The Upcoming Classics Thread. UPDATED; Warner & Fox/MGM R2, Friedkin's Cruising...

[John Hodson]

DVD Times on Fox Literary Classics in April:

Fox Home Entertainment have announced the Region 1 DVD release of three titles as part of a Literary Classics promotion. Arriving on 24th April 2007 priced at $19.98 SRP each are…

Les Miserables (2-Disc)

Both the 1935 and 1952 versions of the film are included on this two-disc set presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame with English, French and Spanish Mono audio and optional French and Spanish subtitles. Extras include “The Fugitive/Pursuer: Eugene Vidocq”, a Restoration Comparison and Trailer.

Anna Karenina

The 1948 version starring Vivien Leigh and Ralph Richardson is accompanied by the 1915 silent movie version.

Features include:
1.33:1 Full Frame
English Stereo and Spanish Mono
French and Spanish subtitles
Anna Karenina - The 1915 Version
"Silent Movie"
Anna and Leo
Restoration Comparison
Trailer

Jane Eyre (1944)

Jane Eyre secures a job as governess to the child (Margaret O'Brien) of the troubled Edward Rochester, sire of Thornfield, a mysterious English manor. When she hears strange cries and noises from a distant wing, her inquiries are rebuffed. As time goes on, Jane and her master fall in love and decide to marry. But their halted when a visitor suddenly reveals the shocking secret that Rochester has kept for years.

Features include:
1.33:1 Full Frame
English Stereo
English, French and Spanish Mono
French and Spanish subtitles
Orson Welles's Jayne Eyre
Story Boards
Production Gallery
Restoration Comparison
Trailer

[Gossage]

The R2 DVD The Grass is Greener is released by Universal on Feb. 12th 2007. Does anyone know if the R2 release is in anamorphic widescreen? The R1 release wasn't 16.9 enhanced.

[CinéKarine]

Many reviews and film announcements in the Classic Coming Attractions column by Barrie Maxwell here

[John Hodson]

Originally Posted by CinéKarine

Many reviews and film announcements in the Classic Coming Attractions column by Barrie Maxwell here

Just to expand on that a little. News on titles thus far unreported in this thread:

...On the same date, Fox will also offer six war movies: Tonight We Raid Calais (1943, with Annabella), The Purple Heart (1944, with Dana Andrews), Fixed Bayonets! (1951, with Richard Basehart and directed by Sam Fuller), Sailor of the King (1953, with Jeffrey Hunter), Man in the Middle (1964, with Robert Mitchum), and I Deal in Danger (1966, with Robert Goulet). Fox also has a Tyrone Power collection in the works with a likely summer release. It would include Son of Fury (1942), Captain from Castile (1947), Prince of Foxes (1949), and The Black Rose (1950).

...Lionsgate will offer the British film School for Scoundrels (1960, with Alastair Sim) on March 27th. This is another item, like the previously-announced early Hitchcock set coming in February, that results from last summer's deal that saw Lionsgate acquire rights to some 2000-odd Studio Canal films. Apparently box sets of Bridgette Bardot, Jean Renoir, and Jean-Luc Godard are in the pipeline for release in the first half of 2007. A spokesperson for Lionsgate indicated that these releases are "for the fan of classic movies, and we are really trying to target that audience". I guess they forgot that they re-acquired the rights to the Republic library from Paramount. How about targeting the audience of classic fans that would like to see plenty of those titles made available (although only if Lionsgate shows them a little more respect than its Artisan component used to do)?

MGM (via Fox) will re-release On the Beach (1959) on March 6th as part of a promotion of almost a score of more recent science fiction titles. There's no indication as yet whether this will offer any upgrade to the original release. An anamorphic transfer at least would be welcome, although the original widescreen DVD release looked pretty good.

Paramount will reportedly release new re-issue versions of The Greatest Show on Earth, Nevada Smith, and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on April 13th although it's unclear if these reissues will offer anything new compared to the original versions.

...An interesting baseball double bill will arrive on April 3rd in the form of Kill the Umpire (1950, a very amusing programmer with William Bendix) and Safe at Home! (1962, with appearances by Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris)? I never thought to see either of these films make it to DVD.

[Mtanner]

Originally Posted by CinéKarine

Many reviews and film announcements in the Classic Coming Attractions column by Barrie Maxwell here

Thanks for the link, I'd not seen the Tyrone Power collection mentioned elsewhere before (with Son of Fury, Captain from Castile, Prince of Foxes, and The Black Rose).

ETA: slow typer that I am.

[jackal]

Great news about that Ty Power collection, if true. I just hope Fox makes it available at a more reasonable price than some of last year's boxsets.

[John Hodson]

From the HTF:

Movies Unlimited is listing the following MGM/UA titles (Probably thanks to Fox): Frank Borzage's CHINA DOLL, Andre DeToth's PLAY DIRTY, Roger Corman's VON RICHTOFEN AND BROWN on 4/24. Robert Altman's THIEVES LIKE US (with Altman commentary portaled over from LD; This is a remake of the forthcoming THEY LIVE BY NIGHT in the next WB Noir set) and Mike Hodges' PULP on 4/24. I suspect that these are courtesy of Fox.

[Mtanner]

Play have some new Universal collections listed: the rumoured Goddess sets for Janet Leigh, Jane Russell and Jean Simmons and Screen Legend sets (mostly repackaged, I think) for Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas, David Niven, Bob Hope and Rock Hudson.

Jane Russell: The Paleface, Foxfire, Son Of Paleface, Road To Bali
Jean Simmons: How To Make An American Quilt, Spartacus, Divorce American Style, A Bullet Is Waiting
Janet Leigh: Psycho, Touch of Evil, My Sister Eileen, Who Was That Lady

[John Hodson]

Interesting; 'The Bob Hope Screen Legends' set apparently rescues The Lemon Drop Kid and The Cat and The Canary (yes!) from PD hell. The Charlton Heston set has the R2 debuts of Major Dundee and Julius Caesar, while the Rock Hudson set has two Raoul Walsh westerns new to R2 Gun Fury and The Lawless Breed.

[John Hodson]

From Roobarbs:

Originally Posted by Jacob Marley

According to the British Horror FIlms forum, the David Hemmings Jekyll & Hyde is due for release from Second Sight on 26th March - presumably to co-incide with the Steven Moffat version. No word on any extras.

[Spectre07]

Originally Posted by John Hodson

Interesting; 'The Bob Hope Screen Legends' set apparently rescues The Lemon Drop Kid and The Cat and The Canary (yes!) from PD hell.

Will it also include Paleface?

[John Hodson]

Originally Posted by Spectre07

Will it also include Paleface?

Yes

[Spectre07]

That's a great little set.

[John Hodson]

From Davis DVD:

Warner Home Video has announced Prince of the City: Special Edition for release on May 22nd. Director Sidney Lumet's searing drama makes its digital debut as a new two-disc set with an anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital Mono tracks. Extras will be announced shortly. Retail is $19.97.

[EvaUnit02]

From DVDactive:-
HD-DVD/BD releases of The Getaway have the extras that were cancelled for the DVD 2-discer.



Perhaps that this is a good sign that the HD releases of The Wild Bunch will have the full-length version of that Redman doco where the Posse visit the film locations?

[John Hodson]

I did suspect as much, frankly...this may be the thin end of the HD wedge.

[EvaUnit02]

From Davisdvd:-
Becket

A classic finally arrives to DVD! MPI Home Video will release 1964 Oscar winner Becket on May 15th. Once they were the closest of friends, but one man's choice of duty to God over the crown will sunder their friendship and lead to a deadly decision. Peter O'Toole is England's King Henry II and Richard Burton is Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and Henry's ally-turned-adversary, in this acclaimed historical drama based on Jean Anouilh's play. The DVD features an anamorphic widescreen transfer with Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 tracks. Extras include a commentary with Peter O'Toole. Retail is $24.98.

[CinéKarine]

Savant review on BAND OF ANGELS (57)

DVDVerdict review on BAND OF ANGELS (57)

[R-T-C]

More Brit horror from Optimum on March 5th:

The Beast Must Die 1974
Circus of Horrors 1960
Dr. Crippen 1962 *
Ghost Ship 1952 *
I, Monster 1971
Night of the Eagle 1962

* these titles are making their DVD debuts.

Plus, the Amicus adventure film 'At the Earth's Core' (1976) and unexpectedly, Mario Bava's horror classic, 'Black Sabbath' (I Tre volti della paura) 1963.

DVD details to be confirmed. Some more notes at Mondo Esoterica.

[Gary Couzens]

The Peter O'Toole commentary track is moderated by Mark Kermode, as MK revealed on Radio 5 Live on Friday.

Incidentally, the BBFC has just passed The Killers (the 1964 Don Siegel version) and it still rates an 18. There can't be many major-studio releases from before the rating system that still rate such a high certificate. (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? was given an 18 as late as 1988, but was rerated 12 two years ago.)