The Committee [DVD] [1968]

This rarely screened experimental film, of interest to fans of British rock for an early score by Pink Floyd, a live performance by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and a starring role for Manfred Mann vocalist Paul Jones, has been released on DVD in a simple but well-executed edition. The Committee has been transferred to disc in the full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1; the print shows a few rough patches, but for the most part looks quite good, and the digital transfer makes the most of the movie's handsome high-contrast photography. The audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Stereo from the original single-channel mix, and the sound is good if not exceptional; the dialogue is in English, with no subtitles or multiple language options included. As a bonus, the disc includes lengthy interviews with producer and screenwriter Max Steuer and director Peter Sykes, who discuss the film's political and philosophical subtext for nearly as long as the feature itself runs. The only other bonus in this release is a newly recorded audio CD featuring Paul Jones performing a song called "The Committee," which was inspired by the movie but is not directly related to it, while the accompanying group, the Homemade Orchestra, performs two jazz fusion numbers.