Persistence of Vision (2012) | The documentary about 'the untold story of greatest animated film never made' now yours to own on DVD

Originally conceived in the 1960s, but only ever released in a heavily compromised version in the early 1990s (under different titles), The Thief and the Cobbler was animator Richard Williams’ ‘greatest animated film that was NEVER made’. The history of the film’s troubled production from script to ‘almost’ screen (over 28 years – the longest in the history books) is legendary and became the subject of Kevin Schreck’s 2012 documentary Persistence of Vision, which is now available to buy in a re-mastered, limited edition, two-disc DVD set.

Williams’ film began life as an adaptation of the stories of Mullah Nasrudin, a wise fool from Middle Eastern folklore, but due to legal hassles ended up turning into the story of a shy cobbler who tries to win the affections of a distant princess who is also being seduced by the evil Grand Vizier, Zig-zag. When Zig-zag wages war on the princess' peaceful Golden City, it’s an unspeaking local thief who sets things right by accident…

 A host of famous names stars of stage and screen lent their voices to Williams' original film when it was recorded in London in the early 1970s, including Kenneth Williams, Windsor Davies, Joan Sims, Anthony Quayle and Vincent Price.  But when Miramax released their version in 1993, many were dumped or replaced by the likes of Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Beals and Toni Collette.

Luckily, Price’s brilliant turn as the rhyme-speaking Zig-zag was not lost and remains a personal favourite of mine (he's at his melliflous best). Courtesy of The Vincent Price Exhibit, this rare photo of Price was taken in London in 1970 and shows the actor with director/animator Richard Williams working on character designs for the film. Below, courtesy of the Persistence of Vision Facebook page, are two screen grabs from a deleted scene (*) from the documentary, in which story development artist John Culhane reminisces about Price coming to the London studio to record his voice track. 

Persistence of Vision is available for a small donation of just $25.00 USD, the DVD set is region-free and includes the workprint of Williams' true vision of his incomplete masterpiece in its entirety. To order your copy now, click here: http://bit.ly/PoVDVDs

 

HERE'S WHAT YOU GET
• Optional English language subtitles for Persistence of Vision
• Original 1992 workprint of Richard Williams' The Thief and the Cobbler in its entirety
• Q&A with director Kevin Schreck recorded at DePaul University in Chicago
• Q&A with The Thief and the Cobbler animator Steve Evangelatos at the Vancouver International Film Festival
• Montage of pencil tests and rough animation from The Thief and the Cobbler
• 8 deleted scenes
• 4 international TV clips
• Original Persistence of Vision international festival trailer

* Click here https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=617972938299547&fref=nf, to see that deleted scene from the film.

PERSISTENCE OF VISION - Trailer from Kevin Schreck on Vimeo.

The Thief and the Cobbler + Richard Williams in Conversation at BFI Southbank on 1 June

On Sunday 1 June, BFI Southbank hosts the UK premiere of Richard Williams' rarely-seen 1992 edit of The Thief and the Cobbler, in the company of its Oscar-winning creator.

Made over a staggering 25 year period and inspired by Middle Eastern folk tales and Persian miniatures, The Thief and the Cobbler has become a legend in its own right for fans of both animation and the career of Vincent Price, who supplied the voice of the film's villain, ZigZag.

It was unreleased in the UK, but released in two separate versions in the US – The Princess and the Cobbler in 1993 and Arabian Knight in 1995. Neither version was sanctioned by its director and animator at the time. The original 1992 version will screen from a new digital print.

Tickets go on sale on 13 May at 11:30am (click here for more details)