Studiocanal has announced the release of newly restored versions of two of director Joseph Losey’s classic films The Go-Between and The Criminal on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital Download on 16 September 2019.

The Go-Between (1971)

Featuring an outstanding cast that boasts Julie Christie (Far From the Madding Crowd, Don’t Look Now), Alan Bates (Women in Love, Far From the Madding Crowd), Dominic Guard (Picnic at Hanging Rock), Margaret Leighton (The Good Die Young), Edward Fox (A Bridge too Far, Ghandi) and Michael Redgrave (The Lady Vanishes, The Browning Version), fans will also be given the opportunity to experience the film on the big screen via a special premiere taking place in Norwich (TBC).

Directed by Joseph Losey (The Criminal, Accident), this breath-taking adaptation of L.P. Hartley’s novel brought to the screen by the celebrated screenwriter Harold Pinter was an instant hit on its original release in 1971. Winning both audience and critical acclaim as well as a raft of awards (including 4 BAFTAs and the prestigious Palme d'Or), the visceral story of an Edwardian romance set during one seemingly endless Norfolk Summer continues to endure with a contemporary audience. The film was acknowledged by Ian McEwan as a strong inspiration for his modern classic, Atonement.

For the 2019 restoration of The Go-Between, Studiocanal returned to the original camera negative where possible and, only when confronted by severe damage that could not be repaired, alternative sources were used. These elements were scanned at 4K resolution in 16bit. The project involved over 200 hours of manual frame by frame fixes and resulted in the creation of a new 4k DCP, and a new HD version, which were produced with the same high technological standards as today’s biggest international film releases.

Set over the course of the sweltering Norfolk summer of 1900, Marian (Julie Christie) is set to be engaged to Hugh (Edward Fox), a well-bred viscount and her perfect match. Marian’s young brother, Marcus (Richard Gibson), invites his classmate Leo (Dominic Guard) to stay at the grand House for the holiday. Quickly, Leo becomes besotted with the vivacious Marian and, innocent of romantic and sexual matters, unwittingly becomes a pawn in the forbidden romance between her and eminently unsuitable local farmer Ted Burgess (Alan Bates).

As the oppressive heat intensifies so too does Leon’s burgeoning adolescent questioning of love, attraction and the rules of the upper class that he doesn’t really belong to. Both a beautifully subtle critique of the English class system and a visual masterpiece that perfectly captures the timeless beauty of an English Edwardian summer.

Blu-ray/DVD contents:

• 4K restoration
• NEW Interview with Dominic Guard
• Anglia local news 31/07/1970 - featuring location report and i/vs with Julie Christie, Joseph Losey & Margaret Leighton 
• Behind the scenes stills gallery
• Original Trailer
• Interview with Josh Losey
• Interview with Patricia Losey
• Michael Billington on Harold Pinter
• Interview with Gerry Fisher
• Interview with John Heyman
• Horlicks Television advert directed by Joseph Losey

The Criminal (1960)

Featuring a great British cast including Stanley Baker (Zulu, The Guns of Navarone), Sam Wanamaker (The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, Death on the Nile), Grégoire Aslan (Cleopatra, The Return of The Pink Panther), Margit Saad (Playback, The Saint) and Jill Bennett (For your Eyes Only, Moulin Rouge), The Criminal was deemed shocking upon its original release for its unashamedly graphic violence but was highly acclaimed for the beautiful stark black and white cinematography by Oscar winner Robert Krasker and cool score by jazz legend John Dankworth. The Criminal is an intelligent and naturalistic precursor to the British gangster film genre that continues to enjoy success to this day.

Ex-con Johnny (Stanley Baker) used his time in prison wisely – to plan the biggest robbery of his career. The robbery goes smoothly and Johnny goes to bury the money in a field until the heat is off, as agreed with friend and racketeer Mike Carter (Sam Wanamaker) and the rest of the gang. In a moment of weakness, Johnny pockets five hundred odd pounds from the haul. Coupled with a tip-off from his ex-girlfriend (Jill Bennett) this proves to be his undoing and Johnny is soon back in prison. The rest of the gang try in vain to get the location of the money out of him without success until Mike hits upon the idea of a break-out using Johnny’s new love Suzanne (Margit Saad) as bait.

For the 2019 restoration of The Criminal, Studiocanal returned to the original camera negative wherever possible and, only when confronted by severe damage that could not be repaired, alternative sources were used. These elements were scanned at 4K resolution in 16bit. The project involved over 200 hours of manual frame by frame fixes and resulted in the creation of a new DCP, and a new HD version, which were produced with the same high technological standards as today’s biggest international film releases. 

DVD/Blu-ray contents:

• New restoration
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger
• Stills gallery