"Actor: Paul Maxwell"

• Fireball XL5 - The Complete Series | DVD | (20/10/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £39.99

  Languishing in the vaults for decades, during which time it became a semi-legendary show among TV fans of a certain age, Fireball XL5 (1962) was Gerry Anderson's second puppet-animation science fiction series, the direct forerunner of Stingray (1963) and Thunderbirds (1964). This is the show on which Anderson established the formula for his later classics: a pseudo-military organisation engaged in desperate Earth-saving adventures against overwhelming odds; superb model work; puppets with very obvious strings but endearing personalities; iconic music by Barry Gray; and absolutely massive explosions. Colonel Steve Zodiac pilots the coolest spaceship then seen on British TV, the titular Fireball XL5, and is joined by medical officer Venus, a forerunner of Lady Penelope voiced by Sylvia Anderson, and comedy relief Prof Matt Matic (David Graham). Along for the ride is Robert the Robot, a thinner version of Robbie the Robot from Forbidden Planet (1956), a character who would soon turn up in Lost in Space (1965). The plots are ridiculous, with typically Cold War-era aliens routinely bent on planetary destruction for no reason, and there's zero attention to even rudimentary astronomy or anything else approaching actual science. Yet the gadgets, vehicles and puppetry are first-rate and the fast-paced, action-filled episodes are relentlessly entertaining. It's a cult just waiting to be reborn, and essential viewing for all Anderson fans. On the DVD: Fireball XL5 is presented with all 39 episodes (they run 25 minutes each) on five discs. Despite the colourful packaging, the episodes are all black and white, and the 4:3 picture is generally fine, though there are occasional instances of over-compression, which results in artefacting on smooth walls and the like. Some shots look a little soft, but detail is usually strong, making the models and puppets look better than ever. The mono sound is fine, if unremarkable. There are no extras beyond optional subtitles. --Gary S Dalkin

• How To Make A Monster | DVD | (26/05/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Peter Drummond has been chief of make up at a Hollywood studio for 25 years. When his services are abruptly dispensed with Drummond takes his revenge on the callous heads of the studio by hypnotising a couple of actors and bringing his murderous creations Teenage Frankenstein and Teenage Werewolf to life!

• Wild About Harry | DVD | (05/08/2002) from £9.96   |  Saving you £-0.98 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Brendan Gleeson stars as Harry McKee, a TV celebrity, a drunk, and an unfaithful slob. But the night before his wife is to divorce him Harry is attacked and wakes up with no memory beyond being 18. Will Harry be able to get it right second time around?

• Randall And Hopkirk Deceased - Vol. 2 - All No Work And No Pay / Never Trust A Ghost | DVD | (12/02/2001) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  It's good to have a ghost on your side in the private eye business especially in cases when an invisible ally can really turn the tide in your favour. Mike Pratt plays Jeff Randall and Kenneth Cope is his ghostly partner Marty Hopkirk cursed to wander the earth for 100 years. Episode 3 - All Work and No Pay: Poor Jean is plagued by a poltergeist. She is convinced that it is Marty's ghost trying to get in touch with her and suspicious spiritualists the Foster Brothers to try to establish contact. Episode 4 - Never Trust a Ghost: Wandering the streets of London one night Marty witnesses a man Howarth being shot dead in his home. Jeff summons the police but Howarth appears alive and well... Marty however is unconvinced. Episode 5 - That's How Murder Snowballs: A Russian roulette act at a music hall goes horribly wrong when the mind reader is shot dead in front of the audience including Jeff and Marty! Special Guest Star: David Jason. Episode 6 - Just For The Record: Jeff and Jean act as escorts at an international beauty contest. During a sightseeing tour Marty's suspicions are aroused by Miss London's odd behaviour.

• Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons - Vol. 4 - Episodes 19 To 24 | DVD | (12/11/2001) from £4.89   |  Saving you £11.10 (226.99%)   |  RRP £15.99

  First broadcast in 1967, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons was the most grown-up of all Gerry Anderson's SuperMarionation adventures. There are gadgets and toy-friendly machines galore, of course--like the Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle, the Angel Aircraft and Cloudbase itself--but, unlike the colourful fantasies of Stingray and Thunderbirds, this series' concern with an implacable, vengeful enemy, conspiracies and double-agents drew its inspiration from James Bond and the Cold War spy dramas of the 1960s. Special effects whiz Derek Meddings imbues the action sequences with a truly Bondian grandeur and, like the sinister Spectre of the Bond films, the Martian Mysterons seem all the more hostile for their unseen presence, their agents infiltrating every organisation dedicated to their destruction just as it seemed the Soviets were doing at the time. The indestructible Captain Scarlet is killed then resurrected every week (though not like South Park's Kenny), and more often than not the unstoppable Mysterons emerge triumphant, and always undefeated. The varied cast of Spectrum agents and their voice characterisations also aim at verisimilitude (Captain Scarlet, voiced by Francis Matt hews, sounds like a grim Cary Grant), while the puppetry is more realistic than ever. Now with newly remastered picture and Dolby 5.1 surround sound, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons still looks and sounds like the epitome of 60s cool. --Mark Walker

• Randall And Hopkirk Deceased - Vol. 4 - Ghost Who Saved / For The Girl / But What A Sweet / Cock Robin | DVD | (16/07/2001) from £12.34   |  Saving you £3.65 (29.58%)   |  RRP £15.99

  It's good to have a ghost on your side in the private eye business especially in cases when an invisable ally can really turn the tide in your favour. Mike Pratt plays Jeff Randall and Kenneth Cope is his ghostly partner Marty Hopkirk cursed to wander the earth for 100 years. Episodes include: Episode 11 - The Ghost Who Saved The Bank At Monte Carlo Episode 12 - For The Girl Who Has Everything Episode 13 - But What A Sweet Little Room Episode 14 - Who Killed Cock Robin?

• Randall And Hopkirk Deceased - Vol. 3 - Murder Ain't / Who Ever Heard / House On Haunted Hill | DVD | (14/05/2001) from £9.82   |  Saving you £6.17 (62.83%)   |  RRP £15.99

  It's good to have a ghost on your side in the private eye business especially in cases when an invisable ally can really turn the tide in your favour. Mike Pratt plays Jeff Randall and Kenneth Cope is his ghostly partner Marty Hopkirk cursed to wander the earth for 100 years. Episode 7 - Murder Aint What It Used To Be?: Marty has a ghostly rival Bugsy a gangster who met his demise in the Roaring Twenties. Not only does he have a repertoire of better tricks he is also out to kill one of Jeff's clients. Episode 8 - Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying?: A criminal mastermind and his clairvoyant co-conspirator discover the reason for Randall's recent success at detection - the late Marty Hopkirk. They plot to make the duo fall guys for robberies and even try to exoricse poor Marty! Episode 9 - The House On Haunted Hill: It's a case for Marty when Jeff is asked to investigate the mystery of a 'haunted house'. It's just as well as Jeff is preoccupied with solving a diamond robbery. Episode 10 - When Did You Start to Stop Seeing Things?: The day Randall and Hopkirk have been dreading has arrived. Jeff can no longer see or hear his ghostly partner. To Marty's consternation Jeff doesn't even appeared to be bothered by this!

• Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons - Vol. 5 - Episodes 25 To 32 | DVD | (12/11/2001) from £12.50   |  Saving you £3.49 (27.92%)   |  RRP £15.99

  First broadcast in 1967, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons was the most grown-up of all Gerry Anderson's SuperMarionation adventures. There are gadgets and toy-friendly machines galore, of course--like the Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle, the Angel Aircraft and Cloudbase itself--but, unlike the colourful fantasies of Stingray and Thunderbirds, this series' concern with an implacable, vengeful enemy, conspiracies and double-agents drew its inspiration from James Bond and the Cold War spy dramas of the 1960s. Special effects whiz Derek Meddings imbues the action sequences with a truly Bondian grandeur and, like the sinister Spectre of the Bond films, the Martian Mysterons seem all the more hostile for their unseen presence, their agents infiltrating every organisation dedicated to their destruction just as it seemed the Soviets were doing at the time. The indestructible Captain Scarlet is killed then resurrected every week (though not like South Park's Kenny), and more often than not the unstoppable Mysterons emerge triumphant, and always undefeated. The varied cast of Spectrum agents and their voice characterisations also aim at verisimilitude (Captain Scarlet, voiced by Francis Matt hews, sounds like a grim Cary Grant), while the puppetry is more realistic than ever. Now with newly remastered picture and Dolby 5.1 surround sound, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons still looks and sounds like the epitome of 60s cool. --Mark Walker

• Echo of Diana & Shadow of Fear | DVD | (31/01/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Titles Comprise: Echo Of Diana: After learning that her husband Philip has been killed in an air crash in Eastern Europe Joan Scott is disturbed to read a mysterious 'in memoriam' notice inserted in a newspaper under the signature 'Diana'... Shadow Of Fear: Waiting for his flight home Bill (Paul Maxwell) takes a message from a British secret agent. On arrival two men posing as police officers take him to a hotel where he delivers the message. During the night he is attacked and kills his assailant. Later in the country with his girl friend Barbara he tells her uncle the story and is introduced to the real contact. On learning that he has given away vital information Bill agrees to act as decoy.

• UFO - Vol. 6 - Episodes 17-19 | DVD | (10/06/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Gerry Anderson's classic sci-fi series. The operatives of the secret Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation (S.H.A.D.O.) defend the earth from extra-terrestrials who are abducting humans to obtain their organs which can be transplanted into their own bodies... Episodes include: Sub-smash The Sound Of Silence The Cat With Ten Lives