Steve Crook

I was contacted by Moya McDonald who tells us:

I thought you might like to know that J Storer Clouston's The Spy in Black, which has been out of print since the 1940s, is about to appear in a new and limited edition in May to celebrate the 90th anniversary of its original publication.

As well as the original story this book features essays about Clouston as a writer and historian, and sets the scene with a presentation of the state of the world in 1917. Clouston changed the place names featured because it was wartime but the local Historic Scotland Rangers, in true spy tradition, have uncovered the original locations hidden in the book and have produced a map of them. The book has been designed to reflect the period with a stunning dust jacket by a local Orcadian artist.

The book is being launched at CELEBRATING SCAPA FLOW 2007- THE SPY IN BLACK PROJECT ( 4th - 6th of May). The weekend includes a series of talks about Clouston, events relating to Scapa Flow in 1917 including the loss of HMS Vanguard, film presentations from the BFI and Imperial War Museum of that era and a special showing of The Spy in Black in Kirkwall - the best way to see this film is with an Orcadian audience! We are hoping that the few locals still alive who were extras in the film will be able to attend. Another highlight will be a guided bus tour of the book and film locations led by the HS Rangers.

I've attached a copy of the press release which gives more infromation and please visit the website: Westray Studios

As there are only 2000 copies being published we advise anyone who wants a copy to order it now and they will receive a specially designed card with their very own book number on it.

I hope that you can pass some of this info onto your readers in case they might want to order a copy of the book...or visit Orkney over the weekend of the 4th - 6th of May.

I can guarantee they won't be disappointed.

Best wishes,
Moya McDonald
Events Organiser,
AOP(Another Orkney Production)

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Hackett

That copy the BFI have of "THE SPY IN BLACK". Why can't it be released (remastered) on DVD at the same time as the book?. Instead of the BFI (London Film Club) junket to the Orkney Islands, they spend the money too remaster thier, sorry OUR copy of the film with the locals experiences added as extras via the internet. Any Imperial War Museum budget saved for the trip to Kirkwall will help in us all having saved a bit of history. Add to that all us film lovers buying the DVD everyones a winner.
Are you laughing Miss Gossage?, or have you got another scathing private e-mail to send me?.

Nick Dando

I've placed my order for the book. I already have a Storer Clouston omnibus, and he wasn't a bad writer, very much in the John Buchan mould, with a hint of Saki in one story in particular, The Lunatic at Large.

Nick

penfold

The BFI won't release it on DVD because Carlton/Granada own the rights, so save your bile for them. I'd like to have it released too. If Carlton do release it, I expect they will do a deal with the BFI for the print, as they did with the Black Narcissus release last year.
What junket are you referring to? I see no mention of one. To me it looks like the people of Kirkwall have got some funds for the celebration and are using some of it to rent the films from the BFI, the IWM Archive, and perhaps, but not necessarily, a guest speaker. I doubt the BFI are subsidising it much, if at all. Your local artshouse could have done the same....why don't you suggest it?
The BFI has a lot of flaws, but not nearly so many as some people on this forum seem to want to believe. I help run a festival down here, we have a lot of practical help from the BFI (No, no funding) but most of the help we receive from BFI staff is free, and done in their own spare time; they don't even get expenses.
Save your anger for those who actually merit it.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

smiffy

Thanks Penfold for being the voice of reason,I think there are too many misconceptions about the BFI,how can they release a film they do not own the rights to ? .
I know very little about the BFI apart from the fact they operate within the law with regards to the prints they have .
There is a thread running at the moment about copyright and ownership which is very informative and also shows what a legal minefield it is to get something on general release.If people start selling things they don't own they are prosecuted.We have people on ebay selling cheap copies of films they have acquired, under the misrepresentation that the copyright has expired and they are in the public domain!! , what a load of b*****ks,is this what we expect of the BFI ?
We all want to see more classics and rarities on release . but at what price? , Don't blame the Bfi everytime there's a film you want to see but can't get hold of ,let's get behind them and support them because without them we'd be a lot poorer,film wise.
We all want to watch films at our convenience and in our own living rooms,but how satisfying must it be to watch a film with an audience of chosen, like minded people who will appreciate the film as much as you ? and correct me if I am wrong but the BFI can help you with this (in certain circumstances)

I May be getting older ,but I refuse to grow up

Hackett

With your and my money what do The BFI do?. And how often do they do it outside London?.

DB7

The BFI version of Three Men in a Boat..

Steve Crook

How much of your and my money do they get?
BFI | About

Steve

DB7

Independent Online Edition > News
Online archive = none.
Portals = one. (in London!)

Steve Crook

"would be setting up ... aims to have"
They're in the plans. Lets wait & see before hurling too many brickbats (or bricks)

Steve

JamesM

But it has been nearly three years.

Steve Crook

A mere blink of the eye to a quango like the BFI

Steve

Hackett

Thanks DB7 you made me look on the BFI web site which always p's me off. And Who's films are for sale remastered (remastered one of them was made in 1993) Derek bloody Jarman.

DB7

It was around the time of the Commons select commitee review so would it be cynical to suggest it was bluster designed to ensure funding? I find it hard to accept it's that difficult to base a mediatheque (is that a disco with films?:) in say Manchester, especially given the Beeb is moving more of its operation northwards.

darn cockney spivs...:

Nick Dando

I've just had a card in the post about the book. I've been assigned book number 100.

Nick