STUDIOCANAL has announced a brand-new 4K restoration of John Schlesinger's acclaimed British New Wave classic ‘Billy Liar' to mark the centenary of the BAFTA and Oscar-winning director behind ‘Midnight Cowboy' (Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman) and ‘Darling' (Dirk Bogarde and Julie Christie).
The newly-restored release of the 1963 comedy-drama that delves into social realism will arrive as a special 2-disc 4K UHD Collector’s Edition on 3rd August. It will include both UHD and Blu-ray editions of the film alongside a host of new bonus features, a 64-page booklet, a poster featuring new artwork by Sam Smith and an exclusive calendar.
Ahead of its home entertainment release, the new restoration will receive its World Premiere at Bristol’s Cinema Rediscovered festival on 26th July. The screening will be introduced by writer, director and actor Alice Lowe. Following its festival debut, ‘Billy Liar' will return to selected UK cinemas from 31st July.
The film will also feature in ‘The Consummate Professional: John Schlesinger at 100', a nationwide celebration of the filmmaker’s legacy. Curzon Film Club will showcase retrospectives of Schlesinger’s work across its cinema network, culminating in screenings of ‘Billy Liar' throughout August.
Based on the much-loved Keith Waterhouse's stage adaptation of his own 1959 novel, ‘Billy Liar' stars Tom Courtenay as Billy Fisher, a restless Yorkshire undertaker’s clerk whose vivid imagination provides an escape from the frustrations of everyday life. Leonard Rossiter (‘Rising Damp') plays his overbearing boss. Torn between reality and fantasy, Billy dreams of a better future while juggling complicated relationships and increasingly elaborate fabrications.
The film also stars Julie Christie (‘Doctor Zhivago'), Helen Fraser (‘Bad Girls') and Mona Washbourne (‘Brideshead Revisited'). Julie Christie’s dazzling performance helped launch her stellar career despite appearing on screen for just 12 minutes!
Schlesinger’s decision to cast Courtenay, who had understudied Albert Finney in the West End production, proved inspired. The director felt Courtenay’s less imposing presence made him a more believable dreamer, helping to create one of British cinema’s most enduring characters.
Widely regarded as one of the defining British films of the 1960s, ‘Billy Liar' remains a landmark of the British New Wave movement and a key work in Schlesinger’s celebrated filmography.
The Collector’s Edition is packed with newly commissioned bonus content, including conversations featuring Alice Lowe and film critic Danny Leigh, broadcaster Samira Ahmed, and interviews with Richard Ayoade, Tom Courtenay, Helen Fraser and Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley. The set also includes archival audio commentaries featuring Schlesinger, Courtenay and Christie, alongside a new commentary from critic Kat Ellinger.
‘Billy Liar' will be released on 4K UHD Collector’s Edition by STUDIOCANAL on 3rd August and will screen in selected cinemas from 31st July. Preorder ‘Billy Liar'.
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