Davies, Gareth

Cousin Bette

Helen Mirren's career may have reached a late peak with her acclaimed performance in The Queen, but her talent flourished just as powerfully in the 1971 British mini-series of Honore de Balzac's classic novel of revenge, Cousin Bette. When Bette (Margaret Tyzack, I, Claudius), the poor cousin of a wealthy family, finds her one passion betrayed by her relatives, she seeks a fierce and relentless revenge. Her instrument is the young and luscious Valerie (Mirren, Prime Suspect, Gosford Park), whose seductive ways bring the family to ruin. Both Mirren and Tyzack are phenomenal as the scheming pair, but fans of Mirren will particularly delight in her astonishing coifs, ample cleavage, and smoldering looks--Cousin Bette came during the height of Mirren's days as the sexpot of Stratford. The first episode (of five) lumbers as it lays out exposition, but with its second episode Cousin Bette plunges headlong into the dark side of human nature, the sinuous story full of dark humor, cunning twists, and truly ferocious performances. The British excel at literary adaptations and this is one of the juiciest. A must-see mini-series. --Bret Fetzer

The BBC dramatization of Honoré de Balzac's novel about the fury of a woman scorned

In this acclaimed drama seen on Masterpiece Theatre in the 1970s, Margaret Tyzack (The Forsyte Saga) stars as Balzac's furious spinster with Helen Mirren (Prime Suspect) as the beautiful young siren who helps her lure men to their ruin.

Born plain and poor, Bette Fischer endures her lot, until her wealthy cousin's family steals her only treasure—the young sculptor she has taken under her wing. Joining forces with the ambitious, greedy, and alluring Valerie Marneffe, Bette vows to have her revenge and sets out to ruin the family by exploiting the sexual appetites of the men and the naiveté of the women.

Also starring Colin Baker (Doctor Who), Thorley Walters (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy), and Ursula Howells (The Cazalets).

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE bio of Honoré de Balzac and cast filmographies.

P.D. James: A Mind to Murder

Commander Adam Dalgliesh (Roy Marsden) finds himself caught in a whirlwind of political intrigue, blackmail and deceit when he is called to investigate a savage killing at the Steen Clinic, a discreet psychiatric and drug abuse treatment center for the elite. He arrives at the scene under strict orders to conduct a quick investigation. As the pressure mounts to name the murderer, Dalgliesh senses a cover up among his superiors, hostility from the staff and a growing fear that the killer will strike again.

Oliver Twist (BBC, 1985)

The classic story of the poor orphan Oliver experiences the terror and brutality of the criminal world with his companions: a pickpocket a thief a prostitute and a fence. Born and raised in the appalling deprivation of the workhouse the orphan Oliver escapes only to fall in with a gang of child thieves. Oliver's rescue by the kindly Mr. Brownlow is only the beginning of a series of adventures that lead him to an incredible discovery.Running Time: 354 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 794051233325

Tom Brown's Schooldays

The trials and traumas of boarding school have always given British writers rich material--Tom Brown's Schooldays, based on the classic novel set in the Victorian era, is no exception. In this five-episode miniseries broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre, young Tom Brown (Anthony Murphy) leaves home for Rugby, a well-respected school in decline. His arrival coincides with the appointment of a new headmaster, Dr. Arnold (Iain Cuthbertson), who aspires to reform the school by stamping out bullying, drunkenness, and bigotry. Tom's struggle is more personal: Before his arrival, he offended a wealthy but corrupt man who commissions his equally dissolute son Gerald (Richard Morant), a senior student at Rugby, to make Tom's life miserable. Gerald schemes with relish, finally catching Tom in a trap that threatens to break the forthright boy's spirit. The story could be pure melodrama were it not for the vivid details of life in a boarding school. As the plot moves this way and that, it's always kept real by the hardships of the time (boys sleep five to a bed, younger boys act as servants to older ones), making Tom Brown's Schooldays a keen social critique as well as an engaging story. The adolescent actors are occasionally a little clumsy, but there are some inspired performances; Murphy deservedly won an Emmy. Too often a virtuous hero is a recipe for blandness, but the insightful script makes Tom clever but fallible. He refuses to mistreat those less privileged out of conscious choice, not because of some immutable goodness--the character (and the story) is more compelling as a result. --Bret Fetzer

In an upper-class Victorian boarding school, a loveable schoolboy suffers at the hands of a vicious bully and is inspired by a forward-thinking headmaster. This Masterpiece Theatre classic is a fascinating portrait of the times and a heartwarming story of courage and friendship. Though a son of privilege in a rigidly class-conscious society, Tom Brown is a born egalitarian. What he learns at the famous Rugby School is that breeding really does determine character and scoundrels exist in every part of society.

Based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Thomas Hughes, who studied at Rugby in the 1830s under the educational reformer Dr. Thomas Arnold, this family drama stars Anthony Murphy in an Emmy®-winning debut as Tom with Iain Cuthbertson (Gorillas in the Mist) as Dr. Arnold.

P.D. James: The Essential Collection

This 12-disc collection contains seven thrilling Adam Dalgliesh mysteries by popular suspense writer P.D. James.The stories included are:COVER HER FACESHROUD FOR A NIGHTINGALETHE BLACK TOWERDEATH OF AN EXPERT WITNESSUNNATURAL CAUSESA TASTE FOR DEATHORIGINAL SINSystem Requirements:Running Time: 2075Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/THRILLERS UPC: 741952656593 Manufacturer No: KOC-DV6565

P.D. James - A Mind to Murder

The Darling Buds of May: The Happiest Days of Your Life

Darling Buds of May

The Darling Buds of May: A Breath of French Air

The Darling Buds of May: When the Green Woods Laugh