"Actor: Michael Learned"

• The Waltons - Season 1 | DVD | (01/11/2004) from £29.99   |  Saving you £11.00 (36.68%)   |  RRP £40.99

  The Walton' nearly 10-year run grew out of the popular, 1971 made-for-TV movie The Homecoming, which was derived from a Depression-era, rustic setting ("Walton's Mountain"), and characters based on Earl Hamner Jr.'s autobiographical novel Spencer's Mountain--itself the source for a very nice 1963 feature film starring Henry Fonda and Maureen O'Hara. That's a lot of entertainment sprouting from Hamner's prose. But something about his seminal story of family values, rugged independence, and big dreams amidst a hardscrabble existence captured the hearts of American audiences, many of whom personally recalled severe economic adversity in the 1930s. The Waltons: The Complete First Season collects those initial episodes from the series building on the strengths of the Homecoming pilot, which introduced the extended Walton clan led by a strong-willed mill owner, John (Andrew Duggan), and his equally resolute wife, Olivia (Patricia Neal). The Waltons recast those key roles (as well as a few others) with Ralph Waite and Michael Learned (yup, a female), but Richard Thomas carried over as oldest child John-Boy Walton, an aspiring writer whose cusp-of-manhood view informs the series. Will Geer (Seconds) replaced Edgar Bergen as Grandpa Walton, Ellen Corby remained as Grandma, and John and Olivia's large brood (seven kids in all) were filled out by largely unknown, young actors. The episodes, still delightful and touching, strong on production values and unusually tight and polished for primetime drama, tended to focus on creator Hamner's pet themes of self-sacrifice and heroic effort when the going got tough. Year 1 highlights include "The Carnival", in which the impoverished Waltons, who can't pay for tickets to see a circus performance, end up sheltering stranded carney folk. "The Typewriter" is a classic about John-Boy "borrowing" a museum's antique typewriter, only to have his sister Mary Ellen (Judy Norton) sell it as junk. "The Sinner" concerns the arrival of a fundamentalist minister on Walton's Mountain, finding comfort in the words of religious iconoclast John Walton after the clergyman makes a fool of himself with moonshine. That's Hamner himself providing touches of narration. During the long run of the multiple-award-winning The Waltons, there were many changes in casting and storylines. But this boxed set reveals a fine series in its pristine state. --Tom Keogh

• The Waltons - Season 2 | DVD | (03/07/2006) from £22.49   |  Saving you £17.50 (77.81%)   |  RRP £39.99

  The welcome mat's out on Walton's Mountain. A year has gone by on Walton's Mountain. The Depression has deepened but so have the love and respect that hold the Waltons together. Share good times and hard times with America's favourite family in this 5-disc set featuring all 24 of the episodes from season 2 including 'The Thanksgiving Story' a poignant movie-length tale that won an Emmy Award for Best Writing in Drama (Series). This is the year John-Boy graduates from high

• Dragon - The Bruce Lee Story | DVD | (20/03/2000) from £5.66   |  Saving you £10.33 (182.51%)   |  RRP £15.99

  This enjoyable and touching biography of martial-arts film star Bruce Lee stars Jason Scott Lee (no relation), an actor with a lively face and natural intensity, who makes every moment of this film compelling. Directed by Rob Cohen, Dragon traces Bruce Lee's slow rise over myriad obstacles--most of them race-based--to become an international superstar in films. Lee's origins are oddly set in San Francisco instead of his real home in Seattle, but then again there is plenty of artistic license going on as Cohen explores the actor's psyche through some powerful fantasy sequences. Lauren Holly is good as Lee's wife, Linda (whose book about her late husband inspired this movie). A scene involving Bruce's rescue of son Brandon (who died in a film-making accident in 1993) from a murderous spirit is plain spooky. The special-edition DVD release has a widescreen presentation, director interview, featurette, screen tests, closed captioning, optional French soundtrack and Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh, Amazon.com --This text refers to the VHS edition of this video

• The Waltons - Season 3 | DVD | (11/09/2006) from £28.99   |  Saving you £11.00 (37.94%)   |  RRP £39.99

  The television series that captured the American spirit of family loyalty returns for a third season on DVD. Episodes comprise: 1. The Conflict (Part 1) 2. The Conflict (Part 2) 3. The First Day 4. The Thoroughbred 5. The Runaway 6. The Romance 7. The Ring 8. The System 9. The Spoilers 10. The Marathon 11. The Book 12. The Job 13. The Departure 14. The Visitor 15. The Birthday 16. The Lie 17. The Matchmakers 18. The Beguiled 19. The Caretakers 20. The Shivaree 21. The Choice 22. The Statue 23. The Song 24. The Woman 25. The Venture

• Dragon: Bruce Lee Story | Blu Ray | (30/05/2016) from £18.57   |  Saving you £16.41 (105.33%)   |  RRP £31.99

  THE UNFORGETTABLE STORY OF THE LEGENDARY BRUCE LEE Based on true events, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is the incredible journey of the life, love and unconquerable spirit of the martial arts legend. From a childhood of rigorous martial arts training, Lee realizes his dream of opening his own kung-fu school in America. Before long, he is discovered by a Hollywood producer (Robert Wagner) and begins a meteoric rise to fame and an all too short reign as one of the most charismatic action heroes in motion picture history. Hailed as an immeasurably entertaining movie by CBS-TV, Dragon: Te Bruce Lee Story is ablaze with comedy, touching romance and spectacular martial arts sequences.

• A Christmas Without Snow | DVD | (11/11/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £3.99

  Jo Jenson moves to a big city leaving behind a broken marriage and a small son. Her only joy in life is music. A choirmaster inspires her to give the performance of a lifetime but her life is still empty without her son...

• The Parade | DVD | (02/08/2004) from £6.58   |  Saving you £-2.59 (-64.90%)   |  RRP £3.99

  It's an eventful time of year for Halstead Kansas. The small town is preparing for the annual Independence Day Parade... and a not-so favourite son's release from prison. Matt Kirby has just served seven years on a 'bum rap' for protecting a friend. But instead of celebrating his freedom Matt faces a new set of challenges. His wife Rachel and his family struggle to accept Matt's past and attempt to deal with their own future.