Women in Love

[MichaelB]

Full specs announced, revealing a substantially more generous package than the old BD even aside from the UHD upgrade. I've highlighted new extras in bold:

WOMEN IN LOVE
A film by Ken Russell
Alan Bates, Oliver Reed, Glenda Jackson, Jennie Linden

Released in 4K UHD by the BFI on 14 July 2025

Ken Russell’s lauded D H Lawrence adaptation is a sophisticated meditation on the complexities of human relationships and the shifting social mores of a country shellshocked by the First World War. Women in Love was hailed upon its release, earning four Academy Award nominations, with Glenda Jackson winning Best Actress in a Leading Role. On 14 July it will be released by the BFI in 4K UHD with extras including a newly recorded interview with Ken Russell’s son.

When Women in Love opened in cinemas in 1969, audiences flocked to see its famous erotically charged naked wrestling scene, and critics celebrated the film’s opulent design and handsome cinematography alongside the compelling ensemble performance of Alan Bates, Jennie Linden, Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson. Often regarded as Russell’s masterpiece, Women in Love endures as one of British cinema’s finest achievements.

Special features
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Human Relations: Alexander Verney-Elliott Discusses Women in Love (2025, 17 mins): a newly recorded interview with Ken Russell’s son
• A British Picture: Portrait of an Enfant Terrible (1989, 49 mins): Ken Russell’s documentary on his life and career
• ATV Today (1968, 10 mins): interviews with writer and producer Larry Kramer and actors Alan Bates and Jennie Linden on the set of Women in Love
• Billy Williams OBE BSC in conversation with Phil Méheux BSC (2015, 49 mins)
• Audio commentary with director Ken Russell
• Audio commentary with writer and producer Larry Kramer
• Second Best (1972, 27 mins): film starring Alan Bates, based on the short story by D H Lawrence
• The Guardian Lecture: Glenda Jackson (1982, 77 mins, audio only)
• The Pacemakers: Glenda Jackson (1971, 14 mins): a documentary profile of the actor
• Stills and collections gallery
• Original theatrical trailer
• ***FIRST PRESSING ONLY*** Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by Matthew Melia and archive essays by Michael Brooke, Claire Smith and Vic Pratt; notes on the special features and film credits

Product details
RRP: £27.99 / Cat. no. BFIBU0017/ 15
UK / 1969 / colour / 131 minutes / English language with optional descriptive subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.75:1 UHD100: 2160p, 24fps, LPCM 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit)

[Black Hat]

Do the BFI UHDs include a blu?

[MichaelB]

No. They tried that once (on Full Circle), and got so many complaints from people miffed about being forced to pay a premium for a format that they had no intention of using that they reverted to single-format from then on.

[Peacock]

It’s a shame that Arrow, Indicator and BFI can’t pull off UHD + BD, and separate BD only releases like Vinegar Syndrome, Criterion, Severin, Kino etc. But it must be something to do with UK market size vs US.

[MichaelB]

I can't speak for Arrow, but I get the strong impression that Indicator and the BFI are trying to charge as little as possible while still at least breaking even. Unavoidably, a UHD+BD package is going to cost more in per-unit manufacturing than a UHD-only one, and substantially more than a BD-only one.

And I gather that people who'd prefer to pay less for a single-format release (be it BD or UHD) significantly outnumber those who don't mind paying more for a dual-format one.

[tenia]

I can't speak for Arrow, but I get the strong impression that Indicator and the BFI are trying to charge as little as possible while still at least breaking even. Unavoidably, a UHD+BD package is going to cost more in per-unit manufacturing than a UHD-only one, and substantially more than a BD-only one.
And I gather that people who'd prefer to pay less for a single-format release (be it BD or UHD) significantly outnumber those who don't mind paying more for a dual-format one.

It's however a matter of handlind multiple references, which has its own on-costs. In France, several indie labels favor dual-format releases, because yeah, it costs more to produce, but so does having 2 separate references, each with its own run-sizes calculations, sales potential projections, cases, artworks/covers, logistics, etc. I suppose it's mostly a matter of market then, and that while UK and/or US consumers prefer to go straight to their favorite format instead of having a fall-back BD or a future-proofing UHD, we don't mind here in France.
Or maybe it's less obvious here than there when there's an oncost because of the dual format ? Several UK-based indie labels have the habit of including a booklet with no specific oncost for the consumers : in France, any booklet usually gets the release turned into a digipack, and gets its price up. You can kinda hide the oncost of a DF release in that.