The Shaw Collection

This star-studded collection includes six Shaw masterpieces in over 11 hours of classic television. The sharp wit and discerning themes of Shaw's work are wonderfully captured in these original productions from the BBC remastered for DVD.

Arms and the Man - First produced on the London stage in 1894, Arms and the Man immediately established Shaw's reputation as one of the greatest wits in London drama. This beautifully remastered BBC production brings to life an uproarious comedy that still resonates in its critique of warfare and romance with the scintillating performance of Helena Bonham Carter.

The Devil's Disciple - In The Devil's Disciple, Shaw uses the familiar tropes of melodrama to undermine traditional beliefs and values. This original BBC production reinvigorates a classic, featuring performances by Patrick Stewart, Ian Richardson and Elizabeth Spriggs.

Mrs. Warren's Profession - Written in 1893 but not performed until 1902 because of government censorship, Mrs. Warren's Profession scandalized Victorian England with a look into a most unusual method of entering into good society.

Pygmalion - Based on a classical myth, Pygmalion has become in its own right a classic of the contemporary stage and screen. Addressing the complexity of human relationships and society, it is the story of a simple flower girl who is tutored to be a genteel upper class lady. This charming BBC production stars Lynn Redgrave as Eliza Doolittle.

Heartbreak House - A rollicking romp through the minefields of romantic entanglement, Heartbreak House is Shaw's passionate response to World War I and features the endearing performance of John Geilguld. Vivaciously alive with dangerous flirtations, this vibrant game of hearts and philosophies will keep you chasing the key to life and love.

The Millionairess - Shaw's glittering farce The Millionairess reveals the true relations between class, capital, power and labor. Starring Maggie Smith, Tom Baker and Charles Gray, this original BBC production brings the hilarity and searing commentary of Shaw's work to vivid life

Arms and The Man
On night, a frightened Swiss soldier of fortune climbs into the bedroom of a young Bulgarian girl, Raina, and soon deflates her romantic notions of love and valor. The cast of characters includes a jealous fiancé fighting for the other side, a bumbling military father, and a domineering and social-climbing mother – not to mention the servants who see and hear all. This hilarious and charmingly ludicrous look at the misconceptions of love and war continues to delight and unsettle audiences even today.

The Devil’s Disciple
In New Hampshire in 1777, Dick Dudgeon’s father dies. Called back home to the unhappy family he revolts against years ago, Dick finds he has been named heir, much to the horror of his religious mother. And to complicate matters, the British, led by General Burgoyne, have arrived and are ready for an execution. As events reach a crisis, Dick, the self proclaimed “Devil’s Disciple,” finds he must confront his true nature, as must the village minister.

Mrs. Warren’s Profession
What is the profession that has enabled Mrs. Warren to give her daughter all the benefits of “good society?” Vivie Warren discovers her mother’s secret and embraces her own power as a “modern” woman.

Pygmalion
Starring Lynn Redgrave as Eliza Doolittle, this charming BBC production captures the complexities of human relationships in a social world. Phonetics professor Henry Higgins tutors the painfully lower class Eliza Doolittle in speech as well as manner. When the end result produces a very ladylike Miss Doolittle, Professor Higgins discovers he may have a few lessons to learn himself.

Heartbreak House
Captain Shotover, an eccentric poet, retired seafarer and inventor is reluctantly hosting a weekend house party at his Sussex estate for his two daughters and their bohemian friends. With larger-than-life characters including the capitalist Boss Mangan, the social climbing Ellie Dunn and the extravagantly bohemian couple Hesione and Hector Hushabye, Shaw compels us to examine our own lives and the way we live them.

The Millionairess
Epifania is glamorous, clever…and also the richest woman in the world. After yet another row with her spendthrift husband, Epifania meets an intriguing Egyptian doctor. But she faces the challenges her money-mad father imposed on her before his death: She can only consider for marriage a man who can convert 150 pounds into 50,000 pounds within six months. Coincidentally, the good doctor has a similar challenge from his mother and can only consider for a wife a woman who can make her own living for six months with only 35 pence to start. Will Epifania be able to prove her profitability? And is the good doctor even interested in the challenge of a woman used to getting whatever she wants?

Arms and The Man

Raina	---	Helena Bonham Carter
Maid	---	Patsy Kensit
Major Petkoff	---	Dinsdale Landen
Catherine	---	Kika Markham
Sergius	---	Patrick Ryecart
Bluntschli	---	Pip Torrens

Written by George Bernard Shaw
Produced by John Frankau
Directed by James Cellan Jones

The Devil’s Disciple

Mrs. Dudgeon	---	Elizabeth Spriggs
Essie	---	Cheryl Maiker
Christy Dudgeon	---	Graham Turner
Anthony Anderson	---	Patrick Stewart
Judith Anderson	---	Susan Wooldridge
Lawyer Hawkins	---	Patrick Godfrey
Uncle William Dudgeon	---	Patrick Newell
Mrs. William Dudgeon	---	Freda Rogers
Uncle Titus Dudgeon	---	John Cater
Mrs. Titus Dudgeon	---	June Ellis
Richard ‘Dick’ Dudgeon	---	Mike Gwilym
The Sergeant	---	Larry Lamb
Major Swindon	---	Benjamin Whitrow
General Burgoyne	---	Ian Richardson
Chaplain	---	Timothy Kightley

Written by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by David Jones
Produced by Shaun Sutton
Original Music by Stephen Oliver
Costume Design by Odette Barrow

Mrs. Warren’s Profession

Mrs. Warren	---	Coral Browne
Mr. Praed	---	Derek Godfrey
Sir George Crofts	---	James Grout
Rev. Samuel Gardner	---	Richard Pearson
Frank Gardner	---	Robert Powell
Vivie Warren	---	Penelope Wilton

Written by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Herbert Wise
Produced by Cedric Messina
Production Design by Eileen Diss
Costume Design by John Bloomfield

Pygmalion

Eliza Doolittle	---	Lynn Redgrave
Professor Henry Higgins	---	James Villiers
Col. Pickering	---	Ronald Fraser
Doolittle	---	Emrys James
Mrs. Higgins	---	Lally Bowers
Mrs. Pearce	---	Angela Baddeley
Freddy	---	Nicholas Jones
Mrs. Eynsford Hill	---	Joyce Grant
Clara Eynsford Hill	---	Joanna McCallum
Mrs. Higgins Maid	---	Angela Galbraith
Prof. Higgins Maid	---	Alison Daumler

Written by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Cedric Messina
Produced by Christopher Morahan
Production Design by Eileen Diss
Costume Design by Odette Barrow

Heartbreak House

Captain Shotover	---	Sir John Gielgud
Hesione Hushabye	---	Sian Phillips
Lady Utterword	---	Barbara Murray
Hector Hushabye	---	Daniel Massey
Ellie Dunn	---	Lesley-Anne Down
Mangan	---	David Waller
Randall Utterword	---	Donald Pickering
Mazzini Dunn	---	Richard Pearson
Burglar	---	Barry Jackson
Nurse Guinness	---	Joyce Grant

Written by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by Cedric Messina
Produced by Alan Shallcross
Production Design by Tony Abbott
Costume Design by Rita Reekie

The Millionairess

Epifania	---	Dame Maggie Smith
Woman	---	Avril Angers
Dr. Ahmed el Kabir	---	Tom Baker
Julius Sagamore	---	Peter Barkworth
Man	---	John Garrie
Adrian Blenderbland	---	Charles Gray
Patricia Smith	---	Priscilla Morgan
Manager	---	Donald Pickering
Alastair Fitzfassenden	---	James Villiers

Written by George Bernard Shaw
Directed by William Slater
Produced by Cedric Messina
Original Music by Anthony Isaac
Production Design by Eileen Diss

When an actress told Shaw that she wanted to publish his old love letters, he replied "I will not, dear Stella, at my time of life, play the horse to your Lady Godiva."