a very long and troubled production. Although Bill Douglas had the screenplay ready in 1980, it took six years to complete it, due to problems of filming in England and Australia, Douglas's perfectionism, and conflicts with his first producer, Ismail Merchant. Parts of the film were shot in the ghost town of Tyneham in south Dorset which was taken over by the military during WWII for use as a training area and is still part of a large military range. Release The film was first shown at the Southampton Film Festival in February 1986. It was also shown at the London Film Festival in 1986, and entered into the 37th Berlin International Film Festival in February 1987. In August 1987 it was released in British cinemas. After a short run in cinemas, followed by a VHS release in 1989, the film was largely forgotten. However, 20 years later Bill Douglas' small but significant production was reappraised, and in 2009 the British Film Institute released a restored version of Comrades on DVD, followed in early 2012 by a three-disc dual format DVD and Blu-ray box set. Reception The film has been described as "a moving, magical poem of human dignity, decency and hope". References External links 400 Blows, 18 October 2005: Simon Relph on Bill Douglas Retrieved 2012-11-07 400 Blows, 26 July 2005: Phil Davis on Bill Douglas Retrieved 2012-11-07 1986 films 1980s historical drama films Films directed by Bill Douglas British historical drama films Films set in 1834 Films set in Dorset Films set in colonial Australia Films set in New South Wales Drama films based on actual events Films about the labor movement 1986 drama films 1987 drama films 1987 films 1980s English-language films 1980s British films