Black Jack DVD, 1979

£13.99

RRP: £15.99
You save £2 (12%)

Availability
In Stock - should be despatched within 24 hours. Despatched from the UK. Delivery timesUsually 2-3 days to reach UK addresses. Europe takes around 2 days longer and International destinations take 1-2 weeks

Delivery
Free to UK customers!
Costs to other countriesWestern Europe: £2.00
Rest of the world: £3.00

Returns Policy
If you are unhappy with your purchase, you can return it to us within 14 days. More details

MovieMail's Review

An uncharacteristic entry in Loach's canon, this 18th century children's adventure is characterised by sumptuous photography, enchanting performances and Loach’s gentle, observational style, familiar from his earlier feature Kes. James Oliver takes a look

Ken Loach is one of the more dependable figures in world cinema, seldom straying from the politically engaged social realism with which he is synonymous. The period drama Black Jack is therefore something of an oddity in his career. Typical neither of its director nor its genre, it is an uncharacteristic film, but it’s a thoroughly worthwhile one nonetheless.

Black Jack himself is a rascally French sailor (Jean Franval), who first cheats death, then press-gangs Tolly, a young apprentice, into helping him escape; the two are soon embroiled in a series of picaresque adventures. Along the way, they meet Belle, a young girl escaped from the asylum. When she is reclaimed by the doctors, her friends decide upon rescue.

What’s interesting is how much Loach stamps his mark on proceedings. There are characteristically naturalistic performances and a greater emphasis on social class than you get with, say, Merchant-Ivory. Best of all though is Chris Menges’ sumptuous photography, which is absolutely comparable to Barry Lyndon.

James Oliver on 27th May 2010
View all 116 of James Oliver's reviews

Film Information

Director - Ken Loach

Produced - 1979

Main Language - English

Countries & Regions - British Film

Cast - Stephen Hirst, Jean Franval

DVD Details

Certificate:	U	Publisher:	BFI	Region:	2
Length:	98 mins	Aspect:	1.66:1	Cat No:	BFIVD844
Format:	DVD Colour

DVD Extras

Feature commentary by director Ken Loach
English and French language versions of the feature
Illustrated booklet featuring essays by Sophie Mayer, extracts from Terry Deary’s Horrible Histories series and more
Original trailer
Deleted scenes
Dolby Digital mono audio (320 kpbs).

Film Description

When honest young Tolly is forced on the run with ‘Black Jack’, a villainous ruffian, adventure and mishap are never far away. As the two enter a world of body-snatchers, private lunatic asylums and travelling fairs they find friendship in the most unlikely places.

Based on Leon Garfield’s popular novel, Ken Loach’s Black Jack is a children’s adventure film set in the 18th Century. With Chris Menges’ beautiful photography, enchanting performances by its charismatic young cast and Loach’s gentle, observational style – seen in his earlier feature Kes (1969) – Black Jack received the Critics’ award at the 1979 Cannes Film Festival.