An instant hit in 1977, The Professionals was a fast-moving and occasionally sharp-shooting action series about a couple of cool dudes in a fictional secret service organisation, CI5. The creation of Avengers veterans Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell it was often gritty stuff, leavened by the mildly subversive attitudes of Bodie (Lewis Collins) and Doyle (Martin Shaw) who ultimately are always loyal to their gruff boss George Cowley (Gordon Jackson). Helped by witty, if rampantly sexist, dialogue and trousers of sterility defying tightness, Bodie and Doyle enjoyed a good run as 1970s sex symbols. Jacksons often exasperated Cowley kept them in line with just the right degree of Puritanical steel. The first series set the standard for five successful years, milking the dramatic potential of a rich gamut of scenarios, from international espionage to racism and religious evangelism; Bodie and Doyle usually being called upon to protect a controversial figure from the assassin's bullet. Shaw would later dismiss The Professionals for its stereotypical violence and for a long time refused to allow reruns. In fact, as cult television goes, it has weathered well. Many of its themes are as relevant today as they were then. The constantly elliptical script ("I want you to see that he's well taken care of") is tremendous fun. And despite the macho drive, the whole thing has a camp archness which betrays its Avengers pedigree. Great for a nostalgic wallow. On the DVD: The Professionals on disc still displays the slightly ropey quality of late 1970s television film complete with brassy soundtrack. Presented in 4:3 format, the original production values disconcertingly recreate the original post-homework viewing experience. But the DVD extras are the thing here. Interactive menus allow you to drill down into the history of each of the 14 episodes, cross-referencing guest stars. And there's an appropriately camp fashion note.--Piers Ford
Director-producer Perry Henzel's all-Jamaican 1973 classic The Harder They Come--one of the most beloved of all international cult favourites--fiercely expresses the live-wire Jamaican spirit when an impoverished Africa tuned to American radio. Ivan, a country boy who dreams of fame as a singer, rides into Kingston on a rickety country bus in the opening scenes, only to meet with disaster heaped on disaster at the hands of those masked as friends. In a breathless defining climax, Ivan finally breaks from his passivity and begins to wreak his revenge. Soon Kingston's music Mafia and the equally corrupt authorities are after him, but like the real-life people's hero (a man named Rhygin) on whom this character is partially based, Ivan leads them on a maddening chase eluding capture until the movie's shocking final moments. ,p. The film incorporates an archetypal passion for "outlaw" justice common to American Westerns, which were a staple of the Caribbean theatre circuit at the time. Released just 12 years after Jamaica achieved independence, The Harder They Come also reflects the disenchantment that soon followed a massive post-independence exodus from the island's country hamlets to the tropical ghettos of Kingston, where a more grinding urban poverty awaited. Brilliantly shot, directed, written, and acted; singer Jimmy Cliff excels in the leading role and Carl Bradshaw shines as his arch-enemy, the film tells an anthemic Jamaican story to seductive rhythms of a soundtrack that became a reggae bestseller.--Elena Oumano
Every episode from The Simpsons creator Matt Groening's hit animated comedy! Season 1: 1. Space Pilot 3000 2. The Series Has Landed 3. I Roomate 4. Love's Labour's Lost In Space 5. Fear Of A Bot Planet 6. A Fishful Of Dollars 7. My Three Suns 8. A Big Piece Of Garbage 9. Hell Is Other Robots 10. A Flight To Remember 11. Mars University 12. When Aliens Attack 13. Fry And The Slurm Factory Season 2: 1. I Second That Emotion 2. Brannigan Begin Again 3. A Hea
In an uncanny piece of art imitating life, Who Dares Wins came out in 1982 just after the infamous storming of the Iranian Embassy by the legendary British Special Air Services (SAS) unit. The plot builds up to that unshakeable image of black-clad troops abseiling the front of a stately home and smashing through the windows, and pays off expectations with a thrilling finale. Anyone expecting two hours of military instruction will be disappointed however. After the opening 10 minutes with the troops, the almost James-Bond-like story follows Lewis Collins (riding high in those days after TV's The Professionals) as he infiltrates a radical anti-Nuclear society. Operation: Destroy requires him to go undercover with their potentially insane leader Frankie (Judy Davis), ignoring his wife and child. The period detail is often the film's most entertaining feature as Collins tours across 1980s London constantly eluding spies on his tail. Apart from the endless permed hairdos and the fact that the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament hasn't got much to demonstrate about these days, there's the fashions and low-tech gadgetry to enjoy. In the US the film was called The Final Option. The DVD includes a photo gallery, and a history of the SAS. --Paul Tonks
The complete sixth series of ITV's hit series Soldier Soldier which followed the lives of the Kings Fusiller's regiment. In this series the Fusiller's find themselves posted at Aldershot in order to form part of the 5th Airborne Brigade. The boys have mixed feelings about the move and are warned that the training facing them is far from easy. The King's Own are put through their paces as Platoon Sergeant Chris McLeod gets them ready for their 'P' company training which
Cold Feet is the fast and funny ITV comedy drama about a group of friends which has gripped the nation. Immersing us in the lives of 3 couples who are coping with life love careers marriage friendship infidelity and of course sex. It gets to the heart of 30-something relationships like no other programme of its kind. Pilot Episode: Pete and Jenny are trying desperately to have a baby. As they have had little success Jenny begins to plot their lives around her ovulation
Some of the biggest names in country rock are brought together on this awesome DVD playing your favourite tracks from yesteryear. Featuring the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis Boxcar Willie Hoyt Axton the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and many many more!
The sun beats down hard on the town of Chili Verde New Mexico - where temperatures flare and passions reach boiling in the midday heat. The locals spend their days downing Tequila and breaking bottles over heads... and that's just the womenfolk! When Abel Wood an enigmatic lone cowboy type comes riding into town the locals immediately suspect that he has come in search of the legendary buried gold. Quick on the draw and tall in the saddle he may be but Abel faces stiff competition if he's to get his hands on the prized booty. Lust in the Dust is a treat for both fans of Westerns and lovers of John Waters-type subversive humour featuring the inimitable Divine (Hairspray Pink Flamingos) in a typically larger-than-life performance; whilst Tab Hunter in the role of Abel delivers a sharp-shooting gun-toting turn worthy of Clint himself. The sun beats down hard on the town of Chili Verde New Mexico - where temperatures flare and passions reach boiling in the midday heat. The locals spend their days downing Tequila and breaking bottles over heads... and that's just the womenfolk! When Abel Wood an enigmatic lone cowboy type comes riding into town the locals immediately suspect that he has come in search of the legendary buried gold. Quick on the draw and tall in the saddle he may be but Abel faces stiff competition if he's to get his hands on the prized booty. Lust in the Dust is a treat for both fans of Westerns and lovers of John Waters-type subversive humour featuring the inimitable Divine (Hairspray Pink Flamingos) in a typically larger-than-life performance; whilst Tab Hunter in the role of Abel delivers a sharp-shooting gun-toting turn worthy of Clint himself. Special Features: Collector's Booklet Reversible Sleeve of Original Artwork
Thrown together to join George Cowley's new C15 organisation....Hard men no patience nor time for subtleties. Charged with combating terrorists criminals and corruption wherever they find it. Capable of using any means necessary. The only people they can trust are themselves... Hunter/Hunted: There's trouble for Doyle when the hi-tech sniper rifle he's testing is stolen. Charged with recovering it he's soon to learn that the thief has him in his sights! First Night: When an Israeli minister goes missing in London it falls to CI5 to find him. How can they do this when the only clue is a blurred photograph? The Rack: An incident at CI5 has the authorities believing Doyle has killed a suspect. The department's always had enemies and this is their perfect excuse to have it shut down... Man Without A Past: A bomb in a restaurant kills bystanders and severely injures Bodie's girlfriend. Who was responsible? Bodie and Doyle investigate to find out who was really the target and why...
Hot off of PRAY FOR DEATH (1985), Sho Kosugi, the Japanese John Wayne of ninja cinema, is back in ninja action! When his partner is murdered by sadistic drug dealers, narcotics cop Shiro Tanaka (Kosugi) vows revenge. Disobeying orders,he tracks the killers from Singapore to Buenos Aires. But in a cruel twist, the killers kidnap Tanaka's girlfriend and take her deep into the jungles of South America. Now, armed with an arsenal of deadly weapons, Tanaka must use all his powers to destroy a battalion of highly trained terrorists and get her back.
More episodes from the cult television series starring Lewis Collins Martin Shaw and Gordon Jackson. Episodes include: 'The Acorn Syndrome' 'Wild' 'Need to Know' 'Takeaway' 'Blackout' 'Blood Sports' 'Slush Fund' 'The Gun' 'Hijack' 'Mixed Doubles' 'Weekend in the Country' 'Kickback' and 'It's Only a Beautiful Picture'.
Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin - The Collection: Living It Up (1954) / The Caddy (1952) / Sailor Beware (1954) / Pardners (1956) (Paramount UK 4-DVD Box Set)
A fourth volume of adventures with those heroes in a half-shell! Episodes Comprise: 1. The Shredder Strikes (Part One) 2. The Shredder Strikes (Part Two) 3. The Unconvincing Turtle Titan
Thrown together to join George Cowley's new C15 organisation....Hard men no patience nor time for subtleties. Charged with combating terrorists criminals and corruption wherever they find it. Capable of using any means necessary. The only people they can trust are themselves... Close Quarters: Can the Klu Klux Klan really be acting in Britain? It seems so after a lawyer trying to defend some black tenants is threatened. When Bodie is hospitalised during their investigation
Il Ritorno D'Ulisse In Patria - Recorded At The Glyndebourne Festival Opera 1973.
Used Cars, the 1980 film by director Robert Zemeckis, gives no indication of things to come in his career (Back to the Future, Contact, Forrest Gump), but it is representative of a certain cynical humour he shared early on with writer-partner Bob Gale. Kurt Russell and Jack Warden star in a sketchy comedy about competing used-car salesmen who resort to outrageous tactics to lure customers away from each other. The jokes, like the characters, are intentionally recycled, self-conscious comic fodder from a baby-boomer's lifetime (such as Gale's or Zemeckis') of immersion in pop culture. That makes Used Cars more pastiche than original (the film's title itself suggests that), but as such it has some good, if vaguely familiar, laughs in it. Russell, particularly, is very funny as a practiced con man. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
The year is 1864. England is at peace - but across the Atlantic Ocean a bloody civil war is being fought between the North and the South. Untold thousands are dying on the battlefield. In Portsmouth the far distant war seems not to matter - until a humble warehouse clerk Silas Trumble (Robert James) finds himself caught up in a chilling conspiracy and jailed for a crime he did not commit. His daughter Abigail (Julia Lewis) fights to prove his innocence and enlists the help of street urchins led by Gegor (Jack Wild) and William Sedgwick (Steven Grives) a mysterious journalist with a strange secret. Together they unmask a sinister plot that could well drag Britain into the American Civil War and change the course of history... This DVD includes all six thrilling episodes of the popular ITV children's adventure series first broadcast on British television between 31st December 1979 and 4th February 1980.
Selected episodes from the smash comedy On the Buses
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