The 50th anniversary of John Schlesinger’s film of Billy Liar is being marked with a Blu-Ray and fully-restored DVD release on May 6.

As well as the screening at the National Media Museum, as part of the Bradford International Film Festival on Sunday at 10.50am, there will also be a special screening of Billy Liar at the British Library, introduced by Sir Michael Parkinson, on Friday, April 26 at 6pm.

Based on the Keith Waterhouse book, the film stars Tom Courtenay, Julie Christie, Helen Fraser and Bingley-born actor Rodney Bewes.

Running from a working-class family, a pair of demanding fiancees and a tedious job at an undertakers, Billy escapes into a world of fantasy fuelled by his dreams. As work and family pressures build, charismatic Liz enters his drab life and offers Billy the one real chance he’ll ever get to leave the past behind.

David Wilson, director of Bradford UNESCO City of Film said: “Billy Liar is a key component within Bradford's rich film heritage and formed part of our bid to become the world’s first UNESCO City of Film. It is still an important reference within film studies and I am pleased that the 50th Anniversary edition will bring the film to whole new audience.”

Special features of the new release include Remembering Billy Liar with Tom Courtenay and Helen Fraser; a look through the Keith Waterhouse Archive with British Library Curator Zoe Wilcox and a stills gallery.