"Actor: Al Burke"

• Mesmer | DVD | (29/01/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Who knows what secrets lurk in the souls of man? In 18th century Vienna one man discovers the truth-and pays the price. His patients call him a miracle worker; his colleagues dismiss him as a quack. Meet Franz Anton Mesmer (Alan Rickman Galaxy Quest Dogma Sense and Sensibility): physician hypnotist self-promoter hopeless romantic and man ahead of his time. Employing revolutionary ideas about ""animal magnetism"" and the power of suggestion Mesmer gains local acclaim by curing his disturbed young cousin. Shortly thereafter beautiful blind pianist Maria Theresa Paradies (Amanda Ooms) seeks Mesmer's aid setting in motion a dizzying doomed love affair as her cure becomes both his greatest triumph and his downfall. In this thought-provoking film from acclaimed screenwriter Dennis Potter (The Singing Detective) and director Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies) everything we know-or think we know-about the nature of consciousness is called into question. As the man who scandalized Vienna and Paris and threw the medical establishment into an uproar Alan Rickman delivers a tour de force performance that won the Best Actor Award at the Montreal Film Festival. Music composed by three-time Golden Globe Nominee Michael Nyman

• The Musketeers | Blu Ray | (31/03/2014) from £13.48   |  Saving you £16.51 (122.48%)   |  RRP £29.99

  This fresh 10-part adaptation of Dumas' masterpiece tells the story of an elite group of soldiers who protect their Royal Masters at any cost. Starring Luke Pasqualino (Skins The Borgias) as D'Artagnan Tom Burke (Great Expectations The Hour) as Athos Santiago Cabrera (Merlin Heroes) as Aramis and Howard Charles (Black Forest) as Porthos the brothers in arms fight for what is just tackling the evil machinations of Cardinal Richelieu - played by Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who The Thick Of It). As they are propelled across seas and battlefields from masquerade balls to a remote convent the Musketeers defend the honour of the Queen and the life of Constance Bonacieux d'Artagnan's true love - played by Tamla Kari (The Inbetweeners Movie).

• Blue Lamp, The / The Nanny | DVD | (23/06/2003) from £14.99   |  Saving you £1.00 (6.67%)   |  RRP £15.99

  This is a double-feature of two British crime classics, The Blue Lamp (1949) and The Nanny (1965). The Blue Lamp is the film that introduced PC George Dixon, played by Jack Warner, later immortalised in the BBC's long-running Dixon of Dock Green (1955-76). Here Dixon's murder is the catalyst for an exciting London manhunt, shot largely on location in a fast-moving, starkly efficient style showing the influence of The Naked City (1948). The war-damaged East End and the car chases through almost vehicle-free streets offer a documentary-like vision of a London now long gone, and a young Dirk Bogarde makes a serious impact in an early starring role. In contrast, The Nanny has a superstar, the imported Hollywood legend Bette Davis, in the declining years of her career. Just one of three psychological thrillers Hammer produced in 1965 (the others were Frantic and Hysteria), the film capitalises on the popularity of Davis's Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) with a comparable mix of hateful insanity and paranoia. The screenplay skilfully juggles the audience's sympathies between a superb Davis and the dysfunctional family of which she becomes a part, developing a powerful sense of dread which shows such clichéd later fare as The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) how to do this sort of thing with real class. On the DVD: The Blue Lamp and The Nanny are presented in black and white with adequate mono sound. The Blue Lamp is in its original 4:3 ratio; The Nanny is cropped from its theatrical 1.85:1 to 4:3, though it's only in a few shots that it becomes obvious that information is missing at the sides of the screen. The print of The Blue Lamp is soft and grainy, while The Nanny is grainy with a considerable amount of flicker. There are no extras. --Gary S. Dalkin

• Peter Benchley's Creature | DVD | (06/01/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £2.99

  From the creator of 'Jaws' comes this new story... 30 years after a strange shark hybrid escapes out to sea from an island naval research station Simon Chase a marine biologist his ex-wife Amanda and their teenage son Max are working in that same facility. They then experience shark-like attacks against their boat and on the island but the only one who'll believe their story is an unbalanced drunk called werewolf. Together they explore the old naval buildings and discover a hidden cavern where they encounter a shark-like creature that stands on two legs! Barely managing to escape its deadly jaws Amanda and Simon dig up the old research notes and make a horrifying discovery: the creature is made from human DNA and werewolf is directly implicated!

• Public Eye - The Complete 1975 Series | DVD | (06/07/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  Alfred Burke stars as private eye Frank Marker in the long running drama series featuring all 13 episodes from the final 1975 series.

• The Man Upstairs | Blu Ray | (25/01/2021) from £14.71   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Richard Attenborough gives a compelling performance in this gripping psychological drama as a hysteric approaching the limits of his sanity! Also featuring Donald Houston, Kenneth Griffith, Bernard Lee and Alfred Burke, The Man Upstairs is featured here as a brand-new High Definition remaster from original film elements in its as-exhibited aspect ratio. Insomniac Peter Watson lives in a state of perpetual crisis lodging in a run-down boarding house he becomes ever more manic and unpredictable. When he hits out at another tenant the police get involved and Watson finds himself trapped in an escalating drama in which the actions of those around him may help him... or harm him. SPECIAL FEATURE: Image gallery

• Pitch Black | DVD | (04/07/2011) from £4.49   |  Saving you £5.50 (55.10%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Vin Diesel creates a cult icon as Riddick in this epic sci-fi adventure. The new Special Edition DVD comes complete with a range of exclusive extra features.

• Redcap - The Complete First Series | DVD | (23/05/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  John Thaw takes the first starring role of his career in 'RedCap' in which he plays Sergeant John Mann of the Royal Military Policess Special Investigation Branch. Made in 1964 at a time when the British army was still highly active Redcap's scripts cover investigations in Germany Aden Cyprus and Borneo. Featuring guest stars of the calibre of Keith Barron ('Duty Free') Leonard Rossiter ('Rising Damp') Ian McShane (Deadwood Lovejoy)) and David Burke (The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes)); Redcap was a series brimming with quality. Not seen since its original transmission this set contains the entire first series of thirteen episodes featuring scripts from Troy Kennedy Martin and Roger Marshall (who both worked extensively on 'The Sweeney') and Leon Griffiths (who created 'Minder'). The series was recently 're-imagined' with former Eastenders star Tamzin Outhwaite as the lead. Episodes comprise: 1. It's What Comes After 2. A Town Called Love 3. Epitaph for a Sweat 4. Misfire 5. Corporal McCann's Private War 6. The Orderly Officer 7. Night Watch 8. The Boys of B Company 9. A Regiment of the Line 10. The Man they Did 11. A Question of Initiative 12. A Place of Refuge 13. The Patrol

• Public Eye - The Complete 1971 Series | DVD | (08/08/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Alfred Burke stars as Frank Marker - a down at heels private investigator - in the long-running and critically acclaimed detective series. Never far from the top ten on original broadcast Public Eye is a fondly remembered series about a charcter who takes the 'low rent' side of the PI business - divorces wards of court missing persons and so forth. This digitally restored set features all thirteen episodes of the complete 1971 series. Episodes comprise: 1. A Mug Named Frank 2. Well - There Was This Girl You See... 3. Slip Home In The Dark 4. I Always Wanted A Swimming Pool 5. The Beater And The Game 6. Come Into The Garden Rose 7. And When You've Paid The Bill You're None The Wiser 8. Who Wants To Be Told Bad News? 9. The Man Who Didn't Eat Sweets 10. Ward Of Court 11. Transatlantic Cousins 12. Shades Of White 13. John VII. Verse 24

• Public Eye - The Complete 1969 Series | DVD | (19/07/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  Public Eye is a private detective series starring Alfred Burke as Frank Marker. The series originally ran on the ABC network during the 1960's resurrected by Thames in 1969 and then produced a further 6 series before the show ended in 1975.

• The Angry Silence (Digitally restored) | Blu Ray | (04/01/2016) from £11.99   |  Saving you £11.00 (91.74%)   |  RRP £22.99

  A film by Guy Green, The Angry Silence, is the heartfelt story of a young factory worker, Tom Curtis, played by Richard Attenborough. Curtis stands up against bullying union leaders and refuses to take part in an unofficial, wildcat strike. As a result, he is immediately ostracised by his fellow colleagues and is victimised by the union, circumstances that can only lead to a tragic climax.

• Fled | DVD | (08/01/2001) from £10.50   |  Saving you £2.49 (19.20%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Two dangerously mismatched convicts are thrown into a wild race to outwit outrun and outgun vicious enemies on both sides of the law in this high-impact thriller bristling with adventure mind-blowing stunts and non-stop action! After escaping from a prison chain gang Piper (Laurence Fishburne) and Dodge (Stephen Baldwin) find themselves handcuffed together - and at each other's throats! Relentlessly hunted through the Georgia wilderness the reluctant allies fight their way int

• White Oleander | DVD | (23/02/2004) from £9.00   |  Saving you £4.99 (55.44%)   |  RRP £13.99

  A teenager journeys through a series of foster homes after her mother goes to prison for committing a crime of passion.

• Tales Of The Unexpected: The Complete Third Series | DVD | (13/11/2006) from £39.95   |  Saving you £-19.96 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Roald Dahl's chillingly brilliant anthology series Tales of the Unexpected makes an expected return to DVD. Although widely-regarded as one of the greatest children's authors of all-time Roald Dahl also wrote chilling adult fiction taking the twisted ideas used to entertain children and thrilling adults with similar themes. Much-gossiped about in its day the surprising stories - usually with a sting in the tale - enthralled a nation the moment the iconic titles started. Episodes Comprise: 1. The Flypaper 2. A Picture Of A Place 3. Proof Of Guilt 4. Vengeance Is Mine Inc. 5. A Girl Can't Always Have Everything 6. Parson's Pleasure 7. The Stinker 8. I'll Be Seeing You 9. The Party

• The Wizard Of Oz | Blu Ray | (02/11/2009) from £19.99   |  Saving you £3.00 (15.01%)   |  RRP £22.99

  Follow wide-eyed Dorothy (Judy Garland)and her ragtag friends Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion as they head down the Yellow Brick Road in search of Emerald City and the all-powerful Wizard of Oz. Shot partly in black and white, partly in Technicolor, THE WIZARD OF OZ is a perfect juxtaposition of reality and fantasy.

• Public Eye - The Complete 1972-3 Series | DVD | (06/04/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Alfred Burke stars as down-at-heel Inquiry Agent Frank Marker in this critically acclaimed, long-running drama series. Always working the lower end of the spectrum - divorces, missing persons, bankruptcies - the public found a great affinity with Marker and the series was a huge success over its ten-year life span. This set contains all 13 episodes from the 1972/3 series - complete and uncut. The Bankrupt: How is a bankrupt riding around in a Rolls Royce? Girl in Blue: Marker is hired to find a missing daughter. Many a Slip: Can a doctors wife be a potential credit defaulter? Mrs. Podmores Cat: Markers telephone is cut off because of an unpaid bill. The Man who Said Sorry: Who is the stranger that turns up late at Markers office? Horse and Carriage: Its Christmas, but does anyone have goodwill for Marker? A Family Affair: Why was an old mans estate divided between his sons and housekeeper? The Golden Boy: Why has a young scholar disappeared without trace? The Windsor Royal: Who has stolen two bushes of roses from Lawrences Nurseries? Its a Womans Privilege: Why has Mrs. Mortimer paid Marker a visit? Home and Away: Is a football fanatic really playing away with another woman? Egg and Cress Sandwiches: Who has been writing poison pen letters to the churchwarden? The Trouble with Jenny: Why has one of Markers fellow guests tried to gas herself?

• Absolutely Fabulous - Series 1 To 4 Box Set | DVD | (25/11/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £54.99

  Absolutely Fabulous was first broadcast in 1992 and became an instant hit. Originally a sketch on the French and Saunders Show, Jennifer Saunders saw its potential and created one of the most ground-breaking and debauched comedies on British TV. Centred around the hip London fashion scene the series follows Edina (Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley), two women who refuse to grow up and are constantly on a mission to lose weight, gorging themselves with cocaine and/or champagne, endlessly throwing parties (or throwing up at parties), and sporting outrageous outfits, which were the height of fashion at the time--honestly sweetie! The superb comic performances reinvented the careers of Joanna Lumley and June Whitfield. Saunders meanwhile secured her status as one of Britain's top female comedians. Although its consciously chic clothing looks a little dated now, its mad characterisations endure and the jokes remain as hilariously slick and apt as ever. On the DVD: Absolutely Fabulous DVD box set comes beautifully packaged in mock velvet, with each series individually packaged inside. The original sketch from the French and Saunders Show and the pilot episode, "Mirrorball", offers all you need to understand the show's origins The commentary with Jennifer Saunders and John Ploughman on Series 4 is refreshing, owning up to the mistakes they made and the jokes that didn't work. The outtakes are funnier than the usual Hollywood blips. The 4:3 transfer is standard for a television comedy. --Nikki Disney

• The Single Play | DVD | (31/12/2099) from £16.19   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  For half a century the single play was the dominant form of television entertainment and an art form in and of itself. Personal, political, comedic, dramatic a single play could be any (and all) of these, the fearlessness of the creatives and the willingness of the audience allowing a level of variety and experimentation that will never occur again.Showcasing specially selected plays from the archives, this ongoing collection shows how compelling and varied these shows could be, with many unseen since their original transmission.NEIGHBOURS (1970)Good fences make good neighbours; everyone is entitled to be alone. A woman sits in a room. A neighbour comes to call. But what does he want? And why won't he leave? And what will be the outcome of their disturbing hour together?Starring JUDI DENCH and CALVIN LOCKHARTWritten by JAMES SAUNDERS Directed by BRIAN MILLSA ROD OF IRON (1980)In David Mercer's International Emmy Award-winning drama, two brothers come home for the first time in years to be at their dying mother's bedside. They are stunned to hear their father confess his true feelings towards his wife and now adult sons.Starring ALFRED BURKE, NIGEL HAWTHORNE and EDWARD WOODWARDWritten by DAVID MERCER Directed by DAVID CUNLIFFE

• Body And Soul | DVD | (30/01/2006) from £12.98   |  Saving you £3.01 (23.19%)   |  RRP £15.99

  John Garfield delivers an Oscar-nominated performance in this story of driving ambition in and out of the ring. Garfield stars as Charley Davis a strong-willed young prizefighter whose ruthless quest for a shot at the title forces him to mortgage his humanity to a Mafia-run boxing syndicate -- plunging him into a whirlpool of deceit double-dealing -- and death. But when faced with the chance to regain his self-respect Charley climbs into the ring one last time... Widely regarde

• Pitch Black/Dark Fury/the Chronicles of Riddick | DVD | (03/01/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £27.99

  Pitch Black Owing a major debt to Alien and its cinematic spawn, Pitch Black is a guilty pleasure that surpasses expectations. As he did with The Arrival, director David Twohy revitalizes a derivative story, allowing you to forgive its flaws and submit to its visceral thrills. Under casual scrutiny, the plot's logic crumbles like a stale cookie, but it's definitely fun while it lasts. A spaceship crashes on a desert planet scorched under three suns. The mostly doomed survivors include a resourceful captain (Radha Mitchell), a drug-addled cop (Cole Hauser), and a deadly prisoner (Vin Diesel) who quickly escapes. These clashing personalities discover that the planet is plunging into the darkness of an extended eclipse, and it's populated by hordes of ravenous, razor-fanged beasties that only come out at night. The body count rises, and Pitch Black settles into familiar sci-fi territory. What sets the movie apart is Twohy's developing visual style, suggesting that this veteran of B-movie schlock may advance to the big leagues. Like the makers of The Blair Witch Project, Twohy understands the frightening power of suggestion; his hungry monsters are better heard than seen (although once seen, they're chillingly effective), and Pitch Black gets full value from moments of genuine panic. Best of all, Twohy's got a well-matched cast, with Mitchell (so memorable with Ally Sheedy in High Art) and Diesel (Pvt. Caparzo from Saving Private Ryan) being the standouts. The latter makes the most of his muscle-man role, and his character's development is one more reason this movie works better than it should. --Jeff Shannon Dark Fury Taking a page from The Animatrix, Dark Fury is part of a new trend of bridging theatrical sequels. As an official product of a franchise, the 35-minute anime benefits from having the original actors voice the characters, including Vin Diesel as Riddick. This story opens with the new action hero and the two other survivors of Pitch Black already caught by a giant spaceship filled with dread. The sinewy leader has a unique--and creepy--jail for master villains and she has her sights set on Riddick. The film--indeed the series--is indebted to animator Peter Chung, who brings his techno style from his Aeon Flux series. His smooth animation for Riddick doesn't reinvent the character as much as give him a new, appealing fluidity. As anime goes, there's nothing really new here--plenty of action, cool killers, and dramatic spurts of blood--but it's a building block for how this genre might enliven movie series and sequels in the future. --Doug Thomas The Chronicles of Riddick Bigger isn't always better, but for anyone who enjoyed Pitch Black, a nominal sequel like The Chronicles of Riddick should prove adequately entertaining. Writer-director David Twohy returns with expansive sets, detailed costumes, an army of CGI effects artists, and the star he helped launch--Vin Diesel--bearing his franchise burden quite nicely as he reprises his title role. The Furian renegade Riddick has another bounty on his head, but when he escapes from his mercenary captors, he's plunged into an epic-scale war waged by the Necromongers. A fascist master race led by Lord Marshal (Colm Feore), they're determined to conquer all enemies in their quest for the Underverse, the appeal of which is largely unexplained (since Twohy is presumably reserving details for subsequent "chronicles"). With tissue-thin plotting, scant character development, and skimpy roles that waste the talents of Thandie Newton (as a Necromonger conspirator) and Judi Dench (as a wispy "Elemental" priestess), Twohy's back in the B-movie territory he started in (with The Arrival), brought to vivid life on a vast digital landscape with the conceptual allure of a lavish graphic novel. But does Riddick have leadership skills on his resumé? To get an answer to that question, sci-fi fans will welcome another sequel. --Jeff Shannon