Here’s a surprise: BBC Home Entertainment will release the complete Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell series on Blu-ray and DVD on 8/11. It begins airing on BBC One in the UK on 5/17, then in the States on BBC America on 6/13. BBC will also release Atlantis: Season Two on Blu-ray and DVD on 8/18.
Sony has also set their Outlander: Season One – Volume Two: Collector’s Edition for Blu-ray and DVD pre-order on Amazon, street date TBA.
Here’s something cool: Shout! Factory has announced that they’re going to be releasing a Hackers: 20th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray and DVD on 8/18. Details will follow in the weeks ahead.
Also, Scream Factory is releasing a pair of IFC Midnight titles on Blu-ray in August, including the Australian zombie film Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead on 8/4 and the alien invasion film Ejecta on 8/18. Scream has also set Toolbox Murders 2 for Blu-ray and DVD release on 8/4. As we’ve mentioned previously, the company also has The People Under the Stairs coming on 8/11, followed by The Sentinel and Nomads on 8/18, and The Legacy and Metamorphosis/Beyond Darkness on 8/25. Scream has just delayed The Serpent and the Rainbow from its planned August street date to later in 2015 or early 2016. Still not done: Scream will release the retro Italian horror title The Editor on Blu-ray and DVD this Fall.
Meanwhile, our friends at Twilight Time are releasing State of Grace (1990) on Blu-ray on 6/9. Extras will include an isolated score track, audio commentary with director Phil Joanou and film historian Nick Redman, and the original theatrical trailer. They’re also releasing the British rock musical Absolute Beginners (1986) on Blu-ray on 6/9 (extras TBA). Also coming on 6/9 is François Truffaut’s Mississippi Mermaid (1969 – extras TBA). I LOVE this one: The company will release Edward Anhalt’s The Young Lions (1958) on Blu-ray on 6/9 as well (extras TBA). And I REALLY love this one: Look for Anatole Litvak’s The Night of the Generals (1967) on Blu-ray on 6/9. So... I guess what I’m saying is that 6/9 is going to be a great day for classic film fans. The pre-order date for all these titles should be 5/27 (4 pm EST) on Screen Archives Entertainment. Gotta hand it to Twilight. They’re kicking ass right now.
Kino Lorber has announced a few great new deep catalog titles for release on Blu-ray and DVD too, including John Huston’s Moby Dick (DVD ONLY – 1956 – presumably MGM is working on their own Blu-ray) and Ted Kotcheff’s Billy Two Hats (1974) in September. Both star Gregory Peck. Also “coming soon” are Wayne Wang’s Slam Dance (1987) and Jerry Kramer’s Modern Girls (1986). On 7/28, look for Cherry 2000 (1987), The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein (1978), Miracle Mile (1988), Prime Cut (1972), Zone Troopers (1985), and Monte Walsh (1970). And on 7/7, look for The Crimson Cult (1968), Pit Stop (1969), Report to the Commissioner (1975), Spasmo (1974), and Truck Turner (1974)
Olive Films’ June slate will include Fled (1996), Johnny Be Good (1988), Mean Season (1985), a Soul Plane: Collector’s Edition (2004), Stone Cold (1991), The Thing with Two Heads (1972), and Thrashin’ (1986), all due on both Blu-ray and DVD on 6/23.
Also, Magnolia has set the Simon Pegg comedy Kill Me Three Times for Blu-ray and DVD release on 7/7.
Finally, Well Go USA has For the Emperor due on Blu-ray on 7/7.
We’ll leave you with a bunch of new Blu-ray cover artwork (with Amazon pre-order links if available)...
Back tomorrow. Stay tuned!
- Bill Hunt