Billy Liar – Blu-Ray/DVD 50th Anniversary Review

• 30th Apr 2013

It is  unbelievable that the British New Wave (‘Kitchen-sink dramas’) set of films is really this old. Billy Liar blasted onto our screens at a time of huge renaissance for the British film industry, depicting the lives and struggles or ordinary families in real settings. It was one of the first, and my god is it one of the best, consistently being rated highly in lists of greatest British movies and rightly so. Along with ‘Look Back in Anger’, this is one of my favourites from this genre and I am so pleased that such care has been taken over its restoration and re-release.

Based on the well-loved book by Keith Waterhouse, ‘Billy Liar’ charts the real and dream lives of its compulsively lying main protagonist William Fisher in a star turn by the young Tom Courtenay. Engaged to three different women, hating his job in the Undertakers and desperate to break out, he retreats into a world of fantasy from his overbearing family and often impossible situation. When offered a chance of escape at a particularly desperate time, will he take it? What follows is at turns deeply comic, deeply touching and full of hard hitting social commentary wrapped up in one of the best screen adaptations for many years.

This film is notable for its beautifully shot post-war Bradford location, its wonderfully realised and often darkly comic fantasy scenes, and stand out performances from the cast, particularly Tom Courtenay, Helen Fraser and a young Julie Christie. The restoration is beautiful and the sound quality superb. Viewers who would like to catch it on the big screen can visit the British Library (holders of the extensive Keith Waterhouse bequest) on 26th April for a special screening of this restoration. A rare treat. If you can’t get tickets I would heartily recommend the Blu-ray or DVD release on May 6th.

The extras are something special. The reflections from Tom Courtenay and Helen Fraser are sublime and the interviews with fan Richard Ayoade and musician Bob Stanley (putting the films in context with their early 80’s revival) are well worth watching. Of particular interest to me was the wonderful curator led tour of the Keith Waterhouse archive in the British Library, with particular reference to Billy Liar. A real treat if you are a Waterhouse fan. The stills gallery from behind the scenes is very illuminating concerning film shoots of the era and the trailer was fascinating, mostly because they marketed it as far more of a comedy than I would ever see it!  Judge for yourself, but definitely don’t miss it.

Claire Hyypiä