Scala!!! -documentary on the Scala London cinema (January 2024) - Blu-ray Forum

Nitroes · 11-21-2023, 05:53 AM

A definite purchase.

Feature commentary by directors Jane Giles and Ali Catterall (2023)
Scala Interviews (2022, 60 mins): a selection of previously unseen interview footage shot for the film, chosen by the directors
Scala (1990, 30 mins): a portrait of the cinema, originally made to be shown on the Cable London television channel, directed by Michael Clifford
Scala Cinema (1992, 3 mins): a short student film, shot at the Scala cinema, directed by Ali Peck and Victor de Jesus
London Film Festival introduction (2023, 13 mins): an introduction to the screening of the film, featuring the directors, the cast, the crew and audience participation, recorded at the London Film Festival in 2023
Animations by Osbert Parker (2023): artist Osbert Parker's animations, made for the film
Cartoons by Davey Jones (2023): Viz artist Davey Jones draws a special cartoon for the film
Shorts shown at the Scala (1989-1991): a selection of short films that were all Scala favourites - Relax (Chris Newby, 1991, 23 mins), Flames of Passion (Richard Kwietniowski, 1989, 18 mins), and Coping With Cupid (Viv Albertine, 1990, 19 mins)
Scala Programmes 1978-1993 (2023): a closer look at fifteen editions of the Scala programme
Cabinet of Curiosities (2023): a guided tour of photos, ephemera and clippings from Scala archive
Theatrical trailer
Audio description for the blind and visual impaired
**FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet featuring a statement from the directors, new writing on the film and archive writing about the Scala

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/scala-blu-ray.html
https://www.rarewaves.com/products/5035673015032-scala
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CM9HLSPT/
https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/blu-ray/scala!!!

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Scala-Blu-ray/348861/

alexrinse · 11-21-2023, 07:22 AM

Pre-ordered, thanks

Ste7en · 11-21-2023, 09:24 AM

Ordered

scala · 11-22-2023, 12:18 PM

Well, I'm in ... obviously.

trobrianders · 11-22-2023, 12:58 PM

Coldest repetory cinema in London. I avoided it in winter (1980s). Their cat could have come over to keep me warm but it never did. Zone 1 so pricier to get the tube doown. Sorry the Everyman (zone 2) was my local (pre-refurb, natch). Usually opted for classics over weirdo anyway.

BudBaxter · 11-22-2023, 02:10 PM

Looking forward to this. I have very fond memories of going to the all-nighters.

benkell · 11-22-2023, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudBaxter

Looking forward to this. I have very fond memories of going to the all-nighters.

Yes i had some great nights at the Scala, i first visited in 1990 or 1991 but i was quite a regular visitor until they sadly closed a couple of years later, i still have a couple of programmes at home.

CelestialAgent · 11-22-2023, 03:18 PM

Will always opt for “weirdo” over classics any day

GaryCouzens · 11-22-2023, 07:44 PM

I'm looking forward to this and will almost certainly (ahem) get to review it.

I was a Scala member but because I didn't and don't live or work in London, my time there was more limited than other people I can think of. However, I did do at least one all-nighter (an Argento quadruple bill - Opera (which was then new), Inferno, Tenebrae and Creepers aka Phenomena) and have fond memories of their Deadly Day of De Palma (Obsession, Carrie, Sisters, Blow Out and Dressed to Kill, the last of which was about to go out of UK distribution then).

I was also an Everyman member, in fact a Friend of the Everyman when they did that scheme. I've not been there since it ceased to be a repertory cinema and was revamped into a first-run arthouse.

Nitroes · 12-19-2023, 06:19 PM

Anyone pick up that behemoth from FAB PRESS? Blu-ray is for scale.

Treated myself for xmas.

Beautifully crafted with extraordinary detail.

https://www.fabpress.com/scala-cinema-book.html

The Hornets · 12-19-2023, 07:40 PM

One of the original backers of the book when it was crowdfunded some years back.

Ste7en · 12-19-2023, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hornets

One of the original backers of the book when it was crowdfunded some years back.

Same here

Anything to remember the good old days. Shock Around the Clock, Nekromantik 2, Hellraiser 2, Splatterfest (which was quite the hoot).

Great times...

Quuhod · 01-22-2024, 04:54 PM

Just got my copy today, looking forward to watching it tonight.

Nitroes · 01-27-2024, 04:26 AM

Back cover:

BudBaxter · 01-28-2024, 12:17 PM

'Contains strong real sex'

I didn't know they had nightvision cameras in the auditorium back then!

RossyG · 01-28-2024, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudBaxter

'Contains strong real sex'

I didn't know they had nightvision cameras in the auditorium back then!

Haha! Rest assured, it’s a 2-second close-up of a “money shot” from Thundercrack.

alexrinse · 01-28-2024, 10:13 PM

My dad took me up to watch City Hunter. We stumbled in to Dust Devil beforehand. They were fund-raising against closure by selling oranges and people were practising Kung Fu in the lobby. I asked him recently what he made of it all, but he says he can't remember!

BudBaxter · 02-02-2024, 07:38 PM

Watched this last night. It was kind of wonderful, & took me right back to my regular cinema-going trips to London in the late 80s/early 90s. It was like injecting nostalgia straight into my veins.

I was a bit surprised Stephen Woolley had such little participation (sure, he gets a 10 minute extended interview in the extras, but he's only in the main doc for about 2 minutes), as he was always kind of the 'public face' of The Scala to me.

That aside, loved it. Lots of weird & wonderful characters with lots great stories, & for me, an awful lot of pausing the disc to look at the artwork & programme sheets. Man, I wish I still had my collection of those sheets…

Great disc too from BFI. Solid presentation & a bunch of ace extras. Loved Adam Buxton's story of going to a test screening for A Nightmare on Elm Street & the audience being asked by the distributor if they thought it was too violent & horrific. What sort of response did they think they'd get from a Scala crowd?

Highly recommended to anyone who ever went to The Scala, or anyone who's just curious about the strange world of London Rep Cinemas in the 70s, 80s & early 90s.

Nitroes · 02-28-2024, 05:52 PM

I really enjoyed this great stories with the production giving the speakers plenty of time.

Extras are excellent with the original Scala documentary from 1990 (35mins).

Disc is locked B.

Nitroes · 03-09-2024, 06:38 PM

11-21-2023, 07:22 AM	#2
alexrinse Expert Member Member since:May 2020 Location:Portugal 4K collection:50 Blu-ray collection:1741 DVD collection:174 Trading Score:1	Pre-ordered, thanks

11-21-2023, 09:24 AM	#3
Ste7en Blu-ray Champion Member since:Apr 2013 Location:Durham, UK 4K collection:907 Blu-ray collection:7760 DVD collection:68 Trading Score:4	Ordered

11-22-2023, 12:18 PM	#4
scala Active Member Member since:Jan 2016 Location:London, UK Blu-ray collection:258 DVD collection:102	Well, I'm in ... obviously.

11-22-2023, 12:58 PM	#5
trobrianders Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2019 Location:UK 4K collection:326 Blu-ray collection:4013 DVD collection:19 Blu-ray reviews:27	Coldest repetory cinema in London. I avoided it in winter (1980s). Their cat could have come over to keep me warm but it never did. Zone 1 so pricier to get the tube doown. Sorry the Everyman (zone 2) was my local (pre-refurb, natch). Usually opted for classics over weirdo anyway.

11-22-2023, 02:10 PM	#6
BudBaxter Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2016	Looking forward to this. I have very fond memories of going to the all-nighters.

11-22-2023, 03:18 PM	#8
CelestialAgent Blu-ray Baron Top contributor Member since:Aug 2015 Location:Norwich 4K collection:133 Blu-ray collection:2170 DVD collection:659 Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:1	Will always opt for “weirdo” over classics any day

11-22-2023, 07:44 PM	#9
GaryCouzens Senior Member Member since:Oct 2015 Location:Aldershot, UK	I'm looking forward to this and will almost certainly (ahem) get to review it. I was a Scala member but because I didn't and don't live or work in London, my time there was more limited than other people I can think of. However, I did do at least one all-nighter (an Argento quadruple bill - Opera (which was then new), Inferno, Tenebrae and Creepers aka Phenomena) and have fond memories of their Deadly Day of De Palma (Obsession, Carrie, Sisters, Blow Out and Dressed to Kill, the last of which was about to go out of UK distribution then). I was also an Everyman member, in fact a Friend of the Everyman when they did that scheme. I've not been there since it ceased to be a repertory cinema and was revamped into a first-run arthouse.

12-19-2023, 07:40 PM	#11
The Hornets Blu-ray Guru Member since:Apr 2021 Location:UK	One of the original backers of the book when it was crowdfunded some years back.

01-22-2024, 04:54 PM	#13
Quuhod Senior Member Member since:May 2021 Location:UK 4K collection:54 Blu-ray collection:858 DVD collection:499 Digital collection:163 Trading Score:1	Just got my copy today, looking forward to watching it tonight.

01-27-2024, 04:26 AM	#14
Nitroes Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Apr 2022 Location:Great Britain Blu-ray reviews:1	Back cover:

01-28-2024, 12:17 PM	#15
BudBaxter Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2016	'Contains strong real sex' I didn't know they had nightvision cameras in the auditorium back then!

01-28-2024, 10:13 PM	#17
alexrinse Expert Member Member since:May 2020 Location:Portugal 4K collection:50 Blu-ray collection:1741 DVD collection:174 Trading Score:1	My dad took me up to watch City Hunter. We stumbled in to Dust Devil beforehand. They were fund-raising against closure by selling oranges and people were practising Kung Fu in the lobby. I asked him recently what he made of it all, but he says he can't remember!

02-02-2024, 07:38 PM	#18
BudBaxter Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jul 2016	Watched this last night. It was kind of wonderful, & took me right back to my regular cinema-going trips to London in the late 80s/early 90s. It was like injecting nostalgia straight into my veins. I was a bit surprised Stephen Woolley had such little participation (sure, he gets a 10 minute extended interview in the extras, but he's only in the main doc for about 2 minutes), as he was always kind of the 'public face' of The Scala to me. That aside, loved it. Lots of weird & wonderful characters with lots great stories, & for me, an awful lot of pausing the disc to look at the artwork & programme sheets. Man, I wish I still had my collection of those sheets… Great disc too from BFI. Solid presentation & a bunch of ace extras. Loved Adam Buxton's story of going to a test screening for A Nightmare on Elm Street & the audience being asked by the distributor if they thought it was too violent & horrific. What sort of response did they think they'd get from a Scala crowd? Highly recommended to anyone who ever went to The Scala, or anyone who's just curious about the strange world of London Rep Cinemas in the 70s, 80s & early 90s.

02-28-2024, 05:52 PM	#19
Nitroes Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Apr 2022 Location:Great Britain Blu-ray reviews:1	I really enjoyed this great stories with the production giving the speakers plenty of time. Extras are excellent with the original Scala documentary from 1990 (35mins). Disc is locked B.

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