"Actor: Stanley Greene"

• The Wiz | DVD | (26/07/2004) from £8.08   |  Saving you £1.91 (23.64%)   |  RRP £9.99

  The fabulous land of Oz rocks in the spectacular musical based on the smash hit Broadway show. In this Motown production Dorothy is a shy Harlem kindergarten teacher who while searching for her lost dog Toto in a swirling blizzard is whisked to a wonderland to follow the yellow brick road. Director Sidney Lumet (Serpico Murder on the Orient Express) not content to merely film the stage production transforms the physical attributes of New York City into the fabulous land of Oz.

• For Love Of Ivy | DVD | (08/04/2002) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  A 1950s romantic comedy transported into the end of the swinging 60s, For Love Of Ivy, is an intriguing snapshot of a Hollywood coming to terms with a changing world. Made in 1968, the movie fizzes with the colours of a Day-Glo world and the stark contrast between urban and suburban life at the turn of the decade. The Ivy of the title is a house maid (Abbey Lincoln) who longs to head for those bright lights and give her life more of a purpose, much to the chagrin of the dysfunctional white family that she works for, who set about matchmaking her with suave businessman Jack Parks (Poitier) in an effort to dissuade her. Although initially appearing to play to type, Poitier's character develops both darker and lighter sides as the movie (based on his own story) develops and the film becomes far more interesting when it leaves the semi-comedic scheming behind and focuses on the burgeoning relationship between the two protagonists. To be honest, much on offer here has dated-especially the dialogue-and there are a few sexual and racial howlers, but the film has a sweet heart. On the DVD : Very, very little-scene selection and biographies of Poitier, Beau Bridges and musical director Quincy Jones. Lincoln--arguably the films true star--is totally ignored. The colours and beauty of the film however are given added impact by the crispness of DVD.-Phil Udell