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The 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings is commemorated with the release of four classic British war pictures, on DVD for the first time.

Ill Met by Moonlight, The Malta Story, The Way to the Stars and The Way Ahead

With the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings (otherwise known by the code name of 'Operation Overlord') – on 6 June - very much in the public eye, Carlton Visual Entertainment is commemorating this event with the DVD release of four classic British war movie titles: Ill Met by Moonlight, The Malta Story, The Way to the Stars and The Way Ahead.

The first of these new releases; Ill Met by Moonlight is the Powell and Pressburger movie which marked the end of a movie partnership that produced such classics as A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. Malta Story stars the legendary Alec Guinness (Star Wars, The Man In The White Suit, The Ladykillers); Carol Reed’s (The Stars Look Down, The Third Man, The True Glory) The Way Ahead stars David Niven and Stanley Holloway and The Way To The Stars, which stars British feature film stalwarts Michael Redgrave and John Mills.

Ill Met by Moonlight

On Nazi-occupied Crete, British officers Fermor - played by Dirk Bogarde (The Doctor’ series, The Blue Lamp, Death In Venice, The Night Porter) - and Moss – played by David Oxley – are assigned the job of kidnapping the German commander-in-chief General Kreipe - the perennial German officer Marius Goring. The operation, if successful, will be an incredible propaganda coup for the Allies.

While the abduction goes smoothly – with the two British soldiers ably assisted by a band of local partisans - the perilous escape – under the pursuit of the German garrison - across the rocky Cretan landscape, proves anything but.

Loosely based on the real wartime activities of British soldiers on Crete in the aftermath of the Operation Mercury - the successful German airborne invasion of the island in May of 1941, that saw German paratroopers defeat a garrison of British, Australian and New Zealand soldiers.

This DVD is presented in full height anamorphic aspect ratio (16:9) with subtitles for the heard of hearing. Ill Met by Moonlight carries a PG certificate and runs for around 100 minutes.

Malta Story

Alec Guinness stars as Peter Ross who lands under fire on the besieged island of Malta where he is being attached to the regiment guarding the island. On studying aerial photographs he discovers that the Italians are preparing to invade Malta – and as it is of vital importance that the island remains under the control of the Allies, he find he is the man selected to trace and destroy the enemy convoy.

DVD Specifications: Full frame aspect ratio (4:3) with subtitles for the heard of hearing. SRP: £9.99 Cert: U Duration: 99 minutes (approx) Cat No: 37115 06113

The Way Ahead

A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians finds training tough and bond over a shared resentment of the Army life the war has forced upon them - as well as in their objections to the methods of the men commanding them. Carol Reed’s semi-documentary feature film co-written by Peter Ustinov - who appears in a cameo as a superbly surly bar owner - and Eric Ambler, starring David Niven (Casino Royale) and Stanley Holloway (My Fair Lady) was one of many flag-waving movies intended to bolster morale during World War II but The Way Ahead’s compassion and realism ensures its place in cinema history. William 'Billy' Hartnelll (Brighton Rock and the original 1960's Doctor Who) puts in a particularly strong performance as the sergeant who rides the new recruits hard, but earns their respect.

"To be admired and recommended for its direction, its writing and its playing." Dilys Powell - The Sunday Times

The DVD is presented in a full frame aspect ratio (4:3) with subtitles for the heard of hearing. Extra feature on this DVD is a location report detailing some of the scenes filmed at Purbright Army Camp in Surrey. The feature has a running time of 110 minutes.

The Way to the Stars

“Satisfying...memorable...successful in evoking the precise mood and atmosphere of the recent past." - Punch
The Way to the Stars, directed by Anthony Asquith – who made The Importance of Being Earnest - and written by Terence Rattigan (The Winslow Boy, The Browning Version) tells the story of a British airbase.

Following the lives and deaths of civilians and airmen, Americans and Britons, male and female, this warm and moving film Starring Michael Redgrave, John Mills, Stanley Holloway, Trevor Howard and Jean Simmons is widely considered one of the most accurate depictions of Britain at war.

DVD extra on this release is a full location report - around Northamptonshire and Yorkshire. The feature is presented in a full frame aspect ratio (4:3) with subtitles for the heard of hearing and runs to around 104 minutes.

Ill Met By Moonlight, Malta Story, The Way to the Stars and The Way Ahead are all available now from Carlton Visual Entertainment.

More information available in DVD / Home Video