Yes Minister: (1980 - 1984) From the minds of Jonathan Lynn and Antony Jay comes the complete box set of all three series of Yes Minister. First-class political satire and a worldwide favourite seen in over 80 countries Yes Minister is well-known for being closer to the truth than those in the political arena would like to admit. Re-live the exploits of the amiable and honourable Jim Hacker and his permanent Secretary the urbane but evasive Sir Humphrey Appleby as they balance the intricacies of government bureaucracy. The four-disc set contains the complete Yes Minister collection from Hacker's arrival on the political arena as Minister of Administrative Affairs through to the extraordinary events that turned Jim Hacker MP into Jim Hacker PM. Yes Prime Minister (1986 - 1988): Following his stout stand against the Eurosausage The Rt Hon James Hacker was propelled along the corridors of power to the very pinnacle of politics - No. 10. Fortunately for the country however his scheming adversary Sir Humphrey Appleby finds himself in the exalted position of Cabinet Secretary. Appleby is more than willing to steer the unsteady ship of state through the perilous waters of government... Features every episode from both seasons of Yes Prime Minister.
The original BBC radio adventures of Arthur Dent (an ape-descendant whose anger at the apparently inexplicable destruction of his home planet Earth, situated in an obscure corner of the outer spiral arm of the galaxy, is expressed in frequent irritation at friendly automatic doors and vending machines) and his travelling companions, Ford Prefect (an itinerant towel-carrying hitch-hiker originally from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse), Zaphod Beeblebrox (the notorious ex-Galactic President and patron of Eccentrica Galumbits, the triple-breasted whore of Eroticon Six) and Marvin the Paranoid Android (who's still suffering from that terrible pain in all the diodes down his left side) proved to be such a success for the BBC that its transition to TV was (almost) inevitable. In 1981 several key members of the radio cast made the move to the small screen. Simon Jones' bewildered Arthur Dent remains the central character, shambling around in his dressing gown (a fact easy to forget on radio); Mark Wing-Davey's Zaphod Beeblebrox is the same as his boastful radio persona, even if the second head utterly fails to convince. Unfortunately, newcomers David Dixon (as Ford Prefect) and the irritating Sandra Dickinson (as Trillian) are no match for their radio predecessors.The problem here is not so much the low-budget look as the script itself, which is lovingly faithful to the radio series in a way that Douglas Adams' novels aren't. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was a lucid, satirical, occasionally profound, utterly unique comic invention on radio. As such, it has nothing to gain from TV. The script needs no visual elaboration--that's best left to the listener's own imagination. Only the animated renditions of the Guide itself enhance Peter Jones' wonderfully dry narration; otherwise--paradoxically, perhaps--by supplying images the concept is oddly diminished here.On the DVD: A suitably eclectic not to say eccentric collection of extra features makes this a wholly satisfying two-disc set, neatly packaged in a fold-out slipcase. On the second disc there's an hour-long "making of" documentary from 1992 featuring contributions from the cast and crew, including Douglas Adams; and then there's even more in a 20-minute section entitled "Don't Panic!". A fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at filming as the clock runs out on studio time and a look at the recording of the original radio series complete the first part. Then navigate to the "Outer Planets" to find outtakes, a deleted scene, Zaphod's animatronic second head on Tomorrow's World and Peter Jones's witty and shambolic introduction to the first episode, plus more besides. The series itself is presented in standard 4:3 ratio and Dolby stereo. --Mark Walker
He was King. She was barely 18. And in their thousand days they played out the most passionate and shocking love story in history! This lush perfectly cast 1969 drama concerns both a doomed royal love affair and a pivotal moment in British history. Based on Maxwell Anderson's 1948 play Anne of the Thousand Days concerns the mess that surrounded King Henry VIII's decision to rid himself of his first wife Catherine of Aragon (Irene Papas) and marry the young Anne Boleyn (G
For the first time in the history of the universe, the complete Hitcher's Guide to the Galaxy is available in high definition! The cult classic British series from the mind of Douglas Adams is back in this very special edition. Featuring all episodes in full HD and 5.1 audio plus over 5 ½ hours of new and existing bonus material. Unbeknownst to its inhabitants, Earth is to be demolished to make way for an intergalactic highway. Arthur Dent (Simon Jones), an unassuming Englishman, is whisked off the planet to safety by his alien friend Ford Prefect (David Dixon), and launched on a dizzying journey through space and time (with only a towel, and a fish to help them) to discover the meaning of life itself.
The Man is Oldenshaw: an immodest, ex-Oxford type with a mind trained to devour information like a computer. He rose to prominence during the planning of D-Day. His partner is Defraits: Oldenshaw's red-brick equal. Room 17 is the secret centre of operations for the Department of Special Research, a unit set up to study the criminal mind and handle cases that have baffled the police and security services. Answerable only to the Prime Minister, the men in Room 17 pull the strings that make the...
This historical drama from acclaimed director Sir Trevor Nunn tells the true story of young royal Lady Jane Grey and how she was supplanted on the throne of England for a mere nine days by plotting ministers after the death of Henry VIII. Starring Helena Bonham Carter in her feature film debut and with a strong supporting cast including Patrick Stewart Lady Jane is a powerful and moving story of political corruption and the tragedy of love. Helena Bonham Carter gives a remarkable
The story of Brannigan a tough unconventional Chicago cop who trails an international racketeer to London where he finds his methods contrast sharply with those of the stiff-upper-lipped British...
The Duke is in London, and London will never be the same! Veteran Chicago detective Jim Brannigan (John Wayne, The Searchers) is dispatched to London to bring back notorious gangster Ben Larkin (John Vernon, Dirty Harry), and is assured that the whole operation will run smoothly However, things don't go to plan and Brannigan soon finds himself in the crosshairs of Larkin's thugs. Reluctantly teaming up with by-the-book Commander Swann of Scotland Yard (Richard Attenborough, The Great Escape), Brannigan tears through London leaving behind a trail of destruction whilst determined to re-capture Larkin. Featuring great panoramic views of London shot by cinematographer Gerry Fisher (The Go-Between, Highlander) and with a supporting cast that includes Judy Geeson and Mel Ferrer, Brannigan proved an action-packed vehicle for John Wayne, capitalising on the success of Dirty Harry a few years earlier.
Classic westerns collection of 3 Blu-ray discs starring Clint Eastwood in 1080p High Definition.
Doctor Jonathan Dempsey is sent to Scotland to destroy the myth surrounding the Loch Ness monster. The daughter of his new girlfriend said to possess special mystic powers changes his life forever....
Both a critical and ratings success on its original ITV transmission The Sandbaggers was lauded in 2003 by the New York Times as being ""The best spy series in TV history"". 'The Sandbaggers' is a nickname for the Special Section of the British Secret Service - a team of special agents who were deployed during the Cold War. Run by the dour single-minded Neil Burnside (Roy Marsden) the 'Sandbaggers' are headed by the brash but conscientious Willie Caine (Ray Lonnen). In
A sly sideways look at the standard '60s police procedural The Man in Room 17 concerns the ponderings of Oldenshaw and Dimmock - two exceptionally clever chaps whose minds are so highly trained that they can solve cases that leave the ordinary authorities baffled. Created by novelist and playwright Robin Chapman (from a concept by Granada supremo Denis Forman) each episode was essentially constructed as a game of two halves with the Room scenes for each episode being solely written by Chapman - who would receive a script and then deconstruct it plan where Oldenshaw and Dimmock's scenes were to appear and how the crime was to be solved.
Richard Vernon and Michael Aldridge star as Home Office-appointed criminologists in this clever, humorous and highly original Granada series. Devised and co-written by the award-winning Robin Chapman - the creator of the series' famous prequel The Man in Room 17 and a veteran screenwriter and novelist whose credits also include the highly controversial Big Breadwinner Hog - The Fellows charts the continuing work and often strained relationship of Room 17's former occupants Oldenshaw and Dimmock. Now appointed to the Peel Research Fellowship at All Saints' College, Cambridge, they no longer simply solve crimes, trap spies and hunt traitors; their new brief is to investigate the changing nature of crime, ultimately advising the police, legislature and government. But the familiar cat-and-mouse game with the criminal fraternity isn't over yet, and and their ingeniously unorthodox tactics help to ensnare several lynchpins of organised crime - including infamous gangland boss Spindoe, who would take centre-stage in the eponymous cult spin-off series of 1968.
Wagner's passionate opera about a medieval minstrel torn between the temptations of sacred and profane love is seen here. A distinguished cast is headed by Richard Cassilly who was perhaps the leading exponent of Tannhauser at this time; Eva Marton is the radiant Elisabeth; Tatiana Troyanos a musically and dramatically stunning Venus.
He rules the night as Gotham City's shadowy protector - a crusading Dark Knight defending the innocent and striking fear into the hearts of evildoers. The legend of Batman begins in this thrilling collection of the first five landmark episodes of the Emmy award-winning 'Batman: The Animated Series'. From the perilous punchlines of The Joker's latest pranks to the nightmarish Scarecrow and Poison Ivy's deadly embrace this is Batman at his action-packed best! Episodes comprise: O
The 1967 Franco Zeffirelli film of The Taming of the Shrew had all the ingredients to make it a high point in Shakespearian cinema. In Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor it starred the most bankable couple in Hollywood history as the sparring leads in the Bard's quick-firing comic battle of the sexes; and in Zeffirelli, it had a director with a Shakespearian pedigree second to none. But the reality is that this is Burton's picture all the way. His Petruchio is a weighty performance of such intelligence that the whole film is thrown off-kilter whenever he is on screen and the other performers just can't keep up. Apart from Michael Hordern's wonderfully distracted Baptista, Burton is the only actor in total, effortless command of the language. Taylor's bosomy glamour and fiery spirit are ample compensations for her occasionally murderous treatment of Katharina's verse. Whether or not she is really tamed by the end is another matter: those legendary violet eyes suggest otherwise. Ultimately it's a rich, bawdy and colourful romp, with Burton at the peak of his powers. The DVD includes the theatrical trailer, a "making-of" featurette and filmographies. --Piers Ford
Morecambe and Wise are special agents 00 oh oh! in this hilarious spy caper. James Bond has nothing to fear when Eric and Ernie get mixed up with Colonel Grant MI5 and the KGB. Their task: to protect the Ballerina Madam Petrovna the idol of the Russian people and God help Madam Petrovna. Her life is in the hands of two of the world's most incompetent spies dressed as Ballerina's and one of them showing off his short fat hairy legs. Intelligence work has never been so funn
Both a critical and ratings success on its original ITV transmission The Sandbaggers was lauded in 2003 by the New York Times as being ""The best spy series in TV history"". 'The Sandbaggers' is a nickname for the Special Section of the British Secret Service - a team of special agents who were deployed during the Cold War. Run by the dour single-minded Neil Burnside (Roy Marsden) the 'Sandbaggers' are headed by the brash but conscientious Willie Caine (Ray Lonnen). In
Both a critical and ratings success on its original ITV transmission The Sandbaggers was lauded in 2003 by the New York Times as being ""The best spy series in TV history"". 'The Sandbaggers' is a nickname for the Special Section of the British Secret Service - a team of special agents who were deployed during the Cold War. Run by the dour single-minded Neil Burnside (Roy Marsden) the 'Sandbaggers' are headed by the brash but conscientious Willie Caine (Ray Lonnen). In a game of cat-and-mouse between foreign powers the stakes are high and the chances of a Sandbagger being killed in action is not small. An ex-Sandbagger himself Burnside must try to keep his operatives alive while contending with the political machinations and dictates of the government. Features the complete third series. Episodes Comprise: 1. All In A Good Cause 2. To Hell With Justice 3. Unusual Approach 4. My Name Is Anna Wiseman 5. Sometimes We Play Dirty Too 6. Who Needs Enemies 7. Opposite Numbers
Gemma Jones stars as Louisa Trotter a cook for the upperclass at a fancy hotel. Very similar in style to 'Upstairs Downstairs' this classic British TV series first aired in 1976.
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