Boasting a virtuoso comic performance from Leonard Rossiter The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976-79) remains one of the greatest of all television sitcoms. Writer David Nobbs combined the surrealist absurdity of Monty Python with an on-going story line that unfolded through each of the three seasons with a clear beginning, middle and end; a ground-breaking development in 70s TV comedy. The first and best season charts middle-aged, middle-management executive Reginald Perrin as he breaks-down under the stress of middle-class life until he informs the world that half the parking meters in London have Dutch Parking Meter Disease. He fakes suicide and returns to court his wife Elizabeth (Pauline Yates) in disguise, a plot development that formed the entire basis of Mrs Doubtfire (1993). Series Two is broader, the rapid-fire dialogue still razor sharp and loaded with caustic wit and ingenious silliness, as a now sane Reggie takes on the madness of the business world by opening a chain of shops selling rubbish. The third season, set in a health farm, is routine, the edge blunted by routine sitcom conventions. At its best The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is hilarious and moving, its depiction of English middle-class life spot on, its satire prophetic. Reggie's visual fantasies hark back to The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and Billy Liar (1963), and look forward to Ally McBeal (1997-2002) and are the icing on the cake of a fine, original and highly imaginative show. On the DVD: Reginald Perrin's discs contain one complete seven episode season. There are no extras. The sound is good mono and the 4:3 picture is generally fine, though some of the exterior shot-on-film scenes have deteriorated and there are occasional signs of minor damage to the original video masters. Even so, for a 1970s sitcom shot on video the picture is excellent and far superior to the original broadcasts. --Gary S Dalkin
John Huston directs this 1950s drama starring Errol Flynn, Juliette Gréco, Trevor Howard, Eddie Albert and Orson Welles. Based on the novel by Romain Gary, the film follows crusading environmentalist Morel (Howard), who is determined to protect elephants from the threat of extinction. Though Morel initially struggles to gain traction for his project in French Equatorial Africa, he wins over Minna (Gréco), a local tavern worker, and Forsyth (Flynn), a former member of the British Army looking to correct past wrongs. Can the intrepid trio make a difference to the future of elephants?
The John Wayne Ultimate Collection
Along with a glittering star-studded cast follow Phileas Fogg on his journey around the world. Phileas wagers that he can circumnavigate the world in a mere 80 days - and vows to leave that very night taking only some necessary cash in a carpet bag and his newly hired manservant Jean Passepartout. Adding to the excitement an English detective relentlessly pursues them throughout the journey that takes our hero to the World's most exotic locations by land sea and air.
A true classic and one of the most enduring modern gay romances of the last decade, Shelter is finally here on Blue-Ray. Charged with the electric crackle of first love, this sweet and sexy California romance is about a confused young artist torn between his family and his future. Fresh out of high school, Zach (Trevor Wright) gives up a full scholarship to spare his 5-year-old nephew from their dysfunctional family. Now restless and isolated, the gifted youth toils at a local diner.But everything changes when he finds himself drawn to thirty-something Shaun (Brad Rowe, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss), a confident young writer. As the two hit the surf and Shaun's mattress with equal enthusiasm, they fall into a secret relationship that may give Zach the courage he needs to follow his passions.
A classic tale of bravery and courage during WWII, Odette tells the true story of female war hero Odette Hallowes. After volunteering her services to the Special Operations Executive, Odette is dispatched into Nazi occupied France and thrown into an intense world of espionage. Whilst on a deadly mission working for the French Resistance, her cover is blown and Odette is captured and interrogated by ruthless Gestapo officers. But, even after being brutally tortured and sentenced to death in a concentration camp, Odette still refuses to reveal any information concerning her original mission and her fellow spies. Extras: Those British Faces: Anna Neagle, New interview with Sebastian Faulks, Afternoon Plus with Mavis Nicholson - Interview with Odette Sansom (1980), Captain Peter Churchill And Odette Sanson Get Married In London (1947
Mumsy (Ursula Howells) Nanny (Pat Heywood) and overgrown children Sonny (Howard Trevor) and Girly (Vanessa Howard) are a happy family living in a sprawling decaying mansion. Sonny and Girly bring friends home to play but if they don't obey the rules they are tried and sent to the angels. The arrival of new friend (Michael Bryant) - a gigolo on the run after his girlfriend is accidentally killed while playing with Sonny and Girly upsets the household with his very own brand of adult games playing the quartet off against each other. But Girly doesn't like to share her friends; not even with Mumsy and Nanny....
Greg Lake - the voice of a generation. From his initial days in the explosive London music scene of the late 1960s through his time as founding member and voice of rock innovators King Crimson and legendary British rock band Emerson Lake and Palmer (ELP); Greg Lake has continually made records that have endured the test of time. 'Welcome Backstage' presents an exclusive insight into Greg Lake and his band in pre-tour rehearsals filmed in September 2005 at 'Classic T Stage' Shepperton Film Studios UK. This DVD captures a selection of full length tracks excerpts from rehearsals backstage footage and exclusive band member interviews. Tracks include: Farewell To Arms Welcome Back My Friends Fanfare For The Common Man I Believe In Father Christmas Take A Pebble Watching Over You
In New Orleans, a city with a dark underside of black magic and satanic worship, two priests have been brutally murdered at St. Agnes Church. Now THE UNHOLY reigns, only to be challenged by the purest of mortal souls. Father Michael (Ben Cross), believed to be spiritually blessed, is appointed to the ungodly parish. Is he really the chosen one, strong enough to fight such ravishing temptation, such raw evil? Or is he simply the third to die? Some say Father Michael hasn't got a prayer. Special Features: Audio Commentary with Director Camilo Vila Isolated Score Selections and Audio Interview with Composer Roger Bellon Audio Interview with Production Designer & Co-Writer Fernando Fonseca, featuring Isolated Selections from his Unused Score Sins of the Father with Ben Cross Demons In The Flesh: The Monsters of The Unholy Prayer Offerings with Production Designer & Co-Writer Fernando Fonseca Original Ending featuring Optional Audio Commentary with Producer Mathew Hayden Theatrical Trailer TV Spots Radio Spots Original Storyboard Gallery Still Gallery
Lighthearted detective series set in the West Country, about Eddie Shoestring, a radio-phone-in detective
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... Heroes: Following the assassination of a US politician visiting Britain CI5 are dismayed when the press print the names of the witnesses! It's a race against time to protect the innocent before the assassin can track them down... Private Madness Public Danger: Nesbitt is threatening to poison London's water supply; this chemical expert with a grudge has the capability to carry out his terrible promise. Can Bodie and Doyle find him before people start dying? The Female Factor: The KGB have found a way into British politics by exploiting a young girl's links to a politician tipped as a future Prime Minister. Fortunately CI5 are on the case with an old flame of Doyle's... Everest Was Also Conquered: Who's killing police officers and what connects the dead men? The clues lie in a case from 35 years previously when a witness was murdered by the very people supposed to protect her...
The Stranger: Pro wrestling legend Steve Austin stars as a man with no name, no memory and absolutely nothing left to lose. But when he finds himself hunted by both the FBI and the Russian mob, this amnesiac decides to fight back. Pursuit cannot stop him. Torture will not break him. And with every beating, bullet and betrayal, he'll remember another piece of the horror that took away his career, his family and his identity. Now the puzzle is nearly complete, and one man is about to take back his past... by ending a whole lot of futures. Hunt To Kill: Jim Rhodes is one bad ass Border Patrol Agent. He's cut from the same cloth as guys like Schwarzenegger and Stallone. His skill as a survivalist allows him to quickly negotiate terrain that would destroy the average man. When Jim's teenage daughter is kidnapped, he's forced to lead a band of ruthless killers into the wilderness to retrieve their share of a missing heist score. In order to rescue his daughter, Jim must use his unique brand of survival skills to outsmart the kidnappers before it's too late.The Killing Machine: There were those who called him Icarus. Everyone else knew him as a divorced father working for an investment company. But they didn't know his other side - his dark side. Because Icarus (Dolph Lundgren) was at his best when he was killing people. For years, he'd worked as a sleeper agent in America - but when the Soviet Empire collapsed, he found himself in a foreign country with no one to trust. Determined to break from his dark past, he started over with a new identity. But you can only escape your past for so long...Men of War: Nick Gunar (Dolph Lundgren) is a burnt-out, jaded and hard-up former mercenary who is having a difficult time adjusting to civilian life. At the end of his rope, he is hired by the Nitro Mine Corporation to strong-arm the natives of a South China Sea island into giving up their rights to its valuable mineral resources. He recruits some of his former mercenary buddies to help him with the job. The island people refuse to give up their land and Nick decides to help them fight the greedy corporation that hired him. As greed and treachery begin to unravel, Nick's band of mercenaries choose sides. Some are with him and others, still working for the corporation, will stop at nothing to destroy him.Pentathlon: When East German Eric Brogar (Dolph Lundgren) wins a gold medal in the Pentathlon, he escapes to freedom in the west with the help of a beautiful American athlete. But his demanding coach, Heinrich Mueller (David Soul), vows revenge and Eric's best friend and his father pay the ultimate price for his freedom when they are killed by the Secret Police. In Los Angeles, Eric starts to train for the gold again. But when Mueller comes to America, Eric must win the most deadly game of all... the fight for his life.Ticker: San Francisco detective Ray Nettles (Tom Sizemore) and his partner Fuzzy (NAS) find themselves confronting one of the most dangerous terrorist gangs the city has ever known. When one of the terrorists, beautiful scientist Claire Manning (Jaime Pressly), is arrested, the terrorist leader Swan (Dennis Hopper) threatens to detonate bombs across the city in order to secure her release. Faced with the potential carnage, Nettles turns to Bomb Squad expert Frank Glass (Steven Segal) for help. Ticker hurtles to an explosive conclusion as Glass and Nettles must capture and detonate Claire before she goes nuclear and takes out the entire city of San Francisco.
The life and highly entertaining times of 19th century English music hall performer George Leybourne (aka Champagne Charlie) and his rivalry with the Great Vance (Stanley Holloway)... A thoroughly enjoyable but sadly neglected musical comedy from the Ealing Studio.
TREVOR HOWARD and RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH star in this famous story of a Royal Navy destroyer and her officers and crew during the early years of the Second World War. H.M.S. Ballantrae is an ex-U.S. Navy destroyer - one of fifty lent by the Americans in 1940 to a desperate Royal Navy fighting to keep the Atlantic sea lanes open. The ship is old and desperately in need of a major refit, but is almost immediately pressed into service on escort duty. Her new captain, Lt. Commander Fraser (Trevor Howard), struggles to keep her operational, while dealing with problems arising from his own chequered past. The Crew are mostly new recruits, raw, inexperienced and unused to navy discipline. Somehow, Fraser must shape them into a formidable fighting unit as they run the lethal gauntlet of U-Boats and German bombers. Just as H.M.S. Ballantrae seems to have overcome her problems, she is selected to play a vital role in one of the most daring raids of the entire war - a mission from which the ship is intended never to return... With a fine supporting cast including Bernard Lee, Dora Bryan, Sid James, Sonny Tufts, Joan Rice and James Donald. GIFT HORSE offers an authentic and moving portrayal of life on board a Royal Navy ship during World War Two. It was made with the full cooperation of both the Admiralty and the St. Nazaire Society, and is broadly based on dramatic, real life events.
Return of the Living Dead III is the third go-round for a premise intended as both a sequel to and a satire of the George A Romero Living Dead films. This could just as easily have been an entry in director Brian Yuzna's Re-Animator series, and indeed the plot nugget seems derived from the last shot of Re-Animator itself, as a devoted youth (J. Trevor Edmond) revives his freshly dead girlfriend (Mindy Clarke) with trioxin, a military zombie-making gas, and learns to regret his actions. Though it has some left-field ideas--the heroine turns herself into a DIY Hellraiser Cenobite poster-girl with extreme body piercing to distract herself from the desire to eat her boyfriend's brain--and effective action, it is still confined by its low budget and thus stuck with ordinary acting, a minimal plot and too many dumb developments. The central thread is the necrophile/SM romance, which ends up in a liebestod clinch in the army base's furnace, but there's a sub-plot about a quartet of zombified gang members which serves mainly to get some violence going every few minutes. Clarke is a striking presence, studded with bits of metal like a punk porcupine, but her performance flat lines even before her death in a motorcycle crash and revival as a zombie, while the rest of the cast--with the honourable exceptions of Kent McCord as a senior officer and Basil Wallace as a mystical down-and-out--are typified by Sarah Douglas' strident militarist mad scientist, who wants to put zombies in armoured exoskeletons and deploy them as combat troops. Nevertheless, this is gruesome fun for the fans, with some imaginative zombie mutilation effects. On the DVD: It's a no-frills full-screen transfer. The only extra is a 50-second trailer.--Kim Newman
One of Powell and Pressburger's most famous films, "The Red Shoes" is the tragic and romantic story of Vicky Page, the brilliant young dancer who must give up everything if she is to become a great ballerina.
These three compelling dramas reveal the extraordinary and often turbulent off-camera lives of some of Britain's favourite comedians. Based on the testimonies of friends colleagues and family members these fascinating portrayals uncover the turmoil and heartache found behind the laughter. Frankie Howerd Rather You Than Me: Frankie Howerd is to this day an enduring and celebrated icon of British comedy well known for his camp persona and classic catchphrases. However behind the scenes Howerd was racked with depression and self loathing. In this compelling one-off drama David Walliams (Little Britain) gets to play one of his own comedy favourites telling the moving humorous and poignant story of Howerd's fight with his inner demons. The Curse Of Steptoe: Steptoe and Son was one of the most successful comedy series ever giving birth to the modern sitcom and transforming its actors into national treasures. It told the story of two rag-and-bone men Harry H Corbett (played by Jason Isaacs) and Wilfrid Brambell (Phil Davis) trapped together for eternity. But off-screen a stranger story would mirror fiction as the two men find themselves unable to escape their inner complexities or each other. Hughie Green Most Sincerely: Starring Trevor Eve (Waking the Dead) this fascinating drama tells the inside story of Hughie Green the avuncular front man of Opportunity Knocks and Double Your Money. Hughie's professional rivalry with Stars On Sunday presenter Jess Yates (Mark Benton) and serial womanising ultimately produced an explosive celebrity secret. This drama tells of the destructive power of success and celebrity and explores what family and fatherhood meant to this iconic character. These three compelling dramas reveal the extraordinary and often turbulent off-camera lives of some of Britain's favourite comedians. Based on the testimonies of friends colleagues and family members these fascinating portrayals uncover the turmoil and heartache found behind the laughter.
They say crime doesn't pay. Private detective Phillip Marlowe knows better. The fat wad of folding money warming his breast pocket is the kind of thing that keeps him going through thick and thicker as he wades chin deep into a mystery involving a missing necklace and a missing hoodlum's moll named Velma. Sharply directed by Edward Dymytrk Murder My Sweet is film at its most noir creating a moody sense of a world that never plays on the level. Casting against type Dick Powell puts sunny crooner roles behind him dishing hardboiled patter and wearing five-going-on-six-o'clock stubble so well that source author Raymond Chandler called Powell his favorite screen Marlowe. ""I'm just a small businessman in a very messy business "" the PI observes. With wit and trendsetting style to burn it's never business as usual.
West Ham United Football Club is proud to boast a reputation as the Academy of Football. Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire, Billy Bonds, Frank McAvennie, Tony Cottee . . . the list of Hammers heroes is endless. And so too are many great memories from the First 100 Years of one of English soccer's most famous clubs. Introduced by life-long fan David Essex, this programme is a unique celebration of the Hammers' centenary. The goals, the personalities,...
Babylon is set in South London at the start of the '80s a time when reggae music was at its peak and racism was rife and follows Blue the lead rapper for Ital Lion Sound in the run-up to a Sound System competition with a rival crew led by Jah Shaka. Over the course of the film Blue clashes with his friends family police and the violent racists who endeavour to make life hard for him; all of which in turn set up for the film's violent climax.
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