Studio Canal have detailed their upcoming Blu-ray releases of Orson Welles' The Trial (1962), Marcel Carne's Le Quai Des Brumes a.k.a Port of Shadows (1938), and Luis Bunuel's That Obscure Object of Desire (1977). All three Blu-ray release will be available for purchase on September 3rd.
The Trial
Orson Welles directs this adaptation of Kafka's nightmarish novel, about a man lost in a system of intractable bureaucracy. Josef K (Anthony Perkins), a humble office worker, is arrested suddenly and without any explanation. Not even told of the crime he has supposedly committed, K finds himself on trial for his life by a monolithic judicial system. Once the gears of the state have started turning, K discovers that they are impossible to stop.
Special Features: Tempo interview with Orson Welles Interview with actor and playwright Steven Berkoff about Franz Kafka and adapting his work Deleted scene Documentary - "Welles, Kafka & The Trial" Documentary - "Orson Welles, Architect of Light" Original Trailer Booklet on the movie written by Jonathan Rosenbaum, film critic and author of Discovering Orson Welles (2007), editor of This Is Orosn Welles (1998) and consultant on the 1998 re-edit of Touch Of Evil
Le Quai Des Brumes a.k.a Port of Shadows
Marcel Carné directs this 1930s drama starring Jean Gabin and Michèle Morgan. Army deserter Jean (Gabin) pitches up in Le Havre, looking for a new identity and passage to foreign parts. His progress is halted when he falls in love with Nelly (Morgan), an idealistic 17-year-old who finds herself oppressed by her supposed protector, Zabel (Michel Simon), and hoodlum Lucien (Pierre Brasseur). Jean attempts to rescue Nelly from their grasp but will it mean missing his own chance at freedom?
Special Features: On The Port Of Shadows Introduction to Le Quai Des Brumes by Ginette Vincendeau, Professor and Film Critic Restoring Le Quai Des Brumes Booklet on the movie written by Ginette Vincendeau
That Obscure Object of Desire
A tale of impossible desire from director Luis Bunuel. Mathieu (Fernando Rey), a widowed French businessman, becomes obsessed with a Spanish girl named Conchita (Carole Bouquet and Angela Molina). She claims to feel the same for him but nevertheless continually frustrates the realisation of his desire. Meanwhile, in the background, a series of terrorist bomb attacks are carried out by the Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus.
Special Features: Arbitrary Desire (Video interview with Jean- Claude Carriere) Video interview with director Carlos Saura Double Dames (interview with Carole Bouquet and Angela Molina) A portrait of Luis Bunuel (interview with Pierre Lary and Edmond Richard) Plus a booklet on the movie written by Peter William Evans, Author of Luis Bunuel: Subjectivity and Desire
StudioCanal has revealed that it plans to release on Blu-ray director George More O'Ferrall's war drama Angels One Five (1952), starring Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, and Andrew Osborn. The preliminary release date set by the distributor is June 15.
StudioCanal has revealed that it plans to release on Blu-ray director George More O'Ferrall's war drama Angels One Five (1952), starring Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, and Andrew Osborn. The preliminary release date set by the distributor is June 15.
Oh yes, I'll have that... when it comes down to a sensible price (Studio Canal do tend to be a bit on top). I saw it only the other day, recorded it off the telly (in SD). I just love these fifties British b/w war movies. It's about time we had Dunkirk & Danger Within (not even a DVD of that one yet!).
StudioCanal have sent us a brand new trailer for the new restoration of director John Schlesinger's Darling (1965), starring starring Julie Christie, Dirk Bogarde, Laurence Harvey, Roland Curram, and Alex Scott. The release will be available for purchase on May 30.
Synopsis: Winner of three Academy Awards and four BAFTA's including Best Actress for Julie Christie, Darling is the story - based on fact - of a goodtime-girl of the era. She's a freelance female who moves from bed to bed on the presumption that fidelity means having only one man in it at a time,and opportunistically bends her ambitions to take advantage of whatever (or whoever) the moment offers her. There are three men in her life, each of whom willingly or involuntarily helps her on her way to the top: Dirk Bogarde plays a TV interviewer, an honest man striving to tell illusion from reality; Laurence Harvey, an advertising executive, totally cynical about manipulating society's values; and Roland Curram, a gay magazine photographer battening parasitically on glossy society. There is also a 'fourth man' - the one whom Darling marries, only to find herself a prisoner of the smart world she has conquered.
StudioCanal will release on Bky-ray the recent 4K restoration of Carol Reed's The Third Man, starring Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Orson Welles, Trevor Howard, and Bernard Lee. The release will be available for purchase on July 20.
In addition to the standard edition, StudioCanal will release a Collector's Edition set.
The 4K restoration will also be screened during the Centennial Orson Welles Celebration at this year's edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
Restoration details: Intermediate film print, 2nd generation of nitrate film (non-existent original negative), scanned in 4K and restored frame by frame in 4K by Deluxe in England. Restoration supervised by StudioCanal.
StudioCanal will three new titles to its Blu-ray catalog: Robert Hamer;s School for Scoundrels (1960), Michelangelo Antonioni's L'eclisse (1962), Anthony Harvey's The Lion in Winter (1968), and Rob Reiner's The Sure Thing (1985).
School for Scoundrels
Henry Palfrey (Ian Carmichael) is one of life's losers. Despised and disregarded at work, his prospective girlfriend April (Janette Scott) is whisked from under his nose by charming bounder Raymond Delauney (Terry-Thomas). In desperation, Henry enrols at Stephen Potter's (Alastair Sim) College of Lifemanship, where he gradually learns how to get one up on the other fellow. STREET DATE: AUGUST 31.
L'Eclisse
This film by Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni completed a trilogy about doomed relationships in the modern world, and won the 1962 Cannes Special Jury Prize. Vittoria (Monica Vitti) is a young woman who breaks up with her lover Ricardo (Francisco Rabal), a bookish intellectual, and instead takes up with brash stockbroker Piero (Alain Delon). However, there are still emotional ties between Vittoria and Ricardo. The final breakdown of Vittoria's emotional state is symbolically mirrored by Antonioni's montage of a deserted, dying city. STREET DATE: SEPTEMBER 21.
The Lion in Winter
In the south of France, 1183, Henry II (Peter O'Toole) summons his family to a Christmas conference. His sons all have designs on his crown, whilst the presence of the King's mistress (Jane Merrow) adds spice to his exchanges with his wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn). Hepburn won an Oscar for her performance, and the film also gained statuettes for Best Screenplay and Music. STREET DATE: SEPTEMBER 21.
The Sure Thing
A romantic comedy from director Rob Reiner, who went on to make 'When Harry Met Sally'. Gib (John Cusack) is promised a devastating woman at a party across the country in Los Angeles. The only problem is that he has to share the car journey with prudish Alison (Daphne Zuniga), a fellow student whose priorities in life couldn't differ more. During the journey, however, the disparate couple find they have a few things in common. STREET DATE: SEPTEMBER 7.
StudioCanal have detailed their upcoming Blu-ray release of Alexander Mackendrick's The Ladykillers (1955), starring Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, and Danny Green. The release will be available for purchase on July 6.
Classic Ealing comedy in which a group of bank robbers struggle to silence the eccentric old lady who discovers their crime. Mrs Wilberforce (Katie Johnson) lives alone in King's Cross with her parrots. She has been led to believe that the group of men renting rooms from her, Professor Marcus (Alec Guinness), the Major (Cecil Parker), Louis (Herbert Lom), Harry (Peter Sellers) and One-Round (Danny Green), are classical musicians. However, when one of the group's cases gets caught in the door and opens to reveal, not a musical instrument, but a plethora of banknotes, the virtuous Mrs Wilberforce vows to go to the police with the identities of the men. The criminals agree that the old lady has to be killed to silence her, but will this be as straightforward as it sounds?
Special Features: Audio commentary Philip Kemp Forever Ealing documentary Interview with Allan Scott Interview with Terence Davies Interview with Ronald Harwood Cleaning up The Ladykillers featurette Locations featurette **NEW EXTRA** Audio Interview with Tom Pevsner **NEW EXTRA** Audio Interview with David Peers **NEW EXTRA** Stills gallery **NEW EXTRA**
StudioCanal has officially announced and detailed its upcoming Blu-ray release of Joan Littlewood's film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), starring James Booth, Barbara Windsor, Roy Kinnear, Barbara Ferris, Murray Melvin, and Victor Spinetti. The release will be available for purchase on October 12.
Joan Littlewood's cracking Cockney comedy drama SPARROWS CAN'T SING is a sixties gem starring Barbara Windsor, Bafta nominated for her lead role, and a host of now familiar faces making their screen debuts, in a film that would pave the way for the realist, semi-improvised work of the likes of Mike Leigh and Ken Loach. Giving us a glimpse of a long gone London, it also features cameo appearances by legendary London gangsters The Krays.
Based on a play by Stephen Lewis, who would go on to star as Blakey in sitcom ON THE BUSES, SPARROWS CAN'T SING is the story of Charlie, a rough, tough sailor who returns home to his East End of London stamping ground to discover his home had been bulldozed, and his wife Maggie has moved into a new tower block with Bert the bus driver, and they've had a kid together. Charlie's not the sort to take things lying down – and despite this unpromising homecoming he'll do anything to try and win Maggie back – and that means anything!
Director Joan Littlewood, a driving force in British theatre, rounded up the cream of the crop of Brit acting talent for this, her only film. Barbara Windsor, who was given her theatre acting break by Littlewood, was something of a sensation as Maggie, in her first lead role, earning a nomination for Best British Actress at the Baftas. She'd go on to star in her first CARRY ON film only a year later, and returned to the East End as landlady Peggy Mitchell thirty years later in EASTENDERS.
Also appearing is unforgettable character actor Murray Melvin, whose credits include Ken Russell's THE DEVILS, Stanley Kubrick's BARRY LYNDON, Brit classic A TASTE OF HONEY, as well as the British crime films LET HIM HAVE IT and THE KRAYS.
The brilliant James Booth, who plays the put upon Charlie, went on to have a sterling cinema career, appearing in ROBBERY with Stanley Baker, ZULU with Michael Caine, and cult thriller REVENGE with Joan Collins. He is arguably best remembered as cowardly ex-convict Ernie Miles in David Lynch's TWIN PEAKS TV series.
Look out for much-loved TV comic Arthur Mullard; Harry H Corbett, who would find fame as the long-suffering Harold in STEPTOE AND SON; and the prolific and much-missed Roy Kinnear, here performing a memorable piece of slapstick with a ladder.
SPARROWS CAN'T SING is part of the Vintage Classics Collection - some of the most iconic films in British cinema history, digitally restored on DVD and Blu-ray, featuring brand new bonus material.
Special Features: Interview with Peter Rankin (Joan Littlewood biographer) Locations featurette with Richard Dacre (Film historian) Stills gallery Interview with Murray Melvin BFI Q&A with Barbara Windsor and Murray Melvin Trailer
Sparrows Can't Sing was the first A certificate film I saw at the cinema, I think I was 12 at the time. I can't remember anything about it other than the title song sung by Barbara Windsor.
interesting. Cant imagine stephen lewis writing let alone anything like this. does this count as grim kitchen sink drama genre or perhaps a bit more of a thriller? ive seen the title before but never seen the film.
"Right church, wrong pew," as the old saying goes. I clicked on one of the links, and my heart sank when I saw that it was Great British. Sure enough, though I saw many films I'd love to possess, they were "out of my league," or to be more precise, out of my Region. Enjoy your discs, one and all, and I'll keep praying for American releases of some of these titles.
Yep, damn this region locking lark. I'm not going multi-region as the choice of player is very small & you're paying twice the price, & so far it's worked out OK. Warner, Sony & Universal rarely if ever lock their catalogue releases & Twilight Time is multi-region as well, & as I'm in Europe I can safely import from Germany, France & Italy. There are some Criterion releases & Kino United Artist films I'd like, but they're locked, but then they may come out in Europe sometime.
Yep, damn this region locking lark. I'm not going multi-region as the choice of player is very small & you're paying twice the price, & so far it's worked out OK. Warner, Sony & Universal rarely if ever lock their catalogue releases & Twilight Time is multi-region as well, & as I'm in Europe I can safely import from Germany, France & Italy. There are some Criterion releases & Kino United Artist films I'd like, but they're locked, but then they may come out in Europe sometime.
Yes I agree about the whole region locking thing, so I decided to get a region free player. I prefer to opt for region free titles when I can. Best of both worlds
StudioCanal has officially announced and detailed its upcoming Blu-ray release of director Terrence Young's western Red Sun (1971), starring Alain Delon, Ursula Andress, Toshirô Mifune, Charles Bronson, John Hamilton, Luc Merenda, Lee Burton, and Capucine. The release will be available for purchase on October 19.
StudioCanal have detailed their upcoming Blu-ray release of Scottish director Bill Forsyth's film Comfort and Joy (1984), starring Bill Paterson, Eleanor David, Clare Grogan, Alex Norton, and Patrick Malahide. The release will be available for purchase on February 29, 2016.
Synopsis: Bill Forsyth (Gregory's Girl, That Sinking Feeling) directed this comic thriller, which begins when Glasgow DJ Alan (Bill Paterson), already frustrated by the sickly-sweet constraints of his radio show, loses his girlfriend. His life acquires new meaning when he finds himself mediating between ice-cream gangsters Mr Bunny and Mr McCool. With C.P. Grogan, Patrick Malahide, and Eleanor David.
The film's brilliant soundtrack is by superstar guitarist Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits, who also composed the memorable score to Forsyth's BAFTA-winning Local Hero in 1983. Lyrics from Dire Straits songs are used in the script.
Special Features: Brand new interview with stars Bill Paterson and Clare Grogan, and director Bill Forsyth Technical Specs: Feature Running Time: 101 mins approx / Feature Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Color / HD Standard 1080p / 2.0 Mono LPCM / English / HOH Subtitles
StudioCanal will bring to Blu-ray David Lean's film The Sound Barrier (1952), starring Ralph Richardson, Nigel Patrick, Ann Todd, Dinah Sheridan, and Joseph Tomelty. The release will be available for purchase on April 11.
Synopsis: David Lean directs this adaptation of the Terence Rattigan play. Ralph Richardson stars as an aircraft maunfacturer whose all-consuming passion with making the ultimate supersonic jet kills both his son and son-in-law and almost destroys him and the rest of his family.
The film marked a departure from the domestic or literary concerns which had characterized the director David Lean's choice of subject matter to date. Its heroics pre-empted his later films Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962). NEW 2K RESTORATION.
Special Features: Archival BFI interview with David Lean Interview with Geoffrey Wansell (Terence Rattigan biographer)
StudioCanal have confirmed that they will release on Blu-ray Don Chaffey's film One Million Years B.C. (1966), starring Raquel Welch, John Richardson, Percy Herbert, Robert Brown, and Martine Beswick. The release will be available for purchase on June 13.
