The British Film Institute will add three new titles to its Blu-ray catalog: Alexandra Pigg's
Letter to Brezhnev, Lars Hanson's
The Informer, and
German Concentration Camps Factual Survey.
The Informer
Synopsis: Based on Liam O'Flaherty's popular novel this gripping thriller is set amongst a group of revolutionaries in the newly independent Ireland of 1922. When one of their number, Francis, kills the chief of police he goes on the run. But when he returns to say goodbye to his mother and former lover he is cruelly betrayed by his one-time friend, Gypo.
Newly restored by the BFI National Archive, with a new score from acclaimed violist/composer Garth Knox and premiered at the 2016 BFI London Film Festival, The Informer is one of the finest British films of the 1920s and deserves a place alongside other silent greats such as Blackmail, A Cottage on Dartmoor and Piccadilly.
This Dual Format Edition includes the silent version alongside the rare sound version which was produced at the same time.
Special Features:
- Contains both the 1929 silent and sound versions
- Fully illustrated booklet with new writings on the film and full film credits
- AND More...
STREET DATE: APRIL 24.
Letter to Brezhnev
Synopsis: Two Merseyside girls escape their humdrum lives for a night on the town, where they meet two Russian sailors on shore leave. For Teresa (Margi Clarke), it's a welcome bit of fun, but for Elaine (Alexander Pigg) it turns into much more.
One of the key British films of the 1980's Letter to Brezhnev is set against the backdrop of Thatcherism, Liverpool's club scene, one-night stands and a Europe still in the grip of the Cold War. Written by Frank Clarke and directed by Chris Bernard (both whom worked on Brookside) and starring a fresh and young cast it remains a hilarious and uplifting tale of how love and idealism can help ordinary people realise their dreams.
Special Features:
- From Liverpool with Love - Making of documentary
- Newly filmed interview with actors Alexandra Pigg and Peter Firth
- Newly filmed interview with actor Margi Clarke
- Three audio commentaries featuring Alexandra Pigg, Margi Clarke, and director Chris Bernard
- Fully illustrated booklet including new writings by writer Frank Clarke and Professor Juliet Hallam
STREET DATE: APRIL 24.
German Concentration Camps Factual Survey
Synopsis: This hugely important film documents the liberation of Belsen and other concentration camps by Allied Forces in Spring 1945. Producer Sidney Bernstein worked with an expert team that included Alfred Hitchcock, who worked as treatment adviser, to turn the powerful and damning footage of the liberation into a documentary to screen after the war, which would condemn the Nazi regime and shame German people into acceptance of the Allied occupation.
The production was originally shelved by the Ministry of Information in 1945, before being restored and reconstructed by IWM (Imperial War Museums) in 2014, including newly recorded narration by actor Jaspar Britton.
The story of this extraordinary film was itself the subject of the Emmy-winning documentary Night Will Fall (released by the BFI on DVD in 2014). This special Archival Edition includes the restored film, plus many contextualising features, a commentary and previously unseen footage.
Special Features:
- New restoration by IWM (Imperial War Museums)
- Presented with both an optional intro and outro to aid viewers
- Substantial extra features including previously unseen footage plus commentary by Dr Toby Haggith of IWM and the BFI's Patrick Russell that help contextualise the film
- 80-page perfect-bound book with new writing on the film, and the period it was made and full film credits
STREET DATE: APRIL 17.