"Actor: Gale"

• Britten: Owen Wingrave - Berlin/Nagano | DVD | (22/12/2003) from £24.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Owen Wingrave is perhaps Britten's most radical opera, both politically and artistically. Originally written for television, and here presented in a 2001 Channel 4 version, the 1970 score is based, like The Turn of the Screw, on a Henry James ghost story. Britten, though, is more in tune than James with the pacifism into which Owen revolts from a long family tradition of military service. The fluid, impassioned, often declamatory music given Owen makes him one of the most sympathetic of Britten's outsider protagonists, though he has a streak of self-centredness, which stops him being an implausible paragon. Gerald Finley is quite admirable in the part, conveying fully the sense that by losing and dying at the hands of family ghosts, Owen demonstrates the integrity which is central to his character. The other parts are admirably filled here, notably Martyn Hill as Owen's harsh General grandfather, Josephine Barstow as his aunt and Charlotte Hellekant as the fiancee who unknowingly sends him to his death. They and Elizabeth Gale are quite extraordinary in the first act quartet of recrimination and condemnation. This excellent performance compares vocally with the original on almost entirely equal terms--modern technology means that the ghost scenes are far more dramatic and plausible. Kent Nagano and the Berlin Orchestra do full subtle justice to the chamber orchestra sonorities of one of Britten's most interesting scores, never overstressing its complex musical architecture at the expense of the drama. On the DVD: Owen Wingrave is presented in a widescreen 16:9 visual aspect ratio with PCM stereo sound. It is accompanied by The Tender Heart, a documentary about Britten's career full of personal reminiscences by his surviving friends, colleagues and family, that concentrates on Peter Grimes, the War Requiem and Death in Venice, the three popular masterpieces of his early, middle and late career. It has menus and subtitles in English, French, German and Spanish. --Roz Kaveney

• Holiday Heart | DVD | (12/04/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Holiday is a choirmaster by day and a female impersonator by night but this creatively talented man is extremely lonely with a broken heart. He becomes frinds with a bright young girl and her drug-addicted mother. Helping them off the streets into an empty flat across from his. He forms an attatchment with them but their worlds are torn apart when the mother hooks up with a dangerous drug-dealing boyfriend. This leads Holiday to confront his own prejudices in order to save the two people he loves the most.

• Brotherhood Of Murder | DVD | (04/02/2002) from £5.99   |  Saving you £-2.00 (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  Based on a true story, Brotherhood of Murder is the sorry tale of Tony Martinez, an army dropout who becomes convinced that the downturn his life has taken is attributable to the fact that America's ethnic minorities are getting a better deal than he is. There's a ghastly inevitability to what follows as he joins a group of white supremacists who are funding a survivalist community largely through criminal activities. Eventually it's more than even he can bear, so he betrays the group to the FBI. Along the way, there are a few extraordinary scenes, such as when the group cleans out the cash register of a porno video store, leaving the proprietor unharmed but demanding that he remove from his shelves any material depicting interracial sex. This low-key but compelling production gives an insight into how such a strange and very ugly culture can arise out of ignorance and blunted perception. The disc also includes a trailer and a Synergy showcase. --Roger Thomas

• Elvis Presley Box Set (Volume 2) | DVD | (30/08/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £30.99

  Includes the films Viva Las Vegas Speedway and Harum Scarum. Viva Las Vegas: Lucky Jackson (Elvis) is a Vegas gambling car racing singing and dancing ladies man. But all does not go the way he plans when he finds himself distracted by the lovely pool manageress... Speedway: Stock car racer Steve Grayson (Elvis) has a generous disposition and a wastrel manager (Bill Bixby) - it's no surprise that he finds himself owing the taxman 5 000. Sparks fly when gorgeous tax inspector Susan Jacks (Nancy Sinatra) arrives on the scene... Harum Scarum: Johnny Tyronne (Elvis) is a swashbuckling action-adventure movie star on a goodwill tour of the Middle East to promote his latest film. Disaster strikes when he is kidnapped by a clandestine group of assassins who want him to kill a desert king!

• The Time Of Your Life | DVD | (01/07/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  When James Cagney starred in the movie adaptation of The Time of Your Life in 1948, it was hotly been debated whether William Saroyan’s stage play was really filmable at all. Because of its small cast, because all the action takes place on a single claustrophobic set, because the "plot" consists entirely of sub-plots, and because Saroyan’s "dirty sentimentality" isn’t to everyone’s taste, such doubts are still understandable today. However, accept the movie for what it is--a play in a box--and you’ll be captivated. The story revolves around a slightly down-at-heel bar-restaurant, where a group of disparate characters come and go as their stories gradually unfold. They include an ex-prostitute desperately seeking a new life, a dancer looking for a break into showbusiness, a down-and-out who discovers a vocation as a pianist, a beer-sodden cowboy and a villainous "stoolie" who, needless to say, gets his comeuppance. This gaggle of misfits is presided over by an enigmatic, champagne-drinking philanthropist (brilliantly played by Cagney) who gently nudges them towards their goals while indulging his own fascination with the minutiae of daily life. Throughout this quietly delightful picture the audience are not told why he’s this way, but it is possible to make an educated guess. On the DVD: The Time of Your Life might be a classic, but it apparently warrants no extra features. The black and white picture is 4:3. --Roger Thomas

• 747 | DVD | (23/06/2003) from £6.26   |  Saving you £-1.27 (-25.50%)   |  RRP £4.99

  When two planes collide one man receives all the blame... Now others are at risk.

• Victor Herbert - Naughty Marietta / Munsel / Drake | DVD | (05/01/2004) from £21.35   |  Saving you £-2.36 (N/A%)   |  RRP £18.99

  Naughty Marietta is one of Victor Herbert's most enduring and beloved operettas boasting such favourite Herbert melodies as Ah Sweet Mystery of Life Italian Street Song I'm Falling in Love with Someone and Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!In 1935 MGM Studios chose Naughty Marietta as the premiere vehicle for Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy although much of the original storyline and music were drastically altered. Twenty years later Producer-Director Max Liebman brought Naughty Marietta to television in a production which was according to Variety prepared with painstaking care and devotion. Unlike the Hollywood approach Liebman's production is quite faithful to the original work allowing the unforgettable Herbert score to speak (or sing) for itself.For his leads Liebman chose two reigning stars from the worlds of Opera and Broadway: Patrice Munsel and Alfred Drake. Ms. Munsel a Met Opera favourite in such roles as Lucia Juliet and Adele gives a spirited account of the saucy Marietta d' Altena. Mr. Drake famous for creating the leading roles in Oklahoma! and Kismet made his television debut in this production lending his rich baritone voice to the role of Captain Warrington (appearing without his trademark beard).The strong supporting cast of singers and dancers - including the lovely Gale Sherwood - helps to make this a memorable evening.

• The Lucy Show | DVD | (18/12/2006) from £4.99   |  Saving you £3.00 (60.12%)   |  RRP £7.99

  Lucille Ball was already one of America's best-loved TV stars when she launched 'The Lucy Show' in 1962. A follow-up to the ground-breaking 'I Love Lucy' which had put US family life on hold on Monday evenings throughout its showing 'The Lucy Show' has become a comedy classic in its own right. Gale Gordon stars alongside Lucille Ball in this delightful situation comedy episode.

• The Lucy Show - 4 Classic Episodes - Vol. 1 | DVD | (01/08/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  Everyone's favourite comedienne Lucille Ball is presented here in a compilation which places her in her most hilarious situations and settings. The First Lady of Comedy was always in top form in this top-rated show. Featuring the following episodes: Lucy and Paul Winchell Lucy and the Ring-a-ding ding Lucy gets a room mate Lucy and Carol in Palm Springs

• The Lucy Show - 4 Classic Episodes - Vol. 2 | DVD | (02/04/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £4.99

  Everyone's favourite comedienne Lucille Ball is presented here in a compilation which places her in her most hilarious situations and settings. The First Lady of Comedy was always in top form in this top-rated show. Episodes: Lucy and Pat Collins Lucy's boss Mr. Mooney confides to her that he has insomnia and hasn't slept in days so she offers to take him to see Pat Collins a hypnotist appearing at The Royal Club to cure him of his sleep deprivation. But Mr. Moo

• My Dear Secretary | DVD | (01/09/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  If Charles Martin's wisecracking 1948 period-piece My Dear Secretary hasn't quite endured as a classic of its kind, it still commands attention as an appealing and often very funny curiosity. Kirk Douglas rightly earned his status as one of the titans of big-screen epic drama, so it's a surprise to encounter him in this romantic comedy as a feckless writer who can always find something to do rather than get down to work, leaving a string of outraged, frustrated or compromised secretaries in his wake. Douglas has a reasonably light comic touch and spars well with Laraine Day, in determined form as the secretary whom finally tames him and, in a notable strike for women's liberation, becomes a successful author herself in the process. But this is a film in which the supporting cast steal the best lines and scenes. Keenan Wynn is delightful as Ronnie, Douglas' neighbour and partner in the pursuit of pleasure. Some splendid high campery offers ample evidence that in a more enlightened age, Ronnie would surely have been openly gay. How else to explain his hilarious last reel marriage of convenience to the wealthy dragon of a landlady, played by the irrepressible Florence Bates? It isn't vintage screwball by any means, but My Dear Secretary is witty and literate enough to make you long for a revival in sophisticated cinema comedy. Truly, they don't make 'em like they used to. On the DVD: As the rush to release long-forgotten gems on DVD turns into a deluge, we will probably have to get used to the sort of disappointment on offer here: unrestored prints with no digital remastering and lousy sound quality, simply slammed onto the disc. The film could hardly be served less adequately. There isn't even any static background information on the production or the actors, making the package rather poor. --Piers Ford

• Basket Case 2 / Basket Case 3 | DVD | (24/09/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Basket Case 2: Duane and his hideously deformed brother are accepted into a family of 'special individuals'. When a reporter and photographer threaten to endanger their welfare Duane and his brother defend their privacy... Basket Case 3: The saga of Times Square Freak Twins Duane and Belai Bradley takes its most bizarre twist yet. It all starts innocently enough when the Bradley boys join kindly doctor Granny Ruth and her family of unique individuals for a road trip through the deep South. The occasion is Belais's about to become a proud monster father - and no basket is big enough to hold this ungodly brood...

• CBS Salutes Lucy - The First 25 Years | DVD | (23/03/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  CBS Salutes Lucy, a 1976 tribute to Lucille Ball, captures prize moments from her three television series (most notably I Love Lucy), highlights from her movie career, and excerpts from numerous other TV appearances. Each segment of the 97-minute special is introduced by famous cohorts, from series regulars such as ex-husband Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and Gale Gordon to sometime co-workers like John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dick Van Dyke. Although she lived another 13 years after this special was made and had a fourth go at a TV series, this programme captures the most brilliant moments of her trademark physical comedy. The red-haired queen of American comedy appears at the end when Jimmy Stewart gives her an honorary plaque, making for a nostalgic moment. A short time later the credits roll, revealing that Ball's production company was behind the tribute, reminding viewers that she wasn't a bad businesswoman either. --Kimberly Heinrichs, Amazon.com

• Howard The Duck | DVD | (09/02/2009) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

• Empire of the Sun | Blu Ray | (12/12/2022) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun is an inspiring, action-packed epic of a small boy in a great war. That boy is Jim Graham, a young Briton whose unconquerable spirit soars high and free above the harsh confines of a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Through his eyes we see the fascination and horror of war. And we see Jim's hold on childhood weaken as his struggle to survive grows fiercer.Based on J. G. Ballard's memorable best-seller, this first major Hollywood studio production ever to shoot in the People's Republic of China earned 1987 National Board of Review awards for Best Picture and Director, as well as a special citation for Outstanding Juvenile Performance for Christian Bale as Jim.IncludesAll-New Digital Transfer Remastered in 1080p Hi-DefBehind-the-Scenes Documentary The China Odyssey: 'Empire of the Sun,' a Film by Steven Spielberg

• The Brain | DVD | (02/04/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  At the turn of the century a notorious occultist named Alfred Fischer conjures up a brothel full of ravenous demons in a bizare ritual. Taking the form of beautiful women the beasts desire a steady diet of fresh prey that only a human servant can provide. Almost a century after Fischer meets his mysterious end a team of para-psychologists investigate his manor for signs of restless spirits. In no time they are besieged by sexy demons a mad man with a secret past and a horde of slaughtering zombies.

• Behind The Mask | DVD | (23/02/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Dr Bob Shushan has devoted his life to helping others - and now he's facing the greatest and most personal challenge: to help a highly disturbed young drifter. By coping with this challenge Shushan may also find the means to confront another dilemma: how to remove his own mask and re-establish a loving relationship with his estranged son Brian.

• Cinema Collection - Vol. 7 | DVD | (27/06/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Features eight fantastic movies in one box: 'Open Window' 'Contact' 'Beware Of Dog' 'They Haven't Seen This' 'Ray's Hetrosexual Dance Hall' 'Little Feet' 'Homesick' and 'Duke of Groove'.

• The Confidence Man / Under Surveillance / The Hit | DVD | (06/05/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The Confidence Man: Cops are supposed to be the protectors of society men of the law. But living in a world of moral absolutes it has become less and less unusual to see a cop go off at the deep end. Detective Stevie Grimes (Jack Conley) kept his faith in the brotherhood of the badge and always managed to stay on the right side of the law. But for the past year he has been suspended on trail for the accidental shooting of a young boy. The trail ends in a 'hung jury' and finally after twelve months Stevie is reinstated but the possibility that the state may retry the case still remains forcing him to relive the nightmare. Under Surveilance: Two insurance investigators are attempting to uncover truth behind the death of a colleague but their routine inquiry turns deadly when they are led to some dark truths about the company for which they work and the very people they consider as their friends... The Hit: In a drunken rage of jealousy and anger over the breakdown of his marriage to Sonia (Joanna Pacula) and the loss of custody of his son Jesse Kieth (Maxwell Caulfield) a crime reporter for a big city daily decides to take out a contract to have his wife killed courtesy of his business school buddy Levine (Robert Pine). When he comes to his senses the next morning and tries to cancel the arrangement Kieth cannot reach Levine whom we discover has been shot for ripping off the mob. As he cannot involve the police Kieth finds himself protecting his estranged wife from the contract killer he has hired but won't be able to recognise.

• The Star Wagon | DVD | (01/11/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Dustin Hoffman stars in this stage adaptation of the Maxwell Anderson play.