Mandy Garland was born deaf and has been mute for all of her life. Her parents believe she is able to speak if she can only be taught and enroll her with a special teacher.
Freddie, a socially withdrawn bank clerk and butterfly collector, decides to expand to collecting human specimens.
A semi-autobiographical double-bill from the mind of playwright Dennis Potter; taken from the 'Wednesday Play' series of BBC films. Stand Up Nigel Barton: Nigel is very clever lad and desperately eager to succeed. He's aware of the fashionable potency of being both brilliant and working class. New glamorous experiences aren't enough maybe politics is the answer. Vote Vote Vote For Nigel Barton: After a successful Oxford education Nigel is a successful journalis
The New Statesman is a multi-award winning masterpiece of political satire. Rik Mayall stars as the ruthless Alan B'Stard the egocentric MP who will stop at nothing to further his political career. Episodes comprise: Happiness Is A Warm Gun / Passport To Freedom / Sex Is Wrong / Waste Not Want Not / Friends Of St. James / Three Line Whipping / Baa Baa Black Sheep
It's 1900 and a British archaeological expedition has discovered the secret chamber of the Egyptian Prince Ra. The team decide to bring home a whole host of artefacts including the mummified Prince. However the Prince isn't so happy about this and decides to wake up just as the team are about to unveil their find to the unsuspecting pubic...
Inspired by research on violence amongst chimpanzees, this chilling fantasy-horror from cult director Richard Franklin stars Elisabeth Shue in an early film role alongside fellow Oscar nominee and Sixties screen icon Terence Stamp, as a single-minded professor who sets in motion an terrifying chain of events. Link is presented here in a brand-new transfer from the original film elements, in its original aspect ratio. Jane, an American zoology student, takes a summer job at the lonely cliff-t...
The League of Gentlemen is a sardonic crime drama in which Jack Hawkins plays an embittered retired army officer who recruits seven fellow ex-soldiers to carry out a bank raid with military precision. The film presents an England between post-war austerity and the more liberated 1960s where traditional moral certainties were rapidly being discarded; a London where ex-officers left on the scrapheap at war's end could justify turning their military experience to armed robbery. Unfortunately the tale is neither particularly amusing or thrilling, with an overlong central detour via an army camp prefacing the exciting heist and a largely anti-climactic ending. Nevertheless Hawkins effectively subverts his heroic officer type from The Cruel Sea (1953) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and there's excellent support from a great cast including Nigel Patrick, Richard Attenborough and Roger Livesey. Bryan Forbes not only wrote the cynical screenplay but costarred with wife Nanette Newman in her first significant screen role. More influential than truly classic, The League of Gentlemen has lent its name to a modern BBC comedy, an "Extraordinary" comic strip-turned-movie, and proved the template for heist films ever since, including both versions of The Italian Job (1969 and 2003). On the DVD:The League of Gentlemen is presented in an anamorphically enhanced 16:9 transfer from an excellent condition print and mostly looks and sounds fine. There's minimal print damage, though sadly Philip Green's ironically patriotic main title music suffers from significant distortion. The only extra is the original trailer, which is now something of a period piece itself. --Gary S Dalkin
The Sign of Four is a 1987 feature-length version of Conan Doyle's second Sherlock Holmes novel, and is faithful to the original story except in one important detail: Dr Watson (Edward Hardwicke) does not get the girl. Otherwise, the familiar tale of the death of Bartholomew Sholto and the theft of the Agra treasure is all here, featuring a snappy performance by Jeremy Brett as Holmes doing some of the finest investigative work of his career. The famous climax, a chase on the Thames in which Holmes is almost struck dead by an exotic weapon, is handled very well. Sherlockians may have a hard time not seeing Watson's romantic pursuit of Mary Morstan (Lila Kaye), his first wife according to Doyle's book, but it would hardly have been practical in the context of the long-running Granada Television series. The rest is to be enjoyed, however. --Tom Keogh
In 1960, Norman Wisdom was left all at sea in The Bulldog Breed. He had already made a farce of the army in The Square Peg (1958), so what better than to join the navy? Back in the real world, the Russians had kick-started the space race putting Sputnik into orbit, so Norman rapidly finds himself selected to be the first Brit in space. Playing to type, the result is excellent physical comedy and copious tomfoolery at the expense of the upper ranks. With support from John Le Mesurier and Edward Chapman (the legendary "Mr Grimsdale") and uncredited appearances from Oliver Reed and Michael Caine, this is a notable British comedy, with an unusually direct reference to the risqué Carry On movies. For his second starring role Norman Wisdom played the oldest orphan of Greenwood Children's Home in 1954's One Good Turn. Not only does he have to find the money to buy one of the orphans a model car, but after a visit to Brighton he discovers Greenwood is due to be closed down by the home's own unscrupulous chairman, a property developer with plans to build a factory on the site. Also starring Thora Hird, One Good Turn was surely a film with a personal resonance for Wisdom who was himself brought-up in an orphanage after his mother died and his father was unable to raise him. As would become a tradition, he contributes a song, "Please Opportunity", and the movie, though produced by Rank, now sits easily in that classic Ealing era where the ordinary man took on the big guys and won. The innocent knockabout humour remains appealing. --Gary S Dalkin
Swingingly stylish adventures with super spies John Steed and Mrs Peel! Flashback to the Sixties with the coolest duo in crimefighting! The Town of No Return: Steed finds a town full of ghosts and Emma gets into a harness. The Gravediggers: Steed drives a train and Emma is tied to the tracks... The Cybernauts: Steed receives a deadly gift and Emma pockets it. Death at Bargain Prices: Steed fights in ladies underwear and Emma tries feinting. Castle De'ath: Steed becomes a strapping Jock and Emma lays a ghost. The Master Minds: Steed becomes a genius and Emma loses her mind.
Accident: (WS 1.66:1) Following their destructive foray into English class hatreds in 'The Servant' director Joseph Losey and screen writer Harold Pinter turn their attention to the Dons of Oxford. Pinter examines the motivations of several men in a brusque study of love and jealousy centred around one woman. The 'Accidental' death of one of them springs a trap of guilt remorse and thwarted sexual ambition on all concerned. Each scene brings more prickly revelations in a complex and thought provoking masterpiece. The Family Way: (FS 4:3) Based on Bill Naughton's warm hearted play 'The Family Way' is a thought-provoking exploration of the emotional impact of the 1960s sexual revolution. Hayley Mills stars in her first 'X' rated film with Hywel Bennett as two sensitive youngsters who fail to consummate their marriage following the vulgar ribaldry of their typically working class Lancashire wedding.
Alongside Come Play with Me and Confessions of a Window Cleaner Eskimo Nell takes its place as one of the most celebrated British sex comedies of the 1970s. Featuring a witty script from Michael Armstrong (who also stars) and directed by a young Martin Campbell - years before he helmed the James Bond movies GoldenEye and Casino Royale - Eskimo Nell is a hilarious satire on the low-budget British movie industry. Three inexperienced filmmakers (Armstrong Christopher Timothy and Terence Edmond) attempt to make a movie version of the notoriously rude poem 'The Ballad of Eskimo Nell' with disastrous results. This classic British comedy features a cast of famous faces including Roy Kinnear (The Three Musketeers) Katy Manning (Doctor Who) Christopher Biggins (Porridge) Diane Langton (Carry On England) Anna Quayle (Grange Hill) and an eye-popping cameo from 1970s' sex-bomb Mary Millington in her début movie. Re-mastered from the original film elements and boasting a host of special features Eskimo Nell celebrates its 40th anniversary on Blu-ray for the very first time. Special Features: Region Free Brand-new audio commentary with writer Michael Armstrong and historian Simon Sheridan 'When Dead-Eye Dick Met Mexican Pete' - The Making of Eskimo Nell (documentary) Reversible sleeve with alternate poster art Booklet notes by Simon Sheridan Theatrical Trailer Bonus short Mary Millington film
In the latest comedy from the Farrelly brothers, two conjoined twins find their brotherly bond tested when one of them decides to head to Hollywood to become a movie star.
Delightful comedy drama about school teachers Trevor and Jill who are also a duo of amateur investigators. Features all six episodes from the first series: 'What I Don't Understand Is This...' 'Can Anybody Join In?' 'We Call It The White Economy' 'Um... I Know What You're Thinking' 'That Was A Very Funny Evening' and 'We Are On The Brink Of A New Era If Only....
Peter Curtis (Ian McShane) has just been released from prison after serving four years for manslaughter. His victim's mysterious last words were High Tide's at 9.52 - and now Peter wants to find out why. Heading south in search of answers he books into a hotel - and discovers the only other resident knows all about him. Then he picks up a hitch-hiker Celia who may be far from innocent. Other people it seems are interested in those enigmatic last words and are prepared to kill to solve the mystery before Peter. As Peter conducts his search in the tidal estuaries of West England he finds that there are far greater dangers than treacherous currents to contend with... Part of ITV's hugely popular Armchair Thriller series High Tide was originally broadcast as a four part serial and has never been released on DVD before.
Critters (Dir. Stephen Herek 1986): It's no picnic for the Brown family when a lethal litter of carnivorous aliens arrives unannounced at their Kansas farm. Trapped in a deadly nightmare the terrified Browns fight for their lives against the attacking bloodthirsty monsters. But it's a losing battle until two intergalactic bounty hunters arrive determinedito blow the hellish creatures off the planet! Critters 2 (Dir. Mick Garris 1988): It's been two years since the f
From Roy Ward Baker - 'the Grand Old Man' of British horror comes a collection of stories that will reach out and grip you in a vice of fear. Based on the spine-chilling comic-books ""Vault of Horror"" & ""Tales from the Crypt"" and featuring a sensationally star-studded cast these are the tales of five hapless men huddled together in a vault beneath the Thames each awaiting the fulfilment of their own prophetic nightmares. See Curt Jurgens as a murderous magician with a few rope
Elektra From the pages of Marvel Comics creator of 'X-Men' and 'Spider-Man' comes 'Elektra'. In the ultimate battle between good and evil stands a warrior who makes the choice that tips the balance... Elektra (Garner) is a strong mysterious and sexy action heroine; a lethal synthesis of grace and power. Not long after recovering from seemingly mortal wounds Elektra has severed all ties with the world living only for her next assignment. But in an unexpected turn of events
The ongoing saga of investigative schoolteachers Trevor Chaplin and Jill Swinburne continues in this four part series....
Providing a showcase for some of Britain s most accomplished screenwriters Dramarama was an acclaimed 1980s anthology series which became a staple part of children s television viewing and is still widely remembered today. Spooky aired shortly before the main series was broadcast exploring the supernatural vein that would appear throughout Dramarama s run. These outstanding screenplays venture into the dark corners of the imagination to create some of the most spine-tingling scenes ever seen on children s television! Nicholas Ball Wilfrid Brambell and Colin Jeavons are among the performers; high-calibre writers include BAFTA-Award winner Paula Milne Grange Hill contributor Jane Hollowood and authors Leon Garfield and Alan Garner both recipients of the Carnegie Medal for children's literature.
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