Children's Film Foundation

[antnield]

The Digital Fix on London Tales.

[MichaelB]

Volume 2 confirmed for the first quarter of 2013:

The Children’s Film Foundation Collection Volume 2: The Race is On (Sammy’s Super T-Shirt / The Sky-Bike / Soapbox Derby) - a new volume of vintage British children’s films from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s features Sammy’s Super T-Shirt and a teenage Michael Crawford in Soapbox Derby.

[antnield]

Artwork for Volume Two:

[Lowlights]

Could you share the author's name behind the artwork?

[antnield]

Sure, it's Graham Humphreys.

[RossyG]

And very talented he is, too. He's really captured the feel of Seventies poster art and Look-In covers, which fits the material perfectly.

[MichaelB]

Full specs announced for volume 2:

The Children's Film Foundation Collection
The Race is On

Three more classic and top quality British films from the much-loved and fondly remembered Children's Film Foundation (CFF) are released together on DVD on 18 February 2013 in The Race is On.

In this second BFI collection of CFF films, a young Michael Crawford stars in Soapbox Derby (1957), there is the imaginative, air-borne adventure The Sky-Bike (1967) and cult favourite Sammy's Super T-Shirt (1978), one of the most sought-after CFF gems, is finally available to be enjoyed again by its original fans and a new generation of youngsters.

For over 30 years the Children's Film Foundation produced quality entertainment for young audiences, employing the cream of British filmmaking talent. After many years out of distribution, the BFI is releasing a selection of the films in specially curated and themed DVD editions, newly transferred from the best available elements held in the BFI National Archive.

In one of his earliest acting roles, aged about 15, Michael Crawford (Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Phantom of the Opera) stars in Soapbox Derby as Peter, leader of the Battersea Bats. Determined to win the soapbox derby go-kart race, Peter enlists the brains of the bunch to design a superfast car, and persuades their ace driver to take the wheel. But then local rivals, the Victoria Victors, get in on the act...

Filmed on location in south London, this action-packed adventure features an excellent slapstick performance from Denis Shaw (The Colditz Story, Curse of the Werewolf). Writing for the DVD booklet, Michael Crawford says what great fun it was making the film: "We were all required to do numerous 'daredevil' stunts...being paid to do things that you would ordinarily be arrested for!"

In The Sky-Bike, all Tom Smith can think about is becoming a pilot. When he accidentally stumbles across a prototype man-powered flying machine, he convinces its eccentric inventor, Mr Lovejoy, to let him help get it off the ground. Working in secret, the two prepare their 'sky bike' for a high-stakes race. Liam Redmond (Night of the Demon) plays the mastermind behind the flying machine.

Despite his size, 12-year-old Sammy, star of Sammy's Super T-Shirt, has set his heart on winning the Junior Superstar Challenge Cup track race. His secret weapon, a lucky tiger t-shirt, takes on a life of its own when it accidentally becomes part of a top-secret scientific experiment, which gives its wearer awesome super-strength. Featuring a comic double-act by Richard Vernon (Goldfinger) and Julian Holloway (Carry On, Disney's A Christmas Carol) as the nefarious scientists, this is one of the best-remembered CFF productions, which has even generated an online petition for its release.

Special features

• Brand new High Definition transfers of all films
• Illustrated booklet with essays by Andrew Roberts and Vic Pratt and a note by Michael Crawford

Product details

RRP: £19.99 I cat. no. BFIVD949 I Cert PG
UK I 1957 + 1967 + 1978 I black & white, and colour I English I 62 + 59 + 55 mins I DVD9
Original aspect ratios 1.66:1 + 1.85:1 (16x9 anamorphic)
Dolby Digital mono audio (320kbps)

[antnield]

A third set, entitled Weird Adventure, is due on the 17th of June according to the Zavvi listing. The BVA website suggests that this will contain the following:

The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972, d. Michael Powell)
The Monster of Highgate Ponds (1961, d. Alberto Cavalcanti)
A Hitch in Time (1978, d. Jan Darnley-Smith)

[MichaelB]

Mondo Digital on The Race Is On.

[MichaelB]

Full specs announced for volume 3:

The Children's Film Foundation Collection
Weird Adventures

The last feature made by the distinguished duo of Powell and Pressburger is one of three films featured on a new volume of Children's Film Foundation tales, Weird Adventures, released on DVD by the BFI on 17 June 2013.

This latest collection brings together Alberto Cavalcanti’s The Monster of Highgate Ponds (1961), Powell and Pressburger’s The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972) and A Hitch in Time (Jan Darnley-Smith, 1978) which stars Patrick Troughton.

In The Monster of Highgate Ponds young David promises to guard a mysterious egg which his uncle brings back from Malaysia. But, when a baby monster hatches, mayhem ensues as David struggles to keep the unruly, but friendly, creature from falling into the clutches of two ruthless crooks. This enchanting tale, shot on location on Hampstead Heath, features brilliant animated sequences by the legendary Halas & Batchelor, who also produced the film, and was directed by the celebrated Ealing director Alberto Cavalcanti (Went the Day Well?).

The Boy Who Turned Yellow is the splendidly eccentric final collaboration from eminent filmmaking duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (Black Narcissus, The Red Shoes). London schoolboy John Saunders turns bright yellow after losing his pet mouse on a school trip. Is the mysterious colour change the result of an alien invasion or does the answer lie closer to home?

In A Hitch in Time, Patrick Troughton (Doctor Who) plays time-hopping inventor Professor Adam Wagstaff. Discovered working on his time machine by two curious kids, Wagstaff decides to send them back through the ages. But, with malfunctions a-plenty, will they be able to make it back? Featuring Jeff Rawle (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) as 'Sniffy' Kemp, the teacher out to spoil everybody's fun, A Hitch in Time is a riotous retelling of history.

For over 30 years the Children's Film Foundation produced quality entertainment for young audiences, employing the cream of British filmmaking talent. Newly transferred from the best available elements held in the BFI National Archive, these much-loved and fondly remembered films finally return to the screen after many years out of distribution in specially curated DVD releases from the BFI. The fourth volume of CFF films, Bumps in the Night, will be released in October 2013.

Special Features
• Brand new High Definition transfers of all films;
• Illustrated booklet with writing by Michael Powell, Lem Kitaj (who played Munro in The Boy Who Turned Yellow), Vivian Halas and BFI curator Vic Pratt.

Product Details
RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIVD970 / Cert U
UK / 1961 + 1972 + 1978 / black & white, and colour / English / 56 + 52 + 54 mins / DVD9 / Original aspect ratios 1.37:1 + 1.66:1 (16:9 anamorphic) / Dolby Digital mono (320kbps)

A clip from The Boy Who Turned Yellow has been published on YouTube.

[Calvin]

A clip from The Boy Who Turned Yellow has been published on YouTube.

Which allows you to have a look at the new HD transfer in HD - albeit with YouTube compression.

[RossyG]

Fabulous clip. I'm really looking forward to this.

[antnield]

Note the mention of volume four in that press release...

The fourth volume of CFF films, Bumps in the Night, will be released in October 2013.

[MichaelB]

Mondo Digital on Weird Adventures.

[antnield]

CHILDREN'S FILM FOUNDATION COLLECTION: SCARY STORIES (DVD)

The Man From Nowhere | Haunters of the Deep | Out of the Darkness

For over 30 years the Children's Film Foundation produced quality entertainment for young audiences, employing the cream of British filmmaking talent. Newly transferred from the best available elements held in the BFI National Archive, these much-loved and fondly remembered films finally return to the screen after many years out of distribution in this specially curated DVD release from the BFI.

The first time on DVD for these three scary stories from the archives of the Children's Film Foundation featuring tales of ghosts, mysteries and spooky mansions

The Man from Nowhere (1976) is a beautifully told Victorian gothic thriller from acclaimed director James Hill. Young orphan Alice has been invited by her rich uncle to live in his country mansion but she soon finds herself persecuted by the apparent visitations of an unsettling stranger. Who is this man from nowhere and just why is he tying to scare her away?

The events in Haunters of the Deep (1984), take place along the dramatic Cornish coastline. Intent on re-opening a disused tin mine, an American businessman ignores warnings about the site s grisly past. It's left to his bored daughter and local lad, Josh, to attempt a daring rescue when history threatens to repeat itself.

In John Krish Out of the Darkness (1985), a Derbyshire village is haunted by a tragic secret from the era of the Black Death. When the Neils decide to buy a run-down cottage they are unaware that it was once inhabited by a plague-stricken family. Soon, the Neil siblings find themselves in the middle of a thrilling adventure, assisted by their friend, Tom, and a local folklore expert (played by Michael Carter - The Keep, Return of the Jedi).

Special Features

- Brand new High Definition transfers of all films
- Fully illustrated booklet with essays by The Man from Nowhere writer John Tully, actor Michael Carter and Dr. Rachel Mossley

September 23rd

[colinr0380]

Interesting to read about Out of the Darkness. The village of Eyam is still famous for its part in the Black Death, with the townsfolk quarantining themselves when the plague was discovered. It's actually a beautiful village and the last time I was there a few years ago there was a big exhibition in the local church devoted to the story.

[MichaelB]

Full specs announced for Scary Stories:

The Children's Film Foundation Collection
Scary Stories

Young audiences are catered for in the BFI's blockbuster project Gothic: The Dark Heart of Film, and the release of Scary Stories - the first of a raft of forthcoming BFI DVDs that have a Gothic theme - will thrill and chill them in equal measure. Released on 23 September 2013, this fourth volume from the Children's Film Foundation Collection contains three terrifying tales - The Man from Nowhere (1976), Haunters of the Deep (1984) and Out of the Darkness (1985) - accompanied by an illustrated booklet.

The Man From Nowhere is a beautifully told Victorian gothic thriller from acclaimed director James Hill (Black Beauty, Lunch Hour). Young orphan Alice has been invited by her rich uncle to live in his country mansion but she soon finds herself persecuted by the apparent visitations of an unsettling stranger. Who is this 'man from nowhere' and just why is he trying to scare her away?

The events in Andrew Bogle's Haunters of the Deep take place along the dramatic Cornish coastline. Intent on re-opening a disused tin mine, an American businessman ignores warnings about the site's grisly past. It's left to his bored daughter and local lad, Josh, to attempt a daring rescue when history threatens to repeat itself.

In Out of the Darkness, directed by John Krish (Captured, The Elephant Will Never Forget), a Derbyshire village is haunted by a tragic secret from the era of the Black Death. When the Neil family decides to buy a run-down cottage they are unaware that it was once inhabited by a plague-stricken family. Soon, the Neil siblings find themselves in the middle of a thrilling adventure, assisted by their friend Tom, and a local folklore expert (played by Michael Carter - The Keep, Return of the Jedi).

For over thirty years the Children's Film Foundation produced quality entertainment for young audiences, employing the cream of British filmmaking talent. Newly transferred from the best available elements held in the BFI National Archive, these much-loved and fondly remembered films finally return to the screen after many years out of distribution in specially curated DVD releases from the BFI. The fifth volume of CFF films, Runaways, will be released in April 2014.

Special Features
• Brand new High Definition transfers of all films;
• Illustrated booklet with essays by The Man from Nowhere writer John Tully, actor Michael Carter and Rachel Moseley.

Product Details
RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIVD969 / Cert PG
UK / 1976 + 1984 + 1985 / colour / English language / 57 + 59 + 66 mins / DVD9 / Original aspect ratios 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 (16x9 anamorphic) / Dolby Digital mono 2.0 audio (320kbps)

Marking a first, this volume of CFF films will also be available to buy as an app from The Android Store on the same release date as the DVD. Containing all three films but not the illustrated booklet, the app will be priced at £4.99.

[jindianajonz]

You wouldn't happen to know if that DVD is region free, would you Michael?

[MichaelB]

You wouldn't happen to know if that DVD is region free, would you Michael?

No (as in "I don't happen to know"), but I've just checked the last CFF release, Weird Adventures, and it's definitely region-free. And I can't think of any contractual reason why things would change for the new one.

[antnield]

The Digital Fix on Scary Stories.

[MichaelB]

Mondo Digital on Scary Stories.

[antnield]

Nostalgia and the Children's Film Foundation on the MovieMail blog.

[MichaelB]

The fifth CFF volume, Runaways, will contain Johnny on the Run (Lewis Gilbert, 1953), Hide and Seek (David Eady, 1972) and Terry on the Fence (Frank Godwin, 1985). Out in April.

[MichaelB]

Full specs announced for the fifth CFF collection:

The Children’s Film Foundation Collection
Runaways

Three films about teens and tearaways made in the 50s, 70s and 80s – one directed by Lewis Gilbert and featuring well-known names like Gary Kemp Robin Askwith and Terence Morgan – comprise the fifth volume of Children’s Film Foundation films, Runaways, released on DVD by the BFI on 21 April 2014.

Largely shot on location in London and Edinburgh, these rare films, Johnny on the Run (1953), Hide and Seek (1972) and Terry on the Fence (1985), have been digitally re-mastered and come with an illustrated booklet. Thoroughly entertaining, they are also a wonderfully enjoyable reminder of times gone by.

Johnny on the Run is a superb, award-winning early work by illustrious British director Lewis Gilbert (The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker) which follows an orphaned Polish refugee who runs into trouble in the shape of two scheming thieves. Starring popular character actor Sydney Tafler (Carve Her Name with Pride, The Spy Who Loved Me) it also has an appearance by John Laurie (The 39 Steps, Dad’s Army).

Hide and Seek directed by David Eady, stars a teenage Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet, The Krays) as do-gooder Chris, who becomes entangled with a borstal escapee known locally as the Deptford Dodger. With Roy Dotrice (Clochemerle, Game of Thrones), Robin Askwith (Britannia Hospital, the Confessions series), Terence Morgan (Sir Francis Drake) and Alan Lake in supporting roles, this is amongst the best of the CFF’s 1970s output.

Terry on the Fence was the last film made by British film industry stalwart Frank Godwin (producer, Woman in a Dressing Gown). When 11-year-old Terry runs away from home he only intends to put the wind up his parents. But a gang of older bullies, led by the tough skinhead Les (played by Neville Watson, now a London-based music producer and international DJ) soon draw him into their daunting criminal world of break-ins and stolen goods.

For over 30 years the Children's Film Foundation produced quality entertainment for young audiences, employing the cream of British filmmaking talent. Newly transferred from the best available elements held in the BFI National Archive, these much-loved and fondly remembered films finally return to the screen after many years out of distribution in specially curated DVD releases from the BFI.

The sixth volume of CFF films, Outer Space (featuring Glitterball), will be released in October as part of the BFI’s major celebration, Things to Come: Science Fiction.

Special features
• Brand new High Definition transfers of all films
• Illustrated booklet including contributions written by Gary Kemp and Neville Watson

Product details
RRP: £19.99 / cat. no. BFIV971 / Cert PG

UK / 1953 + 1972 + 1985 / colour / English language / 57 + 59 + 66 mins / DVD9 / Original aspect ratios 1.37:1 and 1.85:1 (16x9 anamorphic) / Dolby Digital mono 2.0 audio (320kbps)

[MichaelB]

Mondo Digital on Runaways.