On 18 February 2019, Indicator presents a genre-spanning quartet of London-set films, all starring, written and directed by some of Britain’s most celebrated and iconic talents, and released on Blu-ray for the first time.
First, two uncompromising thrillers from the more conservative half of the 1960s: Charles Crichton’s taut and powerful The Third Secret (1964), starring Pamela Franklin, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins and Richard Attenborough; and Alexander Singer’s daring and provocative Psyche 59 (1964), starring Patricia Neal, Curt Jurgens and Samantha Eggar. Next, two films which explore sexual freedom as the 'Swinging' decade comes to a close: Jonathan Miller’s adaptation of Kingsley Amis’ Take a Girl Like You (1970), starring Hayley Mills and Oliver Reed; and Dick Clement’s film version of Iris Murdoch’s controversial A Severed Head (1971), starring Ian Holm, Lee Remick, Claire Bloom and Richard Attenborough.
Mastered from the finest available materials, each of these collectable Limited Editions contains an array of new and archival extra features, English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, and comes packaged with a Limited Edition exclusive booklet containing newly commissioned essays, contemporary reviews, and film credits.
The Third Secret (1964) | Blu-ray | 18 February 2019 | £15.99
The apparent suicide of an eminent psychologist prompts his teenage daughter (Pamela Franklin – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Legend of Hell House) and one of his patients (Stephen Boyd – Ben-Hur, Fantastic Voyage) to investigate. Convinced he was murdered, the two begin a journey into the lives and twisted psychoses of the doctor’s disturbed patients.
Directed by the great Charles Crichton (Dead of Night, The Lavender Hill Mob, A Fish Called Wanda), stunningly photographed by Douglas Slocombe (The Italian Job, Raiders of the Lost Ark), and starring an incredible cast which includes Jack Hawkins, Richard Attenborough, Diane Cilento and Judi Dench in one of her earliest screen roles, The Third Secret is a dark and elegant psychological thriller which has long been overlooked, but is now ripe for rediscovery.
Indicator Blu-ray Limited Edition features:
- High Definition remaster
- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with film historians Dean Brandum and Eloise Ross
- The BEHP Interview with Charles Crichton (1988): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the celebrated filmmaker in conversation with Sidney Cole
- The BEHP Interview with Douglas Slocombe (1988): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the renowned cinematographer in conversation with Sidney Cole
- Neil Sinyard on ‘The Third Secret’ (2019): a new appreciation by the author and film historian
- Crichton on Crichton (2019): filmmaker David Crichton gives a fascinating biographical overview of his father’s life and work.
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Robert Murphy, an overview of contemporary critical responses, archival articles, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited Edition of 3,000 copies
- All extras subject to change
Psyche 59 (1964) | Blu-ray | 18 February 2019 | £15.99
Patricia Neal (fresh from her 1963 award-winning role in Martin Ritt’s Hud) stars as a woman suffering from hysterical blindness, and a blank in her memory which may hide the cause of her affliction. When she and her sex-addict husband (Curt Jurgens – The Enemy Below, The Spy Who Loved Me) move in with her younger sister (Samantha Eggar – The Collector, The Brood), she begins to piece together the events leading to her psychological trauma.
Ahead of its time in its discussion and depiction of all manner of taboo subjects (rape, child abuse, nymphomania, psycho-sexual disorder, masochism), Psyche 59 is one of British cinema’s most daring and provocative adult dramas.
Indicator Blu-ray Limited Edition features:
- High Definition remaster
- Original mono audio
- The BEHP Interview with Walter Lassally (1988): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the renowned cinematographer in conversation with Roy Fowler
- Interview with Samantha Eggar (2019): the award-winning actor recalls her work on the film in this new and exclusive interview
- Richard Combs on Psyche 59 (2019): a new appreciation by the renowned critic, lecturer and broadcaster
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Josephine Botting, an overview of contemporary critical responses, archival articles, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited Edition of 3,000 copies
- All extras subject to change
Take a Girl Like You (1970) | Blu-ray | 18 February 2019 | £15.99
Jonathan Miller’s film of Kingsley Amis’ comic novel (adapted for the screen by George Melly), casts Hayley Mills (Whistle Down the Wind, Twisted Nerve) as a naïve young girl who moves from the North of England to teach in a London school and finds herself fending off the advances of a number of lusty suitors, including Oliver Reed, John Bird and Noel Harrison.
As much a document of its time as a satire on the sexual mores (and confusions) of the period, Miller’s still remarkably fresh debut feature is buoyed by its terrific cast and a typically excellent Stanley Myers score.
Indicator Blu-ray Limited Edition features:
- High Definition remaster
- Original mono audio
- Interview with Hayley Mills (2019): the award-winning actor recalls her work on the film in this new and exclusive interview
- Now and Then: Hayley Mills (1967): an archival interview with the young actor in conversation with renowned broadcaster Bernard Braden
- Now and Then: Jonathan Miller (1967): an archival interview with the author, academic and filmmaker in conversation with Bernard Braden
- Isolated music & effects track
- Theatrical trailers
- Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Melanie Williams, an overview of contemporary critical responses, archival articles, and film credits
- UK premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited Edition of 3,000 copies
- All extras subject to change
A Severed Head (1971) | Blu-ray | 18 February 2019 | £15.99
Dick Clement followed the success of his first feature Otley with this wry adaptation of Iris Murdoch’s celebrated 1961 satirical novel, a harbinger of the sexual liberation that was to blossom in the mid-60s.
A Severed Head chronicles the sexual and amoral escapades of a group of middle-class, middle-aged London couples, portrayed by a wonderful cast which includes Ian Holm (Alien, The Lord of the Rings), Lee Remick (Days of Wine and Roses, The Omen), Claire Bloom (The Haunting, The King’s Speech) and Richard Attenborough (10 Rillington Place, Young Winston). Absurdist and delightfully funny, A Severed Head is a dark satire staged with wit and intelligence.
Indicator Blu-ray Limited Edition features:
- High Definition remaster
- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with director Dick Clement and film historian Sam Dunn (2018)
- Interview with artist Saskia de Boer (2019): new and exclusive interview with the acclaimed sculptor who created the film’s arresting title sequence and produced many iconic likenesses of actors and musicians from Elizabeth Taylor to Jimi Hendrix
- Interview with Timothy Burrill (2019): new and exclusive interview with the production manager
- Rob Deering on A Severed Head (2019): new appreciation by the comedian, musician and writer
- Theatrical trailer
- Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson, an overview of contemporary critical responses, archival articles, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited Edition of 3,000 copies
- All extras subject to change
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