Eye For Film >> Movies >> Mr Benn (1971) 4K Blu-Ray Review
Fabulous Films is releasing the classic 1970s children's television series Mr Benn. It ran in two short bursts, the first of six episodes at the beginning of 1971, and then seven in the early months of 1972. It became, probably, the most repeated show the BBC ever made. There are two editions: a UHD box set containing both UHD plus some charming physical extras and standard Blu-ray versions, and a Blu-ray only one.
What is on the discs is the restored versions of the original 13 episodes and the 2005 episode The Gladiator. The new episode is an adaptation of David McKee's book Mr Benn – Gladiator. It was filmed by most of the team that worked on the original series. The restoration brings the faded colour back to life and brings out details in David McKee's work that were never really seen when Mr Benn was originally broadcast. One of the special features on the discs is a short comparison between the restored and unrestored versions. The viewing experience is not going to be a authentic recreation of analogue TV in the 1970s. That was on a small (by today's standards), curved, fuzzy cathode ray tube. There could be ghosting and static interference from a poor terrestrial signal.What you have now is objectively better than what you would have had then.
The special features on the disc consist of a number of episodes with alternative audio tracks. There's a documentary As If By Magic by David McKee on the making of The Gladiator, and retrospective of the original series. The narrator Ray Brooks and composer Duncan Lamont make sizeable contributions. This is a must watch. There are recently discovered rushes for two adverts in which Mr Benn was used, R Whites lemonade and a now defunct travel agent which did antipodean adventure holidays.
The UHD box set has a few little cardboard bits and bobs, and most notably a copy of 123456789 Benn, a book that the BBC felt was thematically too adult to adapt into a children's cartoon. In it Mr Benn puts on a prisoner's uniform. It is the second Mr Benn book, first printed in 1970, and it sheds some light on David McKee's intentions.
Reviewed on: 13 Nov 2026
Product Code: B0HJ62Y3NY
Region: 0
Extras: As If By Magic - a documentary on Mr Benn including contributions by David McKee, narrator Ray Brooks and composer Duncan Lamont; Mr Benn restoration comparison; Mr Benn advert rushes; alternative revised soundtracks for the episodes The Balloonist, The Caveman. The Frogman, The Magic Carpet and The Red Knight; Mr Benn episode guide; reproduction hardback book of 123456789 Benn, the original episode that was never made! Concertina Character Display Mr Benn Mini Standee Mr Benn Invitation Letter
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