11 Movies Directed by Richard Lester

A Hard Day's Night

A Hard Day's Night

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1964-07-06

Languages:

English, German, French

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

87 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

7.7 (29446 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Cast:

Writer:

Alun Owen (original screenplay)

Fullplot:

The Beatles--the world's most famous rock and roll band--travel from their home town of Liverpool to London to perform in a television broadcast. Along the way they must rescue Paul's unconventional grandfather from various misadventures and drummer Ringo goes missing just before the crucial concert.

Help!

Help!

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1965-08-25

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

92 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (12661 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Cast:

Writer:

Marc Behm (screenplay)

Charles Wood (screenplay)

Marc Behm (story)

Fullplot:

An Eastern cult discovers that the sacrificial ring is missing. Ringo, drummer of The Beatles band has it; sent by the girl (who's to be sacrificed) as a gift. Clang, Ahme, Bhuta and several cult members leave for London to retrieve the ring. After several failed attempts to steal the ring, they confront him in an Indian restaurant. Ringo learns that if he does not return the ring soon, he will become the next sacrifice. Ringo then discovers that the ring is stuck on his finger. Its a race against time; John, Paul, and George try to protect their friend while they're all being chased not only by Clang and his minions, but also by two mad scientists and the chief inspector of Scotland yard. Will Ringo be saved, or will he be sacrificed?

The Knack... and How to Get It

The Knack... and How to Get It

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1965-06-03

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

84 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

6.8 (1963 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Genres:

Comedy

Cast:

Writer:

Charles Wood (screenplay)

Ann Jellicoe (play)

Fullplot:

In England, the times are a changing: it's mods and rockers. On the day Nancy gets off the London train, cases in hand, looking for the YWCA, Colin has had enough of missing out on the sexual revolution. He begs his smooth (and misogynistic) pal Tolen to teach him 'the knack' - how to score with women. Serendipitously, Colin and his new lodger Tom meet up with Nancy while Colin's buying a bed larger than Tolen's. The three hit it off, but their simple fun ends when Tolen meets Nancy. Colin is jealous but impotent, and Tolen both attracts and repels her. She swoons, wonders what happened, and cries 'rape.' Impish serendipity rubs against unsettling ambiguity; Tolen bolts.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1966-10-16

Languages:

English

Countries:

USA, UK

Runtime:

99 min

Rated:

APPROVED

IMDB Ratings:

(6444 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Cast:

Writer:

Melvin Frank (screenplay)

Michael Pertwee (screenplay)

Burt Shevelove (book)

Larry Gelbart (book)

Titus Maccius Plautus (based on the play by)

Fullplot:

Pseudolus is the laziest slave in Rome and has but one wish, to purchase his freedom. When his master and mistress leave for the day he finds out that the young master has fallen in love with a virgin in the house of Lycus, a slave dealer specializing in beautiful women. Pseudolus concocts a deal in which he will be freed if he can procure the girl for young Hero. Of course, it can't be that simple as everything begins to go wrong.

Petulia

Petulia

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1968-06-10

Languages:

English, Spanish

Countries:

USA, UK

Runtime:

105 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (2009 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Genres:

DramaRomance

Cast:

Writer:

Lawrence B. Marcus (screenplay)

John Haase (novel)

Barbara Turner (adaptation)

Fullplot:

When she sees him at a hospital fund-raiser, newlywed San Francisco socialite Petulia Danner, who has been married to naval engineer David Danner for six months, seems determined to have an affair with soon to be divorced physician Dr. Archie Bollen, who has been married to his wife Polo for close to ten years, their marriage which many saw as being perfect. Archie doesn't even know Petulia's name, but only knows her as the woman who brought in a young Mexican boy into the hospital with serious injuries. Petulia's pursuit of Archie is relentless - she even declaring that they will someday be married - even as Archie dates another woman named May. Archie eventually learns part of the reason why Petulia is so determined to cheat on David as her relationship to David and David's wealthy father are brought to light. Archie also learns that getting involved with Petulia in any regard has its consequences, both for Petulia herself and for him, most specifically in his relationship to Polo.

The Bed Sitting Room

The Bed Sitting Room

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1970-01-02

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK

Runtime:

90 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

6.4 (1387 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Genres:

ComedySci-Fi

Cast:

Writer:

John Antrobus (screenplay)

Charles Wood (adaptation)

Spike Milligan (play)

John Antrobus (play)

Fullplot:

Set in post-nuclear-holocaust England, where a handful of bizarre characters struggle on with their lives in the ruins, amongst endless heaps of ash, piles of broken crockery and brick, muddy plains, and heaps of dentures and old boots. Patriotically singing "God Save Mrs. Etheyl Shroake, Long Live Mrs. Etheyl Shroake", they wander through this surrealistic landscape, forever being warned by the police to "keep moving", and prone to the occasional mutation into a parrot, cupboard, or even, yes, a bed sitting room with "No Wogs" scrawled in the grime on it's windows. In particular, this story revolves around the odd "love story" of a girl who lives with her parents in one compartment of a London Underground train, the commuter in the next compartment, and the doctor they meet after returning above ground in search of a nurse for the heavily pregnant girl.

The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1974-03-29

Languages:

English

Countries:

Spain, USA, Panama, UK

Runtime:

106 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

7.3 (11502 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Cast:

Writer:

George MacDonald Fraser (screenplay)

Alexandre Dumas père (novel)

Fullplot:

The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge

The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1975-02-26

Languages:

English

Countries:

Spain, Panama, USA, UK

Runtime:

108 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

7.1 (7353 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Genres:

Adventure

Cast:

Writer:

George MacDonald Fraser (screenplay)

Alexandre Dumas père (novel)

Fullplot:

D'Artagnan has become a Musketeer. Protestants hold La Rochelle, and the Queen loves Buckingham, who'll soon send ships to support the rebels. Richelieu enlists Rochefort to kidnap Constance, the Queen's go-between and D'Artagnan's love. The Cardinal uses the wily, amoral Milady de Winter to distract D'Artagnan. But soon, she is D'Artagnan's sworn enemy, and she has an unfortunate history with Athos as well. Milady goes to England to dispatch Buckingham; the Musketeers fight the rebels. Milady, with Rochefort's help, then turns to her personal agenda. Can D'Artagnan save Constance, defeat Rochefort, slip de Winter's ire, and stay free of the Cardinal? All for one, one for all.

The Ritz

The Ritz

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1976-12-26

Languages:

English

Countries:

UK, USA

Runtime:

91 min

Rated:

R

IMDB Ratings:

7.8 (1621 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Genres:

Comedy

Cast:

Writer:

Terrence McNally (play)

Terrence McNally (screenplay)

Fullplot:

On his deathbed Carmine Vespucci's father tells him to "get Proclo". With "the hit" on, Gaetano tells a cab driver to take him where Carmine can't find him. He arrives at the Ritz, a gay bathhouse where he is pursued amorously by "chubby chaser" Paul B. Price and by entertainer Googie Gomez who believes him to be a broadway producer. His guides through the Ritz are gatekeeper Abe, habitue Chris, and bellhop/go-go-boys Tiger and Duff. Squeaky-voiced detective Michael Brick and his employer Carmine do locate Gateano at the Ritz, as does his wife Vivian.

Superman II

Superman II

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1981-06-19

Languages:

English, French, Russian

Countries:

USA, UK

Runtime:

127 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

6.8 (68572 Reviews)

Cast:

Writer:

Joe Shuster (character created by: Superman)

Jerry Siegel (character created by: Superman)

Mario Puzo (story)

Mario Puzo (screenplay)

David Newman (screenplay)

Leslie Newman (screenplay)

Fullplot:

Picking up where "Superman: The Movie" left off, three criminals from the planet Krypton are released from the Phantom Zone by a nuclear explosion in space. They descend upon Earth where they could finally rule. Superman, meanwhile, is in love with Lois Lane, who finds out who he really is. Lex Luthor escapes from prison and is determined to destroy Superman by joining forces with the three criminals.

Superman III

Superman III

Basic Info:

Released Date:

1983-06-17

Languages:

English, Italian, Spanish

Countries:

UK, USA

Runtime:

125 min

Rated:

PG

IMDB Ratings:

4.9 (44827 Reviews)

Director:

Richard Lester

Cast:

Writer:

Joe Shuster (character created by: Superman)

Jerry Siegel (character created by: Superman)

David Newman (screenplay)

Leslie Newman (screenplay)

Fullplot:

Wealthy businessman Ross Webster discovers the hidden talents of Gus Gorman, a mischievous computer genius. Ross decides to abuse his talents, in a way to help Webster with his plans for economic control. When the man of steel interferes, something must be done about Supes. When Gus' synthetic Kryptonite fails to kill Superman, it turns him in an evil incarnation of his former self. The tar-laced Kryptonite pits man against himself, setting up the Clark vs. Superman battle.

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