NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (May 2022): Indicator have transferred Franklin Gollings' Connecting Rooms to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "4K restoration". This was released on Blu-ray in the US by Kino in April 2020 HERE. I don't have it to compare. The Indicator is on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. There is some teal-leaning (eyes and shirts etc.) and the image is relatively thick. Colors occasionally carry richness and there is sporadic depth. It looks, to me, in accordance with the production roots - modest, clean and acceptably consistent without egregious flaws. 

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. Connecting Rooms is a very passive film, mostly set in flats with a score by John and Joan Shakespeare with Please Pierre sung by Lois Lane with The Ladybirds, What Happens to Her sung by Eyes of Blue (as The Eyes of Blue) and These Foolish Things played by Cello soloist Amaryllis Fleming. Audio is authentically flat with minor buoyancy. Indicator offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a wonderful, funny, open, 1/2 hour interview with the iconic Bette Davis, recorded at London’s National Film Theatre as part of the The John Player Lecture series. She is her usual honest, amusing and highly interesting self. She frequently cites what other actors have said to her, showed no interest in directing but possibly producing and has anecdotes galore. She enjoys the interview - laughing and self deprecating - a pure joy to listen to. I only wish it was longer. Included is Spotlight at the Fair is an 18-minute, 1951, documentary short directed by Franklin Gollings, taking a look at traveling fairs and the amusement park at Blackpool. We also get The Way to Wimbledon a 1952 documentary short directed by Gollings and narrated by John Mills, focusing on the fifty weeks in a year when Wimbledon isn’t hosting the world-famous tennis championships. Lastly are an image gallery of promotional and publicity material, a trailer, 'Bette Davis Eulogy' and the package has a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by lovely Laura Mayne, an archival production report on the making of the film, an archival interview with director Franklin Gollings, an overview of contemporary critical responses, new writing on the short films, and film credits. 

Franklin Gollings' Connecting Rooms is character-driven drama that focuses on residents of a boarding house in London which is run by busybody Mrs. Brent (Kay Walsh) and has as tenants Wanda Fleming (Bette Davis) as a street performer cellist, a new lodger, James Wallraven (Michael Redgrave) who we find out is idealistic and has disreputable skeletons in his closet, as well as shallow, budding pop songwriter Mickey Hollister (Alexis Kanner) who is unscrupulously trying to get a foothold in the industry. Their interactions produce disappointment, secrecy, love and emotional protection. It has a disparate, subtle intimacy blossoming to romance between Davis and Redgrave - both in the latter stages of their careers. Their performance contributions to Connecting Rooms is the essential part of the film. Indicator's Blu-ray has the wonderful Davis interview, a eulogy, the two shorts and a booklet. Bette Davis fans will certainly consider owning this one.

Gary Tooze