Alf Garnett, Johnny Speight's legendary comic creation, both amused and scandalised viewers and critics through the sixties and seventies in the classic sitcom Till Death Us Do Part and everyone's favourite bigot enjoyed a new lease of life in this early-eighties ATV spin-off, also penned by Speight and reuniting many of the series' original cast. This time around, former docker Alf has relocated from Wapping to Eastbourne, where he and long-suffering spouse Else have decided to spend their retirement. Alf's mate and former neighbour Bert has gone to a better place, and his widow Min now lodges at the Garnetts' bungalow; daughter Rita pops by occasionally, too, with Alf's grandson. But why pick on Eastbourne? Well, says Alf, I could've gone to Southend, but it's too near the Silly Moo's sister...
Jennifer Jones won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for her screen debut in this true story. A young French peasant girl Bernadette Soubirous sees a vision of a ""beautiful lady"" near her home in Lourdes in 1858. Based on the novel of the same name by Franz Werfel The Song Of Bernadette explores Bernadette's trials and tribulations from her impoverished family to her difficulties at school to the derision her visions bring upon her and at last to her affliction with bone-marrow c
Sirens screaming and lights flashing, a New York City ambulance speeds through the night.
Raymond Barone seemingly has it all - a wonderful wife a beautiful family a great job a nice house on Long Island. Not only that but everybody loves him! Don't they...? For the first time on DVD all 9 complete seasons of comedy favourite Everybody Loves Raymond.
First aired in December 1960 Coronation Street is the longest running most watched soap opera in Britain. This boxed set of the best episodes from the 1990s is released to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of everyone's favourite show. Winning numerous accolades the show was described as the most successful television programme in British history by the Royal Television Society and creator Tony Warren was made an MBE in 1976. The dramas of Weatherfield's residents have kept viewers enthralled throughout the soap s history and this volume of classic episodes from the 1990s allows fans to revisit key moments and storylines of that decade. Newcomers include the unhappily married Des and Steph Barnes loner Roy Cropper wheelchair-bound battleaxe Maud Grimes butcher Fred Elliott scheming barmaid Tanya Poole aspiring model Raquel Wolstenhulme and the troublesome Battersby family; noted writers include Shameless creator Paul Abbott and actor and playwright Stephen Mallatratt.
Billed as a fantasy to please kids and adults alike in 1988, Willow was revolutionary in its day. Not only did it have a vertically challenged actor (Warwick Davis) as its leading man, it also set new standards for special effects, using the first known "morfing" (sic) systems. To top it all off it combined the talents of two of Hollywood's biggest names, director Ron Howard and writer-producer George Lucas, and changed Val Kilmer's destiny, influencing both his career and love life. In theory all this should have added up to a rip-roaring success of a film. Alas, the end result has been unkindly if accurately described as the bastard son of Lord of the Rings, with Star Wars as its doting mother. The plot line (plucky young man sent off on a quest to protect something which could change the reign of evil) has obvious links to Tolkien's classic; Kilmer's Madmartigan (the diamond in the rough) has distinct similarities to Hans Solo. And with the great advances in modern cinemas special effects, Willow's ferocious two-headed dragons now look like something out of 1963's Jason and the Argonauts. However, even though it marked the end of the road for fantasy films in the 1980s, Willow's combination of locations, set design and groundbreaking SFX set new standards and influenced much modern cinema, including Peter Jackson's epic Lord of the Rings. All in all, this is a movie with its heart, soul and magic in the right place. On the DVD: Willow is brought up to date on DVD with this excellent special effects enhancing anamorphic transfer of the original 2.35:1 screen ratio; the Dolby 5.1 surround sound boosts the power behind Badmorda's roar as well as spotlighting James Horner's swashbuckling score. A lively commentary is offered by Warwick Davis, although he has a tendency to dwell on his own musings rather than the film as a whole. Other features include "The Making of the Adventure", which is a standard TV behind-the-scenes documentary/advert and a wealth of TV spots, trailers and photos. By far the most interesting feature is the "Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of Digital Film" documentary including interviews with George Lucas, Ron Howard and Dennis Muren (the renowned special effects guru) on the creation of morphing and its influence on later movies. -Nikki Disney
A supernatural thriller in which ten airline passengers wake up during their flight to find all the other passengers and the crew have disappeared...
The complete first season of Murder One in which a single but multi-faceted case is explored from opening trial arguments to final judgment over the course of 23 enthralling episodes.
A double bill of family adventure films based on novels by Chris Van Allsburg. Zathura (Dir. Jon Favreau 2005): Actor-turned-director Jon Favreau (Elf) delivers another work of intelligent charming family fare with this space adventure. Older brother Walter (Josh Hutcherson) and the younger Danny (Jonah Bobo) are constantly at war with one another bickering over the mediating voice of their long-suffering father (Tim Robbins). When he has to go to the office to replace so
From Out Of Space... A Warning And An Ultimatum! A spacecraft lands in Washington D.C. and an alien emerges flanked by a menacing robot with destructive capabilities far beyond anyone's imagination. So begins the science-fiction thriller The Day The Earth Stood Still a classic atomic movie from the 50s that would go on to inspire alien-invasion films for decades to come. Rebuffed in his efforts to meet the world's leaders and warn them of the earth's impending doom the alien Klaatu (Michael Rennie) takes to the streets. Klaatu's plea for peace is embraced by a pretty young woman (Patricia Neal) and an eminent scientist (Sam Jaffe) but the rest of humanity reacts with mistrust fear and violence. With time running out Klaatu is forced to demonstrate his awesome powers in a mind-boggling display teaching all of mankind a lesson for the ages. Watch The Day The Earth Stood Still and and you will never forget these words - Klaatu barada nikto!
Drawing TV audiences of up to 11 million viewers 'Trial And Retribution' is a gritty urban drama that deals with graphic topics from abduction to serial murders and internal police corruption to psychological illness. Breaking new ground in terms of content and style each episode traces the entire trajectory of a serious crime from the act being committed to a detailed investigation and arrest before arriving at the law courts for a dramatic finale. Trial And Retributio
In the epic conclusion to the Maze Runner saga, Thomas leads his group of escaped Gladers on their final mission. To save their friends, they must break into the legendary Last City, a WCKD-controlled labyrinth that may turn out to be the deadliest maze of all! Anyone who makes it out alive will get answers to the questions the Gladers have been asking since they first arrived in the maze.
In MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS, the next chapter of the epic Maze Runner saga, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD's vastly superior forces and uncover it's shocking plans for them all.
Winner of two BAFTAs - this sequel to Porridge sees Norman Stanley Fletcher released from jail having served 3 years 8 months and 4 days. Following his release from Slade after numerous spells in prison and at the age of 45 Fletcher tries to stick to the straight and narrow but it isn't easy! Life in the outside world is just not the same as it used to be...
Novelist James Clavell wrote, produced and directed this 1967 British film (based on the novel by E. R. Braithwaite) about a rookie teacher who throws out stock lesson plans and really takes command of his unruly, adolescent students in a London school. Sidney Poitier is very good as a man struggling with the extent of his commitment to the job, and even more as a teacher whose commitment is to proffering life lessons instead of just academic ones. The spirit of this movie can also be found in more recent films such as Dangerous Minds and Mr. Holland's Opus, but none are as moving as this. Besides, the others don't have a title song performed by Lulu, who also stars. --Tom Keogh
In October of 1994, three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland while shooting a documentary. A year later the footage was found.
The BAFTA-winning adaptation of Quentin Crisp's best-selling autobiography, The Naked Civil Servant features an arguably career-best performance by John Hurt as Crisp a flamboyant homosexual trying to live an openly gay lifestyle in the intolerant pre-war years. Funny, tragic and, at times, heart-warming, this unflinching story of an unconventional man is strongly directed by the multi-award winning Jack Gold. It is featured here in a brand-new High Definition restoration from original film elements, in its original fullscreen aspect ratio. SPECIAL FEATURES: Feature version [HD - Blu-ray exclusive]: in full widescreen with the ad-breaks removed Commentary with John Hurt, director Jack Gold and executive producer Verity Lambert Seven Men: Quentin Crisp a Granada profile from 1971 Mavis Catches Up with Quentin Crisp: an interview from 1989 Image gallery Philip Mackie's original script (PDF)
The Middle is the most honest--and, for that reason, the funniest--sitcom about middle class family life since Roseanne. Frankie Heck (Patricia Heaton, Everybody Loves Raymond) wearily runs a cluttered, chaotic household with her husband Mike (Neil Flynn, Scrubs) and three unruly kids: sullen teen jock Axl (Charlie McDermott), hopeless klutz Sue (Eden Sher), and smart but socially awkward Brick (Atticus Shaffer). The plots revolve around the kind of mild crises that make domestic life so difficult: Frankie and Mike can't find time to be alone together; debts force difficult choices; the kids spend more time watching television than talking to each other. Again and again, Frankie longs to teach her kids good values but realizes she isn't living up to those values herself--and her reluctant efforts to muster virtue within herself can be achingly funny. Frankie is superbly well realized, a perfect match of writing and performer. Heaton portrays her contradictory impulses (virtue vs. convenience, open-heartedness vs. a hunger for just a little time alone) with wonderful subtlety; the wary look in her eyes flickers between sincerity and cynicism. The supporting cast is every bit as strong. These kids actually look and act like kids, in all their obnoxious, oblivious, naive glory, not like glossy supermodels in training. Flynn pulls his own deft balancing act, making husband Mike blunt and a little insensitive without seeming like a jerk or a caricature. The show is still working out some kinks--Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live) plays a hapless coworker of Frankie's; the character has possibilities and Kattan seems game for anything, but the writers don't quite know what to do with him yet. A host of guest stars--including Brooke Shields as a white trash neighbor and Betty White as an imperious librarian--fit nicely into the show's world, rather than sticking out like stunt casting. The Middle treats middle America with compassion, intelligence, and genuine appreciation. --Bret Fetzer
Directed by Richard Linklater and filmed over a 12 year period from 2002 to 2013 Boyhood is a ground breaking cinematic experience following the life of a family. At the centre is Mason (Ellar Coltrane) who with his sister Samantha is taken on an emotional and transcendent journey through the years from childhood to adulthood. Raised by a divorced couple (Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette ). The story follows the boy for twelve years from first grade at age 6 through 12th grade at age 17-18 and examines his relationship with his parents and those around him as he grows. Bonus Features: Featurette Deleted Scenes Making of
Starring Robert Carlyle as the Nazi dictator, Hitler: The Rise of Evil is a lavish made-for-TV two-parter that traces Adolf Hitler's early life, including his boyhood in Austria and impoverished period as a struggling artist in Vienna, culminating in 1934, by which time he had assumed the chancellorship of Germany. We bear witness to the rhetoric, ruthlessness and obsessive determination that propelled him to power, despite the best efforts of opponents like Matthew Modine's campaigning journalist. His inadequate but despotic relationships with women, such as his tragic half-niece Geli Raubal, are also examined. Carlyle fares very well in what is traditionally considered the invidious task of bringing Hitler to dramatic life, conveying him plausibly as an impenetrably evil man, complex but irredeemable. However, this drama fails to explain just how and why such a pathetic, psychotic, unattractive individual such as Hitler could make such an immediate, profound impression on, for example, Ernst Hanfstangl and his wife Nina (ER's Julianne Margulies). Disproportionate attention is paid to Hitler's relationship to this American-born couple, perhaps as a sop to US audiences. In contrast, the social, cultural and political context of inter-war Germany is skimpily depicted here, making Hitler's ascendancy seem almost absurd. On the DVD: Hitler: The Rise of Evil is, as you would expect, a decent transfer from the TV original, but there are no additional features. --David Stubbs
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