British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

With the single-disc release of Judgment at Nuremberg, I've just realised that I didn't pick up the two-disc set. I foolishly thought that I had...

Does anyone know if it is still available anywhere?

You should also get the Twilight Time or German release for the Roadshow version which is 11 mins longer.

[Jackie Scanlon]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

You should also get the Twilight Time or German release for the Roadshow version which is 11 mins longer.

Caveat to that is the extra 11 minutes is just intro and exit music. The film itself is exactly the same.

[koberulz]

Still no movement on my order containing The Draughtsman's Contract.

[justwannaboogie]

Originally Posted by Jackie Scanlon

Caveat to that is the extra 11 minutes is just intro and exit music. The film itself is exactly the same.

Not to mention the Twilight Time release is out of print. Stuff that, the BFI release is definitive.

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by justwannaboogie

Not to mention the Twilight Time release is out of print. Stuff that, the BFI release is definitive.

I don't think the German release is OOP though. it 9the 2 disc one) also has said Roadshow version.

[fatboyslim142]

In regards to Ken Russell's Masterpiece The Devils!

[Ste7en]

One of my favourite films of all time

[Killer Meteor]

Space jam 2 only put the price up higher

[Nedoflanders]

Originally Posted by fatboyslim142

In regards to Ken Russell's Masterpiece The Devils!

Oh dear, that confirms Criterion are not sitting on it.

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Space jam 2 only put the price up higher

As I understand it, the materials for the film are in very poor shape and would require a lot of time, effort and dough. Warner Bros refuse to pay for a restoration on account of the film having sold poorly on home video in the past.

I wonder if it's possible to do what Second Sight did with Dawn of the Dead - covering the extortionate licensing costs by presenting the film in a super-duper-deluxe set and charging £70-80. If the demand is there...

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

Space jam 2 only put the price up higher

It does make me laugh that WB seemingly have contempt for The Devils, but they were a-okay with a woman playing Sister Jeanne in Space Jam.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

It does make me laugh that WB seemingly have contempt for The Devils, but they were a-okay with a woman playing Sister Jeanne in Space Jam.

I suspect they didn't know about it till it was too late.

[exidor]

Originally Posted by Nedoflanders

As I understand it, the materials for the film are in very poor shape and would require a lot of time, effort and dough. Warner Bros refuse to pay for a restoration on account of the film having sold poorly on home video in the past.

I wonder if it's possible to do what Second Sight did with Dawn of the Dead - covering the extortionate licensing costs by presenting the film in a super-duper-deluxe set and charging £70-80. If the demand is there...

The materials aren't in that bad a state. The BFI managed to get a decent looking DVD release out. The problem is that Warners are ideologically committed to pretending it doesn't exist and have refused ridiculous figures to license it. They have no interest in making money out of it in any way (except Space Jam cameos, obviously).

[Bes30]

The BFI have also screened a decent quality extended version on the big screen, so the materials are clearly there. It's all down to religious controversy imo.

[Nedoflanders]

Originally Posted by exidor

The materials aren't in that bad a state. The BFI managed to get a decent looking DVD release out. The problem is that Warners are ideologically committed to pretending it doesn't exist and have refused ridiculous figures to license it. They have no interest in making money out of it in any way (except Space Jam cameos, obviously).

Originally Posted by Bes30

The BFI have also screened a decent quality extended version on the big screen, so the materials are clearly there. It's all down to religious controversy imo.

There's more to it than that. Frankly, it's a logistical nightmare.

Ex-member Aclea was very knowledgable about this case and frequently wrote about it, for example: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=116

If you can spare the time, that thread is pretty insightful on the matter.

[Yami]

While it sounds like a sensible take, I'm not sure Aclea was entirely correct about the situation that it is today - his assertion that it was purely economics doesn't really chime with the fact that Criterion offered an "insane" amount and were turned down, for instance. It doesn't sound like an issue with economics with the BFI either, who have said that Warner have "not permitted" them to upgrade their release to Blu-Ray with no "logical answer" as to why.

Logistical nightmare or not, I can't really see a case there for why Warner wouldn't have taken Criterion's money and let them try to sort the mess.

[Gacivory]

Maybe this discussion will be what brings Acela out of exile for one last mission!

[dbvsh]

Draughtman's Contract 25% off in HMV's Black Friday sale

https://hmv.com/store/film-tv/blu-ra...man-s-contract

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by Yami

While it sounds like a sensible take, I'm not sure Aclea was entirely correct about the situation that it is today - his assertion that it was purely economics doesn't really chime with the fact that Criterion offered an "insane" amount and were turned down, for instance. It doesn't sound like an issue with economics with the BFI either, who have said that Warner have "not permitted" them to upgrade their release to Blu-Ray with no "logical answer" as to why.

Logistical nightmare or not, I can't really see a case there for why Warner wouldn't have taken Criterion's money and let them try to sort the mess.

Yeah, as much as I respect Aclea, I never really bought his theories as to why The Devils has always been treated like a red-headed step-child (and that's being generou) by WB. If it was purely economical, then why did WB insist on the BFI cutting the Rape of Christ sequence from the Hell on Earth documentary? It's pretty obvious to me that some old, decrepit execs at WB still have a bee in their bonnet and as long as they're alive, we'll never seen the director's cut on home video.

BTW, there was a rather good documentary broadcast on TV about a decade ago highlighting various films which ran into trouble with the BBFC. There's a segment on The Devils beginning about 24 mins in and they even show a good deal of the Rape of Christ sequence:

Dear Censor - BBFC Documentary - Video Nasties - YouTube

[fatboyslim142]

Our Black Friday sale starts today at #BFIShop! Grab yourself a bargain with special offers on box sets, Blu-rays & more

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/dvd-blu-ray/...source=twitter

[RossyG]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

It's pretty obvious to me that some old, decrepit execs at WB still have a bee in their bonnet and as long as they're alive, we'll never seen the director's cut on home video.

It’s probably the same as why ITV refuse to allow the 80s comedy series Hardwicke House out on DVD. It was controversial enough for them to slap a huge red warning label over it and since then no one can be bothered or wants to risk rescinding it.