Indicator In July Will Be ‘Political And Prehistoric’

Easter holidays are happening, over at Indicator they have their sight on the Summer, July especially. A month that will be ‘political and prehistoric‘ with four Blu-ray premiere editions for the UK including Hammer, Boetticher, and along with our first-ever US-only editions.

The 18th July is the date for your diaries. First up is latest Budd Boetticher release from Indicator, BULLFIGHTER AND THE LADY (1951). Partly based on Boetticher’s own experiences as a novice bullfighter in Mexico, the film was initially released in a heavily truncated version (overseen, reputedly, by John Ford). Restored in the 1980s, with the aid of Boetticher and star Robert Stack, the film is now recognised as one of Boetticher’s true masterpieces – an epic drama of romance and rivalry. Presented on Blu-ray in the UK for the first time, this Indicator edition presents both versions of the film, along with a host of extras including Boetticher’s final feature, the semi-autobiographical 1985 documentary My Kingdom For…

This date will see the UK Blu-ray premiere of Robert Downey’s satirical PUTNEY SWOPE (1969). Taking well-aimed pot-shots at capitalism, power and racism in America, this key entry in counterculture cinema is presented in a stunning restoration created by the Academy Film Archive and the Film Foundation, along with an array of essential extras.

Frank and Eleanor Perry’s caustic deconstruction of male chauvinism, DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE (1970), also makes its UK Blu-ray premiere. A huge critical hit upon its release, the film earned Carrie Snodgress an Academy Award nomination and secured her two Golden Globes. This Indicator edition presents both the original theatrical cut and the long-unseen TV version, along with an extensive selection of contextualising extras.

The final release comes from Hammer with a deluxe UK Blu-ray premiere edition of Don Chaffey’s CREATURES THE WORLD FORGOT (1971). The last of a series of prehistoric adventures for the studio, following the phenomenal success of Chaffey’s One Million Years B.C., the film swaps dinosaurs for more adult content, and earned itself an ‘X’ certificate in the process. Even today, it still rates an ‘18’ from the BBFC!

BULLFIGHTER AND THE LADY (1951) DRAMA, ROMANCE

American sportsman Johnny Regan (Robert Stack, Written on the Wind) goes to a bullfight while holidaying in Mexico and witnesses the great matador Manolo Estrada (Gilbert Roland, She Done Him Wrong) in action. The two men meet later that evening, and Johnny becomes entranced by Anita (Joy Page, Casablanca), a friend of Manolo’s. Impressed by the world of bullfighting, and seeking to impress Anita, Johnny becomes Manolo’s pupil so that he, too, may become a champion torero.

Produced by John Wayne, and based in part on Budd Boetticher’s experiences as a novice bullfighter, Bullfighter and the Lady was initially released in a shorter 87-minute cut, reputedly edited by John Ford. In 1986, with the aid of Boetticher and Stack, the complete 124-minute version was restored, revealing the film to be a true masterpiece. Both cuts are presented on this edition, alongside Boetticher’s final work as a director, the 1985 documentary My Kingdom For… which is part autobiography, part history of the bullfighting art of rejoneo.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES 

• High Definition presentation
• Two presentations of the film: the complete 124-minute version, restored by the UCLA Film & Television Archive; and the original 87-minute theatrical cut
• Original mono audio
• Audio commentary with critics and authors Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme (2022)
• My Kingdom For… (1985): Boetticher’s final film as director, a partly autobiographical documentary about bullfighting, featuring Bullfighter and the Lady actor Robert Stack
• Interview with Mary Boetticher (2022)
• An Evening with Budd Boetticher (2001): audio recording of the great director in conversation with film preservationist Robert Gitt
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Limited edition booklet featuring a new essay by Matthew Thrift, an archival letter from Budd Boetticher discussing his love of bullfighting, archival profiles of Katy Jurado, an overview of contemporary critical responses, new writing on My Kingdom For…, and full film credits
• UK premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited edition of 3,000 copies for the UK

*All extras subject to change

PUTNEY SWOPE (1969) COMEDY

Putney Swope (Arnold Johnson, Shaft) is the only Black executive at a stuffy Madison Avenue advertising agency. When the chairman dies unexpectedly, Putney is unexpectedly elected the new boss – because those voting never thought anyone else would to do the same. Putney proceeds to kick out the white majority, replacing them with young, revolutionary types, and renames the agency Truth and Soul.

A bracing satire, taking well-aimed pot-shots at capitalism, power and racism in America, Robert Downey’s Putney Swope is a key entry in counterculture cinema, and a landmark of independent filmmaking, and – after more than a half a century – is still very, very funny.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• 4K restoration by the Academy Film Archive and the Film Foundation
• Original mono audio
• Audio commentary with writer-director Robert Downey (2001)
• Audio commentary with film critic and historian Sergio Mims (2019)
• Interview with Robert Downey (2001)
• Audio interview with cinematographer Gerald Cotts (2019)
• Film Forum Q&A with Robert Downey (2016): the writer and director in conversation with Bruce Goldstein at the Film Forum, New York
• Original theatrical trailer
• Dan Ireland trailer commentary (2014): short critical appreciation
• Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Limited edition exclusive booklet featuring a new essay by Christina Newland, an archival article on the film, archival comments from Robert Downey, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and full film credits
• UK premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited edition of 3,000 copies for the UK

All extras subject to change

DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE (1970) COMEDY, DRAMA

Superbly directed by Frank Perry (The Swimmer, Play It as It Lays), with a scathing screenplay by Eleanor Perry (David and Lisa, Ladybug Ladybug), Diary of a Mad Housewife tells the story of Tina Balser (Carrie Snodgress, The Fury, Pale Rider) a frustrated housewife trapped in an unhappy marriage to an insufferably controlling, status-obsessed bore (Richard Benjamin, Catch-22). Tina seeks solace in a fling with an abusive lover, the arrogant writer Georg Prager (Frank Langella, Dracula), who treats her like a sex object, leading to therapy and further unhappiness.

A caustic deconstruction of male chauvinism, Diary of a Mad Housewife was a huge critical hit, earning its female lead an Academy Award nomination upon its release. The Perrys’ film is presented here in both its theatrical cut, and a long-unseen alternative TV version.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• High Definition remaster
• Original mono audio
• Long unseen alternative TV version containing unique scenes, presented in Standard Definition, as originally broadcast
• Theatrical cut audio commentary with actor Rutanya Alda and film historian Lee Gambin (2022)
• TV version audio commentary with Frank Perry biographer Justin Bozung (2022)
• Video appreciation by Academy Award-winning editor and filmmaker Chris Innis (2022)
• Original theatrical trailer
• Larry Karaszewski trailer commentary (2020)
• Radio spot
• Image gallery: promotional and publicity material
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Paula Mejía, a profile of novelist Sue Kaufman, extracts from interviews with Frank Perry, Eleanor Perry and Carrie Snodgress, a look at Snodgress and Neil Young’s relationship, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
• UK premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited edition of 3,000 copies for the UK

All extras subject to change

CREATURES THE WORLD FORGOT (1971) SCI-FI, ADVENTURE

SEE prehistoric love rites! SEE primitive chieftains duel in naked fury! SEE the young lovers sacrificed! SEE staked girl menaced by giant python!

Following the enormous success of One Million Years B.C. in 1965, Hammer embarked on a series of prehistoric adventures over the next five years, concluding with Creatures the World Forgot. Directed by Don Chaffey – previously responsible for One Million Years B.C., not to mention the Ray Harryhausen classic Jason and the Argonauts – the film swapped dinosaurs for more adult content, starred former Miss Norway and ex-Bond girl Julie Ege (On Her Majesty’s Secret Service), and earned itself an ‘X’ certificate in the process. Even today, it still rates an ‘18’ from the BBFC.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• High Definition remaster
• Original mono audio
• Audio commentary with author and critic Kim Newman (2022)
• Hammer’s Women: Julie Ege (2022): profile of the Norwegian actor and model
• David Huckvale on Mario Nascimbene (2022): an appreciation of the film’s by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde
• Three Children’s Film Foundation films directed by Don Chaffey: Skid Kids (1953): story about a group of young cyclists; A Good Pull-up (1953): a handyman gets himself into trouble at a workers’ café; Watch Out (1953): following the escapades of Dickie Duffle as he tours a film studio
• Original theatrical trailer
• Image galleries: promotional and publicity material
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay on the film, archival interviews and articles, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
• UK premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited edition of 5,000 copies for the UK

All extras subject to change

To complement this quartet of UK titles, we also have two US-only editions both set for release on 19th July.

First, John Baxter’s LOVE ON THE DOLE (1941), a controversial film that provided Deborah Kerr (The Chalk Garden) with one of her key early roles,  Making its US debut on Blu-ray, this Indicator edition comes with a range of extra features, including a number of archival shorts as well as the 1947 documentary feature A City Speaks, which was co-scripted by Love on the Dole screenwriter and novelist Walter Greenwood.

David Gladwell’s extraordinary 1976 feature debut REQUIEM FOR A VILLAGE makes its US Blu-ray debut. A visionary folk offering which fuses exquisite slow-motion photography, no-holds-barred brutality and weird alchemy, this unclassifiable film about the past and the present is accompanied by a selection of six of Gladwell’s short films, as well as the beautiful Elizabeth Sussex documentary Can Horses Sing? on which he served as editor.