"Actor: Bob Gale"

• The Old Grey Whistle Test -- Two Disc Set | DVD | (17/09/2001) from £9.35   |  Saving you £15.64 (167.27%)   |  RRP £24.99

  For better and for worse, The Old Grey Whistle Test was probably the most resolutely serious music programme ever broadcast on television. During its 16-year run it showcased only the most earnest exponents of whichever musical style was currently popular, and given that the programme's heyday coincided with the early 70s, some of the footage included here will provide mirth as exquisite as only unintentional comedy can. The absurd prog noodlings of The Edgar Winter Group and the belief-beggaringly awful Focus now seem as unfathomable in retrospect as trench warfare or child labour. However, the good stuff collected here is very good, both in terms of performance (Tom Petty snarling "American Girl", a pre-irony U2 whooping up "I Will Follow") and historical interest, notably a shockingly youthful Elton John crooning "Tiny Dancer" and reminding us, in the process, of a time when he was regarded as a cool and hip singer-songwriter, rather than understudy to the Queen Mother. --Andrew Mueller On the DVD: Wonderful performances all captured in remarkably pristine picture and extraordinarily vivid sound, regardless of vintage (it doesn't even crackle during "Hocus Pocus"!). However, the menu is pretty clunky and won't allow direct access to the individual songs (other than selecting the "Random play" option). Instead, you can only jump into the programme year by year, not song by song. The track listing itself is unhelpfully hidden behind the discs in the gatefold packaging. --Mark Walker

• Son Of The Mask | DVD | (06/06/2005) from £3.89   |  Saving you £16.10 (413.88%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Jamie Kennedy finds himself having to cope with a baby with odd powers in this follow-up the Jim Carrey comedy.

• The Cat And The Canary | DVD | (01/03/2004) from £9.99   |  Saving you £6.00 (60.06%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Ten years have passed since the death of millionaire Cyrus Norman. Relatives gather at midnight in a creepy old house for the reading of his will whereupon the local prison guard arrives to warn all assembled that a homicidal maniac known as 'The Cat' has escaped and could be heading for the house...

• Road To Rio | DVD | (27/01/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  To avoid being charged with arson after burning down a circus Hot Lips Barton (Bob Hope) and Scat Sweeney (Bing Crosby) stow away on an ocean bound ship. Aboard the vessel the duo fall for Lucia Maria de Andrade (Dorothy Lamour) who is under the spell of her evil aunt (Gale Sondergaard) who has arranged a marriage for the young beauty. This film was in good hands since many of Hope's best collaborators worked on the picture. Director Norman Z. McLeod went on to direct Hope in four more features -- Alias Jesse James Casanova's Big Night My Favorite Spy and The Paleface. McLeod had a remarkable career behind the cameras working with such Hollywood greats as Danny Kaye (The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty) W.C. Fields (It's A Gift) and Cary Grant (Topper). Writer Edmund Beloin supplied the stories for both My Favorite Spy and The Lemon Drop Kid. His collaborator Jack Rose penned My Favorite Brunette The Great Lover Sorrowful Jones and The Seven Little Foys. This film also features musical guests The Wiere Brothers and The Andrew Sisters.

• CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND: ANNIVERSARY ED - CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND: ANNIVERSARY ED (2 Blu-ray) | Blu Ray | (01/01/2024) from £16.25   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Road To Rio | DVD | (27/01/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  To avoid being charged with arson after burning down a circus Hot Lips Barton (Bob Hope) and Scat Sweeney (Bing Crosby) stow away on an ocean bound ship. Aboard the vessel the duo fall for Lucia Maria de Andrade (Dorothy Lamour) who is under the spell of her evil aunt (Gale Sondergaard) who has arranged a marriage for the young beauty. This film was in good hands since many of Hope's best collaborators worked on the picture. Director Norman Z. McLeod went on to direct Hope in four

• The Old Grey Whistle Test 2 | DVD | (13/10/2003) from £7.07   |  Saving you £12.92 (182.74%)   |  RRP £19.99

  In some ways The Old Grey Whistle Test Volume 2 is more interesting than its predecessor, as it covers the show's enjoyably uncomfortable period of transition from beard-rock to punk/new wave. Hence, the music ranges across the likes of Loggins and Messina (the frightful "The House at Pooh Corner"), the Who, Judee Sill, Argent (doing "God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You", which all Bill and Ted fans probably think is a Kiss original), Roy Harper, the Adverts, the Undertones (not playing "Teenage Kicks", sadly), Patti Smith and Siouxie and the Banshees. There's also some arty stuff that doesn't really fit into either camp, including Kevin Ayers and Roxy Music at their uncommercially weirdest. There are a few nicely revelatory moments, too, such as the realisation that Thomas Dolby's "Hyperactive" was in fact a nu-jazz masterpiece born 20 years too soon and that Robbie Williams should cover Aztec Camera's wonderful "Walk Out to Winter" immediately. This is an enjoyable and diverse collection of music from a fairly fraught period in the history of more-or-less popular music, so it's good to be reminded just how much good stuff was actually happening amidst the melée. On the DVD: The Old Grey Whistle Test 2 comes on only one disc (the first was a two-disc set), but you still get 30 or so excellent tracks plus all the trimmings, so that's hardly a fault. The layout features the same kind of horribly overdesigned menus as its predecessor: there's no obvious chapter sub-menu, believe it or not; instead, you have to access individual tracks through the artists' gallery in the extras section! Aargh! Other extras include contributor profiles, additional linking material and the wonderful Old Grey Squirrel Test animation, which mere words would only spoil for those who have yet to see it. --Roger Thomas

• Milius | DVD | (18/11/2013) from £10.18   |  Saving you £9.81 (96.37%)   |  RRP £19.99

  This is the life story of one of the most influential and controversial film directors in the history of Hollywood John Milius. From his childhood aspirations to join the military to his formative years at the USC Film School his legendary work on films such as ‘Apocalypse Now’ ‘Jaws’ ‘Conan The Barbarian’ ‘Dirty Harry’ and ‘Red Dawn’ to his ultimate dismissal from Hollywood due to his radical beliefs and controversial behaviour.

• Super Snooper | DVD | (25/04/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Dave is nuked in the swamplands thereafter developing supernatural powers. So fantastic are the things he can now do that he can catch bullets in his teeth yet when he sees anything in red he becomes weak. His superior sargeant Dunlop becomes so angry when this happens. Total comedy for all the family!

• Road To Rio | DVD | (01/08/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99