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

BFI have brought the fascinating adventure TV-produced film Rogue Male to Blu-ray. It's on a dual-layered Blu-ray in 1080P with a high bitrate. It is in the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio and looks very pleasing with plenty of grain and the higher resolution brings out the colors and detail. It looks very strong without speckles or damage and has a film-like appearance cited in the enclosed booklet; "Rogue Male was scanned at 2K resolution from the original 16mm A+B negatives held by the BBC Archive". 

The film is presented in a 2.0 linear PCM track (24-bit). The film's effects benefit although their is more tension than aggressive action. The film features a score Christopher Gunning (Under Suspicion, Hands of the Ripper, La Vie En Rose) that helps accentuate the suspense. The audio quality is decent and dialogue is clear and audible. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles on this Region 'B' Blu-ray.

While the film runs you can listen to The Guardian Lecture: Frederic Raphael from 1982running about 1 1/4 hour - it was recorded at the NFT following a screening of Rogue Male. Included is 5-minutes with Raphael from 2014 as he remembers Rogue Male - it focuses on how the screenwriter came to th e project and working with Harold Pinter. Director Clive Donner discusses Rogue Male for 1/4 hour from 2008 in extracts from the director's recording for the British Entertainment History Project, played over a stills gallery. We get to see Eva Braun Home Movies - 7-minutes of footage from 1939 of Hitler and Braun entertaining guests on the terrace of the Berghof. Included is 9-minutes of a British Union of Fascists march filmed on October 3rd 1937 and a short newsreel of 200 Packs of Fox Hounds Begin Season's Sport on the opening of a Dorset hunt. The package comes with an illustrated booklet with writing by Paul Fairclough, Sarah Wood, Gustav Temple, Taylor Downing and First Blood author David Morrel, and full film credits.

This is quite an effective adventure that has some incredibly tense sequences. O'Toole is excellent and although it wanders a bit through the conclusion - it is still a riveting thriller. The BFI Blu-ray transfer is excellent and there are some relevant extras. We endorse this BD and strongly recommend to any who might be keen on this Hitler-assassination-attempt-man-on-the-run survival adventure.

Gary Tooze