greatest-ever-made's - Rented List
-
An utterly wild comedy epic directed by Steven Spielberg and nominated for three Academy Awards". Lavish effects sequences highlight this hilarious, all star extravaganza set in Los Angeles just days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, when fear of a Japanese Invasion threw the city into a state of Pandemonium. Screwball characters run wild on Hollywood Boulevard as manic servicemen, zealous store owners, teary-eyed girls and bickering Nazis are thrown together in this fast-rising comic souffle that even features a sendup of Spielberg's own Jaws opening. - Director:
- Steven Spielberg
- Cast:
- John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Treat Williams
- Formats:
-
-
Full House (1952)Brelan d'as
Three of France's most beloved fictional detectives are on the case in 'Full House' (Brelan d'as), a portmanteau policier from director Henri Verneuil (The Sicilian Clan). First, Monsieur Wens (Raymond Rouleau), created by Stanislas-André Steeman (Quai des Orfèvres), is puzzled by a case in which the chief suspect seems to have the perfect alibi - he was with Wens at the time of the murder. Secondly, Peter Cheyney's Lemmy Caution (John van Dreelan) becomes entangled with a femme fatale as he tackles a jewel robbery. The final segment focuses on George Simenon's Inspector Maigret, as Michel Simon (L'Atalante) solves a murder from his sickbed with the aid of an altar boy. Verneuil's masterful triple-helping of post-war Gallic noir boasts a screenplay co-written by Jacques Companêez (Casque d'or) and André Tabet (Witness in the City). - Director:
- Henri Verneuil
- Cast:
- Michel Simon, Jacques Morel, Raymond Rouleau
- Formats:
-
-
Young lawyer Robert Blair (Michael Denison) is called on in desperation by two women, mother and daughter, who live in a large, isolated house known as The Franchise, and have been questioned by the police in connection with a peculiar accusation. As feelings in the local village run high, the police build up a case on a formidable amount of circumstantial evidence - against which Blair can put only the improbability of the charge, and some unsuccessful amateur detection... - Director:
- Lawrence Huntington
- Cast:
- Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray, Anthony Nicholls
- Formats:
-
-
When Tomorrow Comes (1939)Give Us the Night / Modern Cinderella
Romance and heartbreak walk hand-in-hand when Philip Chagal (Charles Boyer) accidentally meets Helen Lawrence (Irene Dunne) in a restaurant where she is a waitress. Unhappily married to a woman who suffers from mental illness, he is attracted to her and they make a date to go sailing, arriving at Philip's country home just as a storm is breaking. Helen learns who he is for the first time, a celebrated-and-famous concert pianist and, falling in love with him, decides to leave before matters go further. A hurricane hits and their car is crippled by a falling tree. Rising water forces then to seek shelter in the choir loft of a church, where they spend the night. They are rescued in the morning and Helen meets Philip's wife, and learns their story. Helen and Philip meet once more, and Philip sails to Europe with his wife but promises to come back some day. - Director:
- John M. Stahl
- Cast:
- Irene Dunne, Charles Boyer, Barbara O'Neil
- Formats:
-
-
Wanted for Murder (1946)A Voice in the Night
Pretty Anne Fielding (Dulcie Gray) has her pick of men. There's her boyfriend, the sophisticated Victor (Eric Portman), and now there's Jack... He's the humble bus conductor who comes to her rescue after the bus stalls and delays her journey by an hour. She was on her way to meet Victor at the Hampstead Heath fairground and Jack gallantly escorts her there. Sparks fly between the pair as they share ice cream and enjoy the fair while keeping an eye out for Victor. When they finally reunite, Anne and Victor head for home at the same time a young woman is found dead on the Heath. She appears to be the latest victim of The Strangler', a notorious serial killer who has already struck five times before. With Jack seen storming away from the scene and Victor's handkerchief found near the body, the police seize both men to appear in the lineup of potential suspects. A crazed game of cat and mouse ensues and Anne soon finds herself in serious danger. The police are up against time in this race to draw the threads together - but in the end, which neck will they close around? Will the police get their killer before he gets Anne? - Director:
- Lawrence Huntington
- Cast:
- Eric Portman, Dulcie Gray, Derek Farr
- Formats:
-
-
A ruthless kidnapper and blackmailer called Marlowe has abducted a young boy. After imprisoning the child in a deserted house, Marlowe gives him a toy golly for comfort. But hidden inside is a time bomb which is set to explode at tend the following morning. Marlowe coolly drives to visit the boy's wealthy father and demands a ransom of £50,000 in order to have his son returned alive. Inspector Parnell and Sergeant Grey are called in when the boy's father decides to pay the ransom. But Inspector Parnell chooses to play a deadly game of cat and mouse with the kidnapper as the young boy plays with his new toy. Meanwhile the clock is ticking... - Director:
- Lance Comfort
- Cast:
- John Gregson, Robert Shaw, Alec Clunes
- Formats:
-
-
Long Lost Comedy Classics is a collection of films from a golden age of British Cinema, remembered for timeless stars and some unique movies that have stood the test of time. So why not take a trip down memory lane and see how cinema used to be? Bill Harper (James Donald) and Petronilla Brand (Jean Lodge), a young couple on a yachting holiday together, become involved with Tony Rackham (Kenneth More), who is smuggling brandy from France to a respectable London wine merchants. Through various mishaps, Bill and Petronilla find themselves personally responsible for transporting the brandy kegs to London, whilst being pursued by Customs officials... - Director:
- John Eldridge
- Cast:
- James Donald, Kenneth More, Jean Lodge
- Formats:
-
-
After losing his parents and his childhood sweetheart to tragedy, Francis Chisholm (Gregory Peck) joins the priesthood and devotes himself to a life of service and compassion. But Chisholm's unorthodox beliefs raise eyebrows among his superiors, especially Bishop Angus Mealy (Vincent Price). And when he is sent to the farthest reaches of China to rebuild an abandoned mission, Chisholm faces his greatest challenge of all: to tame a hostile land, win over a superstitious people and save his parish from an invading army. - Director:
- John M. Stahl
- Cast:
- Gregory Peck, Thomas Mitchell, Vincent Price
- Formats:
-
-
36 Hours (1953)Goodbye to Katie / Terror Street
Hollywood tough guy Dan Duryea plays against type as an innocent man on the run in post-war London in this early Brit Noir from Hammer, one of the many crime thrillers they made in the early 1950s. Directed by B movie specialist Montgomery Tully and scripted by prolific pulp crime writer Steve Fisher, '36 Hours' - and its American version, 'Terror Street'. USAF Major Bill Rogers returns to London after more than a year overseas to find his wife has moved out of their apartment. Tracking her down to a swish West End pad, he gets drunk and wakes up to find her murdered - with his own gun. - Director:
- Montgomery Tully
- Cast:
- Dan Duryea, Elsie Albiin, Gudrun Ure
- Formats:
-
-
Ealing Studios' output from the 1940's and 1950's helped define what was arguably the golden age for British cinema. It fostered great directors such as Alexander Mackendrick and Robert Hamer, while giving stars such as Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers the chance to shine. When British Railways announce the closure of the Titfield to Mallingford branch line, a group of local village residents make a bid to run it themselves, backed by a monied member of the community who is attracted by the complete lack of licensing hours on trains. Unfortunately this puts them into direct competition with the local bus company. - Director:
- Charles Crichton
- Cast:
- Stanley Holloway, George Relph, Naunton Wayne
- Formats:
-
-
Charade (1963)The Unsuspecting Wife
Regina (Audrey Hepburn) is about to divorce her husband when he is found murdered. Shortly before his death he had been converting all of his goods into cash, which has also disappeared. Enter onto the scene Peter Joshua (Cary Grant), seemingly interested in Regina but really more interested in the whereabouts of her late husband's money. He is not alone, for there are former partners of her husband's also on the trail… - Director:
- Stanley Donen
- Cast:
- Cary Grant, Stanley Donen, Peter Stone
- Formats:
-
-
Unsold on celebrity? Congested with consumption? Addled by status? You're in The World, kiddo, brought to you by Frank Tashlin - "Because Someone's Got to Live in It". And now a brief word on our latest fine product, the one that gives you the answer to that nagging question: Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Ladies and gentlemen, no-one does straight-and-narrow quite like Tony Randall, and we guarantee his turn as lovable ad-man Rockwell P. Hunter will leave you in so many stitches you'll be just silly with sc-HAH-rtissue! And speaking of tissue: once you see Jayne Mansfield bob and weave as starlet Rita Marlowe, the ambidextrous angel who takes Hunter under her "wings" to launch his agency into the $trato$phere, you too will coo her trademark "ooo"! But that's not all! You'll also get Ms. Joan Blondell, star of Nightmare Alley and of Opening Night, who rounds out the package as Ms. Marlowe's assistant and handler - as they say in Paris, quel package! - Director:
- Frank Tashlin
- Cast:
- Tony Randall, Don Corey, Jayne Mansfield
- Formats:
-
-
The Girl Can't Help It (1956)Do Re Mi
The classic 'rock and roll' film of the 50's and the Jayne Mansfield movie. Legendary moments include her hot strut down the street to Little Richard's title song, leaving ice blocks melting and milk bottles bubbling over. Around a simple comic plot - gangster hires alcoholic press agent to make a singing star out of his incredibly voluptuous but tone-deaf girlfriend - director Frank Tashlin creates a feast for eyes and ears in 'the grandeur of CinemaScope' and glorious De Luxe colour. - Director:
- Frank Tashlin
- Cast:
- Tom Ewell, Jayne Mansfield, Edmond O'Brien
- Formats:
-
-
The Hours (2002)Las horas
Three generations of women, linked by one book. In 1923, Virginia Woolf (Nicole Kidman) works on her novel Mrs. Dalloway while battling depression. In 1951, housewife Laura (Julianne Moore) reads Woolfs book as she reckons with the emptiness of her suburban life; fifty years later, New Yorker Clarissa (Meryl Streep) nurses a dying friend, one who's nicknamed her Mrs. Dalloway. - Director:
- Stephen Daldry
- Cast:
- Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore
- Formats:
-
-
In Pleasantville, USA, there has never been any rain. There has never been hatred, aggression or tears. In Pleasantville, USA, there has never been a passionate kiss. There has never been a flat tire, a red rose or a work of art. Until now. Two modern day teenagers (Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon) find themselves trapped in Pleasantville, a black and white '50s TV. series - and set off a revolution. There can be no turning back once the people of Pleasantville begin experiencing such strange wonders as love, sex, art, and even rain for themselves. Slowly, the town turns from black-and-white to technicolour as real life creeps into Pleasantville. But real life has its dark side, and not all of the perfect population of Pleasantville are happy with the changes... - Director:
- Gary Ross
- Cast:
- Tobey Maguire, Jeff Daniels, Joan Allen
- Formats:
-