The Global Cafe is working hard to bring you great programming this season. Continue to look here for weekly news and review updates and more site enhancements in the weeks to come.
How many people here remember the huge Planet of the Apes limited edition bust? It was insane and packed with everything you could imagine concerning Planet of the Apes. 20th Century Fox is celebrating 40 years of Planet of the Apes with The Evolution Blu-Ray Collection. This collection features an amazing amount of new Blu-Ray exclusive material.
Planet Of The Apes: 40 Year Evolution Blu-ray Collection Blu-ray Disc Special Features:
Each Planet Of The Apes Blu-ray Disc will be authored in Java on a double-layer disc presented in widescreen (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with newly mastered English 5.1 DTS Master Audio, English, Spanish and French Mono and includes English and Spanish subtitles. All new special features will be presented in High-Def. Bonus features include:
NEW Science of the Apes BONUSVIEW - Scientists, anthropologists and sociologists discuss the facts and fiction of the first film
NEW “Beyond the Forbidden Zone” Adventure Game
NEW “A Public Service Announcement From ANSA” in HD – A mission report from the agency regarding their brave astronauts
NEW “Evolution of the Apes”- HD featurette tracing the apes story from the original novel to the screen
NEW “Impact of the Apes” - HD featurette on how to market a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The story behind the marketing and merchandising of one of the first ever film franchises and the series’ lasting influence on pop culture through the years
NEW HD Making-of Featurette for Each Sequel:
Beneath the Planet of the Apes – “From Alpha to Omega: Building a Sequel”
Escape from the Planet of the Apes – “ The Secret Behind Escape”
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes – “ Riots and Revolutions: Confronting the Times”
Battle for the Planet of the Apes – “ End of an Epic: The Final Battle”
NEW Each Apes sequel will have an isolated score track in 5.1 DTS Master Audio
Commentary by Composer Jerry Goldsmith
Commentary by Actors Roddy McDowall, Natalie Trundy, Kim Hunter and Makeup Artist John Chambers
Text Commentary by Eric Greene and Author of “Planet of the Apes as American Myth”
Behind the Planet of the Apes Documentary – Includes all new interactivity and timeline
Behind the Planet of the Apes Promo (1988)
Planet of the Apes Makeup Test with Edward G. Robinson (1966)
Roddy McDowall On-set Footage
Planet of the Apes Dailies and Outtakes (No Audio)
Planet of the Apes NATO Presentation (1967)
Planet of the Apes Vintage Featurette (1968)
A Look Behind the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Don Taylor Directs Escape from the Planet of the Apes
J. Lee Thompson Directs Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Original Theatrical Trailers
Original Sketches by Costume Designer Morton Haack
Photo Gallery
Planet of the Apes Timeline
Interactive Pressbooks
Vintage Apes Newspaper Galleries
Advertising and Lobby Card Galleries
Behind-the-Scenes Galleries
Metro Goldwyn Mayer is gearing up for the release of The Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection. This collection features several out-of-print films including the legendary Notorious & Spellbound. The boxset is scheduled for an October 14, 2008 release. Below are the details from MGM. The Global Cafe is super excited!
Rebecca Synopsis
A young woman marries a fascinating older widower only to discover that she must live in the shadows of his first wife, Rebecca, who died mysteriously several years before.
Special Features:
Commentary by film historian/author Richard Schickel
Screen tests
Making of Rebecca Featurette
The Gothic World of Daphne Du Maurier Featurette
Original 1938 Radio Play Starring Orson Welles
1941 Radio Play Presented by Cecil B. DeMille
1950 Radio Play with Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier
Audio Interview: Peter Bogdanovich Interviews Hitchcock
Audio Interview: François Truffaut Interviews Hitchcock
Four-page booklet
The Lodger Synopsis
During a rash of gruesome murders by a serial killer known only as “The Avenger,” a mysterious stranger arrives in London and rents a room with the Bunting family. Intriguing and reclusive, the Buntings’ new guest soon earns the interest of their beautiful daughter. But when the lodger’s strange habits and odd hours start to coincide with The Avenger’s killings, the Buntings suspect they may have let a murderer into their home…and given him the key to destroying their lives!
Special Features:
1999 Score by Ashley Irwin presented in 5.1 Dolby Surround
1997 Score by Paul Zaza presented in Mono
Commentary with film historian Patrick McGilligan
The Sound of Silence: The Making of The Lodger Featurette
Hitchcock 101 Featurette
1940 Radio Play Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Audio Interview: Peter Bogdanovich Interviews Hitchcock
Audio Interview: François Truffaut Interviews Hitchcock
Restoration Comparison
The Paradine Case Synopsis
Beautiful Anna Paradine (Alida Valli) is accused of poisoning her older wealthy husband. Her barrister, the happily married Anthony Keane (Gregory Peck) takes the case but also lets his heart rule his head when he falls hard for his client.
Special Features:
Commentary with film historians Stephen Rebello & Bill Krohn
Isolated Music and Effects Track
1949 Radio Play Starring Joseph Cotton
Audio Interview: Peter Bogdanovich Interviews Hitchcock
Restoration Comparision
Still Galleries
Spellbound Synopsis
When John Ballantine (Gregory Peck), the new director of a mental asylum arrives on the job, the staff is concerned. He seems too young for the position and his answers to their questions are vague and detached. Dr. Peterson (Ingrid Bergman), while knowing he is an imposter with emotional issues, nevertheless falls in love with him. Turning to her mentor, Dr. Alex Brulov (Michael Checkhov) and the use of psychoanalysis she tries to get to the root of Ballantine’s emotional problems.
Special Features:
Commentary with film historians Thomas Schatz & Charles Ramirez Berg
Guilt by Association: Psychoanalyzing Spellbound Featurette
A Cinderella Story: Rhonda Fleming Featurette
Dreaming with Scissors: Hitchcock, Surrealism and Salvador Dali Featurette
1948 Radio Play Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Audio Interview: Peter Bogdanovich Interviews Hitchcock
Audio Interview: Film Historian Rudy Belhemer Interviews Composer Miklós Rózsa
Still Gallery
4-Page Booklet
Notorious Synopsis
Daughter of an accused World War II traitor, Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) is enlisted to entrap one of her father’s colleagues in Brazil, Alexander Sebastian (Claude Raines). Her American contact, secret agent T.R. Devlin (Cary Grant) is openly contemptuous of Alicia and instructs her to wed Sebastian. It is only after she is wed that Devlin lets himself admit that he’s fallen in love with her.
Special Features:
Commentary with film historian Rick Jewell
Commentary with film historian Drew Casper
Isolated Music and Effects Track
The Ultimate Romance: The Making of Notorious Featurette
Alfred Hitchcock: The Ultimate Spymaster Featurette
AFI Tribute to Hitchcock
1948 Radio Play Starring Joseph Cotton and Ingrid Bergman
Audio Interview: Peter Bogdanovich Interviews Hitchcock
Audio Interview: François Truffaut Interviews Hitchcock
Restoration Comparision
Still Gallery
4-Page Booklet
Young and Innocent Synopsis
In this witty, suspense thriller a police chief’s daughter helps a fugitive accused of murder prove his innocence.
Special Features:
Commentary with film historians Stephen Rebello & Bill Krohn
Isolated Music and Effects Track
Audio Interview: Peter Bogdanovich Interviews Hitchcock
Audio Interview: François Truffaut Interviews Hitchcock
Restoration Comparision
Still Gallery
Sabotage Synopsis
A woman learns that her movie theater manager husband is actually a foreign agent when a bomb he has made kills her brother. Based on Joseph Conrad’s novel, The Secret Agent.
Special Features:
Commentary with film historian Leonard Leff
Audio Interview: Peter Bogdanovich Interviews Hitchcock
Restoration Comparision
Still Gallery
Lifeboat Synopsis
Nominated for three Academy Awards®, Alfred Hitchcock’s World War II drama is a remarkable story of human survival. After their ship is sunk in the Atlantic by Germans, eight people are stranded in a lifeboat. Their problems are further compounded when they pick up a ninth passenger – the Nazi captain from the U-boat that torpedoed them. With powerful suspense and emotion, this legendary classic reveals the strengths and frailties of individuals under extraordinary duress.
Special Features:
Commentary by University of Southern California School of Cinema & Television Hitchcock professor and film critic, Drew Casper
“The Making of Lifeboat” featurette
The original theatrical trailer
Still gallery featuring photographs from the set
The Global Cafe is not a fan of Diseny, but that doesn't mean we don' take joy in a few of Walt's creations. Those creations have been released gradually in the Disney Treasures Series. In November, Dr. Syn:The Scarecrow Of Romney Marsh is coming to DVD in a complete 2 disc set. Now if only Destino would get a formal DVD release!
Below is a list of forthcoming Blu-Ray releases.
Dawn of The Dead (2004) 9/30/2008
Iron Man (2 Disc) 9/30/2008
Carrie (1976) 10/7/2008
The Amityville Horror (1979) 10/7/2008
Young Frankenstien 10/7/2008
7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) 10/7/2008
The Happening 10/7/2008
Beat The Devil (1953) 10/28/2008
Caligula 11/4/2008
Band of Brothers 11/4/2008
Stendhal Syndrome 11/18/2008
All good sword and sandal film collections must have Que Vadis (1951) staring Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr and was partially directed by Anthony Mann. This 2 disc special edition is slated for a November, 11th 2008 release. No special feature deatils currently available.
Emusica has more amazing Fania remasters slated for release in July and August 2008 release!
Tito Puente - The Complete 78's Volume 1
Bobby Valentin - In Motion (1974)
Mongo Santamaria - Live at Yankee Stadium (1970)
Rafael Corjito - Sorongo (1967)
Joe Cuba - Salseando! (1970)
Eddie Palmieri - Straight Ahead (1964)
Before the big budget action packed Daniel Craig Casino Royale, John Huston's vision of the Flemming book was an absurdist satire staring Orson Welles, David Niven, Woody Allen, Willaim Holden and many more. MGM will not be releasing a Blu-ray edition, which is frustating because the colors of the film would be astounding in High-Def. Below are some deatils about this October, 21st 2008 DVD release.
Casino Royale Collector’s Edition Bonus Features
· Commentary with James Bond historians Steven Jay Rubin and John Cork
· The Making of Casino Royale
· Bond, James Bond?
· A 3 Ring Circus
· More Directors, More Stars
· The Big Climax
· It’s a Wrap!
· Theatrical Trailer
· Photo Gallery
I adore classic 1970's cop films and the movies based on the books of Joseph Wambaugh are some of the best. I woke this morning to great news, The New Centurains (1972) comes to DVD on September, 23rd of 2008. This little known gem stars Stacy Keach and George C. Scott. Sony will also release on the same date Affair in Trinidad (1952) and the Garment Jungle (1957), both directed by Vincent Sherman.
The format just keeps on truckin' and we love it! Below is a list of forthcoming Blu-ray discs.
Dr. No
From Russia with Love
Live and Let Die
Thunderball
For Your Eyes Only
The Gaunlet (1977)
Every Which Way But Loose(1978)
The Godfather Restoration Collection
L.A. Confidential
Robin Hood (1938)
Cool Hand Luke (1967)
More Blu-ray news and reviews cming soon!
I am still shocked at the news concerning the sudden passing of George Carlin. It is always a tragedy when someone dies, but it is especially chilling concerning George Carlin. We have lost one of the gate keepers of our popular culture, whom kept us grounded in reality through humor. Carlin was 71 years of age and died from a heart attack. In the past two weeks we have also lost Cyd Charisse, Stan Winston and Tim Russert.
Our friends at Discotek Media announced several future DVD releases including a special edition of Miike’s Happiness of the Katikuras. Other titles mentioned include The Taxi Hunter, The Storm Riders, Star of David: Beautiful Girl Hunter, Sukeban Boy, Oh My: Zombie Mermaid and Burning Paradise. The Global Café loves crazy Asian cinema!
Warner Home Entertainment will be releasing special editions of both An American in Paris and Gigi on September, 16 2008. Seemingly both of these titles could get a Blu-ray release, but it is not official. An American in Paris is the first classic to be given the new Ultra Resolution restoration process for hi-definition release.
Kino film’s has several gems for film lovers in July. Swedish director Victor Sjostrom’s A Man There Was, Ingeborg Holm and The Outlaw & His Wife will be released on July, 29 2008. Kino scheduled the release of the lavish A Throw of the Dice on July, 15, 2008. Franz Osten’s 1929 silent epic set in India.
Have we mentioned that Blue Underground will be releasing Blu-ray discs? Well that is another story, slated for September is the re-release of a Global Cafe favorite The Possession! Blue Underground will release a single DVD version of The Blood Splattered Bride in September. This very cool Spanish horror was only available in the 2 DVD Daughters of Darkness set.
Our favorite purveyors of sleaze classics have announced the release of two wonderful and absurd Italian classics. Sergio Bergonzelli’s In the Folds of Flesh and Franco Prosperi’s Last House on the Beach are scheduled for August, 24 2008 release. These are key lost gems in the Giallo genre. The release of the Australian motorcycle epic Stone looks like it will never happen and Cannibal Terror has been postponed to July.
Finally, Sony Entertainment will unleash a batch of classic Hammer horror films. The most coveted would be The Gorgon. The collection is called Icons of Horror and look for a mid-October 2008 release. Other films in the collection include The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb and Scream of Fear.
MGM and Fox Home Entertainment announced that 6 classic James Bond films will be getting the Hi-Def treatment for release in October of 2008, coinciding with the release of James Bond number 22, Quantum of Solace. Dr. No, Live and Let Die, From Russia With Love, Thunderball, Die Another Day and For Your Eyes Only are the first older films in the series to be released on Blu-ray.
Dusty Groove records has a suprise for all you Brazillian psychodelic music fans. The re-mastered release of vocalist Gal Costa's 1969 debut simply called Gal. It also looks like re-issues from Ben Jorge, Reuben Wilson & The Cost of Living & Gene Shaw are on the Summer agenda for Dusty Groove Records
After making numerous Japenese Science Fiction fans very happy campers with the release of thier Godzilla titles, Classics Media gears up for the release of Rodan and War of the Gargantuas. Both will feature the Japanese and United States cuts of the films and the Classics Media has also ensured great digital transfers of both films. Look for both of these titles in a 2 DVD collectors pack in Spetember of 2008.
My first experience with Jean Gabin came while watching Pepe Le Moko, before viewing Pepe Le Moko no one in my mind could be as cool as Humphrey Bogart. Jean Gabin's 95 film career shaped him into one of the coolest men in classic cinema. Filmmaker and historian Charles Zigman takes on the daunting job of breaking down all of Gabin's roles in a two volume biography called The World's Coolest Movie Star. These very cool books will hit stores sometime in July of 2008.
David J. Skal's book The Monster Show is one of my personal favorite books on film. Skal is an oustanding film historian and contributes some of the best spoken DVD commentaries around. Skall's latest endeavor is a massive biography of cinema icon Claude Rains. The book set for release on October, 15th 2008 is a collaboration with the actor's daughter Jessica Rains.
Warner Home Entertainment continues the classic film love with the release of The Gangster Box-set Volume 4 in September of 2008. The set includes The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse, The Little Giant, Larceny, Inc. , Invisible Stripes, Kid Galahad and The Golden Age of the Gangster Film documentary.
It seems each day brings with it the announcement of a classic film coming to the Blu-ray format. I am still trying to dig through the treasure trove of the Dirty Harry Collection. It still blows my mind how good some of these films from the 1960's and 1970's look in the digital format. Many of the the gritty classics do not lose their sense of style with the Hi-Def overhaul. Here are a few future Blu-ray releases to wet your appetite.
Cool Hand Luke (September, 9 2008)
Nightmare Before Christmas (August, 26 2008)
How The West Was Won (August, 26 2008)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (July, 15 2008)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) (September, 30 3008)
More classic cinema titles are emerging on Blu-Ray. The recent release of Bonnie and Clyde was amazing and lived up to all the promise of the new format. On June, 3rd of 2008, just in time for Father's Day 20th Century Fox releases several key war films on Blu-ray, The Longest Day, Patton, The Sand Pebbles, A Bridge Too Far and Battle of Britain. The first three mentioned are packed with extra material and commentaries. A Bridge Too Far and Battle of Britain are bare-bones affairs paling in comparison to current Standard DVD editions. Hopefully more classic films make their way to the Blu-Ray format.
Warner Home Entertainment announced the release of a new box-set of western classics starring Errol Flynn. Best remembered as a swashbuckler and not as a cowhand, the release of many of his key western films is much anticipated by fans of the actor and also the genre. The set will hit stores on August, 26th of 2008. The set includes Montana, Rocky Mountain, San Antonio & Virginia City information currently on bonus materials is limited, but will we keep you up-dated as more information rolls in!
20th Century Fox unleashes a second box-set of classic films starring cinema icon Tyrone Power on July, 29th of 2008. Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection is jammed with some of Power’s most sought after films. The 5 DVD set includes Café Metropole, Day-Time Wife, Girl’s Dormitory, I’ll Never Forget You, Johnny Apollo, Love is News, Luck of the Irish, Second Honeymoon, That Wonderful Urge and This Above All. New featurettes, Lobby Cards and trailers will be included on several of the films. 1948’s Luck of the Irish will be presented in two versions green tinted and black & white. Even with a lack of supplement content, one can’t complain about 10 hard to find Tyrone Power gems for a retail price of only $49.99!
This is huge news!!!!! Below is the offical word from the Criterion Newletter.
Our first Blu-ray discs are coming! We’ve picked a little over a dozen titles from the collection for Blu-ray treatment, and we’ll begin rolling them out in October. These new editions will feature glorious high-definition picture and sound, all the supplemental content of the DVD releases, and they will be priced to match our standard-def editions.
Here’s what’s in the pipeline:
The Third Man
Bottle Rocket
Chungking Express
The Man Who Fell to Earth
The Last Emperor
El Norte
The 400 Blows
Gimme Shelter
The Complete Monterey Pop
Contempt
Walkabout
For All Mankind
The Wages of Fear
Alongside our DVD and Blu-ray box sets of The Last Emperor, we’ll also be putting out the theatrical version as a stand-alone release in both formats, priced at $39.95. Our Blu-ray release of Walkabout will be an all-new edition, featuring new supplements as well as a new transfer; we will also release an updated anamorphic DVD of Nicolas Roeg’s outback masterpiece at the same time. (Thank You Criterion)
Very little has been said or leaked from the new Elvis Costello CD. More Elvis Costello is better than less, so we are excited. Momofuku is scheduled for release May 6, 2008. We are not sure what is up with the name. Here at the Global Cafe we know it is a posh Japanese noodle bar in New York City. Trust us you will be hearing our views on the new Elvis Costello.
Jazz legend and great guitarist Bill Frisell unleashes a brand spanking new CD to the public May 13,2008. No other guitarist and composer working today records with such a distinct sound and feel of mid-western doom. Making matters even more tasty, History, Mystery is a 2 CD set! Look for a full review here at The Global Cafe
One of our favorite jazz cats working today has joined the ranks of Nonesuch Records. His new CD called Into The Blue is scheduled for a April 22,2008 Release. Look for a full review here at the Global Cafe.
Fantastic news for all western cinema compeletists. Big Trail was the first film to officially have "John Wayne" in the cast. It was also one of the few widescreen films shot at the dawn of the talkies. This will be the complete 212 minute cut of the film. Look for it on DVD May 13, 2008. It will also appear in a multi-DVD boxset of John Wayne westerns.
More killer news for western lovers. The timless Gary Cooper classic High Noon will be remastered and released in a 2 DVD special edition on June 10,2008. The DVD looks to be loaded with extras features!
Compiles Rejoice! Dreyer's Vampyr is coming to DVD and if you have not yet experienced this astounding film, you are in for a treat. Criterion is also releasing a remastered 2 DVD set of High and Low. Others slated for July 2008 release includeTrafic and Mon Oncle Antoine.
Mon Oncle Antoine - CLICK HERE
Trafic - CLICK HERE
High and Low - CLICK HERE
Vampyr - CLICK HERE
After years of waiting, Bristol trip-hop sensations Portishead are unleashing a new CD upon the world. Will it be the CD event of the year? Expections are high and fans are salivating for the new music. The CD's North American release date is April 29th, 2008, hopefully turning a new generation into fans of the lovely voice of Beth Gibbons and smooth hip-hop beats of Geoff Barrow.The new CD is simlpy called Third . Look for a full review here a the Global Cafe soon!
Fox Home Entertainment has a treat lined up for classic film fans this June. It is the first official boxset for cinema legend Carmen Miranda. Like Desi Arnez and Cugat, Miranda is responsible for bringing latin music to the North American public. One can argue that the image of latino culture was stereotypical, but it help to start the ball rolling and perked Hollywood's ears to the rhythms of Latin America and Brazil.Doll Face Greenwich Village, If I'm Lucky, Something for the Boys and The Gang's All Here are included in this 5-DVD boxset. The box features numerous bonus material. Fox Home Entertainment will release several individual titles featuring Carmen Miranda such as Weekend in Havana, That Night in Rio and Down Argentine Way. Look for a full reviews in the near future.
The wait is over! Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters is coming to DVD and if you have yet to experience this astounding film, you are in for a treat. Criterion is also releasing a short film made by Yukio Mishima called Patriotism.Others slated for June 2008 release include The Furies, Classe Tous Risques and Before the Rain.
Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters - CLICK HERE
Patriotism - CLICK HERE
The Furies - CLICK HERE
Classe Tous Risques - CLICK HERE
Before the Rain - CLICK HERE
Video Media Magazine has reported the launch of a new specialty DVD label for Liongate Films called Meridian. Lionsgate currently holds the rights to the future DVD release of numerous Studio Canal films for North American release. The first two titles will surface in June of 2008. The long out of print film Diva and also the award winning The Red Violin. Lionsgate hopes to capture the niche art-house DVD market.
After releasing Peter Greenaway's masterful Zed and the Two Nots and The Draughtman's Contract, Zeitgeist is preparing a boxset consisting of several key works of experimental film-maker Derek Jarman. Glitterbox: The Films of Derek Jarman includes.....
Caravaggio
special features:
• Restored anamorphic transfer, created from Hi-Def elements
• Video interviews with actress Tilda Swinton, actor Nigel Terry and production designer Christopher Hobbs
• Audio commentary by cinematographer Gabriel Beristain
• Rare audio and video interviews with Derek Jarman
• Storyboard, notebook, production photo and design sketch galleries)
Wittgenstein
special features:
• Restored anamorphic transfer, created from Hi-Def elements
• Video interviews with actress Tilda Swinton (Chronicles of Narnia), actor Karl Johnson and producer Tariq Ali
• Extensive behind-the-scenes footage
• Video introduction by film historian Ian Christie
• The Clearing (Alex Bistikas, 1994), a short film featuring Derek Jarman)
The Angelic Conversation
special features:
• Restored transfer
• Video interviews with producer James Mackay and production designer Christopher Hobbs
• Derek Jarman in conversation with Simon Field (1989)
Blue
special features:
• Glitterbug (1994), 54-minute film collage posthumously assembled by the filmmaker's friends and featuring original music by Brian Eno.
Lionsgate is getting ready to unleash another set of obscure films from a international superstar. The Sophia Loren Collection will include
Carosello Napoletano
Attila
Madame Sans-Gene
I Girasoli (Sunflower).
Lionsgate is getting ready to unleash another set of obscure films from a international superstar. The Catherine Deneuve Collection will include
Manon 70
Le Sauvage
Hotel Des Ameriques
Le Choc
Fort Saganne
One of North America'a most infamous films, gets a much needed transfer and extras over hall in March of 2008. This 2 DVD set also will be released in the Blu-ray format.
After releasing I Am Cuba and Killer of Sheep is amazing DVD editions in 2007, Milestone film has yet another surprise for cinephiles. The Dragon Painter is coming soon in a deluxe package. The film was directed by William Worthington and stared Sessue Hayakawain, whom was nominated for Academy Award for his role in The Bridge on the River Kwai. The deluxe edition will also include Thomas Ince's 1914 silent film The Wrath of the Gods and many more DVD and CD-ROM features. Look for this DVD March 18th, 2008.
American film legend Stanley Kramer is finally getting a DVD boxset collection. The set hits the street on February 12th, 2008 and will include Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Ship of Fools, The Member of the Wedding, The Wild One, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T .
January of 2008 is going to be a huge month for film lovers. Criterion has made the release of the below film official.
Miss Julie - CLICK HERE
This Sporting Life - CLICK HERE
Naked Prey - CLICK HERE
Varda X 4 - CLICK HERE
February of 2008 brings with it a great batch of classic films. Criterion has made the release of the below film official.
Pierrot Le Fou - CLICK HERE
The Last Emperor - CLICK HERE
Walker - CLICK HERE
Over the past few months, there has been a buzz about a mammoth John Ford boxset. It is now official that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment will be releasing this monolith of a collection on December 4th of 2007. The collection includes 24 Ford films, 18 of which are new to the DVD format for North America. The set include a collectors coffee table book, filled to the brim with rare photo of John Ford at work. This collection will retail at 299.99 dollars.
Ford At Fox DVD Collection Special Features & Disc Specifics
Just Pals (1920)
Feature film with Dolby 5.0 Surround Sound and Spanish/French subtitles
The Iron Horse (1924)
§ Two versions – U.K. and United States
§ Feature film with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Commentary by Author & Film Historian Robert Birchard (International only)
§ “Scoring The Past: The Iron Horse Sessions with Christopher Caliendo” featurette (International only)
§ Restoration comparison (International only)
§ Vintage program (International only)
§ Advertising gallery (International only)
3 Bad Men (1926)
§ Feature film with Dolby 5.0 Surround Sound and Spanish/French subtitles
Four Sons (1928)
§ Feature film with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and Spanish/French subtitles
Hangman’s House (1928)
§ Feature film with Dolby 5.0 Surround Sound and Spanish/French subtitles
Born Reckless (1930)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
Up The River (1930)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Theatrical trailer
§ Still gallery
Seas Beneath (1931)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
Doctor Bull (1933)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
Pilgrimage (1933)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Commentary by Biographer & Film Historian Joseph McBride
§ Restoration comparison
Judge Priest (1934)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
The World Moves On (1934)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
Steamboat Round The Bend (1935)
§ Feature film with English Stereo and English Mono and Spanish subtitles
§ Commentary by Author Scott Eyman
§ Restoration comparison
§ Theatrical trailer
§ Will Rogers Theater
o Doubting Thomas
o In Old Kentucky
o Life Begins at 40
The Prisoner of Shark Island (1936)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Restoration comparison
§ Interactive pressbook gallery
§ Advertising gallery
§ Still gallery
Wee Willie Winkie (1937)
§ Feature film (tinted version) in English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Feature film (black & white) in English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Restoration comparison
Four Men and a Prayer (1938)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
Drums Along The Mohawk (1939)
§ Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish/French Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Commentary by Film Historians Julie Kirgo & Nick Redman
§ Theatrical trailer
§ Still galleries
o Advertising
o Lobby cards
o Studio portraits
o Behind the scenes
o Production stills
Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)
§ Feature film with English Dolby Digital 1.0
The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
§ Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish Mono and Spanish subtitles
§ Commentary by Biographer & Film Historian Joseph McBride
§ U.K. prologue
§ Biography: Daryl Zannuck: 20th Century Filmmaker
§ Restoration comparison
§ Theatrical trailer
§ Movie Tone News
o 1934: “First Drought In Many Years Hits Mid-West”
o 1934: “Drought Distress Is Increasing In The Mid-West”
o 1934: “Mid-West Drought Distress Becomes National Disaster”
o 1934: “Outtakes”
o 1941: “Roosevelt Lauds Motion Pictures At Academy Fete”
§ Still gallery
Tobacco Road (1941)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Interactive press book
§ Poster gallery
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
§ Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish/French Mono and Spanish subtitles
§ Commentary by Anna Lee Nathan and Biographer & Film Historian Joseph McBride
§ Backstory: How Green Was My Valley
§ Still gallery
§ Theatrical trailer
My Darling Clementine (1946)
§ Disc One
o Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish/French Mono and Spanish subtitles
o Commentary by Wyatt Earp III
§ Disc Two
o Alternate pre-release version (Ford’s cut)
o What is the pre-release version featurette
o Theatrical trailer
o Behind the scenes
When Willie Comes Marching Home (1950)
§ Feature film with English Mono and Spanish/French subtitles
§ Restoration comparison
§ Advertising gallery
What Price Glory (1952)
§ Feature film with English Stereo or English Mono, Spanish Mono and Spanish subtitles
§ Two theatrical trailers
§ Fox Flix
o Crash Dive
o The Hunters
o Morituri
Becoming John Ford (2007)
§ Feature-length documentary with English Stereo and Spanish/French subtitles
On November 13th of 2007 Milestone films will release a special 2 DVD edition of Killer of Sheep. Considered by many as a hallmark in African American cinema.
KILLER OF SHEEP SYNOPSIS: A masterpiece of African American filmmaking and one of the finest debuts in cinema history, Killer of Sheep was chosen for the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. In the Los Angeles community of Watts, Stan, a sensitive dreamer, is growing detached and numb from the toll of working at a slaughterhouse. Frustrated by money problems, he finds respite in moments of simple beauty: the warmth of a teacup against his cheek, slow dancing with his wife, holding his daughter. Combining lyrical moments with neo realist style, Burnett unfolds his story with compassion and humor. Killer of Sheep's haunting images and extraordinary soundtrack are a revelation in this new high-definition transfer from the UCLA Film & television Archive¹s brilliant 35mm restoration.
The 2-disc special edition also includes an additional full-length feature
(original release & director¹s cut):
MY BROTHER¹S WEDDING SYNOPSIS: When My Brother¹s Wedding was rushed to a festival screening before the director could make his final cut, it received mixed reviews and was never released denying audiences the chance to discover Burnett's remarkable second feature. the film critic Armond White called this a catastrophic blow to the development of American popular culture, revisited decades later, following restoration by the Pacific Film Archive and a complete re-edit by Burnett, My Brother¹s Wedding proves to be funny, heartbreaking and timeless. Pierce Mundy works at his parents' South Central dry cleaners with no prospects for the future ‹ his childhood buddies are all in prison or dead. With his best friend just getting out of jail and his brother busy planning a wedding to a snooty upper-middle-class black woman, Pierce navigates his conflicting obligations while trying to figure out what he really wants.
THE COLLECTION ALSO INCLUDES :
Four Short Films: Several Friends, The Horse, When It Rains & Quiet as Kept.
Feature length commentary from Charles Brunett & Richard Pena.
New documentary on the making of the film.
Suspiria and Inferno are classics in the field of Italian horror. Director Dario Argento has been claiming to revisit his incomplete "Mothers" trilogy for years. When it was announced fans went wild, but also feared that it would never meet with the high expectations. By the looks of this trailer, Dario Argento is back and in killer form! The film stars Asia Argento, Udo Kier & Daria Nicolodi.
Nothing beats a good old Vincent Price Sci-Fi horror gem. One of the best is the original 1958 film The Fly. On September, 11th of 2007 The Fly (1958), Return of The Fly (1959) and Curse of The Fly (1965) can be yours in a boxset featuring a fourth DVD of bonus material.
You want more Vincent Price? Look no further than The Vincent Price Boxset Volume 1. This boxset will hit stores on September, 18th 2007 and features the below films and bonus materials.
Witchfinder General (Special Edition)
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Dr. Phibes Rises Again
Tales of Terror
Twice Told Tales
Theater of Blood
Madhouse
Bonus Disc (Includes various Documentaries about Price)
Looking for an excellent killer rodent film? Your search is over, one of the best is getting the special edition treatment on September, 11th of 2007. Bert I. Gordon's classic nature gone bad drive-in movie. The DVD will feature featurettes and commentary tracks.
Look for these super cool Midnite Movie double features in September from 20th Century Fox.
Yongary / Konga
Blueprint for Murder /Man In the Attic
House on Skull Mountain / Mephisto Waltz
Devils of Darkness/ Witchcraft
Tales From The Crypt / Vault of Horror
The Beast Within/ Bat People
Chosen Survivors / Earth Dies Screaming
The Return of Dracula / The Vampire
Phantom from 10,000 Leagues / Beast with 1,000 Eyes
November of 2007 is going to be a killer month for cinephiles. Criterion has made the release of the below film official. Berlin Alexanderplatz is a must for all Fassbinder lovers from a new high definition master of the original negitive supervised by the Fassbinder Foundation in Germany.
Berlin Alexanderplatz - CLICK HERE
Drunken Angel - CLICK HERE
The Lady Vanishes - CLICK HERE
Sawdust and Tinsel - CLICK HERE
The king of low budget cinema is finally getting his own proper boxset. Roger Corman is a legend and also started the careers of such heavy weights as Jack Nicholson and Martin Scorsese. The Roger Corman Boxset will be in stores September, 18th 2007.
Bloody Mama
Young Racers
Bucket of Blood
Gas-s-s
X: The Man With X-Ray Eyes
The Trip
Wild Angels
Premature Burial
November of 2007 is going to be a killer month for cinephiles. Criterion has made the release of the below film official
Mala Noche - CLICK HERE
Days of Heaven - CLICK HERE
Under The Volcano - CLICK HERE
Sawdust and Tinsel - CLICK HERE
News: Elclipse boxset announced...The Flamenco Trilogy of Carlos Saura.
Series 6 of Criterion's Eclipse has been announced. It will consist of three films by director Carlos Saura making up his Flameco Trilogy. Elcipse Series 6 hits stores November, 16th of 2007. Below is a list of films in this future boxset. Thank you www.criterion.com and www.criterionforum.org.
*From Criterion press release
One of Spanish cinema’s great auteurs, Carlos Saura brought international audiences closer to the art of his country’s dance than any other filmmaker, before or since. In his Flamenco Trilogy—Blood Wedding, Carmen, and El amor brujo—Saura merged his passion for music with his exploration of national identity. All starring and choreographed by legendary dancer Antonio Gades, the films feature thrilling physicality and electrifying cinematography and editing—colorful paeans to bodies in motion as well as to cinema itself.
Carlos Saura began what would become his trilogy with this depiction of a single dress rehearsal for choreographer Antonio Gades’s adaptation of poet/playwright Federico García Lorca’s tale of passionate revenge. No mere recording of a ballet, Blood Wedding (Bodas de sangre) uses gripping camerawork and heart-pounding rhythmic editing to evoke the experience of moving with the dancers every step of the way.
Saura’s biggest international box-office success was this self-reflexive meditation on both Bizet’s popular opera Carmen and the original novella by Prosper Mérimée. Antonio Gades plays a choreographer who gets involved with his neophyte lead dancer (Laura del Sol), and grows dangerously jealous. Depicting the ups and downs of their affair in between rehearsals for Gades’s ballet, Carmen is a visually hypnotic hall of mirrors in which the dancers become inseparable from their personas.
The Flamenco Trilogy’s most straightforward narrative is also its most forthrightly theatrical, a modern take on composer Manuel de Falla’s gypsy ballet, dressed up in pink sunsets and hellishly red fires. Set in a dusty Andalusian village, El amor brujo (Love the Magician) is a seductive melodrama of a man (Antonio Gades) whose beloved is haunted by the ghost of another.
Along with your triple expresso skim milk carmel latte, you can pick up a CD of classic salsa! Starbucks coffee will be selling a Fania Records compilation called Salsa Explosion . This collection will feature tracks from Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Ray Barretto and many more. Emusica is slated to release remastered versions of Mon Rivera and Willie Colon's There Goes the Neighborhood and Eddie Palmieri's Live at Sing Sing on May, 22nd of 2007.
Maverick Chinese filmmaker Wong Kai-Wai's latest is his first English langauge film and it stars Jude Law. It is screening at Cannes. Wong Kai- Wai is the John Cassavetes of China. This film could break him into the mainstream and the word "Oscar" is already being thrown around. If you have yet to experience the beauty of his work, you must see Days of Being Wild, In The Mood For Love and 2046.
I will be the first to complain about the films released on Dragon Dynasty. The company was to focus on the release of classic Hong Kong genre films. It was even suggested that they were going to be the Criterion on Asian action and horror. There is still time for Dragon Dynasty to live up to the hype.
June
36th Chamber of Shaolin: Special Collector’s Edition
King Boxer: Special Collector’s Edition
The One Armed Swordsman: Special Collector’s Edition
My Young Auntie: Special Collector’s Edition
July
Hardboiled: 2 Disc Ultimate Edition
Last Hurrah for Chivalry: Special Collector’s Edition:
August
Crime Story: Special Collector’s Edition
Snake and Crane Arts of Shaolin: Special Collector’s Edition
September
City of Violence: 2 Disc Ultimate Edition
Dragon Heat: Special Collector’s Edition
October
Tai Chi Master: 2 Disc Ultimate Edition
Hapkido: Special Collector’s Edition
November
Quentin Tarantino presents The Shaw Brothers’ Collection (titles to be confirmed)
December
Fist of Legend: 2 Disc Ultimate Edition
Dreadnaught: Special Collector’s Edition
Panik House films and Synapse films are teaming up to release seven gems from the Toei Studio vaults. The below titles are slated for a 2007 release, but nothing is in stone. We will keep you updated with the latest information. It also looks like these releases will be packed with bonus material including commentary tracks from film scholars on Asian genre cinema. Toei Studios was one of the driving forces in the "Pink" movie genre and the hybrid mix of "Pink" and horror. Also check out the amazing new DVD releases of Blind Woman's Curse on Discotek Media and Criterion's stunning release of Jigoku.
Horror Of The Malformed Men
Snake Woman's Curse
Sexy Deadly Legend: Female Demon Ohyaku
Sexy Deadly Legend: Quickdraw Okatsu
Sexy Deadly Legend: Okatsu's Epic Journey
Wandering Ginza Butterfly
Wandering Ginza She-Cat Gambler
August 2007 releases for Criterion DVD include David Mamet's House of Games, Carlos Saura's Cria Cuervos and Luis Bunuel's The Milky Way. There are also rumors floating around about other releases for August. We will keep you posted!
Each month Criterion send its hordes of devotees a newletter with a hint concerning future releases. This is speculation and is being discussed on www.criterionforum.org, but it looks like Criterion will be releasing a special edition of Godard's legendary Breathless. The newsletter also aludes to a possible French New Wave boxset for Eclispse DVD. Rumor has it that Rainer Werner Fassbinder's epic Berlin Alexanderplatz is right around the corner. Remember this is speculation.
July of 2007 is going to be a killer month for cinephiles. Criterion has made the release of the below film official
Ace in the Hole - CLICK HERE
Les Enfants Terribles - CLICK HERE
Ivan's Childhood - CLICK HERE
Hiroshi Teshigahara Set - CLICK HERE
June of 2007 is going to be another killer month for cinephiles. Criterion has made the following releases below official.
Sweet Movie - CLICK HERE
If..... - CLICK HERE
The Two of Us - CLICK HERE
La Jetée and Sans Soleil - CLICK HERE
WR: Mysteries of the Organism - CLICK HERE
The third Eclipse boxset will be dediacted to the later work of Japanese master Yasujiro Ozu. Many have asked why these films are not slated for the full Criterion DVD treatement, but it looks like the original camera negatives are not at the best possible condition to do full Criterion editions. We are thrilled that these films will be available domestically!
FILMS INCLUDE: Early Spring, Tokyo Twighlight, Equinox Flower, Late Autumn and The End of Summer.
There is a buzz that in the future Criterion and Janus films will be releasing a boxset of Ozu silents films. Many of the director's 50 + films are lost.
FOR MORE INFORMATION - CLICK HERE
Attention all Japanese monster fanatics! Classics Media will be releasing Ghidorah: The Three Head Montser and Invasion of The Astro Montser (Godzilla Vs. Monster Zero) on June 1st of 2007. The films will be presented remastered and will include both Japanese and US version of the films. Also commentary tracks. These are a must for all Japanese genre movie fans. Look for full reviews as soon as we get our hands on these gems.
The fourth boxset from Eclispe DVD will focus on the work of French director Raymond Benard. The crown jewel of this collection is Wooden Crosses an amazing anti-war film.
FOR MORE INFORMATION - CLICK HERE
R&B legend Mavis Staples releases her first CD for Anti Records on April 23rd, 2007. The CD is called We'll Never Turn Back and was produced by Ry Cooder, featuring guest appearances by the original Freedom Singers, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and others. The CD focuses on music of the civil rights movement. Below is a complete track listing.
After much speculation and confusion, Criterion’s new line of lower priced DVD’s was finally announced. Originally, Criterion’s Eclipse was going to be the home of obscure and important grind-house and B-grade films. Eclipse will now release obscure films that deserve a DVD treatment, but may not fit into the mission of the Criterion label. These will include film box-sets of the early Ingmar Bergman films, Ozu films and the documentaries of Louis Malle. Early Films of Ingmar Bergman seems to be the only official release to date. The box-set and the individual DVD’s will be priced at a much lesser retail price than the Criterion Collection spines. It seems that Eclipse will take the place of the Home Vision label. We are very excited about the future of Eclipse/Criterion Films!
On March 9th, 2007 Magnolia films will unleash Gwoemul (The Host) to domestic theaters. The reviews for this giant creature feature have been amazing. The Host was directed by Joon-Ho Bong, whom also scored high marks with his film Memories of Murder. The domestic Web site for The Host is currently online!
The Global Café rejoices in the release of Jules Dassin’s Naked City! “There are eight million stories in the Naked City”
Below are just a few CDs being released in the first part of 2007!
2007 looks like a killer year for music!
Nick Cave’s latest musical project is called Grinderman. The band features Cave, Warren Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos, all members of the Bad Seeds. It is a return to the gritty sludge blues of Birthday Party. Grinderman’s Debut album will be released in the United States on the Anti Records label sometime in early 2007.
2007 looks to be a great year for Janus and Criterion Films. Titles officially slated for February 2007 release include The 49th Parallel, When a Woman Ascends the Stairs, Green for Danger, Bicycle Thieves and The Paul Robeson Collection, including Emperor Jones, Sanders of the River, Jericho, Body and Soul, Borderline, The Proud Valley, Native Land and a feature-length documentary on Robeson’s life.
Criterion and Image Entertainment have secured the rights to release Pier Palo Passolini’s controversial adaptation of the Marques De Sade’s Salo: 120 Days of Sodom. Criterion released this extremely violent film for a short time on DVD in 1998. They quickly lost the rights and the film was recalled, making the original Criterion release one of rarest DVD collected, fetching several hundred dollars from DVD collectors for used copies of the original pressing. Criterion is currently working on remastering the film and plan a special edition sometime in 2007.
The United Kingdom’s Eureka Films is set to release Claude Lanzmann’s nine-hour documentary Shoah in January. This is one of the most important films ever made about the Holocaust. This film is a must see, featuring the largest group of holocaust survivors interviewed for a film. The US edition is currently out of print.
You can now legally download and copy the complete music of Mozart. Salzburg-based International Mozart Foundation has posted legally the complete works of Mozart on-line over 24,000 pages of music from over 600 compositions. In the first two hours after the site's official launch they claimed to have been bombarded with over 45,000 hits. The site is quite slow due to the extensive traffic but it is well worth the wait if you are a classical music lover.
Jan Sjankmajer is one of the leading animators and surrealists working today. His latest films pulls from Edgar Allan Poe and Marquis De Sade for inspiration. The film is called Lunacy and Zeitgeist Films will be releasing it in DVD February 20th, 2007 in the United States. For more information on Jan Sjankmajer check out his website.
January Criterion releases have been announced. Criterion continues remastering and re-working the Akira Kurosawa films with the long awaited release of the remastered and expanded Jojimbo and Sanjuro. Both films will be sold in a small boxset format or individually. Also the Richard Gordon prduced films The Haunted Strangler, Corridors of Blood, Atomic Submarine and First Man in Space will be released in a boxset called Monster and Madmen. Allison Anders first film Border Radio and Robert Bresson film Mouchette will also usher in 2007 for Criterion DVD! More details soon.
Bertolucci fans rejoice! December 2006 will bring the uncut and remastered releases of two Bertolucci gems 1900 starting Robert Deniro and also 1970's The Conformist!
