"Actor: Janice"

• Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights | DVD | (09/09/2002) from £9.98   |  Saving you £10.01 (100.30%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Some comedies secure cult status after just one episode. The first series of Phoenix Nights, created by and starring Bolton-born comic Peter Kay, is one of those rare gems that few saw on first showing but that everyone was soon talking about. Wheelchair-bound Brian Potter (Kay) runs the Phoenix, a shabby social club populated by an assortment of wonderfully observed characters. It's grim up North and despite the best efforts of the staff to inject life into the proceedings--be it an alternative comedy night, a version of Robot Wars in Potter's beloved Pennine Suite or a Wild West extravaganza--each evening's entertainment always ends badly. Undaunted, the Phoenix denizens continue to strive for their dream: a world in which "clubland never dies". Even though Kay is the focus of the show (having also directed and penned the series), this is no star vehicle; the hapless security guards, the club entertainer Jerry, and Ray Von the dodgy DJ all combine in an ensemble comedy the like of which hasn't been seen since Fawlty Towers. You have to watch it a couple of times just to catch all the visual gags, let alone pick up on all the nuances of the brilliantly written script. If you missed it first time round, now's your chance to own one of the best British sit-coms of recent years. On the DVD: Phoenix Nights on disc comes with a plethora of extras to enjoy. "One Man and His Horse" is behind the scenes footage of Trigger and his handler (who is almost as entertaining as his charge); there are some great deleted scenes, trailers for the first series and an episode-by-episode sequence of outtakes where the cast hilarity is definitely contagious. A commentary from Kay and some of the team consists more of reminiscence than information, but is well worth a listen. --Kristen Bowditch

• Phoenix Nights 2 | DVD | (06/10/2003) from £10.08   |  Saving you £9.91 (98.31%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The beginning of the second series of Phoenix Nights sees Brian Potter's beloved Phoenix Club lying in ashes and the staff scattered to the four winds. Even club compere Jerry St Clair is reduced to singing "Come get your black bin bags" to the tune of Men in Black in the local supermarket. But not even being barred from having a licence for the rest of his natural life can deter the northern Svengali from reopening the club and making it bigger and better than before--even if that means making Jerry the licensee and offering up-market Chinese nosh. This second instalment of Peter Kay's cult sit-com is more upbeat than the first, with some genuine success coming to the characters and club, but it still has its hilariously subversive undertones: a botched hit job; an inflatable castle with an extra appendage; and Brian stuck on his stair lift for a day after a power cut, to take just three examples. The script remains brilliantly surreal and incredibly funny. All the favourite characters remain, with club bouncers Paddy and Max featuring in a couple of the meatier storylines (perhaps setting them up for their own spin-off series?) and Jerry continuing to wow the crowds with his original vocal stylings, the highlight being the grand Stars in Their Eyes final in which he offers his own unique clubland take on Eminem. It's brilliantly original stuff: roll on Series 3. --Kristen Bowditch

• Phoenix Nights: Series 1 and 2 | DVD | (10/11/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Created by and starring Bolton-born comic Peter Kay, Phoenix Nights is one of those rare gems that few saw on first showing but that everyone was soon talking about. The first series introduces wheelchair-bound Brian Potter (Kay), who runs the titular Phoenix, a shabby social club populated by an assortment of wonderfully observed characters. It's grim up North and despite the best efforts of the staff to inject life into the proceedings--be it an alternative comedy night, a version of Robot Wars in Potter's beloved Pennine Suite or a Wild West extravaganza--each evening's entertainment always ends badly. Undaunted, the Phoenix denizens continue to strive for their dream: a world in which "clubland never dies". The beginning of the second series sees Brian Potter's beloved Phoenix Club lying in ashes and the staff scattered to the four winds. Even club compere Jerry St Clair is reduced to singing "Come get your black bin bags" to the tune of Men in Black in the local supermarket. But not even being barred from having a licence for the rest of his natural life can deter the northern Svengali from reopening the club and making it bigger and better than before--even if that means making Jerry the licensee and offering up-market Chinese nosh. --Kristen Bowditch

• The Chase (Standard Edition) | Blu Ray | (25/05/2020) from £9.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Preceding Bonnie and Clyde by a year, Arthur Penn's (Mickey One) acclaimed film boasts enviable pedigree produced by the legendary Sam Spiegel, with a screenplay by Lillian Hellman from the novel by Horton Foote, a rousing score by John Barry, and a stellar cast of the hottest stars of the day (including Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, Robert Redford, Angie Dickinson and James Fox). The story of an escaped con making his way back to the corrupt Texas town and the people who sent him to prison, The Chase is a telling indictment of violence in American society. A seminal work which is ripe for rediscovery. Extras 4K restoration from the original negative Original mono audio Audio commentary with film historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo, and Nick Redman Step Back and Let Him Go: Arthur Penn on ˜The Chase' (1996, 26 mins): previously unseen interview footage from Paul Joyce's documentary Marlon Brando: The Wild One Cut to ˜The Chase' (2017, 24 mins): a new interview with renowned actor James Fox, conducted by Richard Ayoade Matthew Penn on ˜The Chase' (2017, 9 mins): a new interview with director Arthur Penn's son Super 8 version: original cut-down home cinema presentation Isolated Score: experience John Barry's original soundtrack music Original theatrical trailer Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing

• Phoenix Nights Box Set | DVD | (20/11/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Series 1 and 2 of Peter Kay's acclaimed TV comedy Phoenix Nights. Legendary social club owner Brian Potter and his band of staff and regulars are determined to make the Phoenix Club successful no matter what. Nothing will get in their way...

• The Swimmer | DVD | (26/05/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Burt Lancaster gives one of his most daringly complex performances in The Swimmer, a fascinating adaptation of John Cheever's celebrated short story. At first it seems that middle-aged businessman Ned Merrill (Lancaster) is merely enjoying a spontaneous adventure, swimming from pool to pool among the well-tended estates of his affluent Connecticut neighbourhood. But as Ned encounters a variety of neighbours, we see from their reactions that he's on an entirely different kind of journey, balanced on the edge of some mysterious psychosis that we can't fully understand until the film's final, devastating image. A compelling portrait of loss, refracted memories, and deep-rooted emotional denial, The Swimmer sprung from the same late-60s soil that yielded similarly ground-breaking literary films such as The Graduate and Goodbye, Columbus. It's an egotistical showcase for the physical prowess of its 55-year-old star, but Lancaster turns it into something deeper, more disturbing, and completely unforgettable. --Jeff Shannon

• The Swimmer (Standard Edition) | Blu Ray | (25/03/2024) from £9.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  One of the few bona fide counter-cultural films to be produced by a major studio, The Swimmer is a sun-scorched and surreal suburban satire that boasts a fine performance from Burt Lancaster (Castle Keep, Buffalo Bill and the Indians) as Ned Merrill, the all-American man who one day determines to swim home to his Connecticut mansion via a series of pools in his neighbourhood. Directed by Frank Perry (Diary of a Mad Housewife) imbues Eleanor Perry's (David and Lisa, Ladybug Ladybug) adaptation of John Cheever's short story with stunning expressionistic flourishes, creating a true masterpiece of cinema. Product Features 2014 restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative Original mono audio Audio commentary with Frank Perry biographer Justin Bozung (2022) Marge Champion on 'The Swimmer' (2013, 18 mins): onstage interview with the actor, conducted by filmmaker Allison Anders at the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival, TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, after a screening of The Swimmer Against the Tide (2022, 11 mins): actor, comedian and filmmaker Richard Ayoade discusses the unique genius of the Perrys' film 'The Swimmer' Read by John Cheever (2004, 26 mins): the original New Yorker short story read by the author Title sequence outtakes Isolated music & effects track Original theatrical trailer Illeana Douglas trailer commentary (2019, 6 mins) TV spots Image galleries: storyboards, deleted scenes, promotional and publicity material New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

• Alvin & the Chipmunks Meet the | DVD | (03/10/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Titles Comprise:Alvin And The Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein: Alvin and the Chipmunks in a full-length feature! The Chipmunks are working at an amusement park but little do they know in the Frankentein's Castle is the real Frankenstein! One night they get trapped in the park after dark, with Frankenstein on the loose it's the start of a wild adventure! Alvin And The Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman: Alvin and the Chipmunks in another full-length feature! With the arrival of a creepy neighbour the Chipmunks must keep a look out so they don't get bitten in the night!

• Gumshoe (Standard Edition) | Blu Ray | (27/06/2022) from £9.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  This brilliant feature debut from director Stephen Frears (My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons, The Grifters) is an affectionate and uniquely British tribute to the Hollywood detective movies of the 1940s. Starring the great Albert Finney (Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Murder on the Orient Express, Skyfall) as a Liverpool bingo caller who dreams of being a private eye and then finds himself suddenly contacted for what appears to be an actual piece of detective work. Product Features High Definition remaster Original mono audio Stephen Frears on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 18 mins): the acclaimed director discusses the film's production history Neville Smith on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 16 mins): the celebrated writer and actor discusses his work on the film, for which he won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award Producer Michael Medwin on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 2 mins): a short interview with the actor and producer Editor Charles Rees on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 25 mins): an insightful interview with the film's original editor Production Designer Michael Seymour on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 3 mins): a brief recollection of the film's production Actor Tom Kempinski on 'Gumshoe' (2018, 2 mins): the actor recalls the shooting of his scene with Finney The Burning (1968, 32 mins): Frears' haunting debut short film, made for Finney's production company, Memorial Enterprises Original theatrical trailer VHS trailer Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

• Bell, Book And Candle | DVD | (19/08/2002) from £15.27   |  Saving you £-2.28 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Bell, Book and Candle (1958) is a sparkling, exotic and intelligent comedy based on John Van Druten's original play about the unlikely subject of witchcraft in Manhattan. In his last romantic lead role, James Stewart is publisher Shep Henderson, sucked into the underworld of Greenwich Village by the extraordinarily beautiful Gillian Holroyd (Kim Novak). Their liaison kicks off when Gillian employs her skills to indulge in a bit of fun. By the time Shep gets wise and rejects the artificial premise for a relationship, she has sacrificed her powers to emotional awakening and all is set for a happy ending. Largely thanks to an eccentric supporting cast, which includes Jack Lemmon as Gillian's warlock brother, Hermione Gingold as a fruity nightclub owner and Elsa Lanchester as Gillian's dotty aunt, the film has a delightfully off-centre quality. It's also a bittersweet allegory about being different. "We forfeit everything and then we end up in a little world of separateness from everyone", sighs Gillian. Novak is at the height of her beauty and here, as in her other 1958 triumph Vertigo (also with Stewart), her other-worldly quality fits the character so perfectly that her thespian limitations are well disguised. It's entrancing in every sense. On the DVD: Bell, Book and Candle's vibrant Technicolor explodes from the screen in this DVD release, which is enhanced for 16:9 widescreen televisions. Everything looks fresh and new--particularly the exotic nightclub scenes--and the mono soundtrack has lasted well. Extras include selected filmographies and original trailers, and detailed background in the booklet notes. --Piers Ford

• La Belle Et La Bete | DVD | (19/11/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  La Belle et La Bete is one of the all-time great movie fantasies, and one of the most gorgeous pictures ever made. It was the first feature film by French director Jean Cocteau, a writer, poet and painter with ties to the surrealists. (In fact, his first film, The Blood of a Poet, was delayed after the scandal caused by L'Age D'Or, made by his fellow surrealists Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali.) The haunting, surreal visuals (candelabra made of human hands, for example) and a sensitive performance by Jean Marais as the Beast imbue the film with an indelible, mythical power. --Jim Emerson, Amazon.com

• Alvinnn!!! And The Chipmunks: Season 1 Volume 2 - Back To School | DVD | (15/08/2016) from £5.19   |  Saving you £4.80 (92.49%)   |  RRP £9.99

  The new animated series, ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks, created by Janice Karman, takes us on a roller coaster ride of music, laughter and stories. Featuring international super stars Alvin, Simon and Theodore and the sassy Chipettes Brittany, Jeanette and Eleanor, the series encounters the trials and tribulations of a single parent, David Seville, trying to raise six hyper-active Chipmunks. Like most parents, Dave's patience will be pushed to the limit, forcing him to end most sentences in ALVINNN!!! Episode listing: Talking Teddy Principal Interest Albrittina Simon for President To Serve and Protect Kickin' It Old School Clowning Around Bully For You The Tree House Saving Simon Back To School Bromance Theozilla Doggone It

• Alvin And The Chipmunks | DVD | (14/04/2008) from £4.90   |  Saving you £15.09 (307.96%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The 1980s cartoon series about a music group of chipmunks - comprised of mischievous group leader Alvin; tall and quiet Simon; and chubby, impressionable Theodore - comes to the big screen.

• Phoenix Nights: Series 2 | DVD | (19/06/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Legendary social club owner Brian Potter and his hapless band of staff and regulars are determined to make Phoenix Club a success no matter what. Not even a racist folk band an unforeseeable psychic or a drunken horse will get in the way of their dream that 'Clubland will never die'. The complete second series of Peter Kay's award winning show.

• Switchblade Sisters | Blu Ray | (19/04/2021) from £8.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  THE WILDEST GIRL GANG THAT EVER BLASTED THE STREETS! From Jack Hill, legendary director of Spider Baby, Coffy, Foxy Brown, and The Swinging Cheerleaders comes another iconic cult classic, Switchblade Sisters! Lace (Robbie Lee), the leader of inner city girl gang The Dagger Debs, meets her match when new girl Maggie (Joanne Nail) moves into the neighbourhood. Mistrust and conflict turn to friendship as the girls end up in Juvenile Detention together at the mercy of abusive guards. Meanwhile, The Dagger Debs' male counterparts The Silver Daggers have to contend with the arrival of a new gang, led by the villainous Crabs (Chase Newhart). But when the girls get back on the streets, a planned retaliation strike in tandem with The Silver Daggers backfires and puts Lace in hospital. Maggie assumes control, teaming up with Muff (Marlene Clark) and her gang of African-American militants from across town to declare all out war. But there's a traitor in their midst... Filled with sharp, clever dialogue and tongue in cheek humour, this Shakespeare-influenced girl gang/women in prison/action movie medley is a stone cold grindhouse classic! SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS: High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Original uncompressed mono audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Brand new audio commentary by historians/critics Samm Deighan & Kat Ellinger We Are The Jezebels, an archival documentary featuring director Jack Hill, producer John Prizer, casting director Geno Havans, production designer B.B. Neel, stunt coordinator Bob Minor, and stars Joanne Nail, Asher Brauner, and Chase Newhart Gangland: The locations of Switchblade Sisters, an archival documentary in which Jack Hill and filmmaker Elijah Drenner revisit the shooting locations of Switchblade Sisters Jack Hill and Joanne Nail at the Grindhouse Film Festival, a 2007 archival interview with the director and actor Interview with Jack Hill, Robbie Lee, Joanne Nail, an archival 1990's interview with the director and stars in conversation with Johnny Legend Galleries of behind the scenes stills, international posters, video covers, and lobby cards Theatrical trailers Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Twins of Evil FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new writing by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Heather Drain

• 3 Women | Blu Ray | (13/07/2015) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Maverick filmmaker Robert Altman continued a stunning run of celebrated work that included McCabe and Mrs Miller The Long Goodbye and Nashville with 3 Women a dreamy masterpiece that would fend off the titanic Star Wars as Roger Ebert’s best film of 1977. In a California resort town shy and impressionable Pinky (Sissy Spacey Badlands Carrie) strikes up a friendship with her fellow nurse ‘Thoroughly Modern’ Millie (Shelley Duvall Nashville Thieves Like Us). As the two spend more time together Pinky becomes dependent on Millie adopting aspects of her personality and appearance things take an unusual and darker turn as Pinky discovers Millie with a man a local bar owner whose wife forms the third of the title’s three women. Based on a series of dreams and influenced by Ingmar Bergman’s Persona Robert Altman famously cut the deal for 3 Women with 20th Century Fox in a matter of minutes and the remarkable faith of the studio would produce one of the most striking works of the period. Bonus Features: High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Original uncompressed PCM mono audio Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing New video interview with David Thompson editor of 'Altman on Altman' and producer of the BBC’s 'Robert Altman in England' Archive interview with Shelley Duvall from the Cannes Film Festival - The actress describes working with Altman his methods and how she started acting Galleries featuring behind-the-scenes photos the Cannes Film Festival press conference and promotional images Trailer Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh Booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic David Jenkins and excerpts from Altman on Altman illustrated with original stills

• The Swimmer (Limited Edition) | Blu Ray | (12/09/2022) from £44.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  One of the few bona fide counter-cultural films to be produced by a major studio, The Swimmer is a sun-scorched and surreal suburban satire that boasts a fine performance from Burt Lancaster (Castle Keep, Buffalo Bill and the Indians) as Ned Merrill, the all-American man who one day determines to swim home to his Connecticut mansion via a series of pools in his neighbourhood. Directed by Frank Perry (Diary of a Mad Housewife) imbues Eleanor Perry's (David and Lisa, Ladybug Ladybug) adaptation of John Cheever's short story with stunning expressionistic flourishes, creating a true masterpiece of cinema. Product Features High Definition remaster Original mono audio Audio commentary with Frank Perry biographer Justin Bozung (2022) The original New Yorker short story read by author John Cheever Original theatrical trailer Illeana Douglas trailer commentary (2019) Image gallery: promotional and publicity material New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Sophie Monks Kaufman, a profile of writer John Cheever, extracts from interviews with Frank Perry and Eleanor Perry on the making of the film, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits Limited edition exclusive poster UK premiere on Blu-ray Limited edition of 5,000 copies for the UK More extras to be announced All extras subject to change

• Sting - All This Time | DVD | (03/12/2001) from £14.05   |  Saving you £0.94 (6.69%)   |  RRP £14.99

  All This Time is a moving record of an exclusive live set performed by Sting and his 13-piece band at the end of their two-year Brand New Day tour. Following a week of intensive rehearsals and preparations for a global Web cast, the low-key concert was scheduled to be broadcast live to the world from Sting’s home in Tuscany on the evening of September 11, 2001. As is depicted in the accompanying 70-minute documentary, following intense agonising by Sting and his associates, the concert went ahead as mark of respect to the victims of the atrocities of this day. Starting the show with the sombre "Fragile" (which was the only track broadcast live on the internet due to the events of the day), the concert is made up of classic compositions from Sting and The Police. Reworked versions of songs such as "All This Time", "Fields of Gold", "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" and "Every Breath You Take" are all featured. The documentary captures the personalities of all those involved and highlights the joyous occasion the concert should have been. Some may be put off by Sting’s apparent laid back behaviour on stage but there’s something rather endearing watching him sip from a mug in-between songs. On The DVD: both the concert and the documentary footage is stunning, with the high resolution and quality of the DVD conveying the rich colours of the event. The excellent audio recording, adds to the intimacy of both the run-up to, and the actual concert itself. Added interactive features in the documentary allow access to the concert and exclusive dress-rehearsal footage. Three bonus live performances of "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic", "Fill Her Up" and "Englishman in New York" (which can only be accessed from the main menu) are also included. The documentary and live performance can be played as one feature or separately, with direct access to individual songs or chapters. --John Galilee

• Phoenix Nights: Series 1 | DVD | (19/06/2006) from £14.43   |  Saving you £5.56 (38.53%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Legendary social club owner Brian Potter and his hapless band of staff and regulars are determined to make Phoenix Club a success no matter what. Not even a racist folk band an unforeseeable psychic or a drunken horse will get in the way of their dream that 'Clubland will never die'.

• Peter Grimes - Benjamin Britten | DVD | (25/03/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Benjamin Britten's dour masterpiece Peter Grimes has been well-served in video recordings, yet this stark, intense production may become the top choice for most viewers. One of its major attractions is outstanding camerawork, under the direction of Barrie Gavin, powerfully reinforcing the shifting moods created by the music. The photography is notable in frequent close-ups, particularly those that focus on the ravaged, vulnerable and intensely expressive face of Philip Langridge in the title role. His interpretation is strikingly different from that of his chief video rival, Jon Vickers, who presents a more burly characterisation. The ambiguities in the role of Grimes make it possible to emphasise either strength or vulnerability in this story of an alienated fisherman, who stands virtually alone against a small (and small-minded society), vast forces of nature and a run of bad luck. His young apprentice has died (possibly because of his neglect or brutality); he is legally acquitted but found guilty by his neighbours and forbidden to take another boy as apprentice. He ignores that warning, the second boy dies accidentally, and he commits suicide under intense public pressure. Langridge gives a striking account of the role's psychological depth and complexity, aided by a well-chosen and directed cast. James Atherton conducts expertly. The chorus and orchestra are first-class, and the famous sea interludes, which have found a secure place in the concert repertoire, are visually enhanced by views of the ocean and shoreline. --Joe McLellan