British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[Patient-X]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

Used a percent-off coupon I've been harboring on this. At this price it's even cheaper than waiting on the presumed Criterion release at half-off.

On another note, does anyone know why PayPal never works on Zavvi anymore?

I used PayPal for something from Zavvi earlier today and had no problem.

[fdm]

Seems the Emil And The Detectives release is dvd only, but I've been interested in seeing the German version for a long time (or any version I suppose for that matter, it will include the UK version too), so also looking forward to it coming out. Hope it's in decent shape.

[Battra92]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Underground Blu-ray PRE-ORDER



Pro-B

I just preordered underground. I'm glad to see the BFI release more silent films as that is what I primarily want to buy on BD. (Talkies have their place but I'm more of an old school guy. )

[mhurne]

I recently received two BFI dual-format releases from Amazon UK with damaged booklets. Would anyone know of a replacement program, who to contact?

Thanks in advance!

[Judex]

you could always try filmstore@bfi.org.uk

Sadly with those cases and how big the holes are near the holder alot of booklets end up damaged.

Quite afew of my MoC, Arrow, BFI have scuffs because of them.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I have to wonder here, do even gangsters do anything violent in an Ozu film?

Originally Posted by NoirFan

They smile sadly while quietly sipping sake and exchanging enigmatic, subtle glances.

How did I miss these posts?

At least in these early films of his

[Show spoiler]the protagonist starts off as a "thug" and seems to find the error of his ways and makes all efforts to atone for his crimes...even though it mostly involves gambling and stealing from people. No hits, as far as I can see. This usually entails him turning himself in and serving his time...but he soon leaves prison and is rewarded with a good life.

Oh...there are fisticuffs, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone get shot.

These are atypical, but interesting and enjoyable films, nonetheless.

[BigNickUK]

Humphrey Jennings Volume 3 is up for preorder now

[mattyl149]

Just in case you aren't aware, and I'm not sure I've seen it mentioned here (although I could have easily missed it), The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie is also getting a limited 1000 print run release including a bonus DVD, like they did with the Flipside release of Deep End

Knowing my luck with BFI booklets, I have a nasty feeling that I may get a damaged booklet. I might order a spare copy in case it has sells out and there are no replacement copies available

[Funktion]

Originally Posted by mattyl149

Just in case you aren't aware, and I'm not sure I've seen it mentioned here (although I could have easily missed it), The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie is also getting a limited 1000 print run release including a bonus DVD, like they did with the Flipside release of Deep End

Thanks for the tip, I wasn't aware...

Besides this and Deep End (which I also managed to get), has the BFI released any other limited edition?

[mattyl149]

Originally Posted by Funktion

Thanks for the tip, I wasn't aware...

Besides this and Deep End (which I also managed to get), has the BFI released any other limited edition?

I got Deep End by luck really as I wasn't aware of the limited release and I saw it in HMV just after it came out and picked up one of the last two copies

The only "limited" releases were the two Famous Five DVD releases that came with the novels, the Bodysong DVD that came with a book and Man With A Movie Camera which came in a round metal tin. As for ones with bonus discs, I'm not aware of any others. I have all their Blu-ray releases and nearly all their DVD releases and through the research I've done I've not come across any others

[Cinemach]

If anyone around here has ordered Tess from Zavvi within the past week or so, has your order shipped? They appear not to be able to allocate stock for my order, and I wonder if that's an issue with native UK orders as well.

[Judex]

Originally Posted by Cinemach

If anyone around here has ordered Tess from Zavvi within the past week or so, has your order shipped? They appear not to be able to allocate stock for my order, and I wonder if that's an issue with native UK orders as well.

It sold out, so they removed it from the website.

I got
the e-mail this morning "unable to allocate stock" and this afternoon it's moved into awaiting shipment.

[BarnDoor]

So the longer version of The Killing of a Chinese Bookie will be presented on Blu-ray!

THE KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE (3-Disc Limited Edition)

A film by John Cassavetes

Receiving its long-overdue High Definition premiere, as part of this Dual Format three-disc Special Edition, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie is John Cassavetes' uncompromising character study of a gangster.

Cassavetes regular Ben Gazzara (Anatomy of a Murder, Husbands, The Big Lebowski, plays a seedy Los Angeles strip-club owner who runs up heavy gambling debts which he arranges to wipe out by murdering an elderly Chinese gangster. Also amongst the cast is Cassavetes regular Seymour Cassel (Faces, Rushmore) and legendary cult actor Timothy Carey (The Killing, Paths of Glory).

Arguably the most plot-driven of his films, Cassavates withdrew The Killing of a Chinese Bookie shortly after the initial release and subsequently re-cut a shorter version with a different opening. Both cuts are made available on the Blu-ray and DVD

This strictly limited edition (of 1,000 units) contains a bonus DVD with the 1993 documentary feature Anything for John, the 1981 short The Haircut, starring Cassavetes, and an interview with The Haircut director Tamar Hoffs.

Special Features

- Presented in both High Definition and Standard Definition
- Includes both the 135 minute and 108 minute re-cut versions
- Selected scene commentary by Al Rubin and Peter Bogdanovich on long version
- Anything for John (1993, 90 mins, limited edition DVD only): feature documentary featuring interviews with Cassavetes' collaborators Gena Rowlands, Peter Falk and Al Rubin
- The Haircut (1981, 24 mins, limited edition DVD only): rare 1981 short starring John Cassavetes
- Tamar Toffs Interview (1993, 6 mins, limited edition DVD only): the director of The Haircut discusses her film and working with Cassavates
- Extensive booklet with essays and film credits
- Strictly limited to 1,000 units

[BAKA]

I noticed 2 editions on Sainsbury's Entertainment and wondered what was going on. I assumed it was a mistake on their part. Now I see this news, and 2 on Amazon also. Can't wait for this.

[Cinemach]

Originally Posted by Judex

It sold out, so they removed it from the website.

I got
the e-mail this morning "unable to allocate stock" and this afternoon it's moved into awaiting shipment.

I actually *just* got the despatch email now!

Not surprised that it sold out its allocation; at around $15 USD shipped for me, that's a fantastic price for this.

[nitin]

awesome news on chinese bookie

[*PREACHER*]

Pre-ordered Chinese Bookie on Amazon UK.

[Yami]

The BFI have uploaded a clip of the new HD transfer of Powell/Pressburger's final film, The Boy Who Turned Yellow, on YouTube. It's getting a DVD-only release on June 17th.

[Buffalo66]

Originally Posted by Yami

The BFI have uploaded a clip of the new HD transfer of Powell/Pressburger's final film, The Boy Who Turned Yellow, on YouTube. It's getting a DVD-only release on June 17th.

That makes no sense! "New HD transfer" and "DVD only".

[Yami]

Here are the full specs for that release:

The Children's Film Foundation Collection
Weird Adventures

The last feature made by the distinguished duo of Powell and Pressburger is one of three films featured on a new volume of Children's Film Foundation tales, Weird Adventures, released on DVD by the BFI on 17 June 2013.

This latest collection brings together Alberto Cavalcanti’s The Monster of Highgate Ponds (1961), Powell and Pressburger’s The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972) and A Hitch in Time (Jan Darnley-Smith, 1978) which stars Patrick Troughton.

In The Monster of Highgate Ponds young David promises to guard a mysterious egg which his uncle brings back from Malaysia. But, when a baby monster hatches, mayhem ensues as David struggles to keep the unruly, but friendly, creature from falling into the clutches of two ruthless crooks. This enchanting tale, shot on location on Hampstead Heath, features brilliant animated sequences by the legendary Halas & Batchelor, who also produced the film, and was directed by the celebrated Ealing director Alberto Cavalcanti (Went the Day Well?).

The Boy Who Turned Yellow is the splendidly eccentric final collaboration from eminent filmmaking duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes). London schoolboy John Saunders turns bright yellow after losing his pet mouse on a school trip. Is the mysterious colour change the result of an alien invasion or does the answer lie closer to home?

In A Hitch in Time, Patrick Troughton (Doctor Who) plays time-hopping inventor Professor Adam Wagstaff. Discovered working on his time machine by two curious kids, Wagstaff decides to send them back through the ages. But, with malfunctions a-plenty, will they be able to make it back? Featuring Jeff Rawle (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) as 'Sniffy' Kemp, the teacher out to spoil everybody's fun, A Hitch in Time is a riotous retelling of history.

For over 30 years the Children's Film Foundation produced quality entertainment for young audiences, employing the cream of British filmmaking talent. Newly transferred from the best available elements held in the BFI National Archive, these much-loved and fondly remembered films finally return to the screen after many years out of distribution in specially curated DVD releases from the BFI. The fourth volume of CFF films, Bumps in the Night, will be released in October 2013.

Special Features
• Brand new High Definition transfers of all films;
• Illustrated booklet with writing by Michael Powell, Lem Kitaj (who played Munro in The Boy Who Turned Yellow), Vivian Halas and BFI curator Vic Pratt.

Product Details
RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIVD970 / Cert U
UK / 1961 + 1972 + 1978 / black & white, and colour / English / 56 + 52 + 54 mins / DVD9 / Original aspect ratios 1.37:1 + 1.66:1 (16:9 anamorphic) / Dolby Digital mono (320kbps)

I repeat: DVD-ONLY...unfortunately.