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Becket (Letterboxed Edition) [VHS]

Becket (Letterboxed Edition) [VHS]

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Staring: Richard Burton , Peter O'Toole , John Gielgud , Gino Cervi , Paolo Stoppa
Made in 1964, but set in 12th-century England, this is the fact-based story of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and his dear friend, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Richard Burton). When the king appoints his former drinking buddy to the high religious office, he believes he has placed an ally into power. Instead, he learns that Thomas very much takes his job to heart, prompting Henry to ask that fateful question--"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"

This won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and it is a strong example of finely tuned performances--both leading men received Academy Award nominations for their roles. There is much passion and rage on the screen, but the beauty of their performances is that we always know that love is there as well. The film, shot on location in England, is also visually appealing. Trivia buffs may be interested to know that Peter O'Toole played Henry II four years later in The Lion in Winter. --Rochelle O'Gorman
List Price: $29.98 Our Price: $11.95

1984 [VHS]

1984 [VHS]

Rated: R (Restricted)
Staring: John Hurt , Richard Burton , Suzanna Hamilton , Cyril Cusack , Gregor Fisher
Director: Michael Radford
Michael Radford's adaption of George Orwell's foreboding literary premonition casts John Hurt and Suzanna Hamilton as lovers who must keep their courtship secret. Aside from criminalizing sex and interpersonal relationships, the ruling party in their country Oceania both fabricates reality and reconstructs history for the sake of oppressing the masses. They brainwash their citizens via large, propaganda-spewing TV monitors installed in their living rooms, which also inspect everyone's activities. Hurt and Hamilton are among the few we see desperately trying to fight the system by keeping control of their thoughts and beliefs. While the atmosphere becomes a bit too stifling at times, the images are quite striking with their muted colors and dilapidated sets. In an interesting bit of casting, Richard Burton costars (in his final role) as a government agent who surreptitiously exposes Hurt to the ideas of resistance. Unlike many like-minded films, 1984 does not offer a flashy vision of the future, but then that aspect makes it feel all the more real. In an age when more and more of our everyday activities are being scrutinized, Big Brother may not be so far off after all.
List Price: $14.95 Our Price: $47.31
Predator [VHS]

Predator [VHS]

Rated: R (Restricted)
Staring: Arnold Schwarzenegger , Carl Weathers , Kevin Peter Hall , Elpidia Carrillo , Bill Duke
Director: John McTiernan
Rambo meets Alien in this terrific science-fiction thriller from 1987, directed by John McTiernan just a year before Die Hard made him Hollywood's most sought-after director of action-packed blockbusters. Arnold Schwarzenegger leads an elite squad of U.S. Army commandos to a remote region of South American jungle, where they've been assigned to search for South American officials who've been kidnapped by terrorists. Instead they find a bunch of skinned corpses hanging from the trees and realize that they're now facing a mysterious and much deadlier threat. As the squad is picked off one by one, Arnold finds himself pitted against a hideous alien creature that's heavily armed and wearing a spacesuit enabling the creature to render itself invisible. The title says it all in describing the relentless, escalating action that follows, maintained by McTiernan with an abundance of visual flair. The film's special effects are still impressive, and stunning locations in the Mexican jungles create a combined atmosphere of verdant beauty and imminent danger. The plot doesn't hold up to much scrutiny, but the movie's so exciting and tightly paced that its weaknesses seem i...
List Price: $9.98 Our Price: $3.39
Ice Palace [VHS]

Ice Palace [VHS]

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Staring: Richard Burton , Robert Ryan , Martha Hyer , Jim Backus , Carolyn Jones
Director: Vincent Sherman
Film adaptation of Edna Ferber's novel involving the friendship and eventual rivalry of two men whose lives parallel the development of Alaska.
List Price: $14.98 Our Price: $15.09
Man Called Peter [VHS]

Man Called Peter [VHS]

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Staring: Richard Todd , Jean Peters , Marjorie Rambeau , Jill Esmond , Les Tremayne
Director: Henry Koster
Richard Todd delivers a thoroughly winning performance as Peter Marshall, the Scottish-born minister who became Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. While still a boy, Peter wants only to go to sea. But as a young man he experiences a profound awakening which leaves him with the unwavering conviction that he has been called upon to do the Lord's work. He completes his religious training in the United States, where he presides over several congregations. A compelling speaker who believes religion should be fun, Marshall inspires young people to renew their interest in the church, and his ministries prosper. Eventually, he becomes pastor of the prestigious Church of the Presidents, in Washington D.C. and is asked to serve as spiritual guide for the Senate. Co-starring Jean Peters as Marshall's devoted wife, Catherine, "A Man Called Peter" is the deeply moving tale of "a man and his close friendship with God"
List Price: $12.98 Our Price: $18.98
The Sandpiper [VHS]

The Sandpiper [VHS]

Rated: Unrated
Staring: Elizabeth Taylor , Richard Burton , Eva Marie Saint , Charles Bronson , Robert Webber
Director: Vincente Minnelli

List Price: $19.99 Our Price: $33.99
Cleopatra [VHS]

Cleopatra [VHS]

Rated: Unrated
Staring: Elizabeth Taylor , Richard Burton , Rex Harrison , Pamela Brown , George Cole
Director: Elizabeth Taylor , Darryl F. Zanuck , Joseph L. Mankiewicz , Rouben Mamoulian
This 1963 extravaganza, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, is certainly an epic historical drama with all the elements: elaborate sets, intricate costuming, name actors, a factual basis, and an overlong script (just over four hours). But the acting is well performed and the backdrops are lush, making this a film worth seeing. Elizabeth Taylor is Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen who seduces Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) in a political move to hold onto her empire. When Caesar is killed in the Roman Senate, Cleopatra looks to Marc Antony (Richard Burton) for his support, practically enslaving him with her wiles. Taylor is dramatic in her role, at times overly serious, but stunning nonetheless as the woman described as "well versed in the natural sciences and mathematics. She speaks seven languages proficiently. Were she not a woman one would consider her to be an intellectual." While the film does seem to drag at moments, it deserves the four Oscars it won for cinematography, art direction-set direction, costumes, and special effects. Don't confuse this Cleopatra with the 1934 version directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Claudette Colbert. --Jenny Brown
List Price: $29.98 Our Price: $7.50
Anne of The Thousand Days [VHS]

Anne of The Thousand Days [VHS]

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Staring: Richard Burton , Geneviève Bujold , Irene Papas , Anthony Quayle , John Colicos
Director: Charles Jarrott
This lush, perfectly cast 1969 drama concerns both a doomed, royal love affair and a pivotal moment in British history. Based on Maxwell Anderson's 1948 play, Anne of the Thousand Days concerns the mess that surrounded King Henry VIII's decision to rid himself of his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (Irene Papas), and marry the young Anne Boleyn (Geneviève Bujold). Anglophiles know what happened next: Henry (Richard Burton) solved his problems with the Vatican's condemnation of divorce by having himself named head of the Church of England (see also A Man for All Seasons), while Anne's perceived problem conceiving a male heir made her vulnerable to plots by the nefarious likes of Oliver Cromwell (John Colicos). Director Charles Jarrott does a splendid job bringing all of these intrigues to life, though the story is ultimately about Anne, a naive young woman who prepares herself to navigate some of the dangers of Henry's court. Bujold and Burton never gave better performances, and this strange, tragic chapter in the history of the kings of England has never been more compellingly told on film. --Tom Keogh
List Price: $14.98 Our Price: $6.00
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud [VHS]

The Reincarnation of Peter Proud [VHS]

Rated: R (Restricted)
Staring: Michael Sarrazin , Jennifer O'Neill , Margot Kidder , Cornelia Sharpe , Paul Hecht

List Price: $29.98 Our Price: $145.01
Taming of the Shrew [VHS]

Taming of the Shrew [VHS]

Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Staring: Elizabeth Taylor , Richard Burton , Cyril Cusack , Michael Hordern , Alfred Lynch
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Liz and Dick (a.k.a. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton) almost seemed to be importing the psychodramas of their marriage into this 1967 film (of course, the same was true of every film they made together). Adapted from Shakespeare's play and directed by Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet) with his usual eye for sumptuousness, this version of Taming features a particularly boisterous, bawdy, fun performance by its stars. Composer Nino Rota--best known for scoring several of Fellini's best-known works--received a National Board of Reviews award for his vivid soundtrack. --Tom Keogh
List Price: $19.98 Our Price: $6.06