The BFI's Flipside DVD & Blu-ray strand continues in its mission to rescue hard-to-find and little-seen British films from obscurity, and in May will be presenting world premiere releases of two mid-Sixties treats: Gerry O'Hara's unjustly overlooked Swinging Sixties gem The Pleasure Girls, featuring Francesca Annis, Ian McShane and Klaus Kinski, and an uncensored pre-release cut of Guy Hamilton's controversial The Party's Over, starring Oliver Reed and featuring a score by John Barry. Released on 17th May, both titles will be available as Dual Format Editions, containing the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the films and the extras.

The BFI's Flipside titles are all newly-mastered to High Definition from original film elements, and presented with rare and fascinating special features, including previously unavailable short films, documentaries and interviews, many of which are preserved in the BFI National Archive. Each title comes in collectable numbered packaging and is accompanied by an extensive illustrated booklet with insightful contributions from special guest writers, often including the filmmakers themselves.

The Pleasure Girls (Gerry O'Hara, 1965)

When Sally (Francesca Annis) moves to London to pursue a modelling career, she moves in with Angela (Anneke Wills) and Dee (future Hammer girl Suzanna Leigh) and discovers the world of the carefree bachelor girl in Swinging London. Over one weekend – filled with parties, blossoming friendships, and romantic encounters with Keith (Ian McShane) and Nikko (Klaus Kinski) – the vivacious girls learn about life's pleasures and pains.

Shot on location, with intelligent dialogue and lively performances from its young ensemble cast, this ground-breaking drama bears all the hallmarks of director Gerry O'Hara's (That Kind of Girl, All the Right Noises) assured style.

Special features:

• Feature presented in both High Definition and Standard Definition;
• Alternative complete export cut (Blu-ray only, 86 mins);
• Export version scenes (DVD only, 13 mins);
• Original theatrical trailer;
• The Rocking Horse (James Scott, 1962, 25 mins): an atmospheric short about a romantic encounter between a teddy boy and an artist, shot on location in London's West End;
• The Meeting (Mamoun Hassan, 1964, 10 mins): a young woman's unconventional brief encounter with a mysterious lover;
• Illustrated booklet featuring contributions by Gerry O'Hara, Professor Sue Harper, and Mamoun Hassan.

The Party's Over (1963-1965)

Enigmatic young Melina (Louise Sorel) has fallen in with a group of Chelsea beatniks, catching the attention of the gang's defiant leader Moise (Oliver Reed), but inviting scorn and jealousy from the group's other members, including Moise's lover Libby (Ann Lynn). But wild and drunken partying has terrible consequences, and when Melina's fiancé Carson (Clifford David) begins investigating, the shocking truth is revealed.

Written by Marc Behm (Charade, Help!) and scored by the legendary John Barry (Zulu, Thunderball, Diamonds are Forever), this controversial film originally fell foul of the British censors, forcing director Guy Hamilton (Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, Battle of Britain) to remove his name from the credits, but is now finally made available in a never-before- seen uncensored pre-release version.

Special features:

• Presented in both High Definition and Standard Definition;
• Alternative theatrical release cut (Blu-ray only, 92 mins);
• Alternative theatrical release sequences (DVD only, 18 mins);
• The Party (R A Ostwald, 1962, 16 mins): a time-capsule short about an art school get-together, with drinking, dancing and romance;
• Emma (Anthony Perry, 1964, 12 mins): an expressive meditation on the loss of innocence and the certainty of death, from the producer of The Party's Over;
• Illustrated booklet featuring contributions by Guy Hamilton, Andrew Roberts, William Fowler and Vic Pratt.

The Pleasure Girls and The Party's Over will be released on dual format Blu-ray/DVD sets on 17th May 2010 by teh BFI at the RRP of £19.99 each. The next Flipside releases will be Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (Clive Donner, 1968) and Bronco Bullfrog (1969) by Barney Platts-Mills in September 2010.