Box set containing seven films from acclaimed actor/director Mel Brooks. ' The Twelve Chairs' (1970) is set in Russia in 1927 & is the tale of a former aristocrat (Ron Moody) who is now a clerk under the new Soviet regime. When he learns that his dying mother in law sewed a fortune in family jewels into one of twelve dining room chairs, he sets off across Russia to find it
- with an opportunist (Frank Langella), a priest (Dom De Luise) & his former servant (Brooks) all in equal pursuit. ' Young Frankenstein' (1974) is Brooks' Oscar-nominated horror spoof, the follow-up to ' Blazing Saddles' & the highest grossing black-&-white film of all time. Gene Wilder plays Frederick Frankenstein, a teacher who inherits his grandfather's Transylvanian estate; Marty Feldman plays Igor, his hunchback assistant; & Peter Boyle, the tap-dancing monster he brings to life in his laboratory. In ' Silent Movie' (1976), a director who is having a bit of a lull in his career tries to convince a host of famous actors to star in his new movie
- which, surprise surprise turns out to be a smash hit. In ' High Anxiety' (1977), Brooks stars as a psychiatrist with a morbid fear of heights who is hired to replace the murdered head of a sanatorium. ' History of the World
- Part 1' (1981) is a historical parody split into five sections: In ' The Stone Age', a caveman invents music after dropping a rock on his foot. However the development of the fine arts brings with it an unwelcome side-effect
- the birth of the critic. ' The Roman Empire' sees Jesus & his disciples being served by a pushy waiter at the Last Supper, whilst ' The Spanish Inquisition' is turned into a big-budget musical number. Truly revolting peasants revolt in ' The French Revolution' & ' Coming Attractions' promises a sequel featuring Hitler performing an ice ballet. ' To Be Or Not To Be' (1983) is a remake of the Lubitsch comedy classic which has a Polish acting troupe become heavily involved in an outrageous scheme to save the Polish underground during WWII. Brooks plays the actor who must carry out the performance of his life so that the persecuted group hiding in the basement of his theatre can flee the country. Finally, in ' Life Stinks' (1991), billionaire Goddard Bolt (Brooks) bets a fellow businessman he can survive for a month as a bum on the streets. He perseveres despite interference from his rival but on returning to his mansion he finds he has been declared mentally incompetent.



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Box set featuring eight Mel Gibson movies. In ' Lethal Weapon' (1987) family-man cop Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) is less than happy to be partnered with Martin Riggs (Gibson) when he is assigned to investigate Californian drug baron ' The General' (Mitchell Ryan). Following the death of his wife, Riggs has become a manic loner who no longer cares whether he lives or dies; an approach which causes more than a few problems as he & Murtaugh attempt to bring the General to justice. In ' Payback' (1998) Porter (Gibson) is shot & left for dead by his partner Resnick (Gregg Henry) & his wife Lynn (Deborah Kara Unger) after the three of them carry out a $140, 000 heist. Vowing revenge, a recovered Porter sets off in pursuit, but in so doing attracts the attention of corrupt cops Hicks (Bill Duke) & Leary (Jack Conley), who want the money for themselves. ' Mad Max' (1979) is set in a post-apocalyptic future where law & order is breaking down & the police have their hands full fighting roving motorcycle gangs. When the wife & child of cop Max (Gibson) are murdered by one of the gangs, he sets out to get revenge. In ' Conspiracy Theory' (1997) taxi driver Jerry (Gibson) is traumatized by a past he cannot remember, & spends all his spare time assembling information on conspiracies. He takes his 'evidence' to attorney Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts), who is investigating a conspiracy theory of her own relating to the murder of her father. Jerry then receives some unwanted attention from psychiatrist Dr Jonas (Patrick Stewart), & soon he & Alice find themselves running for their lives, their fates somehow inextricably connected. In ' Tequila Sunrise' (1987) best friends Dale (Gibson) & Nick (Kurt Russell) grow up on opposite sides of the law. Dale is a cocaine dealer, trying to go straight, & Nick is a drug-busting cop, determined to nail his friend if he insists on doing one final deal with a Mexican drug baron (Raul Julia). Michelle Pfeiffer plays the restaurant owner caught between them. In ' Lethal Weapon 2' (1989) Riggs (Gibson) & his partner Murtaugh (Danny Glover) once again tackle the evils of drug smuggling, this time coming up against a South African syndicate whose kingpins are protected by diplomatic immunity. In ' What Women Want' (2000) Gibson plays Nick Marshall, a hot-shot advertising executive who is convinced that he is God's gift to women & can get anyone he wants. After an accident he discovers that he can hear what women are really thinking about & is upset that his showing-off techniques are not popular with his female colleagues. To make matters worse, his dream of being promoted to a higher position has been thwarted by the man-eating new team member Darcy (Helen Hunt). Finally, ' Maverick' (1994) stars Gibson as the eponymous gambling hero in a big-screen version of the successful TV series. The convoluted plot has Maverick struggling to raise the $25, 000 entrance stake for a poker game by ripping off as many people as he can. During his quest to reach the game he narrowly escapes being lynched by baddies, shot by safari hunters & Indians, & robbed several times by the beautiful adventuress, Annabelle (Jodie Foster). James Garner, who played the original TV Maverick, stars as too-good-to-be-true lawman, Coop. ...

Food contamination & carcinogenesis are of great public interest. The situation concerning melamine contamination in China became a wakeup call to nations around the world. It is time to be extremely concerned with food safety. This book presents & discusses information concerning food contamination relating to carcinogenesis. ...

Offers an analysis of the uncertainties, dreams, & anxieties that have accompanied post apartheid freedoms in Chatsworth, a formerly Indian township in Durban. This title describes how the racial segmentation of South African society still informs daily life, notions of race, personhood, morality, & religious ethics. ...

Offers an analysis of the uncertainties, dreams, & anxieties that have accompanied postapartheid freedoms in Chatsworth, a formerly Indian township in Durban. This title tells the stories of ordinary Indians whose lives were racialized & framed by the township, & how these residents domesticated & inhabited this urban space. ...