"Actor: Jean Marsh"

• UFO - Vol. 2 - Episodes 5-7 | DVD | (18/03/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  UFO was Gerry Anderson's first live-action TV series after a decade of producing such children's animated classics as Stingray (1963) and Thunderbirds (1964). The premise of UFO, which ran for a single season of 26 episodes, was like a more serious version of Anderson's Captain Scarlet (1967)--in the near future of 1980 a hi-tech secret organisation, SHADO, waged covert war against mysterious alien attackers. Ed Bishop played the American head of SHADO--he had had previously featured in Captain Scarlet and Anderson's Doppelganger (1969)--though in all other respects this was a thoroughly British production. As with all Anderson series UFO evidenced remarkable technological inventiveness and groundbreaking production values, coupled with startling lapses in fundamental logic too numerous to list. Much more adult in story and content than earlier Anderson productions, and surprisingly dark with its pragmatic view of human nature and downbeat endings, the show now seems like a forerunner of The X Files and the equally short-lived Dark Skies (1996). Barry Gray's memorable theme and atmospheric music greatly enhanced the overall impact. Stylishly made, though terribly sexist by current standards and featuring eye-catching costumes more fitted for a camp fancy dress party than the front line of a futuristic war, this cult classic eventually evolved into Space 1999 (1975). On the DVD: from the animated menus onwards these DVDs have been beautifully designed and produced. The mono sound is exceptionally strong and the restored and remastered picture is almost unbelievably good for a 1970 TV show. With barely a flaw anywhere the episodes look so clear, colourful and detailed that they could have been filmed last week. --Gary S Dalkin

• Back to Back | DVD | (10/02/1979) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  John Mortimers acclaimed 1959 NTA production is comprised of two original one-act plays -The Dock Brief and What Shall We Tell Caroline - and stars theatre veterans Michael Hordern, George Rose and Jean Marsh.

• Upstairs Downstairs - Series 1 To 5 | DVD | (03/11/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £99.99

  The lives of the Bellamy family at the beginning of the 20th Century. Includes Series 1 to 5. Episodes include: 'Out Of The Everywhere' 'An Object Of Value' 'A Special Mischief' 'The Fruits Of Love' 'The Wages Of Sin' 'A Family Gathering' 'Miss Forrest' 'A House Divided' 'A Change Of Scene' 'A Family Secret' 'Rose's Pigeon' 'Desirous Of Change' 'Word Of Honour' 'The Boulter' 'Goodwill To All Men' 'What The Footman Saw' 'A Perfect Stranger' 'Distant Thunder' and 'The Sudden Storm'.

• Grand Hotel | Blu Ray | (28/01/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  People come. People go. Nothing ever happens, one world-weary patron (Lewis Stone) of Berlin's finest hotel comments. Movie audiences knew better. They were witnessing the glorious comings, goings and intersecting stories of a starry array billed as the greatest cast in stage or screen history! Ruined aristocrat John Barrymore. Terminally ill clerk Lionel Barrymore. Ruthless tycoon Wallace Beery. Scheming stenographer Joan Crawford. And disillusioned ballerina Greta Garbo. Teaming them was a masterstroke whose success fostered more star-packed extravaganzas. The radiant film captured the 1931-32 Best Picture Academy Award. What a grand showcase of the allure and style of classic movie-making! Special Features: Commentary by Jeffrey Vance and Mark A. Viera Behind the Story: Short Feature: Checking out: Grand Hotel Behind the Story: Short Feature: Hollywood Premiere of Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s Grand Hotel Behind the Story: Short Feature: Nothing ever happens Behind the Story: Short Feature: Just a word of warning Trailer: Grand Hotel (1932) Trailer: Week-End at The Waldorf (1945)

• Mr. Deeds Goes to Town/Wild One/Holiday/the Howards of | DVD | (12/11/2007) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Mr Deeds Goes To Town (1936): Gary Cooper is the pixilated small-town resident who refuses to let a million inheritance and a New York mansion alter his down-to-earth faith in people in Frank Capra's delightful comedy. Jean Arthur co-stars as the cynical reporter who falls for Deeds. Wild One (1954): Brando plays Johnny the leader of a vicious biker gang that involves a small sleepy California town. The leather-jacketed young biker seems hell-bent on destruction until he falls for Kathie (Mary Murphy) a good-girl whose father happens to be a cop. Unfortunately for Johnny his one shot at redemption is threatened by a psychotic rival Chino (Lee Marvin) plus the hostility and prejudice of the townspeople. All their smouldering passions explode in an electrifying climax. Holiday (1938): An iconoclastic young man (Cary Grant) who's engaged to a snooty heiress (Doris Nolan) discovers he's really in love with his fianc''e's down-to-earth sister (Katharine Hepburn) in director George Cukor's stylish comedy... The Howards Of Virginia (1940): Leading man Cary Grant plays Matt Howard a common man who gains employment as a surveyor through the help of Thomas Jefferson. Howard quickly falls head over heels for his wealthy employer's daughter Jane Peyton (Martha Scott). The couple appear to be set for happiness until Matt becomes involved in politics and the War of Independence arrives...

• The Saddle Club Vol.3 | DVD | (01/03/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Lisa Carole and Stevie would seem to have it all - a great riding stable with an amazing coach beautiful horses and acres of trails to ride on but for these 12 year old girls the world is quickly expanding. Before they know it the simplicity of childhood will be lost in the whirlwind of adolescence. As if pressures from the stable caring for their horses school baby-sitting jobs and parents weren't enough now they are beginning to notice boys for the first time. In their ever-changing world these girls have one thing they can count on: from preparing for a major horse show to coping with tough issues like the death of a horse they will go through it all together.

• Upstairs Downstairs - Complete Series 5 | DVD | (27/10/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Post World War 1 sees Eaton Place entering into a new era, both servants and masters are struggling to cope with the uncertainty of the 1920s. There is much insecurity in the air as the household members come to terms with the gaiety of the times coupled with the repercussions of the World War. Sadly the Eaton Place legacy ends here as James makes a bad investment and is forced to sell the house to pay off creditors.
  
  Series 5 Part 1 includes the following episodes:
  
  On With The D...