Miracle In Milan

Interviews with De Sica's son Manuel and actress Brunella Bovo may be short but they're packed with insight as to the director's outlook and way of working - the two show real fondness for the great man, expounding energetically on his humble manner and noble intentions.

The Rome premiere newsreel footage highlights the high expectations that met De Sica's work, the footage evoking the palpable sense of excitement around the release of Miracle In Milan. A charming trailer is also included, beginning - appropriately enough given the main character in The Bicycle Thieves' occupation - with posters for De Sica's previous films being plastered onto walls around Rome, before Miracle's lead actor Francesco Golisano turns up to address the audience, drumming up their excitement for the director's change of pace with his new feature. It's a fabulous little example of the love the film-makers had for their work and the connection they achieved with their audience.

However, all of these features are recycled from Arrow's previous edition, and the distributor has sadly neglected to port over the previously available feature that showcased the beautiful poster and lobby art for the film. There's a well-written and attractively-produced booklet as compensation though, and the Blu Ray's menus have a nicely old-fashioned feel, with the various functions represented through period lingo, such as chapter selection being given the heading Reel Change.

The best special feature has to be the addition of new-to-UK 1956 feature The Roof, a winning combination of De Sica's unflinching societal deconstruction and more humanistic sense of positivity. Both films in the package are blessed with up-to-date and nuanced translations, and have sparkling transfers that defy their age. All in all, this is another thoroughly commendable package from Arrow with a worthwhile range of highly accessible features, even if the overall set is a little light on incidental information (a critic or historian's commentary would have been welcome). Highly recommended.