Pinter’s The Caretaker: BFI Blu-ray/DVD release

❉ A play that changed the face of modern theatre and made Harold Pinter’s name, presented with a variety of extras.

BFI have announced Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker, directed by Clive Donner and starring Alan Bates, Donald Pleasence and Robert Shaw, will receieve a Dual Format Edition (DVD/Blu-ray) release on 15 April 2019, and on iTunes on 29 April.

A play that changed the face of modern theatre and made Harold Pinter’s name, The Caretaker remains one of Pinter’s most famous works. Featuring original production cast members Donald Pleasence and Alan Bates, the film adaptation is sensitively directed by Clive Donner (Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush) and was shot by Nicolas Roeg. It will be released by the BFI in a Dual Format Edition on 15 April 2019, presented with a variety of extras, and on iTunes on 29 April.

Whilst renovating his dilapidated home, Aston (Robert Shaw) invites an irritable and devious vagrant (Donald Pleasence) to stay. But, when his ill-tempered brother Mick (Alan Bates) returns, an ominous yet darkly comic power struggle between the trio commences.

This study of shared illusion, tragic dispossession and the fraternal bond of unspoken love, combines mesmerising performances and the magic of Pinter’s dialogue into a spellbinding film.

Special features

❉ Newly restored from the original camera negative by the BFI, and presented here in High Definition and Standard Definition
❉ Audio commentary by actor Alan Bates, director Clive Donner and producer Michael Birkett (2002)
❉ Introduction by critic and author Michael Billington (2002, 6 mins)
❉ On Location with The Caretaker (1962, 4 mins): an extract from the TV series This Week in Britain
❉ The Caretaker: From Play Into Film (2002, 17 mins): a video essay by Michael Billington, using materials donated by Clive Donner to the BFI National Archive
❉ US opening titles (1963, 2 mins): the opening title sequence from the US where the film was released as The Guest
❉ Last To Go (1969, 6 mins): the last of five animated shorts directed by Gerald Potterton for Pinter People, voiced by Harold Pinter and Donald Pleasence
❉ Harold Pinter’s Play Discussed by Clive Donner (1973, 47 mins): the BAFTA-winning director discusses his adaptation of The Caretaker
❉ Stills Gallery
❉ Fully illustrated booklet with new essay by critic and author Amy Simmons, writing by Michael Billington and Clive Donner and full film credits (FIRST PRESSING ONLY)

❉ ‘The Caretaker’ (Clive Donner, 1963) released on Dual Format DVD/Blu-ray (Cat. no. BFIB1332 / Cert PG) 15 April 2019, RRP: £19.99, and on iTunes on 29 April.


❉ News source: BFI Publicity.

❉ We Are Cult is not responsible for the content of this news release.

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1 Comment

  1. Do you know where I might find a dvd of the 1981 BBC television production of Pinter’s “The Caretaker” directed by Kenneth Ives?

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