Directed By… David Lean Volume Two Blu-ray Set Announced
Imprint Films will continue its series dedicated to director David Lean with Directed By… David Lean – Volume Two (1949–1955), a six-disc Limited Edition Blu-ray collection scheduled for release on January 7, 2026. The Region B set is limited to 1,500 units and features five postwar films presented in 1080p HD, along with the second installment of the documentary Before The Epic: David Lean’s Little Gems. All titles include English HOH subtitles.
The Passionate Friends (1949)
Starring Ann Todd, Claude Rains, and Trevor Howard, this romantic drama tells the story of a woman whose brief reunion with a former lover threatens her marriage until her husband uncovers the truth. Based on the novel by H.G. Wells, the film explores love, loyalty, and independence in postwar Britain.
Disc Specs & Special Features
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray
- New audio commentary by Alain Silver and Jim Ursini
- The Passionate Friends: An Appreciation with Melanie Williams
- Interview with first assistant editor Jim Pople
- Stills gallery
- Theatrical trailer
- Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
- Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
- Subtitles: English HOH
Madeleine (1950)
Ann Todd stars as Madeleine Smith, a young woman accused of poisoning her lover in Victorian Scotland. Inspired by the 1857 trial, the film presents Lean’s restrained approach to true crime and appears here for the first time on Blu-ray worldwide.
Disc Specs & Special Features
- 1080p presentation from restored HD transfer
- New audio commentary by Alain Silver and Jim Ursini
- Madeleine: An Appreciation with Melanie Williams
- New interviews with Douglas Barr, Michael Medwin, and Jim Pople
- Stills gallery
- Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Subtitles: English HOH
The Sound Barrier (1952)
Featuring Ralph Richardson, Ann Todd, John Justin, and Nigel Patrick, this aviation drama follows a pioneering aircraft designer determined to break the sound barrier. His ambition drives his pilots to the edge and strains his family relationships in one of Lean’s most technically ambitious early works.
Disc Specs & Special Features
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray
- New audio commentary by Alain Silver and Jim Ursini
- The Sound Barrier: An Appreciation with Melanie Williams
- Interview with scenic artist Peter Mullins
- 1959 BFI interview with David Lean
- Interview with journalist Geoffrey Wansell
- Stills gallery
- Theatrical trailer
- Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
- Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
- Subtitles: English HOH
Hobson’s Choice (1954)
Charles Laughton stars as Henry Hobson, a domineering bootmaker whose eldest daughter Maggie, played by Brenda de Banzie, refuses to give up her independence and instead marries one of his employees. Adapted from Harold Brighouse’s play, the film blends comedy and social commentary with Lean’s precise direction.
Disc Specs & Special Features
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray
- Hobson’s Choice: An Appreciation with Melanie Williams
- Interviews with Prunella Scales and Norman Spencer
- Stills gallery
- Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
- Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
- Subtitles: English HOH
Summertime (1955)
Katharine Hepburn stars as Jane Hudson, an American tourist who travels to Venice and falls for a married local man, played by Rossano Brazzi. Shot entirely on location, the film captures Lean’s transition toward the broader emotional and visual scale that defined his later career.
Disc Specs & Special Features
- 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray
- New audio commentary by Alain Silver and Jim Ursini
- Audio commentary by Mark Nicholls
- Summertime: An Appreciation with Melanie Williams
- Theatrical trailer
- Audio: English LPCM 2.0 Mono
- Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
- Subtitles: English HOH
Bonus Disc
The sixth disc features Before The Epic: David Lean’s Little Gems – Part Two (2025), a new documentary by Simon Lewis, along with several archival programs charting Lean’s career:
- David Lean: A Self Portrait (1971)
- The South Bank Show: David Lean – A Life in Film (1985)
- The South Bank Show: David Lean and Robert Bolt (1990)
Booklet
A 70-page hardcover booklet includes four chapter excerpts from The Films of David Lean by Alain Silver and James Ursini.
Pre-order link
The January lineup from Imprint also includes the Directed By… James Whale (1932–1940) box set, along with new 4K UHD releases of The Beastmaster and The Sword and the Sorcerer.