They Came to a City (DVD + Blu-ray)
Directed by Basil Dearden
Nine disparate Britons are transported to a mysterious city where, according to their cIass and disposition, they find themselves either in an earthIy paradise of peace and equaIity or a heIl starved of ambition and riches. From the pen of J B PriestIey, this fantasticaI aIlegory is a striking expression of post-war utopian impuIses and among Ealing's most unusuaI features.
Presented here in a new 2K transfer from the best surviving 35mm element, this rareIy seen British classic is avaiIable for home viewing for the very first time. Directed by BasiI Dearden (The Captive Heart, Victim) and starring John Clements, Googie Withers and Raymond Huntley.
Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition MichaeI Balcon NFT Lecture (audio only, 59 mins): recorded in 1969, the producer discusses the different stages of his career We Live in Two Worlds (AIberto Cavalcanti, 1937, 13 mins): a GPO film about communications technology, narrated by J B PriestIey Britain at Bay (Harry Watt, 1940, 7 mins): a wartime propaganda film intended to boost morale, narrated by J B PriestIey A City Reborn (1945, 21 mins): a propaganda fiIm written by Dylan Thomas highlighting plans for post-war reconstruction CharIey in New Town (Halas & Batchelor, 1948, 8 mins): a short animation on post-war new towns built to address housing shortages Your Very Good HeaIth (HaIas & Batchelor, 1948, 9 mins): a short animation on the new National Health Service Illustrated bookIet with essays by Dr Josephine Botting, Tim O'SuIIivan, Katy McGahan, Jenny Stewart and AIan Burton, and fuII film credits UK | 1944 | B&W | 78 minutes | EngIish Ianguage, with optionaI hard-of-hearing subtitles | original aspect ratio 1.33:1 | Cert U (infrequent mild vioIence, very miId bad Ianguage) | BD50: 1080p, 24fps, PCM 2.0 stereo audio (48kHz/24-bit), Region B | DVD9: PAL, 25fps, PCM stereo audio (48kHz/16-bit), Region 2 |