"Actor: Alec Stewart"

• One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing | DVD | (15/05/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  After being shot down over Nazi occupied Holland an RAF bomber crew attempt to make their way back to England with the help of the Dutch resistance.

• H.M.S. Defiant | DVD | (18/03/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Set in 1797 at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars, HMS Defiant is an enthralling British naval drama made to capitalise upon MGM's epic remake of Mutiny on the Bounty, also released in 1962. Based on the novel Mutiny by Frank Tilsey and starring Alex Guinness as a fair-minded captain locked in psychological conflict with Dirk Bogarde, his manipulative, coldly malicious first officer, the parallels with the famous true story are clear. However there were many naval mutinies at this period and this large-scale saga, which includes some spectacularly staged widescreen naval battles, offers a realistic depiction of life in the British navy at the time--from the press gangs and floggings, to the appalling food and living conditions. Director Lewis Gilbert--who previously helmed Sink the Bismarck! (1960)--strikes a good balance between the personal drama and sweeping maritime adventure. Guinness successfully varies his firm-but-fair officer from The Bridge on the River Kwai, Bogarde is chillingly hateful and Anthony Quayle gives strong support. ITV's recent Hornblower cumulatively offers a more detailed portrait of the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars, though the TV series cannot match the visual scale of this big-screen production. On the DVD: HMS Defiant is presented anamorphically enhanced at 2.35:1, though a little of the original CinemaScope frame is still cropped at the sides. The image is generally very good, though a handful of scenes near the end show considerable print damage and there is an inconstancy of colour grading between some shots. Grain is variable, but not generally a problem, though some unattractive "ringing" from edge enhancement is noticeable, particularly around Alex Guinness when he stands against a bright sky. The sound is in very clear mono with just occasional distortion on the music score. The disc offers the option of watching with dubbed French, German, Italian or Spanish soundtracks. The original trailer is included--under the American title of Damn the Defiant!--as are trailers for three other classic war films. The only other extra features are a small gallery of original publicity materials and three very basic filmographies. --Gary S Dalkin

• Maureen O'Hara - Screen Goddess | DVD | (28/08/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  The Quiet Man (Dir. John Ford 1952): John Ford's The Quiet Man celebrates one of Hollywood's most romantic and enduring epics. The first American feature to be filmed in Ireland's picturesque countryside Ford richly imbued this masterpiece with his love of Ireland and its people. Sean Thornton is an American who swears off boxing after accidentally killing an opponent. Returning to the Irish town of his birth he finds happiness when he falls in love with the fiery Mary Kate. Though he is sorely tempted to pick up the gloves against her brother the town bully Sean is determined not to use his fists. Mary Kate and Sean wed but her brother refuses to pay the dowry. Sean would rather walk away than accept this challenge. Even when his new wife accuses him of cowardice Sean stands firm. But when she boards a train to leave he is finally ready to take matters into his own hands. Rio Grande (Dir. John Ford 1950): John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara are embroiled in an epic battle with the Apaches and each other in this John Ford classic. Lt Col. Yorke (Wayne) heads to the Rio Grande to fight a warring tribe. But Yorke faces his toughest battle when his unorthodox plan to outwit the elusive Apaches leads to possible court-martial. Locked in a bloody war he must fight to redeem his honour and save his family. Against All Flags (Dir. George Sherman 1952): In 1700 the pirates of Madagascar menace the India trade; British officer Brian Hawke has himself cashiered flogged and set adrift to infiltrate the pirate ""republic."" There Hawke meets lovely Spitfire Stevens a pirate captain in her own right and the sparks begin to fly; but wooing a pirate poses unique problems. Especially after he rescues adoring young Princess Patma from a captured ship. Meanwhile Hawke's secret mission proceeds to an action-packed climax. Rare Breed (Dir. Andrew V. McLaglen 1966): In the 1880s Englishwoman Martha Price (Maureen O'Hara) and her daughter Hilary (Juliet Mills) come to America to sell their prize Hereford bull at an auction. When he is purchased by Bowen a wild Scotsman (Brian Keith) the women hire a footloose cowhand named Burnett (James Stewart) to help them transport the animal to its new owner. So begins an adventure that tests the mettle of all involved as they battle killers cattle stampedes and each other. But when they reach Bowen's ranch even greater obstacles force them to summon up extraordinary courage if they and the prize bull are to survive... Our Man In Havana (Dir. Carol Reed 1959): Jim Wormold (Alec Guinness) a vacuum cleaner salesman in Havana is recruited by the British Intelligence Services. As he has nothing to report he invents facts and pretends to discover secret operations...with disastrous consequences. Carol Reed directs this adaptation of the Graham Greene story. Lady Godiva Of Coventry (Dir Arthur Lubin 1955): Fictionalized account of events leading up the famous nude ride (alas her hair covers everything) of the militant Saxon lady

• England's Summer of Cricket 2012 | DVD | (15/10/2012) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Packed with nearly 8 hours of action from England's 2012 summer of cricket. England went into the 2012 summer ranked the world's best Test team and aiming for top spot in the One-Day game. In their way stood Test and ODI series against an emerging West Indies side and the mighty South Africa, plus a One-Day series against the old enemy, Australia. The summer began with Andrew Strauss back in the runs and wickets for Stuart Broad. Darren Sammy and Marlon Samuels starred for the Windies, and there was an incredible world record innings at number 11 by Tino Best. Then, under Alastair Cook, the One-Day side were far too good for Australia as England eased to a comprehensive series victory. But the biggest challenge was still to come... Kevin Pietersen's scintillating 149 and an exciting 95 from Jonathan Bairstow gave England hope against South Africa but they were up against a side at the very top of their game, with Hashim Amla in sensational form. The home side went to the final match at Lord's desperately trying to cling on to top spot, a struggle which came down to a thrilling last day of the series... It was to be Strauss's last match as he announced his retirement from the game. But the One-Day side ended the summer on a high. An even contest against South Africa saw England end 2012 as the number one side in the world.

• England's Summer Of Cricket 2008 | DVD | (24/11/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Englands Summer of Cricket 2008

• English Cricket's Six Of The Best | DVD | (13/08/2007) from £9.47   |  Saving you £3.52 (27.10%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Alec Stewart presents England's most dramatic victories through the years. Matches include: England v WI 2000 Lord's Pakistan v England 2000/1 Karachi England v South Africa The Oval 2003 South Africa v England Johannesburg 2005 England v Australia Edgbaston 2005 India v England Mumbai 2006

• Cricket's Greatest Ever XI | DVD | (09/04/2007) from £9.31   |  Saving you £3.68 (28.30%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Who is the greatest of them all? Join host Chris Cowdrey and panelists Alec Stewart England's highest capped player and Jack Bannister ex- Warwickshire fast-bowler and legendary commentator as they debate the selections. The answer just one - but who is it that Alec Stewart rates as having the potential to be the best of them all? How many all-rounders will feature and who will captain this team of teams? All these questions are answered by the panel with a few tough decisions along the way. Would Chris Cowdrey's father the great M.C. Cowdrey be voted in? Will there be a place for panelist Alec Stewart either as an opener or keeper-batsman?

• Legends Of Cricket With Alec Stewart | DVD | (02/10/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Who is the greatest of them all? Join host Chris Cowdrey and panelists Alec Stewart England's highest capped player and Jack Bannister ex- Warwickshire fast-bowler and legendary commentator as they debate the selections. The answer just one - but who is it that Alec Stewart rates as having the potential to be the best of them all? How many all-rounders will feature and who will captain this team of teams? All these questions are answered by the panel with a few tough decisions along the way. Would Chris Cowdrey's father the great M.C. Cowdrey be voted in? Will there be a place for panelist Alec Stewart either as an opener or keeper-batsman?