Throwback Thursday: The Hours and Times
“Uncategorizable, unforgettable… Munch’s brave and moving film achieves his goal beautifully.”
– Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
“Exquisitely written and performed. Munch’s understated vignette announced the arrival of a young, but fully mature talent.”
– David Ansen, Newsweek
“A sharp, concise, evocative film about friendship.”
– Vincent Canby, The New York Times
“A spare, but highly polished examination… Not only is the acting strong, yet understated, but the script has the knack of creating both character and relationships through dialog. This enhances the film’s sense of eavesdropping on an intricate psychological reality, something that is especially difficult to achieve when the fictionalization of celebrities is involved.”
– Kenneth Turan, The Los Angeles Times
Released during the height of the New Queer Cinema movement, writer-director Christopher Munch’s boldly original debut film, The Hours and Times, is a fictional account of what might have happened in April 1963, when John Lennon and Beatles manager Brian Epstein traveled to Barcelona for an extended weekend getaway.
In the four days they spend together, the suave Epstein (played by David Angus) and the provocative Lennon (Ian Hart in his first starring role) reflect on their lives, both private and professional, as they explore the unique bond they share. Munch’s sparse and intimate narrative, captured with exquisite black-and-white cinematography, is a thoughtful meditation on friendship and sexuality, crafted around a brief moment in the lives of two extremely well-known pop figures.
Though long unavailable, The Hours and Times is finally coming to DVD and Blu-ray thanks to Oscilloscope Pictures. This new 4K DCP (Digital Cinema Package) of the film has been restored from the original 35mm negative elements.
During the restoration process at labs in Los Angeles, a fine grain master positive film element was made at Fotokem from the original picture negative. The master positive was then scanned in 4K at Roundabout Entertainment for digital restoration and color correction. The audio was laid down using files from an early 35mm magnetic printmaster. Digital protection LTO7 tape elements, along with the master positive preservation film element will be archived at UCLA in their state of the art facility for generations to come.
Watch the trailer for The Hours and Times below and click here to pre-order your copy on this brand-new, must-have collector’s item.
