The Story of Robin Hood

Amazon. co. uk Review
A minor classic from Disney, this 1973 all-animal, all-animated musical version of the familiar story of Robin Hood is more charming than one might expect. Perhaps it’s the warm, chummy take on key relationships within the legend–the way Robin Hood (Brian Bedford) gets twitterpated whenever the subject of Maid Marian (Monica Evans) comes up or the way best pal Little John (Phil Harris voicing a variation on his own Baloo from The Jungle Book) admonishes the Sherwood Forest hero, “Aw, Rob, why dontcha just marry the girl?” (Then, of course, there’s the canny “casting” of the romantic leads as foxes: Robin the sly one and Marian the, well, foxy one. ) The rest of the vocal cast is lively and eclectic: Peter Ustinov, Andy Devine, Terry Thomas, George Lindsey. Roger Miller provides the songs and voice for the minstrel character Allan-A-Dale. The film is ably directed by Wolfgang Reitherman, whose decades of work in Disney’s animation division helped create the studio’s rich legacy. –Tom Keogh, Amazon. com

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BoBijou Ladies 5 Strands of White Rice Pearls Mixed with Rose & Snow Quartz Ovals and 925 Lobster Clasp

£43.19

Manufacturer’s Description
Sweet pastel tone bracelet with 5 strands of 3mm white rice shape pearls interval with 18mm rose quartz ovals and snow quartz ovals. Sterling silver clasp. Overall length is (20cm)

Box ContentsNecklace, Organza Bag, Mini-Brochure with Authenticity Certificate, Luxury Silk covered and lined wooden box

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Bizet: Carmen

£29.39

Amazon. co. uk Review
All too often Bizet’s great comic opera Carmen has been pared down to its basic bodice-ripping components, leaving its adored melodies with only torrid clichés to cling on to. Nothing of the sort happens here. David McVicar’s 2002 production for Glyndebourne restores it to its rightful place as a stupendous musical entertainment. Bold, lusty, tightly directed and designed in sanguine shades of red and black, this Carmen spills and bustles across the stage and out of the screen like a living painting. At first glance, Anne Sofie von Otter is not an obvious choice for the title role, but just look at how she seizes and inhabits the character, wrenching her from the jaws of dark, sultry stereotype and rendering a complex modern woman. Her Carmen both revels in and is tormented by the ripe sexuality that fascinates her lovers and sets her apart from the other women. Von Otter’s interpretation suggests it has its roots in a hinterland of wretched, bitter experience; the “Habanera”, the “Gypsy Song” and the “Seguidilla” become multi-layered expressions of hope and desire: we never forget that for all its gusto, Carmen ends up a tragedy. And the men aren’t ciphers. Laurent Naouri’s proud Escamillo and Marcus Haddock’s immature, damaged Don José are rounded, richly sung characters. So too, is Lisa Milne’s touching Micaëla. All told, this Carmen is full-length, fibrous and, with conductor Philippe Jordan at the helm, a triumph. On the DVD: Carmen is spread over two discs, presented in anamorphic widescreen format that opens up the stage and capitalises on some refreshingly brisk camerawork. The sound quality (Digital Surround sound) is finely balanced. A rich set of extras includes fascinating short documentaries on various aspects of the production, from stage fights to characterisation and costume design. There’s also a useful spoken synopsis and a stroll through the famous Glyndebourne Gardens. –Piers Ford

Special Features
16:9 Wide Screen Region 0 Linear PCM Stereo Dolby Digital 5. 1 Surround Costume Design Illustrated Synopsis Choreography Of Carmen Fighting On Stage Cast And Their Characters Gardens Of Glyndebourne English\French\German\Spanish

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Korres Colour Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara

£14.00

Product Description
This creamy mascara gives definition, length and a full-bodied look. Contains a specialised combination of polymers, emulsifiers and pigments to intensify the colour and achieves the deepest tone. A volumising complex based on soft vegetable waxes contributes to a natural volumising effect with a soft finish. Buildable coverage without clumping. Ingredients include provitamin B5 for moisturising, and strengthening eyelashes.  The specially designed, full brush is selected to deliver the mascara precisely and lengthen the lashes with no risk of clumping or running.

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Swanson Traditional Red Yeast Rice

£2.98

Product Description Reformulated red yeast rice All natural 600 mg per capsule Used for centuries in Asia as a food additive and in folk medicine, red yeast rice is not something you’d find in the rice aisle at your local grocery store. However, you’ll probably find it in an intriguing Asian culinary dish, or all by itself as a dietary supplement. Our Traditional Red Yeast Rice is red yeast cultured on an all-natural rice medium, Monascus purpureus.

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