Peter Ustinov's Vice Versa coming to Blu-ray

Thursday 4th August 2022, 12:44pm

Vice Versa is coming to Blu-ray.

The 1948 comedy feature was written and directed by acclaimed actor and film-maker Peter Ustinov when he was aged just 26, adapted from Thomas Anstey Guthrie 1882 novel of the same name.

Telling the story of a father and son who find themselves in each others' bodies after unwittingly complaining about their respective dissatisfaction with life in the presence of a mysterious, supernatural stone of Indian origin, it stars Roger Livesey as Paul, and Anthony Newley as his son, Dick.

Also adapted four times for British television - including as early as 1937 - as well as a 1988 Hollywood movie by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, this version of the story co-stars David Hutcheson, James Robertson Justice and Petula Clark.

Released on DVD in 2005, Network Distributing has now remastered the film in high definition for new Blu-ray and DVD releases. Each format will also include a booklet about the film, photo gallery, an early 1960 episode of variety show Saturday Spectacular starring Newley, and the first episode of his revolutionary sitcom, The Strange World Of Gurney Slade.

Released on 5th September 2022, it is now available to pre-order.

Vice Versa

Roger Livesey and a very young Anthony Newley star as a Victorian father and son who accidentally swap bodies after a foolishly casual wish made in the presence of a magical Indian artefact. Written and directed by filmmaker, wit and raconteur Peter Ustinov, based on a Victorian novel, Vice Versa is featured here as a brand new high definition remaster from original film elements in its original theatrical aspect ratio.

During a heart-to-heart with his son, pompous businessman Paul Bultitude envies his schoolboy son Dick's youth, while Dick wishes he were grown up. They both get what they wish for when, magically, the son becomes the father (and vice versa) - a situation that soon causes consternation and uproar!

First released: Monday 5th September 2022