Daniel Farson's Guide to Britain: Vol 1

Region B

Daniel Farson’s Guide to Britain Vol 1: (DVD + Blu-ray)
Director: Various

Brash, bohemian and boozy, bon-vivant Daniel Farson became a larger-than-life fixture of Soho in the 1950s, socialising with the likes of artist Francis Bacon and photographer John Deakin. But he was also a ground-breaking investigative journalist, reshaping approaches to screen reportage with the many direct, dynamic independent television films he presented for Associated-Rediffusion in the late 1950s and early 1960s, finding widespread fame and acclaim.

This three disc dual format set, running to over three hours - the first of two releases showcasing his most innovative, important, eccentric, odd and outstanding work – reframes a carefully-curated chunk of Farson’s now little-seen output. His eclectic talent is reflected in an abundant array of hugely enjoyable, fascinating films on all manner of matters topical to a post-war Britain undergoing complex, seismic social change.

Join this vanguard intrepid investigator – paving the way for later programme-makers of the Louis Theroux school – as he twinkles a curious eye and lends a wry tongue to a glorious gamut of then-contemporary hot-potatoes: from Soho striptease, alien visitations and the Cavern Club in the afterglow of the Beatles, to witchcraft, the cult of celebrity and much, much more.

The Films

• Out of Step: Witchcraft (1957, 14 mins)
• Out of Step: Other Worlds are Watching Us (1957, 14 mins)
• Keeping in Step: The Wedding (1958, 14 mins)
• Keeping in Step: Stock Exchange (1958, 14 mins)
• This Week: Soho Striptease (1958, 7 mins)
• People in Trouble: Mixed Marriages (1958, 13 mins)
• Success Story: Shelagh Delaney (1959, 14 mins)
• Success Story: Maurice Woodruff (1959,14 mins)
• Success Story: Hank Janson (1959, 14 mins)
• Celebrity: Cliff Richard (1959, 16 mins)
• Farson's Guide to the British: Cats (1959, 14 mins)
• Pursuit of Happiness: People Apart (1960, 14 mins)
• This Week: Robert Graves (1963, 20 mins)*
• Beat City (1963, 39 mins)

Extras

• Audio commentaries on Out of Step: Witchcraft and Out of Step: Other Worlds are Watching Us by Mark Pilkington
• Audio commentaries on This Week: Soho Striptease and Success Story: Hank Janson by Vic Pratt
• Audio commentary on People in Trouble: Mixed Marriages by Milo HolmesAudio commentary by Dr Elinor Groom and Lisa Kerrigan on Farson's Guide to the British: Cats
• Audio commentary by Dr Elinor Groom on Pursuit of Happiness: People Apart
• Audio commentaries on Success Story: Maurice Woodruff and Beat City by Vic Pratt and William Fowler
• Illustrated booklet featuring new writing by the BFI’s William Fowler, Vic Pratt, Lisa Kerrigan and Milo Holmes

*Unedited rushes for an episode of This Week