British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[Nedoflanders]

Originally Posted by Olmo

I think the box ticking/NY Times appeasing release schedule and the subsequent UHD upgrading of established top sellers as a financial safety net for the inevitable dip in sales would almost certainly relegate this as a very low priority.

I sent an email recently and received a courteous reply to my question would I regret buying the DVD releases of Z & Le deuxième souffle (Z a pricey EBay acquisition) that I should basically buy with confidence.

I've bought more Criterion DVD's than UHD/blu rays recently; the aforementioned titles, Knife in the Water, Il Fidanzati, Il Posto, Dillinger is Dead, 49th Parallel, Spirit of the Beehive, Coup de grâce, Young Torless, The Complete Mr Arkadin, Mysteries of the Organism, Sweet Movie & Wise Blood. Titles that with an almost certainty I predict won't be upgraded anytime soon.

In a nutshell, we've seen the last of the release of Tunes of Glory and the like.

Same. I could see them upgrading the Mr. Arkadin set in the future (Welles sells), but DVD upgrades have definitely taken a backseat.

Criterion still produce enough to catch my eye, only with import prices and the UK arm charging beyond £20 for standard releases, they rarely seem essential these days.

[trobrianders]

Originally Posted by Nedoflanders

Same. I could see them upgrading the Mr. Arkadin set in the future (Welles sells)

I do have the Criterion Arkadin set but admittedly did not watch all three versions to drill down into the differences (I'll leave that to academics). The read up was interesting though. I didn't wait for a UK upgrade but picked up the OK-ish 2015 Carlotta blu-ray. I suppose a UK label might follow them.

[DavidGallow]

Originally Posted by trobrianders

I do have the Criterion Arkadin set but admittedly did not watch all three versions to drill down into the differences (I'll leave that to academics). The read up was interesting though. I didn't wait for a UK upgrade but picked up the OK-ish 2015 Carlotta blu-ray. I suppose a UK label might follow them.

The three different cuts are on blu on the German edition, same transfer as Criterion. Not got the extras though.

[MifuneFan]

Michael Powell's The Edge of the World (1937) rated by BBFC.

https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-e...jpwwc0yndy4ndi

[justwannaboogie]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Michael Powell's The Edge of the World (1937) rated by BBFC.

https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-e...jpwwc0yndy4ndi

A re-release? Seems unlikely to get an upgrade but who knows.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by justwannaboogie

A re-release? Seems unlikely to get an upgrade but who knows.

I didn't know it was already released. The original one appears to be OOP as it's not for sale at BFI, Amazon, and Zavvi (haven't checked others). I Know Where I'm Going was just rated for cinema, so I think there's a good chance we could see a Powell box set coming out later this year.

edit: Edge is available at HMV

[SML]

Originally Posted by justwannaboogie

A re-release? Seems unlikely to get an upgrade but who knows.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I didn't know it was already released. The original one appears to be OOP as it's not for sale at BFI, Amazon, and Zavvi (haven't checked others). I Know Where I'm Going was just rated for cinema, so I think there's a good chance we could see a Powell box set coming out later this year.

edit: Edge is available at HMV

I own BFI's Blu-ray release of The Edge of the World and would like to give a little warning. The movie and extras are all good, but the transfer has some of the worst encoding I have ever witnessed and I hardly ever notice macroblocking etc.
If they re-release it based on the same source, but with improved encoding it would already be a godsend.

[CelestialAgent]

Screen Daily has profiled the BFI’s theatrical arm, talking about how the success of Bait shifted them to acquiring more new titles and how despite EO being acquired only two hours after Cannes, they tend to have more of a wait and see approach with films like God’s Creatures, The Eternal Daughter, Name Me Lawand and Love Life, and go for titles UK distributors hold off on and need the support. It also shows how successful reissues can be, with Rashomon making £94K, Dance Craze £86K and Get Carter £57K at the UK box office, and a restoration of Pressure restored by the BFI National Archive heading back to cinemas later this year!

https://www.screendaily.com/features...183755.article

[rapta]

Really looking forward to The Eternal Daughter, and have wanted to see Pressure for ages now so that’s great news! Hope both make it to Blu-ray in 2024!

[CelestialAgent]

Per Facebook, Gallivant is limited to only 1000 copies.

[grahams76]

The BFI has replied to my question on Instagram asking if Pressure (1975) is coming to blu-ray with: "We are currently considering a blu-ray release in 2024."

I wonder if Baldwin's N-Word will be included, mirroring the DVD release?

[CavebobSpongeman]

According to Amazon, the Gregory's Girl 4K has been delayed until September 16th. Still, I ordered it with the glitched price so I'm MORE than happy to wait.

[CelestialAgent]

I had it in my basket with the glitch price, but then couldn’t think of anything to pair it with to make it up to £20 for free shipping!

[DavidGallow]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

I had it in my basket with the glitch price, but then couldn’t think of anything to pair it with to make it up to £20 for free shipping!

£25 since before that was announced, no?

I find Prime works for me. The next (or same) day deliveries, being able to order cheap things for the home, streaming service...really a no-brainer. Especially since they now are often not sending things till 3-5 days after release date on SuperSaver much less trying to make sure you get the item on it.

[Olmo]

Originally Posted by CavebobSpongeman

According to Amazon, the Gregory's Girl 4K has been delayed until September 16th. Still, I ordered it with the glitched price so I'm MORE than happy to wait.

Wonder if this may go the same way as Watership Down?

Also recall the advertised blu ray releases of Scorsese’s
Who’s That Knocking at my Door? & Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore never materialising.

[Nedoflanders]

Originally Posted by Olmo

Wonder if this may go the same way as Watership Down?

Also recall the advertised blu ray releases of Scorsese’s
Who’s That Knocking at my Door? & Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore never materialising.

I doubt it. It's not unusual, in the current climate, for labels to miss deadlines and delay releases for a couple of months.

Watership Down was likely cancelled due to Richard Adams' estate and the complicated rights issue(s).

The two Scorsese films were mis-sold to the BFI as having HD masters, only for them to arrive in SD. Eventually, to cut some losses, they issued DVDs.

[RossyG]

I remember several years ago, BFI staff mentioning online that they were working on A Canterbury Tale and The Music Machine.

Still waiting for those.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by RossyG

I remember several years ago, BFI staff mentioning online that they were working on A Canterbury Tale and The Music Machine.

Still waiting for those.

A Canterbury Tale is a film I love almost above all others; it is painful to me that fifteen years after the inception of Blu-ray there is still no HD release of it anywhere.

[Nedoflanders]

Originally Posted by RossyG

I remember several years ago, BFI staff mentioning online that they were working on A Canterbury Tale and The Music Machine.

Still waiting for those.

In the case of A Canterbury Tale, are you sure that wasn't a theatrical re-release? ITV are pretty stubborn when it comes to licensing in the UK and refuse to do one-title deals - they're also notorious for being tight when it comes to 2K/4K scans (or even a decent HD scan, in some cases) and generally won't oblige unless outside funding is provided.

[MifuneFan]

Extras finally up for Gothic:

• Presented in High Definition
• Feature commentary by film historian Matthew Melia and Lisi Russell (2018)
• Interview with Stephen Volk (2023, tk mins): the writer of Gothic revisits his earliest feature script
• The Sound of Shelley with Julian Sands (2017, 18 mins): the actor reflects upon the making of Gothic
• Amelia and the Angel (1958, 27 mins): in this charming early Russell short, a young girl, cast as an angel in the school play, is distraught when her brother damages her treasured wings. Pocket money in hand, Amelia traverses London on the hunt for a new pair in time for the play
• The Guardian Lecture: Ken Russell in conversation with Derek Malcolm (1987, 89 mins, audio only): the director reflects upon his career, at the time of Gothic
• Gallery
• Original trailer
• Other extras TBC
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet featuring new essays by Ellen Cheshire and Jon Dear and full film credits

and Brannigan:

• Presented in High Definition
• Audio commentary by Steve Mitchell and critic Nathaniel Thompson (2017)
• A Duke Out of Water (2023, 37 mins): reminiscences from the people who made Brannigan
• Frank Henson on Brannigan (2021, 4 mins): the veteran stuntman looks back on doubling the Duke
• Take It to the Bridge (1905-1956, 23 mins): historical glimpses of the Thames, Tower Bridge and other Brannigan locations
• A Policeman’s Lot (1896-1973, 35 mins): a copper’s clutch of films concerning crimefighters and crooks, proceeding from the very earliest days of cinema towards the Brannigan era
• The Guardian Interview: Richard Attenborough (1983, 89 mins, audio only): the award-winning actor and director, and John Wayne’s Brannigan co-star, reflects upon his illustrious career
• An extensive selection of location photographs, featuring cast and crew
• Original trailer
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with new essays by Johnny Mains and John Oliver, notes on the special features and credits