Nearly-Free DVD 4

or The Horror of the Poundshop Movie

Episode Four: The One that Got Away

© James Beswick Whitehead, 2004

This piece originated in posts I submitted to the Fortean Times Message Board between September 2004 and November 2005, when an avalanche of old Hollywood movies started to appear in UK bargain outlets.

Posted: 31-12-2004 13:46 Post subject:

Drat, here's one I missed! Anyone get one in their stocking from a mean Irish relative? I'd love to know what was on them.

Oh Danny Boy!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1413414,00.html

A retail chain has had to recall more than 10,000 copies of a DVD that should have featured Christmas songs but instead showed pornography. Shoppers complained to Poundland that the 99p DVD, A Classic Irish Christmas, was found to contain sex scenes. "The DVD was mislabelled," a spokeswoman said.

and another version of the same story:

http://xbiz.com/print_content.php?cat=2&id=6701

Christmas Carols Bumped for Porn By Rhett Pardon, Thursday, December 23, 2004

WEST MIDLANDS, England &emdash; Ah, Christmas. It's full of surprises, right?

Well if you're shopping at Poundland, the United Kingdom's version of the 99 Cents Only store, you still might be able to pick up a copy of the Irish Tenor Trio singing holiday classics such as "Jingle Bells" and "Danny Boy" on DVD.

And if there are any copies left on the shelves, you might be in for a jolt. The DVDs don't include the Irish Tenor Trio; they contain hardcore porn featuring only threesomes.

Store officials now are scurrying to recall nearly 10,000 DVD copies from the chain of more than 100 stores, which sell every item for £1. The 14-year-old company had $356 million in revenue last year.

Apparently, the mix-up occurred after vendor Waterfall Home Entertainment muddled up boxes at its factory.

"It's the sort of thing you buy your granny," Waterfall executive Shirley Robinson said. "I hope people see the funny side."