"Actor: Tom Georgeson"

• Boys from the Blackstuff | DVD | (26/05/2003) from £7.99   |  Saving you £-0.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £7.00

  Alan Bleasdale's Boys from the Blackstuff gripped television audiences in 1982 with its bleak, fiercely funny exploration of the effect of the UK's economic depression on a group of Merseyside characters, originally introduced in his 1978 play, The Blackstuff. Bleasdale's writing is unsparing in both its pain and its unconditional affection for characters being pushed to the very limit of civilisation. Yosser Hughes (the outstanding Bernard Hill) is still, and rightly, recognised as one of the great creations of modern television drama: a man on the brink of madness, unlikeable, ostracised, digging a deeper hole with every desperate act, but ultimately a human being deserving our sympathy. The performances are wonderful throughout: particularly Peter Kerrigan as Malone, the once giant union leader reduced to a shadow but still with the spark that commands love and respect; Michael Angelis as Chrissie and, in a typically sharp cameo, Julie Walters as his wife. "My dreams still give me hope and faith in my class. I can't believe there's no hope," says Chrissie towards the end. And it's testament to Bleasdale's skill and the resilience of his characters that somehow, that flicker of hope remains unextinguished. The blackstuff--the tarmac--of the title becomes increasingly ironic. There is none. The boys have no work. The dole office scenes have a grimly nostalgic, documentary quality. Each second drips another droplet of disillusionment on people whose expectations are crushed by every effort to haul themselves up. Thatcher's Britain was a cruel place for many people. The unspoken question that hangs in the air after watching Bleasdale's poetic dissection of ruined lives is, have things really changed that much? Television drama doesn't come any more powerful or honest than this. On the DVD: Boys from the Blackstuff is presented in standard 4:3 TV format with a mono soundtrack that often suffers from a muffled quality. There's only one additional feature, but it's a treasure: The Blackstuff, Alan Bleasdale's original 90-minute play, is presented as a prelude to the series with the bonus of an insightful commentary from the author and the director, Jim Goddard. --Piers Ford

• Land Girls | DVD | (10/09/2001) from £18.46   |  Saving you £-8.47 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  During the Second World War, Britain's women were asked to help out the farming industry by joining The Women's Land Army (The Land Girls). Three city gals make their way to the Lawrence farm in Dorset, and find themselves taking to the work easily enough. The only problem between them is each want young Joe (Steven Mackintosh) for their own reasons. Ag (Anna Friel) is the fiery sort who'll take pleasure where she finds it; Prue (Rachel Wiesz) just wants a lesson in the ways of the world; while Stella (Catherine McCormack) is looking for a way out of the private trap she's set in motion back home, but her feelings are the most sincere of the bunch. The film is Stella's story really (as adapted from the novel by Angela Huth), and has her affecting the on-off decision by Joe to join the RAF, the fight with the government to keep the East Meadow as it is and the paths the two other girls end up taking. Everything is very sweet-natured, especially when played out against a backdrop of rolling green hills, chuffing steam engines and knee-high socks tucked into Wellington boots. There's no comment on the effects of war as such, instead this film is more about the reasons why we make choices in life. --Paul Tonks

• Notes On A Scandal | Blu Ray | (03/02/2014) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Academy Award Winners Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give wickedly entertaining Oscar-Nominated performances - one as a woman consumed by her colleague's guilty secret the other a victim to her own dark obsessions - in this sexy stylish thriller. Dench mesmerises as Barbara Covett a teacher who rules over her classroom with an iron fist yet leads a desperate solitary life outside it. That is until she meets radiant new art teacher Sheba Hart (Blanchett). Although at first overjoyed with her newfound kindred spirit when Barbara discovers that Sheba is having an affair with a student her jealousy and rage spiral out of control. Also starring Bill Nighy Notes on a Scandal 'has all the right ingredients: lust greed envy secrets lies betrayal!'

• A Fish Called Wanda | DVD | (10/02/2003) from £7.57   |  Saving you £16.68 (264.34%)   |  RRP £22.99

  Barrister Archie (John Cleese) falls in love and tosses off more than his wig for sexy thief Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) - who can charm the pants off anyone! To make things worse Wanda is already using her charms on fellow partner-in-crime Otto (Kevin Kline in an Oscar-winning performance) a dim-witted intellectual psychopath who thinks the London Underground is a political movement! Meanwhile Otto is making eyes at henchman Ken (Michael Palin) an animal loving multiple dog-kille

• Notes On A Scandal | DVD | (04/06/2007) from £6.96   |  Saving you £16.02 (403.53%)   |  RRP £19.99

  An illicit affair with one of her students has unforeseen consequences for a teacher in this story of loneliness, loyalty, envy and love.

• A Fish Called Wanda | DVD | (09/08/2005) from £10.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £7.99

  A Fish Called Wanda was the blockbuster which proved that John Cleese could be a movie star in his own right. Directed by the Veteran Charles Crichton, who made the 1951 Ealing Comedies classic The Lavender Hill Mob, Wanda combined Ealing-comedy capers and Basil Fawlty-esque farce with contemporary big-screen swearing and black comedy. The plot develops in classic film noir style as Cleese's lawyer, Archie Leech, gets sucked into the double-crossing aftermath of a London diamond heist. For sound box-office reasons, British comedies often sport an American star and here Cleese delivers not only Jamie Lee Curtis as a smooth operating femme fatale, but Kevin Kline as her idiotic, and insanely jealous lover (for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar). Pushing the limits of bad taste is Michael Palin's animal-loving Ken, who in the film's best running gag attempts to murder an old lady, only to slay her beloved pet dogs. Other highlights include Palin as a man with two chips up his nose and Cleese showing the world a different sort of "Full Monty". One of the funniest British films ever made, A Fish Called Wanda was followed by Fierce Creatures (1997), which reunited the lead cast and claimed to be an "equal" not a "sequel", but sadly wasn't. --Gary S Dalkin

• Scully | DVD | (07/08/2006) from £19.92   |  Saving you £-6.93 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  BBC comedy series from 1984 about a 15 year old boy and his dreams to play for his beloved Liverpool F.C. Adapted by Alan Bleasdale from the two novels 'Scully '(1975) and 'Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed' the show regularly features Kenny Dalglish and other several other famous Liverpool players.

• Wuthering Heights | DVD | (19/02/2007) from £5.07   |  Saving you £4.92 (97.04%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Wuthering Heights is Emily Bronte's classic tale of all-consuming love. When Mr. Earnshaw encounters Heathcliff a ragamuffin orphan he kindly brings the boy into his home and makes him part of the family. And from the start Heathcliff falls hopelessly in love with the daughter of the house the beautiful headstrong Catherine. She adores him too but when a wealthy neighbour woos her Catherine's material instincts get the better of her and she agrees to marry the man. However Catherine discovers that she cannot forget Heathcliff so easily... and that not even death can make them part...

• Juliet Bravo - Series 4 | DVD | (22/05/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Inspector Kate Longton (Anna Carteret) takes up the mantel from Inspector Jean Darblay (Stephanie Turner) in the fourth series of Juliet Bravo Episodes Comprise: 1.Teamwork 2.Teacher's Pet 3.Retribution 4.Solvent Solution 5.Who's Your Friend 6.Mates 7.Bad Seed 8.Doors 9.Guilt 10.John The Lad 11.Who Says The War Is Over? 12.Off Duty 13.Simple Simon 14.Backtrack

• Boys From the Blackstuff - Parts 1 And 2 | DVD | (03/04/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  1. Jobs For The BoysChrissie assembles an unofficial building gang but their moonlighting is being watched by the Department of Employment's investigators. A raid by the fraud squad leads to tragedy2. MoonlighterDixie father of four and once the proud foreman is working illicitly on the docks when he discovers happenings that he'd rather not see. Meanwhile after threats from the Department of Employment his wife Freda is too scared to open the door.3. Shop Thy NeighbourChrissie's dole money has been stopped pending the enquiry into the 'moonlighting' affair. With no food in the cupboard the scene is set for a showdown with his wife Angie - this after all was going to be her time4. Yosser's StoryOnce Yosser dreamt of making it big. Now his manic search for work alternates with fruitless efforts to avoid eviction and keep his three children from being taken into care.5. George's Last RideA lifetime of adversity has left George's beliefs unbroken. When the end comes Chrissie discovers a legacy and finds that something must be said.

• Charlotte Gray / Land Girls | DVD | (03/05/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Charlotte Gray Cate Blanchett stars as a young Scottish woman recruited by the Secret Service who ends up risking her life to find the man she loves. Based on Sebastian Faulks' best selling novel. The Land Girls The comical and heart-warming tale of three young women who encounter tragedy passion and love during wartime.

• Between The Lines - Season 3 | DVD | (01/05/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  The complete third and final series of investigations for DS Tony Clark (Pearson) finding himself even deeper in the disturbing world that is the Complaints Investigation Bureau (CIB). Increasingly unpopular with both those that work there and those he's investigating Clark and his team have their work cut out deciphering the truth from the deceit... Episodes Comprise: 1.Foxtrot Oscar 2.A Safe Pair Of Hands 3.A Face In The Crowd 4.Shoot To Kill 5.Close Protection 6.Blooded

• Between The Lines - Season 1 | DVD | (24/10/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  When the police force can't be trusted... CIB: the police for the police. Loathed by fellow officers and treated with suspicion by the public their's is a grey world of corruption and one that leaves rising star Superintendent Tony Clark cold. Reluctantly involved in the beginning he finds that now there is no going back. As the taste of his promotion turns sour he finds himself well and truly caught between the lines...

• Wuthering Heights | DVD | (25/04/2003) from £6.66   |  Saving you £3.33 (50.00%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Wuthering Heights is Emily Bronte's classic tale of all-consuming love. When Mr. Earnshaw encounters Heathcliff a ragamuffin orphan he kindly brings the boy into his home and makes him part of the family. And from the start Heathcliff falls hopelessly in love with the daughter of the house the beautiful headstrong Catherine. She adores him too but when a wealthy neighbour woos her Catherine's material instincts get the better of her and she agrees to marry the man. However Catherine discovers that she cannot forget Heathcliff so easily... and that not even death can make them part...

• Between The Lines - Season 2 | DVD | (20/02/2006) from £99.90   |  Saving you £-74.91 (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  The complete second series of investigations for DS Tony Clark (Pearson) finding himself even deeper in the disturbing world that is the Complaints Investigation Bureau (CIB). Increasingly unpopular with both those that work there and those he's investigating Clark and his team have their work cut out deciphering the truth from the deceit... Episodes comprise: 1. New Order 2. Manslaughter 3. Crack Up 4. Honourable Men 5. Some Must Watch... 6. Manoeuvre 11 7. The Fifth Estate

• The Land Girls | DVD | (10/09/2001) from £17.17   |  Saving you £-7.18 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  During the Second World War, Britain's women were asked to help out the farming industry by joining The Women's Land Army (The Land Girls). Three city gals make their way to the Lawrence farm in Dorset, and find themselves taking to the work easily enough. The only problem between them is each want young Joe (Steven Mackintosh) for their own reasons. Ag (Anna Friel) is the fiery sort who'll take pleasure where she finds it; Prue (Rachel Wiesz) just wants a lesson in the ways of the world; while Stella (Catherine McCormack) is looking for a way out of the private trap she's set in motion back home, but her feelings are the most sincere of the bunch. The film is Stella's story really (as adapted from the novel by Angela Huth), and has her affecting the on-off decision by Joe to join the RAF, the fight with the government to keep the East Meadow as it is and the paths the two other girls end up taking. Everything is very sweet-natured, especially when played out against a backdrop of rolling green hills, chuffing steam engines and knee-high socks tucked into Wellington boots. There's no comment on the effects of war as such, instead this film is more about the reasons why we make choices in life. --Paul Tonks

• The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: The Murder at Road Hill House | DVD | (02/05/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  On the morning of 30th June 1860 the body of three-year-old Saville Kent is found brutally murdered and hidden down a servants' privy in the grounds of the elegant Road Hill House on the edge of a sleepy Somerset village. As the local police struggle to solve the crime the case becomes a national scandal and on the orders of the Home Secretary Inspector Jonathan Jack Whicher the so-called Prince of Sleuths from the newly formed Scotland Yard detective department is despatched to the countryside to identify the killer and restore order but this case is to prove the most difficult of his career. Behind the seemingly respectable middle-class faade of the Kent family Whicher discovers adultery insanity and jealousy in a world populated by gossiping servants a wicked stepmother and rebellious children. With the local police actively working against him it's a struggle for Whicher to find the evidence and nail the culprit. Adapted from Kate Summerscale's best-selling book this gripping true story of murder psychological suspense and courtroom drama has all the hallmarks of a classic Victorian murder mystery: a body a detective and a country house full of secrets and suspects.

• Charlotte Gray / Land Girls / Emma's War | DVD | (29/09/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Land Girls: It's 1941. World War II continues to rage across Europe. The young men of England have been called to the front to fight. So back at home a new regiment is formed an army of England's young women who are dispatched across the countryside to pick up the slack known as 'The Land Girls'. Three beautiful women answer the call. Stella Ag and Prue arrive from their very different backgrounds at a remote farm in Dorset where they meet handsome and volatile Joe. An extraordinary story of tragedy and passion unfolds as the three girls form close friendships with each other and with Joe. The Land Girls is one of the most exhilarating films of recent years which is both hilarious and deeply moving. Charlotte Gray: Set in Nazi-occupied France at the height of World War II Charlotte Gray tells the compelling story of a young Scottish woman working with the French Resistance in the hope of rescuing her lover a missing RAF pilot. Emma's War: Australia 1942. The Japanese are bombing Sydney. Anne driven to the bottle by sheer terror of the war and the absence of her husband takes her two young children Emma and Laurel to begin a new and safe life in the mountains. The war that faces the family in the mountains is something else.....

• Man Dancin' | DVD | (25/10/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  When Jimmy Kerrigan is released from jail after 9 years inside everyone expects him to fall back into his old ways. But Jimmy's changed says all he wants to do is open a bar on a Greek island once his parole is up. Problem is nobody believes him - not at least his former gangland boss Donnie McGlone and Jimmy's old adversary Detective Inspector Walter Villers. They both think Jimmy's up to no good branching out on his own. Enter Father Gabriel Flynn the man in charge of Jimmy'

• The Manageress - Series 1 | DVD | (21/06/2010) from £17.98   |  Saving you £4.00 (25.02%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The Manageress: Series 1 (2 Discs)