Now then... in announcement news, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has just set Peter H. Hunt’s 1776 for release on 4K Ultra HD on 5/31 as a new 50th Anniversary Director’s Cut release. The package will include both the 165-minute Director’s Cut and the 167-minute Extended Cut in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. The package will also include a Blu-ray with both cuts, along with audio commentary by Hunt, William Daniels, and Ken Howard, a second commentary with Hunt and Peter Stone (both on the Director’s Cut only), deleted and alternate scenes with director’s commentary, 9 screen tests, and the teaser and theatrical trailers. You’ll also get a bonus Blu-ray with the 1972 Theatrical Version of the film (in HD with original mono audio) and the 1992 Laserdisc Version of the film (in SD with stereo audio, plus archival commentary by Hunt). You can see the cover artwork above-left and also below.
We’re not done yet by a long shot: Criterion has announced their May Blu-ray and 4K slate which is set to include Joseph Losey’s Mr. Klein (1976) (Spine #1123 – Blu-ray) on 5/10, Juzo Itami’s The Funeral (1984) (Spine #1125 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 5/17, Mira Nair’s Mississippi Masala (1991) (Spine #1127 – Blu-ray and DVD) on 5/24, and Wayne Wang’s Chan Is Missing (1982) (Spine #1124 – Blu-ray) and Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity (1944) (Spine #1126 – 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo and Blu-ray) on 5/31. Note that the 4K will include Dolby Vision HDR. You can see the Criterion cover artwork below as well.
Also today, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has revealed that they’re working on a new 4K Ultra HD release of Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men (1957) featuring Dolby Vision HDR. That’s currently listed as coming soon.
KLSC has also revealed a new Dr. Phibes Double Feature Blu-ray release due on 4/12 that includes The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) and Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972). Phibes will include a pair of legacy audio commentaries, and Rises Again will add a new commentary by Justin Humphreys in addition to the previous commentary by Tim Lucas.
Back on the topic of 4K again, it appears that Paramount’s 4K Ultra HD release of Escape from L.A. (which is due to street on 2/22) has a problem with its 5.1 audio mix—the center channel dialogue is apparently duplicated in the surround channels. The problem was confirmed by our friend Ralph Potts over at AVS Forum and Paramount is apparently planning on fixing the disc. So it’s likely the 2/22 release will be delayed while they do so. We’ll let you know when a new street date is available.
While we’re on the subject of Paramount, the studio is releasing the Amazon Original Tom Clancy film Without Remorse, which stars Michael B. Jordan, on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/3. They also have the Audrey Hepburn classic Paris When It Sizzles (1964) coming to Blu-ray that same day.
And A24 and Liongate will release Mike Mills’ C’mon C’mon on Blu-ray and DVD on 4/12. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman.
Finally today, the Orson Welles website Wellsnet is reporting that a previously lost short film by the director, Two Wise Old Men: Socrates and Noah (1970), has been recovered on home video, found—of all places—via auction on an old Avco Cartrivision video cassette. Cartrivision was a short-lived video format introduced in 1972 by the Avco Broadcasting Corporation, which was sold only at Montgomery Ward and Sears stores. They stopped making it in 1973 due to poor sales and it wouldn’t be until 1976 that VHS arrived on the scene. The film was one of two Welles produced specifically for Avco (other appears not to survive). You can read more on all this here.
We’ll leave you with a look at the cover artwork for a bunch of the titles mentioned above. Amazon pre-order links will be added as they go live...
Back with more news and reviews tomorrow. Stay tuned...!
(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)