Two of the BFI's best-selling titles, Jacques Tati's Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot and Playtime (previously released by the BFI on VHS and DVD) are to be released in new Dual Format Editions, which include both DVD and Blu-ray discs, on 29th November.

The films have been lovingly remastered in High Definition and the lavish selection of extras on each release includes never-before released alternative versions of the films, amongst which is the rarely seen original 1953 theatrical version of Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot.

Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (Monsieur Hulot's Holiday) (1953)

The film that brought Jacques Tati international acclaim also launched his on-screen alter ego: the courteous, well-meaning, eternally accident-prone Monsieur Hulot with whom Tati would from now on be inseparably associated.

The film is set in a sleepy French coastal resort, which is seasonally disrupted by holidaymakers in energetic pursuit of fun. At the centre of the chaos is the eccentric Hulot, struggling at all times to maintain appearances, but somehow entirely divorced from his immediate surroundings.

Tati's beautifully orchestrated comic ‘ballet' is a seamless succession of gently mocking studies of human absurdity.

Featuring both a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the film, this dual format release will have the following special features:

• Fully restored version of Jacques Tati's definitive 1978 final cut;
• Alternative ‘international' soundtrack (revised to include more English dialogue);
• Original theatrical release version (1953, 95 mins);
• Original theatrical trailer (DVD only);
• Richard Lester interview (DVD only, 2004, 36 mins): the acclaimed filmmaker discusses Les Vacances de M. Hulot with film historian Philip Kemp;
• Illustrated booklet with a newly commissioned essay by film historian Philip Kemp.

Playtime (1967)

Regarded by many as Jacques Tati's masterpiece, Playtime is a surreal comic vision of modern life in which the director's much-loved character, Monsieur Hulot – accompanied by a cast of tourists and well-heeled Parisians – turns unintentional anarchist when set loose in an unrecognisable Paris of steel skyscrapers, chrome-plated shopping malls and futuristic night spots.

• Once again containing both a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the film, this dual format release will have the following special features:
• Alternative ‘international' soundtrack (revised by Tati to include more English dialogue);
• Feature commentary by Philip Kemp;
• Rare audio interview with Jacques Tati recorded at the NFT in 1968, accompanied by stills and images from the BFI's collections;
• Original theatrical trailer (DVD only);
• Au-delà de Playtime (DVD only, 2002, 6 mins): documentary about the making and unmaking of Playtime;
• Script-girl (DVD only, 2003, 12 mins): Continuity Supervisor Sylvette Baudrot on working with Tati;
• Tati Story (DVD only, 21 mins, c. 2003): short biographical film;
• Illustrated booklet with a newly commissioned essay by David Furnham and Kevin Brownlow's memories of interviewing Tati.

Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot and Playtime will be released as dual format discs (containing both Blu-ray and DVD versions of the film) on 29th November 2010 by the BFI at the RRP of £19.99 each.