A Kind of Loving [DVD] [1962]

Adapted from a famous Stan Barstow novel the story evolves around Vic Brown's relationship with Ingrid Rothwell, a typist who works at the same place. When Ingrid falls pregnant, Vic is obliged to marry her and his life is turned upside down when he comes up against the mother-in-law from Hell wonderfully portrayed by Thora Hird. This is a fine example of British movie making and is worth seeing for the performances by Alan Bates; June Ritchie and of course, Thora Hird. Controversial at the time since it shows a partially nude June Ritchie which was taboo at the time, it looks dated now. But one cannot deny it was a fine achievement for its time. Good picture and sound make the DVD version a good buy. Shame there are no other features available; a trailer would have been nice.

This repackaged version of John Schlesinger's seminal masterpiece A Kind of Loving, is still sadly not the definitive restoration so sorely needed for this the very finest of British films. The print appears to be the same as that previously released by Momentum, and comes as a very grainy version with much of the original detail lost. As a result, Schlesinger's masterful attention to detail and the exquisite beauty of Denys N. Coop's black & white photography is still compromised in this edition. Additionally, this may also be a slightly shorter version than the previous release. Let's hope the likes of US restorer Criterion might get hold of it, and do what they did for their Region 1 Billy Liar double disc restoration, which is one of the best DVD restoration and extras packages on the market.

That said, very little can spike the director's genius and the utterly perfect script from legends Keith Waterhouse & Willis Hall. Of all the northern film dramas of the period, A Kind of Loving is the one that tells it how it really was. The awkward and touching innocence of Alan Bates' Vic and June Ritchie's Brenda, was socially par for the course in pre Beatles Britain - which was still in a kind of frozen post war shock.

This is a film that was rightfully shot in black & white, and in that monochrome spirit, Schlesinger so skilfully reminds us that cold rainy streets and packed buses with steamed up windows can still be the stuff of romance. Vic's tender joy at having hooked Brenda into a date on Saturday night is truly palpable, and identifies in all of us that special romantic rush that blots out all our worldly worries.

A Kind of Loving is a seminal British classic that deserves the full uncut restoration treatment with supporting documentaries and commentaries. Studio Canal please take note for the forthcoming Blu-Ray version which I'm sure will soon be on the cards.

Believe me, this might as well be an early 60s documentary. Just the way it was for plenty of Vic's and Ingrid's, including staying with the mother in law. Incidently, Thora Hird wasn't the worst. A sort of semi-staid Britain just before the Beatles exploded on the scene. Great acting all round. From the script to the decor, clothing and shortage of cars on the road, it's just the way it was. No features or trailer, who cares. If you want to time travel back to early 60s UK and be a fly on the wall in almost any home.