228 Putney Swope

[MichaelB]

PUTNEY SWOPE
(Robert Downey, 1969)
Release date: 18 July 2022
Limited Edition Blu-ray

Pre-order here

Putney Swope (Arnold Johnson, Shaft) is the only Black executive at a stuffy Madison Avenue advertising agency. When the chairman dies unexpectedly, Putney is unexpectedly elected the new boss – because those voting never thought anyone else would to do the same. Putney proceeds to kick out the white majority, replacing them with young, revolutionary types, and renames the agency Truth and Soul.

A bracing satire, taking well-aimed pot-shots at capitalism, power and racism in America, Robert Downey’s Putney Swope is a key entry in counterculture cinema, and a landmark of independent filmmaking, and – after more than a half a century – is still very, very funny.


INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• 4K restoration by the Academy Film Archive and the Film Foundation
• Original mono audio
• Audio commentary with writer-director Robert Downey (2001)
• Audio commentary with film critic and historian Sergio Mims (2019)
• Interview with Robert Downey (2001)
• Audio interview with cinematographer Gerald Cotts (2019)
• Film Forum Q&A with Robert Downey (2016): the writer and director in conversation with Bruce Goldstein at the Film Forum, New York
• Original theatrical trailer
• Dan Ireland trailer commentary (2014): short critical appreciation
• Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Limited edition exclusive booklet featuring a new essay by Christina Newland, an archival article on the film, archival comments from Robert Downey, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and full film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited edition of 3,000 copies for the UK
• All extras subject to change


#PHILTD228
BBFC cert: 15
REGION FREE
EAN: 5060697921489

[therewillbeblus]

Looks like this release is near-identical to the VS blu, with a new Q&A swapped in for an older one, the VS has an extra interview with Downey from 2008, and the Indicator has this Dan Ireland trailer commentary, plus the booklet. Is this a new 4K restoration? Cause as far as I can see, that'd be the only real selling point if one already has the VG

[yoloswegmaster]

Nope, the 4K restoration used for this release is the exact same one used for the VinSyn release. This release is more targeted towards the UK market since i doubt the UK collectors went out in droves to get the VinSyn release.

[tenia]

Well yes, this also "simply" is a UK domestic release !

[rapta]

As pointed out elsewhere, it does feel a little strange to be delayed a whole year (this was originally teased for release this time last year) and yet seemingly no new extras are included. I wonder if they were trying to get something but couldn't in the end, such as other Downey works from Criterion's Eclipse set?

[Finch]

CineOutsider rave

[MichaelB]

Final specs:

[PfR73]

Does anyone have the Home Vision/Image DVD of this? I'm trying to find out whether the interview on that release is the same 2001 interview included on this release and the Vinegar Syndrome release, which would have originated from the Rhino DVD release, or whether it had a different interview that has remained exclusive to that disc.