441 The Small Back Room

[Tommaso]

And I'm already worrying about the 40s listmaking in a year or so because I don't know whether I should put "Canterbury" or "Red Shoes" on #1 for that period. But you can expect me to plaster half of the whole top ten with P&P movies for sure...

[Steven H]

I loved this film. It's easily up there with Black Narcissus for me concerning P&P. Of course it looks dark, gorgeous and expressionistic (maybe played a little much with the whiskey bottle business) but what got me were the lived in areas and staging. The first scene in Rice's house where P&P are playing with body language and props, fooling around with the relationship reveal actually made me chuckle (nerd chuckle?) The MoD meeting with the jackhammers, note passing, and sweaty MP is full of tactile impressions, and I feel so "in the room" that when the blackout is called for it startled me.

I haven't gotten to the commentary yet, but the Powell audio interview is GREAT. Powell is old, candid, and usually sounds a little drunk. Complaining of John Davis' being annoying and "bourgeois", admonishing an actress in a deleted scene that she won't be able to "fuck her way to the top" with him, and his love of Clouzot, Chaplin's The Gold Rush, and Dreyer. Gold.

[Joe Buck]

I finally got around to picking this one up off eBay, but my copy didn't come with the booklet. This, of course, irks me. Was the booklet extensive or should I not worry about it and simply enjoy the disc? :-k

[knives]

Here's the essay in all of it's glory. If I remember correctly it's a good one.

[fiddlesticks]

I finally got around to picking this one up off eBay, but my copy didn't come with the booklet. This, of course, irks me. Was the booklet extensive or should I not worry about it and simply enjoy the disc? :-k

Send an email to "Jon Mulvaney" and Criterion will send you a replacement booklet.

[swo17]

Not likely since it's out of print.

[Joe Buck]

Thanks for the advice. I sent him an email. I'll give it the old college try.

[Joe Buck]

No dice, they are all gone.

I'll learn to cope.

[swo17]

In case you're unable to cope...if the seller didn't disclose that the booklet was missing, I'd say you're entitled to a refund, which you could use to get another (hopefully complete) copy from someone else.

[tojoed]

No dice, they are all gone.

I'll learn to cope.

Well, the so-called booklet is just the essay and credits. So, if you've read that you've read the booklet.

[yeahimajerk]

This might be in my top 10 all time favorite films as far as favorite films go for me. Does anyone know what has happened to the rights since CC lost them? I own a copy of the CC version but I love it so much I'd like to buy another DVD or Blu copy (if one ever came out). I have nightmares about my CC copy being destroyed somehow.

[swo17]

Amazon still has stock of the CC release. You can get it now for 50% off.

[HKM]

Long-shot question: when Optimum put out a Region 2 DVD of 'The Small Back Room' in 2009, did they use the same (restored) print as the 2008 Criterion disc, or the old unrestored version found on the 2004 Warners disc? Cannot find a comparison online.

[manicsounds]

cineoutsider review of the Optimum DVD

Taken from a well-used print, the worst damage (dust spots and tramlines) is at the heads and tails of the original 20 minute reels.

[HKM]

Can confirm that the Optimum DVD is different from the earlier Warners one -- much less murky. Far from pristine, but nor is the Criterion according to reviews. So possibly the same.

[yeahimajerk]

I put this on whenever it is my wife goes out of town on business and I figured out what really makes it for me. The moody and murky lighting and the lack of a soundtrack (with the exception of the whisky sequences and the dance sequences). Not to mention the strong performances all around.

[HerrSchreck]

This might be in my top 10 all time favorite films as far as favorite films go for me. Does anyone know what has happened to the rights since CC lost them? I own a copy of the CC version but I love it so much I'd like to buy another DVD or Blu copy (if one ever came out). I have nightmares about my CC copy being destroyed somehow.

Don't you know how to back up your DVD's? Buy some DVD9's and use something like Decrypter to crack and create a backup copy. I know people who never play their orignal discs (I'm definitely not one of them.. slob, me), and only play the 1:1 burns on DVDR . . . people with well over four thousand DVD's.

[HerrSchreck]

BINGO!!! Dave was--maybe some guessed-- who I had in mind, who conscientiously backs up everything he buys.

I recall bringing piles of discs to a highly respected editor at a premeire imprint at a gigantic book co who befrended me here--nameless of course-- but we were in a deep trading phase around 2007 during the blooming part of our friendship . . .I would show up at his office with heaps of DVD's covered with scratches and nicks for him to burn... the amused/pained look on his face when looking at the horrid condition of these discs was always priceless. I am just a hopeless slob. Total opposite the excellent Mr. Hare.

[diamonds]

Trailer for the 4K restoration courtesy of Rialto Pictures

[olmo]

I've hung back on purchasing the StudioCanal over here in Blighty as I'm hoping Criterion goes a step further and releases this on UHD.

[andyli]

I on the other hand have ordered this one on day one. Not that I doubt Criterion's commitment in bringing Powell & Pressburger to UHD, this little gem just strikes me as something labels/people keep forgetting about. The last post in the thread before the announcement of the 4k resto, for example, was from back in 2013.

And I heard the quality of the Canal blu-ray was excellent.

[Matt]

Yes, I ordered the StudioCanal BD as well. No telling when Criterion might get around to this.