Nineteenth-century Paris comes colourfully to life in Moulin Rouge, a lavish, high-kicking, gorgeously shot portrait of tormented artist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, directed by screen-legend John Huston. On 18 November, a new 4K restoration of the film comes to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK, released by the BFI in a Dual Format Edition with a simultaneous release on BFI Player and iTunes.

Extras include Images of Paris in Silent Films, a selection of rare films from 1900-1925, preserved in the BFI National Archive and a new commentary by Angela Allen, a long standing associate of John Huston and script supervisor on Moulin Rouge.

Friend and chronicler of the eccentric characters who populate fiery Paris night spot the Moulin Rouge, Toulouse-Lautrec (José Ferrer, Cyrano de Bergerac) sips cognac and wears his disability lightly as he sketches the dancers who feature in his vivid works. But when he becomes embroiled in a turbulent relationship with a vivacious prostitute, he turns to the bottle and frustrated passion, love, heartbreak and painful self-discovery beckon in bawdy, bohemian Paris. Beautifully framed by the camerawork of award-winning cinematographer Oswald Morris (Fiddler on the Roof), this heartrending drama is played out against the lush strains of Georges Auric’s evocative score.

Moulin Rouge will be released in the UK as a Dual Format edition (Blu-ray & DVD) by the BFI on 18 November 2019 at the RRP of £22.99, the film will be released simultaneously on on BFI Player and iTunes.

Dual format features:

• Restored in 4K from the original 35mm nitrate negative
• Images of Paris in Silent Film (17 mins): a selection of rare early films, spanning the years 1900-1925, reflecting different aspects of life in Lautrec’s adopted home, from the vaults of the BFI National Archive 
• Lightning Sketches: Posters, Printing and Caricatures in Silent Film (21 mins): artists use new cinematic technology to bring their topical cartoons to life in this collection of archival oddities from the earliest days of animation and the popular press
• Lautrec (1974, 6 mins): Lautrec’s characters dance playfully through this lovely short animated film which celebrates his life and work
•  Commentary by Angela Allen (2019): the longstanding associate of John Huston and Moulin Rouge script supervisor discusses this film and many others across an eclectic career in this new commentary recorded specifically for this release
• Image gallery
• First pressing only: Illustrated booklet containing an essay by John Oliver, a biography of John Huston by Dr Josephine Botting, notes on the special features and cast and credits