A 1987 espionage thriller, The Whistle Blower stars Michael Caine as Frank Jones, a businessman and regular patriotic war veteran whose son Bob (Nigel Havers) is a Russian linguist who works at GCHQ. Bob begins to express doubts to his father about aspects of his work; days later, police report to Frank that his son has died in a fall. A verdict of accidental death is recorded. However, in the midst of his grief, Frank is puzzled by aspects of the death and decides to conduct his own investigation. In so doing he finds himself pitted against an utterly unscrupulous Secret Service prepared to stop at nothing, including murder, to cover up their operations. Set at the time when concerns about GCHQ were at their height and the Cold War had yet to thaw, many of the film's concerns seem, years subsequently, to be thankfully dated. Moreover, it's hard to believe that the bumbling British Secret Services would actually be capable of organising a convivial soiree in a brewery, let alone orchestrate the sort of skulduggery they perpetrate here. Still, with a cast that features all the usual British suspects (Sir John Gielgud, James Fox, Gordon Jackson) there's no doubting the pedigree of The Whistle Blower, which, despite its ostensibly uncomfortable message, actually makes for very agreeable comfort viewing. Michael Caine is especially fine as Michael Caine. --David Stubbs
A fascinating adventure into the unknown! When an ordinary businessman encounters a mysterious radioactive mist during a boating trip his life takes a bizarre and frightening twist. Soon he finds he is shrinking and within weeks he's just two inches tall battling cats and spiders.
Almost a decade after creating the phenomenally successful drama A Family at War, acclaimed writer John Finch explored the peacetime consequences of the Second World War's aftermath for two very different families in this major series from Granada Television. The Spoils of War ran for three series all twenty episodes are included in this set.The war in Europe is over and Germany lies devastated. Though there is hope for a brighter future, six years of conflict has changed life considerably for both the Warringtons, owners of the ironworks in the town of Whitstanton, and for the working-class Haywards. As both families come to terms with the uncertain, fragmented world that emerges during peacetime, they share joys and disappointments as the future unfolds both in Britain, and in Germany...
A news team is sent to South Africa to capture and bring home a legendary 25-foot crocodile. Their difficult task turns potentially deadly when a warlord targets them for death.
The complete collection of the landmark British drama series' set in turn-of-the-century England chronicling life among the residents of 165 Eaton Place. For individual episode listings please refer to the individual boxed sets.
A sequence of dramatic events befalls the residents of Eaton Place. Elizabeth becomes involved with the Suffragettes which has disastrous consequences upon Rose a financial crisis threatens to force the Bellamys from their home and James returns from India with a fiancee in tow who threatens to shatter the peace. The formidable Thomas and Sarah receive a rousing send-off from the other servants as they set off to begin their new life together in north London. Is this really the last time they will be seen at Eaton Place?
In 1975's Carry On England, a mixed-sex anti-aircraft battery is set up during World War II by way of an experiment. The sex is indeed pretty mixed, although the drafting in of Patrick Mower and Judy Geeson rather demonstrates the need for at least some of the cast to be attractive in order to make this odd premise feasible. For the most part, of course, it's tits-out sex-comedy slapstick all the way, but there's a nicely ambivalent performance from Kenneth Connor, who portrays the wartime British officer class as being pretty much bonkers, a telling interpretation, which Stephen Fry was to perfect years later in Blackadder Goes Forth. The location is of course typically Carry On cheap-and-cheerful, but its inevitable drabness, together with the indistinguishable khaki uniforms, tends to put a bit of a dampener on the adult-panto atmosphere that the best Carry Ons deliver. The cast commendably manage to transcend this, though, so there's still plenty of fun to be had. --Roger Thomas
World War I is over and Eaton Place has moved into the 1920's. The uncertainty of this new age is emphasised as Richard Bellamy's plans for the future with his new wife Virginia cause anxiety. James Bellamy on returning from the war looking for a worthwhile occupation decides to follow in his father's footsteps and enters politics. James and Georgina are caught up in the hysterical gaiety of the times and throw a wild fancy dress party which ends in tragedy. James finds himself bored with his life and embarks on an affair with his best friend's wife. Meanwhile below the stairs Hudson becomes enamoured with a new young housemaid and puts his position as butler in danger... Amidst the political turbulence there is also social exuberance for some members of the upper class. Georgina strikes up a friendship with a wild society girl causing great distress to her family. Meanwhile James is experiencing the heartaches of unrequited love as Georgina doesn't recognise his strong feelings for her. Worst of all a massive blow is dealt to the whole household as tragedy strikes Eaton Place. James has unfortunately made a bad investment and is forced to sell Eaton Place to pay off creditors. Episodes Comprise: 1. On with the Dance 2. A Place in the World 3. Laugh a Little Louder Please 4. The Joy Ride 5. Wanted-A Good Home 6. An Old Flame 7. Disillusion 8. Such a Lovely Man 9. The Nine Days Wonder 10. The Understanding Alberto 11. Will Ye No Come Back Again 12. Joke Over 13. Noblesse Oblige 14. All The Kings Horses 15. Whither Shall I Wander?
A sequence of dramatic events befalls the residents of Eaton Place. Elizabeth becomes involved with the Suffragettes which has disastrous consequences upon Rose a financial crisis threatens to force the Bellamys from their home and James returns from India with a fiancee in tow who threatens to shatter the peace. The formidable Thomas and Sarah receive a rousing send-off from the other servants as they set off to begin their new life together in north London. Is this really the las
For anyone who wants to catch a glimpse of the Los Angeles "lounge" scene that was in vogue during the early and mid-1990s, here's the movie that virtually defined that brief but colourful nightlife milieu. As an added bonus, it just happens to be a very funny, observant story about love, loss and male bonding among a group of friends who struggle to find decent jobs by day, and lurk through Hollywood's hottest nightclubs by night. A sort of latter-day Rat Pack, they include Mike (writer-actor Jon Favreau) and his closest buddy, Trent (Vince Vaughn), who are waiting for the big show-biz break that seems to be eluding them. Mike's twisted up about the girlfriend he left back East to pursue his going-nowhere standup comedy career, and Trent uses the word "money" as an adjective ("Man, we look totally money tonight") with such frequency that you may find yourself slipping into lounge-lizard mode after watching the movie. One of the most noteworthy indie-film success stories of the 90s, Swingers is a time-capsule comedy that seized its moment in the spotlight, launched several promising careers and continues to maintain its lasting appeal. --Jeff Shannon
The complete third series of the outstanding Emmy Award-winning Upstairs Downstairs. Episodes Comprise: 1. Miss Forrest 2. A House Divided 3. A Change Of Scene 4. A Family Secret 5. Rose's Pigeon 6. Desirous Of Change 7. Word Of Honour 8. The Bolter 9. Goodwill To All Men 10. What The Footman Saw 11. A Perfect Stranger 12. Distant Thunder 13. The Sudden Storm
Landmark British drama series' first season set in turn-of-the-century England chronicles life among the residents of 165 Eaton Place. This is the first series of the classic British drama 'Upstairs Downstairs'. It is obvious in this first season that the budgets are low with the sets sparse and 'bloopers' often not being edited out. This season and the next (which was shown as two series in Britain) were combined into 13 episodes and shown in the US to great acclaim; it won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series and an Emmy nomination for Jean Marsh as Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
The opening scenes of The Replacements see American football team, the Washington Sentinels, in dire straits. The players have walked out in a protest over pay at a vital point in the season, forcing the Sentinels' owner to bring veteran coach Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) out of retirement to put together a replacement team. He assembles a group of oddballs and misfits including failed quarterback Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves), a boozing Welsh brawler (Rhys Ifans), a convicted former football pro, a deaf mute, a psychopathic ex-cop, a sumo wrestler and a kleptomaniac (Orlando Jones) who has trouble catching the ball. It is Falco's job to pull the team together and overcome his own problems to take the Sentinels to the playoffs. Howard Deutch (Pretty in Pink, Grumpier Old Men) directs this variation on a losers-make-good storyline that runs like Police Academy on the playing field. Keanu plays the Steve Guttenberg role. Sandra Bullock clone Brooke Langton provides the all-too-predictable cheerleading love interest, while Rhys Ifans delivers light relief as the team's chain-smoking kicker. On the DVD: The main feature is presented in letterboxed widescreen format with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound in three languages (English, Spanish and Italian). There are optional subtitles in 20 different languages. Interactive menus are slickly designed like the yard markings on an American football field and provide access to a range of special features. As well as a theatrical trailer and commentary by director Howard Deutch, there is a 15-minute HBO special "The Making of the Replacements" hosted by Orlando Jones and a 10-minute "Actors Guide to Football" which provides a detailed look at the way the entirely authentic football sequences were planned and filmed. --Chris Campion
Mere months after delivering one of the definitive examples of film noir with Kiss Me Deadly, Robert Aldrich brought a noir flavour to Hollywood with his classic adaptation of Clifford Odets stage play, The Big Knife. Charles Castle, one of Hollywood s biggest stars, looks like he has it all. But his marriage is falling apart and his wife is threatening to leave him if he renews his contract. Studio boss Stanley Shriner Hoff isn t taking the news too well, and he ll do anything he can to get his man to sign on the dotted line even if means exposing dark secrets... Winner of the Silver Lion at the 1955 Venice Film Festival, The Big Knife also boasts a remarkable cast list including Jack Palance (Shane) as Castle and Rod Steiger (On the Waterfront) as Hoff, plus Shelley Winters (The Night of the Hunter), Ida Lupino (On Dangerous Ground), Jean Hagen (Singin in the Rain) and Everett Sloane (Citizen Kane). SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS Brand-new 2K restoration from original film elements produced by Arrow Films exclusively for this release High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Original uncompressed LPCM mono audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Commentary by film critics Glenn Kenny and Nick Pinkerton, recorded exclusively for this release Bass on Titles Saul Bass, responsible for The Big Knife s credit sequence, discusses some of his classic work in this self-directed documentary from 1972 Theatrical trailer Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Nathalie Morris
Landmark British drama series' first season set in turn-of-the-century England chronicles life among the residents of 165 Eaton Place. This is the first series of the classic British drama Upstairs Downstairs. It is obvious in this first season that the budgets are low with the sets sparse and 'bloopers' often not being edited out. Contributer's to the series include renowned author Fay Weldon. Episodes comprise: 1. On Trial 2. The Mistress and the Maids
A remake of one of Conan Doyle's most famous and popular Sherlock Holmes stories. Is Sir Charles Baskerville's strange death the result of demonic forces and a family curse? Sherlock Holmes searches for a more earthly explanation when Sir Henry Baskerville receives a death threat upon his arrival from America. In this eerie mystery hounds are howling on the moors... a killer is on the loose... and Holmes is on the case.
Set in a fictional Scottish village, Adam Smith traces a church minister's struggle to rediscover new meaning in life following the death of his wife. Opening at a crisis point for the grieving minister, the series chronicles his recovering sense of purpose, deep commitment to his spiritual work, and also the opposition he sometimes faces within the close-knit community he serves with deep devotion and sympathy. Poor housing, religious differences and marital breakdowns are just a few of the issues to be dealt with, the manse often serving as a refuge for local victims of circumstance; this first series also finds Adam making a decision that could change his life forever.
For anyone who wants to catch a glimpse of the Los Angeles "lounge" scene that was in vogue during the early and mid-1990s, Swingers is the movie that virtually defined that brief but colorful nightlife milieu. As an added bonus, it just happens to be a very funny, observant story about love, loss, and male bonding among a group of friends who struggle to find decent jobs by day, and lurk through Hollywood's hottest nightclubs by night. A sort of latter-day Rat Pack, they include Mike (writer-actor Jon Favreau) and his closest buddy, Trent (Vince Vaughn), who are waiting for the big show-biz break that seems to be eluding them. Mike's twisted up about the girlfriend he left back East to pursue his going-nowhere standup comedy career, and Trent uses the word "money" as an adjective ("Man, we look totally money tonight") with such frequency that you may find yourself slipping into lounge-lizard mode after watching the movie. One of the most noteworthy indie-film success stories of the '90s, this time-capsule comedy seized its moment in the spotlight, launched several promising careers, and continues to maintain its lasting appeal. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
Based on the hit movie starring Sandra Bullock this spin-off TV show follows the story of freelance programmer Angela Bennett (Brooke Langton) who receives a mysterious email leading her into an internet chat room with 'The Sorcerer'. Within minutes her bank account has been closed her credit cards have been cancelled and she's been arrested. For some reason everyone believes she is Elizabeth Marx an international criminal of some repute. Everyone she knows is dead and her form
The complete fourth series of the outstanding Emmy Award-winning Upstairs Downstairs. Episodes Comprise: 1. A Patriotic Offering 2. News from the Front 3. The Beastly Hun 4. Women shall not Weep 5. Tug of War 6. Home Fires 7. If You Were the Only Girl in the World 8. The Glorious Dead 9. Another Year 10. The Hero's Farewell 11. Missing Believed Killed 12. Facing Fearful Odds 13. Peace out of Pain
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