"Actor: Paul Allen"

• Cast Away (2 Disc Set) | DVD | (03/07/2006) from £12.76   |  Saving you £13.22 (135.31%)   |  RRP £22.99

  Cast Away reunites star Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis in their first collaboration since the heavy-handed sentimentality of Forrest Gump. Thankfully, this time their film's life-affirming message is delivered with more subtlety, attributable both to an extraordinarily committed, physically demanding central performance from Hanks and to Zemeckis' technically masterful but carefully understated direction. It's also a film with three distinct "acts" or, to be old-fashioned about it, a proper beginning, middle and end. The story follows schedule-obsessed but fulfilled FedEx supervisor Chuck Noland (Act 1) on a personal journey into the bleakest, most solitary despair (Act 2), before Helen Hunt, in the thankless role of ex-girlfriend, unwittingly allows him to glimpse an optimistic future full of untapped possibilities (Act 3). Hanks' sojourn on the island is the centrepiece, but this is no tropical island idyll: following a terrifying plane crash (the one sequence in the film where Zemeckis shows off his uncanny ability to choreograph action), life on the island is seen to be a depressing and bitter experience filled with disappointment, danger and suicidal despair. Having lost all hope of rescue, ultimately Noland's greatest test is not to survive, but to find a reason to survive. He has no Man Friday for company, just a volleyball named "Wilson" that is both a narrative device allowing Hanks to deliver dialogue and an intriguingly pagan personification of the island's spirit under whose protection Noland is finally able to summon fire (significantly, and heartbreakingly, Wilson leaves him as he regains contact with the world). In an era of MTV-style film editing, Zemeckis and Hanks fearlessly take their time establishing with total conviction the grim realities of Noland's situation, his devastating loss of hope and the means by which he achieves his escape. Like Contact before it, Cast Away is a refreshingly thoughtful piece of mainstream cinema that explores weighty existential issues but retains a warm human intimacy. On the DVD: The luminous anamorphic print with vivid Dolby 5.1 soundtrack is accompanied on the first disc by a technical commentary from Zemeckis and key crew personnel. It's plenty insightful for budding filmmakers, although for pure listening pleasure one might have preferred a more relaxed piece with just the director and Tom Hanks. The second disc includes a 30-minute making-of documentary in which the director sums up the moral of the movie--"Surviving is easy but living is difficult". This draws on material from the three other mini-documentaries about survival skills, Wilson the volleyball and the Fijian island location of Monu Riki respectively. There's also a section on the sometimes surprising use of CGI effects and a storyboard-to-film comparison sequence. Tom Hanks chats with American TV host Charlie Rose about this movie and his career in the extensive 50-minute interview. Trailers, artwork and stills round out a valuable two-disc set. --Mark Walker

• RoboDoc: The Creation of Robocop Double Disc Special Edition | Blu Ray | (18/12/2023) from £12.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The definitive RoboCop documentary has landed! A 4-part limited series spanning nearly 5 hours, get ready to deep-dive into the making of the seminal 80s sci-fi sensation, a film that pushed boundaries and inspired a whole generation. Featuring brand new interviews with BAFTA-nominated RoboCop Director, Paul Verhoeven, plus a host of stars from the original trilogy including Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Ray Wise, Kurtwood Smith, Ronny Cox, and the late Miguel Ferrer, and complete with exclusive behind the scenes materials, this comprehensive new take on the story from the makers of Pennywise The Story of IT offers something completely unique to the making of format, fully immersing viewers into the world of 80s filmmaking. The complete series is set across two discs, with the Special Edition Blu-Ray featuring a further fantastic 60 mins of RoboCop bonus content and UK-exclusive A4 poster and art cards! BONUS MATERIALMeet the MakersThe Weapons of RobocopRobo Cast QuotesArt of the Steel Call To Action Guns Guns GunsPart Gan Part Machine All Video Game Roboteam Assemble A4 poster4 art cards

• Cast Away | DVD | (02/07/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  From the director of "Forrest Gump" comes a contemporary drama about a man in isolation who is forced to transform himself both physically and emotionally in order to survive.

• Cruising | Blu Ray | (19/08/2019) from £17.25   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Academy Award-winner William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection) directs Al Pacino as an undercover cop pitched into New York's seedy underbelly in Cruising available for the first time on Blu-ray in a brand new director-approved transfer. The Big Apple is caught in the grip of a sadistic serial killer who is preying on the patrons of the city's underground gay bars. Captain Edelson (Paul Sorvino) tasks young rookie Steve Burns (Pacino) with infiltrating the S&M subculture to try and lure the killer out of the shadows but as he immerses himself deeper and deeper into the lurid underworld, Steve risks losing his own identity in the process. Based on reporter Gerald Walker's novel of the same name, Cruising was the subject of great controversy at the time of its release and remains a challenging and remarkable movie to this day, with Pacino's haunted lead performance as its magnetic centrepiece. Limited Edition Contents: Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, supervised and approved by writer-director William Friedkin High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation Newly remastered 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio supervised by William Friedkin Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Brand new audio commentary by authors Mark Kermode, Alan Jones and Gary Needham Archival audio commentary by William Friedkin The History of Cruising archival featurette looking at the film's origins and production Exorcising Cruising archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy Original Theatrical Trailer

• RoboCop UHD | Blu Ray | (18/07/2022) from £14.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  RoboCop, from Orion Pictures, marked Flesh + Blood director Paul Verhoeven's Hollywood debut and instantly became an enduring sci-fi/action classic when it landed in theaters in the summer of 1987. Verhoeven's peerlessly exciting and kinetic visuals were matched by a sharp script, iconic cast and exceptional special effects by Rob Bottin (The Thing) and Phil Tippett (The Empire Strikes Back). The film takes place in Detroit in the not-too-distant future. Heroic cop Alex Murphy (Peter Weller, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai) is gunned down in the line of duty, only to be resurrected as RoboCop a cybernetic mix of spare human parts and Motor City steel, and the latest defense against crime designed by the all-powerful OCP Corporation. As RoboCop's memories of his former life as Murphy resurface, only his ex-partner (Nancy Allen, Dressed To Kill) stands beside him to fight against the vicious thugs responsible for his death, as well as a nefarious top-level OCP executive orchestrating the chaos from above. Unsurpassably thrilling, unexpectedly moving and unforgettably hilarious in equal measure, the future of law enforcement is back on 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray in a restored Director's Cut, packed with hours of brand new bonus features. Product Features 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by MGM, transferred in 2013 and approved by director Paul Verhoeven 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) Original lossless stereo and four-channel mixes plus DTS-HD MA 5.1 and Dolby Atmos surround sound options Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Commentary by director Paul Verhoeven, executive producer Jon Davison and co-writer Ed Neumeier (originally recorded for the Theatrical Cut and re-edited in 2014 for the Director's Cut) Commentary by film historian Paul M. Sammon Commentary by fans Christopher Griffiths, Gary Smart and Eastwood Allen The Future of Law Enforcement: Creating RoboCop, an interview with co-writer Michael Miner RoboTalk, a conversation between co-writer Ed Neumeier and filmmakers David Birke (writer of Elle) and Nicholas McCarthy (director of Orion Pictures' The Prodigy) Truth of Character, an interview with star Nancy Allen on her role as Lewis Casting Old Detroit, an interview with casting director Julie Selzer on how the film's ensemble cast was assembled Connecting the Shots, an interview with second unit director and frequent Verhoeven collaborator Mark Goldblatt Analog, a featurette focusing on the special photographic effects, including new interviews with Peter Kuran and Kevin Kutchaver More Man Than Machine: Composing RoboCop, a tribute to composer Basil Poledouris featuring film music experts Jeff Bond, Lukas Kendall, Daniel Schweiger and Robert Townson RoboProps, a tour of super-fan Julien Dumont's collection of original props and memorabilia 2012 Q&A with the Filmmakers, a panel discussion featuring Verhoeven, Davison, Neumeier, Miner, Allen, star Peter Weller and animator Phil Tippett RoboCop: Creating A Legend, Villains of Old Detroit, Special Effects: Then & Now, three archive featurettes from 2007 featuring interviews with cast and crew Paul Verhoeven Easter Egg Four deleted scenes The Boardroom: Storyboard with Commentary by Phil Tippett Director's Cut Production Footage, raw dailies from the filming of the unrated gore scenes, presented in 4K (SDR) Two theatrical trailers and three TV spots Extensive image galleries Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper

• Cruising Limited Edition 4K UHD | Blu Ray | (24/02/2025) from £26.98   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Legendary director William Friedkin brings together Al Pacino, the 70s New York gay scene and a searing punk-rock soundtrack in this one-of-a-kind serial killer thriller, finally restored to its long-unavailable original theatrical version in 4K. New York is caught in the grip of a sadistic serial killer who is preying on the patrons of the city's underground gay scene. Young rookie cop Steve Burns (Pacino) is tasked with infiltrating the S&M subculture to try and lure the killer out of the shadows... but as he immerses himself deeper and deeper into the underworld, Steve risks losing his own identity in the process. Taking the premise and title from reporter Gerald Walker's novel, Cruising was the subject of great controversy at the time of its release and remains a challenging and remarkable movie to this day, with Pacino's haunted lead performance as its magnetic centrepiece. With hours of brand-new bonus features, including never-before-seen material from the deepest recesses of the studio archives, you've never seen Cruising like this. 2-DISC 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS ¢ Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films ¢ 120-page perfect-bound collector's book featuring articles from The Village Voice and The New York Times, essays from the film's extras cast, an introduction from William Friedkin, and an archive interview with Al Pacino ¢ Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sister Hyde DISC ONE - FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD) ¢ 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) ¢ Original lossless English mono audio, 2.0 stereo, and 5.1 ¢ Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing ¢ Two archive audio commentaries by director William Friedkin, one solo and one moderated by critic and broadcaster Mark Kermode ¢ Brand new commentary featuring original musicians involved with the soundtrack ¢ I Want to Be the Curator, a brand-new interview with actress Karen Allen ¢ Deleted scenes and alternative footage ¢ On-set audio featuring the club scenes and protest coverage ¢ Censored material reels ¢ Theatrical trailer, teasers, and TV spots DISC TWO - EXTRAS (BLU-RAY) ¢ Walking the Line, a brand-new interview with actor, film consultant, and former police detective Randy Jurgensen ¢ Cut Offs, an interview with editor Bud S. Smith ¢ Who's That Guy?, an interview with actor Jay Acovone ¢ Pounding the Beat, an interview with actor Mike Starr ¢ Boy on the Bus, an interview with actor Mark Zecca ¢ Mineshaft Memories, an archive interview with Wally Wallace, former manager of the Mineshaft ¢ Breaking the Codes, a brand-new visual essay surrounding the hanky-codes featuring actor and writer David McGillivray ¢ Stop the Movie, a short film by Jim Hubbard capturing the Cruising protests ¢ The History of Cruising, an archival featurette looking at the film's origins and production ¢ Exorcising Cruising, an archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy ¢ William Friedkin's BeyondFest 2022 Q&A at the American Cinematheque ¢ Extensive image gallery featuring international promotional material, on-set sketches, and more

• Gangster No. 1 | DVD | (10/06/2002) from £4.99   |  Saving you £5.00 (100.20%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Gangster No. 1 is without doubt the most stylish British violent crime thriller from the many produced at the end of the 20th century. For all the pop-video glamour of Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, neither have anywhere near as much a sense of danger as is shown here. Paul Bettany ignites the screen with a fury that explodes far more than it smoulders beneath his tautly kept temper. The tale concerns his ascent to the titular position of primacy in 1960s London, told in flashback by his present-day self (an equally riveting Malcolm McDowell). A lust for power won't allow anything to stand in either incarnation's way, especially the foppish posturing of established crime boss Freddie Mays (David Thewlis). What distinguishes this from many other tales of greed is that the never-named Gangster actually wants to be Freddie, not simply replace him. Saffron Burrows plays the suffering trophy moll in the middle of this personality clash and provides about the only level head and gentle tongue in what is otherwise a super-violent and super-profane script. This is what The Krays should have been, and therefore not for the squeamish. --Paul Tonks

• Connie - The Complete Series | DVD | (31/12/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Connie: The Complete Series (4 Discs)

• What's New Pussycat | DVD | (27/09/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  O'Toole stars as a fashion editor in Paris who is constantly surrounded by beautiful women - a leggy American stripper a blonde daredevil and a neurotic nymphomaniac. The problem is that they all find him irresistable which makes it almost impossible for O'Toole to settle down with his marriage-minded girlfriend. Woody Allen makes his film debut as O'Toole's sex-starved friend who would kill to have such problems! Peter Sellers in a dazzlingly demented performance plays a famed ps

• Twin Town | DVD | (15/05/2006) from £22.79   |  Saving you £-6.80 (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Bryn Cartwright a wealthy roofing contractor Rugby Club Chairman and local kingpin rules the roost until Fatty Lewis a local handyman falls off a ladder on a Cartwright job. Bryn refuses to pay compensation. The twins Fatty's wayward sons devise a wickedly comic way of getting even and Bryn ends up paying dearly...

• What's New Pussycat? (Eureka Classics) Blu-ray edition | Blu Ray | (02/12/2019) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Eureka Entertainment to release WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT?, Clive Donner's zany screwball comedy starring Peter Sellers and Peter O'Toole, for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK as part of the Eureka Classics range from 2 December 2019. It's tough being the cat's meow! A zany blend of slapstick gags and madcap comedy, What's New Pussycat?, starring Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole and Woody Allen in his acting and screenwriting debut, is the wildest, wackiest film to emerge from the swinging '60s. Michael (O'Toole) is a mademoiselle magnet. His demented psychiatrist (Sellers) and sex-starved friend (Allen) would kill for this problem, but his would-be fiancé (Romy Schneider) might just kill him. Undergoing therapy, Michael tries to reform, but it won't be easy with sex kittens like Ursula Andress, Paula Prentiss and Capucine on his tail! Wonderfully directed by Clive Donner (The Caretaker) and featuring the hit title song written by Burt Bacharach and performed by Tom Jones, Eureka Classics presents What's New Pussycat? on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK. Features: Presented in 1080p from a high-definition digital restoration Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing Uncompressed LPCM 2.0 audio Brand new and exclusive audio commentary by film critics Emma Westwood and Sally Christie Original theatrical trailer A collector's booklet featuring a new essay by Simon Ward

• Miss Jones and Son: the Comple | DVD | (30/08/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Paula Wilcox (Man About the House) stars in this six-part comedy series depicting the complicated life of Elizabeth Jones a young woman coming to terms with the responsibility of looking after her baby alone at a time when single mothers faced widespread prejudice. Though sympathy and emotional support comes in the shape of next-door-neighbour and friend Geoffrey (Christopher Beeny - In Loving Memory) every step seems to bring fresh difficulties for Elizabeth - including the reproaches of her parents a radically curtailed social life and a much-reduced income... Miss Jones and Son came from the creative team responsible for And Mother Makes Three Man About the House and Robin's Nest. It was notable for being the first British sitcom to depict a single mother. Presented here is the complete first series.

• Rawhide: The Complete Series | DVD | (11/08/2020) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• China Moon | DVD | (23/06/2003) from £4.99   |  Saving you £8.00 (61.60%)   |  RRP £12.99

  China Moon (1991) is a pleasing entertainment that assembles the dependable elements of film noir in the tradition of Body Heat (1981), The Last Seduction (1994) and, of course, the mother of all such films, Double Indemnity (1944). There's a femme fatale (the beautiful and talented Madeleine Stowe) and an honest cop (reliable Ed Harris) who soon becomes smitten. Her husband (Charles Dance) is a brute who beats her, so she murders him and inveigles Harris into helping her dispose of the body. That's when the complications begin, and Harris starts to sweat when his fellow cop keeps asking awkward questions. The acting is uniformly good, with Harris' partner played by Benicio Del Toro (Traffic) offering an excellent performance. Harris and Stowe strike sparks off each other, to the point where you almost believe he is being sucked into her schemes. On the DVD: The disc contains a theatrical trailer and several TV ads, with scroll-down filmographies of the major talents involved which are incomplete for some unknown reason. There's a brief and unenlightening five-minute documentary, with the principal cast plus the director, John Bailey, commenting on the film. Both image and sound are excellent quality, sound in Dolby Digital, picture in anamorphic widescreen ratio of 2.35:1 --Ed Buscombe

• The Crucible | DVD | (19/04/2004) from £9.78   |  Saving you £3.21 (32.82%)   |  RRP £12.99

  The Salem witch hunts are given a new and nasty perspective when a vengeful teenage girl uses superstition and repression to her advantage, creating a killing machine that becomes a force unto itself. Pulsating with seductive energy, this provocative drama is as visually arresting as it is intellectually engrossing. Arthur Miller based his classic 1953 play on the actual Salem witch trials of 1692, creating what has since become a durable fixture of school drama courses. It may look like a historical drama but Miller also meant the work as a parable for the misery created by the McCarthy anti-Communist hearings of the 1950s. This searing version of his drama delves into matters of conscience with concise accuracy and emotional honesty. Three passionate cheers for Miller, director Nicholas Hytner and costars Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder. --Rochelle O'Gorman

• Married To The Mob | DVD | (24/02/2003) from £8.92   |  Saving you £4.07 (45.63%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Angela de Marco (Michelle Pfeiffer) is fed up with her life Married to the Mob. As luck would have it, her hubby Frank (Alec Baldwin) is knocked off by head honcho Tony "the Tiger" Russo (an Oscar-nominated Dean Stockwell), which leaves her free to start a new life in the Big Apple. The only problem is that the FBI are desperate to nab Tony, and manage to send the one Agent (Matthew Modine) most likely to fall in love with her. Plot-wise, then, this is predictable fluff. The joys are in the details of Jonathan Demme's direction: New York's streets come alive under his hand-held camerawork; a lot of dialogue is comically delivered direct to camera (a device he used for dramatic effect later with The Silence of the Lambs); and background characters each leave their mark given memorable--often-hilarious--screen time. As a black comedy it isn't quite so memorable as Demme's explosive earlier work on Something Wild, but if there's one thing sure to stick with you here it's the sensationally colourful late-80s fashions and hairstyles. On the DVD: Married to the Mob is a bare-bones release that only adds a trailer. It is presented in its original widescreen ratio, however, and for the most part the transfer is pretty clean. --Paul Tonks

• Blood From The Mummy's Tomb / Devil Rides Out / Horror Of Frankenstein / Lust For A Vampire / Scars Dracula | DVD | (21/10/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £49.99

  The Devil Rides Out (WS 1.66:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 91 mins) Employing ancient rituals a group of Satanists invoke the powers of darkness for personal gain risking very souls to do so. All those involved become increasingly ensnared by the malevolent presence they have summoned. Learning of a friend's involvement the Duke de Richeleau enters the fray as champion for the Powers of Light. Accompanied by his three friends Rex Van Ryn Simon Aron and Richard Eaton the Duke takes the battle to the enemy; the Devil himself! The Horror Of Frankenstein (WS 1.85:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 92 mins) On the sudden death of his father young Victor Frankenstein (Ralph Bates) inherits his title his castle and his comely and very accommodating housemaid Alys (Kate O'Mara). Victor decides to leave college and return home where he can carry out scientific experiments of which his teachers would never approve... With the aid of a grave-robber Victor collects the parts he requires for his greatest experiment yet; the construction of a human being! As the struggle to keep his experiments secret becomes harder the body count mounts up and the monster is not yet complete! Scars Of Dracula (WS 1.85:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 91 mins) When two innocent victims discover the blood drained corpse of a missing friend in Dracula's castle necropolis the flesh-creeping horror begins. Christopher Lee the definitive Count Dracula to British film fans portrays both the creature's essential power and evil and his sexual and magnetic appeal in a script that stems directly from the original Bram Stoker novel. Lust For A Vampire (WS 1.78:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 91 mins) When the fascinating and fatal Mircalla Karnstein enrolls at an exclusive girls' finishing school in Transylvania English teacher Richard Lestrange is among those who fall victim to her striking and sensual beauty. As he risks his life to save her from the terrified villagers he must first save himself from her lethal kiss... Blood From The Mummy's Tomb (WS 1.85:1 Dolby Digital (1.0) Mono: English 89 mins) The evil begins when professor Julian Fuchs (Andrew Keir) and his expedition team discover in Egypt after years of quest the tomb of Queen Tera (Valerie Leon). The Queen is a beautiful creature naked save for the tapestry of wonderful jewels that decorate her body. Legend suggests that Egyptian priests murdered Tera Queen of Darkness and that she has mysterious powers from beyond the grave... The opening of the tomb has a strange effect on Fuchs and his team. Are they aware of the powers they are unleashing when they return to England with the mummy and the strange artefacts found in the tomb?

• Happiness - Series 1 | DVD | (20/01/2003) from £5.64   |  Saving you £14.35 (254.43%)   |  RRP £19.99

  All six episodes from the first series which finds Danny Spencer facing up to the death of his wife - but instead of grief he feels guilty to find a sense of freedom... Episodes: Personality Crisis / I'm Doing It For Me / Chained To An Idiot / Desperate Dan / Celebration / Forty

• Asphalt | DVD | (12/04/2005) from £28.00   |  Saving you £-8.01 (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A well-dressed lady thief (Betty Amann) steals a precious stone from a jewellery shop. The aged jeweller prefers to let the young woman go but the policeman who catches her explains he is obliged to pursue the case further. She tries to seduce the policeman (Gustav Frohlich) and he gradually succumbs to her charms but her criminal background dooms their relationship when an argument leads to murder... One of the last great German Expressionist films of the silent era Joe May's 'A

• Cruising | DVD | (28/06/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Al Pacino is no stranger to the role of tough determined cops as fans of Heat Serpico and Sea Of Love will attest. But in Cruising he plunges into an even stormier sea as a New York policeman who infiltrates the lurid S&M subculture to trap a serial killer preying on gay men. William Friedkin (The Exorcist The French Connection) directs (from his own screenplay adaptation of Gerald Walker's novel) this still controversial still engrossing murder mystery that immerses audiences in a dangerous yet fascinating world. And Pacino's performance as a man whose identity and relationships are hauntingly affected by his assignment remains its magnetic centerpiece.