The British Film Institute has officially announced its upcoming Blu-ray release of Lindsay Anderson's Red, White and Zero (1967), starring Patricia Healey, Arthur Lowe, John Sharp, Julie Perry, John Savident, Anthony Hopkins, and Stephen Moore. The release will be available for purchase on December 10.
Woodfall Films' portmanteau feature is a major rediscovery, never before released in the UK. Comprised of three compelling tales, it brings together a trio of Britain's most innovative directors and embodies the creativity and audacity at the heart of Swinging Sixties cinema. Red White and Zero is released in a Dual Format Edition on the BFI Flipside label.
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Although missing a section at the start, this partial recreation (commissioned by the BFI using our newly remastered digital print) gives a fascinating glimpse of how the distribution company United Artists intended to promote this important Woodfall film to the audiences in 1967. This footage was included in -About 'The White Bus'.
Comic legend Zero Mostel (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) mixes slapstick and surrealism as a tardy opera star traversing London in The Ride of the Valkyrie, while The White Bus, scripted by Shelagh Delaney (A Taste of Honey), blends realism, poetry and New Wave detachment as a young woman travels home to the north of England. Tony Richardson (Tom Jones) directs Vanessa Redgrave in the final part of the film, Red and Blue, a musical, melancholy romantic reverie.
Red White and Zero is release number 036 in the BFI Flipside strand, which rescues weird and wonderful British films from obscurity and presents them in new high quality editions on Blu-ray and DVD, with accompanying extras and an illustrated booklet.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
About 'The White Bus (1968, 59 mins): documentary on the making of Lindsay Anderson's segment
Lindsay Anderson Introduction/Stills Gallery (1968, 5 mins): an audio recording of Anderson addressing the NFT in 1968, played over stills
Behind the Scenes of Red and Blue (1966, 7 mins): Kevin Brownlow's 16mm footage of cast and crew
Kevin Brownlow onRed, White and Zero (2018, 15 mins): the Red and Blue and The White Bus editor on making the films
Billy Williams on Red and Blue (2018, 14 mins): the cinematographer recalls working with Tony Richardson on the third segment
No Arks (1969, 7 mins): political cartoonist Abu's satirical reworking of the Noah story, narrated by Vanessa Redgrave
Audio commentary by Adrian Martin
Illustrated booklet with new writing by Sarah Wood, Paul Fairclough, So Mayer, Philip Kemp and Katy McGahan, plus full film credits
Product details
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature