Learning on ScreenNight Mail (Remastered and Restored)
- Synopsis
- One of the most critically acclaimed and iconic films produced within the British documentary movement, NIGHT MAIL tells the story of the travelling post office from Euston to Glasgow and the men who worked on it. Given a modest budget of only £2000 and conceived as a routine film promoting Post Office services, the collective talents of the GPO Film Unit turned out an ambitious and inventive fusion of image, sound, music and poetry that became an instant classic and archetype of the genre. The memorable final section of the film, featuring Benjamin Britten’s innovative score and verse by WH Auden, timed to the rhythms of the train is justly famous, and perhaps the most lyrical final sequence in the history of documentary film.
The DVD from the BFI is a remastered and restored version and the 93 minutes of extras in this collector’s edition include four short films and a booklet featuring an essay by writer and poet Blake Morrison. These are: THE WAY TO THE SEA (UK, 1936) Features verse by Auden and music by Britten; SPOTLIGHT ON THE NIGHT MAIL (UK, 1948);THIRTY MILLION LETTERS (UK, 1963); NIGHT MAIL 2 (UK, 1986) (updated version of Night Mail featuring poetry by Blake Morrison); Fully illustrated booklet with essays by Blake Morrison and film composer Miguel Mera, Benjamin Britten diary extracts and more - Language
- English
- Country
- Great Britain
- Year of production
- 1936
- Notes
- NIGHT MAIL is combined on the video from SHE with DRIFTERS and on the DVD from Panamint with WEST HIGHLAND
- Documentation
- BFI Film Classics book Night Mail by Scott Anthony, published 2007
- Uses
- Courses in film and history - development of documentary film; possibly courses in transport studies.*
- Subjects
- Film studies
- Keywords
- documentary films; GPO; poetry; postal services; railways
Credits
- Director
- Basil Wright; Harry Watt
- Writer
- W H Auden
Distribution Formats
- Type
- DVD
- Format
- Region 2 PAL
- Price
- £15.99 (BFI) £19.99 (Panamint)
- Availability
- Sale
- Duration/Size
- 24 minutes (BFI + 92 minutes extras)
- Year
- 2007
- Type
- VHS
- Format
- PAL
- Price
- £12.95 (SHE)(Panamint) £15.45 PO)
- Availability
- Sale
- Duration/Size
- 24 minutes
- Year
- 2005
Production Company
- Name
GPO Film Unit
Distributor
- Name
BFI Video
- video.films@bfi.org.uk
- Web
- http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 020 7957 8957
- Fax
- 020 7957 8968
- Address
- 21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
- Name
Panamint Cinema
- cinema@panamint.co.uk
- Web
- http://www.panamint.co.uk External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 01505 834936
- Address
- Abercorn Schoolhouse
Whitequarries
Broxburn
West Lothian, Scotland
EH52 6PZ
- Name
Simply Media
- Contact
- Laura Smith
- info@simplymedia.tv
- Web
- http://www.simplymedia.tv/ External site opens in new window
- Phone
- 0203 542 3722
- Address
- Highlight House
57 Margaret Street
London W1W 8SJ - Notes
- Formerly known as DD Home Entertainment or DDHE
Record Stats
This record has been viewed 1090 times.
