Showing Soon; Picnic At Hanging Rock, The Bill Douglas Trilogy, and Bond is Back… April 17, 2008
Posted by John Hodson in : Film General, DVD News & Info, Showing Soon , 5 commentsMore news of upcoming home entertainment classics in the U.K….
Are Second Sight going to give us the definitive DVD version of Peter Weir’s ethereal Picnic at Hanging Rock? It certainly looks so…
On Saturday 14th February 1900 a party of schoolgirls from Appleyard College took a trip to Hanging Rock near Mt. Macedon in the state of Victoria. During the idyllic sun-drenched afternoon some of the party left the rest of the group and having climbed higher stopped to rest and fell asleep. They awoke as though still in a dream and silently ventured further through 
a passage in the imposing rock face. Some of the girls were never seen again.
The film that established Peter Weir as a major filmmaker is a critically acclaimed classic of Australian cinema. With BAFTA-winning photography and a memorably haunting score Picnic at Hanging Rock remains one of the most chillingly atmospheric and beautifully enigmatic films ever made.
Thrillingly, this Deluxe 3 disc edition, coming June 30, features both cuts of the 1975 film:
The Director’s Cut and the much in demand longer Original Version (currently unavailable in any territory)
‘A Dream Within A Dream’ (120 min documentary)
‘A Recollection - Hanging Rock 1900′ (a 1975 on-set documentary)
Joan Lindsay interview (from 1974)
Hanging Rock and Martindale Hall - Then and Now (a tour of the locations)
The Day of St Valentine (1st screen adaptation of Joan’s novel made in 1969 by a 13-years-old schoolboy, Tony Ingram)
Audio Interviews
Stills and Poster Gallery
The Director’s Cut deleted scenes
Director’s Cut 5.1 audio.
This set does appear to trump Umbrella’s R4 two-discer, boasting most of that 2-disc edition’s extras, plus the seven minutes of scenes Weir took out of the original theatrical version to achieve his director’s cut as deleted scenes, plus those scenes integrated into the theatrical version.
Yes, yes, but will we - at last - get two (greedy, I know) bloody gorgeous anamorphic OAR transfers? Exciting isn’t it? And when will the Criterion R1 remaster, as mooted by Peter Weir himself some while back, see the light of day? The same day as Picnic at Hanging Rock hits the shops, Second Sight will release Weir’s The Cars That Ate Paris, but no details of any extras, if any, on that one.
The BFI is releasing The Bill Douglas Trilogy - My Childhood (1972), My Ain Folk (1973) and My Way Home (1978) on two discs (the total running time is only about three hours) - in June:
Bill Douglas’ magnificent award-winning Trilogy is the product of an assured, formidable artistic vision. These are some of the most compelling films about childhood ever made.The films narrative is largely autobiographical, following Jamie - eight years old when we first meet him - as he grows up in a poverty-stricken mining village in post-war Scotland. These are brutal surroundings, and Jamie is subject to hardship and rejection, at the mercy of the relatives and neighbours responsible for his welfare. Through these films we see Jamie grow from child to adolescent; angry, bewildered, and violent, yet playful, affectionate, and full of imagination.
The BFI releases Jayne Parker in their British Artists Films strand, again for June:
Jayne Parker discovered film as a medium when she was a sculpture student at Canterbury College of Art (1977-80). Objects, performance and gesture were combined by the camera to explore space, duration and the physical body. Soon the films became independent works. Free Show (1979) is ‘a film in three acts’ in which domestic events have overtones of threat as well as the circus (cutting liver, ironing a fly, plucking eyebrows). In RX Recipe (1980), a large eel in a bath is stuffed with vegetables and bandaged by a woman who then similarly binds her own leg, to whispered instructions on the soundtrack. I Cat (1980) was the first of a series of roughcast but sharply drawn animations featuring a woman, a cat and a fish.
DVD extras include theFrame: Jayne Parker, a 25 minutes illustrated interview with Jayne Parker produced by Illuminations, plus an iIllustrated 20-page booklet containing full annotated filmography.
More from the BFI in June; Man With a Movie Camera, Dziga Vertov’s 1929 silent film described as ‘One of the most extraordinary films in the history of cinema and as important and watchable now as when it was made. It’s an exhilarating and often hilarious montage showing Moscow people at work and play and the machines that keep the city moving. Vertov pioneers the use of all available cinematic techniques - dissolves, split screen, slow motion and freeze frames and anticipates political cinema from Godard to Patrick Keiller.’
Also coming from the BFI, The Terence Davies Trilogy; Children, which he directed after he left the Coventry School of Drama with backing from the BFI Production Board. Madonna and Child completed as his National Film School graduation film in 1980. and Death and Transfiguration (1983) made with funding from the Greater London Arts Association and the BFI, though no date has been set for the trilogy’s release it should be ’soon’. Antonioni’s Red Desert, is also on the cards from the BFI, with a commentary from David Forgacs, as is Charles Bennett’s Killer of Sheep and there’s a whisper that the BFI will also tuck into the work of director Frank Bozage at some stage, though no word of which. This is some schedule the BFI is setting itself isn’t it? Very pleasing indeed.
June and Tartan with the Fukasaku Trilogy (3 Discs): The breakout success of the fantastic Battle Royale resulted in long-overdue global recognition of the films of Kinji Fukasaku. This prolific Japanese filmmaker, who died in 2003, had already made himself a name in his home country as an auteur who favoured outrageous style and biting social commentary. This collection brings together three exciting and colourful early films from Japanese cinema’s most exhilarating director. Titles Comprise:
Blackmail Is My Life: Tautly paced and fueled by a trendy soundtrack synthesis of whistled themes and electric rock, Blackmail Is My Life centres on a quartet of young daredevil hipsters who discover blackmail as a means to enjoy the booming economy from which they’ve been excluded. These rebellious youths tread a deadly line by blackmailing both sides of society- namely the Yakuza kingpins and top government officials. Blackmail Is My Life is a bloody wake-up call to Japanese culture and budding criminals and a perfect example of the director working in his prime.
Black Rose Mansion: A feverishly perverse 1969 film noir oddity starring female impersonator Akihiro Maruyama. When wealthy Kyohei hires singer “Black Rose” to perform in his exclusive men’s club, he gets more than he bargains for when she attracts scores of homicidal past lovers. The film takes a bizarre twist when Kyohei’s son falls victim to the femme fatale’s unique charm.
If You Were Young: If You Were Young highlights the other side of post-war Japanese prosperity, focusing on the throngs of young people who missed out on the boom. We follow a group of young men that can’t seem to get ahead, despite their willingness to try. Then one hits upon a plan - to work together to save for a dump truck and thus become independent contractors and be their own bosses at last. Ultimately life presents obstacles: jail for one, violence at the hands of the police for another and a girlfriend and subsequent children for the third. An early Kinji Fukasaku gem that imports the freewheeling style of the French New Wave and the hip detachment of American noir.
Nucleus release two hours of Grindhouse Trailer Classics Vol. 2 in June, which includes a featurette with Emily Booth and a Poster Gallery. Released at the end of April is the Wojcieck Has directed The Saragossa Manuscript (1965) from Mr Bongo Films, said to be:
…the full-length masterpiece of this incredible [Polish] film.
Martin Scorses, Francis Ford Coppola, Luis Bunuel and Jerry Garcai have at various times described The Saragossa Manuscript as their favorite film.
Based on the book by the highly-esteemed Count Jan Potocki, the film version is reputedly a respectful, mostly faithful adaptation of this literary cat’s cradle set in the weird fantasy landscapes of arid 17th-century Spain. The films creates a magical, sometimes disturbing, world of the supernatural so it’s no surprise that this was a counterculture classic and Jerry Garcia’s favourite. He, along with Martin Scorsese, put up part of the money to have it restored to its full length. Besides the convoluted structure, characters pop in and out of each other’s stories with the random logic of a trip. The characters includes sexy ghost princesses, demon-possessions and many a corpse. The intriguing stylistic flourishes sit against the wonderful soundtrack, which was composed by Krzyszt Penderecki, famous for the scores of The Shining and Wild At Heart.
The Mr Bongo label, relatively new on the scene, also has two Antonioni films prepped for June; L’Avventura and Identification Of A Woman (Identificazione di una donna); other titles on the go (with no specific release date) include Glauber Rocha’s Black God, White Devil (Deus e o Diabo na Terra do Sol), John Huston’s Under The Volcano, and Tomás Gutiérrez Alea’s 1968 Cuban film Memories of Underdevelopment (Memorias del subdesarrollo).
July and Artificial Eye release The Satyajit Ray Collection (Volume 2) to follow up the first Volume which goes on sale in May; no details save the titles - Kapurush / Mahapurush / Joi Baba Felunath.
These are more of those ‘caveat emptor’ releases; Pegasus have never been renowned for the quality of their discs, but, if the pass at the BBFC is to be believed, they are at least giving an outing to Jack Starrett’s (he of Race With The Devil) poor 1970 western Cry Blood, Apache, which is notable only inasmuch as it stars Jody McCrae (who produced) and his father Joel, in his next to last film role; not a way to end a career. The transfer will be full-frame. Similarly, the BBFC has passed Robert Gordon’s 1972 western, The Gatling Gun, for Pegasus, with Dean Stockwell and Robert Fuller, and Earl Bellamy’s Against a Crooked Sky (1976), with Richard Boone, both also in full frame.
The BBFC seems to confirm those Gerard Depardieu and Brigette Bardot box sets from Optimum Showing Soon mentioned a while back, with passes for several titles that will most likely be included. It’s not definitive, but it is a positive sign.
Not really Showing Soon’s era, but definitely Showing Soon’s kind of film; Lionsgate has had a 15 minute extra for the 2006 ‘what if’ Orson Welles murder thriller (just opened in the UK) Fade to Black (with John’s son Danny Huston as Welles) passed; looks interesting.
No full details as yet on Network’s Jason King: Complete Series Special Edition (7 discs) coming at the end of June, except to note that Peter Wyngarde does not feature in any of the extras, save in clips or referred to by others; he’s not donated a commentary or been involved in the documentary. Which is a shame.
Lawrence of Liverpool and Other Screenings…
There’s a special screening of Lawrence of Arabia as part of the ongoing David Lean Centenary celebrations at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall on Tuesday, 22 July, at 7.00pm. The blurb:
Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival and BAFTA celebrate the centenary of David Lean’s birth, one of the academy’s founding members, with a screening and discussion of his seminal award-winning film, Lawrence of Arabia, starring Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif. Egyptian actor Omar Sharif gained international stardom from the film, which he considers to be one of his greatest. The film will be accompanied by a Q & A discussion, guest speaker to be announced.
More details here.
Just a mention that a Alfred Hitchcock’s newly spruced up The 39 Steps is currently enjoying a limited theatrical run at ‘BFI Southbank, Filmhouse Edinburgh and key cities’, from July a restored print of Wilder’s The Apartment may also be coming to a cinema near you after opening at the Curzon Cinema, Mayfair, in ‘that London’, and from August 1, Leone’s The Good, The Bad & The Ugly gets a run out at the ‘BFI Southbank and key cities’; it’s also ‘restored’ but they don’t say if it is the controversial version put out by MGM on DVD, with previously deleted and revoiced scenes, plus gunshots retuned for the big screen that rather jarr on those familiar with the picture. And hurry if you want to catch Bond back in action on the big screen in the company of director Lewis Gilbert:
The Spy Who Loved Me – Restored and Back in Action
The James Bond classic, The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) is to be presented, back on the big screen, in a glorious digital restoration at a special event in one of London’s biggest cinema venues.
The classic action thriller, directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Roger Moore as James Bond, is a firm favourite with fans everywhere. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, and features many iconic scenes, including Bond’s Lotus car turning into a submarine and his first encounter with Jaws (Richard Kiel).
The special screening will be held at the Empire Leicester Square, Screen 1, on Sunday 20 April at 1.30pm for 2pm. In attendance at the event will be several people involved in the making of the film, including director Lewis Gilbert and actor Caroline Munro.
Tickets for the screening are on sale now from Empire Cinemas, via www.empirecinemas.co.uk