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

ADDITION: BFI Blu-ray (August 2019): BFI have transferred Carol Reed's last film for Alexander Korda A Kid For Two Farthings to Blu-ray. The film is notable for its Technicolor. The transfer is on a dual-layered disc with a high bitrate but the colors do seem to vary in sequences of the film, sometimes appearing bleached and other times extremely rich and deep. This actually becomes more consistent as the film runs. There is some decent detail and minor depth. It looks quite pleasing in-motion with impressive textures. I suspect this is the best it has ever looked on digital. Some many question the 1.33:1 aspect ratio as the 'intended' ratio was 1.66:1.

On their Blu-ray, BFI use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. It is authentically flat with an upbeat score by Benjamin Frankel (notable for composing the music for the British version of Night and the City, plus some Noirish titles like Libel and The Man Who Watched Trains Go By, Mine Own Executioner, Footprints in the Fog as well as The Iron Petticoat and The Importance of Being Earnest) There are optional English subtitles (see sample below) on this Region- 'B' Blu-ray.  

Extras include some archival films starting with Sales Pitches: London Street Markets which constitutes four archive films of Petticoat Lane and London Bridge market running just over 14-minutes. London After the War shows the post-war period is evoked in three archive films celebrating the city and its people running over an hour. On The Ropes is 1/4 hour's worth of six archive films about wrestling and boxing. All in a Day's Work spends 16-minute with actress Vera Day as she recalls A Kid for Two Farthings and her 1950s film career in a new interview. There is also a 27-minute, audio-only, interview with Joe Robinson from 2006 where the actor recalls A Kid for Two Farthings recorded on stage at BFI Southbank. There is an extensive image gallery of black and white stills and for the first pressing purchasers get a fully illustrated booklet with new writing by Matthew Coniam and Dr Josephine Botting which also includes extensive notes on the included archive films by the BFI's Vic Pratt and Ben Stoddarr. There is also a second disc DVD included.

A Kid for Two Farthings has a bit of everything from childhood innocence and fantasy to survivors seeking slice-of-life dreams in a tight-knit community. There is quite a varied cast from Celia Johnson to Diana Dors, from Primo Carnera to Sidney James. It's Carol Reed and a beautifully made film - one that I am very happy to have seen on Blu-ray. Surely to revisit. Absolutely recommended!

Gary Tooze