Distributed by
VCI

Cat.no: VCD 0009

Cert: 15

Running time: 86 minutes

Year: 1996

Pressing: 1999

Region(s): 2, PAL

Chapters: 17 plus extras

Sound: Dolby Surround (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Languages: English

Subtitles: None

Widescreen: 1.85:1

16:9-enhanced: Yes

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: DVD 5

Price: £19.99

Extras : Scene index, Theatrical trailer, Biographies, Filmographies

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Director:

Hettie Macdonald

Producers:

Tony Garnett and Bill Shapter

Screenplay:

Jonathan Harvey

Cast:

Jamie Gangel: Glen Berry
Ste Pearce: Scott Neal (TV: "The Bill")
Sandra Gangel: Linda Henry
Leah Russell: Tameka Empson
Tony: Ben Daniels
Marlene: Anna Karen (Holiday On The Buses, Mutiny On The Buses, On The Buses, TV: "Eastenders", "On The Buses")
Miss Chauhan: Meera Syal (TV: "Goodness Gracious Me")
Gina: Julie Smith (TV: "Dream Team")

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When things get too much for Ste, he seeks refuge in Sandra's flat where he ends up sleeping "top 'n' tail" with Jamie and it's from there that a new relationship develops, part of it finding a new use for Peppermint Foot lotion to aid a soothful night's sleep, unless their dreams are interrupted by their carefree teenage next-door neighbour Leah, whose Mama Cass records find their own volume level.

This disc has one of the best pictures available bringing out the locations and the fleshtones in crisp, clear detail as well as the flamboyant colour schemes - just take a look at Jamie's house which has a different major colour for each room, a bit like the Simpsons house. The average bitrate is a good 6.18Mb/s, peaking at 10Mb/s. The film is presented in anamorphic format, which provides extra resolution to benefit widescreen televisions.

However, while the film is in its original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1, the box is confusing as it says "Extra features - 4:3", but no fullscreen version is available - not that I'm missing it.

The Dolby Digital 2.0 (Stereo) soundmix is fine but your surround setup won't get much of a workout. That said, the music from the Mamas and the Papas tracks in addition to the dialogue all comes across very clear indeed and there's a subtle use of the song "You are 16, going on 17"...

Extras :

Chapters/Trailer :

Languages/Subtitles :

There's just the one language on this disc - English - and again there are no subtitles for no good reason at all.

Other extras :

Menu :

The menu has a small amount of animation, in very subtle fashion, the main menu playing the Mamas and the Papas' "It's Getting Better", which serves as the film's opening theme tune.

As always, on playing the disc you can't skip past the VCI logo and copyright info.

Beautiful Thing is one of the film world's great rarities - a gay drama, not usually high on the list of most film company's schedules, which doesn't patronise the viewer, nor does it sensationalise the topic like Channel 4's Queer As Folk in which everyone has money to burn and morals to ignore.

At some times it behaves like a take-off of the Bronski Beat music video, "Smalltown Boy", but this heart-warming drama will appeal to anyone who will give a chance to something a bit different. There are some great one-liners, but none of which can be featured here since the language is a bit on the fruity side.

Overall, Hettie Macdonald's directorial debut is a captivating piece of film-making with a superb cast - most of whom I've never seen before - and I, for one, am really looking forward to her next film. Anyone who can make a council estate look like a glamourous place to live deserves to be commended.

And yes, the Scott Neal in the cast is the same Scott Neal who plays young PC Luke Ashton in ITV's The Bill.

FILM	 		: *****
PICTURE QUALITY		: *****
SOUND QUALITY		: ****
EXTRAS			: **
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OVERALL			: ****

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.