Congratulations to Jamie Ellis, Christine Russell and Tim Newsome - a set is on its way to each you!

As the hi-def assault gathers momentum, Optimum Home Entertainment are releasing some bona fide classics on Blu-ray via The Studio Canal Collection. Revisiting Studio Canal's back catalogue, the 15th Feb sees a wonderfully eclectic trio released exclusively on Blu-ray for the first time. What's more, Optimum have 3 sets to give away for lucky Twitch readers in the UK.
 
First up is The Go-Between, based on LP Hartley's novel of the same name, starring Julie Christie, Edward Fox and Alan Bates in a magnificently English period drama, of lusty Victorians and adolescent confusion. This was probably the first film that gave me faith in movies being able to interpret novels successfully, having read the book at school and subsequently dug out the film. An in-her-prime Christie probably helped too...

Next is late period Ealing Comedy with Alexander Mackendrick's The Ladykillers, long before the Coens got their grubby mitts on the screenplay. Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers star as bank robbers who enlist the help of a sweet old lady in their latest heist, only to find her more of a threat than expected.

Lastly there's a classic exponent of the nouvelle vague in Godard's Pierrot Le Fou, as Jean-Paul Belmondo ditches his life of bourgeois dissatisfaction and embarks on a chaotic road trip with an ex-lover. Jump cuts, musical interludes and existential musings abound.

All three films come in new hi-def transfers, with a host of unique special features and accompanying booklets (details below).

For your chance of winning one of the sets, simply email me here with your favourite Godard movie by 20th Feb.

 Winners will be chosen at random from all entries, and Twitch decision is final.

NB: You must be a UK resident to enter.





Blu-ray details:

The Go-Between

SD: Interviews with Joshua Losey (10 mins) / Michael Billington (8 mins) / Patricia Losey New (12 mins) / Gerry Fisher (21 mins) / John Heyman (7 mins)

Horlicks Advert directed by Joseph Losey / Audio recording of Joseph Losey interviewed by Dilys Powell in 1973 New (100 mins)

HD: Trailer / BD Live

Booklet:   Piece by Gavrik Losey, Reprint of essays by Nick James, Editor of Sight & Sound and Dylan Cave, contributor, from Sight & Sound June 2009.

The Ladykillers

SD: Introduction by Terry Gilliam / Commentary with Phillip Kemp / Forever Ealing: Documentary (49 mins) / Interview with Allan Scott (10 mins)/ Interview with Ronald Harwood (7 mins) / Interview with Terence Davies (14 mins)

HD: Cleaning Up The Ladykillers: featurette / trailer / BD-Live

Booklet: Analysis by David Parkinson, film critic and historian, contributor to Empire magazine, Radio Times, Oxford Times and Guardian online film page

Pierrot Le Fou

SD: Introduction by Colin McCabe, Godard expert / Godard, Love and Poetry: Documentary on Godard (53 mins) / Documentary film analysis by Jean-Bernard Pouy (106 mins) / Trailer / German TV Advertisement / Posters (5)

HD: BD Live

Booklet: Analysis of the movie by Roland-Francois Lack, Senior Lecturer in French and Film at University College London.

NB: The division between SD and BD refers to the source material for each specific extra and therefore how they appear on the Blu-ray.