Morgan, Andrew

Little Lord Fauntleroy

If Little Lord Fauntleroy is a crusty, curmudgeonly sort of book, the BBC film adaptation is even crustier. For here, among these 100 overstarched and often overacted minutes, are more frown lines, furrowed brows, and pasty complexions than you can shake a Victorian walking stick at. It's not that the story isn't compelling. True to the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic, a humble and kindly 10-year-old boy living a hardscrabble life alongside his widowed mother in 1870s New York is dispatched by England's Earl of Dorincourt, his dreary and shrunken-hearted though fabulously wealthy grandfather, to claim his title--he shall be Lord Fauntleroy. This is to the old man's distaste, as he is of the opinion that unmannered scum dwells across the pond. Worse for young Cedric, his mother is relegated to a cottage outside the castle, where he is to live. Predictably, the ingenuous lad, a real gee-whiz kind of a kid, soon lights a fire beneath his grandfather's frosty heart. Right when things begin to feel warm and fuzzy, though, another foul American, this one a shameless social climber and pretender on her son's behalf to the lordship, elbows her way in, aiming to conquer the castle. Fortunately, a couple of good ol' boys from back home bust a move to blow her cover. Morose moods aside, what whacks away at the modern viewer's funny bone is the cast's brittleness. Everyone's too cut and dried, too black or white, either beaming beatifically or incapable of cracking a smile. Still, don't count this version out if you're a big Burnett fan, or if certain children in your family display drama queen or king tendencies. -Tammy La Gorce

Plucked from poverty-stricken 1879 New York, kind and compassionate Cedric Errol (Michael Benz) is summoned by his hard-hearted grandfather (George Baker) to "live among the swells" in England as Lord Fauntleroy, the future Earl of Dorincourt. This engaging feature-length version of the lavish BBC miniseries captures all the heart of Francis Hodgson Burnett's classic story of redemption that has captivated generations of readers.

The Onedin Line (Set 1)

James Onedin (Peter Gilmore) is the son of a waterside shopkeeper who has died and left him with no inheritance. All James has is a legacy of £25 and a shrewd, business mind. Despite his scheming sister and her husband who run a rival shipping company, he is resolute in his attempt to start a shipping line in a changing world.

The Onedin Line (Set 2)

James Onedin (Peter Gilmore) is a young sea captain who has recently launched his own shipping line. Marrying a woman he barely knew to acquire his first ship, Onedin must fight for survival in the highly competitive shipping industry. His archrival and former employer, Callon, attempts to block Onedin at every turn.

The Worst Witch Collection - Set 2

Blakes 7 - Series 2 [1978] [Region 2]

The Worst Witch Collection - Set 1

The Worst Witch set contains seven episodes of the popular TV series. Based on the internationally bestselling books of Jill Murphy that are said to have been an inspiration to J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter books, the 25-minute episodes chronicle the hilarious adventures of would-be witch Mildred Hubble. Aimed at 5- to 11-year-olds, the set starts with Mildred's first day at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches, a secondary boarding school that emphasizes discipline and traditional values but that also teaches young girls how to ride broomsticks, chant, and cast spells. Mildred gets off to a flying start when arriving late on her broomstick: she crashes into the school bins. The strong storylines focus mainly on whether Mildred will make the grade as a bona fide witch and her continuing rivalry with snooty Ethel Hallow. Whether Mildred is turning Ethel into a pig or being transformed into a frog, pre-teenagers will relate to the heroine, learning from her the importance of determination, imagination, and friends. There are admirable performances from Georgina Sherrington as Mildred, Kate Duchène as the stern Miss Hardbroom, Clare Coulter as the kindly Headmistress, and the renowned Una Stubbs as the eccentric Miss Bat, who spends school holidays in the cupboard. The stories are not scary, and the special effects are used sparingly but with good results. Particularly spectacular is the image at the start of each episode of students arriving for school on broomsticks. Entertaining, amusing, and captivating, pre-teenagers are in for a real treat! --Tracey Hogan, Amazon.com.uk

Secret Army [Region 2]

Blakes 7 - Series 1 [Region 2 Import- Non USA Format] [Region 2]

The Worst Witch - Battle of the Broomsticks

The Worst Witch - A Mean Halloween