Acclaimed 1970s British thriller starring Michael Caine as a hardened gangster returning to his hometown in search of the truth behind his brother's death. Though originally from Newcastle, Jack Carter (Caine) has made his name in London as a tough enforcer for the crime boss, Gerald Fletcher (Terence Rigby). On hearing of his brother's death, Carter returns to Newcastle for his funeral and to investigate his suspicion that his sibling may have been murdered. After visiting local gangster Cyril Kinnear (John Osborne), Carter is threatened and advised to head back to London. Jack refuses and descends further and further into the city's underworld as his investigations begin to pay off. His search is merciless, unrelenting and fraught with danger and it becomes clear that he will stop at nothing to exact his own brand of justice.

TV adaptation of the bestselling children's novel by Nina Bawden. When 14-year-old Carrie Willow (Keeley Fawcett) and her younger brother Nick (Jack Stanley) are evacuated from London to the small Welsh town of Druids Bottom during World War II, they are taken in by the strict Mr Evans (Alun Armstrong) and his sister Auntie Lou (Lesley Sharp). As the children gradually realise they have entered a mysterious world of curses, witchcraft and druids, their lives are altered forever.

Andrew Davies's adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale of hardship and struggle in 1820s London. The Dorrit family has spent years in a debtors' prison due to the financial mess in which father William (Tom Courtenay) managed to land himself as a youth. Youngest daughter Amy (Claire Foy), known as Little Dorrit, finds work with the wealthy Mrs Clenham (Judy Parfitt) but knows that her father will, in all probability, spend the remainder of his life in gaol. However, when Arthur Clenham (Matthew Macfadyen), recently returned from abroad, comes to suspect that his late father was in part responsible for the Dorrits' plight, he becomes determined to make amends. But as he continues to delve into the mysteries of the Dorrits' and his parents' shared past, he is unaware that his own mother's house has been placed in peril by the arrival of a sinister stranger.

Young David Copperfield's (Ciaran McMenamin) life is not a happy one. To begin with, after the death of his father, he sees his mother marry the villainous Edward Murdstone (Trevor Eve). Then, when his mother sadly also dies, he moves to live with Mr Micawber (Bob Hoskins) and encounters the scoundrel Uriah Heep (Nicholas Lyndhurst). Is there no end to the young lad's misfortune? This BBC production of Charles Dickens' semi-autobiographical novel formed the mainstay of their Christmas 1999 programming.

David Richards directs this fact-based drama exploring the case of 'The Yorkshire Ripper'. Throughout the 1970s and early '80s, the serial killer preyed on young women and committed a total of 13 murders in the West Yorkshire area. This film shows a dramatisation of the investigation led by Detective George Oldfield (Alun Armstrong) which took its toll on both his career and personal life but which also led to the conviction of Peter Sutcliffe (Craig Cheetham) in 1981.

Sci-fi action feature starring Rutger Hauer and Kim Cattrall. Set in the year 2008, in a largely flooded London, the waterlogged and rat-infested capital is being terrorised by a monstrous serial killer, who has resurfaced after years of inactivity. Maverick policeman Harold Stone (Hauer) is on his trail, but the killer seems bent on destroying Stone, his girlfriend Michelle (Cattrall) and his new partner Dick Durkin (Neil Duncan).

Andrew Davies's adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale of hardship and struggle in 1820s London. The Dorrit family has spent years in a debtors' prison due to the financial mess in which father William (Tom Courtenay) managed to land himself as a youth. Youngest daughter Amy (Claire Foy), known as Little Dorrit, finds work with the wealthy Mrs Clenham (Judy Parfitt) but knows that her father will, in all probability, spend the remainder of his life in gaol. However, when Arthur Clenham (Matthew Macfadyen), recently returned from abroad, comes to suspect that his late father was in part responsible for the Dorrits' plight, he becomes determined to make amends. But as he continues to delve into the mysteries of the Dorrits' and his parents' shared past, he is unaware that his own mother's house has been placed in peril by the arrival of a sinister stranger.

In 14th century Scotland, the English nobles are staking their claim for lands and the Scottish throne. When William Wallace is left an orphan by the brutality of the English, he vows to make Scotland strong again.

Wallace grows up into a paradox of a man - on the one hand very well educated, on the other a ruthless killer and barbarian. As an adult he succeeds in uniting the Scottish clans to fight the English oppressors, and is only undone by betrayal and greed.

Academy Award Winner
- Best Picture Of 1995
- Best Director
- Best Cinematography
- Best Sound Editing
- Best Makeup

In 14th century Scotland, the English nobles are staking their claim for lands and the Scottish throne. When William Wallace is left an orphan by the brutality of the English, he vows to make Scotland strong again. Wallace grows up into a paradox of a man - on the one hand very well educated, on the other a ruthless killer and barbarian. As an adult he succeeds in uniting the Scottish clans to fight the English oppressors, and is only undone by betrayal and greed. Mel Gibson directs this multi-Oscar winning epic, and also stars as folk hero Wallace.

Submerge yourself in classic BBC Dickens dramatisations that, like the great novelist's work, have stood the test of time.

The majesty of Charles Dickens' storytelling is captured in this DVD boxset that brings together BBC dramatisations of eight of the acclaimed author's classic novels. From the touching 1985 dramatisation of the semi-autobiographical Oliver Twist to the moving A Christmas Carol that sidesteps mawkish sentimentality and instead, offers viewers an affecting and sincere drama, each TV adaptation will delight fans of the author – and win over a generation of new ones.

Starring a wealth of celebrated actors including Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins, John Mills and many more, the Charles Dickens Collection celebrates the author's work with authentic and beautifully-played mini TV-series from a broadcaster that is world-renowned for its adaptations.

In chronological order, the adaptations featured in this set are:

• A Christmas Carol (1977)
• A Tale of Two Cities (1980)
• The Pickwick Papers (1985)
• Oliver Twist (1985)
• Martin Chuzzlewit (1994)
• Our Mutual Friend (1998)
• David Copperfield (1999)
• Great Expectations (1999)