"Director: Peter Hall"

• The Camomile Lawn | DVD | (19/05/2008) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Moving between London and Cornwall this adaptation of Mary Wesley's much acclaimed novel tells the story of five cousins and their family and friends as their paths cross during the war. This beautiful period drama caught the imagination of the entire nation when it was originally screened due to its exceptional cast and riveting authenticity.

• Akenfield (DVD + Blu-ray) | Blu Ray | (25/07/2016) from £12.89   |  Saving you £7.10 (55.08%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Loosely based on Ronald Blythe's acclaimed book Akenfield: Portrait of an English Village, this unassuming yet powerful film traces three generations of one Suffolk family and their lives in the farming industry. Described as a work of rural realism, and shot in sumptuous widescreen, Akenfield features a cast of non-professional actors drawn from the communities of several Suffolk villages. Featuring improvised dialogue and shot mostly at weekends over the course of a year, the film offers an authentic depiction of country life over the changing seasons. With all three generations grandfather, father and son performed by the same actor (local famer Garrow Shand), the film paints a compelling picture of a traditional way of life facing a period of great change, brought about by the industrialisation of the twentieth century. Extras: 2K restoration by the BFI National Archive Original trailer Akenfield Revisited (Rex Pyke, 2004, 40 mins): a documentary looking back at the making of Akenfield Behind the scenes footage of the filming of Akenfield Akenfield at the NFT (Audio only, 2004): onstage interview with Sir Peter Hall, Ronald Blythe and Garrow Shand On-set interview with Ronald Blyth (1974) Interview with actor Garrow Shand (2004) Interview with writer Ronald Blythe (2004) Interview with director Sir Peter Hall (2004) New interview with Rex Pyke, producer of Akenfield (2016) Stills Gallery Fully illustrated booklet with contributions from Sir Peter Hall and Ronald Blythe

• Perfect Friday | DVD | (17/06/2013) from £12.98   |  Saving you £9.00 (81.89%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Directed by Sir Peter Hall and featuring cool tunes by Johnny Dankworth, this sexy, mischievous early '70s crime caper stars the always-watchable Stanley Baker as a bank manager who teams up with a glamorous, aristocratic couple (David Warner and Ursula Andress) to pull off the ultimate inside job. Perfect Friday is featured here in a brand-new High Definition transfer from original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio on both Blu-ray and DVD.. Lord Nicholas Dorset and h...

• The Camomile Lawn | DVD | (14/04/2003) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £9.99

  Adapted from the novel by Mary Wesley, The Camomile Lawn proved one of Channel Four's most successful dramas, telling an intricate story set during World War II and over two days in 1984. In this portrait of the Home Front in Cornwall and London in the Blitz, the titular lawn becomes a symbol for halcyon pre-war days, and also for a lost innocence on a personal level. For this is very much about growing up and sex, including rape and child abuse (both handled tactfully, mainly in dialogue), adulatory, ménage á trois, bisexuality and rampant promiscuity. The attitudes, from the war-damaged, nihilistic Oliver, (a powerfully charismatic Toby Stephens) to the mercenary Calypso (an incendiary Jennifer Ehle), and some individual scenes, shock in their very matter-of-factness. What could be salacious soap is leavened by a comic touch, intensified by tragedy and elevated to intensely moving drama during its final half hour set around a funeral in 1984. Generally excellent production values make the best of the television budget, and there are outstanding performances by a large cast including Felicity Kendal and Paul Eddington (reunited from The Good Life), Tara Fitzgerald in her first starring role, and especially Rebecca Hall as Sophy. On the DVD: The four episodes are presented on two discs, with a total running time of approximately four hours 22 minutes. There are no special features of any sort. The picture is standard television 4:3, and while marginally better than VHS has a slight softness, with occasional after-images to shots with moving lights betraying that the series was made on video rather than film. Some scenes are rather grainy and there is the occasion brief instance of MPEG artifacting. The sound is stereo and appears to have been remixed from mono, some elements such as the music remaining in mono, while some sound effects are stereo. --Gary S Dalkin

• Strauss: Salome | DVD | (29/06/2009) from £12.59   |  Saving you £2.40 (19.06%)   |  RRP £14.99

  OA 3108; OPUS ARTE - BBC - Inghilterra; Classica Lirica

• Monteverdi: L'Incoronazione di Poppea -- Glyndebourne | DVD | (26/04/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Peter Hall's lavishly staged L'Incoronazione di Poppea celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Glyndebourne in 1984 with a performance of Monteverdi's most celebrated and also most controversial opera. The score is conductor Raymond Leppard's "enhanced" edition, which he had premiered at Glyndebourne back in 1962, fully scored for a large orchestra. Much debate circles around the forces appropriate for performing Monteverdi's decidedly minimalist work, but one thing at least is certain: it didn't sound anything like this in the 17th century! Never mind, however inauthentic it may be, Leppard's big and beefy orchestral updating--including a fulsome continuo group with pairs of harpsichords, organs and cellos, as well as lute, guitar and harp--supports the weighty melodrama nicely. The singers, too, are full-bodied, led by a fruity Maria Ewing as Poppea (in various revealing outfits) sounding suitably seductive, and Dennis Bailey, oddly lovely of voice as Nero (one of the opera's controversial aspects is the heroic central role accorded to these two thoroughly wicked characters). Perhaps best of all is Robert Lloyd as Seneca, who not only boasts a profound, reverberant bass, but also looks the part under beard and toga. With an onstage chorus to lament him, Seneca's death scene is the most moving in the opera. Peter Hall's clever staging keeps the Olympians--Love, Fortune and Virtue--permanently watching from above as the venal humans below act out this tragedy of poisoned love. The no-frills DVD has subtitles in English, French, German and Spanish. --Mark Walker

• Albert Herring - Glyndebourne Festival Opera | DVD | (05/09/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Set in an English market town at the turn of 20th century a gangling greengrocer's lad is crowded May King. The break with the tradition of choosing a girl is virtuous enough to May Queen... The comic opera at Glyndebourne was conducted by Bernard Haitink. 'A Vintage production with a vintage cast.' - Sunday Times.

• The Bible - Jacob | DVD | (29/11/2010) from £6.99   |  Saving you £1.00 (14.31%)   |  RRP £7.99

  The Bible - Jacob stars Matthew Modine as the eponymous hero who sired the family that would eventually create Israel. Lara Flynn Boyle appears as Rachel the woman he loves. After Jacob succeeds in getting the parental blessing that should have gone to Esau his elder twin he earns his brother's eternal hatred. Jacob flees to his Uncle Laban's in order to avoid Esau's wrath but finds Laban equally dangerous...

• A Midsummer Night's Dream - Glyndebourne Festival Opera | DVD | (31/07/2004) from £20.00   |  Saving you £-2.01 (N/A%)   |  RRP £17.99

  Benjamin Britten's enchanting opera adapted from Shakespeare's most English play is just the thing for a summer evening at Glyndebourne. In Peter Hall's magical and highly-acclaimed production for Glyndebourne Festival Opera filmed in 1981 the wood literally comes alive a perfetc setting for the mystical world of lovers fairies and rustics. The gorgeous and imaginative sets costume and lighting designs are by John Bury. Ileana Cotrubas is a majestic Tytiana James Bowman is a

• Never Talk To Strangers | DVD | (07/02/2000) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  A criminal psychologist with a brilliantly incisive mind Dr Sarah Taylor (Rebecca De Mornay) is coolly in control of her life - until she embarks on a passionate affair with Tony Ramierez (Antonio Banderas) a charming stranger whose fiery combination of innocence and danger succeeds in breaking through Sarah's emotional walls. As a new life unfolds for her a series of increasingly disturbing events threaten to destroy it - and Sarah finds herself searching for the stranger behind th

• Pinter's Progress & The Homecoming | DVD | (01/11/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Feature film and documentary. The Homecoming: This is a superlative piece of 20th century drama transferred to the screen with great skill. The screenplay differs little from the original play but Peter Hall uses the camera to create new imagery and symbolism. It is clear that Hall and his cast were completely in tune with this piece as the acting is superb. Paul Rogers is the clan 's malevolent patriarch and Ian Holm is the amusing but insidious Lenny while Vivien Merchant 's Ruth is both hypnotic and captivating. This is Harold Pinter 's masterpiece perfectly brought to the big screen by Sir Peter Hall. Pinter's Progress: A personal take on working with Harold Pinter from intimate conversations with actors directors and writers on their experiences of the man and his work. One of the truly great modern playwrights Harold Pinter passed away on Christmas Eve 2008 leaving behind a great legacy of work in theatre and film.

• La Cenerentola | DVD | (30/01/2006) from £15.96   |  Saving you £14.03 (87.91%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Vladimir Jurowski and Sir Peter Hall are re-united for a fresh and vibrant but timelessly elegant production of Rossinin's much-loved setting of the Cinderella story with a fine cast led by Ruxandra Donose in the title role. Filmed in June 2005 with high definition cameras and recorded in multi-track 5.1 surround sound

• Fidelio | DVD | (28/11/2005) from £16.18   |  Saving you £-1.19 (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Fidelio - Recorded At The Glyndebourne Festival Opera 1979.

• Le Nozze Di Figaro | DVD | (23/07/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £14.99

  Recorded at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera 1973.

• Bible Epic Movies Vol 1 | DVD | (05/11/2012) from £10.95   |  Saving you £4.04 (36.89%)   |  RRP £14.99

  An amazing collection of star-studded films, featuring six of the best bible epic movies from the Old Testament: The Bible – Solomon - When Solomon, King of Israel, meets the Queen of Sheba, he falls hopelessly in love. When she has to return to her homeland, the King is left in a state of deep depression, inevitably leading his Kingdom to the verge of collapse. The Bible – Jacob - After Jacob succeeds in getting the parental blessing that should have gone to Esau, his elder twin, he earns his brother’s eternal hatred. Jacob flees to his Uncle Laban’s in order to avoid Esau’s wrath, but finds Laban equally dangerous... The Bible – Moses - Sir Ben Kingsley enthralls in the central role of Moses as he embarks on his momentous undertaking to lead the Israelites out of bondage into the promised land... The Bible – David - A lavish television production recounting one of the most rousing and enduring stories from the Bible as David leads the Isrealites against the mighty Philistines... The Bible – Samson - A beautiful Philistine woman betrays a man whose strength can single-handedly defeat entire armies in this dramatization of the famous Bible story. The Bible – Abraham - Abraham, commanded by God, leads his family to the promised land of Canaan, where he must undertake great trials and finds his faith severely tested and defeat entire armies in this dramatization of the famous Bible story.

• John Woo's Once a Thief - The Complete Series | DVD | (29/08/2011) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £24.99

  From the Director of Face/Off, Hard Boiled and The Killer! Art meets action in John Woo s Once a Thief a non-stop adrenaline rush of intrigue, romance and explosive danger! A first for television, it brought the unique excitement of Hong Kong films to the small screen, fusing romance, action and humour - all in the signature style of executive producer John Woo, the man who broke down the wall between the action movie and the art film. Brought up to be expert in all manner of criminal skills - using everything from martial arts to superb abilities to con - Mac Ramsey (Ivan Sergei) and Li Ann Tsei (Sandrine Holt) are forced to use their expertise to fight crime. Working with a former cop, Victor Mansfield (Nicholas Lea), they are part of an elite law-enforcement agency that takes on forces that are too powerful, protected, or difficult for regular law enforcement agencies. The threats they encounter take them into startling, brutal worlds where the stakes are high and failure can earn you a bullet in the head...

• Verdi: La Traviata -- Glyndebourne | DVD | (31/10/2000) from £16.28   |  Saving you £11.70 (88.04%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Performances of La Traviata stand or fall to an unusual extent on their principal soprano; the first thing that needs saying about this Glyndebourne performance is that Marie McLaughlin has all of the attributes needed for a role that is fundamentally a virtuoso one, no matter how emotionally involving it is as well. The point about Violetta is that she is, with absolute authenticity, all of the things she becomes in the course of the opera--the febrile socialite and yearning love of Act One, the quiet domesticated woman of Act Two who sacrifices her love for Alfredo to precisely the family values he has talked her into espousing, the dying penitent of Act Three. Walter McNeil is an impressive poetic Alfredo in whose successful courtship we can believe. He is also unusually good in Act Two, Scene Two where for once his public humiliation of Violetta is actually painful, which makes his repentance at her deathbed far more moving. Brent Ellis is solidly powerful as his father Germont--the duet in which he talks Violetta into renouncing his son and comes to value what he is destroying is one of the high points here, as it should be. Bernard Haitink conducts impressively. On the DVD: As (unfortunately) usual with Arthaus Musik, the DVD contains no extra features worth mentioning past the usual subtitles in German, English and French, relegating discussion of the opera's stormy history to the booklet. --Roz Kaveney

• The Homecoming | DVD | (05/07/2004) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  When Teddy (Jayston) brings his wife Ruth (Marchant) home to meet his family for the first time murky secrets are revealed and old wounds are reopened... The American Film Theatre production of Harold Pinter's play features direction from Peter Hall and showcases Ian Holm giving one of the finest performances of his career as vicious thug Lenny.

• The Bible | DVD | (31/10/2005) from £80.98   |  Saving you £-20.99 (-35.00%)   |  RRP £59.99

  This second star-studded special edition DVD gift set of the award winning Bible series comprises of 7 discs and 14 hours of epic biblical adventure. Consisting of stories of Solomon Jacob St. Paul Jeremiah Esther Apocalypse Revelation plus a seventh bonus title: Genesis: The Creation and the Flood available exclusively with this collection. Presented in a compact and durable gift pack this set offers outstanding star studded entertainment.

• Gioachino Rossini - La Cenerentola | Blu Ray | (28/04/2008) from £25.79   |  Saving you £4.20 (16.29%)   |  RRP £29.99

  Vladimir Jurowski and Sir Peter Hall are reunited for a fresh and vibrant but timelessly elegant production of Rossini's much-loved setting of the Cinderella story, with a fine cast led by Ruxandra Donose in the title role.