In the post D-Day euphoria American troops fighting in Europe hoped to be home by Christmas but many wouldn't make it. Still to come was one of WWII's most senseless and savage conflicts - the largely forgotten Battle of Hurtgen Forest dubbed The Death Factory where three months of carnage left 24 000 American troops dead or wounded. After one particularly vicious skirmish a shattered and scared Private David Manning stumbles through the muddy forest carrying a critically wounded comrade. Promoted for his bravery and reluctantly put in charge of raw recruits Manning's troop is rapidly plunged into the horror and heroism of battle. Desperate to escape the slaughter of the front line Manning embarks on an almost suicidal death-or-glory mission. But will his luck hold out or will someone else trudge out of the forest carrying back his broken body? Directed by John Irvin and featuring a cast of hot young Hollywood talent When Trumpets Fade matches Saving Private Ryan in its passionate portrayal of the terrors and futility of warfare... and its reluctant heroes.
You will never find a more chillingly suspenseful, perversely funny, or viciously satirical political thriller than The Manchurian Candidate, based on the novel by Richard Condon (author of Winter Kills). The film, withheld from distribution by star Frank Sinatra for almost a quarter-century after President Kennedy's assassination, has lost none of its potency over time. Former infantryman Bennet Marco (Sinatra) is haunted by nightmares about his platoon having been captured and brainwashed in Korea. The indecipherable dreams seem to centre on Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Laurence Harvey), a decorated war hero but a cold fish of a man whose own mother (Angela Lansbury, in one of the all-time great dragon-lady roles) describes him as looking like his head is "always about to come to a point". Mrs Bates has nothing on Lansbury's character, the manipulative queen behind her second husband, Senator John Iselin (James Gregory), a notoriously McCarthyesque demagogue. --Jim Emerson
One of America's most significant and controversial post-war films this triple-Oscar-nominated feature boasts a searing performance by Frank Sinatra as a war veteran caught between two worlds as he tries to kick his drug habit and establish a new life; Eleanor Parker is his embittered manipulative wife and Kim Novak the young woman who stands by him. With its groundbreaking subject and an authenticity rarely matched in the many films it inspired The Man with the Golden Arm combines masterly direction by Otto Preminger and a jazz score by the legendary Elmer Bernstein. It is featured here in a stunning new High Definition restoration in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio. Having just served a prison term for possession of heroin poker dealer Frankie Machine vows to stay clean and find success as a jazz drummer. His wife left disabled by a car crash is equally determined he should remain in the lucrative gambling business. Pressurised by his wife after being asked to deal in a high-stakes game Frankie's fear of failure leads him straight back to the nearest fix...
Princess And The Goblin The
They were described as hip cool the Fabulous Five and in the mid 1960s no one could touch them. This entertaining programme follows the careers of Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack as they rose from relative obscurity made a name for themselves seperately and then formed a dynamic fivesome on stage and screen. Several hit movies later they were a phenomenon showcasing their talents to adoring fans. Famous for their boisterous off-the-cuff stage routines at the height of their
Matt Groening's second series of the 31st century sci-fi sitcom Futurama maintained the high scripting standards of the first as well bringing improved digital animation. Couch potato Fry now seems thoroughly reconciled to his new existence, transported 10 centuries hence to "New New York" and working for Professor Farnsworth's delivery service. He's surrounded by a cast of freaks, including the bitchily cute Amy (with whom he has a romantic brush) and Hermes, the West Indian bureaucrat. Most sympathetic is the one-eyed Leela (voiced by Katey Sagal). Like Lisa Simpson, she is brilliant but unappreciated; she finds solace in her pet Nibbler, a tiny creature with a voracious, carnivorous appetite. By contrast, Bender, the robot, is programmed with every human vice, a sort of metal Homer Simpson with a malevolent streak. In one of the best episodes, Bender is given a "feelings" chip in order to empathise with Leela after he flushes Nibbler down the toilet. Elsewhere, Fry falls in love with a Mermaid when the team discover the lost city of Atlanta, Fry and Bender end up going to war after they join the army to get a discount on gum, and John Goodman guest stars as Santa Claus, an eight-foot gun-toting robot. Brimful with blink-and-you'll-miss-them hip jokes (such as the sign for the Taco Bellevue hospital) and political and pop satire, Futurama isn't a stern warning of things to come but rather, as the programme-makers put it, "a brilliant, hilarious reflection of our own materially (ridiculously) over-developed but morally under-developed society." On the DVD: Futurama's four-disc package presents the show in 4:3 with a Dolby Digital soundtrack. Among the many extras here are audio commentaries, storyboards, trailers, mock ads for "Soylent Chow" and "Human Rinds" and deleted scenes, including one from "Bender Gets Made" in which he seeks to evade the Robot Mafia by changing his identity. --David Stubbs
A 1960's Crime/Drama filmed at Pinewood Studios and on location in London. The story concerns the somewhat uneasy relationship between a Scotland Yard Detective, Johnoe (Nigel Patrick) and the Squad Chief, Bestwick (Harry Andrews) over the use of paid informants. Despite orders not to use informants and to adopt more scientific principals of detection, Johnoe continues on until one of his informants is murdered. Immediately he finds himself in a frame for corruption and with few friends left on his own side of the law his only option is to enlist the help of the murdered man's brother (Colin Blakely).
Three sisters set off from Switzerland with their divorced mother to go to New York in order to stop their father marrying a calculating socialite...
This brilliant feature debut from director Stephen Frears (My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons, The Grifters)is an affectionateand 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. Features: High Definition remaster Original mono audio New interview with director Stephen Frears (2018) New interview with screenwriter and actor Neville Smith (2018) New interview with Director of Photography Chris Menges (2018) The Burning (1967, 31 mins): Frears' haunting debut short film Original theatrical trailer Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Robert Murphy, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and historic articles on the film World premiere on Blu-ray Limited Edition of 3,000 copies All extras subject to change
Pittsburgh (Dir. Lewis Seiler 1942): Charles 'Pittsburgh' Markham rides roughshod over his friends his lovers and his ideals in his trek toward financial success in the Pittsburgh steel industry only to find himself deserted and lonely at the top. When his crash comes he finds that fate has dealt him a second chance. Dakota (Dir. Joseph Kane 1945): John Devlin helps Dakota wheat farmers save their land from swindling entrepeneurs who hope to make a fortune selling it to the railroad for its right-of-way.
His Girl Friday is one of the five greatest dialogue comedies ever made. Howard Hawks had his cast play it at breakneck speed, and audiences hyperventilate trying to finish with one laugh so they can do justice to the four that have accumulated in the meantime. Rosalind Russell, not Hawks' first choice to play Hildy Johnson--the ace newsperson whom demonic editor Walter Burns is trying to keep from quitting and getting married--is triumphant in the part, holding her own as "one of the guys" and creating an enduring feminist icon. Cary Grant's Walter Burns is a force of nature, giving a performance of such concentrated frenzy and diamond brilliance that you owe it to yourself to devote at least one viewing of the movie to watching him alone. But then you have to go back (lucky you) and watch it again for the sake of the press-room gang--Roscoe Karns, Porter Hall, Cliff Edwards, Regis Toomey, Frank Jenks, and others--the kind of ensemble work that gets character actors onto Parnassus. --Richard T Jameson, Amazon.com
Hell has finally frozen over! Two military officers (Clayton Rohner and Chase Masterson) set out to investigate a remote Antarctica-based governmental outpost where a mysterious occurrence has killed crewmembers. The only survivors are a medical officer (Faith Ford - TV's Murphy Brown) and a tech officer (Max Perlich). Not knowing who to trust the officers cautiously begin to explore a world of horror that soon reveals a chilling secret that will haunt them forever...if they live.
Frank Dean and Sammy breeze through their most famous Las Vegas show tunes including: SEND ME THE PILLOW THAT YOU DREAM ON KING OF THE ROAD EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY MEDLEY: VOLARE/ON AN EVENING IN RIOMA YOU'RE NOBODY TILL SOMEBODY LOVES YOU (ALL DEAN MARTIN) MY SHINING HOUR WHO CAN I TURN TO MEDLEY: I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN?YOU CAME A LONG WAY FROM ST LOUIS/HIT THE ROAD JACK/YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE ONE FOR MY BABY ONE FOR THE ROAD (ALL SAMMY DAVIS JUNIOR) GET ME TO THE CHURCH
A warm Yuletide special, A Muppet Family Christmas pairs the Muppet gang with the perennial favourite Sesame Street cast for a seasonal celebration. With a blizzard brewing outside, Fozzie's childhood farmhouse on Christmas Eve becomes the backdrop for a medley of holiday tunes--eight in all--ranging from the Muppet band's rousing "Jingle Bell Rock" to Big Bird's sweet rendition of "The Christmas Song". Though the script meanders in part, the 42-minute programme shines as a musical revue, seasoned with quick-witted interludes by the culinary comedic Swedish Chef, slapstick odd couple Ernie and Bert, and the diva-like escapades of Miss Piggy. While lacking the irresistible sizzle of The Muppet Movie, the show's finale, which includes Kermit and Piggy under the mistletoe and a cameo appearance by Jim Henson, proves that nothing can dim the Muppets' appeal. --Lynn Gibson In the 50-minute Christmas TV Special, The Christmas Toy, Rugby the Tiger is Jamie's favourite Christmas toy from last year. Rugby is convinced that he will be wrapped up and placed under the tree again this year. When it's Christmas Eve and all the other toys try to explain to him that that is not going to happen, Rugby decides to take matters into his own paws and place himself under the tree. He makes the dangerous trip from the playroom to the living room trying not to be seen, for if a toy's secret of being able to move when humans aren't around is discovered, it becomes frozen forever. Now all his friends from the toy room must get him back before it's too late. This sweet story about friendship and loyalty is delightful, as are the songs, including "Try the Impossible" and "Old Friends". Think Toy Story with Muppetts. --Peggy Maltby-Etra
The Beiderbecke Collection' is a charming mix of comedy and drama that has all the hallmarks of a classic detective thriller. Follow the exploits of jazz fan Trevor and his long-suffering girlfriend Jill as they find themselves embroiled in various mysteries which follow them to Amsterdam and Edinburgh and include dodgy businessmen black economies refugees and much much more.... This box set contains the following titles: 'The Beiderbecke Affair' 'The Beiderbecke Tapes' and 'The Beiderbecke Connection'.
Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned--Live from London's West End is a fairly straightforward stage recreation of the comedy duo's television format. Unscripted and unrehearsed, the show relies on the improvisational skills of the long-standing partnership, mainly responding to questions put to them from the audience. As might be supposed, the whole thing is a little hit or miss. Too often it descends into idle prattle between the two, much of it based in toilet or sexual humour--not for nothing was the legend "Ladies Beware" emblazoned across the front of the theatre, although the majority of the participating audience members on this video are female. There is much to laugh at though, particularly from Skinner, who proves that he really is one of the best at this sort of off-the-cuff comedy. This is an ideal purchase for fans of the television show and those not put off by the continued swearing and general rudeness, but really not as good as the fantastic Fantasy Football.--Phil Udell
In this delightful period farce set in Russia in the 1800's Danny Kaye plays and illiterate buffoon who is mistaken by the villagers for their feared Inspector General. Hilarious situations ensue as Danny is caught up in court intrigue without having a clue of what is going on.
A dark, gritty British thriller based on the best-selling novel of the same name, set in the dangerous underworld of the one of the UK's toughest prisons.Screwed stars some of the UK's best acting talent including James D'Arcy (W.E, Master & Commander), BAFTA Award winning actor Noel Clarke (Kidulthood, 4.3.2.1) Frank Harper (The Football Factory), Jamie Foreman (Layer Cake), Andrew Shim (This Is England) and Kate Magowan (Stardust).Fresh from a traumatic tour of Iraq, Sam Norwood (James D'Arcy) finds himself forced to take a job as a Prison Officer in one of her Majesty's most brutal institutions. On the inside he learns the ropes from his colleagues, a bunch of hardened 'screws', but his life begins to spiral out of control as he drinks and takes drugs to help him deal with the stresses and strains of the job and his past. As he nears rock-bottom, he is unprepared to learn the hardest lesson of all: that the screws are often as corrupt as the criminals they keep.
A compilation of animation from the ""darker side"" of Aardman which includes episodes from Angry Kid Big Jeff the naked Australian Rex The Runt A Town called Panic plus 3 hilarious short stories! Angry Kid: Idiotic stubborn and relentless Angry Kid is a snot-nosed troublemaker with a serious attitude problem. He is immature arrogant and a real pain to his Dad his strange super-intelligent little sister and not to mention his unfortunate friend 'Speccy'! Big Jeff
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