A Kid for Two Farthings

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MichaelB
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A Kid for Two Farthings

#1 Post by MichaelB » Fri May 10, 2019 7:58 am

Confirmed in the latest BFI press release:
19 August will see the UK Blu-ray premiere of A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) directed by Carol Reed (The Third Man). This, Reed’s last film for the legendary producer Alexander Korda, was his first in colour and is the whimsical tale of a young boy, Joe, who buys a small goat in the belief that it’s a magical unicorn that will grant him and his friends’ wishes. (Dual Format Edition).

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MichaelB
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Re: A Kid for Two Farthings

#2 Post by MichaelB » Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:11 am

Full specs announced:
A Kid for Two Farthings
Produced and directed by Carol Reed

Celia Johnson, Diana Dors, David Kossoff

Released in a Dual Format Edition (DVD/Blu-ray) and on iTunes on 19 August 2019


Carol Reed’s last film for Alexander Korda and his first in colour is a wonderfully whimsical tale of a young boy, Joe, who buys a small goat in the belief that it’s a magical unicorn that will grant him and his friends’ wishes. Meanwhile, romance blooms between beautiful Sonia (Diana Dors) and her bodybuilder boyfriend Sam (Joe Robinson), who has the misfortune to get mixed up with crooked wrestling promoter Blackie Isaacs (Lou Jacobi).

Colourfully set amidst the bustling Anglo-Jewish environs of Petticoat Lane Market in the post-war years, with luscious location shooting in London’s East End, this sweetly sentimental family drama (the screenplay was by Wolf Mankowitz from his book A Kid for Two Farthings) is also a charming period piece, poignantly reflecting a long-vanished metropolis.

Extras include a variety of archive films, including films on two London markets and about wrestling and boxing, a new interview with actress Vera Day and an interview with actor Joe Robinson recorded at BFI Southbank in 2006.

Special features
• Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
Sales Pitches: London Street Markets in Archive Film: four archive films of Petticoat Lane and London Bridge market
London After the War: the post-war period is evoked in archive films celebrating the city and its people
On the Ropes: a strenuous selection of archive films about wrestling and boxing
All in a Day’s Work: actress Vera Day recalls A Kid for Two Farthings and her 1950s film career in a new interview
• Interview with Joe Robinson (2006, 17 mins, audio only): the actor recalls A Kid for Two Farthings in this archive interview recorded live on stage at BFI Southbank
• Image gallery
FIRST PRESSING ONLY Illustrated booklet with new writing by Matthew Coniam and Dr Josephine Botting. Also includes extensive notes on the included archive films by the BFI’s Vic Pratt and Ben Stoddart

Product details
RRP: £19.99/ Cat. no. BFIB1349 / Cert U
UK / 1955 / colour / 96 mins / English language with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.37:1 / BD50: 1080p, 24fps, PCM 2.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit) / DVD9: PAL, 25fps, Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio (48kHz/16-bit)

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antnield
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Re: A Kid for Two Farthings

#3 Post by antnield » Fri Aug 09, 2019 3:38 am

The short films aren't named individually on the press release. They are:

Sales Pitches: London Street Markets in Archive Film
Petticoat Lane (1903) 3 mins
Petticoat Lane on Sunday (1904) 3 mins
Tower Bridge Road Market (1931) 5 mins
Petticoat Lane (1959, Eileen Smith) 3 mins

London After the War
The Proud City: A Plan for London (1946, Ralph Keene) 24 mins
A London Symphony (1955, Peter Lambert) 18 mins
The Vanishing Street (1962, Robert Vas) 20 mins

On the Ropes: Wrestling and Boxing in Archive Film
Has He Hit Me? (1898, William Dickson) 1 min
Two Wrestlers (c1900) 1 min
Ritchie, the World's Light-weight Champion, Training for His Fight with Freddie Walsh at the Olympia (1914, Pathé Frères Cinema) 1 min
Reigate Tournament: Wrestling on Horseback at the Annual Show (1915, Topical Budget) 1 min
Twelve Hours Punching (1924, Topical Budget) 2 mins
Cockell v La Starza (1954, Adelphi Films) 9 mins

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