5 June 2008

Following on from their first two releases from the British filmmaking team of John and Roy Boulting, Optimum have announced the first two titles in the second wave, the nuclear nail-biter Seven Days to Noon and the science-based thriller Suspect.

In Seven Days to Noon (1950), government nuclear research scientist Professor Willingdon becomes disillusioned with his work and absconds from his position with a nuclear bomb, threatening to detonate it in the centre of London unless all research in this field is cancelled within the week. Initially dismissed as a hoax, soon Scotland Yard are involved in a manhunt whose success or failure will decide the fate of the capital. A compelling and genuinely tense thriller that was years ahead of its time.

In Suspect (1960) a group of research scientists are ready to reveal their greatest triumph – a virulent germ that can stamp out bubonic and syphus epidemics. However, the Authority invokes the Official Secrets Act and gags the team, claiming that in the wrong hands this formula could be used for germ warfare. A bitter conflict between science and bureaucracy ensues, with the stakes being raised immeasurably when a bitter ex-serviceman persuades one of the research team to part with highly confidential documents… Starring Tony Britton, Peter Cushing, Ian Bannen, Donald Pleasance, Virginia Maskell and Spike Milligan.

Seven Days to Noon and Suspect will be released individually on 14th July 2008 at the RRP of £12.99 each. Neither of the discs will sport any extras.