British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[jackranderson]

Originally Posted by dr727

I think demand has increased — specifically in preorders and an increasing undercurrent of FOMO with the booklets. Which titles did you pick up?

Yeah it does seem to be getting a little more extreme - I did a similar order earlier in the year and around christmas 2023 and everything included a booklet, maybe that was just luck though.

The ones without a booklet:

The Draughtman's Contract
Bluebeard's Castle
Nineteen Eighty Four
Polytechnique
La Regle Du Jeu
Scala!!!

The ones with:

Chocolat
Targets
A Dry White Season

[fatboyslim142]

Originally Posted by GaryCouzens

I reviewed the Artificial Eye disc for The Digital Fix and the BFI disc for Cine Outsider, and can confirm that the audition footage and screen tests are the same.

The Serge Toubiana introductions are carried over from the original French DVDs (which I still own) and they are in French with English subtitles. The same applies to the commentary tracks (with the participants interviewed by Toubiana). As you note, the BFI disc of The Last Metro has an additional new commentary by Annette Insdorf. This disc also has an image gallery (1:44) which isn't on the AE.

The Jules et Jim releases are much the same, with the Toubiana introduction (3:48) exclusive to AE and the following exclusive to the BFI:

John Player Lecture: François Truffaut (53:10, audio only, alternate soundtrack on the main feature, in French with optional subtitles)
Jeanne Moreau in Conversation (82:52, audio only, another alternate soundtrack, conducted in English)
Screen Epiphanies: John Hurt on Jules et Jim (8:29)
2022 reissue trailer (sorry, running time has gone astray from my review - the original trailer is on both editions)
Image gallery (6:46)

Said Annette Insdorf commentary is different to the one on Criterion release as she did the US release one in 2009.

[Grenseal]

Originally Posted by jackranderson

Yeah it does seem to be getting a little more extreme - I did a similar order earlier in the year and around christmas 2023 and everything included a booklet, maybe that was just luck though.

The ones without a booklet:

The Draughtman's Contract
Bluebeard's Castle
Nineteen Eighty Four
Polytechnique
La Regle Du Jeu
Scala!!!

The ones with:

Chocolat
Targets
A Dry White Season

I was lucky to find a SCALA!!! in store with a booklet. One out of 10 copies they had.

[BarnDoor]

On the BFI DVD, Blu-ray & UHD Facebook group, Ben Stoddart has revealed that work on Short Sharp Shocks Vol 4 is 'well underway'.

Interestingly, he was asked about The Image (1969), and while he didn't suggest it would be included, he did say this:

I know we've been in touch with director Michael Armstrong in recent times (not about this film specifically)

Realistically, I feel like this could only be in relation to Screamtime. While I'd expect a separate Flipside release, I suppose it's not impossible they could include the 3 extended versions of the segments that make up Screamtime on SSS Vol 4.

Ben also teased something from BBC's Screen Two strand, though not a box set unfortunately.

Finally, he was asked again about West Country Tales, and responded:

trying to make it happen man, believe me!

Fingers crossed!

[OceanBlue]

Your post above BarnDoor is much appreciated. Very happy to see that a fourth Short Sharp Shocks volume is in the works. And I know (from a post or two you made in a DVD Movies thread) that you would be well pleased if there was a physical media release of some or all of West Country Tales. This is the sort of stuff I especially like seeing come from the BFI.

[Gerby]

Great to hear Short Sharp Shocks Vol.4 is in the works. I thought Vol. 3 was the strongest edition yet.
I'm still hoping that Panic (1978) will show up on a volume at some point.

[pnaschy]

Originally Posted by Gerby

Great to hear Short Sharp Shocks Vol.4 is in the works. I thought Vol. 3 was the strongest edition yet.
I'm still hoping that Panic (1978) will show up on a volume at some point.

I've never heard of Panic but having just read the synopsis it's something I'd really like to see.

[BarnDoor]

I believe Panic is with Paramount, so I'm not holding my breath for that one unfortunately.

[dressedtokill]

So, what are the chances BFI might tackle The Plague Dogs next?

[chard88]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

So, what are the chances BFI might tackle The Plague Dogs next?

I really hope they do!!

[T4ffer]

I just watched the old Plague Dogs Blu-Ray after seeing Watership Down 4K and yes, I would love to get a proper restoration of that movie, preferably in both cuts. I think it's an even better story than Watership Down.

[Dogwood]

Originally Posted by T4ffer

I just watched the old Plague Dogs Blu-Ray after seeing Watership Down 4K and yes, I would love to get a proper restoration of that movie, preferably in both cuts. I think it's an even better story than Watership Down.

I would very much like to visit the alternate dimension where an animated film about vivisection got greenlit. Would love to see BFI do this some day.

[Nitroes]

Few things been added to HMV's BFI sale

Mind the 20% off.

[GaryCouzens]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

I believe Panic is with Paramount, so I'm not holding my breath for that one unfortunately.

The same applies to James Dearden's other short Diversion, from which Fatal Attraction was derived.

[latehong]

DVD Beaver review on High and Low

[Dr. Humbert]

Originally Posted by latehong

DVD Beaver review on High and Low

Looks like a significant upgrade.

[chrismansell]

Just looking at the first screen capture, specifically the police officers' white shirts, the difference in detail is absolutely staggering. I was a little wary of only a sideways upgrade, but even as a happy owner of the Criterion release for a few years now, this seems like a must buy.

[justwannaboogie]

Originally Posted by latehong

DVD Beaver review on High and Low

Huge improvement, the Criterion looks like a bootleg DVD in comparison

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by justwannaboogie

Huge improvement, the Criterion looks like a bootleg DVD in comparison

Oh dear, another upgrade I need to do. How long after that will Criterion announce a UHD

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

Oh dear, another upgrade I need to do. How long after that will Criterion announce a UHD

Yeah, that's what I'm wondering about. It's honestly bewildering to me that BFI wouldn't see this major Kurosawa title as being big enough to warrant a 4K release too. Feels like they're just leaving money on the table here. Same for Stray Dog. If these films don't deserve 4K, I don't know what does. BFI would have also done HDR/DV as well, which Criterion won't apply if/when they upgrade their release.