Ken Campbell
Biography: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Kenneth Victor Campbell (10 December 1941 – 31 August 2008) was an English writer, actor, director and comedian known for his work in experimental theatre.He has been called "a one-man dynamo of British theatre." Campbell achieved notoriety in the 1970s for his nine-hour adaptation of the science-fiction trilogy Illuminatus! and his 22-hour staging of Neil Oram's play cycle The Warp. The Guinness Book of Records listed the latter as the longest play in the world. The Independent said that, "In the 1990s, through a series of sprawling monologues packed with arcane information and freakish speculations on the nature of reality, he became something approaching a grand old man of the fringe, though without ever discarding his inner enfant terrible." The Times labelled Campbell a one-man whirlwind of comic and surreal performance. The Guardian, in a posthumous tribute, judged him to be "one of the most original and unclassifiable talents in the British theatre of the past half-century. A genius at producing shows on a shoestring and honing the improvisational capabilities of the actors who were brave enough to work with him." The artistic director of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse said, "He was the door through which many hundreds of kindred souls entered a madder, braver, brighter, funnier and more complex universe." Description above from the Wikipedia article Ken Campbell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: December 10, 1941
Deathday: August 31, 2008
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Known For
Saving Grace
2000-01-24
Saving Grace
Overview: Unexpectedly widowed, prim and proper housewife Grace Trevethyn finds herself in dire financial straits when she inherits massive debts her late husband had been accruing for years. Faced with losing her house, she decides to use her talent for horticulture and hatches a plan to grow potent marijuana which can be sold at an astronomical price, thus solving her financial crisis.
Genres: Crime Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2000-01-24
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Creep
2004-08-10
Creep
Overview: Trapped in a London subway station, a woman who's being pursued by a potential attacker heads into the unknown labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city's streets
Genres: Horror Thriller Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2004-08-10
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Letter to Brezhnev
1985-11-15
Letter to Brezhnev
Overview: The factories, pubs, clubs, hotels and streets of 1980s Liverpool form the backdrop for this tale of love, friendship, sex and a letter to the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev. Two Liverpool lasses, Teresa and Elaine meet two Russian sailors, Sergei and Peter and hook up for a night of fun and frolics. Teresa is looking for sex and a smile, Elaine wants love, romance and the dream of a life far away from the grime of the Liverpool docklands. A classic British romantic comedy filled with new wave tunes, 80s fashion, a little politics and a lot of heart.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-11-15
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In the Secret State
1985-03-10
In the Secret State
Overview: A Government Department with data on us all in its computers is not functioning quite as its ex-Head intended. Frank Strange sets out to clear his own name and finds he is investigating a murder.
Genres: Drama Thriller TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-03-10
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Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain
1985-04-08
Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain
Overview: Drama documentary which takes the form of an up-dated version of Pygmalion. With a special music score by jazz group Working Week, with real "society" characters and locations from 1984.
Genres: Documentary Drama Music TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-04-08
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Towers of Babel
1981-07-09
Towers of Babel
Overview: A BAFTA award nominated black comedy about life and death in a London tower block.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-07-09
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The Secret Policeman's Ball
1979-12-22
The Secret Policeman's Ball
Overview: Amnesty decided not to present a benefit show in 1978 in order to consider how to make better use of the performing talent so favourably disposed to assist it in raising funds. Peter Luff left Amnesty in 1978 and the organisation's new fund-raising officer, Peter Walker, was deputed to work with Lewis on reconfiguring the show to raise more money and greater awareness of Amnesty. Lewis proposed to Cleese that in addition to the comedy performances the show should feature some contemporary rock musicians. Cleese delegated this responsibility to Lewis who recruited Who guitarist Pete Townshend to perform, as well as New Wave singer-songwriter Tom Robinson.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-12-22
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The Skulls
2000-03-31
The Skulls
Overview: A senior at an Ivy League college, who depends on scholarships and working on the side, gets accepted into the secret society The Skulls. He hopes it betters chances at Harvard but The Skulls is not what he thought and comes at a price.
Genres: Crime Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2000-03-31
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The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
1998-09-28
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
Overview: Told from Mowgli's point of view, it's the story of how a boy became a mancub and a mancub became a man.
Genres: Family Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1998-09-28
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Unfair Exchanges
1985-01-20
Unfair Exchanges
Overview: Julie Walters stars as a single mother seemingly haunted by a sinister telephone system that seems to have become an evil intelligence in its own right.
Genres: Drama Thriller TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-01-20
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Dinner at the Sporting Club
1978-11-07
Dinner at the Sporting Club
Overview: Vinny Mathews is a small time boxing promoter who struggles with his conscience over what to do with a fighter he knows is unfit to face his opponent. However, Mathews needs sponsorship and this would be the ideal opportunity to mix with the "frilly shirted" sportsmen who enjoy their lavish lifestyle as fighters slug it out as the steak is served!
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1978-11-07
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Nina Conti: Her Master's Voice
2012-03-11
Nina Conti: Her Master's Voice
Overview: Internationally acclaimed ventriloquist Nina Conti takes the bereaved puppets of her mentor and erstwhile lover Ken Campbell on a pilgrimage to "Venthaven" the resting place for puppets of dead ventriloquists. She gets to know her latex and wooden travelling partners along the way, and with them deconstructs herself and her lost love in this ventriloquial docu-mockumentary requiem. Ken Campbell was a hugely respected maverick of the British theatre, an eccentric genius who would snort out forgotten artforms. Nina was his protégé in ventriloquism and has been said to have reinvented the artform. This film is truly unique in genre and style. No one has seen ventriloquism like this before.
Genres: Comedy Documentary Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2012-03-11
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The Heroism of Thomas Chadwick
1967-09-26
The Heroism of Thomas Chadwick
Overview: Thomas Chadwick is a man of dignity. He knows what's right and nothing will deter him from it. Unfortunately he cannot quite find the right job to go with his ideals, and he tries just about everything.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1967-09-26
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Poor Cow
1967-12-05
Poor Cow
Overview: A young woman lives a life filled with bad choices. At a young age she marries and has a child--with an abusive thief who quickly ends up in prison. Left alone, she takes up with the guy's mate, another thief, who seems to give her some happiness but who also ends up locked up. She then takes up with a series of seedy types who offer nothing but momentary pleasure--if that.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1967-12-05
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The Bride
1985-08-16
The Bride
Overview: Doctor Frankenstein creates a mate for his monster, a woman called Eva, who promptly rejects the male creature. In turn, the doctor becomes obsessed with Eva, and tries to make her a perfect victorian woman.
Genres: Drama Horror Romance Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-08-16
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Uncle Silas
1968-11-04
Uncle Silas
Overview: After her father's death, Maud, a young heiress, is sent to live with her Uncle Silas. She finds her new guardian living in a gothic nightmare of a mansion, and soon realizes that he wishes to murder her and claim her inheritance.
Genres: Thriller Horror
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1968-11-04
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Scandal
1989-03-03
Scandal
Overview: An English bon-vivant osteopath is enchanted with a young exotic dancer and invites her to live with him. He serves as friend and mentor, and through his contacts and parties she and her friend meet and date members of the Conservative Party. Eventually a scandal occurs when her affair with the Minister of War goes public, threatening their lifestyles and their freedom.
Genres: Drama History Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1989-03-03
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The Moon Over Soho
1985-08-18
The Moon Over Soho
Overview: A wily publisher of arts magazines tries to cope with ever-growing financial problems - and also his formidable German mother.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-08-18
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Alice in Wonderland
1999-02-28
Alice in Wonderland
Overview: Alice follows a white rabbit down a rabbit-hole into a whimsical Wonderland, where she meets characters like the delightful Cheshire Cat, the clumsy White Knight, a rude caterpillar, and the hot-tempered Queen of Hearts and can grow ten feet tall or shrink to three inches. But will she ever be able to return home?
Genres: Fantasy Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1999-02-28
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The Big Flame
1969-02-19
The Big Flame
Overview: After a prolonged industrial dispute in the Liverpool Docks, the striking workers reject management demands of a return to work and decide instead to occupy the docks and run the operation themselves.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1969-02-19
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The Tempest
1979-09-13
The Tempest
Overview: Prospero, a potent magician, lives on a desolate isle with his virginal daughter, Miranda. He's in exile, banished from his duchy by his usurping brother and the King of Naples. Providence brings these enemies near; aided by his vassal the spirit Ariel, Prospero conjures a tempest to wreck the Italian ship. The king's son, thinking all others lost, becomes Prospero's prisoner, falling in love with Miranda and she with him. Prospero's brother and the king wander the island, as do a drunken cook and sailor, who conspire with Caliban, Prospero's beastly slave, to murder Prospero. Prospero wants reason to triumph, Ariel wants his freedom, Miranda a husband; the sailors want to dance.
Genres: Drama Fantasy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-09-13
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Inspector Clouseau
1968-07-19
Inspector Clouseau
Overview: Detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau is borrowed from the Surete on special assignment for Scotland Yard in hopes that a fresh outlook will help the government recover the loot from the Great Train Robbery, which is being used to underwrite a new crime wave. What they don't count on, however, is having more than one Clouseau on the job.
Genres: Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1968-07-19
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Justine by the Marquis de Sade
1976-01-01
Justine by the Marquis de Sade
Overview: A series of non-dramatic tableaux representing scenes from De Sade's novel.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-01-01
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Breaking Glass
1980-10-01
Breaking Glass
Overview: Breaking Glass is the story of punk singer Kate and her meteoric rise to stardom. Starting out in the rock pubs of London, Kate, assisted by her manager Danny, becomes a huge star overnight. Once at the top the pressure is immense as Kate's band are squeezed out and she is left to cope alone in the spotlight.
Genres: Music Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1980-10-01
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Joshua Then and Now
1985-09-17
Joshua Then and Now
Overview: Based on a novel by Mordecai Richler, allegedly his autobiography, it tells the story of a Jewish writer, from his life as a young boy in Montreal to his more complicated grown-up life.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-09-17
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Dreamchild
1985-10-04
Dreamchild
Overview: Eighty-year-old Alice Hargreaves is about to visit Columbia University to attend a reception in honor of author Lewis Carroll. As a child, Alice had a close friendship with the writer, and their relationship was the creative catalyst for Carroll's most beloved work. However, as Alice reflects on her experiences with the author, she realizes the complexity of their bond has had lasting, deeply felt ramifications.
Genres: Drama Fantasy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-10-04
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A Zed & Two Noughts
1985-10-04
A Zed & Two Noughts
Overview: Twin zoologists lose their wives in a car accident and become obsessed with decomposing animals.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1985-10-04
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A Fish Called Wanda
1988-07-15
A Fish Called Wanda
Overview: While a diamond advocate attempts to steal a collection of diamonds, troubles arise when he realises he’s not the only one after the collection.
Genres: Comedy Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1988-07-15
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Wings of Fame
1990-03-23
Wings of Fame
Overview: A famous movie actor claims that he has written a book. As result, a real author, not a very well known writer, vengefully kills him but then dies as a result of an accident. Next, they both find themselves in after-life, where souls of all famous people are gathered.
Genres: Drama Fantasy Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-03-23
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Extraordinary Visitor
1998-09-02
Extraordinary Visitor
Overview: As the new millennium approaches, God considers pulling the plug on the planet unless St. John the Baptist finds a reason to spare humanity. John travels to the Newfoundland city that bears his name where he becomes entangled in the lives of talk-show host Marietta, her husband Rick. (Toronto International Film Festival)
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1998-09-02
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Secret Nation
1992-01-02
Secret Nation
Overview: A graduate history student returns to her native Newfoundland, searching for proof of a conspiracy surrounding the referendum that saw Newfoundland join Canada.
Genres: Drama History
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1992-01-02
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Smart Money
1986-10-26
Smart Money
Overview: Leon, a hacker convicted for a crime he did not commit, escapes from detention centre following the death of his father, to take revenge on the man who really did it.
Genres: Comedy Thriller TV Movie Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1986-10-26
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Hard Men
1996-10-28
Hard Men
Overview: British Gangster film with a tongue-in-cheek approach to the genre, including a part played by 'Mad' Frankie Fraser. When Tone's ex girlfriend resurfaces with a daughter he never knew he had, he moves from the world of blackmail, extortion and the occasional hit into the realm of nappies and lullabies. His pals, Speed and Bear, feel let down, but his employer Pops Den is furious and decides the best thing to do is wipe Tone out...but who will do it...and at what price?
Genres: Action Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1996-10-28
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The Last Window Cleaner
1979-02-13
The Last Window Cleaner
Overview: When DC Denis Deacey finds himself surprisingly transferred to Belfast he gets digs in a most unusual boarding house called The Crumlin View where no one is what they seem and everyone has been living with 'the troubles' for far too long...
Genres: TV Movie Drama Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-02-13
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The Ken Campbell Roadshow
1971-01-01
The Ken Campbell Roadshow
Overview: The Ken Campbell Roadshow brings entertainment to the streets and pubs of Kirkby New Town.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1971-01-01
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Crimestrike
1990-10-01
Crimestrike
Overview: What would happen if the nation’s criminals decided to go on strike? A comedy drama based on an idea by Czech writer Jaroslav Hasek.
Genres: Drama Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-10-01
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The Story of Pantomime
1976-12-23
The Story of Pantomime
Overview: This 1976 BBC documentary sees Ken Campbell (and his Roadshow) investigate the origins and the development of the traditional British Christmas pantomime.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-12-23
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Phoelix
1979-08-01
Phoelix
Overview: An aged art connoisseur (Beaumont) and his young female neighbour (Coles), who has a job posing naked in a club, meet and exist in fantasy and reality. Although this raises certain much-discussed questions about the nature of representation, and about the construction of narrative and daydreams in films, 'Phoelix' tends to treat these as just pretty and pertinent issues, opting instead for a mannered concentration on detail.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-08-01
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A Different Hand
1992-03-23
A Different Hand
Overview: A musical comedy drama about a young woman (played by Tina Leslie) rebelling against society's attitudes (including her parents, her doctor, her priest and teacher) towards people like her who are without hands or in other ways different. Everyone is trying to force her to wear artificial hands, everyone except for her disabled friend (Nabil Shaban), who assists in her revolt.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1992-03-23
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Darkest England
1988-04-25
Darkest England
Overview: Channel 4 TV drama from writer Micheal Eaton thought to be lost.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1988-04-25
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