"Actor: Ray Charles"

• Captain Scarlet - Complete Series Box Set | DVD | (17/09/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £75.99

  First broadcast in 1967, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons was the most grown-up of all Gerry Anderson's SuperMarionation adventures. There are gadgets and toy-friendly machines galore, of course--like the Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle, the Angel Aircraft and Cloudbase itself--but, unlike the colourful fantasies of Stingray and Thunderbirds, this series' concern with an implacable, vengeful enemy, conspiracies and double-agents drew its inspiration from James Bond and the Cold War spy dramas of the 1960s. Special effects whiz Derek Meddings imbues the action sequences with a truly Bondian grandeur and, like the sinister Spectre of the Bond films, the Martian Mysterons seem all the more hostile for their unseen presence, their agents infiltrating every organisation dedicated to their destruction just as it seemed the Soviets were doing at the time. The indestructible Captain Scarlet is killed then resurrected every week (though not like South Park's Kenny), and more often than not the unstoppable Mysterons emerge triumphant, and always undefeated. The varied cast of Spectrum agents and their voice characterisations also aim at verisimilitude (Captain Scarlet, voiced by Francis Matt hews, sounds like a grim Cary Grant), while the puppetry is more realistic than ever. This box set contains all 32 episodes, with newly remastered picture and Dolby 5.1 surround sound. The DVD box also includes extra features on each disc, plus a sixth documentary disc, "Captain Scarlet: S.I.G.". In its new digital incarnation, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons still looks and sounds like the epitome of 60s cool. --Mark Walker

• Amadeus -- Director's Cut 2-Disc Special Edition | DVD | (14/10/2002) from £14.98   |  Saving you £-0.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  A note-perfect cinematic event whose immortality was assured from its opening night, Amadeus is an unlikely candidate for the Director's Cut treatment. Like one of Mozart's operas, the multiple Oscar-winning theatrical version seemed perfectly formed from the outset--ideal casting, costumes, sets, cinematography, lighting, screenplay, music, music, music--so the reinstatement of an extra 20 minutes simply risks adding "too many notes". Yet though this extended cut can hardly be said to improve a picture that needed no improvement, it does at least flesh out a couple of small subplots and shed new light on certain key scenes. Here we learn why Constanze Mozart bears such ill-will towards Salieri when she discovers him at her husband's deathbed: he has insulted and degraded her after she came to him for help. We also see deeper into the reasons why Mozart has no pupils: not only has Salieri poisoned the Emperor's mind against him, but the only promisingly lucrative teaching job he can find ends disastrously when he realises that the master of the house just wants music to quiet his barking dogs. In a humiliating coda to that episode, a drunk and desperate Wolfgang returns later to beg for money only to be coldly rejected. The structure of the picture is otherwise unaltered. On the DVD: Amadeus--The Director's Cut finally accords this masterful work the DVD treatment it deserves. The handsome anamorphic widescreen picture is accompanied by a choice of Dolby 5.1 or Dolby stereo sound options, and it's all contained on one side of the disc (the original single-disc DVD release was that crime against the format, a "flipper"). Director Milos Forman and writer Peter Shaffer provide a chatty though sporadic commentary, but they're obviously still too mesmerised by the movie to do much more than offer the odd anecdote. Disc 2 contains an excellent new hour-long "making of" documentary, with contributions from Forman, Shaffer, Sir Neville Marriner and all the main actors, taking in the scriptwriting, choice of music, casting and problems involved in filming in Communist Czechoslovakia with half the crew and extras working for the Secret Police. --Mark Walker

• He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not | DVD | (28/04/2003) from £9.76   |  Saving you £13.22 (195.27%)   |  RRP £19.99

  In He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not the adorable Audrey Tautou from Amelie plays the central role in a deceptive story of a rather unusual romance. It would spoil the film's clever design to reveal what happens halfway through, so let's just say that Tautou is cast as a winsome girl in the sunny town of Bordeaux whose relationship with a married doctor has more layers than first it seems. Samuel LeBihan, from Brotherhood of the Wolf, plays the doctor, but it's the casting of cutie-pie Tautou that sets up the movie's gradually sinister undertow. Director Laetitia Colombani's inventive structure plays a satisfyingly tricky game with the audience, and may have some viewers going back to the beginning to make sure they saw what they thought they saw. Just don't go in expecting Amelie, Deuxième Partie and you should find this an ingenious little number. --Robert Horton

• Hawk The Slayer | DVD | (19/02/2007) from £12.98   |  Saving you £4.00 (36.40%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Once upon a time long ago but perhaps not far away there were two brothers. Hawk (John Terry) the younger brother destined for greatness possessing gifts of strength honour duty and justice. Voltan (Jack Palance) the elder a man of cruel perversion who bore the mark of Cain. Hideously deformed Voltan roamed the land under a black mask so none could look on his ghastly face. When their father is killed at the hands of his firstborn Voltan Hawk swears vengeance. Into Hawk's hand his dying father places the magic mind-sword and Hawk has not only his death to avenge...

• Delirious | DVD | (12/08/2002) from £13.48   |  Saving you £-0.49 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A 1991 comedy, Delirious stars John Candy as the head writer on a soap opera set in the fictional small town of Ashford Falls, whose naff power dressing and power wrangling is distinctly reminiscent of Dynasty. Candy has a crush on the somewhat imperious and Joan Collins-esque star of the show, played by Emma Samms, although waiting in the wings to be written into the show is the more wholesome and unaffected actress Mariel Hemingway. Delirious takes a turn when Candy is felled in an accident and awakes, supernaturally, to find himself in the very world of his own soap, with Ashford Falls a real town and its fictional characters, including Samms, now real people. Candy discovers, however, that in this world he has the power to "write" situations as they suit him--in this case, by casting himself as a dashing, wealthy and mysterious Wall Street hero, able to sweep Samms off her feet. The film is in some ways a precursor of Pleasantville (in which two teens are sucked into the world of a "Honey, I'm home" black and white 1950s sitcom). However, between them the star, writers and director (Tom Mankiewicz) make a ham fist of Delirious. The parody of soap mores is quite well done but quickly palls in its obviousness; Candy's performance is misjudged, as if trying too hard to make the best of a bad job; while overall, the film feels cheap, tacky and broad, once again raising the question why in the 1980s and 90s America produced such great sitcoms but such poor film comedies. On the DVD: Delirious is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. It's a decent enough edition but looks its age in places, in terms of colour definition in particular. The only extra is the original trailer. --David Stubbs

• The Sting | DVD | (07/11/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  All it takes is a little Confidence. After the huge success of Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid George Roy Hill re-teamed with Hollywood stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman for this dazzlingly inventive tale about revenge in 1930s Chicago. The Sting is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed films of all time. Set in the 1930's this intricate comedy caper deals with an ambitious small time crook (Robert Redford) and a veteran con man

• The Legacy (Standard Edition) | Blu Ray | (16/11/2020) from £14.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Written by the late, great Jimmy Sangster (The Revenge of Frankenstein, Taste of Fear), this supernatural riff on Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None is a gruesome, hugely entertaining chiller. Two American architects (real-life couple Katharine Ross and Sam Elliott, who met on the set of this film) are holidaying in England and find themselves trapped at a country mansion where the various guests become victims in a series of unexplained and increasingly violent deaths. Director Richard Marquand (Return of the Jedi, Jagged Edge), making his feature-film directing debut, deftly balances horror and grisly black humour. The film also boasts sumptuous photography by the great Dick Bush and Alan Hume, a wonderfully eccentric score by Michael J Lewis and a superb supporting cast which includes Charles Gray, Margaret Tyzack, Ian Hogg, John Standing and The Who's Roger Daltrey. Extras: Two presentations of the film: the US theatrical cut, presented in widescreen from a High Definition master (100 mins); the UK theatrical cut, presented open matte from a Standard Definition master (102 mins) Original stereo audio New and exclusive audio commentary with Kevin Lyons, editor of The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television An Editing Legacy (2015, 14 mins): award-winning editor and second unit director Anne V Coates recalls her work on the film The Make-up Effects of ˜The Legacy' (2015, 11 mins): Robin Grantham discusses his specialist make-up creations for the film Ashes and Crashes (2019, 4 mins): interview with second unit director Joe Marks An Extended Legacy (2019, 11 mins): an analysis of the differences between the US and UK cuts Between the Anvil and the Hammer (1973, 27 mins): The Legacy director Richard Marquand's acclaimed documentary short film, made for the Central Office of Information, about the Liverpool police force Original theatrical trailer Image gallery: promotional and publicity material

• Ray Charles At The Montreux Jazz Festival | DVD | (27/01/2003) from £12.22   |  Saving you £7.77 (63.58%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Featuring the Ray Charles band and the Raelettes. Tracklist: 1. I Don't Know 2. Ray Charles Opener 3. I'll Be Home 4. Busted 5. Georgia On My Mind 6. Mississippi Mud 7. Just For A Thrill 8. You Made Me Love You 9. Angelina 10. Scotia Blues 11. Song For You 12. Do It To Me Slow 13. Watch Them Dogs 14. Shadows Of My Mind 15. Smack Dab In The Middle 16. I Can't Stop Loving You

• Straight Talk | DVD | (01/03/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Dolly Parton (9 to 5 Steel Magnolias) and James Woods (The Hard Way) star in this lighthearted romantic comedy about a country girl who accidentally becomes Chicago's hottest talk radio celebrity. With her homespun wit and down-home advice Shirlee Kenyon wins listeners' hearts... and the heart of investigative reporter Jack Russell. But when Jack discovers the hidden secret to her success it jeopardises both her newfound celebrity status and their future together. Filled with roman

• Kennedy | DVD | (20/10/2003) from £3.79   |  Saving you £16.20 (427.44%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Made in 1983, the US TV mini-series Kennedy has Martin Sheen playing a president well before his stint on The West Wing. All of the momentous events of JFK's remarkable term are covered (with actual news footage used to excellent effect), but it is the portrayal of the entire Kennedy family as real, flawed people that gives Kennedy its power. The Kennedys gossip, snipe, joke and bother each other like a real family rather than rigid historical figures or threadbare caricatures. Sheen plays JFK as a man with lofty ideals who is more than willing to dirty his hands to serve his greater purpose. Blair Brown plays Jacqueline Kennedy with a shrewd understanding of politics, but also a whiff of vanity. In addition to the strong performances by both leads, Vincent Gardenia gives a brilliant performance as J Edgar Hoover: stiff, quirky and strange, prurient and moralistic at the same time and boiling with hatred. --Ali Davis

• Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey | DVD | (12/12/2008) from £19.99   |  Saving you £3.00 (15.01%)   |  RRP £22.99

  It may have been underrated when first broadcast, but executive producer Martin Scorsese's homage to the blues is a truly significant, if imperfect, achievement. "Musical journey" is an apt description, as Scorsese and the six other directors responsible for these seven approximately 90-minute films follow the blues--the foundation of jazz, soul, R&B, and rock & roll--from its African roots to its Mississippi Delta origins, up the river to Memphis and Chicago, then to New York, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Some of the films (like Wim Wenders's The Soul of a Man and Charles Burnett's Warming by the Devil's Fire) use extensive fictional film sequences, generally to good effect. There's also plenty of documentary footage, interviews, and contemporary studio performances recorded especially for these films. The last are among the best aspects of the DVDs, as the bonus material features the set's only complete tunes. Lou Reed's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and the ElektriK Mud Kats' (with Chuck D. of Public Enemy) hip-hop-cum-traditional updating of Muddy Waters's "Mannish Boy" are among the best of them; on the other hand, a rendition of "Cry Me a River" by Lulu (?!) is a curious choice, even with Jeff Beck on hand. The absence of lengthier vintage clips, meanwhile, is the principal drawback. For that reason alone, Clint Eastwood's Piano Blues is the best of the lot; a musician himself, Eastwood simply lets the players play, which means we get extensive file footage of the likes of Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Nat "King" Cole, as well as new performances by Ray Charles, Dr. John, and others. Overall, this is a set to savor, a worthwhile investment guaranteed to grow on you over the course of repeated viewings. --Sam Graham

• Last Action Hero | DVD | (16/02/2004) from £10.16   |  Saving you £-2.91 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  John McTiernan (The Hunt for Red October) imaginatively directs this action comedy, which is an interesting failure with some fascinating ironies that make it well worth seeing. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays both a character named Jack Slater--a fictional cop hero who exists only in the movies (ie, the movies seen by the characters in this movie) and the actor who plays Jack Slater in the real world (ie, in the movie we're actually watching). McTiernan's hall-of-mirrors effect is fun, though Last Action Hero never quite identifies itself as a pure action movie, science fiction, a kid's movie, or anything else. (The expensive film suffered at the box office as a result and was roundly criticised for this ambivalence.) What lingers in the memory, however, is Schwarzenegger, playing himself, being confronted by Slater for having created an alter ego for film in the first place. It's a provocative moment: how often have we seen a major star blatantly wrestle with his actor's legacy in this way? --Tom Keogh

• Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd | DVD | (16/06/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  The scene is set in the Coronation year of 1953 and the archetypal English village of St. Mary Mead. All is as it should be until Hollywood arrives in the form of an internationally famous film cast leading to much local excitement and an epidemic of sudden death to which local sleuth Miss Marple sets her mind...

• Hawk The Slayer | Blu Ray | (06/07/2015) from £10.99   |  Saving you £6.00 (66.74%)   |  RRP £14.99

  An undoubted pop culture classic Hawk the Slayer continues to amaze viewers with its fearless combination of swords and sorcery bloodthirsty revenge and brotherly violence – all topped off with a disco-style soundtrack! Starring Jack Palance John Terry and a host of British character actors Hawk the Slayer is presented here for the first time as a new High Definition transfer from the original 35mm cut negative in its original theatrical aspect ratio. When his father is mortally wounded at the hands of his brother – the evil wizard Voltan – Hawk is bequeathed a magical sword which responds to his thoughts. Swearing vengeance on his brother he gathers together a trusty band of giants dwarves elves and witches – together these warriors will end Voltan's reign of terror forever or die trying... Bonus Features: Original theatrical trailer Raw textless elements Clapperboard: Revenge by the Sword By the Sword Divided – candid on-location interviews Sharpening the Blade – behind the scenes Image gallery Original script PDF

• Carry On Teacher | DVD | (29/01/2007) from £6.39   |  Saving you £6.60 (103.29%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Prepare for Six of the Best as the Carry On team cause chaos in the school yard. When a well-loved headmaster decides to retire his scheming pupils have other ideas. The cunning boys unleash a campaign of practical jokes armed with gin itching power and bombs! No one is safe from the classroom havoc in this Carry On starring all the regulars including the immortal Kenneth Williams Charles Hawtrey Hattie Jacques Kenneth Connor and Joan Sims.

• Dog Soldiers | DVD | (21/02/2005) from £20.00   |  Saving you £-7.01 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Two kilograms of heroin are at the center of this intense action-drama. Ray Hicks smuggles the drugs into the country but now ruthless thieves want to take it from him. With the crooks in hot pursuit and his best friend's wife in tow Ray goes on the run leading to an amazing showdown between both sides that will knock you out...

• Thunderbirds Are Go / Thunderbird Six | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.32

  Stand by for another action-packed adventure from the amazing international rescue team! Thunderbirds Are Go: The excitement begins as Zero X a 21st Century spacecraft is leaving the earth's atmosphere bound for Mars with five men on board. The craft is suddenly blasted by a mysterious explosion. Sabotage! Can the Tracy team uncover the perpetrators and save the next launch? Thunderbird Six: The trouble begins when rescue team member Alan Tracy sets out on a holida

• Naked Gun | DVD | (09/04/2001) from £2.65   |  Saving you £13.34 (503.40%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker, the creative troika behind Airplane!, scored another hit with this big-screen adaptation of their short-lived television show Police Squad!. Deadpan as ever, Leslie Nielsen revives his TV role of Lt Frank Drebin, the idiot with a detective's badge. The jokes come thick and fast, gathering a momentum that lasts until the final act. Ricardo Montalban is a perfect foil as a villain whose aquarium is invaded by Drebin during routine questioning, and George Kennedy is delightful in a self-parodying part as an earnest but obtuse lawman. There's a hilarious bit when Drebin--wearing a live police wire while going to the bathroom--can be overheard over the loudspeakers at a speech given by a flustered mayor (Nancy Marchand). And yes, that's OJ Simpson as a detective who ends up on the wrong side of numerous Drebin blunders. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com

• The Dwelling Place | DVD | (14/04/2003) from £14.20   |  Saving you £-1.22 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Set in rural Northumberland during the 1830's this Catherine Cookson series tells of Cissie Brodie's struggle to keep the family intact when the sudden death of her parents causes them to be evicted from their cottage...

• Muppets - Muppets From Space | DVD | (26/06/2000) from £6.02   |  Saving you £6.97 (115.78%)   |  RRP £12.99

  With enormous enthusiasm and unsinkable optimism, daredevil Gonzo steps into his first starring role in Muppets From Space, a hilarious extraterrestrial adventure about the search for Gonzo's past.