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May 4
Dirty Dancing: Limited Keepsake Edition
1987) Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes, Kelly Bishop. Two-disc set. Extras: "Kellerman's: Reliving the Locations of the Film" featurette; "Patrick Swayze Tribute" featurette; "Dirty Dancing: The Phenomenon" featurette; "In Memoriam: Fan Reel"; "The Rhythm of the Dancing" featurette; commentaries; vintage featurette; Jennifer Grey screen test; cast and crew interviews; Emile Ardolino tribute; "Hungry Eyes" video; "She's Like the Wind" video; "I've Had the Time of My Life" video; trivia track; original screen tests (Patrick & Jennifer); "Dirty Dancing With Patrick" featurette; tribute to Jerry Orbach; deleted scenes; alternate scenes; extended scenes; outtakes; multi-angle dance sequence; "The Classic Story On Stage" featurette; interactive photo gallery; "Dancing to the Music" featurette; never-before-seen stills gallery; Eleanor's Personal shooting script; "Dirty Dancing: Live in Concert." (Lionsgate).
(1965) Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin, Rod Steiger, Alec Guinness, Ralph Richardson, Tom Courtenay. Restored and remastered. Two-disc set with an eight-song CD soundtrack sampler of the Oscar-winning score. Extras: New documentary: "Doctor Zhivago: A Celebration Part 1 & 2." Also includes bonus features from the 2001 DVD edition: Commentary by Omar Sharif, Rod Steiger and Lady Sandra Lean (wife of David Lean); an introduction by Omar Sharif; "Doctor Zhivago: The Making of a Russian Epic"; and 11 vintage featurettes: "Zhivago: Behind the Camera With David Lean," "David Lean's Film of Doctor Zhivago," "Moscow in Madrid," "Pasternak," "New York Press Interviews Omar Sharif," "New York Press Interviews Julie Christie," "Geraldine Chaplin Screen Test," "This Is Omar Sharif," "This Is Julie Christie," "This Is Geraldine Chaplin," "Chaplin in New York." Includes a 44 page-book of insightful essays, cast photos, historical film facts. (Warner)
Elektra: Director's Cut
(2005) Jennifer Garner, Terence Stamp, Goran Visjnic, Kristen Prout. Bonus features: Commentary by director Rob Bowman and film editor Kevin Stitt; "Relentless: The Making of Elektra -- Part 1: Production"; "Relentless: The Making of Elektra -- Part 2: Post-Production"; "The Mythology"; deleted scenes; alternate and extended scenes; "Showdown at the Well: Multi Angle Dailies." (Fox).
K-19: The Widowmaker
(2002) Dir.: Kathryn Bigelow; Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson. Commentary by Bigelow and cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth, "The Making of K-19: The Widowmaker," "Exploring the Craft: Make-Up Techniques," "Breaching the Hull," "It's in the Details." (Paramount).
Nine
(2009) Dir.: Rob Marshall; Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, Fergie.
Read more about "Nine" in the May Calendar.Extras: Commentary by director Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca, "The Incomparable Daniel Day Lewis" featurette, "The Women of Nine" featurette, "Director Rob Marshall" featurette, "Behind the Look of Nine" featurette, "The Dancers of Nine" featurette, "The Choreography of 'Be Italian'" featurette, "Making of 'Cinema Italiano'" featurette, "The Choreography of 'Cinema Italiano'" featurette, "Cinema Italiano" music video, "Take It All" music video, "Unusual Way" music video, "Sophia Loren Remembers Cinecitta Studios" featurette, Screen Actor's Guild Q&A Session, movieIQ?+sync featuring the "Nine" playlist. (Sony).
Rock 'n' Roll High School 30th Anniversary Special Edition
(1979) Executive produced by Roger Corman and directed by Allan Arkush, with explosive musical performances from the Ramones, T.S.O.L., The Vandals and D.I. Boasts performances by P.J. Soles in the lead role of Riff Randell, Vince Van Patten, Clint Howard , Dey Young, Mary Woronov, Dick Miller and Paul Bartel. Based on Arkush's own high school fantasy, this cult classic takes place at Vince Lombardi High School, the wildest, most rockin' high school around. That is, until a thug of a principal, Miss Togar, comes along and tries to make the school a totalitarian state. With the help of the Ramones, the students of Vince Lombardi battle Miss Togar's iron-fisted rule and take their battle to a truly rockin' conclusion. Bonus features: Special introduction and "Thank You" from director Allan Arkush; commentary by Arkush, producer Mike Finnell and screenwriter Richard Whitley; commentary by Roger Corman and Dey Young; commentary by Arkush, P.J. Soles and Clint Howard; "Back to School" retrospective with new interviews with Arkush, Corman, Joe Dante, Marky Ramone and More; "Staying After Class" roundtable interview with Soles, Van Patten and Young; interview with Corman conducted by Leonard Maltin; new interview with Arkush including a look at rare, behind-the-scenes stills from his personal collection; audio outtakes from The Roxy of The Ramones; "The Final Scene"; original radio ads and TV spots; additional Roger Corman trailers; more. (Shout! Factory: Roger Corman's Cult Classics).
Saving Private Ryan
(1998) Dir.: Steven Spielberg; Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Ted Danson, Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Paul Giamatti, Barry Pepper. Two-disc set. Part of Paramount's Sapphire Series. Bonus features include an introduction by Spielberg; "Looking Into the Past" research featurette; "Miller and his Platoon" character featurette; "Making Saving Private Ryan" featurette; "Re-creating Omaha Beach"; music and sound featurette; "Parting Thoughts" with Spielberg and Hanks; "Into the Breach: Saving Private Ryan" 25-minute documentary; "Shooting War" documentary on WWII combat photographers in Europe and the Pacific theater of war, hosted and narrated by Tom hanks. (Paramount).
(2009) Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Shawn Roberts, Bojana Novakovic, Frank Grillo, Gbenga Akinnagbe. Bonus features: Additional/alternate scenes; "The Past and Present of Edge of Darkness," with nine "Focus Point" video pods: "Scoring the Film," "Revisiting the Edge of Darkness Mini-series," "Edge of Your Seat," "Making a Ghost Character Real," "Adapting the Edge of Darkness Mini-series," "Director Profile Martin Campbell," "Boston as a Character," "Mel's Back" and "Craven's War of Attrition"; digital copy. (Warner).
The Karate Kid Blu-ray Collector's Edition Box Set
Two-disc set with "The Karate Kid" (1984) and "The Karate Kid II" (1986); also available as single-disc Blu-rays. "Karate Kid" bonus features: Commentary by director John G. Avildsen, writer Robert Mark Kamen and actors Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita; three featurettes: "The Way of the Karate Kid," "Beyond the Form" and "Life of Bonsai"; "East Meets West: A Composer's Notebook"; Blu-Pop"pop up trivia, interviews and secrets from the film. "Karate Kid II" bonus features: "The Sequel" featurette, Blu-Pop"pop up trivia, interviews and secrets from the film. (Sony).
M
(1931) A simple, haunting musical phrase whistled offscreen tells us that a young girl will be killed. "Who Is the Murderer?" pleads a nearby placard as serial killer Hans Beckert, played by Peter Lorre, closes in on little Elsie Beckmann. In his harrowing masterwork "M," Fritz Lang merges trenchant social commentary with chilling suspense, creating a panorama of private madness and public hysteria that to this day remains the blueprint for the psychological thriller. Restored high-definition digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Bonus features: Commentary by German film scholars Anton Kaes and Eric Rentschler; long-lost English-language version of "M"; documentary on the physical history of "M," from production to distribution to digital restoration; conversation with Fritz Lang, a 50-minute film by William Friedkin; Claude Chabrol's short film "M le maudit," plus a video interview with Chabrol; classroom audiotapes of editor Paul Falkenberg discussing "M" and its history, set to clips from the film; video interview with Harold Nebenzal, son of "M" producer Seymour Nebenzal; stills gallery, with behind-the-scenes photos and production sketches; booklet featuring an essay by film critic Stanley Kauffmann, a 1963 interview with director Fritz Lang, the script for a missing scene, and contemporaneous newspaper articles. (The Criterion Collection).
High Anxiety
(1977) Dir.: Mel Brooks; Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn, Cloris Leachman, Harvey Korman, Ron Carey, Howard Morris, Dick Van Patten. Bonus features: "Hitchcock and Mel: Spoofing the Master of Suspense," "The 'Am I Very, Very Nervous?' Test," "Dr. Thorndyke's Ink Blot Test," "How Anxious Am I?" "Don't Get Anxious! The Trivia of Hitchcock" trivia track, isolated score track. (Fox).
History of the World: Part I
(1981) Dir.: Mel Brooks; Mel Brooks, Dom DeLuise, Madeline Kahn, Harvey Korman, Cloris Leachman, Ron Carey, Gregory Hines, Pamela Stephenson, Shecky Greene, Sid Caesar, Mary-Margaret Humes, Orson Welles. Bonus features: "Musical Mel: Inventing 'The Inquisition'," "Making History: Mel Brooks on Creating the World," "The Real History of the World" Trivia track, isolated score track. (Fox).
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
(1993) Dir.: Mel Brooks; Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees, Amy Yasbeck, Dave Chappelle, Isaac Hayes, Tracey Ullman, Patrick Stewart, Dom DeLuise, Dick Van Patten. Bonus features: "Funny Men In Tights: Three Generations of Comedy," HBO Special: "Robin Hood: Men In Tights -- The Legend Had It Coming," LaserDisc commentary by Mel Brooks, isolated score track. (Fox).
More Titles
"Daybreakers" (2010) (Lionsagte), "Legion" (2010) (Sony), "Marked for Death" (1990) (Fox), "The Edge" (1997) (Fox), "Hang 'Em High" (1968) (MGM), "The Man in the Iron Mask" (1998) (MGM), "The Magnificent Seven Collection" (The Magnificent Seven, Return of the Magnificent Seven, Guns of the Magnificent Seven and The Magnificent Seven Ride!) (MGM)
May 18
Walkabout
(1971) Dir.: Nicolas Roeg; Stars Jenny Agutter, Luc Roeg, David Gulpilil. A young sister and brother are abandoned in the harsh Australian outback and must learn to exist in the natural world, without their usual comforts. Along the way, they meet a young aborigine on his "walkabout," a rite of passage in which adolescent boys are initiated into manhood by journeying into the wilderness alone. "Walkabout" is a thrilling adventure as well as a provocative rumination on time and civilization. New, restored high-definition digital transfer, from a newly manufactured restoration element, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras: Commentary featuring director Nicolas Roeg and actress Jenny Agutter; interviews with Agutter and actor Luc Roeg; "Gulpilil: One Red Blood" (2002), an hour-long documentary on the life and career of actor David Gulpilil; booklet featuring an essay by author Paul Ryan. (The Criterion Collection).
More Titles
"The Messenger" (2009) (Oscilloscope Pictures), "The Spy Next Door" (2010) (Lionsgate), "Invictus" (2009) (Warner), "Extraordinary Measures" (2010) (Sony), "Valentine's Day" (2010) (Warner), "Outlander" (2008) (Vivendi/Weinstein/Dragon Dynasty), "Dogora" (2004) (Severin Films), "American Bandits" (E1 Entertainment), "The New Daughter" (2009) (Anchor Bay)
May 25
By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volumes One and Two
(1954-2003) Working outside the mainstream, Stan Brakhage made nearly 400 films. Challenging all taboos in his exploration of "birth, sex, death, and the search for God," Brakhage turned his camera on explicit lovemaking, childbirth, even autopsy. Many of his most famous works pursue the nature of vision itself and transcend the act of filming. Some, including the legendary "Mothlight," were made without using a camera at all. Instead, Brakhage pioneered the art of making images directly on film -- drawing, painting, and scratching it by hand. His visionary style has influenced everything from cartoons and television commercials to MTV music videos and the work of such mainstream moviemakers as Martin Scorsese, David Fincher and Oliver Stone. With these two volumes, Criterion presents the definitive Brakhage collection -- 56 of his works in high-definition digital transfers, spanning his almost 50-year career.
Bonus feat rues: Volume One: "Brakhage on Brakhage," a collection of video encounters with the filmmaker; audio remarks on selected films by Stan Brakhage. VOLUME TWO: :Brakhage on Brakhage, a collection of video encounters with the filmmaker"; "For Stan," a short film by Marilyn Brakhage; excerpts from a 1990 interview with Brakhage; footage from Brakhage's salon at the University of Colorado; audio recordings of two lectures by Brakhage; booklet featuring a foreword and program notes by Marilyn Brakhage, as well as write-ups of the films and an essay by Brakhage expert Fred Camper. (The Criterion Collection).
Spartacus (50th Anniversary Edition)
(1960) Director: Stanley Kubrick; Stars: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Nina Foch, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Joanna Barnes, Woody Strode. Deleted scenes, archival interviews with Peter Ustinov and Jean Simmons, behind-the-scenes footage, five vintage newsreels, image galleries (production stills, concept art, costume designs, storyboards, posters and print ads), BD-LIVE. (Universal).
Stagecoach
(1939) This is where it all started. John Ford's smash hit and enduring masterpiece revolutionized the Western, elevating it from B movie to the A-list. The quintessential tale of a group of strangers thrown together into extraordinary circumstances -- nine passengers traveling a dangerous route from Arizona to New Mexico -- "Stag coach" features outstanding performances from Hollywood stalwarts Claire Trevor, John Carradine, Thomas Mitchell, and, of course, John Wayne, in his first starring role for Ford, as the daredevil outlaw the Ringo Kid. Superbly shot and tightly edited, Stagecoach (Ford's first trip to Monument Valley) is Hollywood storytelling at its finest. New, restored high-definition digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras: Commentary by noted western authority Jim Kitses; "Bucking Broadway" (1917), a 54-minute silent western by John Ford, with new music by Donald Sosin; extensive video interview with Ford from 1968; video interview with Dan Ford, biographer and grandson of the director, about Ford's home movies; video interview with filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich; video essay by writer Tag Gallagher; video feature about Monument Valley; video interview with stunt coordinator Vic Armstrong about "Stagecoach's" stuntman Yakima Canutt; radio dramatization of "Stagecoach" from 1949; booklet featuring an essay by David Cairns and the short story that inspired the film. Also available on Blu-ray Disc. (The Criterion Collection).
More Titles
"The Road" (2009) (Weinstein/Sony), "Seven Swords" (2005) (Vivendi/Weinstein/Dragon Dynasty), "Dear John" (2010) (Sony), "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" (2008) (New Video)
DVD Dates
