Am 25. Januar 2010 erweitert das British Film Institute (BFI) die “Flipside”-Reihe um die Discs #7 bis #9. Die “Flipside”-Reihe präsentiert “weird and wonderful British films in new high-quality editions on DVD and Blu-ray.”
 
“Privileg / Privilege” [GB 1967, Peter Watkins]

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.

Starring Manfred Mann 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, a filmmaker whose unique vérité-style and oppositional themes have continually met with controversy throughout his career.

Remastered in high-definition and 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.

Special features:

• All films remastered to High Definition
• Original trailer
• The Diary of an Unknown Soldier (Peter Watkins, 1959, 17 mins): a compelling short film in which a young solider in the trenches of the First World War shares his innermost feelings
• The Forgotten Faces (Peter Watkins, 1961, 17 mins): a gripping newsreel-style account of the peoples’ uprising in Hungary, 1956, given forceful authenticity by Watkins’ unique approach
• Extensive illustrated booklet with essays by Peter Watkins, film historian Robert Murphy, and Watkins specialist John Cook.

 
“Adam und Eva / That Kind of Girl” [GB 1963, Gerry O'Hara]

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 her lovers, and their partners – including the well-meaning Janet (played by Big Zapper’s Linda Marlowe, in her first role) – at risk.

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), and is presented in a new high-definition transfer.

Special features:

• All films newly mastered to High Definition
• 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 (Derrick Knight, 1959, 10 mins): a snapshot of the first ‘Ban the Bomb’ march to Aldermaston
• A Sunday in September (James Hill, 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

 
“Permissive” [GB 1970, Lindsay Shonteff]

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.

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.

As a bonus, this release also includes Stanley Long’s ultra-rare Bread, a film which, whilst exploring the same cultural milieu as Permissive (and featuring its own bona fide cult British rock band, Juicy Lucy), takes a somewhat more light-hearted approach to its subject.

Special features:

• All films transferred to High Definition
• Original Permissive trailer
• Bread (Stanley Long, 1971, 79 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 – outtakes (13 mins): newly transferred from the original negative
• ‘Ave You Got a Male Assistant Please Miss? (Graham Jones, Jon Astley, 1973, 4 mins): a humorous short film in which a ‘permissive’ couple are given some useful advice
• Extensive illustrated booklet with contributions by I.Q. Hunter and Lee Dorrian, and Comus band-members’ recollections of working with Lindsay Shonteff

 
Die “Privileg / Privilege” [GB 1967, Peter Watkins] Blu-ray wird den Regionalcode “B” aufweisen, “Adam und Eva / That Kind of Girl” [GB 1963, Gerry O'Hara] und “Permissive” [GB 1970, Lindsay Shonteff] sind codefree.
 
UPDATE 30. November 2010
“Privileg / Privilege” erscheint vorerst nicht auf Blu-ray. Blu-ray.com dazu:

Due to an issue with materials, another title in BFI’s slate, ‘Privilege’, will only be released on DVD in January, with a Blu-ray edition to follow later in the year.