Collection of Christmas-themed episodes from favourite children's series including 'The Sooty Show' and 'Rainbow'.
Diabolique is Jeremiah Chechik's 1996 revamped version of the 1955 French film noir tale of two teachers at a boys school conspiring to kill the headmaster (played in the remake by Chazz Palminteri of Jade and The Usual Suspects). The three assemble an intriguing triangle of revenge and deceit as the headmaster's abused and humiliated wife and mistress team up to get even. Mia Baran is the fragile wife with a delicate heart condition, portrayed by Isabelle Adjani (Queen Margot), and Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct) is the plotting, contemptuous mistress. Together they set out to wreak an unfortunate revenge, but as the story reveals itself, miscalculations abound as hidden agendas and secret lives are unexpectedly exposed. Chechik's new look and timeless setting give film noir audiences something neoteric and seductive to play with. A welcomed change to the film's story line is the fresh addition of Kathy Bates as a daunting private detective. Fans of Stone's will not be disappointed with the latest version of her "I-could-give-a-damn smoldering broad" technique and anyone not yet familiar with Chazz Palminteri will love watching him succeed as the ultimately despicable headmaster. --Michele Goodson
Newly remastered by David Lynch himself for this 35th Anniversary release, his feature-film debut is a masterpiece of the macabre and grotesque. Eraserhead follows a sensitive young man as he struggles to cope with impending parenthood. Henry Spencer (Jack Nance) lives in a hopeless industrial landscape, lusting after the beautiful woman who lives in the apartment across the hall. Five years in the making, Eraserhead contains all of the trademark attributes of a Lynch film--haunting visuals, an ethereal score, unsettling sound design, and, most notably, a black sense of humour - creating a world onscreen that is exhilarating, terrifying, and truly unique.
Directed by Laurence Olivier and featuring a specially commissioned score by composer William Walton this filmed production of Anton Chekhov's classic play by London's world-renowned National Theatre Company is featured here in a brand-new transfer from the original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio. The action takes place in a Russian provincial town at the turn of the century. It tells the story of Olga Masha and Irina daughters of a dead general who with their brother Andrei live out their days bound together by feelings of melancholy endless yearning and disappointment. The themes of troubled unrequited love provincial boredom and the imagined glamour of the capital to which the sisters long to return are brilliantly conveyed in outstanding performances by some of the twentieth century's greatest theatrical players. SPECIAL FEATURES [] Original Theatrical Trailer [] Image Gallery [] Promotional Material PDF
Based on the celebrated novel by Richard Yates, director Sam Mendes' "Revolutionary Road" is the story of a young couple ("Titanic" stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) trying to find fulfilment in an age of conformity.
Alfred Hitchcock considered this 1943 thriller to be his personal favourite among his own films, and although it's not as popular as some of Hitchcock's later work, it's certainly worthy of the master's admiration. Scripted by playwright Thornton Wilder and inspired by the actual case of a 1920s serial killer known as "The Merry Widow Murderer," Shadow of a Doubt sets a tone of menace and fear by introducing a psychotic killer into the small-town comforts of Santa Rosa, California. That's where young Charlie (Teresa Wright) lives with her parents and two younger siblings, and where murder is little more than a topic of morbid conversation for their mystery-buff neighbour (Hume Cronyn). Charlie was named after her favourite uncle, who has just arrived for an extended visit, and at first Uncle Charlie (Joseph Cotten) gets along famously with his admiring niece. But the film's chilling prologue has already revealed Uncle Charlie's true identity as the notorious Merry Widow Murderer, and the suspense grows almost unbearable when young Charlie's trust gives way to gradual dread and suspicion. Through narrow escapes and a climactic scene aboard a speeding train, this witty thriller strips away the fa ade of small-town tranquillity to reveal evil where it's least expected. And, of course, it's all done in pure Hitchcockian style. --Jeff Shannon
The Sixth instalment of American Horror Story: Roanoke. Presented as a paranormal documentary series, the story follows a married couple whose experiences are re-enacted by actors. The couple settles into their new home, strange and paranormal occurrences begin to haunt them. This instalment of the Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning franchise features an all-star cast of Lady Gaga, Cuba Gooding Jr, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Denis O'Hare, Cheyenne Jackson, Evan Peters and Finn Wittrock.
Christie stars as Marian sister to Marcus and about to be engaged to Hugh (Edward Fox) a good-natured Viscount and her perfect match. During the course of summer 1900 13-year-old Leo comes to stay at the Norfolk stately home of his classmate Marcus and is soon befriended by Marian. Initially ignorant of the implications Leo agrees to carry messages between Marian and her neighbour the eminently unsuitable local farmer Ted Burgess (Alan Bates). As the oppressive heat intensifies so do Leo's questions about the laws of attraction and love... and as his childhood innocence is threatened so is the fragile web of relationships so recently forged over the course of this summer's passions deceptions and revelations... Adapted from the classic novel by LP Hartley by Harold Pinter this was his third collaboration with director Joseph Losey and won him a BAFTA for Best Screenplay. Also a BAFTA winner for Best Actress the film also stars Michael Redgrave.
One of the defining films of the 1960s, Silvio Narizzano's adaptation of Margaret Foster's 1965 novel stars Lynn Redgrave in an Oscar-nominated role as the put-upon teenager Georgy Parkin. Awkward and full of self-doubt, Georgy finds herself forever just outside of the Swinging Sixties' London life she craves. Marked by a wonderfully warm and appealing central performance from Redgrave, and with its superb supporting cast including Charlotte Rampling (Death in Venice, The Night Porter), Alan Bates (A Kind of Loving, Women in Love) and the great James Mason (The Reckless Moment, Age of Consent, The Deadly Affair), Georgy Girl captures the spirit of the era and boasts one of the all-time great film theme tunes. Extras: High Definition remaster Original mono audio Audio commentary with Diabolique magazine's editor-in-chief Kat Ellinger The Guardian Interview with Charlotte Rampling (2001, 59 mins): an archival audio recording of a career-spanning interview conducted by Christopher Cook at London's National Film Theatre The Tempo of the Time (2018, 8 mins): a new interview with author, playwright and co-screenwriter Peter Nichols A Wonderful Sense of Freedom (2018, 29 mins): editor John Bloom discusses his work on the film Georgy's Geography (2018, 4 mins): a new interview with art director Tony Woollard Going for a Song (2018, 5 mins): lyricist Jim Dale and editor John Bloom reveal the origins of Georgy Girl's famous theme song Original radio spot Original theatrical trailer Image gallery: promotional photography and publicity material New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
For The Boys (Dir. Mark Rydell 1991): Bette Midler gives the brassiest sassiest performance of her career as Dixie Leonard... a USO singer whose electrifying stage presence and flair for outrageous comedy captivates troops and civilians alike. Teamed up with America's beloved song and dance man Eddie Sparks (James Caan) the whole world becomes Dixie's stage through three very different wars and 50 years of music and memories laughter and tears. All of it ""For The Boys."" Yanks (Dir. John Schlesinger 1979): 'Yanks' is the moving story of American servicemen stationed in England during the Second World War and the impact that their presence had on the lives of people in a small Lancashire village. This beautifully filmed drama follows three American soldiers and the relationships that they form with three local women: Jean Helen and Mollie. The relationships that blossom would affect their lives forever. This romantic and memorable movie highlights the cultural differences that existed and also the effect that the American invasion had on the hearts and minds of communities. The Rose (Dir. Mark Rydell 1979): Bette Midler plays a Janis Joplin-like singer overwhelmed by stardom and its excesses. Mark Rydell directs this showcase of Midler's concert vocal and acting talents. Alan Bates plays Rose's ruthless manager.
Newlyweds Peter (Alec Baldwin) and Rita (Meg Ryan) find their promise to love each other forever is tested in a way they could never have imagined! Just moments after they exchange wedding vows an elderly man appears and asks if he may kiss the bride. Rita says yes and it is not long before Peter notices that his bride is no longer the girl he knew. When he realizes that Rita and the old man have somehow exchanged souls Peter knows he must find him to get back the woman he loves!
Walter (Ashton Kutcher) is a rising star in the NCAA wrestling world until his life is ripped apart by the brutal murder of his sister. Returning home to console his mother Gloria (Kathy Bates) he seeks vengeance on the man who is accused of the crime. A chance meeting with a beautiful mature woman (Michelle Pfeiffer) gives him solace to the situation. Will this unlikely pairing bloom into a romance and heal a wound the world cannot see or will the loss of his sister push him over the edge?
Life. Lust. Love. Zorba. Basil a young English writer of Greek ancestry meets an older free-spirited Greek peasant named Zorba (Anthony Quinn) on the island of Crete. While Zorba pursues a relationship with Madame Hortense an aging French courtesan the inhibited Basil summons up the courage to court a young widow. The young unhappy Englishman finds himself learning valuable life lessons from Zorba the earthy peasant who has a zeal for everything he does. Nominated for
Vincent Perez and Rachel Weisz star with Sir Ian McKellen and Kathy Bates in this passionate film about star-crossed lovers. To everyone in her village Amy Foster is thought of as strange she is even shunned by her own family. Considered a witch by the more superstitious she is accused of conjuring the fierce storm that causes a shipwreck. Only one man survives and he is immediately drawn to Amy. Caught between their passion for each other and the prejudice and hatred their love has ignited Amy and her lover find themselves ensnared by the small-minded town folk in a haunting tale of courage individuality and the resiliency of the human heart.
Kathy Bates stars as an unhappy wife trying to get her husband's attention in this amusing and moving 1991 screen adaptation of Fannie Flagg's novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. After befriending a lonely old woman (Jessica Tandy), Bates hears the story of a lifelong friendship between two other women (Mary Stuary Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker, seen in flashback) who once ran a cafe in town against many personal odds. The tale inspires Bates to take further command over her life, and there director Jon Avnet (Up Close and Personal), in his first feature, has fun with the film. Bates develops a real attitude toward her thickheaded spouse at home and some uppity girls in a parking lot, but dignity is generally the key to Avnet's approach with the story's crucial relationships. Tandy is a joy and clearly loves the element of mystery attached to her character, and Masterson and Parker are excellent in the historical sequences. --Tom Keogh
Infuriated by her tight-lipped boyfriend, Brittany Murphy's TV producer delves into his palm pilot to find all about his ex-girlfriends - and finds more than she bargained for.
Identification Marks: None (1965): A day in the life of student Andrzej (played by Skolimowski himsef) who, between the morning and late afternoon, gives up on his studies, breaks up with his partner, and decides to join the army. Before his departure, Andrzej tries to straighten out his life, and encounters Barbara, who he sees as the woman he has always waited for. Hands Up! (1981): The fourth of a series of semi-autobiographical films in which Skolimowski plays his alter ego Andrzej Leszczyc Hands Up! was made in 1967 but was banned for 18 years by Poland's then Communist regime. After Poland's liberation, Skolimowski was invited to revisit the film which he duly did, adding a 20 minute sequence that explains why the film was so withheld by the censors. Product Features Newly recorded audio commentaries on both films by Michel Oleszczyk Archive interview with Jerzy Skolimowski (1983) Video essay by Polish film expert Michael Brooke Illustrated booklet with new writing on the films by Ewa Mazierska Other extras TBC
Eddie Murphy's 1988 vehicle Coming to America was probably the point at which his status as a mainstream big-screen comedian finally gelled, following the highly successful 48 Hours pairing with Nick Nolte. Never mind the hackneyed storyline: under John Landis's tight direction, he turns in a star performance (and several brilliant cameos) that is disciplined and extremely funny. Murphy plays an African prince who comes to New York officially to sow his wild oats. Privately, he is seeking a bride he can marry for love rather than one chosen by his parents. With his companion (Arsenio Hall, who pushes Murphy all the way in the comedy stakes), he settles in the borough of Queens and takes a job in a hamburger joint. A succession of hilarious satire-barbed adventures ensue, plus the required romantic conclusion. The script is crammed with ripe one-liners , but "Freeze, you diseased rhinoceros pizzle" has to be the most devastating hold-up line of all time. Film buffs will appreciate a brief appearance by Don Ameche as a down-and-out, but this is Murphy's film and he generates warmth enough to convert the most ambivalent viewer. On the DVD: The only--rather pointless--extra on offer is the original theatrical trailer which adds nothing apart from a rapid recap of the story. But the 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation (the picture quality is diamond sharp) and Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack recreate the original authentic cinematic experience. The choreography of 1980s pop diva Paula Abdul in the lavish wedding scenes and Nile Rodgers' pounding musical score are the main beneficiaries. --Piers Ford
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