BFI, out now

Nigel Kneale’s 1954 adaptation of George Orwell’s novel finally gets an official release.

We’ve waited a long time for this, and there’s a great deal to enjoy about the BFI release of Rudolph Cartier’s production, presented here with its film sequences scanned at high definition, and generally cleaned up – not least the fact that it exists at all! If you’ve not seen it, then be prepared for two hours of intense drama, with Peter Cushing’s Winston Smith experiencing life in Airstrip One under Big Brother. Any resemblance to elements of life in 2022 is of course purely coincidental…

The play’s broadcast had a wide reach and not only provoked discussion around the country, but clearly influenced writers and producers on later SF series – there are shot constructions and scenes that feel eerily familiar, in the same way that elements of the Quatermass serials relate to Doctor Who stories of a certain ilk. Cushing leads a strong cast – Andre Morell’s O’Brien, for me, is the best portrayed – and, as often with Kneale’s work, it’s the ‘man in the pub’ who gives the best insight to the situation.

The extras include the Late Night Line Up discussion; an audio commentary by Toby Hadoke, Jon Dear and Andy Murray (the TV historian!); a separate feature on Kneale by Hadoke and Murray; and Oliver Wake – who also contributes to the accompanying booklet – discussing the myths around the production. Each is well worth your time, and I suspect I’ll be rewatching the extras as well as the main feature on more than one occasion.

Verdict: An essential purchase for anyone interested in the history of British screen SF. 10/10

Paul Simpson