lyn's - Rented List
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In the summer of 2014, Bernard Jordan (Michael Caine) made global headlines. He had staged a "great escape" from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades at the D-Day Landings 70th anniversary. It was a story that captured the imagination of the world as Bernie embodied the defiant, "can-do" spirit of a generation that was fast disappearing. But of course, it wasn't the whole story. It was an inspirational but sanitised retelling of one man's need to come to terms with the lasting trauma of war. Bernie's adventure, spanning a mere 48 hours, also marked the culmination of his 60-year marriage to Rene (Glenda Jackson) - "The Great Escaper" celebrates their enduring love but always with an eye to the lessons we might learn from the Greatest Generation. - Director:
- Oliver Parker
- Cast:
- Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson, John Standing
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Smash-hit thriller 'Vigil', from the creators of 'Bodyguard' and 'Line of Duty', returns for a second series, joining DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) and DI Kirsten Longacre (Rose Leslie) as they unravel a new high-stakes conspiracy at the heart of British military operations. Leaving the murky depths of the Atlantic behind, this time Silva and Longacre are looking to the skies, entering the secret world of drone warfare to catch a killer. Following multiple unexplained fatalities at a Scottish military facility, they are tasked with uncovering the cause. As they navigate the hostile and closed ranks of the air force, the pair must face the deadly warfare of tomorrow as they fight for their own future. - Director:
- Andy De Emmony
- Cast:
- Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Romola Garai
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Set amid the wild beauty of the Northumberland landscape, DCI Vera Stanhope investigates chilling crimes only she can solve. The shambolic but perceptive detective does not make friends easily. Grumpy and often short-tempered, what Veralacks in charm she makes up for in wisdom and insight. In the sixth series, Vera and her team are called into action to tackle a number of challenging cases; from unravelling the mystery of a woman found murdered on the bleak Northumberland moors (Dark Road), piecing together the tragic downfall of a young man whose body is discovered hidden in a cave (Tuesday's Child), solving a mysterious double murder in a remote country house (The Moth Catcher), to delving into a dark secret at the heart of a struggling fishing community (The Sea Glass), each enthralling story is enhanced by captivating performances, beautifully shot landscapes and high production values. - Director:
- Marek Losey
- Cast:
- Brenda Blethyn, Kenny Doughty, Jon Morrison
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The first series of sixteen episodes follow the struggles of the Brussels-based courageous women and men who make up the Lifeline resistance network. Lisa Colbert - code name Yvette, runs the line (Jan Francis), while Albert Foiret, owner of the Cafe Candide is her second (Bernard Hepton). They are joined in their endeavours by Flt. Lt. John Curtis (Christopher Neame), Albert's mistress - Monique Duchamps (Angela Richards), and 19 year old Natalie Chantrens (Juliet Hammond-Hill). Lifeline are opposed by the forces of the Third Reich, including the head of the Belgian Luftwaffe Polizei - Major Brandt (Michael Culver) and the infamous Sturmbannfuhrer Kessler (Clifford Rose) - Director:
- Terence Dudley
- Cast:
- Bernard Hepton, Jan Francis, Angela Richards
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Callan: The Colour Years (1972)Callan: Series 3 and 4
Edward Woodward gives an electrifying performance as a reluctant professional killer working for British Intelligence. 'Callan' became a national phenomenon in the late 1960's, making Woodward one of the highest profile actors on television and paving the way to his eventual career in America on shows like 'The Equalizer'. Created by James Mitchell (When the Boat Comes In) and exploring the dingy, twilight world of the professional spy, 'Callan' was the antithesis of the James Bond films (back in the days of Connery and Moore) and presented what was, until that point, television's most realistic portrayal of government espionage. This set contains all twenty-two colour episodes from the Thames Television-produced series three and four - the majority of which have been unseen for over twenty years and are available here for the first time. When series three was broadcast it was disrupted and shown out of order - it is included here in its intended order. - Director:
- Jim Goddard
- Cast:
- Edward Woodward, Peter Beton, William Squire
- Formats:
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"Vigil" is a new adrenaline-fuelled thriller that unravels a high-stakes conspiracy threatening the very heart of Britain's nuclear deterrent. When two seemingly unrelated events - the disappearance of a fishing trawler and a death aboard a nuclear submarine - bring the police into direct conflict with the Navy and British security services, DCI Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) is tasked with heading an investigation both on land and at sea. Thrown into this highly charged situation, the brilliant but fragile Silva finds her authority increasingly weakened by the forces at play around her, all the while navigating her own personal trauma and loss. Taking viewers deep into the pitch-black waters of the Atlantic, this timely thriller reveals a shadowy world where tomorrow's geopolitical struggles are already being played out. - Director:
- Isabelle Sieb
- Cast:
- Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Shaun Evans
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Charming comedy about the mostly true story of Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford) - from his daring prison escape at age 70 to an unprecedented string of bank heists that confounded authorities and enchanted the public. Wrapped up in the pursuit are detective John Hunt (Casey Affleck), who is captivated by Forrest's commitment to his craft, and jewel (Sissy Spacek), the woman who loves him despite his criminal ways. - Director:
- David Lowery
- Cast:
- Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek
- Formats:
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Donald Sinden, Anton Rodgers, Bernard Hepton and Peter Egan star in this witty, sharply observed drama series which reveals the intrigues, resentments, bewilderments and betrayals of the staff of a large corporation. Based on writer Philip Mackie's own experiences. The Greatrick Organization is a faceless, multi-million-pound concern dedicated to making more millions. In its headquarters we meet an assortment of middle and junior executives, among them new boy Richard Pershore (Peter Egan) - a handsome young hopeful who knows he's just walked into a jungle; press officer Rodney Spurling (Bernard Hepton), widely known as the Chairman's whipping boy; and PR head David Pulman (Donald Sinden), with his beautiful, ever-efficient but possibly treacherous secretary, Veronica (Elaine Taylor). Their lives may look cosy enough, but appearances are deceptive. All they have to do is carry on being loyal corporate slaves until they're 60 or 65, but there are a hundred different ways to put a foot wrong... - Director:
- James Ormerod
- Cast:
- Peter Egan, Anton Rodgers, Donald Sinden
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Based on a true story, Sidney Reilly was a Russian who became one of the greatest spies to ever work for the British. From the gentlemen's clubs of Edwardian England to the forbidding gates of the Kremlin, Reilly played country against country with such levels of skill and audacity that have rarely been seen since. - Director:
- Jim Goddard
- Cast:
- Sam Neill, Michael Bryant, Norman Rodway
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On a remote outpost of the Navajo Nation near Monument Valley in 1971, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) of the Tribal Police is besieged by a series of seemingly unrelated crimes. The closer he digs to the truth, the more he exposes the wounds of his past. He is joined on this journey by his new deputy, Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), who has his own old scores to settle. Together the two men battle the forces of evil, each other, and their own personal demons on the path to salvation. - Director:
- Chris Eyre
- Cast:
- Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten
- Formats:
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The indomitable DCI Vera Stanhope returns to face a number of daunting cases. Aided by troubled new recruit DS Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty), they investigate a deadly blaze at a coastal caravan park, unearth a thirty-year-old mystery in an old mining community, delve into the tragic last months of a young man found floating in a farm slurry pit and uncover a life of secrets and lies when a well-loved family man plummets to his death from a multi-storey car park. Each enthralling episode is set against the breathtaking Northumberland countryside and is enhanced by the captivating performance of Brenda Blethyn as this shambolic yet brilliant detective. Inspired by the best selling novels, Vera, created by renowned crime writer Ann Cleeves. The fifth series sees the return of Jon Morrison as DC Kenny Lockhart, Cush Jumbo as DC Bethany Whelan, Kingsley Ben-Adir as pathologist Marcus Summer, Rileyjones as DC Mark Edwards and welcomes Lisa Hammond as Intelligence Officer, Helen Milton, the newest recruit to Vera's team. - Director:
- Marek Losey
- Cast:
- Brenda Blethyn, Kenny Doughty, Jon Morrison
- Formats:
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Mr. Palfrey (Alec McCowen) is a mild, unassuming middle-aged man - the quintessential middle-rank British civil servant, who enjoys a spot of fishing in his spare time. Mr. Palfrey is also a spook... As a senior investigator for the Special Intelligence Service, Palfrey's office is based close to the Houses of Parliament. His work is assigned by his female boss, known only as 'the Co-ordinator', and assisting him is Blair (Clive Wood), a younger man adept at dealing with the nastier aspects of counter-intelligence. Beginning life as a pilot in Thames' 'Storyboard' anthology and notable for its intelligent, highly credible depiction of Cold War-era counter-espionage, Mr. Palfrey of Westminster stars Alec McCowen (Travels with My Aunt) as the meticulous master spycatcher; John Shrapnel, Leslie Phillips, Ronald Hines and Martin Jarvis are among several high-profi le actors making guest appearances, and writers include George Markstein (The Prisoner) and Philip Broadley (Public Eye, Department S). This first-time release on video comprises both series, originally screened in 1984 and 1985, the 'Storyboard' pilot of 1983, and the 'postscript' play transmitted in 1989 and featuring Clive Wood as Blair. - Director:
- Christopher Hodson
- Cast:
- Alec McCowen, Caroline Blakiston, Clive Wood
- Formats:
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What makes a castle impregnable? When were the fates of nations and empires decided by the thickness of walls, number of arrow slits and defensive positions? 'Battle Castle with Dan Snow' brings to life a number of history's mightiest fortifications and the sieges they resisted. Follow Dan as he explores the military engineering behind Dover Castle, Krak des Chevaliers in Syria and Gibralfaro in Spain and details the legendary battles that testified to their impregnability. During the Middle Ages these fortified structures were the ultimate authority in any region in which they were built. Both defensive and offensive, they were centres of administration, symbols of power as well as concentrations of military might. But what was it that made each successful? Through dynamic location footage and immersive visual effects, this six-part series reveals the bloody history behind these fortifications and the weapons designed to defeat them. Each episode will climax with the ultimate test of each castle's strength: examining the epic battles that changed the course of history. - Director:
- Ian Herring
- Cast:
- Dan Snow, Julian Marinoff, Aaron Atkins
- Formats:
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Filled with international intrigue and suspense, this World War II thriller follows a U.S. intelligence officer to Argentina where he must arrange the exchange of industrial diamonds and top-secret technology between the Germans and the Allied forces. With a powerhouse cast including Stephen Collins and Lauren Hutton, 'The Rhinemann Exchange' contains all the original 5 TV episodes, and is a jewel of an adventure that you can't afford to miss! - Director:
- Burt Kennedy
- Cast:
- Stephen Collins, Lauren Hutton, Len Birman
- Formats:
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37 Days: The Countdown to World War I is a masterful, tense and gripping three-part political thriller. Set within the corridors of power in Whitehall and Berlin it tracks the unfolding crisis through the eyes of leading politicians and civil servants struggling to prevent the world's first global war. A stellar cast, led by Ian McDiarmid and Tim Pigott-Smith, reveal the complex behind-closed-doors story of the countdown to World War One. This political thriller follows the catastrophic chain of events that led from the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28th June 1914, to the declaration of war between Britain and Germany on 4th August.
One Month in Summer
The British Foreign Office, led by foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey, receives news of an assassination in the Balkans. In Berlin, the Kaiser thinks he can exploit it for his own advantage.
One Week in July
War in Europe is becoming a real possibility. Under pressure from the cabinet, the British foreign secretary unravels a tangled web of intrigue between Austria, Germany, Russia and France, while the German military command conspires to force the Kaiser's hand.Who will gain the upper hand?
One Long Weekend
The last hours of peace. With the continental powers pushed to the brink, Sir Edward Grey seems unsure of whether to keep Britain out of the conflict. Desperate negotiations, resignations and a battle of wills in the Cabinet reach a crescendo with Germany's ultimatum to Belgium. Which way will Britain go?- Director:
- Justin Hardy
- Cast:
- Ian McDiarmid, Nicholas Farrell, Tim Pigott-Smith
- Formats:
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