❉ New restoration and UK Blu-Ray debut of the weird, wild, totally unique and very British 1970s mind-bender.
‘In a far-off future, mankind is in a state of decay. But a group of scientists believe they have found the means to move humanity on to its next level in the creation of an ideal, self-replicating – and thus immortal – human being. Jerry Cornelius, Nobel Prize-winning physicist and playboy adventurer, is vital to the project’s success: his recently deceased father devised the formula of this ‘final programme’. However, the formula is captured on a microfilm hidden in the vaults of the family’s mansion, and jealously guarded by Jerry’s drug-addicted, psychopathic brother, Frank…’
Jon Finch (Frenzy) heads an impressive cast as the flamboyant anti-hero of this dystopian, darkly humorous and very adult sci-fi thriller from writer/director Robert Fuest – best-known for the Dr Phibes horror films starring Vincent Price and the original The Avengers TV series, and the acclaimed STUDIOCANAL release And Soon The Darkness. Based on cult novelist Michael Moorcock’s acclaimed 1968 novel, and produced by David Puttnam (Stardust, Chariots of Fire) THE FINAL PROGRAMME is presented here in a new restoration making its UK Blu-ray premiere, which brilliantly showcases Fuest’s flamboyant and stylish visuals and production design.
Jon Finch is outstanding as the black-clad Cornelius, who is like a rock ‘n’ roll James Bond with a PhD, dropped into a psychedelic, action packed sci-fi – and going a little ape in the process (in a sequence that predates the cosmic mayhem of Ken Russell’s Altered States). The amazing cast makes the film a must-watch in itself – legendary American actor Sterling Hayden (in what seems like a carry on of his wild role in Dr. Strangelove), Jenny Runacre (Antonioni’s The Passenger), Graham Crowden (Britannia Hospital), Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange, The Avengers), Ronald Lacey (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Harry Andrews (Hawk the Slayer), and genre favourites Julie Ege (The Mutations) and Sarah Douglas (Superman).
THE FINAL PROGRAMME is a weird, wild, totally unique and very British 1970s mind-bender that The Guardian says “gloriously captures the satirical humour and pop-art stylings of the time”.
INCLUDED WITH THE FINAL PROGRAMME:
❉ Brand new interview with Jenny Runacre
❉ Brand new Kim Newman on Fuest & The Final Programme featurette
❉ Italian title sequence
❉ Trailers
The Blu-ray edition comes with four collector’s art cards
❉ THE FINAL PROGRAMME (1974) Starring: Jon Finch, Jenny Runacre, Sterling Hayden is available to buy on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital from 20th February 2023, and available to pre-order HERE. Certificate: 15. Running Time: 86 mins DVD/90 mins BD approx.
❉ News source: Fetch Publicity.
❉ We Are Cult is not responsible for the content of this news release.
“Running Time: 86 mins DVD/90 mins BD” — Does that mean the DVD version of the movie is cut by four minutes? Or have four minutes of previously unreleased material been added to the Blu-ray version?