Patricia Routledge gives a career-best performance as Queen Victoria in this 1964 series of plays based on the celebrated collection of dramas by playwright Laurence Housman. Self-willed, obstinate, imperious and passionate... a now-familiar description of one of history's longest-serving female monarchs – but Housman's satirical tribute marked a decisive break with the tradition of the uncritical historical portrait. A Broadway hit deemed too disrespectful for public performance in Britain until the late 1930s, Victoria Regina is a frank portrayal of an extraordinarily complex woman, tracing her development from royal teenager to inconsolable widow at the helm of a vast empire, with all her contradictions, prejudices and unconstitutional behavior.
The Devils is a dark and provocative drama set in seventeenth century France, where an evil Catholic priest named Urbain Grandier wreaks havoc on a small town. Amidst political and religious turmoil, Grandier's lust for power leads him to manipulate and exploit the town's women, leading to mass hysteria and sexual perversion. The film explores themes of religious fanaticism, repressed sexuality, and the corrupting influence of power.
In 'The Deadly Affair,' a retired police officer is hired by the British Secret Service to investigate the death of his friend and former colleague, a British agent. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a web of secrets and betrayal, leading him to question his own loyalties.
The Music Lovers is a biographical drama that explores the life of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, a renowned composer. The film delves into his struggles with manic depression, his passionate relationships, and the societal pressures he faced as a homosexual in 19th-century Russia. It follows Tchaikovsky's journey as he navigates his musical career, personal demons, and his eventual tragic demise.
Twins Viola and Sebastian are separated by a shipwreck. Viola lands in Illyria, where she disguises herself as a man and enters the service of Duke Orsino. Orsino sends her to help woo the Lady Olivia, who doesn't want the Duke, but finds she likes the new messenger. When Sebastian reappears, with Viola now his exact double, merry hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle and his cohorts are trying to find some way to get back at Olivia's officious majordomo, Malvolio.
No man is an island, but Charley represents his nation in this economical cartoon tale of Britain’s economics.
In the 1920s, a stage manager and a producer-director at a theatre company deal with rivalry and backstage drama while putting on a stage musical. The story takes a comedic twist, with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel becoming involved in the chaos. Based on a Broadway musical, the film explores the glamorous yet chaotic world of the 1930s theatre scene.
A group of scientists is kidnapped and taken to outer space aboard a spaceship. They must work together to find a way back to Earth and uncover the mystery behind their abduction. With the help of a robot, they navigate the unknown dangers of outer space, encountering strange creatures and unforeseen challenges. Based on a novel, The Terrornauts is a thrilling adventure filled with suspense and intrigue.
Pool of London (1951) is a gripping crime drama set in the bustling city of London. The film follows the story of a jewel thief and an interracial romance amidst a backdrop of deception, eavesdropping, and drunkenness. As tensions rise, the characters find themselves caught in a web of diamonds, customs, and Scotland Yard investigations. With its film noir elements and intense car chases, Pool of London keeps viewers on the edge of their seats.
A soon-to-be born baby learns about the kinds of schools he will attending in the years following his birth.
While casing a bank he intends to rob, gangster Leo discovers one of the clerks, Antonio, is his exact double. He kidnaps Antonio and robs the bank, posing as Antonio. But Leo hadn't accounted for the involvement of Antonio's wife, Dorothy.
As You Like It is a comedic and romantic film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play. The story follows Rosalind, who flees to the Forest of Arden disguised as a man after being wrongfully banished by her uncle. There, she encounters various adventures and eventually finds love.
When the TARDIS arrives on the plains of Asia Minor not far from the besieged city of Troy, the Doctor is hailed by Achilles as the mighty god Zeus and taken to the Greek camp. He meets Agamemnon and Odysseus. Forced to admit he is a mere mortal — albeit a traveller in space and time — he is given two days to devise a scheme to capture Troy. Steven and Vicki, meanwhile, have been taken prisoner by the Trojans. Vicki, believed to possess supernatural powers, is given two days to banish the Greeks to prove she is not a spy.
Kipps is a comedy-drama based on the works of H.G. Wells. It follows the story of a young apprentice who suddenly inherits a fortune, leading him to navigate the challenges and social snobbery of the upper class. Along the way, he must decide between love and money, facing the complexities of social distinction and the impact of his newfound wealth. This fictional biography set in the early 1900s offers social commentary on the class divide and the pursuit of fortune.
An epic drama of the 16th Century Catholic monk Martin Luther who started the Reformation.
Uncle Vanya is a Russian drama film released in 1963. It is based on the play of the same name. The story revolves around a retired professor and his daughter who visit their country estate, which sparks tension and conflicts among the family members.
Released in the US in 1940 while a drive was being staged in Ireland to stop the smuggling of munitions across the Ulster border. The story involves a family, the Muldoons, living in a village on the Ulster border. Pamela Wood, the daughter, is being romanced (and romancing back) border-guard Lian Gaffney. A damper is dumped on the romance when her brother, Max Adrian, is recognized as one of the rebels. He is caught by the guards, but manages to escape after saving the life of Gaffney.
Penn of Pennsylvania is a 1941 British historical drama film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Deborah Kerr, Clifford Evans, Dennis Arundell, Henry Oscar, Herbet Lomas and Edward Rigby. The film depicts the life of the Quaker founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn. It portrays his struggle to be granted a colonial charter in London and attracting settlers to his new colony as well as his adoption a radical new approach with regard to the treatment of the Native Americans. It is also known by the alternative title Courageous Mr. Penn.