Universal has released the 1967 Don Knotts comedy "The Reluctant Astronaut" as a Blu-ray release. The film was Knotts's second feature film for the studio following the surprise success of "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken". This time Universal raised the production budget, thus allowing director Edward Montagne to shoot on location at both the Johnson and Kennedy Space Centers. Knotts again recreates what is essentially his Emmy-winning portrayal of Deputy Barney Fife from "The Andy Griffith Show", complete with that character's requisite "salt-and-pepper" suit. When we first see his character, Roy Fleming, he's a 35 year-old nervous type whose "career" is playing an astronaut on a rocket ship ride in a children's amusement park. He still lives at home with his doting mother (Jeanette Nolan) and his overbearing father, Buck (Arthur O'Connell), who keeps bragging about his heroics in WWI and instills military discipline in the household. ("Well, he was a corporal, and you know how bossy they could be!" explains Roy's mom.) Buck wants his son to live up to his own self-proclaimed achievements in the Great War and without Roy's knowledge, sends in an application to NASA under his son's name. The goal is to get Roy into the astronaut training program. When an acceptance letter to report to NASA arrives in the mail, Roy goes into panic mode at the prospect of being an astronaut. He's suffered from a fear of heights since childhood and he reminds his mother that he can't even bring himself to get on the step stool to reach the marmalade jar. Attempts to share his fears with his father fall on deaf ears as Buck is a big-mouthed blowhard who immediately starts bragging to the entire town about his son's achievement. Soon, Roy is the reluctant guest at a party in which he is already cited as a local hero. Not wanting to humiliate himself or his father- not to mention local girl Ellie (Joan Freeman), who is trying to impress- Roy leaves for the NASA training center. (An amusing, on-going gag finds Roy pretending to board planes but secretly slipping away so he can take a safer mode of transportation: a Greyhound bus.)
Once he reports to NASA, Roy is both relieved and bemused by the fact that he has not been accepted for astronaut training but, in fact, is a janitor-in-training. When his father and his friends make a surprise visit to the facility, Roy tries to cover up his shame by dressing as an astronaut and demonstrating a new rocket sled with predictably disastrous results. Upon being fired and unmasked as a fraud, he returns to his hometown in shame, leaving his father heartbroken. However, this familiar dilemma in all of Knotts's feature films is resolved in predictable fashion by fate allowing him a chance to redeem himself. NASA learns that the Soviets are about to demonstrate the effectiveness of their new automated space capsule by launching a dentist who has no experience with astronaut training. NASA is eager to beat them to the punch and decides to ask Roy to volunteer. The scenes of the panic-stricken nerd trying to cope with space travel are among the funniest bits in the film. Naturally, a disaster occurs and Roy saves the day by summoning hidden courage that even he didn't know he possessed.
"The Reluctant Astronaut" doesn't have the cult following that "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" has built but it's equally good and at times laugh-out-loud funny thanks to Knotts' comedic genius and an inspired supporting cast that includes Leslie Nielsen (still trapped in pre- "Airplane" mode when studios didn't realize his comic potential), Arthur O'Connell, Jesse White, Jeanette Nolan, Frank McGrath and Paul Hartman. There are other familiar elements of the Knotts feature films: a good script by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell (head writers of "The Andy Griffith Show") and fine direction by Knotts's frequent collaborator, Edward Montagne. Naturally, there's also a zippy and amusing score by Vic Mizzy.
Universal has once again provided a terrific Blu-ray transfer with eye-popping colors. Not to sound like an ingrate, but I feel compelled to repeat my only criticism of these Knotts releases, which is their complete lack of bonus materials, especially since the DVD editions contained the original trailers which are easily available for the Blu-ray releases. However, even if you have the DVD editions in your library, the quality of the Blu-rays releases merits upgrading if you're a true Knotts fan.
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The first "biker" movie to click with the public was "The Wild One" starring Marlon Brando in one of his most iconic roles. Released in 1953, the film set the template for the biker films that would follow: the motorcycle gang was rebellious and sometimes violent. They ignored laws and looked on young women as prey. But the script would usually provide a sympathetic side to them, as well, just so the audience didn't find itself cheering for protagonists who were irredeemable cretins. Despite the success of "The Wild One", it took until 1966 for the next major biker movie to emerge with the release of Roger Corman's "The Wild Angels". The success of that film shocked the movie industry and before long studios were churning out low-budget copycat productions. Most were crudely made and instantly dispensable but one of them, "The Born Losers", would introduce the character of Billy Jack, played by Tom Laughlin, who took on a gang of cutthroat bikers. Dennis Hopper's "Easy Rider" became a landmark film in 1969 but it was unique in that it centered on two individual bikers and didn't involve the traditional Hell's Angels clones. The biker movie fad was popular and profitable but by the early 1970s it had already pretty much burned out. One of the last films in the genre, "J.C.", was unknown to me until a screener copy turned up. The film was the brainchild of one William McGaha, who I was equally unfamiliar with. McGaha, who obviously thought of himself as the Orson Welles of the dying biker film cycle, directed, produced, wrote and starred in the film. What emerged was one of the most bizarre biker films imaginable.
McGaha plays the title character J.C., a troubled young man who is trying to live down the shame of his father having been a fanatical preacher. There are instant analogies to Jesus Christ aside from his initials. He is an avid biker who has a group of dedicated followers who he regards as his disciples. Get it? When we first see him, he's working as a carpenter until he quits the job after being bullied by a hippie-hating foreman. In some reviews of the film, it has been speculated that he's supposed to be Jesus Christ himself reincarnated as a hippie. I don't recall that being spelled out specifically and besides, those who believe in Jesus Christ being the son of God would find it difficult to fathom that a man who would willfully endure the horrors of crucifixion would, in his modern guise, throw in the towel on his profession because his boss tossed a few insults his way. Early in the film, J.C. announces that he suddenly has a desire to visit his small hometown in Georgia with the intention of seeing his estranged sister, Miriam (Joanna Moore). As J.C. was despised by the redneck townspeople many years ago, he's advised that the visit will be ill-fated. However, during a drug-fueled hallucinogenic "trip", he announces that God has spoken to him and he is an all-knowing prophet. That's all it takes for the disciples to follow him on his dramatic bike journey home. At first, things go well and J.C. enjoys catching up with his sister. But pretty soon, the town's bigoted sheriff (Slim Pickens) and his deputy (Burr DeBenning) decide to show those hippies they aren't welcome in a traditional "family values" community of racists. They arrest a black member of the gang, David (Hannibal Penney) on a trumped-up drug charge and beat him to a pulp while he is in jail. When word gets to J.C. that a committee of good citizens intends to lynch David, he rallies his disciples like John Wayne did his ranch hands in "Chisum'" and they engage the locals in a battle royale.
By any measure, "J.C." is an unsatisfying film. The cinematography and editing are erratic and the script is choppy and episodic. But for all its flaws, you have to admire the fact that McGaha got the movie made despite having only two even more obscure films to his credit. He shot largely on location, eschewing studio sets for obvious budget reasons. It would be easy to mock his efforts, but I have great admiration for aspiring filmmakers from the pre-digital era in which shooting even a low-budget movie required financing clunky equipment and expensive film stock that left precious few opportunities for retakes. As an actor, McGaha is adequate at best but he does get a terrific performance from Slim Pickens in a refreshingly non-comedic role. Equally good are Hannibal Penney and Burr DeBenning, especially in a tense jailhouse discussion in which the tortured man and his torturer almost reach a level of humanity between them. McGaha's budgetary problems are all-too-apparent in the climax of the film when action scenes are cut abruptly and the lack of coverage makes it appear as though he barely had enough film stock to complete the scene.
The Kino Lorber transfer is as good as one could expect, given the surviving elements it was mastered from. The bonus extras consist of the trailer and an assortment of trailers for other KL releases.
"J.C" is not a film that merits a recommendation, but it is one I have to admire for simply never being as bad as I had expected. For that, Bill McGaha (who seems to have vanished from society) deserves praise. If he is still alive and well, I hope he enjoys seeing his film get the Blu-ray treatment. (An amusing aspect of the movie's packaging is the use of the original poster art that proclaimed "J.C. and his disciples were a gang of broads, bikes and blacks", which was obviously meant as an inclusive message in 1972.)
For a film critic, mocking Elvis Presley movies is like reaching for the low-hanging fruit. There's plenty to disparage. Most of the films are predictable and follow a formula that finds the rock 'n roll idol who started off his career as a rebel being morphed into a clean-cut guy whose most threatening behavior is trying to convince a girl who has caught his eye to make out with him. It wasn't always this way with the cinematic Elvis. There were some rare occasions in which he was cast in compelling dramas and acquitted himself very well indeed (i.e "Flaming Star", "Wild in the Country"). However, it didn't take long for the studios and the dictatorial Colonel Tom Parker to realize that those films didn't gross anywhere near Elvis's feel-good, empty-headed musicals. One major factor was the inevitable accompanying soundtrack album which could be used to cross-promote the movie to great success. Thus, by 1963, attempts to build on Elvis's acting talents went by the wayside and he was cast in essentially the same role in each of his films, albeit with the caveat that his characters would have different background stories. He was generally a genial if somewhat flirtatious and mischievous young guy who was sometimes carrying some troublesome personal baggage from his past. He would meet cute with the film's leading lady (who sometimes was initially resistant to his charms) and the romance would brew in between spontaneous musical numbers that were so numerous, it ensured that a compelling screenplay had to be sacrificed on the alter of the soundtrack album. Yet, Elvis was such a charismatic screen presence that even the least of his films still provide some pleasures and what is arguably his best film, "Viva Las Vegas" rose above the mediocrities because he had genuine and sizzling on-screen chemistry with Ann-Margret. But that was the exception. It's safe to say that beginning with "Girls! Girls! Girls!" in 1962, Elvis's films seemed to be produced on a production line.
"It Happened at the World's Fair", released in 1963, is typical of the watered-down image of Elvis on the big screen. The film plays it safe throughout. Elvis is Mike Edwards, who along with his troublesome best friend Danny Burke (Gary Lockwood), owns an old-time crop dusting bi-plane. Business is grim, however, and when they can't pay their bills (thanks in part to Danny's obsessive gambling habits), their plane is repossessed and the two gravitate to Seattle to explore other opportunities. The city is hosting the 1962 World's Fair with the expected accompanying fanfare as thousands of people crowd into the attraction to get a view of what life in futuristic America will supposedly be like. Once in Seattle, Mike and Danny have a chance encounter with Walter Ling (Kam Tong), who is the caretaker of his adorable little niece Sue-Lin (Vicky Tiu). After Walter is unable to fulfill his promise of bringing Sue-Lin into the fair, Mike reluctantly agrees to be her chaperone for the day. Mike spies Diane Warren (Joan O'Brien), an attractive nurse who works in the first aid office at the fair. In an amusing scene, he pays a little kid (Kurt Russell in his big screen debut) to kick him in the shin so that he can justify having Diane treat him. The ruse works and Mike turns on the charm and finds Diane responsive- until a second encounter with Russell results in Mike's scam being revealed. There's also a cumbersome late sub-plot introduced in which Mike and Danny are hired to run a flight to Canada.Their benefactor pays to get their plane freed up but it soon becomes apparent he wants them to engage in illegal smuggling.
"It Happened at the World's Fair" is a middling but watchable Elvis vehicle. Much screen time is accorded to Vicky Tiu's charming Sue-Lin but does anyone really want to watch Elvis relegated to the role of babysitter for an entire film? Gary Lockwood breathes some life into the film with periodic appearances as the reckless gambler but the lovable rogues he associates with overact under the uninspired direction of Norman Taurog, who had already collaborated with Elvis on three films and would go on to direct five more. Taurog's workmanlike capabilities were generally of the autopilot variety and one can only assume he was greatly responsible for not capitalizing on Elvis's big screen potential to a greater degree. By contrast, George Sidney brought out the best in the King for "Viva Las Vegas" the following year. "World's Fair" also suffers from the fact that Joan O'Brien's character is somewhat less than fun-loving. She treats Mike more like a scolding mother than a potential lover and there is little chemistry between Elvis and O'Brien. Early in the film, Elvis has a romantic encounter with Yvonne Craig and in those couple of minutes there is more sexual chemistry than he demonstrates with O'Brien throughout the rest of the film, as evidenced by the fact that Elvis and Craig had a real-life fling. Elvis gamely sings an interminable number of songs and the scenario isn't helped by the fact that, while they are all pleasant enough, none of them are memorable. What does set the film apart from other Presley films is that the King is seen on location at the World's Fair, though the footage is somewhat limited because MGM found there were so many people crowding around him that private detectives had to be hired to help Elvis shoot his scenes and afford him protection. Indeed, most of the fair scenes were shot in the studio but the brief glimpses afforded here present an interesting time capsule including the introduction of Seattle's iconic Space Needle.
"It Happened at the World's Fair" isn't the worst Elvis movie and it has its moments but it serves primarily as a reminder of how disinterested Hollywood was in developing his skills as an actor. By the time Elvis put his foot down and broke out of the musicals for the 1969 Western "Charro!", it was too late. Despite his good performance in a dramatic role, the film was met with a yawn by critics and the public. If only Elvis had asserted himself a few years earlier...
The Warner Archive Blu-ray is up to the company's high standards. The only extra is a trailer and a menu that allows the viewer to skip ahead to specific musical numbers.
I have a passion for Westerns of the 1960s, especially those mid-range productions that weren't designed to win awards but, rather, produce a decent profit on a modest budget. A typical example is director Burt Kennedy's 1969 film "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys" starring Robert Mitchum and recent Oscar winner George Kennedy. Burt Kennedy had no pretensions of being placed on the same pedestal as John Ford and Howard Hawks, but when it came to making fun, whimsical Westerns, he was among the top talents in the industry. Kennedy was coming off the recent success of "The War Wagon" and "Support Your Local Sheriff!", two fun-packed Westerns that proved to resonate very well indeed with the intended audiences. "Good Guys" doesn't work as well due to a weaker script that sees it play out like a TV Western. Still, it has the central ingredients to make for an enjoyable romp: the presence of two popular leading actors, a supporting cast peppered with marvelous players, plenty of scenery of the great outdoors and even an intentionally hokey ballad sung by Glenn Yarbrough that is played throughout the film to serve as a narrative device. (Shades of "Cat Ballou"!). The film was originally developed by Kirk Douglas and director Martin Ritt but they could never bring it to fruition in a manner that was mutually satisfactory.
The story opens in the booming town of Progress, New Mexico. The local, long-serving marshall is Jim Flagg (Robert Mitchum), who is all-too aware of the fact that he's nearing the end of his career. Yet, he still remains devoted to serving the citizenry with honesty and dedication. He learns that his old nemesis, Big John McKay (George Kennedy) has been seen in the area with his gang and they are planning to rob a train that's due to arrive in a few days that is carrying $100,000 in bank funds. Flagg notifies the town mayor, Wilker (Martin Balsam), who dismisses the concerns by saying train robberies are a relic of the distant past. Wilker is consumed with running for re-election and is bribing the population with free drinks and closing down the bordello, which delights the local women. (However, he privately assures the men that it will reopen right after the election.) He's also devoting his time to seducing a local, married beauty (Tina Louise). The unscrupulous mayor lures Flagg to a podium at one of his campaign rallies and shocks him by announcing Flagg will be retiring. The mayor summarily appoints his right hand "yes man" to take over as marshal. He gives Flagg a gold watch and a pension then sends him off to a round of applause. Ever-dedicated to his profession, however, Flagg tracks down McKay and is shocked to find that the once-notorious outlaw is now being bullied by the cutthroats in his gang. Flagg manages to put handcuffs on McKay and bring him to town with the intention of delivering him to a federal marshal in a different territory, given Mayor Wilker's indifference to the train robbery plot. You can predict where this is all going. Flagg and McKay wax nostalgic about the good old days when there was some honor and respect between lawmen and thieves. Flagg enlists his aid to help him prevent the train robbery which leads to a chaotic conclusion with the new partners boarding the train and being mistaken for gang members, the townspeople forming a massive posse in pursuit of the out-of-control train and everyone fighting each other in comic shoot-outs.
There's a lot of violence in "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys" but none of it is gory. In fact, there's only one dramatic shootout in which a sympathetic character is murdered. There are plenty of women of loose morals but they all have the requisite heart of gold. The byplay between Mitchum and Kennedy is fun but it's Martin Balsam who steals the film in a rare comedic role. Among the familiar faces who contribute to the yucks: young David Carradine and his father John (though they don't share a scene together), Marie Windsor, Kathleen Freeman, Douglas V. Fowley and Lois Nettleton as a widow with a young son who is in a flirtatious relationship with Mitchum. Harry Stradling,Jr.'s cinematography is a quite impressive, capturing the grandeur of the New Mexico and Colorado mountain locations and the miniature work seen in the spectacular train crash is also very good. Critics were anemic at best when it came to reviewing the film. The New York Times dismissed it as "a dinky prairie oyster" while a few other outlets at least acknowledged it was fun family entertainment. Mitchum would later say he regretted being in the film, stating ""How in hell did I get into this picture, anyway? I
kept reading in the papers that I was going to do it, but when they sent me the
script I just tossed it on the heap with the rest of them. But somehow, one
Monday morning, here I was. How in hell do these things happen to a man?"
The Warner Archive region-free DVD features the original trailer (which gives away some spoilers) and a lengthy featurette which covers the making of the film in the small railroad town of Chama, New Mexico through the eyes of a local young boy who gets to meet the stars and director and appear as an extra in the film.
"The Good Guys and the Bad Guys" didn't rank high on the list of career achievements for anyone involved in it but it provides enough fun moments to merit recommending.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER FROM THE CINEMA RETRO MOVIE STORE
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
Elvira’s back
and she’s fabulous! On October 5, 2021, Scream Factory proudly presents the
camp classic Elvira’s Haunted Hills from the iconic horror
host in a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release. The Blu-ray features a
brand-new 4K scan of the original camera negative and comes loaded with
bonus features including a new introduction by Elvira, Mistress of the
Dark, all housed within limited-edition collectible slipcase packaging,
while supplies last.
Fans who order
their copies from shoutfactory.com will also receive an
exclusive poster featuring brand-new artwork, while supplies last.
With her
voluptuous figure, voluminous black hair and hilarious one-liners, the
essence of camp oozes from her pores. Elvira’s Haunted Hills culls
its outrageousness from the classic Vincent Price/Edgar Allan Poe/Roger
Corman films of the early 60s, along with a little Rocky Horror Picture
Show and Fearless Vampire Killers.
The tale begins
in 1851, when Elvira and her maid Zou Zou are en route to perform in the
Parisian Revue “Yes I Can Can,†but inadvertently end up at the sinister
Lord Vladimere Hellsubus’ medieval castle. Bearing an uncanny resemblance
to Vladimere’s long-dead wife, Elvira learns of the Hellsubus curse and
finds her life in danger. Will she escape the family curse and the evil
Vladimere? And can she keep her hands off of the stable hand long enough to
save the day?
Special Features:
NEW
Restoration from a 4K
Scan of the Original Camera Negative
NEW
Introduction by Elvira,
Mistress Of The Dark
Audio
Commentary with Actors Cassandra Peterson, Mary Scheer, Mary Jo Smith
And Scott Atkinson, and Director Sam Irvin
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
Newly
Restored and Remastered for Its 40th Anniversary, Director
Milos Forman’s Acclaimed Drama is Latest Addition to
the Paramount Presents Line
Debuting
November 16, 2021, Limited-Edition Two-Disc Blu-rayâ„¢ Includes Newly
Discovered Director’s Cut Workprint, Deleted & Extended Scenes, and a New
Look Back at the Film
Oscar®-winning* director Milos Forman’s cinematic epic RAGTIME
arrives for its 40th anniversary in a Limited-Edition two-disc
Blu-ray as part of the Paramount Presents line on November 16, 2021 from
Paramount Home Entertainment. The film was originally released on
November 20, 1981.
Based on E.L. Doctorow’s best-selling novel, RAGTIME
tells an unforgettable story of disparate characters in New York City in the
early 1900s. From
the emerging New York suburb of New Rochelle to the flashy spectacle of
Atlantic City, a family faces racial tensions, scandals, and violence that will
test everything they believe in. With music by
Randy Newman, the film features a spectacular cast including James Cagney, Brad
Dourif, Moses Gunn, Elizabeth McGovern, Kenneth McMillan, Pat O’Brien, Donald
O’Connor, James Olson, Mandy Patinkin, Howard E. Rollins, Jr., Mary
Steenburgen, Debbie Allen, Jeff Daniels, Fran Drescher, Samuel L. Jackson,
Norman Mailer, John Ratzenberger.
RAGTIME has been remastered from a 4K film transfer
and is presented in collectible packaging featuring a foldout image of the
film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments.
The two-discBlu-ray includes a newly discovered director’s cut
workprint version of the film (along with the theatrical version), deleted and
extended scenes, a look back at RAGTIME with Larry Karaszewski
and screenwriter Michael Weller, access to a Digital copy of the theatrical
version, and the additional legacy bonus content detailed below:
Disc 1
· Newly remastered
theatrical version
· Deleted and
Extended Scenes—NEW!
· Ragtime
Revisited: A Conversation with Larry Karaszewski and screenwriter Michael
Weller on Ragtime—NEW!
· Commentary by
director Milos Forman and executive producer Michael Hausman
· Deleted Scene
· Remembering Ragtime
Disc 2
· Director’s Cut
Workprint—NEW!
About Paramount
Presents
This collectible line spans
celebrated classics to film-lover favorites, each from the studio’s renowned
library. Every Paramount Presents release features never-before-seen
bonus content and exclusive collectible packaging. Additional titles
available in the Paramount Presents collection on Blu-ray include: Fatal
Attraction, King Creole, To Catch a Thief, Flashdance,
Days of Thunder, Pretty In Pink, Airplane!, Ghost,
Roman Holiday, The Haunting, The Golden Child, Trading Places, The Court
Jester, Love Story, Elizabethtown, The Greatest Show on Earth, Mommie Dearest,Last Train From Gun Hill, 48 HRS., Another 48 HRS., Almost Famous, A Place
in the Sun, Nashville, Bugsy Malone, Breakdown,The Sheik and Vanilla
Sky.
Cinema Retro has received the following press release from Paramount Home Video:
“Crocodile Dundee†Trilogy: Together for the First Time on
Blu-ray, Fan-Favorite Trilogy Debuts September 21, 2021
Say g’day to Michael J. “Crocodile†Dundee (Paul Hogan), the
eccentric Australian crocodile hunter who won the hearts of fans around the
globe when he made his feature film debut in “Crocodile†Dundee, which
celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Originally released
on September 26, 1986, the film earned over $328 million worldwide and spawned
two sequels: “Crocodile†Dundee II and “Crocodile†Dundee in Los
Angeles. Now, all three films will be available together in one
Blu-ray collection when the “CROCODILE†DUNDEE TRILOGY debuts
September 21, 2021 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
The “CROCODILE†DUNDEE TRILOGY includes all three
films in high definition, along with access to digital copies of each:
“Crocodile†Dundee
Paul Hogan's hilarious, endearing performance made
"Crocodile" Dundee the #1 comedy at the U.S. box office in 1986,
surpassed only by Top Gun in ticket sales. Michael J.
"Crocodile" Dundee (Hogan) is a free spirited Australian who hunts
crocodiles with his bare hands, stares down giant water buffaloes, and drinks
mere mortals under the table. But he's about to face the ultimate torture
test—a trip to New York City. The Blu-ray also includes the theatrical
trailer in HD.
“Crocodile†Dundee II
Just as the eccentric Australian is starting to adjust to life in
New York City, Dundee (Paul Hogan) and his girlfriend (Linda Kozlowski) are
targeted by a gang of ruthless drug dealers. Dundee evens the odds by leading
the big-city hoods into the treacherous Australian outback. The Blu-ray
includes a previously released behind-the-scenes featurette in standard
definition and the theatrical trailer in HD.
“Crocodile†Dundee In Los Angeles
He's wrestled crocodiles Down Under and fought crime in New York,
but can Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee swim with the sharks in
L.A.? Paul Hogan returns as “Crocodile†Dundee in this hilarious third
installment of the beloved film series, making its Blu-ray debut. The
disc also includes a previously released “Making of†featurette and the
theatrical trailer in standard definition.
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
Celebrate
the 25th Anniversary of the Iconic Thriller,
Newly Remastered on 4K Ultra HD & Blu-rayâ„¢
Subversive
Fan-Favorite Arrives October 19, 2021
with an All-New Look at the Film’s Impact and Legacy
In celebration of its 25th
anniversary and just in time for Halloween, SCREAM will be
released for the first time on 4K Ultra HD and in a newly remastered Blu-ray on
October 19, 2021 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
25 years after its
theatrical debut, SCREAM remains a wildly entertaining and
terrifically terrifying cinematic experience. Directed by Wes Craven and
written by Kevin Williamson, the film is a brilliant deconstruction of the
horror genre that pays homage to the conventions of slasher films while
upending them with clever twists and witty dialogue.
The new SCREAM
4K Ultra HD, Limited-Edition 4K Ultra HD SteelBook, and Blu-ray include a
brand-new look back at the film and director Wes Craven, featuring archival
behind-the-scenes footage and new interviews with stars Neve Campbell,
Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, as well as screenwriter Kevin Williamson and
the directors and other cast members from the new installment in the franchise
scheduled to premiere in theaters in 2022 from Paramount Pictures and Spyglass
Media Group. The discs also include access to a Digital copy of the film
and the legacy bonus content detailed below:
·A Bloody Legacy: Scream
25 Years Later— NEW!
·Audio commentary by
director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson
·Production featurette
·Behind the Scenes
On the Scream Set
Drew Barrymore
·Q&A with Cast and
Crew
What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie?
Why are People so Fascinated by Horror Films?
Synopsis
After a series of
mysterious deaths befalls their small town, an offbeat group of friends led by
Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) becomes the target of a masked killer. As the
body count rises, Sidney and her friends turn to the “rules†of horror films to
help navigate the real-life terror they’re living in. The film also stars
Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy,
Rose McGowan, and Drew Barrymore.
Fathom Events
In celebration of the 25th anniversary, Fathom
Events and Paramount Pictures will bring SCREAM back to select
cinemas for a special two-day event on October 10 and 11. Additional
details will be announced separately.
CLICK HERE TO ORDER 4K HD & DIGITAL EDITION FROM AMAZON
CLICK HERE TO ORDER BLU-RAY AND DIGITAL EDITION FROM AMAZON
In
anticipation of the upcoming release of Denis Villeneuve’s remake, the
excellent boutique label Arrow Video has issued a superb 2-disk Limited Edition
package of David Lynch’s 1984 film, Dune. It comes in two versions—one
in 4K Ultra HD, and the other in standard Blu-ray.
Filmmaker
David Lynch today refuses to discuss Dune, which he made for producer
Dino De Laurentiis (the actual producer was his daughter, Raffaella De
Laurentiis) for a whopping $40-42 million. It was a colossal flop at the time,
was critically reviled, and audiences didn’t care much for it either. However,
over the years, Dune has gained a cult following and it assuredly has
its share of defenders, including Frank Herbert, the author of the original
1965 novel.
The
history of the production has long been a topic of discussion among film
historians and cinephiles. Attempts to film the complex, epic science fiction
tome began shortly after the book’s publication. Perhaps Alejandro Jodorowsky’s
version has the most legendary status in Duneworld, but his vision never made
it past some pre-production work. Producer Arthur P. Jacobs had his fingers in
the sand at one time, and even Ridley Scott wanted to make the movie.
Laurentiis
ended up with the rights, and he hired Lynch, fresh off the success of The
Elephant Man (1980), to write and direct. Lynch had reportedly been offered
the job to direct Return of the Jedi around the same time, but he chose
to go with Dune. He has regretted it ever since, for he had no idea what
a can of worms—er, sandworms—he was opening.
The
challenge was to condense the complicated story into a feature-length film. The
smart thing at the time would have been to create a television miniseries (as
was done by others years later). Lynch’s first assembly after shooting wrapped
was around four hours long (prior to post-production visual effects work), but
the producer was required by the studio (Universal) to deliver a motion picture
half that length. Lynch’s theatrical cut clocked in at two hours and seventeen
minutes, and therein lies the problem with Dune.
Dune
is a
multi-hour story; there is simply no way to tell it in two hours and seventeen
minutes. After the experience of making Dune, Lynch would forever insist
on creative final cut on anything he would make.
So…
despite the rather negative reputation Dune has, there is quite a lot to
admire about it. Firstly, if one is a fan of David Lynch and his rather unique
visual sensibilities, the picture is a feast of wonder, awe, and eye candy.
No other movie looks like Dune. Hats off to production designer Anthony
Masters who, with Lynch at the helm, created a fantastically grotesque and
gorgeously macabre world in which the story takes place. It is part cyberpunk
and Jules Verne and yet also very Lynchian in terms of the organically bizarre.
Secondly, the cast is terrific. Besides the aforementioned actors named in the
synopsis above, we also are treated to eccentric performances by Sean Young,
Max von Sydow, Everitt McGill, Brad Dourif, Sting, Dean Stockwell, Linda Hunt,
Virginia Madsen, Freddie Jones, Patrick Stewart, Richard Jordan, Paul Smith,
Leonardo Cimino, Jack Nance, and many others. Thirdly, technical aspects are
top-notch. The visual effects are wondrous and weird, and the cinematography by
the great Freddie Francis is masterful. Fourthly, there is no question that the
direction displays a command of style and mood that only Lynch can evoke. There
is a poetry and melancholy and horror about the proceedings that is
unquestionably Lynch’s doing.
Unfortunately,
though, all this isn’t enough. Dune fails to engage an audience in its
very heady tale that is meant to be as profound as it is visually scrumptious.
Lynch was forced to cram important exposition and wholesale sequences into
short monologues and dream sequences. It is understandable that those
unfamiliar with the novel were completely bewildered by the movie (this
reviewer was already well familiar with the book in 1984 and thus enjoyed the
picture—to a point—more than most).
Still…
for fans of David Lynch and Frank Herbert… Dune is worth seeing.
Arrow
Video’s Limited Edition 2-disk package is impressive. The new 4K restoration of
the movie itself looks spectacular, much improved over previous releases. It
comes with an original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround
sound, and optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired. Two new audio
commentaries accompany the picture—one by film historian Paul M. Sammon, and
another by Mike White of The Projection Booth podcast.
Supplements
abound. A few are port-overs from previous home video releases, which include a
2003 documentary on the making of the film, and several featurettes on the technical
aspects of the picture. Approximately fifteen minutes of deleted scenes,
introduced by producer Raffaella De Laurentiis, are also repeated from an
earlier Blu-ray release. Brand new supplements include an excellent feature
on the score by Toto (and Brian Eno, for one track), featuring interviews with
band members Steve Lukather and Steve Porcaro. A piece on Dune merchandising
hosted by toy collector/producer Brian Stillman is interesting for the history
of the misguided marketing campaign for a film that couldn’t possibly appeal to
children. There is a new interview with makeup effects artist Giannetto de
Rossi, and archive interviews with production coordinator Golda Offenheim,
actor Paul Smith, and makeup effects artist Christopher Tucker. Destination
Dune is a 1983 featurette used to promote the movie at conventions and
publicity events. Theatrical trailers, TV spots, and an image gallery round out
the disk supplements.
There
are goodies, too! A 60-page booklet contains writings by Andrew Nette,
Christian McCrea, and Charlie Brigden; a 1984 American Cinematographer
interview with sound designer Alan Splet; excerpts from the book Lynch on
Lynch; and a Dune terminology glossary. There’s a large fold-out
double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dániel
Taylor, as well as postcard-sized lobby card reproductions. The jewel case sports
a reversible sleeve with the original artwork on one side and the new art by
Taylor on the other.
No
matter what one might think of David Lynch’s Dune, Arrow Video’s Limited
Edition release is worth a revisit. Dune may have been a failure, but it
is a puzzling, glorious, and fascinating piece of cinematic art that is one of
a kind.
Cinema Retro has received the following press release:
Celebrate
the 55th Anniversary of the Star Trek Franchise with the
Debut of the First Four Films on 4K Ultra HD Blu-rayâ„¢
Newly
Remastered Films will also be Available Individually on Blu-rayâ„¢
New
Releases Arrive September 7, 2021
Just in
time to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the September 8, 1966
airing of the very first Star Trek episode, Paramount Home Entertainment
will debut the following new releases for every fan’s collection on September
7, 2021:
STAR
TREK: THE ORIGINAL 4 MOVIES 4K ULTRA HD/BLU-RAY COLLECTION
For the
first time ever, experience the original four Star Trek films in
stunning 4K Ultra HD. Newly remastered from original elements for optimal
picture quality, each film is presented with Dolby Vision® and HDR-10.*
This exceptional collection includes four Ultra HD discs, as well as four
remastered Blu-ray discs with hours of previously released bonus content.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (both the
theatrical and director’s cut), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home are presented on both the 4K Ultra HD and
Blu-ray Discs, along with access to digital copies of the theatrical version of
each film. A detailed list of the disc contents follows:
Star Trek: The Motion Picture 4K Ultra HD
·Isolated score in Dolby 2.0—NEW!
·Commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda, Judith & Garfield
Reeves-Stevens and Daren Dochterman
Star Trek: The Motion Picture Blu-ray
·Isolated score in Dolby 2.0—NEW!
·Commentary by Michael & Denise Okuda, Judith & Garfield
Reeves-Stevens and Daren Dochterman
·Library Computer (HD)
·Production
oThe Longest Trek: Writing the Motion Picture (HD)
·The Star Trek Universe
oSpecial Star Trek Reunion (HD)
oStarfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 001: The Mystery Behind V’ger
·Deleted Scenes
·Storyboards
·Trailers (HD)
·TV Spots
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan 4K Ultra HD
·Commentary by Director Nicholas Meyer (Director's Cut and
Theatrical Version)
·Commentary by Director Nicholas Meyer and Manny Coto (Theatrical
Version)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Blu-ray
·Commentary by Director Nicholas Meyer (Director's Cut and
Theatrical Version)
·Commentary by Director Nicholas Meyer and Manny Coto (Theatrical
Version)
·Text Commentary by Michael and Denise Okuda (Director’s Cut)
·Library Computer (HD)
·The Genesis Effect: Engineering The Wrath of Khan
·Production
oCaptain’s Log
oDesigning Khan
oOriginal Interviews with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest
Kelley, and Ricardo Montalbán
oWhere No Man Has Gone Before: The Visual Effects of Star Trek
II: The Wrath of Khan
oJames Horner: Composing Genesis (HD)
·The Star Trek Universe
oCollecting Star Trek’s Movie Relics (HD)
oA Novel Approach
oStarfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 002: Mystery Behind Ceti Alpha VI
(HD)
·Farewell
oA Tribute to Ricardo Montalbán (HD)
·Storyboards
·Theatrical Trailer (HD)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock 4K Ultra HD
·Commentary by director Leonard Nimoy, writer/producer Harve
Bennett, director of photography Charles Correll and Robin
Curtis
·Commentary by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Blu-ray
·Commentary by director Leonard Nimoy, writer/producer Harve
Bennett, director of photography Charles Correll and Robin
Curtis
·Commentary by Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor
·Library Computer (HD)
·Production
oCaptain’s Log
oTerraforming and the Prime Directive
oIndustry Light & Magic: The Visual Effects of Star Trek
oSpock: The Early Years (HD)
·The Star Trek Universe
oSpace Docks and Birds of Prey
oSpeaking Klingon
oKlingon and Vulcan Costumes
oStar Trek and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (HD)
oStarfleet Academy SCISEC Brief 003: Mystery Behind the Vulcan
Katra Transfer
·Photo Gallery
oProduction
oThe Movie
·Storyboards
·Theatrical Trailer (HD)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home 4K Ultra HD
·
Commentary by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy
·
Commentary by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Blu-ray
·
Commentary by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy
·
Commentary by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
·
Library Computer (HD)
·
Production
Future’s Past: A Look Back
On Location
Dailies Deconstruction
Below-the-Line: Sound Design
Pavel Chekov’s Screen Moments
(HD)
The Star Trek Universe
Time Travel: The Art of the
Possible
The Language of Whales
A Vulcan Primer
Kirk’s Women
The Three-Picture Saga (HD)
Star Trek for a Cause (HD)
Starfleet Academy SCISEC Brief
004: The Whale Probe (HD)
Visual Effects
From Outer Space to the Ocean
The Bird of Prey
Original Interviews
Leonard Nimoy
William Shatner
DeForest Kelley
Tributes
Roddenberry Scrapbook
Featured Artist: Mark Lenard
Production Gallery
Storyboards
Theatrical Trailer (HD)
STAR
TREK: THE ORIGINAL 4 MOVIES ON BLU-RAY
Each of
the original four Star Trek films will also be available individually on
Blu-ray with the bonus content detailed above. Newly remastered versions
of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (both
the theatrical and director’s cut), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,
and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home are presented in high definition along
with digital copies of the theatrical version of each film.
FATHOM EVENTS
In addition, in celebration of the 55th
anniversary, Fathom Events and Paramount Pictures will bring Star Trek IV:
The Voyage Home back to select cinemas for a special two-day event on
August 19 and 22. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
STAR
TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE Synopsis
The U.S.S.
Enterprise boldly debuted on the big screen with the cast of the original Star
Trek series, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley,
George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, and James Doohan. When an
unidentified alien intruder destroys three powerful Klingon cruisers, Captain
James T. Kirk returns to the helm of a newly transformed U.S.S. Enterprise
to take command. This is the original theatrical cut of the acclaimed adventure
and features Jerry Goldsmith’s rousing iconic overture.
STAR TREK
II: THE WRATH OF KHAN Synopsis
Including
both the original theatrical and director’s cuts, Star Trek II: The Wrath of
Khan is one of the most celebrated and essential chapters in Star Trek
lore. On routine training maneuvers, Admiral James T. Kirk seems resigned that
this may be the last space mission of his career. But an adversary from the
past has returned with a vengeance. Aided by his exiled band of genetic
supermen, Khan (Ricardo Montalbán)—brilliant renegade of 20th century Earth—has
raided Space Station Regula One, stolen the top-secret device called Project
Genesis, wrested control of another Federation starship, and now schemes to set
a most deadly trap for his old enemy Kirk… with the threat of a universal
Armageddon.
STAR TREK
III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK Synopsis
Admiral
Kirk's defeat of Khan and the creation of the Genesis planet are empty
victories. Spock is dead and McCoy is inexplicably being driven insane. Then a
surprise visit by Spock's father provides a startling revelation: McCoy is
harboring Spock's living essence. Kirk attempts to steal the U.S.S.
Enterprise and defy Starfleet's Genesis planet quarantine to search for his
friend, but the Klingons are planning a deadly rendezvous.
STAR TREK
IV: THE VOYAGE HOME Synopsis
When a
mysterious alien power threatens the atmosphere of Earth in the 23rd
century, Kirk and his crew must time travel back to 1986 San Francisco to save
mankind. Exploring this strange new world, they encounter punk rock, pizza and
exact-change buses that are as alien as anything in the far reaches of the
galaxy.
Jeff
Chandler leads a group of 3,000 American soldiers on a real life “Men on an
Impossible Mission†in “Merrill’s Marauders,†available on Blu-ray from the
Warner Archive Collection. I say ‘real
life†because this movie is based on actual events with soldiers sent on what
even they saw as an impossible feat. Crossing through Burma from India and
taking out first one, then three Japanese bases. They march through hundreds of
miles of thick jungle and swamps in order to accomplish their impossible mission
lead by Brig. General Frank D. Merrill.
Following
the opening credits, the film opens with an introduction narration over
newsreel footage. In 1942 it was feared the Japanese would link up with the
Germans who might defeat the Russians and make their way through Russia toward
British- controlled India and connect with the Japanese to form a common front.
The Japanese did push the British out of Burma, but the Allies quickly began to
fight back. 3,000 American soldiers, a precursor to U.S. Army Special Forces,
entered Burma through India. They were veterans of Guadalcanal, New Guinea and
Bougainville. The 5307th Composite Unit (provisional), under the command of
Brig. General Frank D. Merrill, started their trek on January 4th 1944. Their
mission is to take the main Japanese supply base in North Burma, Walawbum. It took
them three months to get there in three columns. After this success, they
continued to take other strategic locations which are depicted in the movie as
the men grumble and hope for the end to come soon.
While
successful in winning each objective, the campaign was won at a high cost, as
only 130 combat ready soldiers survived out of the original 2,997. The unit was
disbanded on 10 August 1945, about a week after the final campaign in the town
of Myitkyina, Burma. Some would call the jungle campaign a Pyrrhic victory and
even Merrill was never the same after suffering several heart attacks while
pushing his men to the breaking point, fighting not only the Japanese, but
heat, hunger and disease. Was the invasion worth the huge loss of life? We have
the advantage of hindsight and history buffs can argue the point. Merrill
survived the war and retired from the Army 1948. He died in 1955.
The
movie is a very entertaining military drama depicting Pacific theater jungle
warfare the likes of which most of us can only imagine. Chandler is terrific as
Merrill,who pushes his men relentlessly. Equally at home in Westerns, war
movies, thrillers, adventure movies and dramas, Chandler had rugged good looks and
the charm and charisma to match. He would play Cochise in three movies starting
with “Broken Arrow†in 1950 with James Stewart. He was initially cast in
supporting roles, but would soon move to leading man status.
Joining
Chandler in the cast is Ty Hardin as 2nd Lieutenant Lee Stockton, one of
Merrill’s key officers. Hardin serves as Merrill’s conscience and questions the
value of continuing to fight at such a high cost in lives. Hardin gives a good
performance in a key role, balancing orders and the lives of his men. This was
Hardin’s first big movie role after working for several years in television. He
would work steadily throughout the Sixties, appearing in other big screen war
movies such as “PT 109,†“Battle of the Bulge†and “Custer of the West.†He
never quite achieved big star status and the acting parts began to fade away in
the late Sixties. His anti-government and anti-Semitic politics probably didn’t
help as he became known more for his extremist political views.
Andrew
Duggan is the unit’s doctor, Captain Abraham Lewis Kolodny, M.D. Claude Akins
is a welcome addition as Sergeant Kolowicz in an early film role after years in
television. Interestingly, Vaughan Wilson appears in his only screen appearance
as Bannister, Merrill’s assistant. Lt. Colonel Samuel Vaughn Wilson was a
surviving member of Merrill’s Marauders and was Merrill’s deputy during the
campaign. He also served as technical advisor for the production and introduces
the trailer. Other cast members include John Hoyt as General Joseph Stilwell, Will
Hutchins as Chowhound and Peter Brown as Bullseye. The cast is good and
believable throughout the film as the men are pushed to their limits and then
asked to give more as they take one Japanese outpost after another. There are a
few light moments involving Eleanor the pack mule and her handler Muley played
by Charles Briggs.
Based
on the book by Charlton Ogburn Jr., the movie was directed by Samuel Fuller, who
also co-wrote the screenplay with Milton Sperling. Fuller is best known for directing
crime thrillers, but he was also a veteran of WWII and would later direct one
of the last great WWII dramas, “The Big Red One†which is based on his personal
experiences as a soldier during WWII in North Africa and Europe.
The
movie was filmed on location in Pampanga, Philippines, which stood in for the
Burmese jungle sequences, and also at Clark Air Base, Philippines, all in the early
part of 1961. This was, sadly, Jeff Chandler’s final film. While in production
in the Philippines, Chandler suffered a back injury while playing baseball with
soldiers stationed at Clark Air Base. He had several surgeries in California shortly
after production was completed. Jeff Chandler died on 17 June 1961 due to a
blood infection and pneumonia. His children received a settlement in his death
due to medical malpractice.
Released
in May of 1962 by Warner Bros., the movie was filmed in widescreen with a score
by Howard Jackson. The image quality and sound is terrific on the Blu-ray by the
Warner Archive Collection and clocks in at swift 98 minutes. The only extra is
the trailer for the film. The movie is a worthy upgrade from the previous DVD
and is sure to entertain fans of WWII movies and history.