"Actor: Charles"

• Shaft Trilogy | DVD | (05/03/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £30.99

  The original and hippest version of Shaft cruised onto cinema screens in 1971. John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) is an African-American private eye who has a rocky relationship with cops, an even rockier one with Harlem gangsters, and a healthy sex life. The script finds Shaft tracking down the kidnapped daughter of a black mobster, but the pleasure of the film is the sum of its attitude, Roundtree's uncompromising performance, and the thrilling, Oscar-winning score by Isaac Hayes. Director Gordon Parks (The Learning Tree) seems fond of certain detective genre clichés (e.g., the hero walking into his low-rent office and finding a hood waiting to talk with him), but he and Roundtree make those moments their own. Shaft produced a couple of sequels, a follow-up television series, and a remake starring Samuel L. Jackson, but none had the impact this movie did. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com Shaft's Big Score is the first sequel to the super-hip 1971 original. When a pal of detective John Shaft is murdered in a bombing, New York's coolest private eye finds himself caught in the middle of a power struggle between black and white gangsters over the numbers racket in Queens. Directed by Gordon Parks (who does a brief cameo as a croupier in an illegal casino) and written by Ernest Tidyman (both of whom made the original Shaft), this film lacks the pacing of its progenitor. Roundtree is at his best when he's questioning a woman he's just met about a suspect while at the same time beguiling her into the sack (ah, those lazy, crazy days of the sexual revolution). The finale--a shootout in a cemetery, followed by a car-boat-helicopter chase through Queens and up the Harlem River--is preposterously drawn-out: Shaft, impervious to machine-gun fire, winds up tripping, spraining his ankle, and limping while running from the chopper; two shots later, he's sprinting like a halfback. Look for late Muhammad Ali trainer Drew Bundini Brown as a wise-cracking mobster. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.comShaft in Africa, the second sequel to the original hit, foreshadows itself early on when Shaft, asked to go undercover in Africa to halt a modern-day slave trade, claims that he's not James Bond but strictly Sam Spade. Bond, however, is the operative model here, with John Shaft masquerading as an Ethiopian to infiltrate the slave business and bring it down. Yet everyone he encounters seems to know who he is and wants to kill him--but the string of dead bodies he leaves in his wake across two continents proves that no one is able to stop everyone's favourite hip private eye. Written by Stirling Silliphant, the film is long on action set pieces that are filmed with more energy than the previous movie, Shaft's Big Score. Given contemporary practices involving smugglers of illegal Chinese and Mexican immigrants, the plot isn't all that far-fetched. Roundtree, as usual, is the picture of unflappable cool--but don't get him mad. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com

• A Midsummer Night's Dream - Pacific Northwest Ballet | DVD | (26/06/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  This performance of George Balanchine's ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream was filmed live at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, in February 1999 and won the award for "Best Television Realisation of a Stage Production" at IMZ Dance Screen. The music is from Mendelssohn's youthful overture plus later theatre music, and five other pieces by the composer all selected by the great Russian choreographer Balanchine in 1962. In a fine ensemble cast, Paul Gibson as Oberon and Patricia Barker as Titania are suitably aloof, at least until the latter dances with the ass Bottom (Timothy Lynch) in a highlight of touching comedy. After all the quarrelsome entanglements of the first act, the finale ensures celebration and richly deserved happy endings all round. The simple sets have a picturesque charm, the costumes a fairytale glamour and the large cast, including many children, dance with flair and enthusiasm; this is clearly one production where everyone was having a fine time. In fact it is rather more enjoyable than Hollywood's A Midsummer Night's Dream of the same year. Ballet aficionados may also want to explore the BBC's wonderful Coppélia (2000). On the DVD: There are no special features on the disc, but the 12-page booklet is entirely in English and is well presented, offering track and cast lists, a synopsis and notes on Balanchine, Mendelssohn and the creative talents and directors of the Pacific Northwest Ballet. The sound is atmospheric--Dolby Digital 5.0--and the anamorphically enhanced 16:9 image is good, though slightly soft, and does occasionally reveal some compression artefacting. In defiance of regional encoding regulations, not only is this DVD region free, but includes the normal PAL UK television system programme material on one side and on the reverse includes the same content in NTSC format, suitable for American playback. Anyone curious to see if one format is better will find that the UK PAL transfer contains just a little more picture detail. --Gary S Dalkin

• White Buffalo | DVD | (17/06/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Two men one purpose: track and destroy a legendary animal. But when the final confrontation comes only one man stands alone in the path of his rampaging enemy.

• Willie Nelson & Ray Charles A Unique & Intimate Performance | DVD | (05/11/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Filmed live at the Austin Opera House Austin Texas in 1985 for the Willie Nelson Special this one off show captures the unique talents of Willie Nelson and Ray Charles as they respect and enjoy each others company on stage and the chemistry pays off with some stunning performances of some classic songs. This DVD also includes wonderful behind the scenes rehearsal footage with Willie Nelson and Ray Charles bouncing off each other before the live performance. Tracklisting: 1. On the road again 2. Always on my mind 3. Angel eyes 4. Seven spanish angels 5. I can't stop loving you 6. Georgia 7. Mountian dew 8. My window faces south 9. There will never be another you 10. To all the girls i've loved before 11. Without a song 12. Who will buy my memories 13. Whiskey river

• Evilspeak | DVD | (03/09/2001) from £19.98   |  Saving you £-13.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  A victim of bullying at a US military academy finds an ancient book of magic in a secret temple beneath the academy chapel. He sets out to get even with his tormentors with the aid of a computer and some black magic with bloody and horrific results.

• Love Scenes - The Romance Classics Collection | DVD | (14/05/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Here are a dozen of Hollywood's most memorable romance classics spanning four decades. The collection includes such top titles as The Sheik A Farewell to Arms My Man Godfrey and Love Affair and features legendary heartthrobs like Gary Cooper Gloria Swanson James Stewart Myrna Loy Charles Boyer and Claudette Colbert - just to name a few. As a special bonus each of the five discs contains an original documentary about the stars featured in this extraordinary collection. Films Comprise: The Sheik (1921) Indiscreet (1931) A Farewell to Arms (1932) Bird of Paradise (1932) Animal Kingdom (1932) I Cover the Waterfront (1933) My Man Godfrey (1936) Love Affair (1939) Made For Each Other (1939) Beyond Tomorrow (1940) Penny Serenade (1941) Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)

• The Flicka Collection - My Friend Flicka/Thunderhead - Son Of Flicka/Green Grass Of Wyoming | DVD | (01/10/2007) from £17.53   |  Saving you £-4.54 (-34.90%)   |  RRP £12.99

  My Friend Flicka (Dir. Harold D Schuster) (1943): Young Ken McLaughlin has a problem doing anything to please his father. The boy is constantly getting into one sticky situation after another and is also a poor student. To teach him responsibility Ken's parents give him a colt to take care of. Can he nurse it back to health when it becomes sick and will he and his father ever bond? Thunderhead Son Of Flicka (Dir. Louis King) (1945) A young boy tries to train Thunderhead a beautiful white colt and the son of his beloved Flicka to be a champion race horse. Green Grass Of Wyoming (Dir. Louis King) (1948): In this sequel to Thunderhead Son of Flicka a rancher's niece falls for the son of a neighbouring rancher. Meanwhile a relationship develops between their respective horses.

• Moonlight Sonata | DVD | (25/05/2009) from £6.15   |  Saving you £9.83 (311.08%)   |  RRP £12.99

  A plane carrying the great Polish concert pianist Jan Ignace Paderewski is forced to make an emergency landing in Sweden and the stranded passengers shelter at the estate of the beautiful Baroness Lindenborg. Though one of the passengers the smooth-talking Mario de la Costa sweeps her off her feet the art of Paderewski touches all who are present - and allows the young Baroness to reflect upon where her true feelings really lie... Paderewski is both seen and heard as himself in this entrancing musical drama from 1937 produced and directed by Lothar Mendes (The Four Feathers). While the film opens with a concert recital of Chopin's 'Polonaise' and features Paderewski's own 'Minuet in G Major' a spellbinding performance of Beethoven's famous sonata brings the drama to its conclusion.

• Valdez Horses | DVD | (07/06/2010) from £12.84   |  Saving you £3.15 (24.53%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Charles Bronson stars as the brooding horse breaker Chino Valdez in this thoughtful cowboy story that also features Jill Ireland and Michael Bozzuffi. An Indian-Mexican half-breed Valdez has only ever felt at home in the company of his beloved horses. But his world is shaken both by an unlikely friendship with a 15-year-old runaway desperate to learn the life of a cowboy and by the burgeoning and illicit romance with the beautiful daughter of his crooked partner.

• Murder Rooms - The White Knight Stratagem | DVD | (11/03/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  The suicide of a mysterious young woman and the murder of two men appear to be inextricably linked. When Dr. Joseph Bell is asked to assist the police it soom becomes clear that this is more than just a routine case. Dr Bell's relationship with the Chief of investigation is put in the spot light as old resentments come to the surface jeopardising a quick conclusion to the murders. Bell calls in Arthur Conan Doyle for support but when Doyle seems to side with the Chief rather than

• Conquest of Everest - Revisited 1953 - 2003 | DVD | (04/03/2008) from £12.98   |  Saving you £-2.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  What drove the men who risked and lost their lives to conquer the world's highest mountain for Britain? Fifty years on Penny Mallory whose ancestor George Leigh Mallory lost his life tells the story of this extra-ordinary adventure undertaken with primitive equipment in often terrifying weather conditions against an unstable brooding and often lethal adversary - Mount Everest. Did Mallory in fact reach the summit 29 years before Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay? Mallory's frozen body was found in 1999. Using authentic footage of the ascent we revisit this unique adventure 50 years on alongside the men who pitted their wits and lives for the privilege of being the first to say that they had stood on the roof of the world. Which of us could have climbed persevered and ultimately stood beside them beneath the Union Jack on that glorious sun-drenched May morning in 1953? Featuring biographies of the expedition's members and a chronology of those other brave men and women who have lost their lives on subsequent dashes for the summer.

• Space Jam | DVD | (05/04/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £20.99

  His Airness and His Hareness; what a team! Michael Jordon slams Bugs Bunny jams and a cavalcade of Looney Tunes and NBA stars hoop it up in the rim-rattlin out of this world roundball romp: Space Jam.

• Chaplin DVD Box Set (Chaplin Collection) | DVD | (14/11/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £69.99

  A must-have for Charlie Chaplin fans - this DVD Box Set contains a collection of much-loved classic films: The Chaplin Revue, The Circus, City Lights, The Gold Rush, The Great Dictator, The Kid, A King in New York, Limelight, Modern Times, Monsieur Verdoux and A Woman of Paris. Extras include: Behind-the-scenes footage Deleted scenes Documentaries Introductions Outtakes Photo galleries Trailer reels NB A King in New York, Monsieur Verdoux and A Woman of Paris have not previously been released in Park Circus’ Charlie Chaplin Collection

• Horror Of Dracula | DVD | (11/10/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £13.99

  Jonathan Harker a student of vampires ventures to Dracula's castle and attacks him. The revengeful vampire leaves his dark abode to prey on the family of his attacker's fiancee. The only man able to protect Harker and his fiancee is Dr. Van Helsing a friend of Harker's. As a fellow-student of vampires he's determined to destroy Dracula...

• Secret Window | Blu Ray | (14/05/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Some windows should never be opened! Following a bitter separation from his wife (Bello) famed mystery writer Mort Rainey (Depp) is unexpectedly confronted at his remote lake house by a dangerous stranger named John Shooter (Turturro). Claiming Rainey has plagiarised his short story the psychotic Shooter demands justice. When Shooter's fearful demands turn to threats - and then murder - Rainey turns to a private detective for help. But when nothing stops the horror from spiralling out of control Rainey soon discovers he can't trust anyone or anything...

• Black And White | DVD | (10/10/2005) from £7.93   |  Saving you £4.06 (33.90%)   |  RRP £11.99

  One man's conviction divided a nation Australia 1958. A nine year old white girl is found murdered in a remote cave and the local police are quick to arrest an illegitimate Aborigine by the name of Max Stuart. Under interrogation Max admits to the the killing and signs the statement that will send him to the gallows. With no Court of Appeal established in the country and a legal system compromised by intimidation tactics from institutional racism gifted but naive lawyers David O'Sullivan (Carlyle) and Helen Devaney (Fox) are put to the test in their efforts to take the case all the way to the Privy Council in London... This compelling real-life drama is based on a landmark case that irrevocably changed a nation.

• Permanent Midnight | DVD | (23/10/2000) from £9.98   |  Saving you £10.01 (100.30%)   |  RRP £19.99

  He had a great job a beautiful wife and a habit the size of Utah. Based on the acclaimed autobiography of the same name Permanent Midnight stars Ben Stiller and Elizabeth Hurley in this emotionally riveting story about a hot television writer who learns first-hand about the dark side of success in Hollywood.

• Catweazle - Box Set with Series 1 & 2 | DVD | (03/10/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  The entire Catweazle collection on this fantastic four disc box set. The unmistakable Geoffrey Bayldon stars as the eleventh century wizard Catweazle who escaped from soldiers through time to find himself nine centuries into the future. His magic is most unpredictable and it is compounded by his inability to deal with the everyday trappings of modern-day life such as electricity (""electrickery"") and the telephone (""telling bone""). But he is befriended by a farmer'

• Agony - Series 3 - Complete | DVD | (17/08/2009) from £5.99   |  Saving you £7.00 (53.90%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Agony: Series 3

• Red Dwarf - Series 1-3 - The Bodysnatcher Collection | DVD | (12/11/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  The first three series in this hilarious comedy show now remastered! Series 1: 'The End' sees a radiation leak wipe out the crew of Red Dwarf leaving only one survivor - Dave Lister. In 'Future Echoes' Red Dwarf breaks the speed of light leaving the crew experiencing visions of their own futures. 'Balance Of Power' sees Lister about to take his chef's exam and if he passes he will be able to have Rimmer replaced as the ship's hologram... In 'Confidence And Paranoia' Lister gets a mutated virus which makes his hallucinations come to life leaving the ship beset by herring rain amongst other things... 'Waiting For God' sees the ship's computer Holly find a pod floating about in deep space and Lister pleased to learn that he is a god. In 'ME2' Rimmer creates a duplicate of himself all seems perfect until they both find themselves in a conflict that only one can win... Series 2: Features the episodes 'Kryten' in which the crew of Red Dwarf finds an android called Kryten looking after three fellow crew members who have been dead for years... 'Better Than Life' in which Rimmer receives a note from his mother informing him that his father is dead 'Thanks For The Memory' in which the crew wake up with no memory of what has happened over the past four days In 'Statis Leak' the crew find a stasis leak which takes them back to the time of the original Red Dwarf... 'Queeg' sees Holly the ship's computer replaced by Queeg 500. In 'Parallel Universe' the crew are thrown into a parallel universe there they meet their female counterparts... Series 3: The complete third series of the television comedy science fiction programme. Features the episodes 'Backwards' 'Marooned' 'Polymorph' 'Bodyswap' 'Timeslides' and 'The Last Day'.