StudioCanal: New 4K Restorations of Two Classic Peter Sellers Films Prepped for Blu-ray
HomeStudioCanal: New 4K Restorations of Two Classic Peter Sellers Films Prepped for Blu-ray
Posted November 10, 2025 05:56 AM by Webmaster
StudioCanal will release on Blu-ray exclusive new 4K restorations of two classic Peter Sellers comedies: Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) and Only Two Can Play (1962). The two releases are scheduled to arrive on the market on January 26.
Official statement: In celebration of what would have been Peter Sellers' 100th Birthday this year, STUDIOCANAL announces the release of another two of his classic films, the much loved British satires ONLY TWO CAN PLAY (1962) from director Sidney Gilliat (writer: THE GREEN MAN, THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN'S) and CARLTON BROWNE OF THE F.O. (1959) from master duo Roy Boulting (THE FAMILY WAY, HEAVENS ABOVE!) & Jeffrey Dell (DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART), lovingly restored in 4K.
Homegrown comedy legend Peter Sellers (THE PINK PANTHER, THE LADYKILLERS, I'M ALL RIGHT JACK) continues to demonstrate his remarkable talent and versatility in these celebrated post-war gems of the silver screen. Romantic satire ONLY TWO CAN PLAY follows Sellers as frustrated librarian John Lewis who embarks on a flirtatious and chaotic affair as escape from his dull family life, also starring Mai Zetterling (FRIEDA), Virginia Maskell (THE RISK) and the brilliant Richard Attenborough (BRIGHTON ROCK) and based on the novel That Uncertain Feeling by Kingsley Amis, who was known for his witty depictions of post-war British life. Political farce CARLTON BROWNE OF THE F.O. sees Sellers take on a supporting role as the scheming prime minister of a tiny British colony to Terry-Thomas's (SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS) lead as bumbling Foreign Official Carlton Browne, who is tasked with handling diplomatic relations with the island. This hilarious parody of British colonial attitudes and government bureaucracy sees these two acting stalwarts at their best.
These new editions join part of an expanding collection of 4K restorations of Peter Sellers films reissued in recognition of his centenary and include a thrilling selection of new bonus material. They will also form part of a fantastic new box set of eight Peter Sellers films, which will be available later in 2026.
Recently released and also forming part of the box-set are comedy classics from the same period TWO WAY STRETCH & HEAVENS ABOVE!. More information on the box set will be announced soon.
Only Two Can Play
Only Two Can Play follows John Lewis, the small-town Welsh librarian who is offered an escape from his mundane life and henpecked-husband routine when the councillor's wife Liz takes a shine to him. Alas, none of their carefully calculated schemes for a romantic tryst comes to fruition thanks to a series of comic complications.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Carlton-Browne of the F.O. follows the story of a long-forgotten British colony suddenly becoming geopolitically hot property due to its rare mineral deposits, with the Foreign Office scrambling to reassert influence. Enter Carlton-Browne (a charmingly clueless diplomat whose only qualification is his father's legacy and a knack for accidental diplomacy). Dispatched to the island of Gaillardia, Carlton must navigate a tangled web of Cold War tensions, royal intrigue, and Morris dancing mishaps. As rival factions vie for control and foreign powers circle like vultures, Carlton stumbles through espionage, romance, and revolution - proving that sometimes, the most unlikely man can make the biggest mess... and still come out ahead.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Official statement: In celebration of what would have been Peter Sellers' 100th Birthday this year, STUDIOCANAL announces the release of another two of his classic films, the much loved British satires ONLY TWO CAN PLAY (1962) from director Sidney Gilliat (writer: THE GREEN MAN, THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN'S) and CARLTON BROWNE OF THE F.O. (1959) from master duo Roy Boulting (THE FAMILY WAY, HEAVENS ABOVE!) & Jeffrey Dell (DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART), lovingly restored in 4K.
Homegrown comedy legend Peter Sellers (THE PINK PANTHER, THE LADYKILLERS, I'M ALL RIGHT JACK) continues to demonstrate his remarkable talent and versatility in these celebrated post-war gems of the silver screen. Romantic satire ONLY TWO CAN PLAY follows Sellers as frustrated librarian John Lewis who embarks on a flirtatious and chaotic affair as escape from his dull family life, also starring Mai Zetterling (FRIEDA), Virginia Maskell (THE RISK) and the brilliant Richard Attenborough (BRIGHTON ROCK) and based on the novel That Uncertain Feeling by Kingsley Amis, who was known for his witty depictions of post-war British life. Political farce CARLTON BROWNE OF THE F.O. sees Sellers take on a supporting role as the scheming prime minister of a tiny British colony to Terry-Thomas's (SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS) lead as bumbling Foreign Official Carlton Browne, who is tasked with handling diplomatic relations with the island. This hilarious parody of British colonial attitudes and government bureaucracy sees these two acting stalwarts at their best.
These new editions join part of an expanding collection of 4K restorations of Peter Sellers films reissued in recognition of his centenary and include a thrilling selection of new bonus material. They will also form part of a fantastic new box set of eight Peter Sellers films, which will be available later in 2026.
Recently released and also forming part of the box-set are comedy classics from the same period TWO WAY STRETCH & HEAVENS ABOVE!. More information on the box set will be announced soon.
Only Two Can Play
Only Two Can Play follows John Lewis, the small-town Welsh librarian who is offered an escape from his mundane life and henpecked-husband routine when the councillor's wife Liz takes a shine to him. Alas, none of their carefully calculated schemes for a romantic tryst comes to fruition thanks to a series of comic complications.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- EXCLUSIVE NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
- NEW Sellers Plays It Straight: Vic Pratt and Peter Lydon on Only Two Can Play
- NEW Behind the Scenes: Only Two Can Play - with Mai Zetterling, Bryan Forbes, Sidney Gilliat, Roy Boulting (archive material from Seller's Best)
- Extract from BEHP Audio interview with Sidney Gilliat
- Behind the Scenes stills gallery
- Optional English SDH Subtitles for the main feature
Carlton-Browne of the F.O. follows the story of a long-forgotten British colony suddenly becoming geopolitically hot property due to its rare mineral deposits, with the Foreign Office scrambling to reassert influence. Enter Carlton-Browne (a charmingly clueless diplomat whose only qualification is his father's legacy and a knack for accidental diplomacy). Dispatched to the island of Gaillardia, Carlton must navigate a tangled web of Cold War tensions, royal intrigue, and Morris dancing mishaps. As rival factions vie for control and foreign powers circle like vultures, Carlton stumbles through espionage, romance, and revolution - proving that sometimes, the most unlikely man can make the biggest mess... and still come out ahead.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- EXCLUSIVE NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
- NEW Diplomacy & Drollery: Peter Lydon and Vic Pratt on Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
- NEW Sellers Begins: From Satire to Stardom - with Roy Boulting, Ian Carmichael, Bryan Forbes and Beryl Reid (archive material from Seller's Best)
- Behind the Scenes stills gallery
- Optional English SDH Subtitles for the main feature