The Runaway Bus (1954)

[JamesM]

I agree.

[authorgarymcmahon]

I agree about the appalling dvd transfer of The Runaway Bus, but I'd go further. I don't agree we should be grateful to Pickwick for at least making the filmk available - not in this condition. Now the title is out there is less chance that a reputable dvd company will invest in a further release.
The transfer is so hideous that I wonder how this could constitute legitimate and fair trading. It is the standard of a third or even fourth generation videotape, I kid you not. No television station would broadcast the film in this condition. Don't be kidded by the letters 'dvd', this is worse than an analogue television signal in a thunderstorm. You know that sinking feeling in your gut when you realise you've been ripped off? That's the indigestion you are buying if you purchase this at any price, and I mean any price. There is no such thing as a bargain when the quality makes the film not worth watching. I gave my copy to an interested friend - but, even for free, he didn't get a bargain.
Unfortunately I came across this thread too late, but if I'd known it was a Pickwick job, a company that operates out of a washroom in Victoria railway station toilets, I deduce, then I would have steered clear. That's my advice to all and sundry too: steer clear of Pickwick , and avoid indigestion.
www.myspace.com/authorgary

[fred kite]

ive just watched this copy today .....ordered from hmv......its the first time i have ever seen this film .....frankie howard was superb .....margaret rutherford totaly surprised me with that bloke off emerdale farm toke townley..loved it.as you all say quality wasnt the best.but im just gratefull to get a lovely british film hidden for years....so cheap

[Liger]

Originally Posted by authorgarymcmahon I agree about the appalling dvd transfer of The Runaway Bus, but I'd go further. I don't agree we should be grateful to Pickwick for at least making the filmk available - not in this condition. Now the title is out there is less chance that a reputable dvd company will invest in a further release. The transfer is so hideous that I wonder how this could constitute legitimate and fair trading. It is the standard of a third or even fourth generation videotape, I kid you not. [...S]teer clear of Pickwick , and avoid indigestion. www.myspace.com/authorgary

I couldn't agree more. This DVD is a beyond a joke. Pickwick, or whatever their latest incarnation is, have had too much press out of this topic, and have come out of it far too lightly. Daylight robbery should not be the business of any legitimate DVD company. It appears to be Pickwick's mantra...

[Mr Cosmo]

I ordered this from HMV in November and it showed up last week! Won;t be ordering from them in a hurry. I read this thread before watching it so I was prepared for quality issues, but I was OK with it apart from some ropey sound - but - and here is the big but - I played it on my I-Pod and that cancels out some of the problem. I still laughed out loud when Frankie climbed the signpost - and Pet Clark was always lovely to look at.
In future we will probably all be watching movies on I-Pods...

[Hackett]

The quality restoration of the silent Buster Keaton films in Paul Mertons series of silent clowns on BBC4 should be the benchmark of all DVD releases. If they can make copies of 80 year old films that good we should accept nothing less for a film made in the 1950's.

[Jim]

Originally Posted by Hackett The quality restoration of the silent Buster Keaton films in Paul Mertons series of silent clowns on BBC4 should be the benchmark of all DVD releases. If they can make copies of 80 year old films that good we should accept nothing less for a film made in the 1950's.

AND they made up some missing film to boot!!! Brilliant!

[ChristineCB]

Originally Posted by Hackett The quality restoration...

Likewise, there was a German company that did some incredible restoration work on Laurel & Hardy films (particularly, THE MUSIC BOX). The resulting effort was so good, the phrase "Better Quality Than The Original" appears true. Then the company went out of business! I just think of all these lost-gems that languish and how some promote the time-wasting colorization instead of using that time to restore more films than crayon-ing a few.

[Redstar]

I bought myself this as a Xmas prezzie and have not seen it since a child at the Tower cinema that was in Peckham.

It is as funny as ever, and Margaret Rutherford turns in a hilarious performance of the quintisential English lady eccentric who lauds thinking "positive" and is nifty with her umbrella. The film is a satyrical look at the Britain in many ways the thick pea souper fogs of the 50's compared to the posters of sunnier countries. The bureacracy, the English humour. basically great entertainment and Frankie Howards first starring role in a movie.

[DB7]

Is it the much maligned bad print?

[Redstar]

It did not seem to bad to me, mind you having not seen it for donkeys years it is hard to tell.

[Modular]

Originally Posted by DB7 Is it the much maligned bad print?

I'll bet my pension it is...

[Redstar]

I still enjoyed it

[Modular]

It's a favourite of mine too.

[cletus awreetus]

After all the debate I unearthed it last night and gave it a viewing.

Not a bad copy (DVD) from when it was shown on TV