johns-list's - Rented

Show moreShow less

Pioneering, enormously influential and often challenging, 'Armchair Theatre' was ITV's flagship drama anthology series.

Bringing high-quality contemporary drama to a wider viewing public, the series easily demonstrated the network's potential to rival the BBC's drama output with diverse and powerful plays by some of Britain's most gifted writers. This set comprises twelve plays taken from the series' first incarnation, produced by ABC and broadcast in the 1950's and '60's. An astonishing roll-call of writers includes J.B. Priestley, Harold Pinter, James Mitchell, Fay Weldon and Alun Owen; Patrick McGoohan, Stanley Baker, Billie Whitelaw, Colin Blakely, Judy Cornwell and Hugh Griffith are among the celebrated and accomplished actors appearing in groundbreaking dramas ranging from the playful to the poignant.

Show moreShow less

"Armchair Cinema" was one of the first projects undertaken by Thames Television's Euston Films subsidiary.

Based on the format of the hugely successful and influential 'Armchair Theatre', 'Armchair Cinema' presented a series of individual film dramas and is perhaps best remembered for one groundbreaking and phenomenally successful film - 'Regan', which introduced John Thaw and Dennis Waterman's maverick Flying Squad detectives, gaining a huge audience and leading to the commissioning of 'The Sweeney'. The standard of drama offered by the series was consistently high; its flexibility and scope attracted some of the best contemporary television writers, and every film showcased the talents of first-class performers - including John Thaw, Edward Woodward, Anthony Valentine and Tom Bell. This set also includes 'Suspect' and 'Rumour' - two Thames Television filmed plays by Mike Hodges (Get Carter) which were a dry run for the Euston Films style - alongside 'The Sailor's Return' and 'Charlie Muffin', two standalone television movies made by Euston Films.

Show moreShow less

Following the hugely successful Victorian Farm, archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn and domestic historian Ruth Goodman return to experience life on an Edwardian farm.

Setting up home at Morwellham Quay, in Devon, the intrepid trio have to get to grips with the trials and tribulations of life at the dawn of the 20th century. Delving into Britain's rural heritage they unearth how Edwardian farmers recovered from the agricultural depression leaner, fitter and more diverse than ever before.

Show moreShow less

There's not much that gets Alf's goat more than Christmas - that is if you ignore immigrants, the unions, the Labour Party, Scousers or the price of beer - and every festive season finds him delivering some of his greatest rants.

For a lonely OAP whose pension won't stretch much further than a pint of mild and some pipe tobacco, it's time to put on the waterworks, wring what he can out of friends, relations and do-gooders - and spend it down the pub. These Christmas specials, broadcast between 1985 and 1990, find Alf in great miserable form and include his last Christmas with Else; his short lived career as a store Santa; his Christmas in hospital for a hip replacement and a disastrous wedding day that leaves Mrs. Hollingbery in a less than festive mood…

Show moreShow less

In 'Victorian Farm', a specialist team - Ruth Goodman, Peter Ginn and Alex Langlands - devoted a year of their lives to re-creating life in a 19th century rural environment in and around the Acton Scott Estate in Shopshire.

Now they return to celebrate a Victorian Farm Christmas - but hold that thought. Before the celebration there is work to be done. In order for horses to be shod, the entire Blacksmiths Forge has to be rebuilt with new clay bricks - which need making - and an old bellows to get pumping. There's Christmas food and festivities to prepare from 1850s' mincemeat to butter, bread, Christmas puddings and a multi-bird Christmas pie. There are gifts to be made, ribbons to be dyed, and old fashioned remedies to be prepared for what ails them. Yes, the clocks have been turned back once again as Ruth, Peter and Alex work long hard hours to uncover the mystery and the magic of what will become a 'Victorian Farm: Christmas'.

Show moreShow less

In Victorian Farm, a specialist team - Ruth Goodman, Peter Ginn and Alex Langlands - have devoted a year of their lives to re-creating life in a 19th century rural environment.

From the warmth of summer to the depths of winter, the clock has been turned back over a hundred years to rediscover this almost forgotten world. From planting and harvesting crops to animal husbandry; from building pigsties to bee-keeping; from tree-felling to driving steam engines and operating period machinery, this hardy group - in their search for the authentic experience - undertook it all, wearing period costumes and using only tools and materials available in 1885. In a rural world without flushing toilets, running water, street lights, gas and electricity or motor vehicles, how would the group survive? Discover, as the clock turns back and life as it was lived is revealed on a Victorian Farm.

Show moreShow less

Once an eminent barrister, cynical drunkard John Sawyer (James Mason) leads a reclusive life, out of touch with the burgeoning youth movement of the mid-1960's.

But when his daughter Angela's (Geraldine Chaplin) boyfriend is wrongfully accused of murder, Sawyer decides to confront his demons and the changing world around him in order to defend him.

Show moreShow less

Lurk (Frankie Howerd), the last of a long line of cowards, is boot-boy at Twithampton House when war is declared. The servants, headed by Groping the sex mad butler - are marshaled to volunteer by heir apparent Nigel Phipps-Fortescue (Jonathan Cecil).

Only Lurk rejects the call to arms but a twist of fate finds him hypnotised into believing he alone can save England and joins up hastily. While serving under Sergeant Major Groping (Bill Fraser) in France, Lurk is tricked into no man's land where he stumbles across Nigel, eventually finding their way behind enemy lines and stealing the Hun's master war plan. Hotly pursued by Von Gutz (Lance Percival), Nigel is left with no choice but to tattoo the war plans onto Lurk's unconscious buttocks - a terrible cheek! Making their way back to England, Lurk's rear is in hot demand as the treacherous Von Gutz, fiendishly disguised as a doctor, tries to get his hands on it.

Show moreShow less

"Armchair Theatre" was ITV's flagship drama anthology series. Initially screened between 1956 and 1973, it was hugely popular, with viewing figures occasionally reaching twenty million, and became a byword for quality in televised drama.

Pioneering, immensely influential and sometimes challenging in its content, the series consistently drew upon a wide range of talent. 'Armchair Theatre' became a showcase for the post-war generation of British writers who sought to place sensitive social topics - in particular the British class system - under the microscope. Throughout, the series featured a number of powerful, award-winning plays, and its lasting influence was a testament to producer Sydney Newman's passionate belief in television's potential to bring high-quality drama to the viewing public. This collection brings together a further eight plays, initially broadcast between 1970 and 1974. Featuring scripts by Donald Churchill (Spooner's Patch), P.J. Hammond (Sapphire and Steel) and Roger Marshall, whose play ties into an episode of his most memorable series - 'Public Eye', the programmes include accomplished performances from, among others, John Thaw, Anton Rodgers, Kenneth Haigh, Bill Maynard, Susannah York, Gordon Jackson and Warren Clarke.

The Queen of England gives birth to twins (both played by Frankie Howard), one of whom, Lurkalot, is cast out and brought up by pigs. He becomes a servant to Sir Coward de Custard, making a nice little living on the side selling chastity belts.

Show moreShow less

Hemel Pike is part of a dying breed, he's a British narrow boat trader, and the only way they'll get him off the canals is if they fill them in. He also has a reputation to keep up as the notorious Casanova of the canals.

But his way with the women soon gets him trouble when one of his many squeezes falls pregnant Suddenly Hemel Pike finds himself persuaded by her protective, hot headed, drunken father eager to chase her up the aisle.

Show moreShow less

Pioneering, immensely influential and often challenging, 'Armchair Theatre' was ITV's flagship drama anthology series.

Bringing high-quality drama to the viewing public, the series easily demonstrated the network's potential to rival the BBC's drama output, with diverse and powerful plays showcasing some of Britain's most gifted writers. This release comprises four plays featuring performances by some of the era's most celebrated and accomplished actors including Rupert Davies, Roger Livesey, Constance Cummings, John Stride, Leslie Phillips, Caroline Mortimer and Denis Quilley.

Featured Plays:
- The Thought of Tomorrow (1959)
- Toff and Fingers (1960)
- Late Summer (1963)
- The Gong Game (1965)

Show moreShow less

The BBC's terrifying three-part drama about a rabies outbreak in Britain, captured the attention of the nation. Unwilling to leave her precious Siamese cat at home in France, a holidaymaker hides her pet in her fur coat and smuggles it into Scotland. Unknown to her, the cat carries the rabies virus.

It goes on to infect numerous other animals, but the spread of the plague goes unnoticed until it claims its first human victim. The symptoms are horrific. The deadly rabies outbreak not only threatens the nation but is set to spread even further. Michael Hilliard (Richard Hefier) and Ann Maitland (Barbara Kellerman) join forces to combat the killer plague, but is it too little too late?

Show moreShow less

"The Hound of the Baskervilles" as you've never seen it before. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson) give us their unique interpretation of the Conan Doyle classic, supported by an all-star cast of British comedy greats.

What is the curse that hangs over the Baskerville family? What is the terrible beast that roams the moor? Exhausted by his most recent case, Holmes sends Watson to Baskerville Hall to solve the mystery on his own while he takes a well deserved rest in London's nightspots. Watson, on his first solo case, investigates the strange goings on at Baskerville Hall and begins to suspect everyone he questions, including himself, until frustrated at every step, he has to call for the great detective to help him out. Their discovery at Grympen Mire of the real Hound of the Baskervilles is too horrible to tell.

Show moreShow less

Pioneering, immensely influential and often challenging, Armchair Theatre was ITV's flagship drama anthology series.

Bringing high-quality drama to the viewing public, the series easily demonstrated the network's potential to rival the BBC's drama output, with diverse and powerful plays showcasing some of Britain's most gifted writers. This release comprises four plays featuring performances by some of the era's most celebrated and accomplished actors including Clifford Evans, Kenneth Griffith, Robert Lang, Pauline Yates, Anna Massey, Ronald Hines, Beryl Reid, Ian Holm and Alfred Burke.

Featured Plays:
- Nothing to Pay (1962)
- The Cherry on the Top (1964)
- Light the Blue Touch Paper (1966)
- Edward the Confessor (1969)