UK: The BFI launch "The Flipside"

[MarcMorris]

Press release:

Discover The Flipside
A new DVD and Blu-ray strand from the BFI

On 25 May the BFI launches Flipside, a new strand presenting weird and wonderful British films in new high-quality editions on DVD and Blu-ray. The first three releases are Richard Lester's darkly comic The Bed Sitting Room (1969) and Arnold Louis Miller's pioneering Mondo-influenced 'shockumentaries' London in the Raw (1964) and Primitive London (1965).

Developed from its popular monthly screening slot at BFI Southbank, the BFI's Flipside series on DVD and Blu-ray is designed to revisit and reappraise British films that have slipped through the cracks of cinema history – films that were overlooked, marginalised, or undervalued at the original time of release, or sit outside the established canon of recognised classics. Subject matter will vary widely (and will encompass everything from nuclear war to Soho striptease, from forbidden love to international intrigue) and is likely to appeal to a diverse range of film fans, many of whom may be unfamiliar with the BFI's more traditional DVD and Blu-ray output.

All Flipside releases, newly-mastered in HD from original film elements, are presented with a wide array of special features and extensive illustrated booklets containing informative notes and thought-provoking essays. Initial contributors include respected writers Stewart Home and Iain Sinclair. They are priced at £17.99 on DVD and £22.99 on Blu-ray.

Three new Flipside titles will appear approximately every three months. Future releases include long-unavailable British cult titles such as Peter Watkins' Privilege (1967) and Gerry O'Hara’s That Kind of Girl (1963).

The Bed Sitting Room

Primitive London

London in the Raw

The Bed Sitting Room: DVD | Blu-ray
Primitive London: DVD | Blu-ray
London in the Raw: DVD | Blu-ray

More titles from the BFI's Flipside label

[Timmy Lea]

I think I'm going to ask them for a job.....

[loops]

I read the BFI are going to release Pete Walker's Man of Violence, cant wait for that.

[MarcMorris]

And some other titles - I'm scanning some stuff for them.

[Eric B]

Hey - love this side of BFI. If they keep putting it out I will keep buying it. After I get a Momitsu, that is.

[MarcMorris]

I've just picked up a multi-region Panasonic Blu-ray/DVD.

[Phil_D]

Hi Marc,
If it's the Panasonic BD60, I bought one of these last week. No problems as yet!

Phil

PS Newly subscribed at last...you bought Graveyard of Horror from me on ebay ages ago!

[claire]

Originally Posted by MarcMorris

I've just picked up a multi-region Panasonic Blu-ray/DVD.

Wow. Which one Marc, and how much? Is there a chance current machines will receive upgrades for multi-region DVD/Blu-ray playback?

[Eric B]

Is the Panasonic you bought available in the US? Let us know how you like it.

[MarcMorris]

Here's what I went for:

Multi-Region Magic: Panasonic DMP-BD60EB-K Blu-Ray Player - Multiregion Blu-Ray+DVD

All firmware upgrades work as usual.

The multi-region mod is expensive because another board has to be soldered into the player, effectively making it two players in one. It's not possible for blu-ray players to be software hacked at all, which is a condition of Sony's license agreement.

[Toten Corps]

Some of the online reviews The FLIPSIDE has been getting.

The HD verisons have been getting a lot of praise:

DVD Beaver - The Bed Sitting Room

DVD Beaver - Primitive London

AVManiacs - London in the Raw

DVD Times - London in the Raw

DVD Times - Primtive London

DVD Outsider - Primitive London

Blu-ray.com - London in the Raw

10K Bullets - Primitive London

10K Bullets - London in the Raw

[WilsonBros]

I got review copies of Primative London & London in the Raw yesterday and they both look wonderful!

Kev W

[chrisoneill99]

The 10kbullet reviews are mine, the BFI really have done an amazing job on these DVDs.

[WilsonBros]

Our reviews...

London in the Raw: http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd...-the-raw2.html

Primitive London: http://www.dvdactive.com/reviews/dvd...-the-raw2.html

If you read them, please be nice - we do this shit for free!

Kev W

[Dave Jay]

This month's DARKSIDE magazine has an interview with the guy behind the Flipside imprint - and in it he claims that the label is currently looking into the possibility of releasing HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH! I know ALOT of people on this site would welcome that one!

[MarcMorris]

Sam who runs the label is a god friend of mine. Mulberry Bush is of course owned by a major studio - I myself tried to do a deal with them for this but they want WAY too much money. If there's anybody who can do a deal it's the BFI.

[Dave Jay]

Let's hope so! As you say, if anyone can, the BFI can...

[bgart13]

BFI still are waiting on WB to be able to release (HORROR OF) DRACULA, so you never know. Majors like to drag their feet if it's not on their time.

[Timmy Lea]

My review of THE BEDSITTING ROOM is up at Britmovie, and I just sent them my summation of ALL THE RIGHT NOISES. MAN OF VIOLENCE and HEROSTRATUS to follow.