In the 1970s the British film industry went through a craze for turning hit TV comedies into big screen features. From On the Buses (1971) to Porridge (1979), Dad's Army was one of the few which made the transition with style. Set in the small south coast town of Walmington-on-Sea in 1940, the film does have the structure of three TV episodes remade and sequenced together. Beginning with the formation of the local Home Guard, the company has a self-contained adventure on military manoeuvres, before a finale which allows for some heroism as three German officers take over the church hall. Dad's Army has all the gentle character comedy of the classic BBC TV series, benefiting enormously by retaining the entire television cast, headed by the incomparable Arthur Lowe as the blustering Captain Mainwaring and supported by the equally wonderful John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn. The cinema budget allows far superior production values to the original series, with a loving re-creation of 1940's England and some surprisingly beautiful cinematography. Above all, the film is both funny and a nostalgic reminder of a time when ordinary middle-aged and old men could be both real and movie heroes. --Gary S. Dalkin
First time on Blu-Ray in the UK. The film spin-off from the much-loved TV comedy series starring Arthur Lowe as the commander of an incompetent Home Guard platoon in wartime Britain. With the trusted comedy genius from the TV series shining through, Mainwaring and company save the day when a crew of a German aircraft take the vicar and villagers hostage in the church.
A broad science fiction thriller in a classic vein, Equilibrium takes a respectable stab at a Fahrenheit 451-like cautionary fable. The story finds Earth's post-World War III humankind in a state of severe emotional repression; if no-one feels anything, no-one will be inspired by dark passions to attack their neighbours. Writer-director Kurt Wimmer's monochromatic, Metropolis-influenced cityscape provides an excellent backdrop to the heavy-handed mission of John Preston (Christian Bale), a top cop who busts "sense offenders" and crushes sentimental, sensual, and artistic relics from a bygone era. Predictably, Preston becomes intrigued by his victims and that which they die to cherish; he stops taking his mandatory, mood-flattening drug and is even aroused by a doomed prisoner (Emily Watson). Wimmer's wrongheaded martial arts/duelling guns motif is sheer silliness (a battle over a puppy doesn't help), but Equilibrium should be seen for Bale's moving performance as a man shocked back to human feeling. --Tom Keogh
If the mark of a successful TV comedy is that repeat showings attract new viewers, then Dad's Army must be one of the best. The Very Best of Dad's Army includes five episodes almost covering its whole time span--from 1969's "Sons of the Sea", an entertaining caper when lost at home, to 1977's final episode "Never Too Old", in which sparky Corporal Jones marries his longtime sweetheart, and the ageing Second World War platoon drinks a toast to Britain's Home Guard. Along with these is 1973's "The Deadly Attachment", where a captive U-boat crew falls prey to dummy hand-grenades; 1972's "Keep Young and Beautiful", a touching tale of looking younger and sticking together; and the same year's "Asleep in the Deep", where the platoon uses its skill and judgement, plus a little luck, to escape a life-threatening situation. Fans and newcomers will enjoy the priceless interplay of Arthur Lowe and John le Mesurier, along with the contributions of Clive Dunn, John Laurie, Arnold Ridley, Ian Lavender and James Beck, in this nostalgic depiction of Britain as it once was. On the DVD: The 4:3 picture reproduction has come up well and the dual mono sound is more than adequate. Each episode features six scene selections, while the artist profiles provide brief but relevant biographical details. The half-hour Selection Box gives celebrities past and present a chance to pick their favourite extracts and explain just why they're hooked. Chances are you will be too.--Richard Whitehouse
Doctor Who star Jon Pertwee is your host in this highly popular, light-hearted panel game where viewers are invited to play detective - pitting their wits against a panel of celebrities to solve a fictitious murder mystery. The show's brilliantly original formula, devised by comedians Lance Percival and Jeremy Lloyd, presented short dramas laden with clues and red herrings to be pieced together by the celebrity panellists, who would then question the characters involved and finally point the finger at the most likely suspect. Lively repartee was the order of the day and joining Pertwee in this series is a veritable who's who of 1970s television: Richard O'Sullivan, Patrick Mower, Aimi Macdonald, Anthony Valentine, Harry H. Corbett, Arthur Mullard and Rodney Bewes join up with celebrities Jackie Collins, Henry Cooper and Kingsley Amis to track down "whodunnit".
In the grim darkness of the 41st Millennium the only force that stands between humanity and alien hordes are the genetically enhanced super-soldiers known as Ultramarines. But when a select squad of scarred veterans and raw recruits responds to a distant planet's distress beacon they'll discover that a horrific evil has been unleashed. And amidst a living nightmare of chaos carnage and daemonic fury these steel battle-brothers must now survive the ultimate enemy: Themselves. The voices of Terence Stamp (Superman II Wanted) John Hurt (Alien Hellboy) and Sean Pertwee (Dog soldiers Event horizon) star in this intense CGI animated sci-fi/action thriller and the first-ever feature-length movie interpretation of the Warhammer 40 000 game universe. Special Features: Into the void - Making Ultramarines Between chaos and darkness - The world of the space marines Creating the Daemon Animated graphic novel Ultramarines prequel
The Very Best of Dad's Army, Vol 2 is a further helping of episodes from the BBC's most durable comedy, well chosen to illustrate the variety of situations and predicaments in which Warmington-on-Sea's home guard find themselves. "Menace from the Deep" sees them marooned on the town pier, having to contend with a rogue mine and an inebriated Hodges. "Mum's Army" has Captain Mainwaring set up a women's division and promptly fall for the charming Miss Gray, in a cunning take on Brief Encounter. "No Spring for Frazer" charts Frazer's beleaguered attempts to locate a missing gun part with predictably disastrous results. "When Did You Last See Your Money?" similarly puts Corporal Jones through the mill after he switches a package containing £500 with one containing a half-pound of sausages. Finally, "The Honourable Man" brings the enmity of Mainwaring and Sergeant Wilson to a head when the latter inherits an honorary title. The performances have that spontaneity and gently self-mocking humour so familiar, yet so enjoyable, however many times around. On the DVD: The Very Best of Dad's Army, Vol 2 on disc has an accompanying documentary (partially reprised from that on Volume 1) containing interviews with surviving cast members, present-day comedians and Messrs Croft and Perry, whose inspired scriptwriting continues to amuse and entertain. The early-70s prints have come up well, with subtitles and six chapter headings per episode to make locating favourite scenes easier than ever. --Richard Whitehouse
Magical Christmas Stories;*The Christmas Mouse:A beautiful production of the enchanting story of the Christmas Carol SILENT NIGHT. Set in a picturesque Austrian village 'The Christmas Mouse' is a magical tale of mice who mend church organs and a small boy whose wish is to create a very special tune for Christmas Day is granted with the assistance of his tiny friend A. Nonny Mouse.'A very memorable children's tale' - The Guardian'The acting is delightful and the photography gives all the scenes the ambience of an antique Christmas Card' - The Seattle Times*The Curious Case of Santa Claus:Santa Claus is having an identity crisis. Everywhere he goes he sees look-a-likes. He seeks help from a New York psychiatrist and together they trace the legend of St. Nicholas through the ages and across foreign lands (including Turkey Italy Holland Siberia Israel Britain and America). How he first worked miracles why he started giving gifts and how he managed to fly with his reindeers through the night skies and come down chimneys.This blend of seasonal comedy drama and facts has guaranteed this film its place as a perennial TV Christmas favourite all over the world - great entertainment for all the family!
The Doctors: 30 Years Of Time Travel And Beyond is a hallmark documentary about the world famous BBC TV series 'Doctor Who', packed with personal insights and views from the very people who made the programme.Arranged in order of the various actors to have played the Doctor, this documentary features a host of specially recorded interviews with the programmes cast and crew. Doctors, companions and production personnel all share their unique experiences on the programme and their opinions as to what makes 'Doctor Who' so special to so many.The programme also features rare, behind the scenes home movie footage of The Smugglers, The Abominable Snowmen, The Daemons and the unfinished Tom Baker story Shada, as well as a unique collection of unpublished photographs spanning all the Doctors from the TV series.In addition to the main feature, this special DVD release comes packed with previously unseen material that could not be included in the original VHS release. Based on the bestselling book by Adrian Rigelsford, this documentary offers a comprehensive, candid and at times controversial look at a series that continues to grow in popularity.
Rachel gave birth to a healthy baby boy after months of turmoil for her and Adam; Pete and Jo tied the knot after convincing everyone - including themselves - that they were meant for each other; and David was left reeling after Karen was forced to confess her affair. We pick up six months later on their return from Sydney. Adam and Rachel embark on family life with their little boy Matt with realisation dawning on Adam that baby definitely makes three. Pete and Jo return from Austra
The future looks uncertain for the three couples in the fourth series of Cold Feet. Adam (James Nesbitt) and Rachel (Helen Baxendale) desperately want to be parents and face rigorous adoption procedures however unknown to Rachel Adam's first love is back on the scene to win him back. David (Robert Bathurst) is battling to keep his marriage together after his short-lived affair but Karen (Hermione Norris) is not warming to his efforts and her drinking spirals out of control. F
The Best Of The Adventures
Runaway Railway Some young railway enthusiasts repair a derelict locomotive and find themselves inadvertently involved in a mail train robbery! Junket 89 Junket always seems to be in trouble at school but his troubles really begin when the absent minded science master allows him to borrow his experimental instant transportation machine to journey to faraway places...
Please wait. Loading...
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy