"Actor: Francesca"

• Dune | DVD | (04/10/2004) from £6.24   |  Saving you £-0.25 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  David Lynch's Dune is the brilliant but fatally flawed would-be epic feature film version of Frank Herbert's novel of the same name, the bestselling science fiction novel ever written. It is a complex but too heavily simplified version of a far more elaborate book, a darkly Gothic far future space opera revolving around an imperial, dynastic power struggle on the desert planet of Arrakis. With what was in 1984 an enormous $40 million budget, Lynch retained a surprising amount of the industrial/Victorian feel of his previous features, Eraserhead (1976) and The Elephant Man (1980), and was able to bring to the screen some of the most imaginative and awe-inspiring production designs, costumes and action then seen. Indeed, as a spectacularly atmospheric vision of the future Dune has as much to recommend it as the far more celebrated Blade Runner (1982), with which it even shares the female romantic lead, Sean Young--here just one star in a superb cast. The problem, which an unauthorised extended TV version failed to fix, is that Lynch's original vision of Dune was massively cut for length, and as such the final third is so rapidly paced as to undermine the superb first two thirds. A director's cut is sorely needed, the cinema version playing like a butchered masterpiece. Also available is an entirely unconnected four-and-a-half-hour mini-series, Frank Herbert's Dune (2000), which is less visionary but more coherent. On the DVD: The 2.35:1 image suffers from not being anamorphically enhanced. There are minor flecks of dirt and scratches, but generally the print used is in good condition although there is a considerable amount of grain in some scenes and the image could be more detailed. The packaging claims the sound is Dolby Digital 5.1, but it is actually three-channel sound (stereo plus centre speaker), with the main stereo feed being duplicated in the rear channels. A full 5.1 remastering would improve matters considerably. Special features consist of the original trailer and a pointless gallery of seven badly cropped stills. There is a very basic animated and scored menu using the portentous main theme music from the film. --Gary S Dalkin

• Allo 'Allo Complete Boxset | DVD | (23/09/2013) from £59.99   |  Saving you £-43.99 (N/A%)   |  RRP £16.00

  The Café René at the heart of the picturesque town of Nouvion in occupied France is a hot-bed of war-time intrigue. Look around and you'll see the Resistance the Communists the German army the Gestapo the Royal Air Force and one Officer Crabtree (sent from 'British Ontelligence Headquitters') all in various disguises. But just where is the painting of The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies by Van Clomp? There's only one way to find out...

• Under The Cherry Moon | Blu Ray | (13/02/2017) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  His Purple Rain took the movie and music worlds by storm. Now Prince stars and makes his directorial debut in his lavishly playful second film, Under the Cherry Moon. He plays an American musician living with his pal (Jerome Benton) on the French Riviera and on the bank accounts of bored divorcees. The next object of his affection is a lovely and spirited young heiress (Kristin Scott Thomas in her movie debut). He doesn't count on confronting the girl's enraged father (Steven Berkoff). And he certainly doesn't count on falling in love. But with Prince in charge, you can definitely count on exciting music, shimmering costume, production design and style to burn. This Moon shines.

• Milk | DVD | (28/10/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Adrian (James Fleet) is an unmarried unworldly and somewhat unstable dairy farmer who has spent most of his adult life on a farm in Wiltshire looking after his elderly slightly quirky mother Lucy. Upon finding his mother dead Adrian then has to deal with the arrival of his two sisters Harriet (Francesca Annis) and Virginia (Dawn French) his uncle his mother's lover and her closest friend Veronica (Phyllida Law). They all want a piece of Lucy they all have conflicting plans for

• Hannibal | DVD | (20/08/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Anthony Hopkins Oscar winning pyschopath Hannibal Lector comes back into the life of FBI Agent Clarice Starling in this long awaited sequel to The Silence Of The Lambs.

• Contraband | DVD | (19/05/2014) from £17.09   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Shameless proudly presents the 1st ever Cinema-of-Death anthology of Ruggero Deodato, Mr Cannibal himself, the director of possibly the nastiest Video Nasties which have since become cult must-see and now subject of top academic research, public debates and high-brow critical acclaim. Cannibal HolocaustCannibal Holocaust on its 1st release, director Deodato was charged with killing his own cast - and jailed! In UK, it incarnated THE Video Nasty. Banned and then cut by several minutes, it took a full 30 years for the censors to relax their grip! We present two versions of this, the most controversial film ever made: A unique Director's re-edit (shown 1st in London's West-End) which tones down the animal cruelty (to fit better with 21st Century sensibilities) without shortening the film. The other is the full strength 80s dish! Very strong stuff - especially because of its unsurpassed, documentary-like, extremely realistic depiction of gory violence. With this landmark film Deodato single-handedly invented the 'found-footage' genre (imitated by Blair Witch et al). Often imitated, this is The Original and unequaled best. House On The Edge Of The ParkThe House On The Edge Of The Park also a Video Nasty, this claustrophobic staging of a vicious home-invasion scenario explodes into slasher torture hell, with star David Hess giving one of the strongest performances of his career and Deodato a master-class in directing, proving again that under the blood and guts there is a brilliant film maker formed by Neo-realism. Special Features: Deodato and star Giovanni Lombardo Radice in a public debate with senior BBFC examiner. In-depth interview with the late David Hess. The Phantom of DeathIn The Phantom of Death Deodato's unwavering directing meets a barnstorming performance from Michael York (Cabaret, Austin Powers) as the pianist virtuoso who suddenly starts aging at alarming speed - progeria, a devastating real-life affliction. With death closing in fast, the pianist loses his mind in a murderous frenzy of brutal hackings... Edwige Fenech and Donald Pleasence co-star.

• Krull | DVD | (05/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  There's something inescapably appealing about Krull, a camp Star Wars-meets-The Lord of the Rings knock-off, that encourages the viewer to overlook it's very many silly shortcomings and simply enjoy the fun. James Horner's rollicking music score--written soon after his similarly memorable contribution to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan--certainly helps, as does the epic-scale CinemaScope photography of the breathtaking Italian landscapes. The costumes and extravagant production design are also great to look at, and much of Derek Meddings' visual effects work still looks striking if not exactly state-of-the-art. Of the cast, Freddie Jones stands head and shoulders above all others as the Obi Wan Kenobi-meets-Gandalf character Ynyr: his trip to the centre of the spider's web is both genuinely scary and genuinely touching. The two romantic leads, Ken Marshall as the Luke Skywalker-meets-King Arthur clone Prince Colwyn and Lysette Anthony (with an overdubbed American voice) as his Leia-Guinevere Princess Lyssa, are mere formalities on which to hang the plot. Ironic fun can be had with the all-British supporting cast, which includes Todd Carty of Eastenders fame and Carry On's Bernard Bresslaw, as well as Robbie Coltrane, Liam Neeson and the gorgeous Francesca Annis. On the DVD: Krull comes to DVD in an anamorphic widescreen print, preserving the luscious CinemaScope look of the theatrical release. The Dolby 5.1 sound lives up to the picture. There are two commentary tracks: on the first, director Peter Yates talks through the movie, with contributions from other crew members and leads Ken Marshall and Lysette Anthony. Oddly, the second audio track is just a reading of an article that originally appeared in the November 1982 issue of Cinefantastique magazine. There's also a half-hour "making-of" featurette originally produced to promote the movie at the time, the usual trailer, stills gallery and three talent profiles. --Mark Walker

• Copenhagen | DVD | (29/02/2016) from £4.99   |  Saving you £15.00 (300.60%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A television adaptation of Michael Frayn's celebrated and award-winning stage play about the meeting between physicists Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg in 1941 Copenhagen. At this time the young Heisenberg was leading a faltering German research program into nuclear energy, while the middle-aged and apparently isolated Bohr was in contact with allied agents, and still held a position of great influence in the nuclear physics research community. After the meeting the two men put different interpretations or impressions of why Heisenberg requested the meeting, and what he hoped to gain from it, a theme which mirrors the ambiguity of the 'Copenhagen' interpretation widely used in quantum physics. Did Heisenberg go to the avuncular Bohr to seek his blessing for his role in nuclear research? Why did Heisenberg concentrate on the development of a nuclear reactor, and not perform the calculations which would show that a bomb could be made to work via a fast-neutron reaction in Uranium 235?

• Cranford: Complete BBC Series | DVD | (11/02/2008) from £6.29   |  Saving you £13.70 (217.81%)   |  RRP £19.99

  This BBC dramatisation of three of Elizabeth Gaskell's novels captures the small absurdities and tragedies in the lives of the people of Cranford a small rural Cheshire town inhabited largely by women. This is a community that runs on cooperation and gossip at the very heart of which are the daughters of the former rector: Miss Deborah Jenkyns and her sister Miss Matty. But domestic peace is constantly threatened in the form of financial disaster imagined burglaries tragic accidents and the reapparance of long-lost relatives.

• Max 2: White House Hero | DVD | (29/05/2017) from £2.49   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Max is assigned to the White House while Butch, the secret service dog, is on maternity leave. He meets TJ, a 12 year old boy, who is the President's son. Due to his father's high profile, he is trying hard to fit in and lead a normal life. During a state visit by the Russian President and his daughter, Alexandra (Alex), TJ is asked to accompany her, during their stay. TJ befriends Alex, but when they get into trouble, Max comes to the rescue!

• Wives And Daughters | DVD | (20/08/2001) from £33.73   |  Saving you £-8.74 (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Andrew Davies' 1999 adaptation of Mrs Gaskell's Wives and Daughters was hailed as the rediscovery of a "forgotten" classic novel and found the BBC on the crest of a wave with costume dramas--led by Pride and Prejudice. Handsome and beautifully filmed, if anything, it surpassed the quality of even that highly praised landmark production. "We should all look pretty strange under a microscope," botanist Robert Hamley tells our heroine Molly Gibson and of course Mrs Gaskell places all her characters under intense scrutiny, with affection but without judgement. Davies' screenplay peals back the layers, giving full vent to the comedy, tragedy and satire that drive this tale of provincial life to its highly satisfactory conclusion. Justine Waddell imbues Molly with an increasingly exasperated but remarkably forbearing intelligence, while Francesca Annis, as the outrageously self-absorbed step-mother Hyacinth, paints a wonderful portrait of affectation without ever totally alienating our sympathy. Michael Gambon's immensely touching Squire Hamley won him a Best Actor BAFTA, but all the performances are uniformly excellent, contributing immeasurably to five hours of television drama of the highest calibre. On the DVD: Presented in 16:9 format with a Dolby Digital stereo soundtrack, this two-disc presentation retains all the hallmarks of the original BBC viewing experience. The picture quality is lush--the production lighting is excellent--and the sound quality sharp. The only gripe is with the extras: the Omnibus documentary "Who the Dickens is Mrs Gaskell?" is brutally truncated, cutting off talking heads like novelists Fay Weldon and Margaret Drabble in their prime and giving limited insight into how the production was made. As an audio bonus, there is also 30 minutes of John Keane's music.--Piers Ford

• Dune UHD (Limited Edition) | Blu Ray | (30/08/2021) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  A Place Beyond Your Dreams. A Movie Beyond Your Imagination. Following a notorious aborted attempt by Alejandro Jodorowsky in the 1970s, Frank Herbert's bestselling sci-fi epic Dune finally made it to the big screen as the third film by emerging surrealist wunderkind David Lynch, featuring an all-star cast that includes several of Lynch's regular collaborators. The year is 10,191, and four planets are embroiled in a secret plot to wrest control of the Spice Melange, the most precious substance in the universe and found only on the planet Arrakis. A feud between two powerful dynasties, House Atreides and House Harkonnen, is manipulated from afar by ruling powers that conspire to keep their grip on the spice. As the two families clash on Arrakis, Duke Atreides' son Paul (Kyle MacLachlan, in his screen debut) finds himself at the centre of an intergalactic war and an ancient prophecy that could change the galaxy forever. Though its initial reception ensured that Lynch largely eschewed mainstream filmmaking for the rest of his career, Dune has since been rightly re-evaluated as one of the most startlingly original and visionary science fiction films of the 1980s. Its astonishing production design and visual effects can now be appreciated anew in this spellbinding 4K restoration, accompanied by hours of comprehensive bonus features. Special Features: Brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative 60-page perfect-bound book featuring new writing on the film by Andrew Nette, Christian McCrea and Charlie Brigden, an American Cinematographer interview with sound designer Alan Splet from 1984, excerpts from an interview with the director from Chris Rodley's book Lynch on Lynch and a Dune Terminology glossary from the original release Large fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dániel Taylor Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dániel Taylor DISC ONE - FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Brand new audio commentary by film historian Paul M. Sammon Brand new audio commentary by Mike White of The Projection Booth podcast Impressions of Dune, a 2003 documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with star Kyle MacLachlan, producer Raffaella de Laurentiis, cinematographer Freddie Francis, editor Antony Gibbs and many others Designing Dune, a 2005 featurette looking back at the work of production designer Anthony Masters Dune FX, a 2005 featurette exploring the special effects in the film Dune Models & Miniatures, a 2005 featurette focusing on the model effects in the film Dune Costumes, a 2005 featurette looking at the elaborate costume designs seen in the film Thirteen deleted scenes from the film, with a 2005 introduction by Raffaella de Laurentiis Destination Dune, a 1983 featurette originally produced to promote the film at conventions and publicity events Theatrical trailers and TV spots Extensive image galleries, including hundreds of still photos DISC TWO BONUS DISC (BLU-RAY) The Sleeper Must Awaken: Making Dune, a brand new feature-length documentary by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures exploring the making of the film, featuring dozens of new and archive interviews with cast and crew Beyond Imagination: Merchandising Dune, a brand new featurette exploring the merchandise created to promote the film, featuring toy collector/producer Brian Sillman (The Toys That Made Us) Prophecy Fulfilled: Scoring Dune, a brand new featurette on the film's music score, featuring interviews with Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro, and film music historian Tim Greiving Brand new interview with make-up effects artist Giannetto de Rossi, filmed in 2020 Archive interview with production coordinator Golda Offenheim, filmed in 2003 Archive interview with star Paul Smith, filmed in 2008 Archive interview with make-up effects artist Christopher Tucker *** EXTRAS STILL IN PRODUCTION AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE ***

• Tommy and Tuppence - Partners in Crime | DVD | (20/07/2015) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

• Under The Cherry Moon | DVD | (18/10/2004) from £5.49   |  Saving you £8.50 (60.80%)   |  RRP £13.99

  Prince takes on his first director's job and provides the score! Two brothers from Miami on holiday in the Mediterranian are enjoying life by scamming money off of rich women. One day they read about a young woman set to inherit $50 million from her father. At first Tricky (Jerome Benton) has Christopher Tracy (Prince) talked into romancing her for her money but as he gets to know her Christopher falls in love with her. This love comes between the brothers and Tricky tells all

• Pump It Up 2010 | DVD | (26/12/2009) from £5.17   |  Saving you £14.82 (286.65%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The Dance Workout has been choreographed by the fantastic Gareth Walker who has worked with Take That Anastacia Mika and also choreographed the last two Pump It up DVD's Dance mix and Aeroburn proving his record for hot moves and producing the most effective exercise routines. Pump It Up: Powermix comprises of warm up tone powermix and abs & stretch routines. The work out is a great way to learn fantastic dance moves have fun while effortlessly getting intensive exercise. Hosting the new look workout is Dominique Tipper a professional dancer who has previously featured in Fedde le Grand 'Let Me Think About It' and Mark Ronson 'Valerie' as well as dancing for artists like Ludacris 50 cent Neyo Rihanna and on tours like X-Factor and most recently the Boy Zone tour. Teaming up with her are the four beautiful Ministry of Sound ladies Shanie Ryan Stephanie Fitzpatrick Cherie Cheung and Francesca Hoffman. Ministry of Sound combines another superb track list of the biggest hits of 2009 with the hottest dance moves complete with chart breakers such as Steve Angello & Laidback Luke 'Show Me Love' Kid Cudi vs Crookers 'Day n Nite' Calvin Harris 'I'm Not Alone' and the massive smash hit #1 from Dizzee Rascal 'Bonkers'. For anyone who likes to dance enjoy themselves and get fit the choice is clear Pump It Up!

• Muck | DVD | (21/09/2015) from £6.59   |  Saving you £9.40 (58.80%)   |  RRP £15.99

  A group of friends emerge from the darkness bloody and lucky to be alive. Having already lost two friends in the marsh they break into an empty vacation house to take shelter. Whatever was in the marsh is still after them but it’s not the only thing that wants them dead. Something much worse and more savage lays in wait. Trapped between two evils they’re forced to fight die or go back the way they came…

• The Tree Of Wooden Clogs | Blu Ray | (28/08/2017) from £13.45   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  A three-hour peasant epic in which nothing very much happens might sound like the ultimate turn-off; but The Tree of Wooden Clogs ("L'Albero degli Zoccoli") is made with so much love and dedication that it rarely flags. Set in the Lombardy countryside in the closing years of the 19th century, the film traces the interconnected lives of four peasant families all living in the same large farmhouse. The most dramatic event, which gives the movie its title, is when a father chops down a tree so that his son can have clogs in which to walk to school, which leads to quiet tragedy in the final reel. The film's director Ermanno Olmi--himself of North Italian peasant stock--based his subject on incidents from his own childhood and tales told him by his grandfather. His cast were non-professionals, real peasants chosen from villages of the Bergamo region, whom he encouraged to improvise their own dialogue. All the shooting was done on location with a 16 mm camera, using natural lighting and direct sound--a revolutionary approach in Italy at the time, when almost all films were studio-bound and heavily dubbed. The results carry a rare conviction, the unselfconsciously simple speech and muted earth-tones of the visuals make the film feel more like documentary than fiction. The hardships of peasant life are never softened, though now and then Olmi's affection for his characters verges on sentimentality. And the unquestioning, submissive Catholicism of director and characters alike tends to cloy. But the sense of dignity and harmony, and the film's unhurried pace, always in step with the seasons, create a moving celebration of a vanished way of life. The Tree of Wooden Clogs took the Palme d'Or at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival. On the DVD: The Tree of Wooden Clogs doesn't exactly come packed with extras: cast and technical credits, a stills gallery, and a brief two-minute introduction by Olmi, where he explains why he preferred to record in mono, which still sounds fine on the disc. The images have lost nothing of their muted subtlety, and the transfer is in the full 1.33:1 ratio of the original. --Philip Kemp

• Audrey | DVD | (30/11/2020) from £10.49   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  How do you describe Audrey Hepburn? She was beautiful, talented, compassionate, charming and graceful but these words don't quite seem to fully capture her spirit. All the best fairy tales contain transformation, and Audrey's story is no exception. A malnourished child, estranged from her father, growing up in war-torn Europe, she harnessed her rare talent as an actress and ascended to the heights of Hollywood, becoming a superstar in just a few short years. Yet her life was more than just a fairy tale. It was a life of many heartbreaks, glossed over by her image as a joyful, pixie-like figure still reproduced on memorabilia all over the world. With bespoke animation mirroring the fairy tale elements of Audrey's story, this film is an intimate portrait of an enduring and global icon, celebrating a woman who lived her own version of a meaningful and fulfilling life.

• Outlaws And Angels | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £4.49   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  When outlaws on the lam invade the home of an unsuspecting, seemingly innocent, frontier family to hide out for the night, an unexpected game of cat and mouse ensues, leading to seduction, role reversal, and ultimately, bloody revenge. A fresh twist on the classic Western genre starring Chad Micheal Murray (TV's Agent Carter, House of Wax), Francesca Eastwood (True Crime, Final Girl), Teri Polo (Meet The Parents) and Luke Wilson (The Royal Tenenbaums).

• Jeeves And Wooster - The Complete 2nd Series | DVD | (28/05/2001) from £24.92   |  Saving you £-4.93 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  In the second hilarious series of Jeeves & Wooster, Pelham Grenville Wodehouse's immortal characters are once again brought to glorious life by Hugh Laurie as the chinless but charming Bertie Wooster and Stephen Fry as his valet and frequent saviour, Jeeves. Superb period detail, performers who seem to have been born for these roles, and a hearty helping of Wodehouse wit make these shows essential viewing for anyone in search of a sophisticated chuckle. All six episodes are included here: "Jeeves Saves the Cow-Creamer", "A Plan for Gussie", "Pearls Mean Tears", "Jeeves in the Country", "Kidnapped!" and "Jeeves the Matchmaker". --Simon Leake