- Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
- Video Codec: AVC/MPEG-4
- Resolution: 1080p/24
- Audio Codec: English LPCM 2.0 (48kHz/24-bit) Mono
- Subtitles: English SDH
- Region: B (Region-Locked)
- Classification: 15
- Discs: 2 (Blu-ray + DVD)
- Studio: BFI
- Blu-ray Release Date: September 13, 2010
- RRP: £19.99
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Overall
[Rating:3/5]
The Film
[Rating:3/5]
Video Quality
[Rating:3/5]
Audio Quality
[Rating:3/5]
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:4/5]
Click thumbnails for high-resolution 1920X1080p screen captures
(Screen captures are lightly compressed with lossy JPEG thus are meant as a general representation of the content and do not fully reveal the capabilities of the Blu-ray format)
The Film
[Rating:3/5]
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush is British filmmaker Clive Donner’s 1968 interpretation of the Hunter Davies novel of the same name. Back in the late-sixties, the film’s take on teenage sexual permissiveness was controversial enough to spur the BBFC to require it to be censored, but by today’s standards it all seems like oh-so-tame, typical “swinging sixties” fare.
Stevenage is the setting as teenager Jamie McGregor (Barry Evans) is a knickers-obsessed young lad bent on losing his virginity. The film follows his exploits as he chases “birds” desperately trying to have sex. That’s the basic gist of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. It falls into line with most of the other films of this genre. There’s partying, there’s boozing, there’s sexual innuendo — so much so that several scenes had to be removed at the “request” of the BBFC. Thankfully, the film has been restored to its original form here by the BFI, including — gasp! — a reference to a condom!
Today, in 2010, what probably makes this sleek, colorful, and quick paced coming of age film most notable is the soundtrack by Spencer Davis Group and Traffic, featuring the soulfully plaintive vocals of Steve Winwood.
Video Quality
[Rating:3/5]
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush was transferred in high definition from a 35mm low-contrast print representing the uncensored version and a 35mm combined print representing the censored version. The complete censored cut is presented on Blu-ray using seamless branching and incorporates footage from both of the prints.
The picture was restored using HD-DVNR and MTI restoration systems, removing dirt, scratches and warps, repairing damaged frames and improving stability issues.
The film appears on Blu-ray in a 1.78:1(1.85:1 open matte) aspect ratio. Obviously, since the transfer is taken from a print and not a negative or even an interpositive, it doesn’t quite look as sharp and detailed as can be. There’s a soft, murky quality with often-odd colorations and flesh tones. The censored version shows the most variations in picture quality, being sourced from two different materials. Still, the transfer itself does not show any compression of post-processing issues, but Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush just does not look great, despite an obviously strong effort from the BFI to bring this one to Blu-ray.
Audio Quality
[Rating:3/5]
The original monaural soundtrack is provided in a LPCM 2.0 (48kHz/24-bit) program. The sound is a little veiled and sibilant distortion is somewhat distracting throughout, but it still provides a reasonably intelligible track with good dynamics and depth.
Supplemental Materials
[Rating:4/5]
With both censored and uncensored versions included as well as an essay from the novel’s author included in the booklet, the strong set of supplements provided by the BFI offer an overwhelming value for cinephiles.
The supplements provided with this release are:
- Alternative Censored Version (Blu-ray Only)
- Because That Road is Trodden (Tim King, 1969; 23 mins.; 1.33:1; 1080p/24) — Dreamlike confessional concerning the fantasies of a public schoolboy.
- Stevenage (Gordan Ruttan, 1971; 21 mins.; 1.33:1; 1080p/24) — Documentary celebration of Britain’s first New Town.
- Booklet: Fully illustrated booklet with contributions from Hunter Davies, Steve Chibnall, Vic Pratt, and William Fowler.
- DVD
- Alternative Censored Sequences (DVD only)
The Definitive Word
Overall:
[Rating:3/5]
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush is a fun film and one of the defining coming of age stories of its generation. It may not be as shocking today as it was in days past, but it’s still well worth watching. The BFI’s new transfer may not yield the greatest hi-def results, but having this film back together finally in its full, uncensored version makes it a definitive package too tempting to pass up.
Additional Screen Captures:
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