GrownUps New Zealand

Madman October DVD Releases

10280 Jennifer Saunders Back in the Saddle

This month, discover the story of two of Britain's great comedy heroes – Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, delve into the suspenseful world of Bergerac, lose yourself within the magical worlds of iconic NZ author Margaret Mahy, indulge with a classic drama – Jane Eyre, or join Jennifer Saunders as she gets back in the saddle and returns to competitive showjumping 40 years later.

* * *

British Comedy Heroes: Peter Cook & Dudley Moore


One of the Worlds's Most beloved Comedy Duos.

Here is the story of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, one of Britain's finest comedy double-acts. Friends, family and fellow performers comment on their relationships and experiences with the pair of enigmatic and often most troubled men on the planet.

Featuring highlights of their hit shows ‘Behind the Fridge' and ‘Derek and Clive', this is quintessential English humour at its very best. The conversations between Pete and Dud are full of exquisite subtleties, absurdities and observations that border on brilliance. If you like the more subtle, underplayed Monty Python humour then you will definitely enjoy this film.

* * *

Bergerac – The Complete Eighth Series

Bergerac considers a year in Provence in the eighth season of the popular BBC crime drama.

Handsome, blue-eyed and brooding, maverick cop Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac of Jersey's Bureau des Étrangers is one of television's most popular detectives.

Moving with the power of Bergerac's vintage red Triumph Roadster sports car, each episode guarantees full-throttle excitement, ingenious plots and colourful characters as Bergerac patrols the harbour cafes, cliff-top mansions and secluded coves on the trail of the villains, murderers, spies and smugglers of the holiday island and tax haven.

After a long and much needed break from the Bureau, Jim Bergerac faces the hardest case of his career as he investigates the murder of his former girlfriend. Growing increasingly disillusioned with his life in Jersey, Jim is tempted to tell Crozier what to do with the job – especially after a trip to Provence introduces him to a beautiful widow named Danielle…

Combining action with atmosphere, and spectacle with suspense, BERGERAC launched John Nettles to international stardom for 9 series, leading him to another long-running role as D.C.I. Barnaby in Midsomer Murders. For the first time, all 10 uncut episodes from the eighth series arrive on DVD, plus the 1990 feature-length Christmas Special and an exclusive new Audio Commentary with John Nettles.

* * *

Margaret Mahy's Rumbustifications 2

A Magical Journey Into The Enchanting World of NZ's Iconic Author.

Margaret Mahy was famous for reading her work to children, but the enchantment of those readings has never been recorded and made available – until now.

Imagine a world where your favourite author read your favourite stories to you. A world where your most treasured characters came to life as the stories were read aloud. In this magical and enchanting series, the beauty and legacy of children's author Margaret Mahy comes vividly to life, as never before.

Sitting with her grandchildren, Margaret reads some of her most famous works. Blending animation and imagination, the characters in these tales and poems from Mahy spring to life and breathe life into her words and tales, in front of you. From the likes of Down the Back of the Chair, to Bubble Trouble, the stories are delightful and will have audiences of all ages captivated.

Margaret Mahy's Rumbustifications is a seamless mix of live action and post-production animation and sound design. This collection preserves the creative legacy and honours the magical memory of one of New Zealand's most well-renowned writers for children and families now and generations to come.

* * *

Jane Eyre (1996)

All Star Cast: William Hurt (Kiss of the Spider Woman) Anna Paquin (True Blood, X-Men).

Based on Charlotte Bronte's acclaimed novel, Jane Eyre, orphaned, is left to live under the charity of her Aunt Reed. After living ten years of mistreatment and segregation in her Aunt's home, she is then sent to Lowood – a boarding school for young girls. Jane grows up both physically and mentally at Lowood and becomes a teacher at age eighteen. She then advertises for the position of a governess and is called upon by Mrs Fairfax at Thornfield.

At Thornfield, Jane falls in love with the master, Mr Rochester, and he with her. However, he yields a terrible and dark secret that threatens to tear them apart for good.

* * *

Jennifer Saunders: Back in the Saddle


Class, comedy and a compelling insight into the real Jennifer Saunders and the sport of showjumping.


Jennifer Saunders (ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS) indulges her obsession with horses and her childhood passion for riding, to face her fears and get back in the saddle after a 40 year break from the fearsome world of competitive showjumping.

We follow her attempts to pick up the reins where she left off, reliving the good and bad times and pushing herself further and further whilst giving a unique view of the worlds of showjumping and eventing.

Jennifer of course knows how inherently funny this world is, she built whole characters around it. However, she's also part of that world, and is embarrassed by how desperate she is to meet the big players in it.

Taken over by enthusiasm, she commits to getting back in the saddle to jump fences on the biggest stage of them all, at Badminton. During her preparations, she is trained by the great and good of British eventing and showjumping. She even has the opportunity to compare notes with ex-Olympian Princess Anne at Gatcombe, as she watches daughter Zara Phillips battle for a place in the British Olympic team.

But it's not all wide-eyed wonderment for Jennifer. As her jumping destiny approaches, can she overcome her fears and jump 20 fences in front of a huge crowd to top her incredible journey. She may need to be dragged to her saddle kicking and screaming, but does she have what it takes to join the riding elite?

This series encompasses class, comedy and a compelling insight into the real Jennifer Saunders.