Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (DVD + Blu Ray)[1967]

Although it has been shown on TV a few times over the years this release through the BFI is the first time Mulberry Bush has been readily available in any format since its original cinema release back in January 1968. And if only all DVD releases were this good!

Whatever the merits of the film itself this new release is almost perfect in its presentation. You get a DVD version as well as a high definition fully restored Blu-ray disc, with both discs containing plenty of bonus material. Also included is a superb 34 page booklet with an abundance of information, film facts and illustrations. This edition is obviously produced by a team who love film for an audience who will enjoy it as much.

The film is what it is - a reflection of life in the late sixties in many respects; picture Christopher Timothy in the basket of a delivery boy's bicycle - in Stevenage - and you are half way there! This release features the full unedited version of the film - unlike the TV showings - with Judy Gleeson's nude lake scene featured complete. Although the soundtrack is credited to Spencer Davis and Traffic the music accompanying that scene is actually "It's Been a Long Time" by former John's Children singer Andy Ellison.

It is worth reading the Wikipedia articles on the film itself and that of lead actor Barry Evans to set the scene if you are considering buying this film, and also read Amazon's Product Description, but the booklet supplied with the discs contains much more information.

This is the first disc in the BFIs Flipside series which "rescues weird and wonderful British films from obscurity" that I have bought. From the quality of this release I shall be checking out the rest of the range before long. Mulberry Bush is a cult classic which I enjoyed very much - not everyone's cup of tea though! However, I must give this BFI version a full five stars as it is a good example of how films should be presented for the home market.

I've been after this little gem of a movie for years. Nearly every time I visit Amazon.co.uk I've typed in the title in the search facility only to be told it was unavailable - until now!

I first saw this classic after videoing it late one night in the early nineties; it was the kind of film they ran about 3am and then I misplaced my VHS tape. At the time of me recording it, one reviewer described it as being locked into a sixties time warp. Well! GREAT! If there was an era I could go back to and live it would be 1967/1968 when this film was shot.

It is very pyschedelic. We have regular interludes of musical and pictorial pyschedelia with the aid of bands like Steve Winwood's Traffic and The Spencer Davis Group. The official soundtrack has been available for years and the title track was released into the UK top ten at the time.

Young Jamie McGregor (played by the now sadly deceased Barry Evans), a seventeen year old middle class grammar school youth, chases pretty girls around the new town of Stevenage as it seems that his sixteen year old brother is outdoing him in the romantic stakes. He is cheerful and cheeky and talks a lot to the camera about his class-consciousness and insecurities. Not everything goes to plan, but he rarely lets it get him down. He chases after the posh bird, Caroline (Angela Scoular) and the council estate girl, Linda (Adrienne Posta), but the one he really wants is the elusive Mary (Judy Geeson).

It is stated that this will be available in Blu-Ray and HD when it comes out and it should be a fantastic product. In the meantime you can view the film in ten minute instalments on YouTube.

After having read the book at least 25 years ago, and having had the soundtrack for at least 15 years, it's good to see this film at last on DVD. Some films take a damn long time to get a release on DVD, but it seems that if one is patient, one is rewarded. And this DVD is the uncensored, uncut, version of it, one gets the pleasure of seeing Judy Geeson skinny-dipping.
The film show its age, that's what's good about it! Great music, psychedelic images , fashions, of the time.
The DVD is well presented, with Blu-ray disc included, and a very good booklet to go with it.
Some interesting short films come along with the package, Stevenage etc.
Unusual that they made this film in a New Town rather than London.