LEGEND unveils a sizzling summer line-up of action & classic horror premieres for August 2023
August is an action-packed month on LEGEND, with gritty crime thrillers, electrifying epics, classic horror double-bills from the fifties and an alien-fighting Nic Cage, who stars in the UK TV premiere of JIU JITSU, a martial arts meets-sci-fi thriller. There is also a UK TV premiere for brutal Brit gangland heist thriller FREIGHT, which stars Billy Murray and Craig Fairbrass.
There also Channel premieres for cat-and-mouse mystery thriller MOJAVE, starring Mark Wahlberg, Canadian heist thriller PRECIOUS CARGO, starring Bruce Willis, epic sword-clashing adventure, LAST KNIGHTS, starring Morgan Freeman and Clive Owen and WAR PIGS, starring Micky Rourke, Dolph Lundgren and Luke Goss.
This month’s popular THE VINTAGE VAULT strand celebrates some great horror classics from the fifties, highlighted by the Channel premiere of THE CREATURE WALKS AMONGST US (1956), THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) and DRACULA (1958).
Plus, we take a nostalgic trip back to the seventies with the Channel premiere of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN. This hugely popular, Emmy-nominated series was one of the highest rated programmes of its day. Series 1 and 2 will run through the month.
Full film details in transmission order:
Fri 4 August @ 22:55 – FREIGHT (2010) *UK TV Premiere
Gabe (Billy Murray) is thrown into a turf war when his daughter (Laura Aikman) is brutally kidnapped by a group of Eastern European human traffickers. A battle of survival ensues as Jed (Craig Fairbrass) helps Gabe try to save his daughter and the city from chilling mafia boss Cristi (Danny Midwinter).
Sat 5 August @ 21:00 – WAR PIGS (2015) *Channel Premiere
Disgraced World War II army captain Jack Wosick (Luke Goss) is given the opportunity for redemption when asked to lead a rag-tag unit of misfits known as the War Pigs on a secret mission to go behind enemy lines. With the help of Captain Hans Picault (Dolph Lundgren) and Colonel A.J. Redding (Mickey Rourke), Jack sets out to salvage his reputation.
Sun 6 August @ 21:00 – THE MOLE PEOPLE (1956) *Part of The Vintage Vault
John Bentley (John Agar) leads a Middle Eastern expedition in search of a lost tribe of Sumerians. He and his cohorts follow a tunnel deep below the surface of the earth, coming across a tyrannical tribe of albino Sumerians, who use the semi-human Mole People as slaves. Aware of the danger the scientists pose, the subterranean High Priest wants them eliminated.
Sun 6 August @ 22:30 – TARANTULA (1955) *Part of The Vintage Vault
This classic science fiction film featuring screen legend Clint Eastwood tells the story of a scientist who, while researching the effects of a new synthetic nutrient, releases a giant spider. Directed by Jack Arnold and starring John Agar, Mara Corday and Leo G. Carroll.
From Tues 8 August @ 19:00 – THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN (1973) Season 1 *Channel Premiere
This Emmy-nominated series was one of the highest rated programs of the 1970s. Lee Majors stars as Steve Austin, a U.S. astronaut who is critically injured upon re-entry, and whose damaged limbs are replaced with bionic, atomic-powered appendages. Now equipped with impressive physical capabilities, Austin uses his powers to fight international villains, mad scientists, and alien monsters. This series ranks as a cultural touchstone and one of the greatest superhero serials of all-time. Guest stars include Farrah Fawcett, Lindsay Wagner, and Louis Gossett, Jr.
Sat 12 August @ 21:00 – MOJAVE (2015) *Channel Premiere
A violent artist, Thomas, (Garrett Hedlund) has an ominous encounter in the desert with a homicidal, chameleon-like drifter (Oscar Isaac). This absorbing American crime thriller film is written and directed by William Monahan and also features Mark Wahlberg.
Sun 13 August @ 21:00 – THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US (1956)
*Channel Premiere *Part of The Vintage Vault
The final instalment of the “Gill Man” trilogy finds the prehistoric creature far from his Amazon home, kept under close scientific scrutiny in a special facility in Florida. After a laboratory fire severely damages the creature’s gills, the head of the research team (Jeff Morrow) initiates an operation that will allow their subject to breathe through a set of latent lungs. But soon Morrow’s rehabilitation plans are destroyed, leading to a violent confrontation.
Sun 13 August @ 22:35 – THE MONOLITH MONSTERS (1957) *Part of The Vintage Vault
A meteor crashes in the desert, leaving behind huge black chunks. While being analysed in a science lab, the crystalline stones are accidentally drenched with water and begin to grow to gargantuan dimensions. A sudden rainstorm further exacerbates the situation, causing the monoliths to grow to hitherto unimagined heights. Can the world be saved by the saline solution which the scientists are hurriedly developing in the lab?
From Wed 16 August @ 19:00 – THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN (1973) Season 2 *Channel Premiere
Further adventures of Steve Austin (Lee Majors), a U.S. astronaut who is critically injured upon re-entry, and whose damaged limbs are replaced with bionic, atomic-powered appendages. His machine parts enable him to have superhuman strength and speed. With these powers, Steve goes to work for the Office of Scientific Information, battling evil for the good of mankind.
Thurs 17 August @ 21:00 – JIU JITSU (2020) *UK TV Premiere
The future hangs in the balance as a being from another world returns to Earth to face off against the best warriors the human race has to offer. From special ops soldiers to the best in MMA, this epic battle for the survival of Earth will place humanity on the brink of extinction. An all-star action-packed cast lead the fight, including Nic Cage and Frank Grillo.
Sat 18 August @ 21:00 – PRECIOUS CARGO (2016) *Channel Premiere
International thief Jack (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and his highly trained team get a run for their money when Karen (Claire Forlani), Jack’s gorgeous femme fatale ex, shows up and drags him into a dangerous billion-dollar heist. Little does Jack know they’re stealing from Eddie, (Bruce Willis) Karen’s ex-boss.
Sun 19 August @ 21:00 – THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN (1957) *Part of The Vintage Vault
An adaptation of a drama by Nigel Kneale, creator of the Quatermass series, this horror fantasy stars Peter Cushing as scientist John Rollason, who, ignoring his wife’s objections, joins an expedition lead by brash American Tom Friend (Forrest Tucker). They are searching for the legendary yeti in the high Himalayas – a quest with deadly consequences.
Sun 19 August @ 22:45 – THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957) *Part of The Vintage Vault
When a giant insect attacks several people in a remote Arctic region, Col. Joe Parkham (Craig Stevens) swings into action. Parkham and his associates, Dr. Ned Jackson (William Hopper) and Ned’s assistant Margie Blake (Alix Talton), track the predatory mantis as it heads southward to Washington DC.
Sat 26 August @ 21:00 – LAST KNIGHTS (2015) *Channel Premiere
In an age of honour and justice by the sword, Raiden (Clive Owen) is a fallen warrior who must rise up against a corrupt and sadistic ruler to avenge Bartok (Morgan Freeman), his dishonoured master.
Sun 27 August @ 21:00 – THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) *Part of The Vintage Vault
Scientist Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) will stop at nothing in his quest to reanimate a deceased body and assembles a hideous creature (Christopher Lee) out of dead body parts. He succeeds in bringing it to life, but the monster is not as obedient or docile as Frankenstein expected…
Sun 29 July @ 22:35 – DRACULA (1956) *Part of The Vintage Vault
This horror classic stands as the most famous and celebrated film version of the popular vampire story. Bela Lugosi delivers a star-making performance as the titular villain – his erudite, refined Dracula is at once alluring and terrifying. While director Tod Browning an effectively and haunting atmosphere. Also stars Edward Van Sloan as Dracula’s arch enemy, vampire-hunter Van Helsing.