Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)

[pro-bassoonist]

Coming from BFI in 2009 (March)...

Variety:

Alan Sillitoe's novel is produced, directed and acted with integrity and insight. This is a good, absorbing but not very likeable film.

The hero is a Nottingham factory worker who refuses to conform. He hates all authority but protests so blunderingly. His attitude is simple: 'What I want is a good time. The remainder is all propaganda.' Through the week he works hard at his lathe. In his spare time - Saturday night and Sunday morning (and a couple of evenings) - he comes into his own. Liquor and women.

Sillitoe does a good job with his first screenplay, though, necessarily, much of the motive and the thinking of his characters has been lost in the adaptation. Director Karel Reisz' experience in documentaries enables him to bring a sharp tang and authenticity to the film. The locations and the interiors have caught the full atmosphere of a Midland industrial town.

The central figure is cocky, violent and selfish, yet at times almost pathetically likeable. Albert Finney, in his first major screen performance, handles scenes of belligerence and one or two love scenes with complete confidence and is equally effective in quieter moments. On a par is the performance of Rachel Roberts as the married woman carrying on a hopeless affair with Finney. Shirley Anne Field, as the conventional young woman who eventually snares Finney, is appropriately pert.

Pro-B

[oetty]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Coming from BFI in 2009 (March)...

Variety:


Pro-B

That's terrific news!

A Great movie from the 60s! I own it on DVD but I will probably buy the Blu Ray now!

[PowellPressburger]

It will be forever before we get this one in the U.S. I bet. the MGM dvd release was part of a big sale this past month or two at local Barnes and Noble stores at 40-50% off. I can't see them releasing it on BLU in the states.

Wish BFI would start doing region free releases.

This is a great film though. Nice to see classics getting releases on BLU. :-)

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

It will be forever before we get this one in the U.S. I bet. the MGM dvd release was part of a big sale this past month or two at local Barnes and Noble stores at 40-50% off. I can't see them releasing it on BLU in the states.

Wish BFI would start doing region free releases.

Do we know for sure that this won't be region-free?

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

Do we know for sure that this won't be region-free?

Salo was locked to Region B but I got the overall impression that that was something contractual for that film. It was originally expected to be Region-Free.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Bruce Morrison

Do we know for sure that this won't be region-free?

Official specs are yet to be announced and until they surface I'd recommend considering this a Region-B only release - BFI's official policy is to code their discs.

Pro-B

[HumanMedia]

FYI ******** have this down for a Mar 23 release date.