Winstanley

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Recently picked up a copy of this on fleabay.

Widely available from internet behemoths for a lot of money, this can be picked up for less than a tenner if you have patience from a certain on-line auction house.

An eagle-eyed reader reports it is available from the BFI web shop for £9.99. 


Winstanley was released in 1975, and "no" younglings your screen isn't broken, films and telly box were often black and white in those days. We had it hard back in the day...

Armour used in the film was borrowed from the Royal Armouries collection; the V&A and the Museum of English Rural Life helped with the rest of the costumes, and advised on locations.

Whilst the costumes and locations were top notch, the cast were mostly amateurs.

The film tells the story of Gerrard Winstanley  and the Diggers attempting to create a community on St George's Hill, Cobham, Surrey.

Slightly slow placed*, this film is well worth the effort of watching it; although it does make more sense if you read the Wikipedia entries on Gerrard Winstanley, and the Diggers beforehand if you are 'new to the period'.

Packaged with a number of 'extras', 'the making of' documentary is well worth watching.



*This might well be an understatement , judging by the number of times I nodded off


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