Armchair Cinema: The Collection

Armchair Cinema was one of the first projects undertaken by Thames Television’s Euston Films subsidiary. Based on the format of the hugely successful and influential Armchair Theatre, Armchair Cinema presented a series of individual film dramas and is perhaps best remembered for one groundbreaking and phenomenally successful film - Regan, which introduced John Thaw and Dennis Waterman’s maverick Flying Squad detectives, gaining a huge audience and leading to the commissioning of The Sweeney.

The standard of drama offered by the series was consistently high; its flexibility and scope attracted some of the best contemporary television writers, and every film showcased the talents of first-class performers - including John Thaw, Edward Woodward, Anthony Valentine and Tom Bell.

This five-disc set also includes Suspect and Rumour - two Thames Television filmed plays by Mike Hodges (Get Carter) which were a dry run for the Euston Films style - alongside The Sailor’s Return and Charlie Muffin, two standalone television movies made by Euston Films.

Disc One
Rumour starring Michael Coles and Vivienne Chandler
Suspect starring Rachel Kempson, Bryan Marshall and George Sewell

Disc Two
The Prison starring James Laurenson, Philip Madoc and Diane Keen
Regan starring John Thaw, Dennis Waterman and Garfield Morgan

Disc Three
Sea Song starring Tom Bell and Kika Markham
When Day is Done starring Edward Woodward and Rosemary Leach

Disc Four
The Sailor’s Return starring Tom Bell, Clive Swift and Ray Smith
Tully starring Anthony Valentine, Kevin Miles and Henry Szeps

Disc Five
Charlie Muffin starring David Hemmings, Ian Richardson and Ralph Richardson
In Sickness and in Health starring Patrick Mower and Prunella Ransome