British Purchasing Guide September-November 2009

Compiled by Cheryl Cheng -- Video Business, 9/7/2009

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Sept. 29

Foyle's War: From Dunkirk to VE Day (Sets 1-5) ACORN prebook now; DVD $149.99 Mystery: Nineteen episodes of the PBS series about a detective who investigates civilian crimes in a small English coastal town.

Midsomer Murders Set 13 ACORN prebook now; DVD $49.99 Mystery: Four mysteries from the British series about Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby.

Traffik 20th Anniversary Edition ACORN prebook now; DVD $39.99 Drama: This British miniseries traces three intersecting lives in the dark and dangerous world of international drug smuggling.

Wimbledon: The 2009 Men's Final: Roger Federer v. Andy Roddick KULTUR prebook now; DVD $24.99 Sports: This release features Roger Federer against Andy Roddick.

Wimbledon: The 2009 Official Film KULTUR prebook now; DVD $24.99 Sports: This release features Roger Federer against Andy Roddick and Serena Williams against her sister, Venus Williams.

Oct. 6

Best of British Comedy: Cheers and Tears BFS prebook 9-8; DVD $34.98 Comedy: This three-disc set contains The Booze Cruise, The Treasure Hunt and The Scattering.

Best of British Comedy: Comedy Trilogy BFS prebook 9-8; DVD $34.98 Comedy: This three-disc set contains Von Trapped!, Beauty and King of Fridges.

Darwin: The Voyage That Shook the World EXPLORATION prebook 9-8; DVD $22.95 Documentary: This program looks at scientist Charles Darwin and his five-year voyage of discovery.

The F Word: Series Three BFS prebook 9-8; DVD $29.98 Reality: This three-DVD set features Chef Gordon Ramsay teaching amateurs how to work in a kitchen.

Lark Rise to Candleford: Season One BBC/WARNER prebook now; DVD $59.98 Drama: Relationships form in two villages in 19th century rural England.

Paradise Postponed/Titmuss Regained ACORN prebook 9-8; DVD $79.99 Drama: This five-DVD set contains 14 episodes about a man (David Threlfall) who aspires to the highest level of society.

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth: The Director's Cut BBC/WARNER prebook now; DVD $24.98 Sci-fi: The crew is hurled through a portal to discover they are just characters from a TV series.

Van Der Valk Mysteries, Set 1 ACORN prebook 9-8; DVD $39.99 Mystery: Detective Simon “Piet” Van Der Valk (Barry Foster) works with the seedy side of Amsterdam to solve crime.

Oct. 13

The Haunted Airman E1 prebook 9-15; DVD $24.98 Supernatural thriller: A Royal Air Force pilot is tormented by psychological horrors in this film starring Robert Pattinson of Twilight.

Inspector Lewis Series 2 WGBH prebook 9-15; DVD $49.99 Mystery: The second season of the series shown on Masterpiece Mystery features four twisting thrillers.

Last of the Summer Wine: 1978-1982 BBC/WARNER prebook 9-8; DVD $24.98 Comedy: Foggy, Compo and Clegg celebrate the holiday season in four Christmas specials.

Lovejoy: The Complete Season 6 BBC/WARNER prebook 9-8; DVD $49.98 Drama: The crime-solving antiques dealer grapples with dud checks, charges of aggravated burglary and more.

The Mighty Boosh Special Edition BBC/WARNER prebook 9-8; DVD $79.98 Comedy: Seven discs contain all three seasons of the U.K. series shown on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, plus bonus features.

My Family: Seasons Three and Four BBC/WARNER prebook 9-8; DVD $29.98 Television comedy: The Harpers go through their usual day-to-day crises.

Rick Wakeman: The Six Wives of Henry VII EAGLE ROCK prebook 9-23; DVD $14.98, BD $24.98 Music: Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman performs his concept album at Hampton Court Palace in the U.K.

Wuthering Heights BBC/WARNER prebook 9-8; DVD $14.98 Drama: The 1967 BBC adaptation of Emily Bronte's romance about the love between an orphan and his step-sibling.

Wycliffe Series Two: The Trojan Horse BFS prebook 9-15; DVD $39.98 Mystery: Jack Shepherd stars as detective superintendent Wycliffe in this British series.

Oct. 20

Howards End CRITERION/IMAGE prebook 9-22; BD $39.99 Drama: Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins star in director James Ivory's film about a flighty yet compassionate middle-class intellectual who is friends with the dying wife of a rich capitalist.

Oct. 27

Trial & Retribution, Set 3 ACORN prebook 9-29; DVD $49.99 Crime drama: The British series follows a single case from crime to conclusion.

Nov. 3

Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life BBC/WARNER prebook 9-29; DVD $14.98 Documentary: Naturalist David Attenborough shares his personal insight of Darwin's theory of evolution, explaining why it's now more important than ever.

A Christmas Carol VCI prebook 10-2; two-DVD $19.99, BD $29.99 Family: Alastair Sim stars in this 1951 classic holiday film.

Doctor Who: The Black Guardian Trilogy BBC/WARNER prebook 9-29; DVD $59.98 Sci-fi fantasy: Turlough arrives, Nyssa departs and the Black Guardian returns to wreak his revenge in three classic adventures.

Doctor Who: The War Games BBC/WARNER prebook 9-29; DVD $49.98 Sci-fi fantasy: In the chaos and paranoia of World War I, the Doctor and his companions are separated from their ship, captured and court-martialed.

Edge of Darkness: The Complete Series BBC/WARNER prebook 9-29; DVD $34.98 Thriller: Detective inspector Ronald Craven searches for his daughter's killer.

The Genius of Charles Darwin ATHENA/ACORN prebook 10-6; DVD $49.99 Documentary: Professor Richard Dawkins looks at the life, work and legacy of Charles Darwin.

Nov. 10

Robsessed REVOLVER prebook 10-13; DVD $19.98 Documentary: Targeted at teens, tweens and younger adult women, this title takes a look inside the life of popular Twilight star Robert Pattinson.

Star Wreck REVOLVER prebook 10-13; DVD $19.98 Comedy: This spoof is being released timed to the DVD release of the new Star Trek box-office hit.

Nov. 17

Darwin's Darkest Hour NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC/WARNER prebook 10-13; DVD $19.98, BD $28.99 Drama: Henry Ian Cusick and Frances O'Connor star in this TV movie about Charles Darwin's personal life.

Monty Python tells the Truth

Has it really been 40 years since the Monty Python troupe hit the airwaves with their Flying Circus and introduced viewers to such characters as the Piranha Brothers, a man with two noses, dirty vicars, flying sheep and a dead parrot? To celebrate the phenomenon that is Python, Eagle Rock Entertainment, in association with IFC, has produced Monty Python: Almost the Truth: The Lawyer's Cut, a six-hour documentary detailing the complete history of the famed British comedy collective and featuring lots of clips and rare footage, as well as extensive interviews with surviving Python members John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, plus archival representation of the late Graham Chapman. Almost the Truth is scheduled to air in six installments in the U.S. on IFC Oct. 4-10. Eagle Rock will then issue it in three-DVD and two-disc Blu-ray versions. The sets will contain a healthy complement of bonus features, including a collection of classic sketches, a look at the Pythons in their early years, extended interviews, deleted sequences and a Gilliam picture gallery. —Laurence Lerman

Oct. 27

Monty Python: Almost the Truth: The Lawyer's Cut EAGLE ROCK prebook 10-7; DVD $29.99, BD $34.99 Documentary: John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Michael Palin recount their comedic exploits as part of Monty Python.

BBC remasters Towers and Adder

BBC Video is releasing remastered versions of two of its most noteworthy series, Fawlty Towers and Black Adder. Each will contain new bonus features, including commentary and interviews with stars John Cleese (Fawlty Towers) and Rowan Atkinson (Black Adder). In addition to some on-air and social media advertising when they street, the titles will be included in a “major holiday catalog print campaign just after Thanksgiving,” says Burton Cromer, executive VP of consumer products for BBC Worldwide Americas. Fawlty Towers is BBC's bestseller of all time, he says, and Black Adder features the talent of Atkinson, Hugh Laurie and others. —Cindy Spielvogel

Oct. 20

Black Adder: The Ultimate Edition Remastered BBC/WARNER prebook 9-15; DVD $79.98 Comedy: Rowan Atkinson stars in this '80s British series about a prince who schemes to take the crown from his father. Each series also is available individually (DVD $19.98 each).

Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection Remastered BBC/WARNER prebook 9-15; DVD $49.98 Comedy: The '70s British series is about hotel owner Basil Fawlty and the mishaps at his hotel.

Acorn helps grow TV genre

Acorn Media is releasing many British TV series on DVD. Among them are two series shown on the BBC America network: the first season of Murphy's Law, about a down-on-his-luck Irishman who takes a crime-solving job in London, and the concluding season of the critically acclaimed, original British version of Life on Mars. “British TV is getting more space at retail,” Acorn U.S. president Mark Stevens says. “Music space is shrinking, and retailers are looking for interesting genres.” —C.S.

Oct. 6

Murphy's Law, Series 1 ACORN prebook 9-8; DVD $49.99 Mystery: Irish detective Tommy Murphy (James Nesbitt) works undercover for the Metropolitan Police in London.

Nov. 24

Life on Mars, Series 2 ACORN prebook 10-27; DVD $59.99 Drama: Modern-day detective Sam Tyler (John Simm) wakes up in 1973 and must learn to navigate this retro world.

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British Purchasing Guide September-November 2009

Compiled by Cheryl Cheng -- Video Business, 9/7/2009

Monty Python tells the Truth

BBC remasters Towers and Adder

Acorn helps grow TV genre

Talkback

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