The Official Network Thread

[Yami]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

I do understand that ITV have improved albeit only a little in the last few years and were authoring through Dragon Digital in Bridgend (They have their wetgate equipment on display even) so maybe there's an outside chance.

They've only released 3 catalog titles in as many years, you don't have to worry about them encoding a single bit of Sapphire

I hope that another label gets an ITV deal soon, so it isn't just Network.

[Modman]

Originally Posted by Aclea

You should check out British quota quickie The Man in the Back Seat, which is on one of Network's Edgar Wallace Mysteries DVD sets (volume five). It's a real surprise – a simple idea nicely executed with plenty of one-damn-thing-after-another twists courtesty of Malcolm Hulke and Eric Paice’s tight script and the role of a lifetime for Derren Nesbitt.

I will, picked up the Edgar Wallace complete collection in the recent Flash sale.

Non Network and Nesbitt related, not sure you would call them classics but Jigsaw (Jack Warner and Ronald Lewis) and Smokescreen (Peter Vaughan) are both enjoyable watches.

[sjt]

Originally Posted by Modman

I will, picked up the Edgar Wallace complete collection in the recent Flash sale.

Non Network and Nesbitt related, not sure you would call them classics but Jigsaw (Jack Warner and Ronald Lewis) and Smokescreen (Peter Vaughan) are both enjoyable watches.

Both recently screened to death on Talking Pictures TV. The awkwardly jokey tone of the latter irritated me: but Jigsaw struck me as a thoroughly effective whodunnit, strongly acted by all concerned and of great socio-geographical interest because of the extensive location work in a Brighton that barely exists any more as depicted in the film.

And another Derren Nesbitt starrer that - I think - Sony Classic Movies has been showing with astonishing latterday frequency is Strongroom, exactly contemporary with the other two, also directed by Vernon Sewell, and as tightly tense an 80' filler as you're ever likely to encounter, both (expectedly) claustrophobic and (unexpectedly) downbeat. Eminently worth seeking out.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by Yami

They've only released 3 catalog titles in as many years, you don't have to worry about them encoding a single bit of Sapphire

I hope that another label gets an ITV deal soon, so it isn't just Network.

Criterion appear to have the US Rights (or did) as it was part of their Eclipse Range on DVD.

If not Network I would like if BFI or Eureka could pick up the licence for it. It's such an important film in terms of social history in British Cinema. This should be BFI territory in that respect.

ITV released their bodged DVD in Sept 2011 so I'm assuming their licence expires on or just before that.

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Criterion appear to have the US Rights (or did) as it was part of their Eclipse Range on DVD.

If not Network I would like if BFI or Eureka could pick up the licence for it. It's such an important film in terms of social history in British Cinema. This should be BFI territory in that respect.

ITV released their bodged DVD in Sept 2011 so I'm assuming their licence expires on or just before that.

Given it’s a Rank film ITV can’t lose their licence as they own the film at least for the U.K.

I guess the problem is that ITV don’t see an HD TV market for hit so haven’t restored it and same with Network who can release the ITV titles ITV allow them to and if they could they obviously don’t see it economic making an HD master themselves and releasing a BD.

You could see at some point BFI restoring it as a classic British film but whether they could release on BD or if ITV put it out on BD or let Network do so is anyone’s guess.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by malcy30

Given it’s a Rank film ITV can’t lose their licence as they own the film at least for the U.K.

I guess the problem is that ITV don’t see an HD TV market for hit so haven’t restored it and same with Network who can release the ITV titles ITV allow them to and if they could they obviously don’t see it economic making an HD master themselves and releasing a BD.

You could see at some point BFI restoring it as a classic British film but whether they could release on BD or if ITV put it out on BD or let Network do so is anyone’s guess.

Well as Network have released a number of Rank Titles under 'The British Film' header including titles a lot more obscure than Sapphire and quite recently I don't really see what the barriers would be.

[benkell]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

Good to know, many thanks. No idea how I missed that

That'll no doubt explain why I got a shipping notification for an item with the same order number this morning.

Shame I missed the limited slipcase, but I do like that clear Amaray case it comes in.

Looks like i need to visit Specsavers as well!

Also received a shipping notification with the same order number (My first thought was they were sending the same discs again as many forum members received doubles)

[malcy30]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Well as Network have released a number of Rank Titles under 'The British Film' header including titles a lot more obscure than Sapphire and quite recently I don't really see what the barriers would be.

I am sure thought those have been restored by ITV and not Network. The Network film BD range is mostly easy wins for them when ITV or SC offer them a BD master.

May be for this one the film elements are in poor condition so a restoration would cost a lot more money, or no ones asked to buy for TV which these days would require an HD version.

[Si Parallel Universe]

Originally Posted by malcy30

I am sure thought those have been restored by ITV and not Network. The Network film BD range is mostly easy wins for them when ITV or SC offer them a BD master.

May be for this one the film elements are in poor condition so a restoration would cost a lot more money, or no ones asked to buy for TV which these days would require an HD version.

The eclipse DVD looks perfectly fine and it wouldn't make sense to release much less well known and watchable titles and not this.

As Toyah would say It's a Mystery.

[Aclea]

Sadly, I don't think it's much of a mystery. It's a genuinely forgotten film with forgotten stars (and I say that as someone who knew Earl Cameron when he came back to the UK and as a kid spent some time with Nigel Patrick's family because he was a friend of my father) and a director who has slipped off the critical radar. In fact I even had some non-theatrical non-video rights for the film myself at one time (scuppered by poor master material, but I did at least get some rather good original stills from the film out of it). Pre-Talking Pictures it never turned up on TV for decades while it currently nestles at no. 7945 on amazon's DVD/BD chart. The first time I got to see it was when it came out on an early sell-through video in a cardboard sleeve for the grand price of £3.99 (

[Show spoiler]

). Like a lot of social issue films, it got headlines in its day but got forgotten by the general public and dismissed as naive by the next generation of film critics (admittedly the 'you can always tell' scene in the jazz bar has dated badly).

Which is why it needs someone like the BFI to take it on if Strawberry Media's licence from ITV has expired: yes, it's a great film and yes, it's historically important, but it needs to be rediscovered, and an NFT Dearden season and a BFI BD to get a bit of attention outside the Guardian (who seem to be the only mainstream media reviewing Network titles these days, and then fairly rarely).

[Modman]

Originally Posted by Aclea

Sadly, I don't think it's much of a mystery. It's a genuinely forgotten film with forgotten stars (and I say that as someone who knew Earl Cameron when he came back to the UK and as a kid spent some time with Nigel Patrick's family because he was a friend of my father) and a director who has slipped off the critical radar. In fact I even had some non-theatrical non-video rights for the film myself at one time (scuppered by poor master material, but I did at least get some rather good original stills from the film out of it). Pre-Talking Pictures it never turned up on TV for decades while it currently nestles at no. 7945 on amazon's DVD/BD chart. The first time I got to see it was when it came out on an early sell-through video in a cardboard sleeve for the grand price of £3.99 (

[Show spoiler]

). Like a lot of social issue films, it got headlines in its day but got forgotten by the general public and dismissed as naive by the next generation of film critics (admittedly the 'you can always tell' scene in the jazz bar has dated badly).

Which is why it needs someone like the BFI to take it on if Strawberry Media's licence from ITV has expired: yes, it's a great film and yes, it's historically important, but it needs to be rediscovered, and an NFT Dearden season and a BFI BD to get a bit of attention outside the Guardian (who seem to be the only mainstream media reviewing Network titles these days, and then fairly rarely).

Speaking of Nigel Patrick, I am sure I have seen Johnny Nobody (again a movie mentioned by Tarantino) and I would happily buy but not sure it's ever had even a proper DVD release.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fFzy05jucLE

[Nedoflanders]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

Well if he's re-evaluated Attenborough it might mean he's seen 10 Rillington Place and would have Roth in mind due to the remake but yes Gary Oldman is the other 'obvious' choice for him.

I'd personally go for Bill Nighy in any adaptation of a Cockrill novel or were he well enough Richard Wilson

You don't say...

[Aclea]

Just noticed one of those awkward misprints on the spine...

[sjt]

They evidently don't know their As from their elbow.....

And their logo always confuses me, which due to its "artwork" I always read as "Netwerk", which I believe is "no twerking" in Dutch...

[Aclea]

I guess they were too distracted by the image of Robin Hood rifling through Anouk's drawers. What would Maid Marian think?

[sjt]

Originally Posted by Aclea

I guess they were too distracted by the image of Robin Hood rifling through Anouk's drawers. What would Maid Marian think?

Like me, probably, that Friar Tuck is a spoonerism just waiting to happen...

[lemonski]

Originally Posted by Aclea

I guess they were too distracted by the image of Robin Hood rifling through Anouk's drawers. What would Maid Marian think?

He's probably thinking "I wonder if these would fit me?"

[Martyghost]

Originally Posted by malcy30

I am sure thought those have been restored by ITV and not Network. The Network film BD range is mostly easy wins for them when ITV or SC offer them a BD master.

I'm not so sure. All the ones I've just looked at in my collection from the ITV library like Assault, Some Girls Do, Father Came Too, Cottage to Let, Death Line, Maroc7 and The Fast Lady seem to be Network jobs according to the sleeve notes.

[jackranderson]

Originally Posted by Modman

Out of interest more then expectation I emailed Network on Friday and asked them what if anything would they do to remedy that I couldn't checkout for the last few hours of the Flash sale - items still in my cart the last time I looked.

I got a reply today stating "we are working on a way to remedy this and offer the sale prices for you", they said they would get back to me in a couple of days.

Others might consider doing the same, you never know!?!

I tried this but only got an apology and a “I’m afraid the sale is over now”, another response did state they are working to make sure this doesn’t happen again so hopefully they succeed and give us another sale soon so I don’t miss out on the python box

[CelestialAgent]

How long are the extras on Neruda and The Club