Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Primitive London Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 18, 2009

The follow-up to Arnold L. Miller's exploitation-style documentary "London in the Raw" (1964), "Primitive London" (1965) arrives on Blu-ray as part of BFI's newly introduced Flipside series. The documentary has been transferred in High-Definition from a 35mm mute color interpos. The English language audio was transferred from a 35mm sound negative. The French language audio was transferred from a 35mm re-recorded sound negative. The pictures has been restored with HD-DVNR and MTI restoration systems. As usual, the UK distributors have supplied a lovely 38-page booklet to compliment their Blu-ray release. Region-Free.

Beautiful

Like its predecessor London in the Raw, Arnold L. Miller’s Primitive London is a strange yet beautiful documentary about post-war Britain. Narrated by David Gell, the documentary examines some of the darkest and sleaziest parts of the British capital. Local beatniks, rockers, strippers and even Jack the Ripper are also given a great deal of attention.

Primitive London opens up with a quick jab at British sentimentality. We are told how different British societal perceptions and norms changed after the end of WW2. Different male fashion trends for example – characterized by brighter and bolder colors that would have been dismissed before and immediately after the war - are linked to a sociological analysis about a shift in the male-female balance during the early 1960s, when for the first time in many years the male population began outnumbering the female population. The narrator explains that this was the time when many young men in Britain became identity-conscious.

Many of these young men looked for different ways to express their individuality. Some became rockers and began dressing in leather clothes, which they believed were suggestive of their masculinity and fascination with speed. Others became beatniks and gained popularity primarily because of their bohemian behavior and fascination with certain types of literature and music. In Primitive London, a number of them are interviewed and asked to talk about their identity and future aspirations.

Another group addressed in Primitive London is the strippers. As the narrator explains, the majority of them are typically young girls who had come to London looking for a better life. Some entered the business out of necessity, others driven by curiosity and desire for attention. Many became professional strippers because they liked the pay. Primitive London also takes a look at those who were on the receiving end – lonely men craving what they could not get from their girlfriends and wives, successful businessmen willing to indulge in exotic pleasures, as well as the psychopaths and murderers that terrorized those who worked the dark alleys of London.

It is important to note that none of the colorful characters in Primitive London are judged by the filmmakers. On the contrary, many of them are given an opportunity to explain what they value and what they don’t, as well as comment on how society perceives their behavior. Many of these explanations and comments are indeed what make Primitive London a terrific documentary.

Still, similar to London in the Raw, Primitive London has little in common with traditional documentaries. Its subversive humor and exploitative overtones more than justify the “mondo” label many critics have slapped on it. I must warn you, however, that seeing Primitive London strictly because of the occasional cynicism that lurks underneath it will likely prove to be a very disappointing experience.

Primitive London is written and directed by Arnold L. Miller, produced by Michael Klinger and Stanley A. Long, and edited by Stephen Cross. John A. Coleman and Basil Kirchin composed the film's atmospheric soundtrack. The creators of Primitive London also shot a French version of their film, which is found on this Blu-ray disc.

Primitive London Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Arnold L. Miller's documentary Primitive London arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of UK-based distributors BFI (British Film Institute).

Primitive London looks as impressive as London in the Raw. Contrast is fantastic, clarity excellent and detail exceptionally strong. The color-scheme is also pleasingly natural, with blues, reds, greens, blacks and whites being very convincing. Furthermore, I did not spot any edge-enhancement patterns to report in this review. Macroblocking is also not an issue of concern. According to the booklet supplied with the Blu-ray disc, Primitive London was transferred to High-Definition from a 35mm mute color interpose. Additionally, the picture has been restored using HD-DVNR and MTI restoration systems. As a result, Primitive London looks as good as it could. This being said, I did notice a few tiny specks popping up here and there but, overall, this is indeed a fantastic looking release, which I wholeheartedly recommend to you. (Note) This is a Region-Free release which you will be able to play on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location.

Primitive London Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: an English LPCM 2.0 and French LPCM 2.0 (the French track being an "official" one). For the record, BFI have provided optional English HOH subtitles for the main feature.

I could not hear anything on the English LPCM 2.0 track to criticize in this review. The dialog is crisp, clear and very easy to follow. There are absolutely no balance issues between John A. Coleman and Basil Kirchin's soundtrack and the dialog either. Additionally, I did not hear any disturbing pops, cracks, or hissings. All in all, everything has been handled with utmost precision. This being said, I quickly switched to the French LPCM 2.0 track to see how it compares with the English LPCM 2.0 track. My impressions are that it is quite different – dynamically and in terms of balance – and transforming Primitive London into an entirely different film. I hope that at least some French speakers take advantage of it.

Primitive London Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Booklet – a 38-page booklet containing Lain Sinclair's essay "Primal Screen" (the author has been writing on the history and psychogeography of London since the late 1960s), Vic Pratt's "Welcome to Primitive London!" (the author is a curator at the BFI National Archive), William Fowler's "Primitive London: another London, another country" (the author is a Curator of Artists' Moving Image at the BFI National Archive), "Primitive London Review" (from Monthly Film Bulletin, May 1965), William Fowler's "Arnold Louis Miller (1922-)", Vic Pratt's "Stanley A Long (1933-)", "13 Notes on Primitive London", John Irvin and Tim Miller's "Carousella", "Carousella review" (from Monthly Film Bulletin, September 1965), James Piers Taylor's "Bernard Braden's 'Now and Then' interviews: Soho Stories", and Elise Pineda's "Notes on the Translation".

Original theatrical trailer – with English and French language options. (1080p)

Carousella (1965) – a documentary film by John Irvin about a group of strippers. Subtitled in English. (26 min, 1080p).

An Interview with Al Burnett, a Soho nightclub owner (1967) - the gentleman talks about the ins and outs of the business he has been a part of as well as some of the best ways to evade the law – Subtitled in English. (18 min, 1080p).

An Interview with Stuart McCabe, a Soho striptease club manager (1968) – the gentleman addresses different rules and regulations affecting his line of business. Subtitled in English. (16 min, 1080p).

Interview with "Shirley", a Soho stripper (1968) – the lady talks about her choice of profession. Subtitled in English. (6 min, 1080p).

Primitive London Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Arnold L. Miller's Primitive London is a fascinating addition to the Flipside, BFI's newly introduced line of bizarre British films. I cannot wait for their second batch of titles! This being said, the Blu-ray disc herein reviewed looks and sounds great. There are some excellent supplemental features on it as well. Very Highly Recommended.