The Caretaker

This is, yet again, a very thoughtfully composed and informative DVD from BFI, which seems to be making increasing efforts with its releases to great effect.

The print was shot on Kodak 4x. What it gains in speed, it loses in clarity, although, as the commentary track points out, as this is shot in the "kitchen sink"style it might be considered an addition to the movie texture than any negative aspect. There is some flecking and scratching throughout, but with stock of this age that can only to be expected. The sound is mono, but as there is no soundtrack, the film relies more on aural effects, or silent pauses, and so this is nothing to worry about.

The extras are what makes the disc so interesting, perfectly capturing the period and experience. The six-minute introduction by Michael Billington is comprehensive, although I wonder whether it is best watched after the movie, if you have never seen it before. He is thorough in his basic analysis and provides some lines of thought to consider as you watch the film.

On Location With The Caretaker is an excellent addition, being a five-minute excerpt from This Week In Britain. It captures the atmosphere of the country in the Sixties wonderfully well; it is almost worth having the disc in your collection for this snippet of history alone.

The Caretaker: From Play Into Film is a 15-minute analysis by Michael Billington, explaining how Harold Pinter adapted, altered and generally played around with his original theatrical piece to achieve the screenplay. It paints a picture of the playwrite as someone not afraid to take a scythe to his work and you can't help but warm to a man who could be so involved, yet fiercely objective.

The commentary track is another inspired addition, featuring actor Alan Bates, director Clive Donner and producer Michael Birkett. The three of them are obviously firm friends and happy to chat about how they had to seek out backers. Initially, they seem not to be talking of the film at all, but reminiscing about the difficulties they faced in raising £30,000, but as the movie progresses it becomes clear that they are. Rather than getting hung up on individual scenes, they talk most interestingly about the process as a whole. Included are reflections on filmmaking in general and some wonderful anecodotes about Noel Cowerd - one of their "angels" - and Robert Shaw's intense competitive streak.

As a whole, this DVD captures the spirit of The Caretaker, explaining its origins, its impact and offering a considered critique of the writing. If you like cerebral cinema, this is for you.