Schalcken the Painter (Dual Format Edition)

World premiere of this highly sought-after ghost story from the BBC, released in the BFI’s acclaimed Flipside series. Based on a short story by Sheridan Le Fanu, Schalcken the Painter was originally shown in the Omnibus strand on BBC2 during Christmas 1979. The story follows the young seventeenth-century Flemish painter Godfried Schalcken, who forsakes love for ambition, but discovers that there is still a terrible price to pay for his choice. One of the most frequently requested programmes in the BBC archive, Schalcken the Painter is an exquisitely shot, atmospheric horror film which explores the uneasy, dark relationship between art, commerce and erotic desire. The superb cast includes Jeremy Clyde, Maurice Denham and Cheryl Kennedy. Newly transferred to High Definition from film materials preserved in the BFI National Archive, the release also includes the rare, experimental Edgar Allan Poe adaptation, The Pit (1962), assistant directed by Peter Collinson. Contents World premiere release on DVD and Blu-ray Part of the BFI’s celebrated Flipside series Interview with Director Leslie Megahey The Pit (1962, Edward Abraham, 25 mins): experimental film based on the classic Poe tale The Pit and the Pendulum Fully illustrated booklet with original essays Cast and Crew: Directed by Leslie Megahey. Starring Jeremy Clyde, Maurice Denham, Cheryl Kennedy, John Justin, Charles Gray, Anthony Sharp.