The Official Network Thread

[tennisball.]

Nice to see these HD versions for some of the older movies but having bought dozens of them on dvd in sales I doubt I'll buy the Blu until there's another sale.
I do wish we could have some announcements for the next Anderson show and ITC series.
Stingray and The Champions please.

There should also be a surprise Catweazle Blu possibly on the cards this year also.

[RossyG]

Catweazle’s definitely coming but it’ll be no surprise.

[gouryella]

Originally Posted by tennisball.

Nice to see these HD versions for some of the older movies but having bought dozens of them on dvd in sales I doubt I'll buy the Blu until there's another sale.
I do wish we could have some announcements for the next Anderson show and ITC series.
Stingray and The Champions please.

There should also be a surprise Catweazle Blu possibly on the cards this year also.

My thoughts exactly. I'm not double dipping for the Blu-rays unless they are cheap.

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by RossyG

Catweazle’s definitely coming but it’ll be no surprise.

Catweazle on blu-ray?

Day one, etc...

[tennisball.]

Originally Posted by RossyG

Catweazle’s definitely coming but it’ll be no surprise.

I think it will be to most people.
The only real indicator it's coming at all was a post from someone at the facility that appears to be doing the HD restoration.
There's been no hints from either ITV or Network as to when or even if it will get a Bluray release.

I do hope that the shattering improvement that Network gave us on The Professionals Bluray over how that series has always looked since day one woke someone at ITV up to the fact that assuming the negatives were available we could now see something like Catweazle in a quality we could never have dreamt of so it would make Catweazle and others like Black Beauty sellable to the market again now they were acceptable quality rather than the dreadful bilge we've had with these shows for nearly 50 years.

[tennisball.]

Originally Posted by gouryella

My thoughts exactly. I'm not double dipping for the Blu-rays unless they are cheap.

I like to support Network and I thought I was doing my bit by buying dozens of these British Film dvd's. I got them in the sale but as the majority were second features most were complete unknowns and bought blind based on cast and synopsis alone.
Unfortunately while most of them make for an interesting hour or so few are worth buying a second time - although there are some exceptions. Had they been on Bluray from day one instead of dvd I would have bought then then.
The main exception being the Edgar Wallace Mysteries which I would happily buy again although it would need to be a boxset and not volumes

[fatboyslim142]

Tony Hancock in HD:
The Rebel & The Punch and Judy Man

With half a decade of successful radio and TV series to his credit it was time for British comedy legend Tony Hancock to make the move into films, a step that would see Hancock aiming high, with ambitions to make it as an international star.

A whole new audience of appreciative comedy fans, as well as those already familiar with the films, will be delighted with our brand-new HD restorations of both The Rebel and The Punch and Judy Man – the former being one of Hancock's last collaborations with celebrated British comedy scriptwriting duo Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.

Enjoy!

[HotRats]

Been waiting a long time for those. The Punch and Judy Man is quite downbeat and melancholy but The Rebel is very funny and improves with the passing of time.

Mrs Cravatt: "I've never seen beetroot coloured ducks before!"

Hancock: "Well they fly at a fair lick those ducks, they're up and out of the water and away, you just have to whack on whatever you've got on the brush at the time."

[Fnord Prefect]

Fan of both films and had a feeling they would turn up as part of the British Film Collection 2. Glad they've been confirmed as they felt a long term coming. Neither is a masterpiece but do have enough repeat viewing charm, with the Rebel often quite funny.

Lack of bonus material, except the booklet with The Rebel, isn't surprising but £11.50 ppd is still a fair price for a moderately niche product.

[RossyG]

I’m more interested in The Punch and Judy Man, which is a very interesting film, as if Peter Rogers had produced The Entertainer (although I’ve not seen it in almost thirty years, so I might revise this opinion after rewatching it).

The Rebel has some great moments, but doesn’t quite work for me as a whole and outstays its welcome. But the inclusion of an unmade Galton and Simpson script makes this a must buy.

[Fnord Prefect]

Originally Posted by RossyG

I’m more interested in The Punch and Judy Man, which is a very interesting film, as if Peter Rogers had produced The Entertainer (although I’ve not seen it in almost thirty years, so I might revise this opinion after rewatching it).

The Rebel has some great moments, but doesn’t quite work for me as a whole and outstays its welcome. But the inclusion of an unmade Galton and Simpson script makes this a must buy.

Punch and Judy Man for all it's faults is arguably the "day one" of the pair as The Rebel does play out like a drastically extended episode of Hancock's Half Hour and could have lost a good 15 minutes of fat. But it and him still amuse me enough to warrant an upgrade but might wait for a sale. Then again I want that booklet...

[spearce8]

What chances "The Bargee" getting a release, Network?

[ballsofcheese]

I do wish Network would get on with releasing the next ITC and Anderson shows on Bluray. All these vintage films are great but it's been a while since we had some new ITC.
If they want to do some films lets have some where we don't even have a decent dvd of them like ITV's Norman Wisdom films or the 24 remaining Carry On films. Network are in the unique position of having an ongoing deal with both studios who own the Carry On series

[RossyG]

I believe the Danger Man one hour series is up next. Hopefully we’ll get an announcement email very soon. Ditto one for Stingray or Fireball XL5.

The Carry Ons would be great; so would the On the Buses trilogy and the Doctor series.

I’d also like these, which have a similar feel:

Crooks in Cloisters
Raising the Wind
Twice Around the Daffodils
The Big Job
Please Turn Over

And if we’re on the subject of Peter Rogers films, then I’d like Quest For Love, too, please.

(But I Hope Network keep releasing 1930s films too, like Bulldog Drummond, Sabotage, the Stanley Lupino comedies etc as I love those).

[CV19]

Originally Posted by RossyG

I’d also like these, which have a similar feel:

Crooks in Cloisters
Raising the Wind
Twice Around the Daffodils
The Big Job
Please Turn Over

The Big Job and Raising the Wind are both Anglo-Amalgamated films which I suspect would fall to Studio Canal to release them on blu-ray. Off the top of my head, I think the DVD's of both these films are SC titles.

I agree with you, the Carry On's would be great. There's always a chance Network will release the later Rank films, but the earlier Anglo-Amalgamated Carry On's would again be down to Studio Canal. They've already released 4 of them but sadly seem reluctant to release the remaining 8, which is a pity.

[Modman]

I would be in if Network released Two-Way Stretch, Heavens Above or Only Two Can Play all Studio Canal I believe and Wrong Arm of the Law (might be with ITV). Oh and a non Sellers Crooks Anonymous.

[RossyG]

Originally Posted by CV19

The Big Job and Raising the Wind are both Anglo-Amalgamated films which I suspect would fall to Studio Canal to release them on blu-ray. Off the top of my head, I think the DVD's of both these films are SC titles.

No Kidding and The Duke Wore Jeans were Studio Canal DVDs, remember, but Network released them, so I’m still hopeful.

[Modman]

Originally Posted by CV19

I agree with you, the Carry On's would be great. There's always a chance Network will release the later Rank films, but the earlier Anglo-Amalgamated Carry On's would again be down to Studio Canal. They've already released 4 of them but sadly seem reluctant to release the remaining 8, which is a pity.

Great to see but would be a major undertaking and clearly something Studio Canal thought wasn't worth pursuing.

[RossyG]

If I were Network I’d start with one of the Rank films. Up the Khyber, Again Doctor or Camping.

Or all three.

[CV19]

Originally Posted by RossyG

No Kidding and The Duke Wore Jeans were Studio Canal DVDs, remember, but Network released them, so I’m still hopeful.

Now you mention it, I think Man About The House was a Studio Canal release too, and yet Network issued the blu-ray (there are probably others too) so I'm with you.....I'm hopeful too.

Originally Posted by Modman

Great to see but would be a major undertaking and clearly something Studio Canal thought wasn't worth pursuing.

A shame really. At least the SC DVD's were in the original ratio with reasonable transfers, as I still have the first releases of the Rank Carry On's on DVD by Cinema Club, and some of them were in 4:3 pan-and-scan believe it or not. The picture quality was very hit and miss too.