"Director: Maclean Rogers"

• The Old Mother Riley Collection | DVD | (20/11/2015) from £21.95   |  Saving you £8.04 (36.63%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Bridget's Night Out (1936) This was the first appearance of Lucan and McShane on film. Arthur wrote the sketch shortly before the couple's appearance at the Royal Command Performance in May 1934; it was filmed by Butchers late in 1935 and released in 1936. Old Mother Riley(1937) Previously Lost Film. The first of a series of fifteen of the most successful comedies in the history of British film. Old Mother Riley In Paris (1938) Con West's second script for Butcher's Films, produced and directed this time with far greater assurance, by Oswald Mitchell. Filming took place far from Paris, at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, and on location at Gatwick airport. Old Mother Riley MP (1939) "Early in 1939 the Lucans made their third and last Riley film for Butcher's, Old Mother Riley MP. The film was released in August and was a huge box-office success, with Mother Riley taking the Mother Of Parliaments"" by storm." Old Mother Riley Headmistress (1950) "Old Mother Riley Headmistress, was produced for Grand National Pictures by Harry Reynolds. John Harlow directed with John Gilling, and old faithful Con West was back on the script. Here, Mother Riley makes the transition from washerwoman to headmistress with the usual hilarious results. Old Mother Riley's Jungle Treasure (1951) The last film in which Lucan and McShane appeared together or rather appeared to" appear" together because in reality their interminable quarrels had by this time become so intolerable that George Minter decided to film all their scenes separately and edit them later, a fact that accounts for the rather strange atmosphere in many scenes in which Mother and Kitty seem to be talking not to each other but to someone just over each other's shoulder. Old Mother Riley's New Venture (1949) By 1949 it seemed clear that the series of films by music hall to cinema crossover comedians had run its course. Made by Harry Reynolds Productions and the Renown Pictures Corporation, directed by John Harlow with John Gilling. Mother Riley Meets The Vampire (1952) Mother Riley was scheduled to meet a Vampire to be played by Bela Lugosi. As Richard Anthony Baker wickedly put it, "One horrific figure was replaced by another." Bonus Feature - Documentary "Arthur And Kitty" A real treat for Old Mother Riley Fans as a collection of Lucan specialists give an insight into the lives of Arthur and Kitty in this EXCLUSIVE documentary brought to you by Talking Pictures TV

• Down Among The Z Men | DVD | (24/06/2002) from £7.29   |  Saving you £8.70 (119.34%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Although they made their name in the medium of radio, the legendary Goons also made brief forays into the world of television and, with Down Among the Z Men, film. It captures the team at a very early stage in their career, with Michael Bentine still in the fold, and with their unique, anarchic brand of humour still in its infancy. Sadly, the style and feel of the film does little to suit their comedy style. While radio offered an opportunity for their imaginations to run riot, here the four find themselves tied to a few stock characters, most of whom would make a more animated appearances later in their career. The plot--with its tale of eccentric professors and evil spies--sees a series of musical numbers and a variety performance crow barred into the proceedings. Those who wish to add to an already existing Goons collection may want to consider this, but anyone wondering what all the fuss is about should head straight for the many radio collections available and hear the sound of true genius at work. On The DVD: Down Among the Z Men offers little to recommend, with the DVD lacking in any extras whatsoever. Being taken from an original fifties print, the black and white picture is of reasonable quality yet cannot help but look extremely dated. At best it is the sort of curio that would pass time on a Sunday afternoon but it is hard to consider this a particularly essential DVD release. –-Phil Udell

• Assignment redhead | DVD | (18/04/2011) from £10.95   |  Saving you £2.04 (15.70%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A Butchers 1956 production starring American leads Richard Denning and Carole Mathews. Was the idea to make the film more saleable in the USA? Or to make a British film more American? A bit of both I would think... It’s a story of murder, counterfeit money and international crime with a pinch of Nazis. Our brit Ronald Adam is the bad guy - funny how brits are the bad guys in American films these days!! Ronald Adam featured in 148 productions, his last in 1978, just a year before his death in 1979 . Quite a good little feature, with picture and sound of good quality, after some extensive restoration.

• Paul Temple's Triumph | DVD | (23/06/2013) from £17.53   |  Saving you £-4.54 (-34.90%)   |  RRP £12.99

  This film is the final Paul Temple Feature brought to you by renown and was thought to be 'lost' for many years. Time is running out for Paul Temple ( John Bentley) and his wife steve (Dinah sheridan) as they hunt for a kidnapped scientist who has developed a secret formula for controlling atomic weaponry. He has been captured by the malevolent and ruthless 'Z' organisation and is being held at their headquarters. Temple must find the secret base and infiltrate the organization to save both.

• Noddy In Toyland - Noddy And Friends | DVD | (29/10/1999) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Traditionalists were of course scandalised enough when the stop-motion animated Noddy TV series featured regional accents and (gasp) positive black characters. God only knows what they'll make of this. Try to keep up: what you have here is an Anglo-American co-production in which stories from the stop-motion series are sandwiched between frantic scenarios featuring live-action children and adult characters and puppets--a kind of Sesame Street in total overdrive. This, of course, seems hopelessly incongruous to everyone except the show's intended audience, which simply takes the whole thing in its stride. Individually, the two elements are commendable anyway; the first live-action episode--involving a parrot and an unstoppable vacuum cleaner--is a particularly fine piece of slapstick, while the original stop-motion stories are as gently rewarding as ever. This DVD is guaranteed to meet with approval from the jingly-hatted one's many young fans. --Roger Thomas

• Old Mother Riley | DVD | (13/11/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane star in this unique collection of Old Mother Riley films! Featuring: 1. MP 2. In Paris 3. New Venture 4. Jungle Treasure 5. Meets The Vampire 6. Headmistress

• Gert And Daisy's Weekend | DVD | (01/11/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Legends of British music hall and radio Elsie and Doris Waters are at their very best in this hilarious wartime comedy farce featuring their classic comedy characters Gert and Daisy! As the Blitz rages Gert and Daisy volunteer to escort a rather lively group of evacuee children out of London to the safety of the English countryside. Used to the hardships of London's East End and sheltering from the bombs in Underground stations every night the luxuries of Little Pipham Hall seem like another world. Little Pipham Hall's owner the rather grand Lady Plumtree is also unprepared for the two strange Londoners and their horde of undisciplined children! Soon the grand house is in uproar - and the appearance of a couple of jewel thieves intent on stealing Lady Plumtree's diamonds sets the scene for a grand farce! The best film record of the Water Sisters at the height of their comedy genius Gert and Daisy's Weekend is a precious souvenir of a truly great British comedy double act.

• Calling Paul Temple | DVD | (11/10/2010) from £11.19   |  Saving you £1.80 (16.09%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Paul Temple (John Bentley) is a former Scotland Yard investigator who has become a successful mystery novelist. Paul frequently lends a hand in the solution of real-life crimes that challenge even the most experienced Scotland Yard sleuths. At his side in these exploits is Steve (Dinah Sheridan) his lovely wife and partner-in-crime solving. Scotland Yard is unable to unravel the Rex murders. An unidentified killer who signs his name as Rex has slain three wealthy women as they rode in trains. All of the victims carried pieces of paper on which was written the name Mrs. Trevellyan. Based on the Hit Thriller Radio Plays by Francis Durbridge.

• Old Mother Riley | DVD | (01/01/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane star in this unique collection of Old Mother Riley films! Featuring: 1. MP 2. In Paris 3. New Venture 4. Jungle Treasure 5. Meets The Vampire 6. Headmistress

• Naked Fury/Mark Of The Phoenix | DVD | (21/10/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Naked FuryWhilst robbing a bank four men kill a night watchman and take his daughter hostage - they hold her in an old warehouse. One of the robbers (Kenneth Cope) of 'Randall and Hopkirk' and 'Coronation St' Fame falls for the girl (Leigh Madison) but that only causes squabbles and fighting between the four. Produced in 1959 by Guido Coen one time Executive Director of Twickenham Studios. Mark of the PhoenixDirected by Maclean Rogers this 1957 Butchers production is a great little Crime Drama. A sample of an advanced new metal is stolen and made into a cigarette case for smuggling to the East. Caught up in the plot international Jewell thief (Sheldon Lawrence) who is then pursued by East and West...

• Madame Louise | DVD | (09/05/2011) from £16.78   |  Saving you £-3.79 (-29.20%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Richard Hearne (Mr Pastry) stars in this 1951 Nettlefold production made at Walton Studios. Directed by the ever present Maclean Rodgers and written by Michael Pertwee from a play by Veron Sylvaine. Typical Mr Pastry, a mixture of the littleman and slapstick not unlike the late Norman Wisdom. The woman owner of a dress shop gambles the shop away to her bookie who inherits not only the shop but Mr Pastry (the manager) and his assistant Petula Clark. Roles are reversed in this caper and all ends well.

• Limited Edition Paul Temple Box Set | DVD | (28/11/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Send For Paul Temple:Novelist and amateur sleuth, Paul Temple, meets a newspaper woman called Steve. Together they investigate a gang of diamond robbers.Calling Paul Temple:Scotland Yard is unable to unravel the Rex murders. An unidentified killer who signs his name as Rex has slain three wealthy women as they rode in trains.Paul Temple's Triumph:Steve (Sheridan) are on the hunt for a kidnapped scientist whose secret formula for atomic weaponry has fallen into enemy hands.Paul Temple Returns:The plot revolves around Temple's efforts to aid the police in solving a series of gruesome murders, and leaves us with the inevitable feeling of 'However could Scotland Yard have managed without him....'

• Not Wanted on Voyage | DVD | (28/01/2008) from £17.53   |  Saving you £-4.54 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A rollicking comedy adventure with Brian Rix and Ronald Shiner playing two cabin stewards bound for Tangiers aboard a cruise ship. As comedy enthusiasts would expect Rix loses his trousers as the two bumbling stewards attempt to uncover the identity of a jewel thief and recover the priceless diamonds of a wealthy passenger.

• Salute The Toff | DVD | (18/11/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The film was based on the 1941 novel of the same name by John Creasey. The sixth in the series featuring upper-class sleuth Richard Rollison also known as 'The Toff'. This film and another Toff adaptation Hammer the Toff was shot back-to-back at Nettlefold Studios in the summer of 1951. They were released to cinemas in January and May 1952 respectively. Worried when her boss goes missing secretary Fay (Carol Marsh) seeks the help of society sleuth 'The Toff' (John Bentley). The Toff finds a dead body and is attacked in a hotel during his search for missing boss Draycott (Tony Britton). Aided throughout by Inspector Grice (Valentine Dyall) and The Toffs wonderfully camp butler (Roddy Hughes). Long thought lost the film has been restored to a good standard.

• Variety Jubliee | DVD | (28/11/2011) from £20.00   |  Saving you £-7.01 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Kit (Ellis Irving) and Joe Swan (Reginald Purdell) are variety stars at the turn of the century. Kits son is killed in the First World War but the sons' son carries on the family tradition by reviving the music hall and joining the RAF musical. This domestic melodrama chronicles three generations of a family of music-hall owners. When WWII erupts, the popularity of the music halls decline, and the Burns and Swann music hall falls into disrepair. Their business falls further into decline when Kit and Evelyn's son, Kit Jr., is killed. Unable to revive their theatre, Kit and Evelyn die in poverty and Swann ends as the theatre doorman. Fortunately, Kit senior's grandson, also named Kit, decides to save and run the hall. He does so until he joins the RAF to fight in WWII.

• Her Favourite Husband | DVD | (27/09/2010) from £11.75   |  Saving you £1.24 (9.50%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A wonderfully simple story of Mr Ningle (Richard Hearne) who lost his job in the City many years ago but didn't like to tell his wife. So he goes off to Town each day in his pinstripe and bowler. He then changes clothes and works as a pavement artist. Unfortunately a reporter Bill Shine is sent to tail him but when Ningle escapes detection Shine calls the police. They find Ningles clothes and assume he has been killed. A suspicious character seen near the scene is Ningle himself and the police set out to track Ningle in connection with his own death!

• Flannelfoot | DVD | (28/02/2014) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Directed by the ever present Maclean Rodgers. Flannelfoot was a 1953 E.J. Fancey production. Crime news hack Mitchell (Jack Watling) is out to discover the identity of notorious jewel thief known as 'Flannelfoot'. Mitchell's 'grass' Ginger (Graham Stark) is murdered in the pursuit of Flannelfoot. Also stars Ronald Howard son of Leslie Howard and Diana Couplands with her debut screen performance.

• The Story of Shirley Yorke | DVD | (30/01/2012) from £8.95   |  Saving you £4.04 (45.14%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The first ever release of this classic British title on DVD.This 1948 Nettlefold production was Directed by Maclean Rogers and stars nurse Shirley Yorke, (Dinah Sheridan) who must assist her boss Dr Napier, (John Robinson) the only person able of effecting a new treatment on the ailing wife of a British Lord.The woman dies and the finger is very strongly pointed at Sister Shirley, the main reason being because she and the Lord were former lovers. Later she is tried, and much damning evidence is presented against her. However, fortunately, the good doctor proves that neither he nor she are guilty of the crime. His evidence results in the capture of the real killer. Also stars Derek Farr and a good supporting cast including Charles Hawtrey.

• Forces Sweetheart | DVD | (01/11/2010) from £6.94   |  Saving you £6.05 (87.18%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Favourite Hy Hazell plays Judy James a performer with ENTA the British equivalent of USO. Three goofy soldiers played by Harry Secombe Michael Bentine and Freddie Frinton vie for the affections of the lovely Judy.