awwatchedthese's - Rented List
-
After the King of Ruritania (Peter Sellers) dies in a hot air balloon accident, his eldest son is kidnapped by the evil prince Michael (Jeremy Kemp), his younger brother, who hopes to snatch the throne. To foil these dastardly plans, a stand-in is needed for the impending coronation. But will the London cabbie lookalike they've chosen be up to the task? - Director:
- Richard Quine
- Cast:
- Peter Sellers, Lynne Frederick, Lionel Jeffries
- Formats:
-
-
Sherlock Holmes is the greatest of all fictional detectives, as famous for his deerstalker and pipe, as his legendary powers of observation and deduction. He is an aloof and private man driven by a fierce intellect that gives him astounding brilliance and unfathomable eccentricity in equal measure. Jeremy Brett, the definitive Holmes, stars in two beautiful adaptations taken from the classic ITV series.
The Mazarin Stone (1994)
Holmes (Jeremy Brett) is asked on behalf of the Prime Minister to find the stolen crown jewel, the Mazarin Stone. While Holmes pursues his prime suspect, the infamous Count Sylvius (Jon Finch), Watson (Edward Hardwicke) works on a separate case involving an American named John Garrideb (Gavan O'Herlihy). It is only when Holmes links Count Sylvius to John Garrideb that the two cases are joined together. Holmes and Watson have to survive a dramatic confrontation before they can resolve the tangled web of crime and deceit.
The Cardboard Box (1994)
When a spinster receives a grisly package containing two severed human ears Holmes (Jeremy Brett) is called in to comment. Dismissing the police opinion that it is all just a sick prank, Holmes begins his investigations into a tale of sibling jealousy and betrayal. As Holmes closes in on the killer he puts his own life in jeopardy to bring an end to the terrible killings.- Director:
- Sarah Hellings
- Cast:
- Jeremy Brett, Jon Finch, Edward Hardwicke
- Formats:
-
-
Alan Bennett is one of Britain's most popular and prolific authors and playwrights. He initially wrote for the stage, but found that with his observant eye for the absurdities of modern life and sharp ear for dialogue, his work transferred easily and effectively to the small screen. This collection brings together many of Alan Bennett's previously unreleased BBC productions dating from 1972 through to 1994. It includes his first television play, 'A Day Out'; autobiographical pieces such as 'Dinner at Noon' and 'Portrait or Bust' and celebrated plays such as 'A Woman of No Importance', 'An Englishman Abroad' and 'A Question of Attribution'. The plays, each with a specially recorded introduction by Alan Bennett, feature a number of great British actors including Daniel Day Lewis, Alan Bates, Patricia Routledge, Janet McTeer, James Fox and Prunella Scales and number Richard Eyre, Stephen Frears and John Schlesinger among the directors. - Director:
- Stephen Frears
- Cast:
- David Waller, James Cossins, John Normington
- Formats:
-
-
Always (1989)Siempre
Steven Spielberg directs this heartwarming, romantic adventure. Pete Sandrich (Richard Dreyfuss) is a legendary pilot with a passion for daredevil firefighting. However, Dorinda (Holly Hunter), the woman he loves, and Al (John Goodman), Pete's best friend, know that legends can't take risks forever. After sacrificing himself to save Al, the ace pilot faces his most challenging mission: helping Dorinda move on with her life. Breathtaking cinematography and exhilarating aerial choreography highlight this compelling adventure that co-stars Brad Johnson and features a special appearance by Audrey Hepburn. - Director:
- Steven Spielberg
- Cast:
- Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, Brad Johnson
- Formats:
-
-
The Favourite (2018)Favorite
In early 18th-century England, a frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne, and her closest friend, Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), governs the country while tending to Anne's ill health and volatile temper. When new servant Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives, Sarah takes Abigail under her wing as she cunningly schemes to return to her aristocratic roots, setting off an outrageous rivalry to become the Queen's favourite. - Director:
- Yorgos Lanthimos
- Cast:
- Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz
- Formats:
-
-
Set in a bomb damaged London hotel during the aftermath of World War II "Close to the Enemy" is a thriller that follows British intelligence officer Captain Callum Ferguson (Jim Sturgess). His last task for the army is to ensure that Dieter (August Diehl), a captured German scientist, develops cutting edge jet engine technology for the British. Such expertise is becoming vital to Britain as they try to maintain any kind of superiority in the emerging Cold War. Callum employs unorthodox methods in his attempt to convince Dieter to work for the British, eventually developing a friendship with him - a friendship which becomes threatened as those around him believe that the Dieter may have stood by as innocents in labour camps perished under the rule of the Nazi party. - Director:
- Stephen Poliakoff
- Cast:
- Ciara Charteris, August Diehl, Jim Sturgess
- Formats:
-
-
It's more than 40 years since their classic crime capers in The Lady Vanishes, Night Train to Munich and It's Not Cricket. The gentleman-sleuth duo may be retired but they still leap at the chance to investigate a new murder mystery. Caldicott (Michael Aldridge) lives in splendid luxury at Viceroy Court, Marylebone, while Charters (Robin Bailey) resides in leafy Reigate - and as ever they meet at their posh Pall Mall club. When the body of an old friend's daughter is found in Caldicott's flat, the pair forgo their regular Friday lunch to solve the crime. The mystery deepens, though, when Charters receives a phone call from the supposedly dead girl! Over the six entertaining episodes the plot thickens as the case is linked to a cargo of gold on a sunken German WWII U-Boat. And from there the excitement builds to a thrilling climax at Lords Cricket Ground - both on and off the pitch! - Director:
- Julian Amyes
- Cast:
- Robin Bailey, Michael Aldridge, Caroline Blakiston
- Formats:
-
-
Set in May 1940 this tense World War II spy thriller is set against the impending invasion of Holland by the Nazi's. In London, Jan Smit (Peter Finch) is in exile whilst his father, an eminent diamond merchant, remains in Amsterdam. Together with his countryman, Walter Keyser (Alexander Knox) Smit is persuaded to return to his homeland under the command of British Agent Major Dillon (Tony Britton). Their mission is to recover the industrial diamond stocks from the traders in Amsterdam before they fall into the hands of the advancing Wehrmacht. Landing secretly on the Dutch coast, our heroes are greeted with the chaos of locals fleeing the threat of the German invaders, and narrowly avoid disaster from a failed suicide attempt by the beautiful Anna (Eva Bartok). Anna is persuaded to drive the group through the deserted streets of Amsterdam where Smit attempts, with his fathers help, to persuade the diamond merchants to part with their stocks. His problem, the diamond merchants many of them Jewish, will be left behind to face the wrath of the Germans whilst their stocks have returned to London. Faced with a race against time Smit, Dillon and Keyser must recover what diamonds they can, dodge the fifth columnists roaming the streets, and make their rendez-vous on board ship in order to return to London... or suffer the consequences. - Director:
- Michael McCarthy
- Cast:
- Peter Finch, Eva Bartok, Tony Britton
- Formats:
-
-
'Who Do You Think You Are?' follows the journeys of eight well known personalities as they explore their family trees, uncover their family history and discover fascinating and poignant facts about their ancestors that have been, until now, hidden in the annals of time. In the fifth series, Patsy Kensit uncovers a healthy and hardworking mix of criminals and curates; Boris Johnson is never happier than when he discovers he's descended from both a heroic journalist and royalty; Jerry Springer finds darker and more terrible truths about the fate of his relatives; while Esther Rantzen starts off with silver and ends up in diamonds. Ashley Harriott visits West Indian lands of slaves and soldiers, policemen, free negroes and slaveowners; David Suchet researches how the Shokhet family became the Suchedowitz's and eventually Suchet; Jodie Kidd tracks down both a scandalous Baronet and a pilgrim heritage; while Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen finds himself all at sea as he investigates some very watery roots. - Director:
- Christopher Bruce
- Cast:
- Mark Strong, Patsy Kensit, Boris Johnson
- Formats:
-
-
Triple bill of British crime dramas.
The Third Alibi (1961)A composer (Laurence Payne) is stuck in a middle-class marriage and finds that his affair with his wife's half-sister (Jane Griffiths) has resulted in a pregnancy. When his wife refuses to give him a divorce he hatches a murder scheme that is too clever by half.
Night Was Our Friend (1951)
Missing for two years husband (Michael Gough) returns home to his wife (Elizabeth Sellars) suffering with severe mental problems. However, his wife in her husband's absence - has met and fallen in love with a doctor (Ronald Howard) she looks after her husband who becomes more deranged and commits suicide putting his wife under suspicion of murder.
Stranger In Town (1957)
An American composer living in a sleepy English village is shot dead. A journalist (Alex Nicol) probes the death, the trail running to the local gossip (Mona Washbourne) who is found gassed.- Director:
- Montgomery Tully
- Cast:
- Laurence Payne, Patricia Dainton, Jane Griffiths
- Formats:
-
-
Chinese Puzzle (2013)Casse-tête chinois
Xavier's life is turned upside down when his wife Wendy announces she's moving to New York and taking the kids. A few months later, he's on a transatlantic flight as well. From fathering a child to a lesbian couple, to marrying a Chinese-American to obtain citizenship, to reigniting a flame with his first love who comes to visit, Xavier and his world really do seem like a Chinese Puzzle... - Director:
- Cédric Klapisch
- Cast:
- Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Cécile De France
- Formats:
-
-
Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)Kingsman 2
"Kingsman: The Secret Service" introduced the world to Kingsman - an independent, international intelligence agency operating at the highest level of discretion, whose ultimate goal is to keep the world safe. In 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle', our heroes face a new challenge. When their headquarters are destroyed and the world is held hostage, their journey leads them to the discovery of an allied spy organisation in the US called Statesman, dating back to the day they were both founded. In a new adventure that tests their agents' strength and wits to the limit, these two elite secret organisations band together to defeat a ruthless common enemy, in order to save the world, something that's becoming a bit of a habit for Eggsy. - Director:
- Matthew Vaughn
- Cast:
- Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong
- Formats:
-
-
As jaded cabaret Mademoiselle Amy Jolly (Marlene Dietrich) falls for Tom Brown (Gary Cooper), a devil-may-care private in the French Foreign Legion. In spite of the clamor of other suitors, including man-of-the-world Kennington (Adolphe Menjou), Amy arranges a rendezvous with Tom Brown when their aloof attraction turns to love. But when Tom overhears the wealthy Kennington propose to Amy, he accepts a dangerous assignment, convinced that only Kennington can give the beautiful chanteuse the life she wants. All proves fair in love and war, however, when on the eve of the engagement to Kennington, Amy steals away to find the man she truly loves. - Director:
- Josef Von Sternberg
- Cast:
- Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, Adolphe Menjou
- Formats:
-
-
Based on the novels by E.F. Benson, this bitingly funny comic drama, adapted by Steve Pemberton, celebrates and lampoons the snobberies and pretensions of small-town life. Starring an acclaimed ensemble cast led by Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor in the title roles. Over the course of a 1930s summer the sly, scheming Miss Elizabeth Mapp and the gloriously haughty Mrs Emmeline 'Lucia' Lucas jockey for social supremacy in Tilling. This quaint English town may seem tranquil on the surface, but its eccentric inhabitants exist in a world seething with gossip, faddishness and petty one upmanship... As Mapp and Lucia go into battle, friends and neighbours rally to the flags. When the smoke clears which of the ladies will have won the dangerously well-mannered fight to be Tilling's finest? - Director:
- Diarmuid Lawrence
- Cast:
- Anna Chancellor, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton
- Formats:
-
-
Led by Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood) the families are soon lost and start to mistrust each other and their guide. After, days of wandering in the inhospitable landscape and becoming more disorientated, a Native American crosses their path. The group must decide if they can trust this man to lead them to water or a more sinister fate. - Director:
- Kelly Reichardt
- Cast:
- Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Paul Dano
- Formats:
-