Fox continues to release "quadruple features" in DVD sets at outrageously low prices. The Sean Connery Collection consists of repackaged, previously released titles, but it's hard to resist getting four films for about $15. This collection consists of:
Shalako- Connery's first post-Bond film was this 1968 Western produced by Euan Lloyd in 1968 and co-starring a stellar cast including Brigitte Bardot, Honor Blackman, Stephen Boyd, Woody Strode and Jack Hawkins, among others. Based on a Louis L'Amour adventure novel, the film is fun in a goofy sort of way, beginning with the schlocky title theme song. Bardot looks like she stepped out of a Beverly Hills salon, even when blasting bad guys with a six-shooter. Connery, seemingly miscast in a Western as a guide for an ill-fated hunting party of European aristocrats, acquits himself well, largely by playing it all straight. The action is well handled by director Edward Dmytryk and the film boasts some memorable sequences. (Blackman's rape and torture at the hands of hostile Indians is almost too unbearable to watch). Producer Lloyd has always been a master of giving the audience more than their money's worth, and Shalako does just that.There are no bonus features for this title.
Cuba- Richard Lester's 1979 film was a box-office and critical bomb, but I've never quite understood why. The movie is totally engrossing and presents Connery with a great role as a soldier of fortune who is hired in a vain attempt to prop up the Batista regime as Castro's revolutionaries move on Havana. Connery reunites with former lover Brooke Adams amidst the chaos and undergoes a change of heart to side with the rebels after seeing the abuses of the government. The film balances comedy with lively action sequences and feature stellar turns by an impressive supporting cast that includes Jack Weston, Hector Elizondo, Chris Sarandon and Denholm Elliott. The film's theatrical trailer is included.
VCI Entertainment has released a 2 DVD set celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Buck Rogers serials starring Buster Crabbe. Here are some details from the official press release:
SYNOPSIS: Preserved in a state of suspended animation
for 500 years by the Nirvano gas in the gondola of their dirigible
wrecked in the arctic ice wastes, Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe) and Buddy
(Jackie Moran) are rescued by scientists in the year 2500 to find the
world under the despotic rule of Killer Kane (Anthony Warde) and his
super gangsters.
Using an arsenal of fantastic weapons created in Dr. Huer's (C.
Montague Shaw) clandestine laboratory, the group attempts to seek aid
from the planet Saturn to oust the tyrannical ruler only to find that
his henchmen have already taken over control of the Prince of Saturn.
After several harrowing adventures with the Zugg men, Buck and Buddy
return to Earth only to be shot down, imprisoned and finally rescued to
participate in a spectacular air battle to wrest control of the
Universe from the sinister intergalactic despot.
Digitally restored and remastered from the original 35mm negative.
BONUS FEATURES:
Original Theatrical Trailer
Photo Gallery
Liner Notes by author Hank Davis
“The History of Buck Rogers†by Clifford Weimer
Rare 1933 Buck Rogers short
Buster Crabbe The All-American Hero (movie clips and highlights from
Buster’s hollywood career - the only actor who played Tarzan, Flash
Gordon and Buck Rogers -- the top three comic strip heroes of the 1930s)
Buck Rogers - 80th Anniversary Panel Discussion from the 2009 San Diego Comic Con
Cinema Retro has received the following press release from Warner Home Video:
WARNER
BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES TWO BLU-RAY(TM) PACKAGING
INNOVATIONS OFFERING CONSUMERS MORE VALUE AND PORTABILITY ON THE MOVIES
THEY WANT TO SEE
Â
Studio To Begin Offering Blu-ray(TM) Combo Packs On All Theatrical New Release Titles;
Blu-ray Disc, Standard Definition DVD, And Digital Copy All-In-One At No Additional Cost
Â
Also Introducing The Industry’s First Line Of Affordably Priced “Blu-ray Double Features;â€
Sets Will Include Two Of Warner’s Top Catalog Hits On Blu-ray Disc
Â
Burbank,
Calif. December 16, 2009 - Warner Bros. Home Entertainment today
announced two Blu-ray(TM) packaging initiatives that will give
consumers greater value and portability when shopping for the best
possible way to watch movies at home. Beginning in the first quarter of
2010, Warner Home Video will be releasing its entire Theatrical New
Release slate as Blu-ray combo packs, containing a Blu-ray Disc of the
film with exclusive special features and exciting BD-Live interactivity,
a standard-definition DVD and a Digital Copy of the film. Â For no
additional cost, Blu-ray combo packs offer consumers significantly more
value by merging the unsurpassed quality of Blu-ray with the
convenience of being able to watch the film in any format, on just
about every playback device. Â
Warner
Home Video is also launching the industry’s first line of Blu-ray
Double Features, priced at $24.98 (SRP). Beginning February 23, the
attractively packaged and entry-level priced Blu-ray Double Features
pack will include a pair of well-matched catalog hits spanning multiple
genres – comedy, action, drama/thriller and horror.  The first wave
will include “Dirty Harry†and “Magnum Force†starring Clint Eastwood; “Analyze This†and “Analyze That†starring Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro; “Presumed Innocent†and “Frantic†starring Harrison Ford; “Miss Congeniality†and “Miss Congeniality 2†starring Sandra Bullock; and Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men starring Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon.
“When
people experience Blu-ray – they love it, and with Blu-ray combo packs
on all of our top new releases, we are giving consumers the titles they
want without having to sacrifice convenience and portability,†said Ron
Sanders, President, Warner Home Video. “And our new Blu-ray Double
Feature sets make it easier and more affordable than ever for consumers
to build or expand their home movie libraries and discover why Blu-ray
is simply the best way to watch movies at home.â€
According
to third quarter figures compiled by the Digital Entertainment Group
(DEG), Blu-ray is on the rise. Â In 2009, Blu-ray Disc set-top player
sales grew 112 percent over the same period last year and this holiday
season consumers are seeing Blu-ray player prices starting around $100,
making it that much easier for home audiences to see the films they
love the way they were meant to be seen. Blu-ray devices are at the top
of many consumers’ holiday wish lists this year are projected to be in
15 million U.S. homes by the end of this year.
Fans of classic musicals will be delighted to know that Warner Home Video has recently released Vol. 2 of the Esther Williams boxed DVD collections. Here's what you'll find inside:
Thrill of a Romance
Vintage Passing Parade short The Great American Mug
Classic cartoon Wild and Woolfy
Three outtake musical sequences: Gypsy Mattinata, I Should Care, and Please Don't Say No
Theatrical trailer
Fiesta
Vintage Passing Parade short Goodbye Miss Turlock
Classic cartoon Hound Hunters
Theatrical trailer
This Time for Keeps
Oscar-nominated Pete Smith Specialty short Now You See It
Oscar-nominated cartoon Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Mouse
Little Big Shot outtake song sequence
Theatrical trailer
Pagan Love Song
Vintage Pete Smith Specialty short Curious Contests
Classic cartoon The Chump Champ
Seven
outtake musical sequences: The House of Singing Bamboo (unused), Music
on the Water, The Sea of the Moon (unused), two versions of Tahiti and
Why I Love So Crazy? (unused)
Theatrical trailer
Million Dollar Mermaid
Vintage Pete Smith Specialty short Reducing
Classic cartoon The Wise Little Quacker
Audio-only bonus: Radio show with Esther Williams and Walter Pidgeon
Theatrical trailer
Easy to Love
Vintage FitzPatrick TravelTalk short Romantic Riviera
What to get for your significant other for the holidays or other special occasion? It's elementary, my dear reader. Amazon is offering huge savings on the acclaimed Sherlock Holmes TV series from Granada TV starring the great Jeremy Brett. The set comes with 12 DVDs and a wealth of extras. The current price is $110 - a savings of $119! Best of all, shipping is free.Click here to order!
Cinema Retro has received the following press release from The British Film Institute. Click on the links below each title to order direct from the BFI store. These titles are in Region 2 format :
Three
new BFI Flipside titles released on 25 January:
Privilege, That Kind of Girl & Permissive
Â
The BFI’s Flipside DVD & Blu-ray
strand is now firmly established and acclaimed, with a diverse selection of
previously 'lost' British films – from 'B' movies to studio pictures and beyond
– released during 2009. On 25 January 2010 three more rare and
little-seen films are rescued from obscurity and made available to enjoy in high
quality editions – Privilege*, That Kind of Girl and
Permissive.
Â
Each title is newly-mastered to High
Definition from original film elements and presented with previously unavailable
short films, documentaries and interviews, some of which are preserved in the
BFI National Archive. All volumes come in collectable numbered packaging,
accompanied by extensive illustrated booklets with enlightening contributions
from special guest writers.
Â
Privilege (Peter Watkins,
1967)
Â
Steve Shorter, the biggest pop star of his
day, is loved by millions; his approval or endorsement can guide the choices and
actions of the masses. But, in reality, he is a puppet whose popularity is
carefully managed by government-backed handlers keen to keep the country’s youth
under control. Only an act of complete rebellion can set him free.
Now being made available in the UK for the
first time since its original cinema release, Privilege is presented here
with two of Watkins' earliest film works.Â
Â
Special features
Original Privilege trailer
The Diary of an Unknown Soldier (Peter Watkins, 1969, 17 mins): a
young solider in the trenches of the First World War, preparing for combat,
shares his innermost feelings in this compelling short
The Forgotten Faces (Peter Watkins, 1961, 19 mins): a gripping
newsreel-style account of the peoples’ uprising in Hungary, 1956, given
forceful authenticity by Watkins’ unique approach
Extensive illustrated booklet with new essays by film historian Robert
Murphy and Watkins specialist John Cook
Â
*Due to an issue with materials,
Privilege will only be released on DVD in January, with a
Blu-ray edition to follow later in the year
In advance of the release of the remake of Ray Harryhausen's Clash of the Titans, Warner Home Video is releasing a special edition Blu-ray DVD of the original. The set will contain an interview with Harryhausen and a commemorative book filled with rare photos. The DVD will be released in March 2010. Click here to pre-order from Amazon and save $10.
Largest Single Artist Box Set Ever Includes The Eastwood Factor, Intimate Short Film from Richard
Schickel Offering a
Rare Personal Look at Eastwood, Plus Extract from
Schickel’s New Book, Special Features and Memorabilia
Burbank, Calif.,
November 30, 2009 -- Clint Eastwood’s illustrious motion picture career has
spanned more than a half century and
has touched generations of filmgoers. The filmmaker/actor
has won five Academy Awards®,and his films have grossed nearly
$2 billion at the domestic box office. Warner Home Video (WHV) will celebrate Eastwood
and his 35-year association with the studio through Malpaso
Productions with a comprehensive, elegant giftset, Clint
Eastwood: 35 Films 35 Years at Warner Bros., to be released February 16,
2010.
The collection,
considered the largest feature film box set ever released for a single artist, contains 34 classic Eastwood
films from the Warner library and highlights the breadth and depth of his work -- from Where Eagles Dare through Gran
Torino. Included are his “Dirty
Harry†movies, his Best Picture Oscar® dramas and nominees, his
Westerns, his war movies, his comedies, and more.
(A complete list is available at the end of this release.)
The 35th
film is The Eastwood Factor,
an intimate short film from Time magazine critic and film historian Richard Schickel. The Eastwood Factor presents Eastwood in a way he’s rarely seen
-- visiting film locations or sites
where his movies were created, and on the Warner lot visiting the costume
department and Eastwood Scoring Stage,
as well as at his home. Eastwood’s candid, intelligent and often humorous interviews about his body of work and the choices he made, along with Schickel’s
selection of scenes from his movies (including his upcoming Invictus),results in an up-close and personal portrait
of one of the great icons of our era. The end result is a clear reminder of why
Eastwood’s career as both a great filmmaker and actor
has been so enduring and his work so
respected.
“I’ve known
Clint for most of the time he’s been at Warner Bros.,†said Schickel. “I was
fortunate to be able to wander around the Warner lot with him and hear his
reminiscences. To be able to show him in the places where he works and lives
and feels most comfortable is, I think, a unique opportunity.â€
