Skip to content
Both films are in their original 1.85:1 widescreen ratio and in 1080p high defintion, and for Withnail and I, and as is stated at the start, Arrow Films arranged for the original negative to be scanned in 2K resolution on a pin-registered ArriScan. The film was graded on the Nucoda grading system, under the supervision of Director of Photography Peter Hannan. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris and scratches were removed through a combination of digital restoration tools, and image stability was also improved. The film’s original mono soundtrack was transferred from the magnetic reels. Any pops, clicks and audible buzz were repaired or removed. Hence, any slight grainy look onscreen at times will be down to the film stock used, and that trapped hair in the gate, as the camera is focused on Grant, around 12 minutes in, are there to stay. That said, such things are amusing to spot and mark a certain point in time.
The project was supervised by James White on behalf of Arrow Films, with all work carried out at Deluxe Digital, EMEA in London. And, yes, there are cheaper non-box-set Blu-ray and DVD versions of Withnail and I out there, but none will look or sound as good as this one.
How… doesn’t have the same statement before the film starts, but the transfer is very creditable.
Sound-wise, the films are presented in Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono, with all dialogue and music sounding perfectly fine, along with the aforementioned improvements to this transfer.
The extras are as follows, the majority of which are for Withnail & I, while there’s a couple for How…. Chapters are few in number and there are no subtitles:
- Withnail Weekend documentaries: Now this is the kind of thing I like as extras. Four documentaries for Channel 4’s “Withnail Weekend” in 1999, the kind of thing you’d generally see once at the time and then never again for the rest of your life. Thankfully, these are now here, and they look very good indeed.
Withnail and Us (25:01) sees the cast and crew, plus some friends, discuss the film and working together, along with clips from the film; The Perculiar Memories of Bruce Robinson (38:56) does more of the same; I Demand To Have Some Booze! (6:00) shows students trying the drinking game; and Withnail on the Pier (4:25) on location at the Stella Screen Tour in Brighton, July 1999.
- An Appreciation by Sam Bain (8:04): The co-creator of Peep Show and Fresh Meat talks about the reasons by he loves this film, including how it has more quoteable lines than almost every other film out there, as well as blending in the comedy, drama, friendship and the overall feel of the film, and how drug dealer Danny (portrayed brilliantly by Ralph Brown) inspired their Super Hans character from Peep Show.
- Interview with Michael Pickwoad (21:14): The film’s production designer talks about his time working in the film, in an interview recorded in August 2014. He recalls elements such as how they came across the location for the cottage and all the surrounding scenes, except for the view Marswood sees as he wakes up, steps out and rubs his eyes, which is Haweswater Reservoir in the Lake District. You can find a full list of the locations here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094336/locationsAlso, the ‘matter’ in the sink, early on, was sweet and sour pork, and it had been ‘marinating’ in there for two whole days and none of the crew wanted to go in there 🙂
- Trailer (1:26): In 16:9. The quality is very ’80s, but that makes it all the more endearing because, and I love the tongue-in-cheek style of this trailer.
- How To Get Ahead In Advertising: Interview with Michael Pickwoad (10:11): Also the production designer on this film, he recalls times such as how they built Bagley’s office on the third floor of an empty building, as it gave the best views over London. Plus, how the toothbrush & toothpaste picture looked in the office, because the style is exactly what you’d expect in a place like that.
- How To Get Ahead In Advertising trailer (1:53): In 4:3. Again, very soft, but it’s all part of the charm.
- Book: Normally, there’s a booklet in most Arrow releases around 24 pages. However, this time it runs to 200 pages, so it’s more than a booklet 🙂 Fans can be treated to new writings on both Withnail and I and How…, as well as production stills and reviews, from the time, for both films – just so much to get into.
- Audio commentaries: from one from writer/director Bruce Robinson, and one from critic and writer Kevin Jackson, who is also the author of the BFI Modern Classic on Withnail and I.
As you put each disc in, the menus burst into life with clips from the films and the main theme for Withnail, while How… has Jupiter from Holst’s The Planets. There are subtitles in English, but when it comes to the chaptering, I feel one should come every five minutes on average. Arrow, like many other distributors, go for a low 12 apiece however long the film. I would like them to increase that number. Subtitles are in English.
Withnail and I is released on November 10th on 4-disc Blu-ray/DVD Dual Format Special Edition, and check out the full-size cover by clicking on the packshot.
|
Withnail and I How To Get Ahead… PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS |
10 7.5 10 7 10 |
| OVERALL | 9 |
Withnail and I
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 108 / 94 minutes
Year: 1987 / 1989
Distributor: Arrow Films
Released: October 20th 2014
Chapters: 12 / 12
Cat.no: FCD1007
Picture: 1080p High Definition
Sound: DTS 1.0 HD Master Audio (Mono), DTS 1.0, Dolby Digital 1.0
Languages: English
Subtitles: English
Widescreen: 1.85:1
Disc Format: 2*BD50, 2*DVD9
Director: Bruce Robinson
Producer: Paul M Heller
Screenplay: Bruce Robinson
Music: David Dundas and Rick Wentworth
Cast:
Withnail: Richard E Grant
& I / Marwood: Paul McGann
Monty: Richard Griffiths
Danny: Ralph Brown
Jake: Michael Elphick
Irishman: Daragh O’Malley
Isaac Parkin: Michael Wardle
Mrs. Parkin: Una Brandon-Jones
General: Noel Johnson
Waitress: Irene Sutcliffe
Tea Shop Proprietor: Llewellyn Rees
Policeman One: Robert Oates
Policeman Two: Anthony Wise
Presuming Ed: Eddie Tagoe
Double for various actors in distant shots: Bruce Robinson (uncredited)
Man In Cafe: Fred Wood (uncredited)
How To Get Ahead in Advertising
Director: Bruce Robinson
Producer: David Wimbury
Screenplay: Bruce Robinson
Music: David Dundas and Rick Wentworth
Cast:
Denis Dimbleby Bagley: Richard E Grant
Julia Bagley: Rachel Ward
John Bristol: Richard Wilson
Penny Wheelstock: Jacqueline Tong
Psychiatrist: John Shrapnel
Monica: Susan Wooldridge
Harry Wax: Hugh Armstrong
Richard: Mick Ford
Maud: Jacqueline Pearce
Waiter: Christopher Simon
Waiter: Gino Melvazzi
Tweedy Man: Victor Lucas
Tweedy Woman: Dawn Keeler
Girl in Elevator: Kerryann White
Sullivan Bristol Receptionist: Vivienne McKone
Businessman on Train: Donald Hoath
Businessman on Train: John Levitt
Priest: Gordon Gostelow
Jonathan: Pip Torrens
Basil: Tony Slattery
Jennifer: Rachel Fielding
Mrs. Wallace: Pauline Melville
Dr. Gatty: Roddy Maude-Roxby
Nurse: Francesca Longrigg
Hospital Doctor: Tanveer Ghani
Phillis Blokey: Joanna Mays
Larry Frisk: Sean Bean
Male Love Bird (voice): Eric Idle (uncredited)
The Boil (voice): Bruce Robinson (uncredited)
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.