British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[rapta]

Originally Posted by nitin

Definitely getting Mademoiselle, is that via Studiocanal?

MGM according to Park Circus (and Amazon). Good to see a UK label putting out more MGM stuff, as Eureka/Arrow/Second Sight/Criterion seem to have slowed down a bit (and Powerhouse don't have a deal with them, which is surprising as they did get a limited Fox deal).

[Aunt Peg]

I'll only be buying Mademoiselle as I have the TT Equus, though I'd recommend the other two to anybody who has never seen them. Mind you I'd buy A Pocketful of Miracles, which I do like, if they also included a Blu Ray upgrade of Lady For a Day (1933) which is the better of the two films.

I wonder if Mademoiselle will be presented with the language option of French or English? One of the DVD releases (I think the English) had the option for both or it could have been the US DVD release - I would need to check my English copy.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by grahams76

What’s the Play For Today set? A collection from the TV series?

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Yeah. A 'Best of Play for Today: Volume 1' set - on DVD and Blu-ray - was mentioned in BFI's plans for 2020, though it's possible current events might have delayed it. I should say that there's nothing to indicate that at this stage, I'm just noting the possibility.

On Blu-ray as well as DVD? Were they shot on film? I guess I always thought they were shot on PAL video. Or are they just being upscaled?

[Professor Echo]

Definitely in for EQUUS and will consider the others, though not POCKETFUL. I borrowed the US Blu from a local library and thought the movie was awful, one of Capra’s worst. For fans of it though, I’m glad you are getting a nice release. Still hoping Indicator will start digging into some Capra pre-codes.

[BarnDoor]

Originally Posted by jayembee

On Blu-ray as well as DVD? Were they shot on film? I guess I always thought they were shot on PAL video. Or are they just being upscaled?

I don't have exact numbers, but quite a few were shot on 16mm film, and I would imagine that elements survive for a number of these, either in the BFI's archives or, more likely, the BBC's archives. Obviously those shot (primarily) on film will be the primary candidates for inclusion, though it would be great if one or two of those shot on video were included as extras.

I'm particularly hoping for upgrades of Peter McDougall's incredible Just Another Saturday and Just a Boys' Game. Ideally BFI would do a 'Peter McDougall at the BBC' set, but if we got those two and Elephants' Graveyard on these forthcoming BFI Play for Today sets I'd be delighted (I think Just Your Luck was shot mainly if not entirely on video, but it's been a while since I've seen it so I may be mistaken).

Others I'd love to see include Alan Bleasdale's The Muscle Market and The Black Stuff (it's unclear as to whether or not this is strictly considered part of the Play for Today stand; might also be that BBC release the play and spin-off series on Blu-ray at some point, even if a good chunk of it was shot on video)

[magnetiques]

the new crop of titles have artwork now, and all use original poster art. they've even started integrating the BFI logo, like on Mademoiselle & After the Fox (before it was either flat, white on dark backgrounds or the standard colour version)

BFI's artwork for the regular editions has improved greatly in the past couple of years after they stopped insisting on using their bespoke font (though the uniform look has its own charm), and then the recent switch to scanavo cases.

a conscious move on their part and if they read this: it's appreciated.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by magnetiques

the new crop of titles have artwork now, and all use original poster art. they've even started integrating the BFI logo, like on Mademoiselle & After the Fox (before it was either flat, white on dark backgrounds or the standard colour version)

BFI's artwork for the regular editions has improved greatly in the past couple of years after they stopped insisting on using their bespoke font (though the uniform look has its own charm), and then the recent switch to scanavo cases.

a conscious move on their part and if they read this: it's appreciated.

they end up looking like Indicator covers, especially After the Fox

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

New releases for August and September:

Equus

Pocketful of Miracles

Mademoiselle

After the Fox

Very happy about Equus since I missed out on the TT release, though it's the Play for Today set I'm really excited for. Hopefully it's still coming later this year.

Good choices. I'm almost certain to be double-dipping on Equus, as it's a favorite and will hopefully better the Twilight Time disc, with or without the isolated score.

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Yeah. A 'Best of Play for Today: Volume 1' set - on DVD and Blu-ray - was mentioned in BFI's plans for 2020, though it's possible current events might have delayed it. I should say that there's nothing to indicate that at this stage, I'm just noting the possibility.

I'm also very excited for this on Blu-ray.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

Another BFI title available to stream free

https://milestone.vhx.tv/videos/killer-of-sheep-1

Milestone has a few other BFI released ones as well

https://milestone.vhx.tv/products/fi...samuel-beckett

https://milestone.vhx.tv/products/notfilm

https://milestone.vhx.tv/products/the-exiles

I'm willing to bet this was a glitch because none of these are available free anymore, or maybe spreading the word alerted Milestone to the issue so they changed it

[Si Parallel Universe]

Never thought I'd be able to upgrade my DVD of After the Fox. That's a pleasant surprise

[CelestialAgent]

HMV email suggesting these deals end in a week

[DefLeppard]

Saw this Jan Švankmajer Blu-Ray collection but it's too pricey @ €190 (excl shipping) ..

Wish BFI were releasing something like this..

https://svankmajerjan.com/z510-blu-ray-kolekce/

[thuata]

Originally Posted by DefLeppard

Saw this Jan Švankmajer Blu-Ray collection but it's too pricey @ €190 (excl shipping) ..

Wish BFI were releasing something like this..

https://svankmajerjan.com/z510-blu-ray-kolekce/

An equivalent set in the UK would be a dream come true, besides what they've already released does the BFI own the right for other films ?

[DefLeppard]

Originally Posted by thuata

An equivalent set in the UK would be a dream come true, besides what they've already released does the BFI own the right for other films ?

Not sure as I haven't checked yet but these EU releases are kinda expensive and rare.. MS Polish Films box sets, Jerzy Hoffman Trilogy,Viktor Kubal box sets as well as Slovenský film box sets.. I hope some of these will get released here by BFI or Second Run.

[havalina]

Originally Posted by thuata

An equivalent set in the UK would be a dream come true, besides what they've already released does the BFI own the right for other films ?

New Wave did the dvds of Lunacy, Conspirators of Pleasure and Surviving Life. Faust and Little Otik I'm not sure.

Insects was self released - that blu ray set was available as kickstarter reward for helping fund that but i can't remember how much you had to put in. Too much for me anyway! I did chip in enough to get a digital copy

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by DefLeppard

Not sure as I haven't checked yet but these EU releases are kinda expensive and rare.. MS Polish Films box sets, Jerzy Hoffman Trilogy,Viktor Kubal box sets as well as Slovenský film box sets.. I hope some of these will get released here by BFI or Second Run.

Yeah, the Polish film box sets...only the third one is still available at its original price. And I'm trying to decide if I can scrounge up the money (and find a vendor to get them from) for Filmostrada's dozen+ Andrzej Wajda blu-rays. They aren't that expensive individually, but getting them all is a bite. The same with the ~10 blu-rays from the Poland's NFA that haven't gotten releases from Second Run yet.

[Areopagita]

For Polish Blu-rays, I recommend DVDMax, they're quite reliable - you may ask them for the price of international shipping.

Apart from the Filmostrada ones, you may also want to check out the ones from Studio Kadr and Studio Tor - lots of interesting films, but some of the releases are quite poor in terms of PQ. Most are quite good or at least acceptable, though. The Filmostrada releases of Wajda's films are very good, apart from being 25fps (but I think they have been pitch-corrected). There are also a few older releases of Wajda's films from DMMS which are 24fps and have a bit better compression, but some of them are quite more expensive than the new ones.

As for the MS Presents boxes, there used to be a Polish webstore that sold them, internationally too, but there were some problems with it lately and the website displays a placeholder only at the moment. Perhaps it will work again after the whole pandemic affair.

Originally Posted by jayembee

The same with the ~10 blu-rays from the Poland's NFA that haven't gotten releases from Second Run yet.

Which ones do you mean by that, if I may ask? It seems unlikely that Second Run will release any Polish films on Blu-ray any time soon, although perhaps the situation will change as the three old Polish studios have undergone a merger last year.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Areopagita

Which ones do you mean by that, if I may ask? It seems unlikely that Second Run will release any Polish films on Blu-ray any time soon, although perhaps the situation will change as the three old Polish studios have undergone a merger last year.

Sorry, I meant the Czech NFA.

[Vidov]

Any infos on the PQ of the newly released Tokyo Story?

[Hintermann]

Just ordered the long overdue BD upgrade (from DVD) of The Day The Earth Caught Fire. Impressive array of extras and a booklet too.

Excellent, off beat film made with an unusual perspective.