British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[Dougling]

Originally Posted by thuata

The previous releases for all four Pasolini films were quite solid, and they've been resold as part of a boxset already, unless the BFI got their hands on a much better transfer I don't see the point in a plain reissue

Agreed, I have the Trilogy of Life individually and they all look really good (only skimmed Notes for an African Oresteia but it seemed solid), as does Medea and as did my copy of Salo (which I sold as I'm not really keen on the film, the only one of his I don't really like). I haven't checked out their release of Theorem yet but I'll probably buy it at some point soon.

[BarnDoor]

So as things stand with the July-September slate, 4 of the releases are essentially re-releases or solo releases from larger collections, which leaves only 3 'new' releases? Alright one's a boxset, but still, this is a pretty paltry schedule.

[mattyl149]

I have the DVD of A Kid For Two Farthings knocking about. It's worth a fiver in CEX. I might as well trade it in

[Cremildo]

Very curious to see whether the Comes a Horseman transfer will be the same as the one in the TT disc.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Very curious to see whether the Comes a Horseman transfer will be the same as the one in the TT disc.

Considering that MGM rarely remaster titles themselves, I won't be surprised if it's the same transfer.

[Aclea]

Obscure title + box-office and critical flop* + MGM/UA = whatever master is on the shelf


* The RT rating based on 21st century reviews is very misleading on this one: it was pretty much roundly slated when it came out (Comatose Horseman was the consensus about the lethargic pacing)

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Cremildo

Very curious to see whether the Comes a Horseman transfer will be the same as the one in the TT disc.

Why would you think it wouldn’t be? It’s a great albeit obscure little film, it wouldn’t warrant a new transfer from a profit perspective. The elements are in bad shape, but the real question is if BFI spent money to try and clean up the imperfections, which isn’t the same thing as the “transfer.” I doubt it though, since sales wouldn’t offset the cost of the work that’s needed on it. It is what it is.

Other than the print damage, the transfer looks rather nice.

[rossbirks]

Noticed in those specs BFI seem to be going the Arrow "first pressing only booklet" route.

[RossyG]

Very wise of them. They should do first pressing slipcovers too. It's a tactic that works. Certainly does with me, at any rate.

[BarnDoor]

The Pasolini films will utilize 'High Definition masters new to the UK and will feature new and existing extras':

https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/...ed-summer-2019

[magnetiques]

so likely matching the criterion versions? i have the bfi pasolini boxset but i kind of want the new trilogy

[johnpaul2]

There has been a new Salo 4K restoration in 2015, so I'm curious to know if the BFI will use the older Criterion master or this new restoration.

[magnetiques]

they've used the term, 'new to the UK' which makes me think it's the former but could just as well be the 4k for a new release now.

[rapta]

Fairly happy with the Pakula announcement as any of his pre-80's stuff is good news as far as I'm concerned - hoping Criterion announce Klute for the UK, and maybe we'll eventually get The Parallax View too...

Also interested in both the Pasolini and Reed announcements. I didn't actually buy the old editions of the former so will now be keener to get these versions if they're new transfers - The Trilogy of Life anyway (I'll probably skip Salo again as it's not something I'd realistically watch more than once). Not heard of the latter but am interested in any Reed/Korda so will get that eventually (though still curious as to why we still haven't seen Our Man in Havana show up via MoC/Indicator/Arrow, nor something like The Man Between).

[BarnDoor]

Originally Posted by rapta

Not heard of the latter but am interested in any Reed/Korda so will get that eventually (though still curious as to why we still haven't seen Our Man in Havana show up via MoC/Indicator/Arrow, nor something like The Man Between).

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-M...lu-ray/162854/

[John Hodson]

A Kid For Two Farthings is, on every level, a genuinely gorgeous film with Reed proving, once again, what a magnificent director of child actors he was.

[Patient-X]

Originally Posted by johnpaul2

There has been a new Salo 4K restoration in 2015, so I'm curious to know if the BFI will use the older Criterion master or this new restoration.

A Salo 4k restoration....proof you can polish a turd, literally

[rapta]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-M...lu-ray/162854/

Wait, I already have that! How have I not watched it yet? Oops.

[CelestialAgent]

Perhaps most exciting - beyond the individual discs of the Jarman films - are these two DVD sets!

At Last the 1948 Show

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/pre-order-at...c-dvd-set.html

This lovingly curated new deluxe three-disc set restores all the existing episodes from both series of the programme in the correct order, and is as complete as is currently possible. It includes all ten surviving episodes, two almost completely reconstructed episodes, and the complete audio of a further episode with fragments of film restored; all drawn from the vaults of the BFI National Archive, and proudly presented alongside an array of newly-filmed and archive extras.

Includes all the complete surviving episodes from series one and two, plus two reconstructed episodes, for the very first time
Newly recorded interviews with Humphrey Barclay and Tim Brooke-Taylor (2019)
Archive interviews with John Cleese, Marty Feldman, Tim Brooke-Taylor and Aimi MacDonald
**FIRST PRESSING ONLY** fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the show by series expert Steve Bryant, not quite 400 words by Tim Brooke-Taylor, and full credits
Other extras TBC

Do Not Adjust Your Set

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/pre-order-do...l#.XNdO8LLTWhA

For the first time anywhere, all the fully existing episodes from the Rediffusion and Thames series of the show are brought together at last in one place for a deluxe package that includes five episodes new to DVD, at least two of which were previously thought lost, alongside new interviews with series creator and producer Humphrey Barclay, writer and performer Michael Palin, uninvited guest star Tim Brooke-Taylor, animations from Terry Gilliam’s personal film collection, and a new documentary about the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, featuring new interviews with 1960s originators and key personnel Neil Innes, Rodney Slater, Roger Ruskin-Spear and ‘Legs’ Larry Smith.

Includes all 14 fully surviving episodes, from both the Rediffusion and Thames series, five of which have never been previously released on DVD
New digital transfers of rare animations by Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) from his own film elements
Newly recorded interview with Michael Palin (2019)
Newly recorded interview with uninvited guest star Tim Brooke-Taylor (2019)
Newly recorded interview with series creator and producer Humphrey Barclay (2019)
Bonzos on the Box: Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band members reflect upon the history of the group and their appearances on television, in a special documentary made up of new interviews with key 1960s originators and personnel Neil Innes, Rodney Slater, Roger Ruskin-Spear and ‘Legs’ Larry Smith (2019)
**FIRST PRESSING ONLY** fully illustrated booklet with new writing on the series by the BFI’s Vic Pratt and full series credits
Other extras TBC

It’s awesome to see as complete as possible versions of these series (1948 Show was reduced to 5 Swedish compilation episodes for DVD previously!) and it seems such an exciting time for vintage British series as Network came out with The Goodies recently too.

The BFI has also added additional details to their People on Sunday release:

New audio commentary by critic and author Adrian Martin
Score composed by Elena Kats-Chernin. Performed by Czech Film Orchestra, conducted by Frank Strobel
Weekend am Wansee (2000, 32 mins): documentary by Gerard Koll on People on Sunday. Featuring interviews with surviving members of the production - Brigitte Borchert and Curt Siodmak
Eine Fahrt Durch Berlin (1910): this 1910 travelogue takes you on the trip through the streets of Berlin
Beside the Seaside (1935): this wittily observant 1935 documentary by Marion Grierson shows Londoners flocking to the coast to enjoy themselves during a heatwave
This Year – London (1953): the adventures of the staff of a Leicester-based boot and shoe factory on their annual shop holiday works outing are captured in this documentary by John Krish (The Elephant Will Never Forget)
**FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Fully illustrated booklet with new essays by Amanda De Marco and Sarah Wood and full film credits

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by thuata

The previous releases for all four Pasolini films were quite solid, and they've been resold as part of a boxset already, unless the BFI got their hands on a much better transfer I don't see the point in a plain reissue

They say in the announcement that these releases will contain both NEW and existing features. But, yes, these will have to be some very significant new features to warrant picking all of this up again.

I have the BFI box set; I have the Criterion 'Trilogy' set and Criterion "Salo". I can't justify TRIPLE dipping on these unless there is some extraordinary difference.

Something that might sell it for me would be the inclusion of other, rare films. Like Pasolini's "Notes for a Film on India" or his shorts from "Love and Anger" or "Caprice, Italian Style" or something like that.