Classic BBC TV on DVD - ask and you shall receive. (Maybe...)

[Aardvark]

The BBC are going to issue old/classic/cult TV shows on video or DVD in (apparently) limited editions. Go to www.bbcworldwide.com/vet/specialinterests/ and suggest programmes they should release. (But don't ask for Dr. Who cos this has nothing to do with the Restoration Team so the picture will probably be awful...)

Already available:

Dracula (1977)
The Hound Of The Baskervilles (1968, Peter Cushing)
The Picture Of Dorian Gray (1976, Jeremy Brett)

£19.99 each or £50 for the three.
Don't know what the transfers will be like. Could be okay, could be terrible.

I've asked for The Nightmare Man and The Voyage Of Charles Darwin. Don't know what my chances are...

WARNING: The online order page is NOT encrypted (no padlock!) so order by post until they fix it.

[carryonline]

Wow - thanks for the tip. Personally I didn't rate the 1977 Dracula too highly, but Cushing's Hound of the Baskervilles is an absolute classic.

I also submitted a vote for The Nightmare Man, along with Day of the Triffids and the Kneale/Cartier version of 1984. We live in hope

[khaavren]

I put in a request for the Goodies and Spike Milligan's Q series and other comedy classics, cos I like a laugh:D

[jonathan.e]

I asked for:

Day of the Triffids
Nightmare Man
Flipside of Dominick Hyde
Another Flip for Dominick

Last two would make a great double header. I have Day of the Triffids and Kneale’s 1984 on tape but I’d buy DVDs of these in a heartbeat as long as they put some care into the transfers. The Beeb’s track record is none too shiny so if anyone gets these please post their impressions.

[Lik Mearse]

Fellow Nosferatu,

I'm especially interested in hearing what the "Dracula" transfer is like. I've never seen the other two, but the "Count" is a superb production.

Yours Sanguinely,
Lik.

[Dene]

I asked for the 1979 BBC2 production of 'Rebecca' starring Jeremy Brett.

I vaguely recall that it was good stuff, and it fits in well with the other ones (plus it would be nice to compare to the Hitchcock version, just out on Criterion).

[Snuffy]

This is great news. Now is the time to push for Private Schultz!!!
Echo the Nightmare Man though. Many a sleepless night after that one.

Also keen to see again. Old Men at the Zoo and Bird of Prey.

[jonathan.e]

Yeah, Private Schulz and Bird of Prey with Richard Griffiths would be cool. I remember the title sequence of Bird Of Prey looking very futuristic at the time but looking back it was at the same kind of level as early Space Invaders. I think there’s very little chance of BOP but Schulz is fine television and desreves better than just repeats on UKGold, which is where my copies came from.

[KeithHx]

Blakes Seven?

[den]

Originally posted by jonathan.e
I asked for:

Day of the Triffids
Nightmare Man
Flipside of Dominick Hyde
Another Flip for Dominick

Day of the Triffids (1962) is out on DVD on the Second Sight label - I have it :)

Here's a link at Play
http://www.play.com/Play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=91829

[jonathan.e]

Thanks den, but I (and others I believe) are talking about the early eighties BBC version which is far superior to the 1960s flick although it does have a certain charm.

[den]

Originally posted by jonathan.e
Thanks den, but I (and others I believe) are talking about the early eighties BBC version which is far superior to the 1960s flick although it does have a certain charm.

Sorry about that! Curse my speed-reading eyes! :p

[DVD Connoisseur]

All I want from the Beeb is Ghostwatch....no more, no less.

If they threw in an audio commentary and a few extras, I'd be one very happy camper.

[Aardvark]

If anyone buys one of these could they post their opinion of the picture/sound quality, please?

(Actually I might do it myself - being a bit of a Holmes fan I think I'll invest in the Baskervilles disc. Fingers crossed...)

[Chief Brody]

Who remembers THE BOX OF DELIGHTS from the mid-80's? I'd LOVE to see that on DVD, especially at Crimbo - haven't seen it since i was about 10 but i'd love another chance. I seem to remember Patrick Troughton being in it but i'm not certain....

[sage the owl]

I sent in my top 3 requests yesterday and got a reply this PM as follows.
SURVIVORS seasons 1 to 3.
Apparently this is'nt currently a priority as so much has been previously released, excuse me, but to the best of my knowledge only season one ever saw the light of day in the early 90's so I dont know whats going on here!
DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS.
This is apparently mired in legal problems at present.
THE NIGHTMARE MAN.
Looks to be on the cards.
One out of three is'nt bad I suppose, although my personal preference is for survivors.

[Roberto]

Originally posted by jonathan.e
I asked for:

Day of the Triffids
This used to scare the cr*p out of me when i was a kid (5 at the time), I found DrWho scary, but Triffids terrified me :(

[carryonline]

Had a response from the BBC chap about future releases today; it appears that Day of the Triffids is a no go, presumably due to the same rights issues that have plagued the previous planned VHS release.

One good piece of news was that The Nightmare Man is a definite possibility for release :clap: Not only that, it gets better - he also told me that more Nighel Kneale material is 100% certain in the very near future, either from the BBC or a partner (presumably the BFI as with Stone Tape).

Yay!:D

[Lik Mearse]

Fellow Archivists,

has anyone received a disc from this offer? What is the quality like? Especially interested in "Dracula".

Yours Vaultingly,
Lik.

[kerbcrawler]

KeithHX

I can assure you that aunty doesn't have the DVD rights for Blake although if it is ever released I wouldn't be surprised to see it released through her.

I can also assure you that if ... or rather when it does get a release (as I am certain it will) it will not be a budget range limited edition release.

kk

[chesterton]

Nice heads up, aardvark.

Originally posted by Chief Brody
Who remembers THE BOX OF DELIGHTS from the mid-80's? I'd LOVE to see that on DVD, especially at Crimbo - haven't seen it since i was about 10 but i'd love another chance. I seem to remember Patrick Troughton being in it but i'm not certain....

Mmmm. It had a crackingly charismatic performance from the late, great Robert Stephens as the baddie, if my memory serves.

[chesterton]

...And I've just requested the original (not later remakes) 70s serialisation of 'The Phoenix and the Carpet'. Great, great stuff!

[Deaks]

Originally posted by carryonline
Had a response from the BBC chap about future releases today; it appears that Day of the Triffids is a no go, presumably due to the same rights issues that have plagued the previous planned VHS release.

Best keep hold of my copy taped off the TV then! :D

Just submitted an email for the following:

Day of the Triffids
Quatermas Experiment
Quatermas 2
Flipside of Dominick Hyde
Another Flip for Dominick
The History Man
Wings (story of WWI pilots)
I Claudius
The Cleopatras

Plus some of the Play For Today and other one-off play's, particularly The Accidental Death of an Anarchist.

Deaks.

ps. I'm desperately hoping Thames/Pearson release the final two Danger UXB disks this year!

[baconjoe]

HEY

What about all series of "A Bit Of Fry And Laurie"? I'd love to see them available.

Am I the only one? Does anyone know where I can get these on VHS? Any help appreciated!

Cheers

[KeyserSoze]

i want Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe !!!

was that by BBC ?

[kerbcrawler]

Keyser

That would have been the Narnia Chronicles which I think was the whole bleeding lot of 'em.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if this got a makeover.

kk

[adamvbarker]

Originally posted by Lik Mearse
Fellow Archivists,

has anyone received a disc from this offer? What is the quality like? Especially interested in "Dracula".

Still haven't received Dorian Grey which I ordered before Christmas. Time to give them a ring, I think.

[Aardvark]

Viewers of this thread may be interested to know there's a forum site dedicated solely (well, almost solely...) to this series of DVD releases:

http://disc.server.com/Indices/177067.html

I asked if anyone had seen one of these discs, and got the reply that no DVDs have actually been pressed yet! The beeb are seemingly looking at how many pre-orders they get before finally committing themselves.

[Floop]

The Tripods Series 1 was released by distributor Second Sight and apparently they were pleased with the sales.

The Tripods Series 2 was going to be released (Play247 even had the cover art) but then the BBC withdrew permission to release the title, and no explanation as to why has been forthcoming.

PLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSEEEEEE would they release this title, I have emailed them and so should everyone else!!!! Okay so it was badly acted and had homoerotic tendencies which I totally missed at the age of 8 but frankly the second series was too cool for words and I MUST OWN IT NOW!

Oh, yeah, Box of Delights was cool too and I'd buy that. It was mad.

Floop

[jonathan.e]

Originally posted by Deaks
Day of the Triffids
Quatermas Experiment
Quatermas 2


Triffids - not much chance as detailed above.
Quatermass Experiment - only two episodes survive as the BBC taped Match of the Day over the rest. These extant eps could be a possible extra on other Kneale releases.
Quatermass 2 - BBC have sold the rights to some tiny distributor in Wales so the upside is it may one day be released but it’ll probably look like *****.

Good to see another vote for the two Dominick Hyde plays.

[feverpitch96]

Originally posted by Deaks


Just submitted an email for the following:

Wings (story of WWI pilots)
I Claudius

Yes and yes! Please!

ps. I'm desperately hoping Thames/Pearson release the final two Danger UXB disks this year!

I'd formed the impression they'd given up on the project after two discs, it's been a while since Vol2 arrived. Assuming they continue, at the rate of three eps per disc, surely there would be more than two more discs to come?

In any case, I sent Volume 1 back because I thought the editing of the disc was appalling (ends cut off credits etc, small stuff but unnecessary too), and I've been waiting for a re-press...

[Citysmith]

Does anyone else remember 'The Hanging Gale', would love to see this on DVD.

[jamie_rowe]

Have put in a request for "Our Friends in the North". You know its six years since that was on? God, I'm old


Read 'em and weep (http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=jamie_rowe)

[Deaks]

Originally posted by feverpitch96
I'd formed the impression they'd given up on the project after two discs, it's been a while since Vol2 arrived. Assuming they continue, at the rate of three eps per disc, surely there would be more than two more discs to come?

In any case, I sent Volume 1 back because I thought the editing of the disc was appalling (ends cut off credits etc, small stuff but unnecessary too), and I've been waiting for a re-press...

I'm hoping they're still gonna release the rest. There were only 13 episodes so a disk of three and one of four would finish it. Last year the releases were in March and October on both DVD and VHS so you never know....

[MikeToone]

Blott on the Landscape anyone...????

[feverpitch96]

Originally posted by Deaks


I'm hoping they're still gonna release the rest. There were only 13 episodes so a disk of three and one of four would finish it. Last year the releases were in March and October on both DVD and VHS so you never know....

Only thirteen episodes? Ever??

That's not fair... :(

Well, at least it makes them easy to collect...as I say, if Volumes III and IV do appear, I hope the editing's a little less slapdash than it was on the first disc.

[DJCulture]

I'd like to see Blake's 7 released and, perhaps, The Young Ones.

[Matt Sandbrook]

What about the wonderful Gary Lason's Tales from the Farside I & II on dvd, that would be great, I've practically worn out my VHS copy. Top stuff!

[KeyserSoze]

the borrowers with Ian Holm