Alan Clarke at the BBC, Volume 1: Dissent (6-DVD Box Set) DVD – Janine Duvitski , David Threlfall

Collection of BBC dramas from film-maker Alan Clarke. The collection includes ‘George’s Room’ (1967), ‘The Last Train Through Harecastle Tunnel’ (1969), ‘Sovereign’s Company’ (1970), ‘The Hallelujah Handshake’ (1970), ‘To Encourage the Others’ (1972), ‘Under the Age’ (1972), ‘Horace’ (1972), ‘The Love Girl and the Innocent’ (1973), ‘Penda’s Fen’ (1974), ‘A Follower for Emily’ (1974), ‘Diane’ (1975), ‘Funny Farm’ (1975) and ‘Scum’ (1977).

Although probably best remembered for the controversial and groundbreaking dramas Scum, Made in Britain and The Firm, the breadth of Alan Clarke’s radical, political, innovative, inspirational work, along with his influence on generations of filmmakers, such as Gus Van Sant, Paul Greengrass, Andrea Arnold, Harmony Korine, Clio Barnard, Shane Meadows, should see him rightly regarded as one of Britain’s greatest ever filmmaking talents. This long-overdue box set brings together all of the surviving stand-alone BBC TV dramas that Alan Clarke directed between 1969- 1977, including such neglected classics as Horace, Penda’s Fen, Diane and Funny Farm, as well as the infamous Scum, which was banned for 14 years. Extensive extras include David Leland introductions, extracts from BBC discussion show Tonight, newly-produced documentaries and audio commentaries and the BBC Arena documentary When is a Play Not a Play?