greatest-ever-made's - Rented List

Show moreShow less

Traversing the criminal underworld of the north-east of England some ten years before 'Get Carter', Johnny Mellor's band of ruthless criminals attempt to get away with murder, but as the police close in, the gang begins to fall apart, with each member seeking a way out - and in their panic, no one

realizes there is one adversary they have all overlooked.

Show moreShow less

Stand and pledge loyalty - or prepare to lie cold beneath your shields. Chivalrous knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe is determined to restore Richard the Lion-Hearted to England's throne. Gallantry and costumed pageantry combine in this crowd-pleasing nominee for 3 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Robert Taylor plays the title role, and Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Fontaine also star in a rousing adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's novel. The film's jousting tournament is a galloping display of steeds and stouthearted men. Most spectacular of all is the siege of Torquilstone Castle, a wave-after-wave onslaught of arrows, fire, boulders, battering rams and blades. To the battlements!

Amid accusations of talent-wasting, composer Arthur Sullivan (Maurice Evans) joins forces with dramatist W.S. Gilbert (Robert Morley) and impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte (Peter Finch) in a partnership to create what ultimately became some of the most innovative and successful music ever created.

Show moreShow less

"The Colditz Story" is an outstanding factual prisoner of war film directed by Guy Hamilton, starring John Mills as Officer Pat Reid and Eric Portman as Colonel Richmond.

It is based on the book written by Pat Reid, a British army officer who was imprisoned in Oflag IV-C, Colditz Castle, in Germany during the Second World War and who was the Escape Officer for British POWs within the castle. Colditz Castle in the heart of Saxony, was the fortress to which the German High Command sent officers who had attempted to escape from conventional prison camps. They regarded it as impregnable yet they threatened the death penalty for anyone attempting to break out. British officer Pat Reid leads an escape through one of the castle's subterranean tunnels. Only three of the prisoners survive; the next step is to get out of Germany itself.

Show moreShow less

Any Johnny Reb who tries to escape the Union prison outpost of Fort Bravo faces the unforgiving Arizona Territory desert stretching before him…and the even more unforgiving pursuit of Bravo's resolute Captain Roper (William Holden).

Yet there's a common foe that may unite the Civil War rivals: the fierce Mescalero horsemen waging guerilla war against Blue and Gray alike.

Fatherless Bartholomew Collins (Tommy Rettig) dreams that his nefarious piano teacher, Dr. Terwilliker (Hans Conried) plans to enslave 500 boys and force them to play an enormous piano with 5,000 keys. He enlists the help of a plumber to convince his brainwashed mother of Dr. T.'s frightening agenda.

Show moreShow less

Tortured by thoughts that her husband Jake (Peter Finch) may be having an affair Jo Annitage (Anne Bancroft) has a nervous breakdown in Harrods and her life begins to crumble all about her.

But is her husband's infidelity really to blame? Or does Jo have deeper, more complex problems? Why does she have so main children - and is her seemingly perfect life all it appears on the surface?

Show moreShow less

Set in a remote village in 17th Century England, farm labourer Ralph Gower (Barry Andrews) accidentally stumbles across a devilish skull whilst ploughing a field. Ralph reports his findings to the Judge (Patrick Wymark) but when they return, the skull has vanished.

Very soon the children of the village start acting strangely, led by Angel Blake (Linda Hayden) they form a murderous coven and when mysterious growths of hair (called the Devil's Skin) start appearing on their bodies, all hell breaks loose...literally!

Show moreShow less

Widely considered one of Britain's greatest filmmakers, Humphrey Jennings has long been celebrated as one of cinema's true poets.

This, the second of three volumes which brings together his entire directorial output, features five films made between 1941-1943 which show Jennings at the peak of his tragically short but outstanding career. From the rousing call to arms of "The Heart of Britain" and "Words for Battle" to the poetic evocation of daily life in "Listen to Britain", and the powerfully resonating drama of "Fires Were Started" and "The Silent Village", the films included in this set offer a lyrical portrait of the nation at war and a moving celebration of Britishness.

Films Comprise:
- The Heart of Britain (1941)
- Words for Battle (1941)
- Listen to Britain (1941)
- Fires Were Started (1943)
- The Silent Village (1943)

Show moreShow less

James Cagney takes the lead in this biopic of silent horror film star Lon Chaney, star of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'The Phantom of the Opera'.

Born to deaf, mute parents, Chaney, mildly successful as a mime and juggler in vaudeville, employs and later marries his assistant Cleva Creighton (Dorothy Malone). But Cleva's disgust on discovering Chaney's parents are deaf mutes is soon compounded when she gives birth to their son, believing he too will be deaf. With Chaney's vaudeville career taking off, Cleva, psychologically frail, walks out on her husband and son, forcing a cash-strapped Chaney to place his son in a home. Determined to get his son back, Chaney travels to Hollywood and immerses himself in as much work as he can find, soon building a reputation for himself as a respected and talented artist. Now remarried, and with his life back on track, Chaney's world is turned upside down once more when Cleva reappears demanding the return of her son.

Show moreShow less

Ann Carter (Deanna Durbin) is a small town girl who dreams of becoming a professional singer. Luck smiles on her when she goes to visit her stepbrother Martin (Pat O'Brien) in New York City. It turns out that he's found a job as the butler for a famous composer Charles Gerard (Franchot Tone).

However, there's just one problem Charles refuses to audition anyone in his house. Undeterred, Ann manages to get a job as the maid in his luxury penthouse, secretly hoping that by innocently singing as she dusts and cleans her beautiful voice will get her noticed. It does get her noticed and her own stepbrother decides to fire her! Meanwhile, Charles has also been attracted to Ann's singing and to the young lady herself...

Show moreShow less

Ex-con Johnny (Stanley Baker) used his time in prison wisely - to plan the biggest robbery of his career. The robbery goes smoothly and Johnny goes to bury the money in a field until the heat is off, as agreed with friend and racketeer Mike Carter (Sam Wanamaker) and the rest of the gang.

In a moment of weakness, Johnny pockets five hundred odd pounds from the haul. Coupled with a tip-off from his ex-girlfriend (Jill Bennett) this proves to be his undoing and Johnny is soon back in prison. The rest of the gang try in vain to get the location of the money out of him without success until Mike hits upon the idea of a break-out using Johnny's new love Suzanne (Margit Saad) as bait.

Show moreShow less

Industrialist Pierre Verdier (Jacques Berthier) kills his mistress Jeanne Ancelin (Françoise Brion) by throwing her off a train. Her husband, Ancelin, decides to take revenge on his wife's murderer, who has been acquitted by justice. He waits for him in his house and hangs him.

He leaves the place unseen, at least this is what he thinks. But unfortunately for him, Lambert (Franco Fabrizi), a taxi driver has witnessed him. Ancelin has no option but to get rid of him...

Show moreShow less

The ruthless Solly Caspar (Ted de Corsia) is fighting to retain control of Bay City's criminal activities when Frank Jansen (Kent Taylor), an honest man and mayoral hopeful, begins a strong anti-crime campaign.

Caspar tasks his right-hand man Ben Grace (John Payne) to dig up some dirt on the candidate and ruin his chances of election. Meanwhile, a love triangle involving Ben, Dorothy (Arlene Dahl) and June (Rhonda Fleming) may be the downfall of Frank's career...

Show moreShow less

When lawyer Mitch Baker's (Scott Brady) father is killed by gun-runners, he pursues the villains who escape into Mexico. Gang leader Jim Simmons (Rhys Williams), beyond the reach of the American law, is confident that his henchmen can get rid of Mitch - but he's mistaken...

Mitch plays the waiting game in the border town of Mission, Texas, where he attracts the interest of Angelita (Anne Bancroft), a young Indian woman. The sheriff warns Mitch not to take the law into his own hands, but he's determined to avenge his father's death - his way.