Elegant, all-star production, introducing Albert Finney as the first screen Hercule Poirot. A no-good American tycoon lies dead with twelve dagger wounds, but which of the passengers is the guilty party? Includes an Oscar® winning performance from Ingrid Bergman
Collection of four classic children's films. 'Annie' (1982) is the story of the eponymous optimistic orphan (Aileen Quinn) who lives a miserable life in an children's home run by the awful Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett). One day, she sees her chance to escape and sets off on a journey which will take her to the door of childless millionaire Daddy Warbucks (Albert Finney). In 'Oliver' (1968) young Oliver Twist (Mark Lester) escapes from the workhouse, where he has been brutally treated all of his life, and joins the gang of street urchins led by the rascal Fagin (Ron Moody). Oliver is trained as a pick-pocket, but ends up being caught for a crime he did not commit. However, this seemingly unfortunate accident brings him closer to his real family. 'Matilda' (1996) stars Mara Wilson as the exceptionally gifted and intelligent child who is ignored by her stupid parents Harry (Danny DeVito) and Zinnia (Rhea Perlman). A keen reader, her dearest wish is to be sent to school, but the establishment Harry selects is Crunchemhall, run by the tyrannical Miss Trunchball (Pam Ferris). Her cruelty to her pupils causes Matilda to vow revenge, and her newly discovered telekinetic powers give her the chance to do so. 'Madeline' (1998) stars Hatty Jones as the most mischievous of the twelve friends who live at a Parisian school run by Miss Clavel (Frances McDormand). Her sunny existence is threatened by starchy old Lord Covington (Nigel Hawthorne) who is on a campaign to have the school closed down. It is up to Madeline and her friends, who include the equally precocious Pepito (Kristian de la Osa) and a dog who saved her from drowning, to stop him.
After achieving international renown as one of the finest actors of his generation in films such as Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) and Tom Jones (1963), Albert Finney turned director for this surreal comic twist on the 'kitchen sink' dramas in which he'd made his name. Finney plays Charlie Bubbles, a successful writer suffering a mid-life crisis, who attempts to re-connect with his northern working-class roots and estranged family. Based on a screenplay by Shelagh Delaney (A Taste of Honey), the script clearly references both her and Finney's personal experience of their shared working-class origins (both were Salford natives), and the consequences of achieving great success. INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES: High Definition remaster Original mono audio New and exclusive audio commentary with film historians Thirza Wakefield and Melanie Williams Danny Leigh on Charlie Bubbles (2018): the journalist and broadcaster discusses one of his favourite films Interview with producer Michael Medwin (2018) Interview with Director of Photography Peter Suschitzky (2018) John Harding on Shelagh Delaney (2018): the author of Sweetly Sings Delaney: A Study of Shelagh Delaney's Work 1958-68 discusses the author's work on the film Original theatrical trailer Image gallery: promotional photography and publicity material New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Thirza Wakefield, an overview of contemporary critical responses and historic articles on the film. World premiere on Blu-ray Limited Edition of 3,000 copies
Just the name "Orient Express" conjures up images of a bygone era. Add an all-star cast (including Sean Connery, Ingrid Bergman, Jacqueline Bisset and Lauren Bacall, to name a few) and Agatha Christie's delicious plot and how can you go wrong? Particularly if you add in Albert Finney as Christie's delightfully pernickety sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Someone has knocked off nasty Richard Widmark on this train trip and, to Poirot's puzzlement, everyone seems to have a motive--just the set-up for a terrific whodunit. Though it seems like an ensemble film, director Sidney Lumet gives each of his stars their own solo and each makes the most of it. Bergman went so far as to win an Oscar for her role. But the real scene-stealer is the ever-reliable Finney as the eccentric detective who never misses a trick. --Marshall Fine
Winner of four Academy Awards including Best Director (Tony Richardson), Best Adapted Screenplay (John Osbourne) and Best Picture, this raucous and innovative adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic novel is directed with a real sense of adventure. John Osbourne captures the spirit of the novel in his sophisticated screenplay and Albert Finney gives a dashing Oscar® nominated performance as the much sought-after Tom Jones, enjoying marvellous support from Joan Greenwood as Lady Bellaston and Susannah York as the wellborn Sophie Western. The BFI is proud to showcase the new 4K digital restorations of not just the theatrical cut but of Tony Richardson's preferred 1989 director's cut, both of which were supervised by director of photography Walter Lassally. Special features: Features both the director's cut (1989) and theatrical versions of the film The Guardian Interview: Albert Finney (1982, 35 mins audio only) Vanessa Redgrave on Tony Richardson (2017, 10mins): Vanessa Redgrave discusses Tony Richardson's career in this short interview by the Criterion Collection USSR Today: Meeting to Mark the 200th Anniversary of Henry Fielding (1954, 1 min) George Devine Memorial Play: Luther (Peter Whitehead, 1966, 7 mins) Walter Lassally on Tom Jones (2017, 25 mins): the Oscar® winning cinematographer discusses Tom Jones Stills galleries Original trailers Fully illustrated booklet with writing on the film and full film credits
This brilliant feature debut from director Stephen Frears (My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons, The Grifters) is an affectionate and uniquely British tribute to the Hollywood detective movies of the 1940s. Starring the great Albert Finney (Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Murder on the Orient Express, Skyfall) as a Liverpool bingo caller who dreams of being a private eye and then finds himself suddenly contacted for what appears to be an actual piece of detective work. Product Features High Definition remaster Original mono audio Stephen Frears on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 18 mins): the acclaimed director discusses the film's production history Neville Smith on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 16 mins): the celebrated writer and actor discusses his work on the film, for which he won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award Producer Michael Medwin on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 2 mins): a short interview with the actor and producer Editor Charles Rees on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 25 mins): an insightful interview with the film's original editor Production Designer Michael Seymour on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 3 mins): a brief recollection of the film's production Actor Tom Kempinski on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 2 mins): the actor recalls the shooting of his scene with Finney The Burning (1968, 32 mins): Frears' haunting debut short film, made for Finney's production company, Memorial Enterprises Original theatrical trailer VHS trailer Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
The Bourne Legacy introduces a brand new hero Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) - an agent on the run from destruction and on a journey to discover the truth, in life-or-death stakes created by events of the first three Bourne Films. Cross and Dr. Shearing (Rachel Weisz) fight to survive as CIA Ops, led by Eric Byer (Edward Norton) attempt to shut down their Operation and make everyone involved disappear for good. The brains behind the previous films, Tony Gilroy, returns to take Bourne to the next level of this thrilling action series. An all-new cast is joined by veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn in The Bourne Legacy.
Annie is the story of a plucky, redhaired girl who dreams of a life away outside of her orphanage and its ginsoaked tyrant, Miss Hannigan (played to perfection by Carol Burnett). One day Annie meets the famous billionaire, Daddy Warbucks (Albert Finney), and the pair share spectacular times in the New York City of the 1930s. But Miss Hannigan and her zany, villainous colleagues are determined to spoil the fun for America's favourite orphan Based on the smashhit Broadway musical, ANNIE features a chorus of terrific songs, including It's a Hard Knock Life and Tomorrow. Features: My Hollywood Adventure with Aileen Quinn Musical Performance of It's The HardKnock Life Sing Along with Annie Act Along with Annie The Age of Annie Trivia Game
A mixed bag as variations on A Christmas Carol go, this 1970 British musical tells the usual story of Scrooge (Albert Finney) and his spirits on Christmas Eve, although the whole thing is set to music by Leslie Bricusse. Except for Finney's feisty and involved performance, however, there isn't much to recommend this. The songs, which absorb so much of the evolving story line and emotions, are not all that good. Plenty of support, however, from the likes of Roy Kinnear (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory) and Dame Edith Evans (Tom Jones), the handsome production is directed by veteran Ronald Neame (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie). --Tom Keogh
They can hear a cloud pass overhead the rhythm of your blood. They can track you by yesterday's shadow. They can tear the scream from your throat. A real estate tycoon his coke-binging wife and a slum wino have something grisly in common: they're the latest victims in a series of random murders. A veteran NYPD detective soon suspects the killings may be supernatural and deliberate: ages-old beings of cunning intelligence and incredible power defending their turf from the encroac
One of the great directorial debuts, Ridley Scott's The Duellists is an extraordinary achievement which weaves an epic-in-miniature set around the edges of the Napoleonic Wars. Based on a story by Joseph Conrad, in turn inspired by real events and filmed in part where those events took place, this is the tale of a 15-year conflict between two French army officers: the level-headed Armand D'Hubert (Keith Carradine) and the obsessive Gabriel Feraud (Harvey Keitel). Each time they meet they duel, until the original purpose of the conflict is all but lost. Beyond the two American stars, who fill their roles with rare commitment--accents not withstanding--Scott assembled a stellar cast: Albert Finney, Edward Fox, Pete Postlethwaite, Diana Quick, Cristina Raines, Robert Stephens, Tom Conti, John McEnery, Maurice Colbourne and Jenny Runacre. The production values are astonishing and the film revels in the exquisite painterly visuals which have become a Scott trademark. Howard Blake's elegiac theme adds immeasurably to the impact of a film influenced by Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1974), and anticipating Scott's own Best Picture Oscar-winning Gladiator (2000). A haunting work of spectral beauty, it is also a worthy companion to Scott's shamefully neglected 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992). On the DVD: The Duellists is transferred at 1.77:1 with full sound atmospherically remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1. A new 29-minute documentary finds Scott discussing The Duellists with Kevin (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) Reynolds, which is particularly enlightening given the relative merits of the two swashbucklers. Scott's absorbing commentary track provides an in-depth look into the film-making process. Equally, film music aficionados will be delighted to find not just an isolated music track, but an informative commentary by composer Howard Blake, though he does sometimes talk over the beginning or end of cues. Most unusual but very welcome is the inclusion of Scott's first short film, Boy and Bicycle (1965), a 25-minute b/w mood piece starring Tony Scott, with music by John Barry. Other extras are a storyboard-to-screen comparison, the American trailer and four galleries of posters, stills and production photos. --Gary S Dalkin
The lives and relationships of those within a British traditional touring stage company provide the backdrop for the 'The Dresser' nominated for 5 Oscars in 1983 a compelling study of intense relationship between the leader of the company and his dresser. Sir (Albert Finney) a grandiloquent old man of the theater has given his soul to his career but his tyrannical rule over the company is now beginning to crack under the strain of age and illness as he prepares for his 227th
One of the great films by Stanley Donen (Singin' in the Rain Charade) after the studio era had come to a close Two for the Road was a break-off with the old system one which allowed Donen to further stretch his art aided by screenwriter Frederic Raphael (Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut) in this tale of a couple voluntarily stretching themselves through the long period of their relationship. Portrayed in fragments that span the couple's time together in marriage Two for the Road runs the course of a relationship (between Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney) that finds a circumstantial come-together escalate into newlywed-status and through a series of travails into the serious situation of bearing a daughter. The disturbance of marriage and/or life is chronicled from here on. After so many studio-system smash-hits Two for the Road marked a reckoning for director Donen — which went on to influence directors like Jacques Rivette for its portrayal of a couple in interaction and its keen sense of duration across the length of their time together. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Stanley Donen's Two for the Road for the first time on Blu-ray in a Dual Format edition. Special Dual Format Edition Features: New 1080p presentation of the film (on Blu-ray) in its original aspect ratio. Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. Feature length commentary with Stanley Donen. Interview with critic Frederic Raphael. 36-PAGE BOOKLET featuring writing on the film and more!
After achieving international renown as one of the finest actors of his generation in films such as Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and Tom Jones, Albert Finney turned director for this surreal comic twist on the 'kitchen sink' dramas in which he'd made his name. Finney plays Charlie Bubbles, a successful writer suffering a mid-life crisis, who attempts to re-connect with his northern working-class roots and estranged family. Based on a screenplay by Shelagh Delaney (A Taste of Honey), the script clearly references both her and Finney's personal experience of their shared working class origins (both were Salford natives), and the consequences of achieving great success. Product Features High Definition remaster Original mono audio Audio commentary with film historians Thirza Wakefield and Melanie Williams A Very Personal Film (2018, 3 mins): a new interview with producer Michael Medwin Down to Earth (2018, 9 mins): director of photography Peter Suschitzky recalls working with actor-director Albert Finney Off the Cuff (2018, 9 mins): first assistant director Terence A Clegg discusses his time working on the film Finney and Football (2018, 17 mins): actor Timothy Garland remembers his role as Charlie Bubbles' son Motorway Café Society (2018, 9 mins): a new interview with actor Susan Engel Entirely Harmonised (2018, 15 mins): composer Misha Donat reflects upon his distinctive score for the film To Shape the Country (2018, 5 mins): a short appreciation by film critic Danny Leigh Another World (2018, 22 mins): John Harding, author of Sweetly Sings Delaney: A Study of Shelagh Delaney's Work 195868, discusses the author and playwright's career and her work with Finney CCTV Test Footage (1966, 3 mins, mute): previously unseen camera tests supervised by Stephen Frears, Finney's personal assistant on the film Original theatrical trailer Image gallery: promotional photography and publicity material New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
In a world where heroes are often in short supply, the story of Erin Brockovich is an inspirational reminder of the power of the human spirit.
Meet Maurice Allington. This money grabber, alcoholic, letch and all round oddball is owner of the ‘quaint’ country inn, The Green Man. When he isn’t trying to bed them, he’s regaling his guests with tales of the ghosts and ghouls who haunt his hotel. The fun really begins when Maurice realises the phantoms are real – and they’re not playing his game. Part sex farce, part supernatural thriller, this ghost story will have you screaming…with laughter! Based on the 1969 satirical ghost story by Kingsley Amis and adapted by Malcolm Bradbury (The History Man, Eating People is Wrong) this BBC series won a BAFTA for Best Original Music. Albert Finney (Big Fish, Annie, Skyfall) takes the lead as the slimy Maurice alongside co-stars Josie Lawrence and Michael Hordern (Where Eagles Dare, Gandhi, Labyrinth).
Titles Comprise: Annie (1982): Annie is the story of a plucky, red-haired girl who dreams of a life away outside her orphanage and its gin-soaked tyrant, Miss Hannigan (played to perfection by Carol Burnett). One day Annie meets the famous billionaire, Daddy Warbucks, and the pair share spectacular times in 1930's New York City. But Miss Hannigan and her zany, villainous colleagues are determined to spoil the fun for America's favourite orphan...Oliver! (1968): Experience the high-spirited adventures of Oliver Twist in this Oscar-winning musical adaptation of Charles Dickens classic tale!Young Oliver Twist (Mark Lester) is an orphan who escapes the cheerless life of the workhouse and takes to the streets of 19th-Century London. Hes immediately taken in by a band of street urchins, headed by the lovable villain Fagin (Ron Moody), his fiendish henchman Bill Sikes (Oliver Reed) and his loyal apprentice The Artful Dodger (Jack Wild). Through his education in the fine points of pick-pocketing, Oliver makes away with an unexpected treasure... a home and a family of his own.Set to a heartfelt score that includes such favorites as Consider Yourself, Where Is Love? and As Long As He Needs Me, Oliver! leads us on a journey in search of love, belonging and honour among thieves. Winner of six Academy Awards , including Best Picture and Best Score, Oliver! will steal your heart!
When two brothers organize the robbery of their parents' jewellery store the job goes horribly wrong, triggering a series of events that threatens to tear the family apart once and for all.
Though it's not in the same league as the classic screen musicals, Annie's heartwarming rags-to-riches storyline, social comment (shallow as it may be) and catchy songs make for an entertaining and unpretentious 90 minutes' viewing. Aileen Quinn is the irrepressible titular orphan, by no means as irritating as she looks in the cover picture; Albert Finney is Oliver Warbucks, the tyrannical tycoon (with a hidden heart of gold, of course) who adopts her for a week in the interests of good PR. The real show-stopper, though, is Carol Burnett as the gin-soaked harpy Miss Hannigan, ruling with an iron fist over an orphanage full of unruly girls, flirting with every man in sight and eventually scheming with her unscrupulous brother (Tim Curry) to kidnap Annie and reap a fat Warbucks reward cheque. While the songs--including "Tomorrow", "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" and "It's a Hard Knock Life"--are excellent, the kids' voices are shrill and the production pretty low-rent: Annie is very obviously a stage show brought to screen on a low budget. But while it lacks the polish that make the Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Loewe musicals so special, it's funny and sweet and has a rough charm all its own. On the DVD: The film is presented in widescreen, preserving its original 2.35:1 aspect, and is enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TVs; the soundtrack is Dolby surround, though as noted above the music score is relatively rough and ready so top-notch sound isn't actually as important as it would be in other musicals. The extras are pretty disappointing--an uninspired interactive menu features only the obligatory multi-language subtitles, (very) short biographies of the key cast members, a few publicity cards and posters, the theatrical trailer and--most interestingly--an isolated musical score. No commentary from director John Huston, no documentaries, nothing about the 1930s cartoon strip that was, apparently, one of the most popular of its day. There's actually more information in the accompanying booklet than there is on the disc. --Rikki Price
Charlie Bubbles is a writer from working-class Manchester but he has gotten caught up in his riches and fame and has forgotten his ability to connect to people. He sets out to reconnect with the important people in his life and re-establish his roots and family.
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