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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (February 2022): Indicator have transferred Anthony Friedman's Bartleby to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative by Powerhouse Films". It looks authentic, not particularly dynamic; clean, consistent, no real depth, boldness in the few primary colors (lots of grays in the film) and it looks like a realistic representation of the film. Contrast is well-rendered.

NOTE: We have added 44 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM 1.0 channel representing the original mono track (24-bit) in the English language. Bartleby has no aggressive sounds - mostly dialogue, and visually, driven. It is, predictably, flat. There is a score by Roger Webb (Hammer House of Horrors, Au Pair Girls) that adds to the film experience in subtle ways. Friedman had considered classic pieces. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a new (2022) audio interview with writer-director Anthony Friedmann for 1/4 hour discussing his life, education (applying to a French Film School) and, eventually, the decisions (casting, music etc.) and the low interest in financially producing it. Bartleby’s London is a new, brief, exploration of Bartleby’s locations. It was shot at Twickenham Studios and on location around London. There is an original theatrical trailer plus image galleries of promotional and publicity material and a script gallery with the complete shooting script. Indicator add Beat the Bomber - a 1/4 hour video from 1975 as an anti-terrorism documentary short written and directed by Friedmann. I enjoyed 2017's Bartleby that runs over 10-minutes. It is a stop-motion animation version of the Melville story, directed by Kristen Kee and Laura Naylor. There is also time-lapse footage from the animated, 2017, Bartleby, a trailer and an image gallery. The package has a liner notes limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet featuring a new essay by Jeff Billington, archival interviews with star Paul Scofield and writer-director Anthony Friedmann, an overview of contemporary critical responses, new writing on Beat the Bomber and Bartleby (2017), and film credits.

Anthony Friedman's Bartleby is amusingly morose showing how we can be defeated by the pressures of even a modestly taxing modern existence. Bartleby 'checks-out' rejecting social activity while shrinking into his own, simple, internalized world in a catatonia. His guilt-ridden employer (Paul Scofield) takes a leading role in understanding the navigation on this lonely journey being both bewildered and repressing his frustration. It speaks to our own representation of realism and the consequences of ignoring it. It's an odd film, and curious story, but I am happy to have finally seen it. The Indicator Blu-ray has value and is recommended to adventurous cinephiles who may wish to examine this enigmatic 70's British film treasure.

Gary Tooze