A Taste of Honey screening and Q&A at the Cornerhouse in Manchester

Yesterday, we were incredibly sad to hear of the death of Shelagh Delaney, who died of cancer, aged 71. She was and is a northern icon, star and inspiration for The Smiths and noted playwright, writing the classic A Taste of Honey when she was just 19. If you've never seen it, there's a special screening of the movie at Manchester's Cornerhouse on Wednesday 30th November.

DVD/Blu-ray review: The Pleasure Girls (1965)

A 60s teen flick featuring the man who became Lovejoy, a man who became Alan Bradley in Coronation Street and most bizarrely of all, Klaus Kinski? It has to be The Pleasure Girls, newly reissued on DVD/Blu-ray by the Flipside arm of the BFI.

In a London that's yet to fully 'swing' Gerry O'Hara's flick is in one way similar to other movies of the day, whilst at the same time being very different, not least because everything happens over the course of a weekend as relationships crumble when the darker sides of the male characters come to the fore.

Win one of five copies of Spring and Port Wine on DVD

As you may have noticed, we recently reviewed the DVD reissue of Spring and Port Wine. But not content with that, we're also giving away five copies of this kitchensink classic.

If you've not seen the movie before (and missed out review), you might not know it was written by Bill Naughton (who was also responsible for Alfie and The Family Way) and set in Bolton in the late 60s. Essentially it's the tale of the Crompton family, headed up by Rafe (James Mason), an old-fashioned father with old-fashioned values. But when his teenage family start to question those values, it threatens to split the family apart.

A movie every fan of classic British cinema should see, you can get your name in the draw to win one over at our Modculture site. Good luck!

Enter the Spring and Port Wine competition at Modculture

DVD Review: Spring and Port Wine (1970)

For a very brief spell in the late 60s, Bolton was a location of choice for movie production companies. That was down to one man - Bill Naughton. This native of that town has seen success in converting one of his plays - Alfie - to the big screen, so it seemed logical to try out some of his gritty 'northern' work. The Family Way in 1967 (reviewed here) was the first of these, followed a few years later by Spring and Port Wine.

Both of the 'Bolton' movies started off as stage plays and it shows - if you're big on action and plot, you might be a little disappointed. But if you are a fan of 60s/kitchensink dramas, great acting and equally great writing, you'll want to be on this DVD reissue.

Coming to DVD: Spring and Port Wine (1970)

Never before available on DVD, Spring and Port Wine finally gets a release on Monday 11th January 2010.

Set on the streets of (not very swinging) late 60s Bolton, it's a film about the Crompton family. The head of the household is Rafe (James Mason), a stern man who runs his house in much the same way, with his wife, Daisy and four children making up the rest. But as those kids grow up and get jobs, they start to question their father's authority and beliefs - threatening to split up the family forever.

Also starring Susan George, Diana Coupland, Rodney Bewes and Hannah Gordon, with the trailer pretty much the only extra on the disc, you can get it for £9.99 from HMV. See over the page for a cast shot.

Find out more at the HMV website