Stephen has also reviewed a trio of new Blu-ray titles, including Allan Moyle’s Times Square (1980) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics, Jeff Hathcock’s Night Ripper (1986) from Vinegar Syndrome, and Lynne Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman’s 1992 documentary Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives also from Vinegar Syndrome.
Finally today, Tim checks in with his thoughts on Roy Ward Baker’s 1958 Titanic sinking drama A Night to Remember, as recently released on Blu-ray by Imprint Films in Australia, as well as Robert Scheerer’s Ants! (1977) from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.
In announcement news, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has set Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 9/13, with the Digital release due next week on 8/9. Both Blu-ray SKUs will include Dolby Atmos audio. Extras will include 4 featurettes (Bigger Than Life: The Making of Elvis, Rock ‘N Roll Royalty: The Music & Artists Behind Elvis, Fit for a King: The Style of Elvis, and Viva Australia: Recreating Iconic Locations for Elvis, as well as a lyric video for Trouble. You can see the cover artwork below.
We’ve also learned that Sony’s anticipated Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection: Volume 3 will include To Sir with Love (1967) in addition to As Good As it Gets (1997), From Here to Eternity (1953), Annie (1982), The Last Picture Show (1971), and Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night (1934). The anticipated street date is 11/1, and we could expect an official announcement in the coming weeks.
Also today, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has confirmed that their 4K Ultra HD release of Frank Oz’s The Score (2001) is going to street on 10/11, complete with a new Dolby Vision HDR color grade.
Paramount has set the Paramount+ exclusive streaming series Mayor of Kingston: Season One for Blu-ray and DVD release on 9/17.
Screen Media will release Code Name Banshee on DVD only on 8/9.
Lionsgate will release the family adventure Ghoster on DVD and Digital on 10/11.
Our friends at Zavvi are celebrating the 60th anniversary of James Bond by releasing a series of exclusive Steelbook editions of the various films in the franchise, though keep in mind these are the existing Blu-ray editions, not new 4K UHDs. It appears that there are no plans to release the films in 4K Ultra HD, at least this year. You can visit Zavvi US and Canada here, and Zavvi UK here.
Also today, RLJE Films has set Murder at Yellowstone City for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/23.
And Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has moved the street date for Outlander: Season Six on Blu-ray and DVD to 9/20 (from 9/9). Adjust your plans accordingly.
In other title news, Bits reader Dennis L. has alerted us to the fact that Universal has been holding 40th anniversary theatrical screenings of Amy Heckerling’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982), which suggests that a 4K Ultra HD could be in the cards before the end of the year.
And here’s something interesting: We know that StudioCanal has been working on a 4K restoration of Russell Mulcahy’s Highlander (1986). We’re not yet sure what the status of that restoration is, but Eagle Pictures is apparently releasing the film on physical 4K Ultra HD in Italy on 10/5. You can see that here. We assume the 4K UHD disc itself would be all region, and it’s an English-language film, so the disc might be worth a look for fans. Though do keep in mind, a StudioCanal or Lionsgate release may be forthcoming as well. Thanks to Bits reader Messias S. for the heads-up on this! You can see the cover artwork below.
In other news around the industry, the complete Game of Thrones TV series is now available in 4K Ultra HD with HDR on HBO Max.
Paramount Home Entertainment has posted a nice increase in revenue in the first half or 2022. More here at Media Play News.
Speaking of Paramount, the films 48 Hours and Another 48 Hours are now available digitally in 4K on Apple TV+.
And it appears that as part of the ongoing conglom-o-merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery, the company will launch a new global streaming service that will combine HBO Max, Warner Bros, Discovery+, DC, Magnolia, and CNN content. Expect the service to launch summer 2023. You can read more here at The Hollywood Reporter.
Speaking of HBO Max, Deadline has a good explainer today on why new Warner Discover CES David Zaslav has been nixing so many streaming exclusive titles like Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt.
That’s it for this week! We’ll leave you with a look at the cover artwork for a couple of the 4K UHD titles mentioned above, with Amazon links (keep in mind that Highlander is on Amazon Italy)...
Have a great weekend!
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