Dissent & Disruption: Alan Clarke at the BBC

[GaryC]

Does anyone know if the Half Hour Stories were shot in 405-line or 625-line video? Admittedly they're transferred from 16mm telerecordings but they look like 405 to me. But I could be wrong, so if anyone knows for certain.

(BBC1 was making shows in black and white 625 since at least 1966, for example all but one of the first series of Adam Adamant Lives! But there are ITV programmes made in 405 from as late as 1969, for example Big Breadwinner Hog.)

[MichaelB]

Historically, I'd assume 405-line unless otherwise advised. ITV didn't start 625-line broadcasts until November 1969, so there wouldn't have been any reason to shoot 1967/68 productions any other way, given that they'd have been intended for one-off broadcast shortly after recording. Further support for this theory comes from the fact that George's Room was reshot in order to make it look more presentable when up for international awards.

[GaryC]

Historically, I'd assume 405-line unless otherwise advised. ITV didn't start 625-line broadcasts until November 1969, so there wouldn't have been any reason to shoot 1967/68 productions any other way, given that they'd have been intended for one-off broadcast shortly after recording. Further support for this theory comes from the fact that George's Room was reshot in order to make it look more presentable when up for international awards.

That would be my assumption too.

BBC productions were a different matter, it seems. For example, the studio-shot parts of The Last Train Through Harecastle Tunnel, first broadcast on 1 October 1969, were 625-line black and white.

[MichaelB]

That would make sense, since it was broadcast just before BBC1 went 625-line, and there would have been the prospect of a repeat into the 625-line era (which indeed did happen in 1970).

[Alan Clarke]

Quick question about these Half Hour Episodes....are they like proper Alan Clarke? Like thematically speaking? i mean, if you like his films are you likely to like these half hour eps?

Yes. Try The Gentleman Caller if you want a perfect taster - even coming to it blind, you'd have a pretty good guess as to who directed it from the first half, and you'd be absolutely certain by part two. But they're all superb - he was amazingly confident right out of the blocks.

Thanks for the recommendation. Michael. Sounds exciting and think I will start of with these Half Hour eps before going onto The Last Train Through Harecastle and working my way through his films in chronological order.

[Alan Clarke]

Hello,

Unfortunately, the release date for the item(s) listed below was changed by the supplier, and we need to provide you with a new estimated delivery date based on the new release date:

"Dissent & Disruption: Alan Clarke at the BBC (1969 - 1989) (Limited Edition 13 disc Blu-ray Box Set)"
Estimated arrival date: June 08 2016 - June 10 2016

What is going on??? I thought everything was finalised???

[swo17]

That's just Amazon's revised delivery estimate based on the release getting pushed back to June 6th earlier this month. Calm down.

[tenia]

People should really stop freaking out at each 7-days delay.

[Gregory]

Watching films by some of the many non–Alan Clarke filmmakers out there can be a good way to pass the time until you receive your set.

[domino harvey]

It's my understanding that getting angry is perfectly in line with this set's contents though

[Zot!]

Dissent and disruption after all.

[Big Ben]

Considering that was my original delivery date I remain entirely non-angry.

[Alan Clarke]

That's just Amazon's revised delivery estimate based on the release getting pushed back to June 6th earlier this month. Calm down.

So I should still be getting it on the 6th of June yeah?? I am calm, I just don't want anymore delays, that's all. I think that's fair given that a good portion of my wages are going on this set.

Watching films by some of the many non–Alan Clarke filmmakers out there can be a good way to pass the time until you receive your set.

Gregory it's not as simple as that and you know it.

People should really stop freaking out at each 7-days delay.

I'm not freaking out, I just want what I paid for. No more mickey taking or taking their good time about it, the boxset has been finalised, lets go.

[swo17]

You'll get it two weeks after you stop asking for it.

[domino harvey]

That's just Amazon's revised delivery estimate based on the release getting pushed back to June 6th earlier this month. Calm down.

So I should still be getting it on the 6th of June yeah?? I am calm, I just don't want anymore delays, that's all. I think that's fair given that a good portion of my wages are going on this set.

Watching films by some of the many non–Alan Clarke filmmakers out there can be a good way to pass the time until you receive your set.

Gregory it's not as simple as that and you know it.

People should really stop freaking out at each 7-days delay.

I'm not freaking out, I just want what I paid for. No more mickey taking or taking their good time about it, the boxset has been finalised, lets go.

Michael, please delay the set another week or two just to spite this post

[med]

You'd think after being dead for 26 years Alan Clarke would have a little patience.

[gcgiles1dollarbin]

Imagine how I feel, Alan.

[Big Ben]

You haven't even technically paid for anything yet because Amazon doesn't charge most of the time until something ships. \:D/

[nosy lena]

Michael, please delay the set another week or two just to spite this post

lol yes please

[MichaelB]

I'm afraid that's beyond my powers. But if there are any Arrow releases that you want delayed, just let me know.

[criterion10]

I'm not freaking out, I just want what I paid for. No more mickey taking or taking their good time about it, the boxset has been finalised, lets go.

I hear that the set was delayed, because the BFI has added an entire new disc featuring interviews with Harmony Korine effusing praise for his favorite director: Alan Clarke.

[Alphonse Tram]

If you are so impatient Mr Clarke, perhaps you can spend the time catching up on some of your other works already released?

As you're such a big Clarke fan, I'm sure you already own and have watched these several times?

The Gold Robbers (Features an episode directed by Clarke)
Plays for Britain (Features Clarke's Fast Hands, written by Roy Minton)
Tales out of School (Features Made in Britain and other excellent plays by David Leland)
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire.
Scum.
Rita, Sue and Bob too.

[MichaelB]

And The Edwardians, one episode of which Clarke directed.

[Alan Clarke]

Michael, please delay the set another week or two just to spite this post

Really? You'd want the set to be delayed even further and thus hurt whatever sales forecast it had going for it just to spite me, a customer who clearly wants to support the BFI. Great idea :-k

If you are so impatient Mr Clarke, perhaps you can spend the time catching up on some of your other works already released?

As you're such a big Clarke fan, I'm sure you already own and have watched these several times?

The Gold Robbers (Features an episode directed by Clarke)
Plays for Britain (Features Clarke's Fast Hands, written by Roy Minton)
Tales out of School (Features Made in Britain and other excellent plays by David Leland)
Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire.
Scum.
Rita, Sue and Bob too.

I've got Tales out of School blu ray set. It's excellent and i'm not just talking about Made In Britain. Scum i've been watching ever since I was a teenager. I'd love to buy Rita, Sue and Bob is only available on DVD here and the blu ray in America is too expensive due to being owned by Twilight Times. Billy The Kid and the Green Baize Vampire - again, it's just available on DVD with no HD master, and truth be told, as much as I adore Clarke, it's hardly essential viewing of his work.

The Fast Hands short i've only just received so i'll watch that, but that's, what, 20 mins?

I'll find other films/shows to watch in the mean time, but I won't stand for anymore delays after this. I mean it.

[MichaelB]

Really? You'd want the set to be delayed even further and thus hurt whatever sales forecast it had going for it just to spite me, a customer who clearly wants to support the BFI. Great idea :-k

That was clearly a joke, and I suspect it's one that your namesake would have got, since he had a wicked sense of humour.

I'll find other films/shows to watch in the mean time, but I won't stand for anymore delays after this. I mean it.

It never ceases to amaze me just how militantly unreasonable some people can get over things like this. Some of us have waited over three decades for Clarke to have justice done to him on video - we can easily handle another fortnight. And given the amount of work that's gone into this set, and the fact that they were still filming and adding things right down to the wire, a delay that short is really pretty incredible.