"Actor: Freddie Spencer"

• Pennies From Heaven | DVD | (31/05/2004) from £19.95   |  Saving you £10.04 (50.33%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Dennis Potter's astonishing six-part miniseries Pennies from Heaven remains one of the edgiest, most audacious things ever conceived for television. The story tells of one Arthur Parker (Bob Hoskins), a sheet-music salesman in 1930s England. Beaten down by economic hard times and the sexual indifference of his proper wife (Gemma Craven), Arthur cannot understand why his life can't be like the beautiful songs he loves. On a sales trip through the Forest of Dean, he meets a virginal rural woman (Cheryl Campbell) he suspects may be his ideal. Ruination follows. Punctuating virtually every scene is a vintage pop song--lip-synched and sometimes danced out by the characters. This startling innovation makes the contrast between Arthur's brutish life and his bourgeois dreams even more dramatic. Potter's dark vision digs into British stoicism, sexual repression, the class system and even the coming of fascism in Europe. But it is especially poignant on the subject of the divide between art and reality. Piers Haggard directs the long piece with deft transitions between songs and story. (It was shot partly on multi-camera video, partly on film.) The cast is fine, especially the extraordinary Cheryl Campbell, who imbues her character with keen intelligence and no small measure of perversity. Bob Hoskins triumphs in his star-making part, bringing a demonic energy to his small-time Cockney, nearly bursting his button-down vests with frustration and appetite. Pennies from Heaven was remade in 1981 for the big screen (with Steve Martin), in an interesting, Potter-scripted adaptation; it's one of the reasons the original has been unavailable on home video for so long. --Robert Horton

• Speed Is My Need | DVD | (07/10/2019) from £9.45   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Inside the mind of a superbike racer, what makes these young men risk their lives for the thrill of speed? Spectacular footage, unbelievable crashes, racing psychology and modern surgery, an intimate look inside the world of racing superbikes. The last of the gladiators, racing can mean life or death with a twist of the throttle. Directed by Mark Sloper and featuring interviews with USA racing legends Fast Freddie Spencer & Colin Texas Tornado Edwards, Rick Broadbent of the Times, Rocket Ron Haslam and his son British Champion Leon Haslam, all time fastest TT winner Peter Hicky Hickman, and ex british champs James Whitham and Shakey Byrne.

• Fast Freddie | DVD | (08/09/2008) from £17.98   |  Saving you £0.01 (0.10%)   |  RRP £17.99

  GP bike racing!

• American Challenge | DVD | (19/02/2007) from £11.55   |  Saving you £6.44 (35.80%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Introduced by the legendary Geoff Duke here are two nostalgic films that demonstrate the ferocious riding talent of US riders Steve Baker and Freddie Spencer. 'Formula 750 Champion' follows Baker through his 1978 Eurpoean GP road racing campaign as he competes in the fastest class of the day. As one of the first Americans to take part in the Grand Prix series there was no room for error. This skilled Works Yamaha racer manoeuvred his way with precision through a very eventful season battling against Suzuki rider Barry Sheene and charting a dozen crashes on the way! 'Spa' brings all the drama from the 1982 Belgium GP where 'Fast' Freddie Spencer celebrated Independence Day in style thanks to an incredible 500cc victory. As one of the most dangerous and spectacular racing circuits in Europe massive crowds gathered to marvel at the world's best motorcycle aces as they took on a truly testing track! The film also takes a look at some great Sidecar action from Spa and there's footage from the 250cc class. Featuring interviews with big names like Kenny Roberts Barry Sheene Graham Crosby Giacomo Agostini and many more this is a nostalgic glimpse into life in the paddock and on the racetrack from a memorable era of motorsport. With exotic multi-cylinder machines reaching speeds of 180 mph American Challenge brings you two wheel action at its most refined!