Billy Connolly: Big Banana Feet

Billy Connolly is at the peak of his powers in this newly restored and rediscovered documentary.

Capturing ‘The Big Yin’ on and off stage during his 1975 tour of Ireland, Big Banana Feet is a captivating record of Connolly on the cusp of international stardom.

Inspired by the fly-on-the-wall style of DA Pennebaker’s Bob Dylan documentary Don’t Look Back, director Murray Grigor and cinematographer David Peat present Connolly at his beguiling best, using humour and charm to successfully navigate the political tensions of 1970s Dublin and Belfast.

Featuring iconic stand-up material alongside fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpses, this previously elusive milestone of British comedy is now newly restored in 2K (from original 16mm materials), reaffirming the genius that has endeared Connolly to generations of fans.

Special Features:
– Newly restored by the BFI and presented on Blu-ray and DVD
– Murray Grigor and Billy Johnson in Conversation (2024, 18 mins): the director of Big Banana Feet and the road manager on Connolly’s tour of Ireland, Billy Johnson, are interviewed after the film’s premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival
– Clydescope (1974, 31 mins): a panorama of the Clyde, from Biggar to Brodick, with Billy Connolly as your guide
– BLAST (1975, 24 mins): made for the Arts Council of Great Britain, Murray Grigor’s award-winning short film explores Vorticism, a radical art movement of the early 20th centur
– Restoration demo (2023, 2 mins): a before and after look at the restoration of Big Banana Feet
– Rerelease trailer (2024)
– **FIRST PRESSING ONLY** Booklet featuring new writing by Claire Buchanan, David Archibald, Murray Grigror and Douglas Weir. Also includes slipcase