Lee Montague

Eagle in a Cage -- 1815. A soldier becomes the governor of St. Helena and jailer of Napoleon. High brow.

Shirley MacLaine stars as the eccentric and endearing Madame Sousatzka, a flamboyant piano instructor who teaches gifted students how to play, and how to live. In her dark London flat that serves as a shrine to her troubled musical past, Madame Sousatzka begins teaching a charismatic young prodigy named Manek (Navin Chowdhry). Pulling Manek away from Madame's disciplined teachings are his ambitious mother, a relentless talent agent, and his own desire to follow the reckless whims of a teenage life. When her talented young protege decides to debut at a prestigious concert against her wishes, Madame Sousatzka once again faces the pain of losing a cherished part of her life to the changing world around her. Oscar®-winning director John Schlesinger paints a rich, multi-layered portrait in this uplifting, critically-acclaimed drama co-starring Peggy Ashcroft, Shabana Azmi and Twiggy.

While living in London, a Bengali immigrant (Shabana Azmi) strives to support the talents of her piano-playing child prodigy (Navin Chowdhry). Her search for a teacher to hone her son's gift leads to the Russian-born Madame Sousatzka (Shirley MacLaine, in a Golden Globe-winning performance), a woman who demands total commitment. When Sousatzka insists that her new pupil live his life in a "proper" manner, major conflicts arise between the two.

A flamboyant piano instructor who teaches gifted students how to play, and how to live. In her dark London flat that serves as a shrine to her troubled musical past, Madame Sousatzka begins teaching a charismatic young prodigy named Manek (Navin Chowdhry). Pulling Manek away from Madame's disciplined teachings are his ambitious mother, a relentless talent agent, and his own desire to follow the reckless whims of a teenage life. When her talented young protege decides to debut at a prestigious concert against her wishes, Madame Sousatzka once again faces the pain of losing a cherished part of her life to the changing world around her.

A flamboyant piano instructor who teaches gifted students how to play, and how to live. In her dark London flat that serves as a shrine to her troubled musical past, Madame Sousatzka begins teaching a charismatic young prodigy named Manek (Navin Chowdhry). Pulling Manek away from Madame's disciplined teachings are his ambitious mother, a relentless talent agent, and his own desire to follow the reckless whims of a teenage life. When her talented young protege decides to debut at a prestigious concert against her wishes, Madame Sousatzka once again faces the pain of losing a cherished part of her life to the changing world around her.

A brilliant 15-year-old pianist in modern London is sent to take lessons from Madame Sousatzka, a formidably competent, dedicated, and eccentric spinster. She takes the boy completely under her wing, teaching him how to live as well as how to play.

In 1553, England's idle rich were anything but idle. With the blessing of the royal family, they plundered the riches of the church, stole the finest farmlands, and generally took all the best things the country had to offer. A cousin to the infamous Henry VII, Lady Jane Grey disapproved of the way her fellow nobles behaved, and disagreed with their religious beliefs. But as a sheltered 16-year-old, there wasn't much she could do about it. Then, through a strange turn of events, Lady Jane Grey was crowned Queen Jane, ruler of all England. Based on the true story of the girl who found herself Queen of England for nine days at age 16, Lady Jane is a historical romance at its bittersweet best. Look for Patrick Stewart as Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk.

The death of King Henry VIII throws his kingdom into chaos because of succession disputes. His weak son Edward, is on his deathbed. Anxious to keep England true to the Reformation, a scheming minister John Dudley marries off his son, Guildford to Lady Jane Grey, whom he places on the throne after Edward dies. At first hostile to each other, Guildford and Jane fall in love. But they cannot withstand the course of power which will lead to their ultimate downfall.

The death of King Henry VIII throws his kingdom into chaos because of succession disputes. His weak son Edward, is on his deathbed. Anxious to keep England true to the Reformation, a scheming minister John Dudley marries off his son, Guildford to Lady Jane Grey, whom he places on the throne after Edward dies. At first hostile to each other, Guildford and Jane fall in love. But they cannot withstand the course of power which will lead to their ultimate downfall.

In 1553, England's idle rich were anything but idle. With the blessing of the royal family, they plundered the riches of the church, stole the finest farmlands, and generally took all the best things the country had to offer. A cousin to the infamous Henry VIII, Lady Jane Grey disapproved of the way her fellow nobles behaved, and disagreed with their religious beliefs. But as a sheltered sixteen-year-old, there wasn't much she could do about it. Then, through a strange turn of events, Lady Jane Grey was crowned Queen Jane, ruler of all England. Based on the true story of the girl who found herself Queen of England for nine days at age 16, Lady Jane is a historical romance at its bittersweet best. Look for Patrick Stewart as Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk.

This is a dramatization of events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi from before his conversion experience through his audience with the pope, including his friendship with St. Clare.

St. Francis of Assisi was an extraordinarily complex and difficult figure whose effect on his contemporary society was electrifying. Even today, many people are moved by his visionary message of universal toleration. Twelfth-century Italy had an exceptionally grim and regimented society, but the barefoot monk from Assisi undoubtedly had the courage that comes from deep faith and was able to transcend the oppressiveness of the time. In this Italian/British-produced film, director Franco Zeffirelli attempts to bring his vision of this great man to the screen. The contemporary (1970s) example of the hippie movement contributed a great deal to the style in which the story is told. The musical score, using ancient Italian melodies, was arranged by Donovan. The film is visually beautiful in a way which tends to minimize the squalor of the times. As the movie begins, Francis (Graham Faulkner) is the son of wealthy merchants, and enjoys his share of wine, women and song without serious thought. When war and disease devastate his neighborhood, Francis undergoes an anguished transformation which culminates in his appearing before the local bishop and removing his clothes to renounce his previous life and family before dedicating himself to God. The culminating dramatic moment is Francis' appearance before Pope Innocent III (Sir Alec Guinness), to make his case for an independent religious order under new rules.