Get the latest DVD release information (free) every Tuesday morning. Subscribe here.
October 7
Foreign Correspondent
(1940) In 1940, Alfred Hitchcock made his official transition from the British film industry to Hollywood. And it was quite a year: his first two American movies, "Rebecca" and "Foreign Correspondent," were both nominated for the best picture Oscar. Though "Rebecca" prevailed, "Foreign Correspondent" is the more quintessential Hitch film. A full-throttle espionage thriller, starring Joel McCrea as a green Yank reporter sent to Europe to get the scoop on the imminent war, it's wall-to-wall witty repartee, head-spinning plot twists, and brilliantly mounted suspense set pieces, including an ocean plane crash climax with astonishing special effects. "Foreign Correspondent" deserves to be mentioned alongside "The 39 Steps" and "North by Northwest" as one of the master's greatest adventures. New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Originally released as a Dual Format DVD/Blu-ray Edition in February. Extras: New piece on the visual effects in the film with effects expert Craig Barron; "Hollywood Propaganda and World War II," a new interview with writer Mark Harris; interview with Hitchcock from a 1972 episode of "The Dick Cavett Show"; radio adaptation of the film from 1946, starring Joseph Cotten; "Have You Heard? The Story of Wartime Rumors," a 1942 Life magazine "photo-drama" by Hitchcock; trailer; booklet featuring an essay by film scholar James Naremore. Originally released as a Dual Format DVD/Blu-ray Edition in February. (The Criterion Collection).
Holiday Inn
(1942) Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Walter Abel. Featuring the Academy Award-winning song "White Christmas," Crosby plays a song and dance man who leaves showbiz to run an inn that is open only on holidays. Astaire plays his former partner and rival in love. Extras: "A Couple of Song and Dance Men" featurette; "All-Singing All-Dancing" featurette; commentary by film historian Ken Barnes, with archive audio comments from Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, and John Scott Trotter; theatrical trailer. (Studio).
Roger & Me
(1989) A highly original, personal and satire account of one of America's greatest urban disasters told against the background of the tough times in Flint, Michigan, director Michael Moore's hometown. The birthplace of General Motors, Flint had been economically decimated by, among other things, plant closings and the elimination of 30,000 GM jobs. In "Roger & Me," Moore gives cinematic voice to his razor-sharp, compassionate and often wryly humorous perceptions of what went wrong in Flint, and chronicles his much-thwarted efforts to meet face-to-face with then-GM Chairman Roger Smith. Blending humor with scathing indictment, "Roger & Me" ignited a national discussion about the cruelties of corporate America and inspired other filmmakers to make films that would be seen by wider audiences. Extras: Commentary by Michael Moore, trailer. Also available on DVD and digital. (Warner).
Advertisement
October 14
Kingpin
(1996) Woody Harrelson, Randy Quaid, Vanessa Angel, Bill Murray, Chris Elliott. Theatrical and R-rated versions. Formats: Also available on DVD. Blu-ray extras: Commentary by directors Peter & Bobby Farrelly, "Kingpins: Extra Frames With The Farrelly Brothers," theatrical trailer. (Paramount).
My Darling Clementine
(1946) John Ford takes on the legend of the O.K. Corral shoot-out in this multilayered, exceptionally well-constructed western, one of the director's very best films. Henry Fonda cuts an iconic figure as Wyatt Earp, the sturdy lawman who sets about the task of shaping up the disorderly Arizona town of Tombstone, and Victor Mature gives the performance of his career as the boozy, tubercular gambler and gunman Doc Holliday. Though initially at cross-purposes, the pair ultimately team up to confront the violent Clanton gang. Affecting and stunningly photographed, "My Darling Clementine" is a story of the triumph of civilization over the Wild West from American cinema's consummate mythmaker. New 4K digital restoration of the theatrical release version of the film, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. High-definition presentation of the 103-minute prerelease version of the film. Extras: Audio commentary featuring John Ford biographer Joseph McBride; new interview with Western historian Andrew C. Isenberg about the real Wyatt Earp; comparison of the two versions by the UCLA Film & Television Archive's Robert Gitt; new video essay by Ford scholar Tag Gallagher; "A Bandit's Wager," a 1916 short co-starring Ford and directed by his brother, Francis Ford, featuring new music composed and performed by Donald Sosin; NBC broadcast reports from 1963 and 1975 about the history of Tombstone and Monument Valley; Lux Radio Theatre adaptation from 1947 starring Henry Fonda and Cathy Downs; trailer; an essay by critic David Jenkins. (The Criterion Collection).
White Christmas Diamond Anniversary Edition
(1954) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen and the unforgettable music of Irving Berlin. Formats:Three-disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Extras: New special features such as five classic Christmas television show appearances by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, including a virtual duet between Crosby and Michael Buble; an optional sing-along subtitle track that accompanies the film's most popular songs; new photo galleries; and a Christmas CD with 12 songs featuring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee and Judy Garland, including eight never-before-released tracks. Additional previously released special features include commentary by Rosemary Clooney, backstage stories, featurettes on Crosby, Kaye and Clooney, and more. (Paramount).
October 21
F for Fake
(1975) Trickery. Deceit. Magic. In "F for Fake," a free-form documentary by Orson Welles, the legendary filmmaker (and self-described charlatan) gleefully reengages with the central preoccupation of his career: the tenuous line between illusion and truth, art and lies. Beginning with portraits of the world-renowned art forger Elmyr de Hory and his equally devious biographer, Clifford Irving, Welles embarks on a dizzying journey that simultaneously exposes and revels in fakery and fakers of all stripes -- not the least of whom is Welles himself. Charming and inventive, "F for Fake" is an inspired prank and a clever examination of the essential duplicity of cinema. New, restored digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras: Audio commentary from 2005 by co-writer and star Oja Kodar and director of photography Gary Graver; introduction from 2005 by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich; "Orson Welles: One-Man Band," a documentary from 1995 about Welles's unfinished projects; "Almost True: The Noble Art of Forgery," a 52-minute documentary from 1997 about art forger Elmyr de Hory; "60 Minutes" interview from 2000 with Clifford Irving about his Howard Hughes autobiography hoax; Hughes' 1972 press conference exposing Irving's hoax; extended, nine-minute trailer; an essay by critic Jonathan Rosenbaum. (The Criterion Collection).
La dolce vita
(1960) The biggest hit from the most popular Italian filmmaker of all time, "La dolce vita" rocketed Federico Fellini to international mainstream success -- ironically, by offering a damning critique of the culture of stardom. A look at the darkness beneath the seductive lifestyles of Rome's rich and glamorous, the film follows a notorious celebrity journalist-played by a sublimely cool Marcello Mastroianni -- during a hectic week spent on the peripheries of the spotlight. This mordant picture was an incisive commentary on the deepening decadence of the European 1960s, and it provided a prescient glimpse of just how gossip -- and fame -- obsessed our society would become. New 4K digital restoration by the Film Foundation, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras: New visual essay by : : kogonada; new interview with filmmaker Lina Wertmüller, who worked as assistant director on the film; scholar David Forgacs discusses the period in Italy's history when the film was made; new interview with Italian film journalist Antonello Sarno about the outlandish fashions seen in the film; audio interview with Mastroianni from the early 1960s, conducted by film historian Gideon Bachmann; "Felliniana," a presentation of ephemera related to "La dolce vita" from the collection of Don Young; an essay by critic Gary Giddins. (The Criterion Collection).
Pee-wee's Playhouse: The Complete Series BLU-RAY DEBUT
(2013) Winner of an amazing 22 Emmy Awards, "Pee-wee's Playhouse" is a cultural touchstone for a generation, and its visually dynamic design and offbeat sense of humor were a genuine phenomenon. All 45 wacky episodes on eight discs, plus the Pee-wee's Playhouse "Christmas Special," have been meticulously remastered from the original film elements -- Paul Reubens personally supervised the restoration of the series frame by frame. "Pee-wee's Playhouse" is an educational, artistic and entertaining show that teaches kids strong "life lessons." With its innovative production design and Reubens' rich original characters and humor, "Pee-wee's Playhouse" is a magical place that sparks creativity and imagination and brings joy to children and adults alike. Parents and grown-ups have always enjoyed the show's many double entendres. The series features beloved regulars Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne), Reba the Mail Lady (S. Epatha Merkerson), Miss Yvonne (Lynne Marie Stewart), Captain Carl (Phil Hartman), The King of Cartoons (William Marshall), Jambi the Genie (John Paragon), Ricardo (Vic Trevino) and Mrs. Rene (Suzanne Kent). And of course, Chairry, Pterri, Conky, Magic Screen, Clocky, Cool Cat, Dirty Dog, Chicky Baby, Penny, the Dinosaur family, and the rest of the gang. $149.99. (Shout! Factory).
October 28
The Complete Jacques Tati
Though he made only a handful of films, director, writer, and actor Jacques Tati ranks among the most beloved of all cinematic geniuses. With a background in music hall and mime performance, Tati steadily built an ever more ambitious movie career that ultimately raised sight-gag comedy to the level of high art. In the surrogate character of the sweet and bumbling, eternally umbrella-toting and pipe-smoking Monsieur Hulot, Tati invented a charming symbol of humanity lost in a constantly modernizing modern age. This set gathers his six hilarious features -- "Jour de fete," "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday," "Mon oncle," "PlayTime," "Trafic" and "Parade -- along with seven delightful Tati-related short films. New digital restorations of all six feature films and new digital restorations of all seven short films.
Formats: Seven-disc Blu-ray set; $124.95. Extras: Two alternate versions of "Jour de fete," a partly colorized 1964 version and the full-color 1994 rerelease version; original 1953 theatrical release version of "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday"; "My Uncle," the version of "Mon oncle" that Tati created for English-language audiences; introductions by actor and comedian Terry Jones to "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday," "Mon oncle" and" PlayTime"; archival interviews with Tati; "In the Footsteps of Monsieur Hulot," a 1989 documentary about Tati's beloved alter ego; five visual essays by Tati expert Stephane Goudet; new interview with film scholar Michel Chion on the sound design of Tati's films; "Jour de fete: In Search of the Lost Color," a 1988 documentary on the process of realizing Tati's original color vision for that film; "Once Upon a Time ... Mon oncle," a 2008 documentary about the making of that film; "Everything Is Beautiful," a 2005 piece on the fashion, furniture, and architecture of "Mon oncle"; selected-scene commentaries on "PlayTime" by Goudet, theater director Jerome Deschamps, and critic Philip Kemp; "Tativille," a documentary shot on the set of "PlayTime"; "Beyond PlayTime," a short 2002 documentary featuring on-set footage; "An Homage to Jacques Tati," a 1982 French TV program featuring Tati friend and set designer Jacques Lagrange; audio interview with Tati from the U.S. premiere of "PlayTime" at the 1972 San Francisco International Film Festival; interview with "PlayTime" script supervisor Sylvette Baudrot from 2006; "Tati Story," a short biographical film from 2002; "Professor Goudet's Lessons," a 2013 classroom lecture by Goudet on Tati's films; alternate English-language soundtracks for "Monsieur Hulot's Holiday" and "PlayTime"; a booklet featuring essays by critics David Cairns, James Quandt, Jonathan Rosenbaum, and Kristin Ross. (The Criterion Collection).
Nightbreed: The Director's Cut
(1990) "Hellraiser" creator Clive Barker wrote and directed this vivid leap into horror that asks the question: In the battle of man vs. monster, who's really the monster? The answer supplies flesh-crawling suspense, sudden fear, a colorful Danny Elfman score and a creepy array of shape-shifting beings. The original "Nightbreed," written and directed by Barker from his 1988 novel "Cabal," was released in 1990 by Morgan Creek Productions and 20th Century Fox and starred Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby and David Cronenberg and centered on a tribe of monsters and outcasts known as the Nightbreed that hide from humanity. The film featured director Cronenberg in a tour-de-force performance as the evil psychotherapist Dr. Phillip K. Decker and Sheffer as Aaron Boone, a young man whom Decker sets up as a serial killer and who retreats to the world of the Nightbreeds (underneath a cemetery) to live among monsters. Elfman, who had just scored Tim Burton's "Batman" and was about to score Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy," created a beautifully eerie score using children's voices, ethnic drums and instruments, and an orchestra. However, the studio edited the film extensively and several scenes were excised or rearranged -- much to Barker's disappointment. This original "Director's Cut" has been considered a "lost" holy grail to horror fanatics for years ... until now. Through the help of Barker, Seraphim Films and Morgan Creek Productions, Scream! Factory is finally bringing this uncut version to light. Lost footage from original film elements has been found and has been edited together to become the film as it was originally intended to be. "Nightbreed" will be available in two versions: A 5,000 unit Limited-Edition three-Disc Blu-ray set and a Special Edition DVD & Blu-ray Combo. Limited Edition Set: Disc 1: Unrated director's cut of the film on Blu-ray; Disc 2: The 1990 R-rated theatrical version of the film on Blu-ray; Disc 3: Exclusive-to-this-set bonus Blu-ray disc packed with extras (details forthcoming); collector's book with an essay and rare photos; slipcase includes newly designed artwork approved by Clive Barker; $79.97. Special Edition Set: Disc 1: Unrated director's cut of the film on Blu-ray plus bonus features (details forthcoming); Disc 2: Unrated director's cut of the film on DVD (details forthcoming); slipcase includes artwork approved by Clive Barker; $29.93. (Shout! Factory).
Squirm Collector's Edition
(1976) Don Scardino, Patricia Pearcy, R.A. Dow, Jean Sullivan. When a powerful storm knocks Fly Creek, Georgia's power lines down onto wet soil, the resulting surge of electricity drives large, bloodthirsty worms to the surface -- and then out of their soil-tilling minds. Soon, the townspeople discover that their sleepy fishing village is overrun with worms that burrow right into their skin. Inundated by hundreds of thousands of carnivorous creatures, the terrorized locals race to find the cause of the rampage -- before becoming tilled under themselves!
Extras: Commentary by writer-director Jeff Lieberman; "Eureka!," a look at where the idea for "Squirm" came from with Jeff Lieberman; "Digging In" interviews with Lieberman and actor Don Scardino; theatrical trailer; TV spot; still gallery. (Scream Factory/Shout! Factory).
The Vanishing
(1988) A young man embarks on an obsessive search for the girlfriend who mysteriously disappeared while the couple were taking a sunny vacation trip, and his three-year investigation draws the attention of her abductor, a mild-mannered professor with a diabolically clinical mind. An unorthodox love story and a truly unsettling thriller, Dutch filmmaker George Sluizer's "The Vanishing" unfolds with meticulous intensity, leading to an unforgettable finale that has unnerved audiences around the world. New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Extras: New interview with director George Sluizer; new interview with actor Johanna ter Steege; trailer; an essay by critic Scott Foundas. (The Criterion Collection).
This Month's BR
(1940) In 1940, Alfred Hitchcock made his official transition from the British film industry to Hollywood. And it was quite a year: his first two American movies, "Rebecca" and "Foreign Correspondent," were both nominated for the best picture Oscar. Though "Rebecca" prevailed, "Foreign Correspondent" is the more quintessential Hitch film. A full-throttle espionage thriller, starring Joel McCrea as a green Yank reporter sent to Europe to get the scoop on the imminent war, it's wall-to-wall witty repartee, head-spinning plot twists, and brilliantly mounted suspense set pieces, including an ocean plane crash climax with astonishing special effects. "Foreign Correspondent" deserves to be mentioned alongside "The 39 Steps" and "North by Northwest" as one of the master's greatest adventures. New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack. Originally released as a Dual Format DVD/Blu-ray Edition in February. Extras: New piece on the visual effects in the film with effects expert Craig Barron; "Hollywood Propaganda and World War II," a new interview with writer Mark Harris; interview with Hitchcock from a 1972 episode of "The Dick Cavett Show"; radio adaptation of the film from 1946, starring Joseph Cotten; "Have You Heard? The Story of Wartime Rumors," a 1942 Life magazine "photo-drama" by Hitchcock; trailer; booklet featuring an essay by film scholar James Naremore. Originally released as a Dual Format DVD/Blu-ray Edition in February. (The Criterion Collection).
phenomenon. All 45 wacky episodes on eight discs, plus the Pee-wee's Playhouse "Christmas Special," have been meticulously remastered from the original film elements -- Paul Reubens personally supervised the restoration of the series frame by frame. "Pee-wee's Playhouse" is an educational, artistic and entertaining show that teaches kids strong "life lessons." With its innovative production design and Reubens' rich original characters and humor, "Pee-wee's Playhouse" is a magical place that sparks creativity and imagination and brings joy to children and adults alike. Parents and grown-ups have always enjoyed the show's many double entendres. The series features beloved regulars Cowboy Curtis (Laurence Fishburne), Reba the Mail Lady (S. Epatha Merkerson), Miss Yvonne (Lynne Marie Stewart), Captain Carl (Phil Hartman), The King of Cartoons (William Marshall), Jambi the Genie (John Paragon), Ricardo (Vic Trevino) and Mrs. Rene (Suzanne Kent). And of course, Chairry, Pterri, Conky, Magic Screen, Clocky, Cool Cat, Dirty Dog, Chicky Baby, Penny, the Dinosaur family, and the rest of the gang. $149.99. (Shout! Factory).
starred Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby and David Cronenberg and centered on a tribe of monsters and outcasts known as the Nightbreed that hide from humanity. The film featured director Cronenberg in a tour-de-force performance as the evil psychotherapist Dr. Phillip K. Decker and Sheffer as Aaron Boone, a young man whom Decker sets up as a serial killer and who retreats to the world of the Nightbreeds (underneath a cemetery) to live among monsters. Elfman, who had just scored Tim Burton's "Batman" and was about to score Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy," created a beautifully eerie score using children's voices, ethnic drums and instruments, and an orchestra. However, the studio edited the film extensively and several scenes were excised or rearranged -- much to Barker's disappointment. This original "Director's Cut" has been considered a "lost" holy grail to horror fanatics for years ... until now. Through the help of Barker, Seraphim Films and Morgan Creek Productions, Scream! Factory is finally bringing this uncut version to light. Lost footage from original film elements has been found and has been edited together to become the film as it was originally intended to be. "Nightbreed" will be available in two versions: A 5,000 unit Limited-Edition three-Disc Blu-ray set and a Special Edition DVD & Blu-ray Combo. Limited Edition Set: Disc 1: Unrated director's cut of the film on Blu-ray; Disc 2: The 1990 R-rated theatrical version of the film on Blu-ray; Disc 3: Exclusive-to-this-set bonus Blu-ray disc packed with extras (details forthcoming); collector's book with an essay and rare photos; slipcase includes newly designed artwork approved by Clive Barker; $79.97. Special Edition Set: Disc 1: Unrated director's cut of the film on Blu-ray plus bonus features (details forthcoming); Disc 2: Unrated director's cut of the film on DVD (details forthcoming); slipcase includes artwork approved by Clive Barker; $29.93. (Shout! Factory).
