Cinema Retro has received the following press release from The British Film Institute. Click on the links below each title to order direct from the BFI store. These titles are in Region 2 format :
Three
new BFI Flipside titles released on 25 January:
Privilege, That Kind of Girl & Permissive
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The BFI’s Flipside DVD & Blu-ray
strand is now firmly established and acclaimed, with a diverse selection of
previously 'lost' British films – from 'B' movies to studio pictures and beyond
– released during 2009. On 25 January 2010 three more rare and
little-seen films are rescued from obscurity and made available to enjoy in high
quality editions – Privilege*, That Kind of Girl and
Permissive.
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Each title is newly-mastered to High
Definition from original film elements and presented with previously unavailable
short films, documentaries and interviews, some of which are preserved in the
BFI National Archive. All volumes come in collectable numbered packaging,
accompanied by extensive illustrated booklets with enlightening contributions
from special guest writers.
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Privilege (Peter Watkins,
1967)
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Steve Shorter, the biggest pop star of his
day, is loved by millions; his approval or endorsement can guide the choices and
actions of the masses. But, in reality, he is a puppet whose popularity is
carefully managed by government-backed handlers keen to keep the country’s youth
under control. Only an act of complete rebellion can set him free.
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Starring Manfred Mann’s lead singer Paul
Jones as Shorter, and iconic Sixties supermodel Jean Shrimpton as the
girl who tries to help him defy the system, Privilege is the third
feature from provocative British director Peter Watkins (The War Game,
Culloden), a filmmaker whose unique vérité-style and oppositional
themes have continually met with controversy throughout his career.
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Now being made available in the UK for the
first time since its original cinema release, Privilege is presented here
with two of Watkins' earliest film works.Â
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Special features
- Original Privilege trailer
- The Diary of an Unknown Soldier (Peter Watkins, 1969, 17 mins): a
young solider in the trenches of the First World War, preparing for combat,
shares his innermost feelings in this compelling short
- The Forgotten Faces (Peter Watkins, 1961, 19 mins): a gripping
newsreel-style account of the peoples’ uprising in Hungary, 1956, given
forceful authenticity by Watkins’ unique approach
- Extensive illustrated booklet with new essays by film historian Robert
Murphy and Watkins specialist John Cook
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*Due to an issue with materials,
Privilege will only be released on DVD in January, with a
Blu-ray edition to follow later in the year
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That Kind of Girl (Gerry
O’Hara, 1963)
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In 1960s London, a beautiful continental
au pair finds herself wrestling with the affections of an earnest
peace-protestor, a dashing young toff and a roguish older man. But fun and
freedom turn to shame and despair when she finds that her naivety has put the
health of her lovers, and their partners – including the well-meaning Janet
(played by Big Zapper's Linda Marlowe, in her first role) – at
risk.
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Stylishly shot in crisp black and white, and
set against a backdrop of smoky jazz clubs, ‘Ban the Bomb’ marches, and
evocative London locations, this finely-tuned cautionary tale was the
directorial debut of Gerry O’Hara (All the Right Noises, The
Brute).
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Special features
- The People at No. 19 (J.B. Holmes, 1948, 17 mins): an intense and
effective melodrama which explores the themes of adultery, sexual hygiene and
pregnancy from the perspective of an earlier era
- No Place to Hide (1959, 10 mins): a snapshot of the ‘Ban the Bomb’
march to Aldermaston
- A Sunday in September (1961, 27 mins): a compelling documentary,
from the director of Black Beauty, about a nuclear disarmament
demonstration in London, with Vanessa Redgrave, Doris Lessing and John
Osbourne
- Robert Hartford-Davis interview (1968, 14 mins): That Kind of
Girl's producer discusses his film career and production methods
- Extensive illustrated booklet featuring essays from novelist Cathi
Unsworth and director Gerry O’Hara
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Permissive (Lindsay
Shonteff, 1970)
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When Suzy arrives in London to visit an old
school friend, she is unwittingly plunged into the ruthless world of the
'groupie'. Fuelled by sex, drugs and jealousy, her new lifestyle fosters in her
a cold, cynical instinct for survival. But tragedy is never far
away.
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With its effective blend of gritty location
work, brooding flash-forward devices, and a soundtrack by cult acid folk and
prog rock legends Comus, Forever More – who also star – and
Titus Groan, Permissive is a dark British counter-cultural
artefact that's shot through with grim authenticity.
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As a bonus, this release includes Stanley
Long's ultra-rare Bread, a film that explores the same cultural
milieu as Permissive (and features its own bona fide cult British
rock band, Juicy Lucy), although it takes a somewhat more light-hearted
approach to its subject.
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Special features
- Original Permissive trailer
- Bread (Stanley Long, 1971, 68 mins): whilst hitch-hiking back from
the Isle of Wight Festival, a group of friends decide to stage their own music
event. But how will they afford it?
- Bread – mute deleted scenes
- ’Ave You Got a Male Assistant Please Miss? (1973, 4 mins) an
unreservedly ’70s take on the safe sex message
- Extensive illustrated booklet with contributions by I Q Hunter and rock
singer Lee Dorrian, and Comus band-members’ recollections of working with
Lindsay Shonteff
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The DVDs are £17.99 each and the Blu-rays
are £22.99 each. The next Flipside titles will be released in May
2010.
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