My Young Auntie

My Young Auntie 1981

6.40

Cheng Tai-nun is a young martial-arts champion. She marries an elderly landowner so that he can keep his estate from falling into the greedy and corrupt hands of his brother, Yu Yung-Sheng.

1981

Call from Darkness

Call from Darkness 1981

5.70

Keiko Inagawa pays a visit to neurologist Aizawa about her fiancé Tatsuo Tamura. A mysterious case involving the disappearance of Tatsuo’s three brothers, one after the other, is yet to be resolved and now Tatsuo, seized with the idea that he too may disappear, has had a nervous breakdown. Aizawa suggests that Tatsuo recount his dreams as a means of solving the mystery, since human beings have an instinct that foretells the near future in the form of a dream. Keiko and Tatsuo eventually discover that the three disappearances have a strange connection…

1981

Venom

Venom 1981

5.61

International terrorists attempt to kidnap a wealthy couple's child. Their plan comes unstuck, however, when a deadly Black Mamba, sent by mistake instead of a harmless snake, escapes and terrorizes both them and their hostages.

1981

Old Master Q

Old Master Q 1981

2.30

The first animated film featuring the characters of the Chinese comic series, "Old Master Q". Features comedic shenanigans and a cameo by "Bruce Lee".

1981

Bloody Parrot

Bloody Parrot 1981

6.53

An expert swordsman is suspected of being the thief of a treasure sent to Emperor. The swordsman who has nothing to do with the theft investigates and is led on the trail of the supernatural "Bloody Parrot". This leads to the "Parrot Brothel" and the star prostitute who walks around half naked. Strange things happen including a demonic possession, witches casting poison spells, disgusting autopsies and numerous sword fights. Then a dead constable turns into a vampire! This is all in the first 30 minutes!

1981

The School Teacher

The School Teacher 1981

6.02

After having lost his job for having saved a child accused of shop lifting, Frédéric Barbier decides to become a school teacher with some funny results.The great comedy actor Coluche is excellent as a simple school teacher.

1981

History of the World: Part I

History of the World: Part I 1981

6.75

An uproarious version of history that proves nothing is sacred – not even the Roman Empire, the French Revolution and the Spanish Inquisition.

1981

Masked Avengers

Masked Avengers 1981

6.90

Philip Kwok plays a repentant killer who vows to destroy the masked gang of which he was a member. A young fighter and his martial arts brothers come to the town to catch the killers, but one of them is not to be trusted!

1981

Challenge of the Gamesters

Challenge of the Gamesters 1981

6.20

A forerunner to the new wave gambling films, this is one of Wong Jing's first hits--before he would go on to dominate Hong Kong cinema for the next two decades. Although rife with Japanese spies, Shanghai tycoons, beautiful starlets, and enough intrigue to keep 007 happy, Bond himself would be no match for the heroes' skill at mahjong and other games Hong Kong gamblers play--proving that the cube is often mightier than the baccarat card.

1981

Sharky's Machine

Sharky's Machine 1981

6.10

Police officer Tom Sharky gets busted back to working vice, where he happens upon a scandalous conspiracy involving a local politician. Sharky's new 'machine' gathers evidence while Sharky falls in love with a woman he has never met.

1981

The Duel of the Century

The Duel of the Century 1981

6.57

This mystery-tinged 'Martial Arts World' epic was one of director Chu Yuan and novelist Ku Lung's last together for the Shaw Studios, but it's another action-filled winner. Liu Yung and Sun Chien team to investigate the martial arts murders of a supposedly mortally wounded swordsman, only to find deception, death, double-dealings, imposters, and one deadly duel after another. No less than three choreographers are on hand to handle the multitude of magnificent martial arts.

1981

Shaolin Fighters vs. Ninja

Shaolin Fighters vs. Ninja 1981

5.50

After her father, Golden Rings, is killed by the Deadly Blade, the Moon Goddess sends out invitations to all the top fighters in the region to try and lure out the Deadly Blade and force him to kill his own son. However, things do not go according to plan.

1981

The Legend of the Lone Ranger

The Legend of the Lone Ranger 1981

4.89

When the young Texas Ranger, John Reid, is the sole survivor of an ambush arranged by the militaristic outlaw leader, Butch Cavendich, he is rescued by an old childhood Comanche friend, Tonto. When he recovers from his wounds, he dedicates his life to fighting the evil that Cavendich represents. To this end, John Reid becomes the great masked western hero, The Lone Ranger. With the help of Tonto, the pair go to rescue President Grant when Cavendich takes him hostage.

1981

Eyewitness

Eyewitness 1981

5.60

NYC custodian Daryll Deever is a big fan of local news reporter Tony Sokolow, so he is intrigued when she shows up to cover a story at his workplace. There's been a murder in the office building, and Tony suspects that Daryll may have insight into the crime, a notion that he furthers to stay close to her. However, when those behind the killing begin to think that he really knows something, they target the pair to keep their secrets hidden.

1981

Neighbors

Neighbors 1981

5.67

One man's quiet suburban life takes a sickening lurch for the worse when a young couple move into the deserted house next door. From the word go it is obvious these are not the quiet professional types who *should* be living in such a nice street. As more and more unbelievable events unfold, our hero starts to question his own sanity... and those of his family.

1981

Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hello! Wonder Island

Dr. Slump and Arale-chan: Hello! Wonder Island 1981

6.70

Professor Senbei finds a videotape of his deceased father providing instructions on how to create a love potion. The main ingredient is a tear of the evil Gyaasuka Daimao who lives at the Wonder Island. To retrieve it, Senbei takes Arale and Gatchan on a wacky adventure.

1981

Tomorrow's Joe 2: The Movie

Tomorrow's Joe 2: The Movie 1981

7.63

It has been six months since the tragic accident in Joe and Rikiishi's fight. Joe believes he has overcome Rikiishi's death and decides to make a comeback. Joe does make a successful comeback by scoring 5 KO's by body blows. Joe is then given a shot at the national title as a means by the boxing commission to put him down. The champion, Tiger Ozaki makes use of Joe's habits and ends up making Joe's corner throw in the towel. Joe is afraid to throw punches at the face because of what happened to Rikiishi. Youko, Joe's love interest and the owner of the gym where Rikiishi trained at recruits a world ranked boxer from Venezuela, Carlos Rivera, to get Joe back on his feet and pursue his boxing career to the regional and world ranks.

1981

Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years

Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years 1981

5.00

Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years is an 8-part 1981 drama serial based on the life of Winston Churchill, and particularly his years in enforced exile from political position during the 1920s and 30s. It was written and directed by Ferdinand Fairfax and Churchill was played by Robert Hardy. Hardy's brilliant performance as Churchill won critical acclaim and a BAFTA award in 1982. He reprised the role in The Sittaford Mystery, Bomber Harris and War and Remembrance and at the 50th anniversary celebrations of the end of World War II in 1995 when he quoted a number of Churchill's wartime speeches in character.

1981

The Man of Five Rings

The Man of Five Rings 1981

1

After 2 years of completely isolation in mountains, Musashi comes back in order to live a normal life. However, after his duel against Kojiro Sasaki he has many enemies who want to kill him...

1981

The Brady Brides

The Brady Brides 1981

7.50

Marcia and Jan Brady marry their sweethearts -- total opposites -- and both couples move in together in this spin-off of The Brady Bunch, which features recurring appearances by Carol and Alice.

1981

Punishment

Punishment 1981

1

Punishment is an Australian television soap opera made by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Ten Network in 1981. Set in a fictional men's prison, the series attempted to present a male version of the successful soap Prisoner. Attempts by the show's makers to differentiate the series from Prisoner saw Punishment imbued with greater realism; however, the formula did not attract high viewing figures. Network Ten deemed the new series a failure after only three episodes had gone to air, and it was quickly removed from the schedules. The remainder of the 26 episodes produced were shown out-of-ratings later that year. Unusually for a soap opera, the series was taped using the single camera technique. The regular cast featured many notable Australian actors including Brian Wenzel, Barry Crocker, Michael Preston, Ross Thompson, Anne Haddy, George Spartels, Cornelia Frances, Lisa Peers and Julie McGregor. Mel Gibson played a prisoner in the first episode. Kris McQuade played the girlfriend of Gibson's character and was phased out of the series after the first few episodes due to Gibson's departure. The programme was produced and directed by Alan Coleman.

1981

The Sophisticated Gents

The Sophisticated Gents 1981

7.00

The 25-year reunion of members of a black athletic-social club brings together nine of its members for the first time to honor their old coach but is marred by a murder investigation involving one of the gents.

1981

Bijin Koroshi Series

Bijin Koroshi Series 1981

1

A murder occurs at a party hosted by Dr. Aida's former students (mostly women), most of whom live in Kanagawa Prefecture. Dr. Aida is invited to the party and, at the request of his former students, decides to become involved in the case. Soon after, detectives from the local police department arrive (always accompanied by the chief of police), and a little later, Lieutenant Suda from the Fujisawa North Police Station (now the Yokohama Port Police Station) arrives to begin questioning the people involved (Dr. Aida secretly overhears this). The murders continue and the case becomes more and more confusing. Dr. Aida gets hints from the tools of the ancients that he has unearthed, and unravels the trick that was used to commit the crimes. The birth secrets of the people involved are the key to the case, and Dr. Aida (or Suda) always visits the obstetrics and gynecology clinic in the interview scene in the middle of the story.

1981

The Gaffer

The Gaffer 1981

7.00

The Gaffer is an ITV situation comedy series of the early 1980s starring Bill Maynard and written by businessman Graham White. 20 episodes were shown between 1981 and 1983. It was made for the ITV network by Yorkshire Television

1981

Walking Tall

Walking Tall 1981

5.70

Walking Tall is an American television drama series that ran on NBC in 1981 for one season of seven episodes. The first 5 episodes aired Saturday nights at 9:00 p.m.. The last 2 episodes aired Tuesday nights at 10:00 p.m. NBC reran all 7 episodes from April-August 1981. This one-hour show was based on the 1973 film Walking Tall, which was based on the life of Buford Pusser. Here, Pusser is the sheriff of McNeal County, Tennessee, fighting criminals each week in 1969.

1981

Pop Quiz

Pop Quiz 1981

6.00

A British television quiz programme hosted by Mike Read that originally aired on BBC1 from 4 July 1981 to 28 December 1984, with a Top of the Pops special on 4 January 1994. It was then revived from 21 May to 9 July 1994 on the same channel but this time with Chris Tarrant in charge.

1981

Jeugdjournaal

Jeugdjournaal 1981

1

Jeugdjournaal is a Dutch television news programme produced by the Dutch public service broadcaster NOS for children. The programme has been broadcast since 1981. The aim of Jeugdjournaal is to present news that is both of interest and understanding to young viewers, without shying away from the main national and international news headlines. The broadcasts are viewed extensively by older viewers; about one-sixth of the programme's viewership are adults. Jeugdjournaal is involved in setting up similar shows in several countries where neutral news broadcasts are scarce. A main evening programme airs at 6:45pm, running for 15 minutes every night on Nederland 3. A 5-minute update also airs on weekdays at 4:25pm. The short afternoon updates and a weekly compilation programme are broadcast on the international Dutch-language television station, BVN.

1981

Private Schulz

Private Schulz 1981

4.80

Private Schulz is a six-part 1981 television comedy-drama serial written by Jack Pulman and produced for BBC Two. It stars Michael Elphick in the title role, with Ian Richardson, Tony Caunter, Billie Whitelaw, Billy Murray, and Mark Wingett. Set primarily in Germany, during and immediately following World War II, fraudster and petty criminal Gerhard Schulz is forced to serve in the SS. In a story based on the real, though unrealised, plot by the Germans known as Operation Bernhard, Schulz tricks the Nazis into making counterfeit British £5 notes, millions of which will be used to destroy the British economy.

1981

Open All Night

Open All Night 1981

3.50

Open All Night is a situation comedy on ABC. It premiered on November 28, 1981, and ran until March 5, 1982. The show centered on Gordon Feester and his oddball family who lived and worked in a convenience store. It was somewhat based on the British series Open All Hours. Jay Tarses was co-creator, writer, and director of the show. Cassandra Peterson made a guest appearance on one episode. David Letterman also made a guest appearance, and made a sly reference to his daytime talk show, which was canceled a year before.

1981

Fuusen no Doratarou

Fuusen no Doratarou 1981

1

After many years of wandering, Tarou returns to Cat Island to meet his sister, Sakura, who has stayed with their adoptive parents. Though his family is pleased to see him, they all come to realise that the long separation has seen them grow into different people.

1981

Strike Force

Strike Force 1981

7.30

Strike Force is an American action-adventure/police procedural television series that aired on ABC during the 1981–1982 television season, and was produced by Aaron Spelling Productions. The program stars Robert Stack as Capt. Frank Murphy, the leader of a special unit of specialized detectives and police officers whose job is to stop violent criminals at any cost. Mixing elements of Stack's classic TV series The Untouchables from 20 years earlier with doses of Mission: Impossible and Dirty Harry, the series immediately provoked controversy over its violence – at one point the series was labeled the most violent in American TV history – though the series attempted to interject liberal amounts of humor into its regular characters and balanced the violence by focusing on the detectives' personal lives.

1981