MovieChat Forums > The Small Back Room (1952) Discussion > DVD out now? I remember liking this

DVD out now? I remember liking this


It is a while since I saw this at a film society screening,perhaps 20 years ago?

The plot concerns a British bomb disposal officer in World War 11.
He risks his life trying to defuse German bombs dropped on Britain.
It is a story of courage but also of brains,the British backroom scientists have to outguess their German counterparts.

I liked the film but can't recall much of the plot.

I do remember Sid James as a friendly barman in a pub which I would love to visit using a time machine ,it is full of pretty girls and servicemen and women from around the world united in fighting the fascist beast.

There is a great scene where they visit a military HQ and there is a sign with seemingly hundreds of different groups represented,a useful reminder of the number of countries united against Nazi Germany.

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Yes, that's this film all right.

The officers of different nationalities is at the beginning.
Sid James is the barman
There's the scene at Stonehenge where they're testing the new gun
And the big scene on the pebble beach at Chesil Bank where our hero tackles the booby trapped bomb

My (short) plot summary on the IMDb page says:
The best bomb disposal officer during World War II was badly injured and is in frequent pain. He finds solace and relief from his pain in the whisky bottle & the pills that are never far away. A new type of booby trapped bomb push his nerves & resolution to the limit.


It is available on DVD
Region 2, PAL format, from Studio Canal / Warner Home Video (UK)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001FYRF8/papas-21
Just the film, no extras

Region 1, NTSC format, from Criterion
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019X400I/papas-20
* New, restored high-definition digital transfer
* Audio commentary featuring film scholar Charles Barr
* New video interview with cinematographer Christopher Challis
* Excerpts from Michael Powell's audio dictations for his autobiography
* PLUS: A new essay by film critic Nick James
* Subtitles

Steve

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Thanks for the quick reply.
I will have to think about buying the DVD,pity the de luxe version is only available on region 1.

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Regions are all a con and are of dubious legality.

If you're in the UK (like I am) then most DVD player bought in the last 5-10 years will play a DVD from any region. Look up the make and model. Most have a code that you enter from the remote control to make it play DVDs from any region

Steve

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