LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN

Directed by John M. Stahl

Writer Richard Harland (Cornel Wilde) unhesitatingly marries lovely Ellen Berent (Gene Tierney). He soon finds his life blighted when tragedies take first his brother then his unborn son from him. He comes to suspect these events are not unconnected with his wife's unreasoning jealousy. This also turns her family from her, and yet another shock awaits them all as Ellen's emotions become uncontrollable.

Nominated 4 Academy Awards including Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Art/Interior Decoration(Colour) and Best Sound Recording

Won 1, Best Cinematography

DVD Special Features:

Feature Length Commentary by Darryl Hickman and Film Critic, Richard Schickel

THE CHILDREN'S HOUR (1961)

Directed by William Wyler

Lillian Hellman screen adaptation of her play in which a private school for young girls is scandalized when one spiteful student accuses the two young women, Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) who run the school of having a lesbian relationship

An intriguing and groundbreaking film for its time (being the first mainstream film) to handle such a "taboo subject"

Nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actress, Best Art/Set Decoration (Black and White), Best Cinematography (Black and White), Best Costume Design (Black and White) and Best Sound

DVD Special Features:

None

LAURA (1944)

Directed by Otto Preminger

Classic Film Noir in which Detective, Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) investigating a murder falls in love with the dead girl's (Laura) (Gene Tierney) portrait only to find out that it wasn't her that was murdered. Who was? Why? By whom? Will they try again? What will become of the detective's love?

Nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Writing(Screenplay), Best Cinematography and Best Art/Set Decoration(Black/White)

Won 1, Best Cinematography

DVD Special Features:

Documentaries, Gene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait and Vincent Price: The Versatile Villian

Feature Length Commentaries by Film Historian, Rudy Behlmer, Composer, David Raksin and Film Professor Jeanine Basinger

V (1983) (TV)

Directed by Kenneth Johnson

Aliens pretending to be friendly come to Earth and are received openly. The aliens have masqueraded themselves to look just like humans. When it is discovered that the aliens' planet is dying and that they have come to rape the Earth of its natural resources, the war for Earth begins. An important key to the humans' success is distinguishing the their own from the aliens.

Not eligible for Academy Award Nominations

DVD Special Features:

Feature Length Commentary by Director, Kenneth Johnson

Behind The Scenes Documentary on the Making of V

THE LONG FIRM (2004) (TV)

Directed by Billie Eltringham

Harry Starks runs 60s Soho... but he wants so much more.

Based on Jake Arnott's book of the same name, this TV dramatisation features Harry (Mark Strong) as an East-End, working-class, homosexual, Jewish mobster, who is striving for acceptance in London. Lena Headey, Derek Jacobi and Joe Absolom provide a strong supporting cast

Not eligible for Academy Award Nominations

DVD Special Features:

Feature Length Audio Commentary by Screen Writer, Joe Penhall, Producer, Liza Marshall and Actor, Mark Strong

HOTEL DU LAC (1986) (TV)

Directed by Giles Foster

Romantic Writer, Edith Hope (Anna Massey) attempts exile from a failing affair, and from her loneliness, in that quintessential place of exile, a Swiss lakeside hotel. But the other residents, ridiculous and sad, only compound her isolation, revealing the emptiness of disengagement. Flashbacks to her affair in London have a colour and vibrancy that startle in their contrast with Hope's melancholy quiet in Switzerland. Hope must return, without hope, and face the reality of her life in England, no matter how painful.

Not Eligible for Academy Award Nominations

DVD Special Features:

Feature Length Audio Commentary by Director, Giles Foster, Producer, Sue Birtwistle and Writer, Christopher Hampton

RAY (2004)

Directed by Taylor Hackford

The true life story of legendary blues singer Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx) from loosing his eyesight in early childhood, to his rising career during the 1950s and 1960s, and his problems with racism, drug abuse, failed relationships and his ideas to change the pace music by combining soul and gospel music thereby makinghis career as one of the most enduring, inimitable performers in modern music.

Nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Editing, Best Costume Design and Best Sound

Won 2, Best Actor and and Best Sound

DVD Special Features:

Feature Length Audio Commentary by Director, Taylor Hackford

Delete Scenes

Stepping into the Part

Ray Remembered

A Look inside Ray

LAYER CAKE (2004)

Directed by Matthew Vaughn

Based upon JJ Connelly's London crime novel, "LAYER CAKE" is about a successful cocaine dealer (DANIEL CRAIG) who has earned a respected place among England's Mafia elite and plans an early retirement from the business. However, big boss Jimmy Price hands down a tough assignment: find Charlotte Ryder, the missing rich princess daughter of Jimmy's old pal Edward, a powerful construction business player and gossip papers socialite. Complicating matters are two million pounds' worth of Grade A ecstasy, a brutal neo-Nazi sect and a whole series of double crossings. The title "LAYER CAKE" refers to the layers or levels the dealer has to go through as he painstakingly plots his own escape. What is revealed is a modern underworld where the rules have changed. There are no 'codes', or 'families' and respect lasts as long as a line. Not knowing who he can trust, he has to use all his 'savvy', 'telling' and skills which make him one of the best, to escape his own. The ultimate last job, a love interest called Tammy and an international drugs ring, threaten to draw him back into the 'cake mix'. But, time is running out and the penalty will endure a lifetime

No Academy Award Nominations

DVD Special Features:

Feature Length Commentary by Director, Matthew Vaughn and Script Writer, J J Connelly

THE AVIATOR (2004)

Directed by Martin Scorcese

Focusing on his early years (from the 1930 production of 'Hell's Angels' to the 1947 test flight of the Blue Spruce, when he was 42), this is the story of how young Howard Hughes transformed a small fortune into a massive one. The son of the Texan inventor of an amazing drill bit who died when he was 18, leaving him with seventy five percent of the "Hughes Tool Co.", Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) quickly moved to Los Angeles to become a Hollywood film producer, where he helped launch the career of Jean Harlow and other starlets, and producing such classics as Hell's Angels, The Front Page, Flying Leathernecks, and Scarface (the 1932 original), eventually owning RKO Pictures. Hughes' legend came not from focusing on just Hollywood, however, as he simultaneously branched into industry after industry, including aviation in 1932 (including TWA Airlines), and during WWII, defense, leading to the creation of the (infamous) Spruce Goose, a flying boat of immense size. After WWII, Hughes' expansions continued, with an electronics company that was integral to the evolution of the satellite, and Hughes' several Las Vegas casinos.This film also focus's on Hughes' romances with Hollywood stars like Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale).

Nominated for 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Art/Set Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography and Best Sound

Won 5, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art/Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Film Editing

The year long frontrunner status held by The Aviator, shifted towards the end of awards season. The film won most of the guild categories but lost the coveted best director and picture categories to MILLION DOLLAR BABY at the 2005 Academy Awards ceremony


DVD Special Features:

Feature Length Audio Commentary with Director, Martin Scorcese and Editor, Thelma Schoonmaker and Screenwriter, John Logan

The Documentaries:
"A Life Without Limits" - the making of The Aviator

The Role of Howard Hughes in Aviation History

"Modern Marvels: Howard Hughes" - a documentary by the History Channel

The Crafts:
The visual effects of The Aviator
The Affliction of Howard Hughes: obsessive compulsive disorder
"The Age of Glamour" - The hair and makeup of The Aviator
"Costuming The Aviator" - the work of Sandy Powell
"Constructing The Aviator" - The Work of Dante Ferretti

The Music:
Scoring The Aviator: The Work Of Howard Shore
The Wainwright Family - Loudon, Rufus and Martha

OCD Panel Discussion with Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese and Howard Hughes' widow Terry Moore
An evening with Actors, Leonardo DiCaprio and Alan Alda

THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1939)

Directed by Elliot Nugent

Ten years have passed since the death of millionaire, Cyrus Norman. Cosby, Cyrus' attorney, has gathered Cyrus' 6 remaining relatives to his New Orleans' mansion for Cyrus' "reading of the will". To the others disappointment, Joyce (Paulette Goddard) is the sole heir, but, due to a streak of insanity running in the family, a second will has been made in case Joyce falls victim to it. This puts Joyce in danger. Suddenly, Miss Lu, Cyrus' maid (Gale Sondergaard), appears and warns them that the spirits have told her that one of them will die that night. Following this, Hendrick, a prison guard, warns them that, "The Cat", a homicidal maniac has escaped. This sets up Cyrus' relatives with a night filled with murders, mysteries and intrigue. Film also co - stars Bob Hope as Wally Campbell

No Academy Award Nominations

DVD Special Features: None