Strongroom (Region B)

Strongroom (Blu-ray)
Director: Vernon Sewell

Taut as a drum, Vernon Sewell’s suspense thriller is an outstanding example of the lean British ‘B’ film. A carefully planned heist on a suburban bank goes awry when the gang of three small-time criminals are interrupted by the unexpected arrival of two nattering cleaners.

The gang lock the bank manager and his secretary in the airtight vault and make off with the cash. However, they soon realise that the pair will suffocate, and the gang will face a murder rap if they can’t free them. With only 12 hours’ worth of air in the vault, the clock is ticking. The film counts Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese and Edgar Wright amongst its fans and is presented here in High Definition for the first time anywhere.

Extras

• Newly remastered in 2K and presented in High Definition
• Newly recorded audio commentaries on Strongroom and The Man in the Back Seat by film historians Dr Josephine Botting and Vic Pratt
• The Man in the Back Seat (Vernon Sewell, 1961, 55 mins): made the year before, this taut thriller includes many of the same cast and crew
• John Trumper BEHP interview (1992, 160 mins, audio): the Strongroom editor discusses his career
• Footpads (1896, 1 min): one of the earliest British crime films
• A Test For Love (Vernon Sewell, 1927, 25mins): a public information film on the perils of STDs
• Awakening Hour (Donovan Winter, 1957, 10 mins): a robbery goes wrong as morning breaks in London
• After Dark (Mike Dodds, 1979, 14 mins): a road safety film edited by John Trumper
• **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Illustrated booklet with new essays by James Bell, Barry Forshaw and Tony Dykes