welsh farm.
Notes	Short film. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film in 1990. Aired on Channel 4, 27 June 1990.
Availability	Not released on DVD.

 

That Summer of White Roses
Release date	11 July 1989 (Yugoslavia)
Role	Zemba Supporting role; about 8 scenes*.
Also Starring	Tom Conti as Andrija; Susan George as Ana; Rod Steiger as Martin
Andrija is a lifeguard in a sleepy resort town in Yugoslavia near the end of World War II. He and his friend Martin pursue the catfish that dragged Andrija's father into the river and drowned him. Andrija, a child at the time, was spared and he believes it was because he has something important to do on the river. But Andrija has not saved anyone from drowning so far. Zemba, who runs the riverside café, frequently pulls his drunken customers out of the water and teases Andrija about it. The new singer at Zemba's is called the White Rose, and she sunbathes in the nude on a screened raft, attracting the attention of the boys and men on the beach. Andrija agrees to help a refugee widow and her son who are hiding from the Nazis because of her late husband's work with the partisans. The Nazis come to use the local beach after their own beach is attacked, putting Ana and Danny at risk of discovery. Zemba, who is a partisan, hides his cache of weapons and then welcomes the Kommandant to his café and has the White Rose sing for him. Andrija is in danger of losing his job, so his friend Martin suggests that he marry Ana to pass himself off as a family man as well as to protect her. When an official comes to evaluate him and learns he hasn't saved anyone, Zemba has Danny pretend to drown but Andrija gets knocked out and has to be pulled from the river himself. Finally, in a remote part of the river, he comes across a drowning man and saves him. The White Rose is in a boat nearby and rows quickly away. The man turns out to be the new Kommandant. The Nazis come and kill the White Rose, and Andrija is shunned by the local people as a collaborator. When the Nazis prepare to pull out, the doctor who helped save the Kommandant is run out of town by the locals, as is the Mayor. Ana and Danny are taken away by a partisan. Martin plans to blow up the bridge as the Nazis cross, but Andrija sees civilians there including Ana and Danny and calls out to stop him, and Martin is shot. Zemba fires a rocket launcher at the bridge and the Kommandant falls into the river. Zemba is killed. Andrija holds the Kommandant underwater and drowns him. Ana and Danny get away, but Andrija is unable to follow and is left behind.
My Rating	2½ out of 5 stars. Story had potential but was told in a very slow and detached way that made it hard to get involved.
Notes	*While Zemba's role may seem substantial from the summary, most of his scenes were fragments, shot from across the river, in the dark, etc. Also known as Djavolji raj.
Availability	Out of print. Used VHS tapes can sometimes be found on Amazon or Amazon UK.
	I don't give a damn about your bathers	Let 'em drown