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There needs to be a DVD of this forgotten Gem


The Blockhouse (1973) is one the best of over 4000 movies made that year. Yet it must not have gotten wide release. Perhaps it's due to the role of Peter Sellers, who genuinely could act, but audiences felt that this was too serious of a role, and not up to his comedic genius standards. Indeed, the role is a dark one, and the movie could have suffered in the theaters for reasons of poor match between actor reputational expectation and role played.

Whatever the reason, this gem of a movie deserves to be made into a DVD, as it looks deep into the psyche of six men entombed in a Nazi bunker during the storming of France during D-Day. They live in this bunker for six years with no hope of rescue. They have to figure out a way to even tell time, and count the days, as no daylight can enter, and they use up all of the candles in the first few monthes. This is one movie which should not be lost to time.

This movie should be shown every Memorial Day. It tells the tale of men facing the fear of living.

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Its released now in australia

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A region 0 PAL format DVD of the Blockhouse has indeed just been released in Australia this week. Sadly it is only presented in 1.66:1 ratio (imbd lists a 2.35:1 original ratio) and the Mono sound that has been commented on is rather difficult at times to hear, and not helped by a lack of subtitles. The tranfer though is quite clean, but most of all the film itself is indeed an forgotten gem. Devastating opening bombardment scene, and a harrowing story well told, acted and directed. Not sure about a directors cut, but this version runs 90 minutes on the 24fps pal format. Enjoy.

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Yeah, just bought it myself. I think the master has been taken from some kind of tv print (looks awfully like a video-sourced transfer to me, aspect ratio aside). At least it's getting some wide distribution at last. Another all but forgotten Sellers movie, The Great McGonagall is coming out from the same label next month, complete with directors commentary.

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It is out on DVD. It's discontinued, but I rented it through Netflix. Good film!

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I've just got the lovefilm version, good print, sound not bad, story and acting good. Very Harold Pinter.

Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.

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