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October 21st, 2024 24 comments

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Information Post – The Box of Delights Blu-ray Patrick Troughton

Information post for those who might be interested

Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of one of the BBC’s most beloved broadcasts, ‘The Box of Delights’ is remastered, including brand-new special features.

Considered to be one of the great works of modern fiction ‘The Box of Delights’ is brought to life in this magical, fantastical and delightful production starring Patrick Troughton, Devin Stanfield and Robert Stephens.

When Kay Harker meets a mysterious Punch and Judy man (Patrick Troughton) on his way home for Christmas, he little realizes that he is about to be plunged into adventure. The old man entrusts Kay with a strange puzzle box – the Box of Delights – before suddenly disappearing. Kay soon discovers two things: the box can transport him through time and space, and there is a plot to steal it. He must battle heroically against terrifying forces of evil in order to win the day…

Special Features

  • Time And Tide – Making The Box of Delights (NEW)
  • Trails & Continuity (NEW)
  • 2004 Kay Harker & Director Interview
  • Blue Peter, Take Two & Pebble Mill Clips


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24 comments

  • Craig F

    November 25th, 2024 - 6:32pm

    Had an update from Amazon now expected by 29 November it says, also with a foot note saying –
    We’re sorry for the delay. If you have not received your package by 29 November, you can come back here the next day for a refund.

    Not sure if there is an issue with this, has anyone else had problems or actually received their order yet?

    Reply
    • Pete X

      November 25th, 2024 - 8:37pm

      Received my copy today; not via Amazon though.

      Have watched the making of – it’s very good. Not going to start watching the serial until December – it’s tradition.

  • Rory

    October 28th, 2024 - 4:37pm

    While checking my Amazon orders I just saw that they’ve announced a Blu-ray release of Nigel Kneale’s The Stone Tape. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

    Reply
    • Rex F

      October 28th, 2024 - 9:44pm

      I would advise caution around that one, as it’s not clear yet if they (101 Films) got the best master from the BBC or used their old DVD one to save money/because they didn’t know it had some avoidable issues.

  • Ian Garrard

    October 23rd, 2024 - 9:32am

    I watch this show usually every year in December, along with the equally brilliant The Children of Green Knowe, another great BBC Children’s show with a Christmas theme. I had off air copies of both, then the dvds and now ordered this BR – my only quibble is the cover artwork doesn’t quite capture the magic of the show (for me) – why use a circle graphic design when the whole show is about a box?

    Reply
    • Christian Newton

      October 23rd, 2024 - 6:46pm

      I totally agree, the artwork is very disappointing. Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy to see this brilliant aeries released on Blu-Ray, but was hoping for artwork similar to the beautiful vinyl/cd artwork that Clayton Hickman designed a few years back. Maybe a case that resembled the box of delights itself, with a slipcover with collage artwork similar to the Blake’s 7/ Doctor Who collection range.

    • Rex F

      October 23rd, 2024 - 9:35pm

      Artwork and design must be taking a hit due to budget cuts/higher costs, but so much of it looks quite samey now as a result. I like what Radiance were doing for their films on Blu-ray, they stood out when they started a couple of years back. Wouldn’t really work for separate TV titles though.

  • Bill Silver

    October 22nd, 2024 - 10:16am

    I remember this as possibly the most Christmasy Christmas fantasy the BBC ever screened.

    Reply
  • Alzie Who 66

    October 21st, 2024 - 10:41pm

    Like many others I’m sure, I have watched this in the run up to so many Christmas times in the past. I first watched it on original broadcast mainly because of Patrick Troughton appearing in it – now I consider that a bonus. And yep, I have the DVD, but I’ll be asking my ‘Secret Santa’ to get this for me.

    Reply
    • Your Secret Santa

      October 22nd, 2024 - 12:50am

      Nope. You’ll be getting something from the pound shop.

  • MIKK89

    September 27th, 2024 - 4:03pm

    Im definitely interested as i have never seen this, yet i have heard incredible things about it. If this is a success (along with the Collection sets for Blake’s 7 and Doctor Who to which i hope it is) another BBC Adapted show that needs a HD Upgrade to a Collection style release is their 1988-1990 Adaptations of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, I never saw the Box of Delights and I wasn’t Born until the May after their version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe went out in 1988, but like many Who speak of BOD as their Christmas Tradition every year, Narnia became my family’s (and still holds up well when compared to the hollow Disney adaptation)

    Reply
    • Nick

      October 21st, 2024 - 4:00pm

      It’s a product of its time, effects are going to be dated. But if you like classic BBC children’s series from back in the day, it is a lovely programme. I have very good memories of it.

    • Nick

      October 21st, 2024 - 4:01pm

      Perfect for Christmas!

    • Rob W

      October 21st, 2024 - 4:52pm

      you will love it, a fantastic story, great cast

  • demdike@Cult Labs

    September 26th, 2024 - 2:34pm

    Superb. I always watch it in the run up to Christmas. One episode a week six weeks before Christmas.

    Reply
    • Darkbill

      September 26th, 2024 - 5:26pm

      Yep, me too

  • ChrisP

    September 26th, 2024 - 9:57am

    We watch this every xmas.

    Is it getting a Who-ray style audio and picture clean up? I hope so, given that the music exists.

    Reply
    • Gordon

      September 26th, 2024 - 2:52pm

      Not sure if it’s the same team that are restoring it as the doctor who/blake’s 7 releases. Don’t expect miracles with it. There is only about a minute of film for this exists. An animated sequence. The rest is on 1 inch video tape. It will have better compression and sound over the dvd though. Chris chapman is doing a 90 plus minute making of documentary featuring 25 newly shot interviews and goes back to some of the locations. That will be in hd. Considering how good his previous 3 feature length documentaries for the doctor who range (the jnt showman documentary on s26, our Sarah Jane on season 14 and darkness and light: the life of Graeme Williams on season 15) we should be in for a treat with it.

  • Agatha

    September 25th, 2024 - 11:35pm

    An excellent choice for Patrick. Another revamp of ‘The Feathered Serpent’ wouldn’t go amiss either.

    Reply
    • Gordon

      September 26th, 2024 - 2:54pm

      That would be up to itv. Plus network who handled the dvd release is sadly gone.

    • Pipkin

      September 26th, 2024 - 4:22pm

      I wish children of the stones and sky would get the bluray treatment. Though some of those episodes of sky were off air recorded and quite poor quality.
      Got a lot of the 70s tv ‘network’ dvds.

    • Pipkin

      September 26th, 2024 - 4:25pm

      Im ashamed to say The box of delights and the Narnia series passed me by in the 1980s even though i,d heard good things, so i will probably give this a try.

    • demdike@Cult Labs

      September 26th, 2024 - 6:40pm

      I saw The Feathered Serpent for the first time a few years ago via the Network dvd and absolutely loved it.

      Incredibly violent for what was a kids show. They’d never get away with it today.

  • Mrs Croot

    September 25th, 2024 - 9:27pm

    Good excuse to watch it again! 🙂

    Reply

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