British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Was it a case of Warner denying a BD release for The Devils or of the BFI deciding that the supplied source material was not HD-release grade?

It was from a HD master, as that ended up one of the US streaming services and is touch better than the DVD.

[huntauk]

Ikiru and Powell Early works! Wow!

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/ikiru-2-disc-blu-ray.html

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/michael-powe...s-blu-ray.html

[Hollywoodnova]

Originally Posted by huntauk

Ikiru and Powell Early works! Wow!

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/ikiru-2-disc-blu-ray.html

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/michael-powe...s-blu-ray.html

Oh I'm absolutely thrilled with the Powell Early Works! What a treat!!!

[justwannaboogie]

Holy moly, BFI are cooking this month.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by huntauk

Ikiru and Powell Early works! Wow!

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/ikiru-2-disc-blu-ray.html

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/michael-powe...s-blu-ray.html

Down for both, nearly bought the Criterion of Ikiru, glad I didn't now, not likely to get a 4K anyway.

Also The Outcasts (1982):
https://shop.bfi.org.uk/the-outcasts...9-blu-ray.html

[Sifox211]

Pre-orders up at HMV:

Michael Powell: Early Works

Ikiru

The Outcasts

[gekats]

Very curious about Powell Early Works - not familiar with the films myself. Considering myself a fan, will definitely get them for the collection.

Would anyone care to comment on any of the individual films, so I know what to expect? Are these for Powell completionists only/of independent interest? Any highlights among them?

Appreciate any thoughts.

[MifuneFan]

Ikiru (1952)

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/ikiru-2-disc-blu-ray.html

Extras

• Restored in 4K and presented in High Definition (2-disc limited edition)
• Introduction by Alex Cox (2003, 15 mins)
• Newly commissioned audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
• Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create – Ikiru (2003, 42 mins): created as part of the Toho Masterworks series and featuring interviews with Kurosawa, script supervisor Teruyo Nogami, writer Hideo Oguni, actor Takashi Shimura, and others
• It's Ours Whatever They Say (1972, 39 mins): a community action film telling of the battle fought by young mothers against Islington council to establish a playground for children on a derelict site
• The People People (1970, 22 mins): intended for school leavers, this COI film shows the vast range and variety of jobs available within the Civil Service, highlighting the ways in which civil servants help individuals, the community in general and Parliament
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Includes slipcase and illustrated booklet with a new essay on the film by Tony Rayns
• Other extras TBC

[MifuneFan]

Michael Powell: Early Works

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/michael-powe...s-blu-ray.html

Throughout the 1930s, director Michael Powell (The Red Shoes, A Matter of Life and Death, Peeping Tom) honed his craft on a succession of modestly budgeted feature films produced under the United Kingdom’s screen ‘quota’ system. Many of these titles remain lost but, those which survive, reveal a burgeoning talent that readily established Powell as one of British cinema’s leading lights. This new 2-disc collection brings together five of those early films directed by Powell, newly remastered by the BFI National Archive, including murder mysteries, sensational thrillers and a comedy caper. Discover the formative works of a filmmaking icon, available on Blu-ray for the first time.

The Films:

• Rynox (1932, 47 mins)
• Hotel Splendide (1932, 53 mins)
• The Night of the Party (1934, 63 mins)
• Her Last Affaire (1936, 68 mins)
• Behind the Mask (aka The Man Behind the Mask) (1936, 55 mins)

Extras

• Newly remastered from original camera materials and presented in High Definition
• Newly recorded audio commentaries by Marc David Jacobs (Rynox, Behind the Mask, Emeric Powell Home Movie), Lawrence Napper and Dom Delargy (Hotel Splendide), Jo Botting and Vic Pratt (Night of the Party), and Ian Christie (Her Last Affaire), Bryony Dixon (Riviera Revels)
• Riviera Revels: Travelaughs No. 1 and No. 2 (1927): Powell himself appears in these rare short comedy curiosities from the silent era
• Inside the Archive: The Early films of Michael Powell (2024): a new documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
• Vanishing in Thunder: The Unmade Films of Michael Powell (2023): documentary by Henry Barnes exploring some of Michael Powell’s unrealised films
• Emeric Pressburger Home Movie (1954): Powell and Pressburger are both seen on camera as they travel to Argentina for a 1954 Film Festival
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Booklet featuring contributions from James Bell, Marc David Jacobs, Lawrence Napper, Pamela Hutchinson, Ian Christie, Bryony Dixon, Claire Smith, Josephine Botting and Kieron Webb

[MifuneFan]

The Outcasts (1982) (BFI Flipside #49)

https://shop.bfi.org.uk/the-outcasts...9-blu-ray.html

Extras

• New 2K restoration by the Irish Film Institute
• Newly commissioned audio commentary by Diane Rogers
• Interview with director Robert Wynne-Simmons
• Image gallery
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Booklet including director’s statement and new writing on the film

BFI Flipside presents…a previously unavailable Irish folk horror written and directed by the writer of Blood on Satan’s Claw. Set in an isolated rural community in pre-famine Ireland when poverty and magic were rife, The Outcasts sees introverted farm girl Maura (Mary Ryan) discover a magical world of the imagination through ‘a wild, ungodly man’, the mysterious wanderer Scarf Michael (Mick Lally). When she is accused of witchcraft she turns to her own supernatural powers for protection. Director Robert Wynne-Simmons combines horror, earthy drama, dreamlike fantasy and tragedy to produce this intelligent and visually stunning directorial debut. Once billed as the first Irish feature film in 50 years, but hardly seen in the last 40 years, this new 2K restoration by the Irish Film Institute marks the first time The Outcasts has been available on Blu-ray.

[RossyG]

Originally Posted by gekats

Would anyone care to comment on any of the individual films, so I know what to expect? Are these for Powell completionists only/of independent interest?

Never seen any but Powell talks of them in his autobiography. They were quota quickies, but he tried to make them good.

I'm going into them expecting brisk 1930s fun but nothing spectacular.

[shimmy]

Any day a Kurosawa movie is released on blu ray is a good day.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Was it a case of Warner denying a BD release for The Devils or of the BFI deciding that the supplied source material was not HD-release grade?

If I recall correctly it was a point blank refusal to allow a Blu. Along with other strict limitations about what could and absolutely could not be included on the disc.

That we have an official DVD is a miracle in itself.

[T4ffer]

I'm still holding out for a Kurosawa Criterion box set, but getting the other two for sure.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by shimmy

Any day a Kurosawa movie is released on blu ray is a good day.

Only thing missing from the Criterion is a documentary and Stephen Prince commentary.

[Rutger Lundgren]

Between this and Umbrella, today is a great day for announcements.

[kristoffer]

I don't know if I should wait for a 4K of Ikiru or just update my ancient DVD….

[rapta]

Wow, excellent work BFI! I kinda had a feeling they had more Toho up their sleeve, so glad to see them finally upgrading some more Kurosawa. I wonder if there are more on the horizon? I hope so…

Will definitely have to preorder Ikiru as it looks like a great release and I can ditch my DVD copy. Weirdly I was talking about this film with my sister just a few days ago!

The Powell set looks great too, not sure if I’ll preorder but it’ll definitely be a priority (as with all P&P related stuff; I’ve not forgotten StudioCanal have just released The Small Back Room).

[OnlyJapantown]

Great news about Ikiru. More Kurosawa please, BFI! There are so many we are missing over here.

[dwk]

Assuming Toho lets them have the master (big assumption, I know), Criterion will almost 100% put Ikiru out on UHD here in the US, it is just a question of when. Kurosawa is big for them.

Have to admit I am a little surprised that BFI aren't issuing it on UHD.