British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[yer wot?]

In for the Woodfall boxed set (that's 5 more VHS tapes finally heading for Ebay/friend's collection(s)/the bin) and They Came To a City.

[BarnDoor]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

The Amazon listing mentions both versions

Thanks, they must have just updated that.

[rapta]

Yeah I'm up for the Woodfall set myself, especially since I somehow still haven't bought Saturday Night and Sunday Morning nor The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. That said, it'll be about the price for me...I've bought a couple of BFI sets on release only for them to drop to half the price a few months later.

Therefore I'm more likely to actually pre-order The Touch out of all of these, and am quite curious to see The Children's Hour but could probably wait that one out for an HMV/Fopp offer (and same goes for the others).

A nice little line-up, though I am itching for more Japanese cinema after the recent Ichikawa upgrade (which I'm still waiting to be listed at HMV so I can pre-order along with the Cocteau).

BTW, a second volume of Jarman is on its way later in the year. I've seen enough Jarman to know it's not something I'll pick up straight away, but could be tempted further down the line (they look like they're going to be pretty special sets, like the Alan Clarke ones).

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Thanks, they must have just updated that.

Nah it was actually there initially, I just forgot to mention it in my post.

[CinemaScope]

Great news about the Woodfall set (I'd think Tom Jones will be the same transfer as the Criterion), but I wish it included a re-mastered, The Charge Of The Light Brigade (1968), see, we film fans are never satisfied

...& I wonder if The Knack is a new transfer, or the same old one that was released in America a couple of years ago?

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by rapta

Pretty decent line-up for Q2 this year (listings showing up on Amazon, so more may be added)...

April 23rd:

THEY CAME TO A CITY (Basil Dearden, 1944) [Blu-ray + DVD]

THE TOUCH (Ingmar Bergman, 1971) [Blu-ray + DVD]

THE MAGIC FLUTE (Ingmar Bergman, 1975) [Blu-ray + DVD]*

*Rescheduled from initial Q1 release date.

May 28th:

WOODFALL: A REVOLUTION IN BRITISH CINEMA 1959-1965 [8-Disc Blu-ray Box Set]

• LOOK BACK IN ANGER (Tony Richardson, 1959)
• THE ENTERTAINER (Tony Richardson, 1960)
• SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING (Karel Reisz, 1960)*
• A TASTE OF HONEY (Tony Richardson, 1961)
• THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER (Tony Richardson, 1962)*
• TOM JONES (Tony Richardson, 1963)
• GIRL WITH GREEN EYES (Desmond Davis, 1964)
• THE KNACK... AND HOW TO GET IT (Richard Lester, 1965)

*Same disc as previous Blu-ray/DF editions.

June 18th:

THE CHILDREN'S HOUR (William Wyler, 1961) [Blu-ray + DVD]

JUBILEE (Derek Jarman, 1978) [Blu-ray + DVD]

Cracking stuff.

Bit miffed about having to double dip on two titles in the 8 disc set (SNSM & TLOFTLDR) but the others make up for that at the right price of course.

I hope they've improved on the version of They Came To A City I last saw , not that it would be difficult.

Very pleased about The Children's Hour

I was holding off importing the Criterion of A Taste Of Honey and glad I did now.

Oh and a separate release of Jubilee for the more casual Jarman fan or just if you want to pick up that film alone. Well played BFI.

[Yami]

The Jarman set(s) look like a must have, the BFI sure know how to put a box set together. Makes me wish they'd finally get around to upgrading their Terence Davies release!

[jcmw98]

That Woodfall set looks cracking! What are people thinking on the price though?

Btw, where did you all get this info, I've looked on the BFI site and can't find anything.

[CrockettandTubbs]

Originally Posted by rapta

Yeah I'm up for the Woodfall set myself, especially since I somehow still haven't bought Saturday Night and Sunday Morning nor The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner. That said, it'll be about the price for me...I've bought a couple of BFI sets on release only for them to drop to half the price a few months later.

I left getting 'Long Distance' too late, and it came without a booklet: granted it wasn't mentioned on the back cover, so I'm assuming some booklets have rights issues, etc?

It was the newer sleeve design, though:



But Tom Jones is great news, and The Entertainer and Don't Look Back in Anger.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

I left getting 'Long Distance' too late, and it came without a booklet: granted it wasn't mentioned on the back cover, so I'm assuming some booklets have rights issues, etc?

I seem to remember the BFI contact I used to nag every now and then said some older Dual Format titles would be reissued with new artwork, and some Blu-ray only (or separate Blu-ray and DVD), and that the booklet would be limited to first pressings. So I assume The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with the new artwork is already into a second pressing if you didn't get a booklet!

In which case, I'm more likely to pick up this Woodfall set now, assuming the booklet for that and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning is included. And I still need to get Privilege, which was reissued with new artwork (though that's Flipside, so they might be keeping the booklet for all pressings of that one).

[yer wot?]

Originally Posted by jcmw98

That Woodfall set looks cracking! What are people thinking on the price though?

Btw, where did you all get this info, I've looked on the BFI site and can't find anything.

Trying not to think about it. Might make about £10 Ebay "profit" on my Loneliness and Saturday Night dual format editions but I'd be very surprised if that covers more than 20% of the Woodfall price.

If it didn't already have a fine Eureka edition Kes would have made fine edition to this set even if it is slightly later in the timeline. Either way, whoever compiled the set has done a grand job and though I'll probably have to wait for the price to go down it's a must have.

[CinemaScope]

...er, just in case I don't buy the set (which I intend to), I'm wondering, will Tom Jones be available separately?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by rapta

I seem to remember the BFI contact I used to nag every now and then said some older Dual Format titles would be reissued with new artwork, and some Blu-ray only (or separate Blu-ray and DVD), and that the booklet would be limited to first pressings. So I assume The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner with the new artwork is already into a second pressing if you didn't get a booklet!

In which case, I'm more likely to pick up this Woodfall set now, assuming the booklet for that and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning is included. And I still need to get Privilege, which was reissued with new artwork (though that's Flipside, so they might be keeping the booklet for all pressings of that one).

I got a copy of Privilege about a month ago, with the new artwork. It had a booklet (and was still Dual Format). On the other hand, it was missing the spine number.

[DefLeppard]

Excited about BFI releases. Very impressive line-up so for in 2018! Wish all those films from WOODFALL box set were individual releases as some of these were already released .Like SI said ,it's kinda irritating to have a single film getting repeated in ones collection from the same label without any conent difference[Similar situation of SC box sets].

Wonder what we're missing from BFI's TOM JONES as CC will be 2BD release.

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Cracking stuff.

Bit miffed about having to double dip on two titles in the 8 disc set (SNSM & TLOFTLDR)

[Show spoiler]but the others make up for that at the right price of course.

I hope they've improved on the version of They Came To A City I last saw , not that it would be difficult.

Very pleased about The Children's Hour

I was holding off importing the Criterion of A Taste Of Honey and glad I did now.

Oh and a separate release of Jubilee for the more casual Jarman fan or just if you want to pick up that film alone. Well played BFI.

If you have those black & white art work versions, Cheers for that...

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

...er, just in case I don't buy the set (which I intend to), I'm wondering, will Tom Jones be available separately?

Only in Wales

[rapta]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I got a copy of Privilege about a month ago, with the new artwork. It had a booklet (and was still Dual Format). On the other hand, it was missing the spine number.

Good to know! Not hugely fussed about the spine numbers as I have very few Flipside titles and they're apparently going to be updating all the artwork anyway, so nobody's going to have a uniform collection. But at least it has the booklet - I'll pick it up next time I see it for £6-7 I reckon.

Originally Posted by DefLeppard

Excited about BFI releases. Very impressive line-up so for in 2018! Wish all those films from WOODFALL box set were individual releases as some of these were already released .Like SI said ,it's kinda irritating to have a single film getting repeated in ones collection from the same label without any conent difference[Similar situation of SC box sets].

Wonder what we're missing from BFI's TOM JONES as CC will be 2BD release.

Perhaps they will reissue them separately, since they're going to the trouble of encoding six brand new films, but they may start doing what Arrow and other labels do and omit the booklet from any reissues. BFI are already omitting booklets occasionally, so this could be the next step, and UK labels seem to be following similar trends at the moment.

[DefLeppard]

Originally Posted by rapta

[SPOILER]
Perhaps they will reissue them separately, since they're going to the trouble of encoding six brand new films, but they may start doing what Arrow and other labels do and omit the booklet from any reissues. BFI are already omitting booklets occasionally, so this could be the next step, and UK labels seem to be following similar trends at the moment.

On second thought ,I now wish this box set to be like slimline cases with slipbox as in Dreyer collection (retaining individual artwork for each film or reverse like Clarke Set) and a 'book' as BFI's digipacks are not regid .

Yeah ,I'm annoyed by this growing trend of non-booklet releases .With BFI and Eureka , at least we know what we're getting as they clearly states in the release spec (barring old releases) unlike Arrow's First pressing only booklet (some may argue that Arrow's at least producing those extras) . Wasn't Farewell my concubine , the first non-booklet release by BFI and Born Free by Eureka ?

Instead of compleletly omitting the booklets ,perhaps labels could do something about getting those booklet information converted into images that can be easily viewed as normal (without the hassles of installing multi-media softwares) and it'd eco-friendly as well ;It may takes up a few hundreds of mbs of disc space but again it all comes down to costing (as producing/authoring those extras wouldn't be cheaper just because its getting a paperless release).Looks like we don't have a choice !

[rapta]

Originally Posted by DefLeppard

On second thought ,I now wish this box set to be like slimline cases with slipbox as in Dreyer collection (retaining individual artwork for each film or reverse like Clarke Set) and a 'book' as BFI's digipacks are not regid .

Yeah ,I'm annoyed by this growing trend of non-booklet releases .With BFI and Eureka , at least we know what we're getting as they clearly states in the release spec (barring old releases) unlike Arrow's First pressing only booklet (some may argue that Arrow's at least producing those extras) . Wasn't Farewell my concubine , the first non-booklet release by BFI and Born Free by Eureka ?

Instead of compleletly omitting the booklets ,perhaps labels could do something about getting those booklet information converted into images that can be easily viewed as normal (without the hassles of installing multi-media softwares) and it'd eco-friendly as well ;It may takes up a few hundreds of mbs of disc space but again it all comes down to costing (as producing/authoring those extras wouldn't be cheaper just because its getting a paperless release).Looks like we don't have a choice !

Yes, slimline boxes would be good, but BFI would be tempted to then stick it in a thin card slipbox. Reckon they've learnt their lesson (e.g. Herzog etc) and will do a thicker card set for this one, considering it's 8 films this time.

Farewell My Concubine is the only BFI release I can think of that had no booklet whatsoever, not even in first pressing, so they really dropped the ball with that one. Eureka are the only label still standing - they still do booklets as a bare minimum for all MoC releases, but do drop them for some Eureka Classics titles (such as Born Free, but there are plenty of others too, including the upcoming Marty; though they may end up adding one to that).

I think it was suggested once a while back that they could include the booklet as a PDF on any Dual Format releases, which would mean people could insert the DVD disc into their computer to access the booklet material. In fact I think BFI have done this occasionally, but I could be wrong. And obviously labels like Arrow and Eureka are contractually obliged to make a lot of releases Blu-ray only, so it would mean they would have to keep printing booklets for anything without a DVD disc. Arrow are trying to combat the issue by making booklets available in PDF format on their website, but so far it's only for certain titles and I personally find the site frustrating to navigate/make lists etc.

[jcmw98]

I was thinking, with the Woodfall boxset and the pricing.

The Alan Clarke collection had about, thirty films in it for an RRP of £149.99 which equates to five pounds a film.

So if you use the same sort of pricing with this set, at five pounds a film, we should expect to see it at around £40. I'm guessing it'd be closer to £50 though.

I fully expect this to be all wrong and for BFI to announce it at £475, but still, a bit of speculation never hurt anyone

[DefLeppard]

Originally Posted by rapta

I think it was suggested once a while back that they could include the booklet as a PDF on any Dual Format releases, which would mean people could insert the DVD disc into their computer to access the booklet material. In fact I think BFI have done this occasionally, but I could be wrong. And obviously labels like Arrow and Eureka are contractually obliged to make a lot of releases Blu-ray only, so it would mean they would have to keep printing booklets for anything without a DVD disc. Arrow are trying to combat the issue by making booklets available in PDF format on their website, but so far it's only for certain titles and I personally find the site frustrating to navigate/make lists etc.

Yeah ,while I agree that PDF on DVD is a good alternative but converting those pages into a high-res JPEG wouldn't be taking much space on a BD50 disc (320mb for a 80 page at 4mb per page) [Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall any of the UK boutique labels doing a release on BD25 anymore] and one can view it on their HT system without the need to use computer.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by DefLeppard

Yeah ,while I agree that PDF on DVD is a good alternative but converting those pages into a high-res JPEG wouldn't be taking much space on a BD50 disc (320mb for a 80 page at 4mb per page) [Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall any of the UK boutique labels doing a release on BD25 anymore] and one can view it on their HT system without the need to use computer.

BD-25 is still used for some titles when the bitrate is maxed out and the extras are light. Some recent examples include a handful of Indicator titles, Arrow's Spotlight on a Murderer, and I was watching MoC's City Girl just yesterday which was BD-25 (several BFI releases are the same actually). Still, an image would take up barely any room like you say.