Rent Daniel Farson's Guide to Britain: Vol.1 (1963)
3h 41min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Brash, bohemian and boozy, bon-vivant Daniel Farson became a larger-than-life fixture of Soho in the 1950s, socialising with the likes of artist Francis Bacon and photographer John Deakin. But he was also a ground-breaking investigative journalist, reshaping approaches to screen reportage with the many direct, dynamic independent television films he presented for Associated-Rediffusion in the late 1950s and early 1960s, finding widespread fame and acclaim. This three disc dual format set, running to over three hours - the first of two releases showcasing his most innovative, important, eccentric, odd and outstanding work - reframes a carefully-curated chunk of Farson's now little-seen output. His eclectic talent is reflected in an abundant array of hugely enjoyable, fascinating films on all manner of matters topical to a post-war Britain undergoing complex, seismic social change. Join this vanguard intrepid investigator - paving the way for later programme-makers of the Louis Theroux school - as he twinkles a curious eye and lends a wry tongue to a glorious gamut of then-contemporary hot-potatoes: from Soho striptease, alien visitations and the Cavern Club in the afterglow of the Beatles, to witchcraft, the cult of celebrity and much, much more.
The Films:
Out of Step: Witchcraft (1957, 14 mins)
Out of Step: Other Worlds are Watching Us (1957, 14 mins)
Keeping in Step: The Wedding (1958, 14 mins)
Keeping in Step: Stock Exchange (1958, 14 mins)
This Week: Soho Striptease (1958, 7 mins)
People in Trouble: Mixed Marriages (1958, 13 mins)
Success Story: Shelagh Delaney (1959, 14 mins)
Success Story: Maurice Woodruff (1959,14 mins)
Success Story: Hank Janson (1959, 14 mins)
Celebrity: Cliff Richard (1959, 16 mins)
Farson's Guide to the British: Cats (1959, 14 mins)
Pursuit of Happiness: People Apart (1960, 14 mins)
This Week: Robert Graves (1963, 20 mins)*
Beat City (1963, 39 mins)- Actors:
- Daniel Farson, Gerald Gardner, James Wentworth Day, Brinsley Le Poer Trench, Iseult Richardson, Charles Macaskie, Dorothy Macaskie
- Directors:
- Geoffrey Hughes
- Writers:
- Elkan Allan, Stanley Craig
- Studio:
- Trinity Content Partners
- Genres:
- Documentary, Music & Musicals, Special Interest
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 16/02/2026
- Run Time:
- 221 minutes
- Languages:
- English
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Various
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Audio commentaries on 'Out of Step: Witchcraft' and 'Out of Step: Other Worlds are Watching Us' by Mark Pilkington
- Audio commentaries on 'This Week: Soho Striptease' and 'Success Story: Hank Janson' by Vic Pratt
- Audio commentary on 'People in Trouble: Mixed Marriages' by Milo Holmes
- Audio commentary by Dr Elinor Groom and Lisa Kerrigan on 'Farson's Guide to the British: Cats'
- Audio commentary by Dr Elinor Groom on 'Pursuit of Happiness: People Apart'
- Audio commentaries on 'Success Story: Maurice Woodruff' and 'Beat City' by Vic Pratt and William Fowler
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