Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Scala!!! Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 24, 2024

Some more seasoned readers may remember when Times Square in New York City used to be scary enough you might not have wanted to be there alone After Hours (so to speak). Well publicized clean up efforts that kind of hilariously introduced two new words to English in addition to the oft used gentrification, Giulianification and/or Disneyfication, transformed the area into its semi-gleaming status as an actual tourist destination. Something rather similar has happened to the London neighborhood called Kings Cross, once very Times Square-esque in terms of porn palaces, "working girls" and just general grime and urban decay. Rather interestingly in that regard, one of London's most iconic repertory film houses (and performance venues), Scala, actually ultimately took up residence in Kings Cross at the height (depth?) of its "moral turpitude" era, and offered film and music fans a kind of "club house" where arguably cultish interests could be nurtured. This hugely appealing documentary covers the history of the venue (including its previous locations), offering a kind of mini-history of repertory cinema during an era when big budget studio films often competed with indie efforts to capture audience interest. If Scala tended to focus more on the latter, it certainly wasn't immune to programming the former.

This three disc set offers the main documentary and some appealing supplements on the first disc, with a collection of short films Scala programmed along with a couple of very interesting documentaries offered on the second and third discs. The result is both fascinating and at times rather provocative, but the main documentary in particular gives an absolutely era (and/or eras) specific overview of trends in repertory programming and the singular approach Scala took toward providing their members (interestingly, buying a membership was a requirement) a reason to keep coming back time and time again. There are any number of great talking heads in the main documentary, providing even more first person accounts of what attending a Scala event was like back in the day.

Scala!!! Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Scala!!! is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a variety of aspect ratios, but with all of the contemporary footage in 1.78:1. Unsurprisingly, this is a pretty heterogeneous looking presentation a lot of the time, since it tends to ping pong between new interview segments, a variety of film clips, and archival video and stills. As a result everything from clarity to fine detail to grain (or lack thereof) tends to be highly variable. The contemporary interview segments all look nicely sharp and well detailed. Even a lot of the film clips look relatively decent (if not exactly reference quality). The archival video is often very ragged looking, which may only increase its appeal to certain archaeologists.

Scala!!! Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Scala!!! features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 options. The surround track really doesn't have a lot to work with, so to speak, since so much of this piece relies on solo talking head sequences, and so the stereo option may suffice perfectly well for many listeners. The surround track does occasionally open up at least the energy of the midrange and low end if not explosive engagement of the side and rear channels in many of the film clips. All spoken material is delivered without any issues. Optional English subtitles are available.

Scala!!! Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One ( Scala!!! )

• Audio Commentary with Co-Directors Jane Giles & Ali Catterall


• Introduction from the UK Premiere at the 2003 BFI London Film Festival (HD; 12:29)


• Introduction to Scala by Director Michael Clifford (HD; 3:53) gives some information about the 1990 documentary and Clifford's bio.


• Scala (Michael Clifford, 1990) (SD; 36:40) gives an era specific view of the goings on.


• Scala Cinema (Ali Peck / Victor de Jesus, 1992) (HD; 3:46) is a brief look at the venue.


• Audio Commentary for Scala Cinema with Paul R. White (HD; 3:46)


• Scala Programs 1978-1993 (HD; 12:07) features Jane Giles as a tour guide of sorts looking over various offerings Scala had through the years. This is a fascinating archaelogical dig.


• Cabinet of Curiosities - Inside the Scala Archive (HD; 18:03) offers Giles again with another fun look at various archival material. You kind of have to love the fact that she identifies what a land line telephone is.


• Extended Interviews (HD; 59:55) features Giles, Kim Newman and a glut of others in extended snippets.


• Mary Harron Outtakes (HD; 14:28)


• Nick Kent Outtakes (HD; 29:29)


• Thurston Moore Outtakes (HD; 11:39)


• John Waters Outtakes (HD; 15:30)


• Cartoons by Davey Jones (HD; 3:13) is an interview with Jones documenting his work.


• Osbert Parker's Scala!!! Animation Experiments and Outtakes (HD; 00:40)


• Primatarium Animation (HD; 00:54)


• Scala Programs Animation (HD; 1:37)


• Tentacles Animation (HD; 1:19)


• Trailer (HD; 1:44)

Disc Two - Shorts

• Divide and Rule - Never! (Newsreel Collective, 1978) (HD; 40:42)


• Dead Cat (David Lewis, 1989) (HD; 19:57)


• David Lewis Remembers Dead Cat (HD; 15:15)


• The Mark of Lilith (Bruna Fionda / Polly Gladwin / Zachary Nataf, 1986) (HD; 33:23)


• Relax (Chris Newby, 1991) (HD; 23:22)


• Boobs A Lot (Aggy Read, 1968) (HD; 2:49)


• Kama Sutra Rides Again (Bob Godfrey, 1971) (HD; 9:03)


• Coping With Cupid (Viv Albertine, 1991) (HD; 19:02)


• On Guard (Susan Lambert, 1984) (HD; 51:27)

Disc Three (Documentaries and Shorts)

Documentaries

• The Art of the Calendar (Kier-La Janisse, 2024) (HD; 46:00) is a fun look at the exhibition business, with some really interesting background about some repertory cinema houses. The piece ultimately gets into the advertising element with the now iconic full page calendars offering a month or more of showing information.


• Splatterfest Exhumed (Jasper Sharp, 2024) (HD; 1:20:01) is another engaging piece, with Jasper Sharp reminiscing about his obsession with graphic horror.

Short Films

• Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie (Buddy Giovinazzo, 1986) (HD; 7:25)


• Audio Commentary for Maniac 2: Mr. Robbie with Buddy Giovinazzo (HD; 7:25)


• Horrorshow (Paul Hart-Wilden, 1990) (HD; 4:42)


• Audio Commentary for Horrorshow with Director Paul Hart-Wilden (HD; 4:42)


• Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter (Josh Becker, 1982) - Original Cut (HD; 9:11)


• Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter (Josh Becker, 1982) - Producer's Cut (HD; 10:39)


• Audio Commentary for the Producer's Cut of Cleveland Smith: Bounty Hunter with Producer Scott Spiegel (HD; 10:39)


• Mongolitos (Stéphane Ambiel, 1988) (HD; 7:17)


• Audio Commentary for Mongolitos with Director Stéphane Ambiel (HD; 7:17)


• The Legendary H.G. Lewis Speaks - 1989 Scala Appearance by The Godfather of Gore (HD; 15:44)

The keepcase encloses a reproduction of a ticket and one of Scala's legendary calendars. Packaging features a slipbox.

Scala!!! Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I'm actually just about to head off to London myself as this review is being written, and this review had made me extremely to revisit Kings Cross again now that I know a bit of its checkered past. Scala!!! is a really wonderfully engaging documentary, and the supplements Severin has aggregated to accompany it make this package even more alluring. Technical merits are generally solid, and Scala!!! comes Highly recommended.