Oliver Tobias Filmography

MOVIES:

Grizzly Falls 1999 (pictures)

Darkness Falls 1998 (aka Dangerous Obsessions)

*Breeders 1997

Diana and Me 1997

*Brylcreem Boys 1996 (larger pictures)

Vendetta 1995

Savage Hearts 1995

Broken Lullaby 1994 (larger pictures)

Calliope 1993

*Nexus 1993 (larger pictures)

The Last Match 1990 (aka Opponent, aka L'Ultima Partita)
(larger pictures)

The Choice 1988

Johann Strauss - The Waltz King 1986 (larger pictures)

*Operation Nam (aka Cobra Mission, aka Return of the Wild Geese) 1987 (larger pictures)

*Abduction From the Seraglio 1986 (picture)

*Mata Hari 1985 (picture)

*The Wicked Lady 1983 (picture)

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 1979 (larger pictures)
(aka The Big Scam. aka The Mayfair Bank Caper)

*Arabian Adventure 1979 (larger pictures)

*The Stud 1978 (picture)

*King Arthur, the Young Warlord 1975 (picture)

The God King 1975 (picture)

Terror From Within (aka Won't Write Home Mom, I'm Dead) 1975

*'Tis Pity She's a Whore 1973 (picture)

Romance of a Horsethief 1971 (picture)

Firestar ???? "On a routine flight a spaceship is attacked by other powers." (picture)

TELEVISION APPEARANCES:

"Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married" 1999 UK

"Real Women" 1998 UK (picture)

"Sharpe's Waterloo" 1997 UK

"Verschollen in Thailand" 1997 GER (picture)

"Past Into Present" 1996 UK

"Klinik unter Palmen" ("Jungle Hospital") 1996 GER (picture)

"Inseln unter dem Wind" ("Islands Under The Wind")1995GER

"EuroCops" 1994 GER

"The Knock" 1994 UK

"Alessio" 1993 ITA (picture)

"Flash" 1992 GER (larger pictures)

"Donauprinzessin" ("Danube Princess") 1992 SWI (picture)

"Adventurer" 1987 UK (picture)

"The Abduction from The Seraglio" 1987 UK (picture)

"Boon - Charity Begins At Home I/II" 1986 UK

*"Return of Sherlock Holmes - The Abbey Grange" 1986 UK (picture)

"Robin of Sherwood - Lord of the Trees" 1984 UK

"Das Traumschiff" ("The Dream Ship") 1982 GER

*"Smuggler" 1981 UK (picture)

"Dick Turpin - Greatest Adventure" 1981 UK (picture)

"Jesus of Nazareth" 1977 UK

"Luke's Kingdom" 1976 AUS (picture)

"Arthur of the Britons" 1972 UK (larger pictures)

"The Adventurer" 1972 UK (different from 1987 title)

THEATRE:

Pirates of Penzance (picture)

La Cava (picture)

Hair (larger pictures)

Cannot find any more info on the following : can you help? let me know

"Under Gemini" - movie shown on Italian tv - played Dr. Hugh Kyle (larger pictures)

"Yesterday's Shadow" - made for German tv -played a photographer

"Last Video and Testament" shown in US on HBO, early '80s, with Deborah Raffin

BREEDERS is a forgettable little movie that is gone from your memory as soon as it is over. That is, of course, except for the fact that Oliver Tobias is in it. Oliver plays a police inspector investigating mysterious disappearances at an all-female college. Supposedly set in the Boston area, but starring a mostly British cast, apparently caused problems for the film makers, who in their infinite wisdom decided that the British actors should adopt "Bahhstun" accents. Silly decision. Oliver does a fair job, but still comes off sounding like a strangled Columbo-type. Nevertheless Oliver brings a certain panache to this rather innocuous role, and his presence is the highlight of this movie. (BACK)

The premise of BRYLCREEM BOYS was a bit far-fetched, I thought - Irish POW camp for both Germans and Allies captured on Irish soil, supposedly to reinforce Ireland's neutrality in WWII. Mix in a love triangle between an Irish colleen and two sworn enemies, beat to a bloody pulp, and serve lukewarm. Oliver plays the senior German officer in this POW camp. His performance is notable mainly for its quiet dignity - notable because the rest of the cast are busy "acting". (BACK)

NEXUS cannot make up its mind whether to be seriously apocryphal or sublimely tongue-in-cheek. And Oliver doesn't help this predicament. In fact his performance gives this movie much-needed comic relief. On purpose, I'm sure. It's a chaotic s/f mix that begins with the destruction of Earth and the survival of the last "humans" on another planet which is already occupied by sort-of "mutant-humans", and led by an Evil Overlord. Oliver does the Evil Overlord thing very well. Seems the humans need some kind of element that creates water, and the mutants don't require water. So they bargain - water element in exchange for the hand of the beautiful young daughter of the human leader in marriage to the Evil Overlord. He's lusting after a human son, you see. Now throw in a semi-metaphysical brotherhood, or NEXUS, if you will, who guide? teach? create? - couldn't quite figure this part out - a golden warrior who will be the savior of the humans, and who meets the beautiful young woman in dreams, and falls in love with her, and whose destiny, it is foretold, shall be to destroy the Evil Overlord. See what I mean?? It's total chaos. Oliver plays it strictly in delightful Flash Gordon/Ming the Merciless style, while the other actors believe they are making a serious movie here. It's the only redeeming feature of this otherwise blah movie. My only recommendation would have been that, before beginning filming, Oliver had read the Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Were An Evil Overlord (BACK)

Why, oh why, can't they leave Oliver's voice alone? In OPERATION NAM, Oliver plays an American Vietnam Vet and former POW who joins up with a "rescue squad" of other vets to return to Nam and try to find other POW's still being held prisoner. Action, drama, and dubbed voices. This could have been a pretty good movie if they hadn't dubbed the voices. Maybe it's just me, but when you hire an actor to play a part, you want the whole package - and how an actor delivers his lines is very much a part of his profession. Take that away and all you have is a pretty face. Oliver fits that bill, certainly - but his fans will be disappointed that they can't enjoy that wonderful deep voice as well. (BACK)

THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO is a Mozart opera staged at the Covent Garden in 1986. Oliver has a starring role in this, but he doesn't sing. Surprised? So was I. I thought ALL roles in opera were singing roles. Apparently not. The story, it seems, concerns some shipwrecked Englishmen (and women) who are captured and then sold as slaves to a rich Moorish prince, Pasha Selim, played by the magnificent Oliver Tobias. What a stunningly handsome man he is! And so exotic, with flowing robes and dark makeup and raven hair. How the leading lady can resist him I fail to understand. But she does, because her heart belongs to another to whom she will remain faithful, even though she is now the Pasha's "favorite" in his harem. But he is patient, and wants her to come to love him genuinely, and not out of fear. Enter the object of her affection, who turns out to be the son of the Pasha's mortal enemy. He attempts to rescue her from the clutches of the Pasha, but fails and they all find themselves at his mercy. And merciful he is. With a magnanimous gesture, he frees them all, hoping that his actions will make the son a better man than the father. As operas go, I really cannot comment on this one since I haven't seen enough of them. But Oliver's presence makes it truly delightful, not just for his fans but for everyone. And he speaks in his native German, and gets to roar like the Leo he is, and be royal and regal and noble. Now that's typecasting! (BACK)

I think MATA HARI really wanted to grow up to be rated X - Sylvia Kristel is, in my opinion, a soft-porn queen who couldn't act her way out of a paper bag. This movie tries to make "Mata Hari" a sympathetic character, but it ends up being a confused muddle of sex, erotic dancing and espionage. I've watched this movie several times now and I still don't understand it completely. But that's okay, because I'm only watching Oliver anyway. He plays Ladoux, a French officer during WWI who is pitted against a long-time German friend now on opposite sides of the war. Mata Hari is simply a pawn in this game of intrigue and lust. The "love" scene between Oliver and Sylvia is worth watching - I know he's only acting, but I swear there's a glimpse of Oliver's personal sexuality there, and it's rivetting. (BACK)

THE WICKED LADY is another dang-blasted dubbed movie. I'm so sick of this I could scream. No, wait... I think I just figured it out... Oliver's voice is so deep, so resonant, so powerful, that he makes other men appear effeminate. Yes, that's it. It must be. Check the rest of the cast members and you'll understand what I mean. Pure jealousy and ego. Taking away his voice takes away from his power, and Oliver's power is palpable, no matter what character or scene or whatever - it's tangible. And it's dangerous. Threatening, even. So there you have it. I've cracked that mystery. Oh, and Oliver looks smashing as Kit Locksby. And yes, there's a nude scene. Or should I say a seduction scene. Okay it's a nude seduction scene. There's no chemistry between them, however, but I think that's intentional, and crucial to the plot. Nevertheless I found myself feeling envious.... (ahem) (BACK)

ARABIAN ADVENTURE is a really neato little movie that your whole family will love. Not only Oliver Tobias but Emma Samms, Milo O'Shea, and Christopher Lee, for crying out loud. Made back in the seventies, the special effects by today's standards are a yawn, but back then, they were state of the art. (small aside: I had written a story about Oliver years before and gave him an Arabian horse named Hassan. Guess what Oliver's character's name is in ARABIAN ADVENTURE? That's right. Hassan.) I do very much like the goatee Oliver sports in this film, looks very rakish, and his hair is very reminiscent of Arthur. He's a hunk, what else can I say? (BACK)

Ah, the movie that started it all.... THE STUD! ("what's his name? what's his name?") His name is Tony Blake. And he's gorgeous. And he's the boy-toy of rich decadent Fontaine Khaled (Joan Collins - say no more - nudge nudge wink wink) He knows what it takes to keep his job as manager of a trendy, private London night club - keep the bosslady happy. Until, that is, he is able to acquire sufficient backing to open his own club. Yes, our boy is ambitious. And therein lies the pathos of this movie. Don't watch it for the so-called orgy - watch it for the soul-suffering that Tony Blake experiences as he grows away from all this. And a sizzling love scene with Emma Jacobs will stay looooong in your memory. I know I still fantasize ...- well, never mind. Oliver is still trying to live down the infamy this movie brought him, but actually I'm glad. It was my own personal first glimpse of the wondrous Oliver Tobias, and my life hasn't been the same since. (BACK)

KING ARTHUR, THE YOUNG WARLORD is the name given to the video-release of an earlier British television series called "Arthur of the Britons". Forget Merlin and Excalibur and Le Morte - this is a more accurate historical perspective of a young Celtic leader. I can see why Oliver developed a sort-of cult following with this portrayal - he's terribly charismatic as Arthur. And not just another pretty face, either. He's clever as well. And compassionate. And jealous. And the ensemble cast is wonderful. And here's a question I want to ask Oliver - did you take formal fencing lessons or is that standard stage combat - all that brilliant and dazzling swordplay? Very impressive, and even more impressive years later in "Smuggler". And oh yes, a bit of fencing also in MATA HARI. Have sword, will travel. I love it! (BACK)

This is a disturbing movie. That's what I like about it. Oliver is stunning in it. Simply stunning. Shiny black mane, beard, just coming from "Hair" and looking very Messiah-ish. Oliver plays Giovanni, the brother of Anabella whom he hasn't seen since they were children. Anabella is played by Charlotte Rampling. 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE is a line from the movie when the Church decrees she must wed an unloved man to atone for her incestuous relationship with her brother. You read that right. This is a tragedy from the old classical school. Don't dismiss the premise so easily. Oliver gives an Oscar-calibre performance as the tormented brother in love with his sister. He doesn't seduce, rape or otherwise coerce his sister. In fact he desperately tries to deny his feelings, to get over it, but he cannot. And on the verge of committing suicide to stop this longing, he finally confides in her. She reveals that she feels the same way, and thus it is the sister who actually initiates the intimacy, and thus it is she who is branded "a whore" by the all-powerful Church. This is a blood-bath in the old Greek tragedy tradition. Disturbing, yes. But exquisite. If you haven't seen it, run, don't walk, to your nearest video store. And you will be disturbed, too. Exquisitely so. (BACK)

"THE ABBEY GRANGE" episode of the outstanding series "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" is truly delightful. Oliver plays Captain Crocker, an honorable gentleman in love with a woman he cannot have. When he discovers that her husband is mistreating her horribly, he wants to help her, but is caught in the act. The violent husband attacks. In half self-defense / half retribution, Crocker kills the husband then conspires to make the scene look like local burglars did it. Holmes is Holmes, however, and he sees through this sham instantly. But when the violent nature of the husband's attacks on his lady wife are divulged, Holmes does something he rarely does - he lets the perpetrators go. He and Watson are judge and jury, and find the couple not guilty. Watson, at the end, utters a line to Holmes in private I've not forgotten since hearing it : "It's just as well you are unique..." And so is this episode. (BACK)

SMUGGLER is my all-time favorite Oliver Tobias vehicle. The dashing, daring, clever, handsome, solitary, romantic, independent Jack Vincent - the stuff a woman's dreams are made of. Oliver fit this role so closely, in my mind, that he IS Jack Vincent. Oliver breathed real life into a fictional character, made him alive. I know this is an actor's job. This is what he is supposed to do. However it actually doesn't happen all that often, and when it does, it's magical. Oliver created magic with Jack Vincent. I was captivated, and still am. I could watch this series forever. Like peeping through a time-telescope into another era (Regency England) and spying on someone's personal life. The scenery, the costumes, the set props, it's all perfect. Leslie Dunlop as the headstrong Sarah was believable enough, but I felt there was not much chemistry between Jack and Sarah, despite the implied romantic tension. In fact they seemed to get on more as friends. I wouldn't be surprised if they are still friends today. Hywel Williams-Ellis was delightful as the sticky-fingered Honesty - a misnomer if there ever was one. (wonder where he is today?) Why can't we have more shows like this? All the swashing and buckling, smuggling and low-down dirty but clever tricks, the excellent swordplay, fine acting, terrific scripts -- why did it have to end? *sigh*
(BACK)

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