Twlight Time, the new DVD label from Screen Entertainment Archives, will release the oft-requested The Flim-Flam Man on August 9. The 1967 comedy features George C. Scott in a bravura performance as a charismatic con man who travels the American South during the Depression era along with young protege Michael Callan. Click here to order.

Cinema Retro has received the following press release:

Twilight Time, the terrific new label created by film historians Nick Redman and Brian Jamieson, has released the 1954 epic The Egyptian starring Jean Simmons and Victor Mature as a very limited special edition (3,000 units) DVD and Blu-ray. Click here to order from Screen Archives Entertainment.

RETRO-ACTIVE: THE BEST FROM CINEMA RETRO'S ARCIVES

As someone who has written extensively about the spy craze of the 1960s, I'm ashamed to admit I'd never seen an episode of Honey West. The series premiered in 1965 but lasted a mere one season, a casualty of high ratings from its time slot rival Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Thus, I had no preconceived notions when VCI's complete series arrived for review. The 4 DVD set consists of all thirty episodes. I have not watched all of them, but I've seen enough to get a general taste of the show- and I love it. It's been said that Honey West was the first kick-ass female action hero on TV, but in fact, that honor probably goes to the character of Cathy Gale on The Avengers. Nevertheless, Honey had great influence despite the brevity of her series. In fact, its amazing how loyal the following is for the show,considering it's not been available on DVD and hasn't been syndicated.

Honey West came to life in a series of 1950s pulp novels. The character, played by Anne Francis, made her TV debut in an episode of Burke's Law and producer Aaron Spelling decided she merited her own series. Honey is a sexy private detective aided and abetted by her loyal friend/partner/employee Sam (John Ericson). She resides in a luxury penthouse with her pet ocelot and her swinging Aunt May (Irene Hervey). Honey generally dealt with solving every day crimes like murder and smuggling, but she did possess an array of James Bond-like gadgets. Her compact works as a communicator and she carries weapons in her garter belt. She's also a martial arts expert. Although the half-hour plots aren't long enough to generate much suspense or character development, the real appeal is the chemistry between Honey and Sam. Due to the concerns over censorship, virtually all male/female action teams of bygone eras had deliberately ambiguous relationships when it came to sex. There was a flirtatious quality found on shows like The Avengers, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. and The Protectors, but it's fairly obvious that Honey is not remaining totally chaste with a horndog like Sam around. Yet, it's equally clear that whatever sexual relationship they enjoy, it's of a casual nature, as both Honey and Sam aren't bothered by the other using their appeal to the opposite sex to further a case. Another refreshing aspect of the show is that Honey and Sam are all too human and prone to making mistakes. In the very first episode, they blow a high profile sting operation and have to hustle to make it up to their client. Both Francis and Ericson are extremely engaging and fun to watch. The bon mots tossed between them are also often very amusing.

VCI has done a good job of remastering the episodes, which look crisp and clean. Sadly, Ms. Francis is not interviewed on the set perhaps due to the fact that she was in fragile health at the time and has since passed away. However, the packaging is impressive and there are extensive liner notes listing prominent directors and guest-stars. Not incidentally, a highly enjoyable aspect of the set is the inclusion of an abundance of TV commercials from the 1960s. None relate to the show and most are for consumer products ranging from laundry detergent to cigarettes. One realizes how much revenue the TV industry lost when cigarette ads were banned in the early 1970s. I hadn't seen these in decades, but such was their impact on a child, that I could still recall the dialogue and tunes in certain episodes. It's amazing how smoking dominated popular culture during that era. In one ad for Sucrets throat lozenges, the ad advises you to take a tablet and feel free to smoke if you're suffering from a sore throat! There are also spots with George Burns ensdorsing the "luxury" of El Producto cigars- at least until the announcer mentions you can buy them at two for 25 cents! There are also promos for women's cosmetics, Edie Adams shilling another brand of cigars and some vintage ads for The F.B.I., A Man Called Shenandoah, The Legend of Jesse James and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. If you can't get into Honey West, these ads should be worth the price of the set alone. - Lee Pfeiffer

CLICK HERE TO ORDER THE DVD SET FROM AMAZON

By Lee Pfeiffer

Sony has released director Wolfgang Petersen's masterpiece Das Boot as a magnificent 2 disc Blu-ray special edition. The film's power has only increased over the years. The movie shows the perils of WWII submarine warfare from the viewpoint of a German crew. The special edition is packed with new footage and special edition features. Here is the official press release from Sony:

Culver City, Calif. (March 29, 2011) – Today, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment announced that they will unleash the harrowing 1981 epic World War II film, Das Boot, for the first time on Blu-ray on July 5, 2011 for the SLP of $34.95. Newly remastered for high definition, the director’s cut of this prized film adds 60 nail-biting minutes to the original version, which was nominated in 1982 for six Academy Awards^® including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Effects/Sound Effects Editing and Best Sound. Also included in the two-disc set is the original theatrical version of the film and almost three hours of all-new Blu-ray exclusive special features, including a retrospective documentary with Director Wolfgang Petersen.

The film follows the lives of a fearless U-Boat captain Capt.-Lt. Henrich Lehmann-Willenbrock (Jurgen Prochnow, The Da Vinci Code, Air Force One) and his inexperienced crew as they become engulfed in the "Battle of the Atlantic" during World War II. The crew confronts the constant and paralyzing fear of the unknown enemy above in the claustrophobic iron belly of a German U-boat. Variety likens the experience to “a descent into the pit of hell.” Director Wolfgang Petersen’s close and focused shots meticulously capture the gritty reality of pursuing rival ships from undersea in a blind environment, humid with sweat and rank with the bitter scent of metal.

Masterfully crafted by Petersen (Troy, Air Force One) and critically acclaimed as one of the best war films of all time, Das Boot is a masterpiece that should be part of every film enthusiast’s collection. The two-disc Blu-ray is tightly packed with special features including a retrospective documentary of the making of the film, seven vignettes taking viewers on an intimate tour of a German U-boat, two featurettes offering insights from wife and First Assistant Director, Maria Petersen and a look into the making of the Director’s Cut, historical material with footage detailing the evolution of submarine battles during World War II and a director’s commentary.

Das Boot Synopsis:

At the height of WWII, a young submarine crew heads out to sea on a top-secret mission that all but ensures most will never make it home alive. Ordered to patrol the Atlantic and destroy an allied armada bringing supplies to Britain, these raw recruits must band together, bracing themselves against a depth-charge assault from an unseen enemy. Oscar ® - nominated director Wolfgang Petersen’s epic adventure deftly explores tension as pressure builds to an explosive climax, packing a visceral punch few movies can match.

2-Disc Blu-ray Special Features:

• Wolfgang Petersen-Back To The Boat
• Going Deeper:
• Maria’s Take
• The Perfect Boat
• Captain’s Tour
• Rooms Overview
• Entry Conning Tower
• Torpedo Room & Crew Quarters
• Captain’s & Officers’ Rooms
• The Control Room
• Petty Officers’ Room & Galley
• Diesel & Electric Motor Rooms
• Historical Material
• Behind the Scenes (1981)
• Battle of the Atlantic (1983)

• Director’s Commentary – Wolfgang Petersen

CLICK HERE TO ORDER FROM AMAZON

The checkered DVD release history of the original Walking Tall film and its two sequels has led to fans and collectors paying sky-high prices for the long out-of-print series. Paramount did release the original 1973 film starring Joe Don Baker in 2007 but it quickly sold out and hasn't been reissued since. Amazon dealers are getting a minimum of $55 for a sealed DVD. The first sequel, Walking Tall Part 2 starring Bo Svenson was released in 1975 and was issued on DVD by Rhino in 2003. Although a search of Amazon reveals no mint, sealed DVDs for sale, there are plenty of used copies with starting prices of only $11. The real kick in the rump comes if you are trying to complete the series with a DVD of Walking Tall- The Final Chapter which also starred Svenson and was released in 1977. That title was also issued by Rhino in 2003. There are some low priced used DVDs on Amazon but mint sealed copies begin with prices of $125 or more. C'mon, studios-- if there's that much interest in the trilogy, how about reissuing these films, perhaps as special editions? - Lee Pfeiffer

(Click here to read Cinema Retro contributor Bill Duelly's original review of the 2007 DVD release of Walking Tall)

The recent Blu-ray release of Stanley Kubrick's 1975 masterpiece Barry Lyndon has generated an on-lne war of words between Kubrick purists who debate whether the Blu-ray's aspect ratio is in accordance with the legendary director's wishes. There is evidence on both sides, but the argument got more heated when a letter surfaced that Kubrick had sent to theater projectionists regarding the proper way to screen his meticulously-crafted movie. Click here to read on Glenn Kenny's web site.

Click here to order the Blu-ray from Amazon

Cinema Retro has received the following press release from Warner Home Video:

Burbank, Calif., June 20, 2011 – Ben-Hur – William Wyler’s unforgettable epic spectacle, starring Charlton Heston, that won a record-setting 11 Academy Awards^{® [1]} (1959) including Best Motion Picture, Best Actor and Best Director -- will make a dazzling debut on Blu-ray September 27 as

Ben-Hur 50^th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition (UCE) from Warner Home Video (WHV).

An inspiration to generations of filmmakers with its legendary scale and scope, “50 years later filmmakers and film experts are still in awe of the film,” says Ben-Hur documentarian Gary Leva. People like Ridley Scott, Ernest Dickerson, and others told Leva how Wyler’s film inspired them to emulate the filmmaker years later. Even with today's technology, they still aren't sure how some of the scenes were able to be put on film. Scott, who directed Gladiator, said his arena was one-sixth the size of the one where Ben-Hur had his famous chariot race. The gigantic oval, with incredible statues and architecture, took more than a year to build.

For this release, Ben-Hur has undergone a $1 million restoration -- frame by frame from an 8k scan of the original 65 mm camera negative, making this the highest resolution restoration ever completed by Warner Bros. studio.

“We have been working on this extensive restoration for several years, hoping we could be ready with a 2009 release for the actual 50th. The meticulous process took longer than expected, but our primary goal was to deliver the finest quality presentation possible, and we have succeeded in doing just that,” said Jeff Baker, WHV’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog.

Ben-Hur has been on moratorium for the past year. Now limited and numbered, each set contains more than four hours of extras including an all-new hi-def feature length documentary hosted by son Fraser Heston; a reproduction of Heston's diary during filming; and an exclusive hardbound photo book.

“The restoration is almost trumped by some newly-uncovered Heston family home movies, shot in Italy during production, that reveal unique behind-the-scenes activity. Believed to be the only footage of its kind in existence, this marks something truly historic and unprecedented. And we are thrilled to be able to incorporate it into the documentary made by Laurent Bouzereau and Charlton Heston’s son, Fraser. The documentary will be obtainable only with this release.”

Baker believes fans also will be enthralled with Heston’s diary, which “reflects his thoughts and feelings on many of the days before, during, and immediately after the film’s physical production.

“The diary is a replica of the original,” Baker said. “We did not transpose Chuck’s words onto a clean white piece of paper. The natural fading of the pages, and any mistakes, are all seen as they are in the original diary. The concept is to preserve the authenticity. It’s a remarkable, collectible keepsake. No other disc release in history has included a personal diary of an actor, let alone an Oscar®-winning legend, sharing this type of personal information.”

Baker said that while under his watch Warner has produced several other Ultimate Collector’s Editions of classic movies. “This physical package in terms of aesthetics, historical content, and originality is the new gold standard for not only Warner, but for all studios. No one can forget seeing Ben-Hur in a theater for the first time. And now, a half-century later, it looks the best it ever has on Blu-ray in this pristine high-definition film restoration, perfect for holiday gift giving.”