Dissent & Disruption: Alan Clarke at the BBC

[dda1996a]

So is there a limited number of boxes printed for this? I dont want to miss out on this.
Btw does anyone know the quality of the Mike Leigh at the BBC DVD boxset?

[nosy lena]

So is there a limited number of boxes printed for this? I dont want to miss out on this.

they haven't announced how many they will press, just referred to the 13 disc set as being 'limited'. the two 6 disc sets on the other hand are not.

[Alan Clarke]

The 1979 feature film version of Scum was never part of this package - but the 1977 BBC version still very much is. I suspect that listing has got corrupted somehow, as there are unexplained blank lines between some of the titles.

I knew the feature film version of Scum wasn't going to be in the set, I just couldn't see the TV version listed. But you are most probably right, my friend. A corrupted listing. Though that also implies that they are actually adding more films to the set, MichaelB?!?!?!!?

[peerpee]

Btw does anyone know the quality of the Mike Leigh at the BBC DVD boxset?

For a 7 year old DVD set, it's very good. When I saw it back in 2009, I thought NUTS IN MAY looked better than I've ever seen it before. They haven't all had proper remasters, but there are no stinkers. For 20 quid, it's a steal.

[frankiecrisp]

BFI has updated release date to May 30th. Hopefully that's it.

changed again its now June 6th wonder if we will actually see it this year

[MichaelB]

changed again its now June 6th wonder if we will actually see it this year

Of course you will - this isn't an Eyes Without a Face situation where rights complications over a single item held everything up.

This is an unbelievably complicated project logistically (way ahead of anything that I've produced myself, and I've overseen quite a few box sets in my time), and when you factor in all the late additions - the Gary Oldman commentary, the complete Bukovsky (whose complete soundtrack only turned up earlier this year), new interviews for the big doc being shot as recently as late March - it's a small miracle that they've managed to stay more or less on schedule. But I imagine QC time alone is going to take ages.

[peerpee]

It's been delayed a fortnight from the original release date – a small miracle really, considering it's probably the single largest collection of a filmmaker's work ever issued on Blu-ray (it beats existing Chaplin and Hitchcock sets, and it beats BY BRAKHAGE in length, if not by number of titles – is there anything else I'm missing?)

[lefeufollet]

It's been delayed a fortnight from the original release date – a small miracle really, considering it's probably the single largest collection of a filmmaker's work ever issued on Blu-ray (it beats existing Chaplin and Hitchcock sets, and it beats BY BRAKHAGE in length, if not by number of titles – is there anything else I'm missing?)

There's the Rohmer set from Potemkine.

[peerpee]

Of course! That's a big one. 22 films restored in HD (Clarke has 23, including Bukovsky and George's Room, and not including The Firm twice). Not sure whether its "2,471 minutes" length includes extras or not. Doesn't matter really, they're both similar (and Clarke's book is twice the size).

[MichaelB]

The Rohmer and Clarke boxes are an excellent illustration of why it's very very handy if filmmakers stick with the same production company for all or most of their careers. Ingmar Bergman (Svensk Filmindustri) and Akira Kurosawa (Toho) also have advantages in this respect - and of course there've been massive surveys of their work too, although not on BD to anything like the same extent.

[rockysds]

The BFI missed a trick by not including a teabag though.

[JSC]

On the same subject, I've still got that teabag...don't know much about tea leaves
and how long they last so I haven't been inclined to actually use it.

Anyway, how did they decide what kind of leaves to use for a
My Night at Maud's brand?

The only thing I remember about it in the film is Jean-Louis Trintignant
exhorting Marie-Christine Barrault about the proper way to brew it.

[MichaelB]

The BFI missed a trick by not including a teabag though.

A sock and a pool ball, surely?

[Alan Clarke]

We are digressing. MichaelB, when is this actually out?

[knives]

Maybe a Billy the Kid hat?

[MichaelB]

I think referring to one of the few Clarke films that's not in the box set might be a tad confusing.

[Gregory]

Point made, this doesn't need to stay here.

[knives]

I think referring to one of the few Clarke films that's not in the box set might be a tad confusing.

But fun.

[peerpee]

Barring some extremely unusual calamity, it's really looking like June 6th (the current Amazon release date) is going to be when we get our hands on this release.

[Alan Clarke]

Barring some extremely unusual calamity, it's really looking like June 6th (the current Amazon release date) is going to be when we get our hands on this release.

Thank you, my friend.

[Big Ben]

Just ordered mine. Seemed to be very reasonably priced given the massive amount of content.

Pretty stoked. \:D/

Anyone have a favorite? I'm looking for a good place to start.

[MichaelB]

If you want one single piece that showcases pretty much every one of his strengths, I'd go for Road - and I know I'm not the only one.

[criterion10]

Anyone have a favorite? I'm looking for a good place to start.

I'll further this question and ask for a handful of Clarke's films to start with. (Just trying to figure out if this box set is for me before I drop nearly $160 on it!)

[warren oates]

Anyone have a favorite? I'm looking for a good place to start.

I'll further this question and ask for a handful of Clarke's films to start with. (Just trying to figure out if this box set is for me before I drop nearly $160 on it!)

What if I told you Harmony Korine's favorite film was Alan Clarke's Elephant?

[nosy lena]

don't try to dissuade him/her.