The Birthday Party (1968)

[Hoke Moseley]

via MisterLime in the Kino thread.

Originally Posted by MisterLime

Coming September 5th!
First Time on DVD and Blu-ray!

The Birthday Party (1968)
• Interview with Director William Friedkin
• Trailer Gallery

[Gerby]

Amazing film, one of my favourite announcements of the year so far.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

Just as soon I bought the OOP UK DVD, this is announced. You're all welcome.

[Hoke Moseley]

Out September 5th.

[postmodel]

I know Kino announced they interviewed Friedkin for 2 upcoming releases. Any one know what the other release will be?

https://twitter.com/KLStudioClassic/...07702469750784

[rip63]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

Just as soon I bought the OOP UK DVD, this is announced. You're all welcome.

Ha! Yeah, that's the sort of thing happens to me too. I also have that UK DVD, which was unfortunately 4X3, so that's half the reason I'm buying this BD.

[Bojack]

This is an exciting, most unexpected release. I'm still struggling with the inconsistent Kino Lorber product standards. Not long ago, we debated their non-use of subtitles and it was explained that as of x date, their catalog going forward would contain subtitles. But here we are with another title that does not have them. And this is a title that desperately needs them.

[Hazel Motes]

I've never seen any William Friedkin pre French Connection, so I might have to pick this up.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Just saw the Pinter/Friedkin film The Birthday Party (1968) on Blu. Great movie. I had never heard of this prior to the recent release.

Technical review:

Picture Quality - Superb! This is one of the best prints I've seen of a 1960's film. Amazing color as well.

Audio - honestly, not that great. Though I have excellent hearing, I couldn't make out the dialogue in certain cases; it wasn't that it was muffled, just that it wasn't clear. I understand there are probably limitations re: the source material given that this is such an old film. So, at the least they should have included subtitles - which are sadly missing from this release.

Story:

Excellent & very tense. Even though the action took place primarily in one location (a couple of rooms in the small boarding house) it was extremely well-done.

The Landlady's (Meg) constant attempts to ingratiate herself with both her husband and Stanley the boarder were sad, touching, and genuine. (For some reason, her character reminded me a lot of Edith Bunker on the TV sitcom All in the Family - thought obviously TBP pre-dated AITF by two years).

I intentionally went into the movie without knowing anything about the story. When the film opened, it looked like it was going to be a UK "kitchen sink" drama with a lot of dialogue re: people ruminating on their lot in life, etc. Like the much later Kenneth Branagh/Emma Thompson BBC TV production Look Back in Anger (1989), TBP was also based on a play.

However, the story immediately became more menacing & sinister

[Show spoiler]when the two "mysterious strangers" came to the boardinghouse & started interacting with Stanley (Robert Shaw). It was obvious that he had done something in his past - that he was running away from. As the story wore on, it was evident that his past sins/actions had caught up to him.

In any case, this was such a great production that it's inspired me to seek out the other films that were adapted from Harold Pinter's plays. I suspect they'll be great as well.

[rip63]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

In any case, this was such a great production that it's inspired me to seek out the other films that were adapted from Harold Pinter's plays. I suspect they'll be great as well.

Check out The Homecoming and especially The Caretaker, which also stars Robert Shaw, as well as Alan Bates and Donald Pleasance. They're available on DVD from the UK.

Friedkin's film of the Birthday Party is pretty much word for word from the play. From memory, I think Pinter did the screenplay.