Art & HueThe Lavender Hill Mob new 4k restoration
New 4k restoration of classic Ealing comedy “The Lavender Hill Mob”!
2024 marks 75 years of classic Ealing Comedies! To celebrate the 75th anniversary of classic Ealing comedies, STUDIOCANAL is releasing the first ever 4k restoration of the 1951 film “The Lavender Hill Mob“.
The film will be released in selected cinemas at the end of March 2024, and the 4K UHD Collector’s Edition (and standard Blu-ray and DVD) will be released on the 22nd of April 2024, available to pre-order now at Amazon.
Directed by Charles Crichton, the enduringly funny story of a bank employee’s ingenious plan to rob the Bank of England, and the motley crew that he assembles to carry out the raid, was written by T. E. B. Clarke who won the Oscar for Best Story & Screenplay for “The Lavender Hill Mob“.
As well as “The Lavender Hill Mob“, more classic Ealing comedies will be coming to cinema screens to celebrate 75 years of the cherished British film institution.
“Passport to Pimlico“, “Whisky Galore!” and “Kind Hearts & Coronets“, which all turn 75 this year, will also be screened as part of the “Once More with Ealing” season.
The film sees Alec Guinness & Stanley Holloway as members of a criminal gang who plot to steal gold bullion which will be melted down and smuggled abroad. Without giving away too much of the story, the gang end up in Paris where the Eiffel Tower features heavily.
The post-war Ealing comedies tapped into the public mood, presenting tales of the small underdog battling a larger enemy, generally state bureaucracy or established institutions, and whilst the morals of the time couldn’t allow crime or rebellion to go rewarded, for a brief moment, audiences could will on the unlikely heroes.
“The Lavender Hill Mob” was restored in 4K using a 35mm duplicating positive as the original negative was unavailable. Thanks to the latest film scanning technology and restoration tools, STUDIOCANAL were able to achieve a high standard image from the positive that was used. Silver Salt Restoration restored and colour graded the film to produce a new 4K DCP, HDR Dolby Vision and HD master.
On the 28th of June in 1951, “The Lavender Hill Mob” opened at the Marble Arch Odeon cinema in London with a charity premiere, and proved to be a critical & box office success.
This 4k restoration is a great way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Ealing Comedies and preserve the film for generations yet to discover the charms of “The Lavender Hill Mob“.
Pre-order the restored film at Amazon and discover the Ealing Comedies pop art collection by Art & Hue, available in 3 sizes and many colours.
Special Features
Some of the wonderful bonus extras included in The Lavender Hill Mob new 4k restoration include:
New London Comedy Film Festival Q&A with Paul Merton
Those British Faces: Stanley Holloway
Introduction by Martin Scorsese
Extract from BEHP Audio interview with Charles Crichton
Good Afternoon: Mavis interviews T.E.B. Clarke
Audio Commentary by film historian Jeremy Arnold
Original Trailer
Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery
Contents of 4K UHD Collector’s Edition:
2 discs (UHD and BD)
64 page booklet
2 posters – new and original artwork designed by Matt Griffin
4 pop-art artcards designed by Art & Hue
