By Peter M. Bracke

A Hitch in time saves nine

Geez, is it becoming an embarrassment of riches as of late for lovers of classic film? If you've been collecting DVDs for any length of time now, you've undoubtedly noticed a preponderance of big-budget action flicks, "A"-list new releases and a smattering of classic films clogging the shelves. While we have been treated to a number of gems on DVD (a few Hitchcock titles, Touch Of Evil, Casablanca and The Wizard Of Oz, to name but a few), for the most part some of the most major-league directors have been poorly underserved on DVD. But now, with the upcoming Kubrick reissues, Lawrence Of Arabia and Giant from Warner, amongst others, we finally are seeing a bigger commitment to the classics on DVD. And in March, add to that list Universal's new comprehensive Alfred Hitchcock, long since available on VHS.

So far Universal has released special editions of Psycho, Vertigo, The Birds, Marnie and a three-episode set of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. But on 3/6, Universal will complete the collection by releasing all of the remaining Hitchcock titles in their library with no less than ten new discs. From most recent to the oldest, the titles are Family Plot, Frenzy, Topaz, Torn Curtain, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Trouble With Harry, Rear Window, Rope, Saboteur and Shadow Of A Doubt. Each title will retail for $29.95 individually and there will also be a second The Alfred Hitchcock Collection box set with three discs for $64.95. Also available will be The Best Of Hitchcock Volumes 1 and 2, each with 7 movie discs and a bonus 8th disc and retailing for $174.95 each.

And more exciting than just the fact that these are being released on DVD, all will receive the special edition treatment. Each disc features a 1.85:1 widescreen transfer (except Rope, Saboteur and Shadow Of A Doubt which are 1.37:1, while Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much and The Trouble With Harry are 1.66:1.), and every title also includes a brand-new documentary by Laurent Bouzereau, who also did the documentaries for Psycho, The Birds and Marnie. Thus, a very consistent set in the tradition of Universal's Classic Monsters Collection. The packaging will also be united among all the releases, and both Psycho and Vertigo have been reissued with new art to match (though features remain the same, and there are no plans to reissue those titles in anamorphic.)

Additional features include trailers, production notes from Pat Hitchcock, with more still TBA, and Universal expects to release the full full specs including features and anamorphic and soundtrack status sometime in the next week or so. Certainly it looks like a great set of releases, though while it is great to see these Hitchcock titles finally get the comprehensive box set treatment, boy is it going to be painful on the pocketbook! Anyway, stay tuned for more...

Anchor Bay's winter titles

While I guess it isn't at the level of a Hitchcock, Anchor Bay has their own impressive lineup of cult classics on the way this winter, and personally I can't wait for some of these! They have issue the full specs for their December and January titles, and all include new anamorphic transfers and some cool features, too.

First on 12/12 comes Crunch: The Best Of Crunch Step and Mr. Bill's Classics ("Ooooh, nooooo!"), both in full frame and 2.0. Mr. Bill also features an audio commentary with Mr. Bill and moderated by Mr. Hands(!), "Pop Quiz" and "Name That Ooo!!" games and even a storyboard gallery! Now, that is what I call a deal at $24.95! Also due on 12/12 is Walking The Edge with audio commentary with Director Norbert Meisel, Stars Nancy Kwan and Robert Forster, talent bios and the trailer, and presented in anamorphic widescreen.

Then on 1/16 comes the John Woo extravaganzas A Better Tomorrow and A Better Tomorrow II in anamorphic widescreen and with their original Cantonese or English dub tracks and talent bios. Also due is the underrated Sister Sister, in anamorphic widescreen with deleted scenes, an audio commentary with writer/director Bill Condon and talent bios and Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! with the trailer and anamorphic transfer.

Then coming on 1/30, "From the mind of John Carpenter" comes Black Moon Rising in anamorphic widescreen with the trailer and talent bios, C.H.U.D. in anamorphic widescreen with a still gallery of production photos and an audio commentary with director Douglas Cheek, writer Shepard Abbott, stars John Heard, Daniel Stern, and Christopher Curry, and Monte Hellman's Cockfighter in anamorphic widescreen along with "Warren Oates: Across The Border" documentary by Tom Thurman, and an audio commentary with director Monte Hellman and production assistant Steven Gaydos, and the trailer. Finally on 1/30 we have the movie that puts Citizen Kane and Lawrence Of Arabia to shame, Girls Just Want To Have Fun. The disc features anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers, a new 5.1 mix and the trailer. Retail for all of the above is $24.95.

Battlefield DVD

Ohh, aah, yeah! The title you've all breathlessly been awaiting is finally here...Battlefield Earth! Even if you love or loathe this movie, it is fair to say no film in recent memory has been as critically reviled as this one, so it should definitely make a fun DVD! Warner is release the John Travolta / Scientology sci-fi barnbuster on 1/16 with plenty of goodies. In addition to a 2.35;1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 Dolby Digital mix and English Captions and Subtitles, the disc includes an audio commentary by Director Roger Christian and Production Designer Patrick Tatopoulos, "Evolution" and "Creation and Creative: Visual Effects" featurettes, a John Travolta makeup test(!), a storyboard montage, theatrical trailers, TV spots, Cast/Director highlights and "hidden extras." All this can be yours for just $24.95.

Also on 1/16 (in addition to the already-announced Bait), Warner will release the TV drama Nuremberg, in 1.66:1 non-anamorphic widescreen and 2.0 surround. The disc also features "Behind the Scenes of Nuremberg: The Story" and "Behind the Scenes of Nuremberg: Alec Baldwin" featurettes and cast highlights. Retail is only $19.95 for the dual-layer disc.

Finally, Warner has also issued the complete specs for those Friends Best-Of DVDs due on 12/19. In addition to five episodes on each disc, there are "extended takes," a making-of featurette, The Rembrandts' music video for the title tune and on the pilot episode, an audio commentary (though participants are strangely not listed.) Retail remains $19.95 for each disc and $34.95 for the two-pack.

Fox premieres "Critic's Choice" collection in March

Just in time for the Academy Awards in late march (hard to believe it is already Oscar time, isn't it?) Fox has announced a new "Critic's Choice" series of acclaimed catalog titles. Coming on 3/13 are The Ice Storm, Grand Canyon, Smilla's Sense Of Snow, Paradise Road and Inventing The Abbotts. All are 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen (except Ice Storm and Abbotts which are 1.85:1) and have English and French 2.0 surround tracks and English Close Captions and Subtitles, and Paradise Road and Abbotts all have 5.1 tracks as well, and Ice Storm has a 5.0. Retail is only $24.95 each, though any special features specs have not yet been released to us.

Oddly, Fox has yet to announce their February catalog slate, aside from the 1950's semi-classic Demetrius And The Gladiators, in its original Cinemascope 2.55:1 dimensions on 2/27. But along with titles like Big Trouble In Little China, Point Break, Alien Nation and the double-feature discs of Revenge Of The Nerds and Porky's, it looks to be a good first half of 2001 from Fox. Also, Fox has released box art for some of these titles, so I threw them up below for those interested.

New Columbia announcements

A new announcement or two from Columbia today. First off, both the previously delayed Bossa Nova and Timecode discs have finally gotten new dates, 12/26. Features remain the same as previously announced. Then, on 1/30 comes the imports Goya In Bordeaux and Solomon And Gaenor. Both are anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 surround (the former in its original Spanish, the latter in English) and feature talent files, production notes and theatrical trailers but little else in the way of extras. Retail is $29.95 each.

The Ego has landed...

Finally today, from Music Video Distribution comes Mr. Ego himself Robbie Williams, starring as himself in Where Egos Dare, a "live extravaganza." Presented in full frame and 5.1 and 2.0 stereo, the disc features multi-angles on some songs, a making-of the "Rock DJ" video, behind the scenes footage and two music videos. Retail is $29.95 and street date 1/16.

November 28 : Paramount's February slate; New Line art-house pair due in January; Cherry Falls goes direct-to-video; 'Sound Of Music' contest winner; updates on 'Olive' and 'Princess Mononoke' track

Paramount's February slate

Paramount has just released the full specs for their February slate, and there is a really strong mix of old favorites, and a few modern classics I'm quite excited about. First up on 2/13 is the new release Bless The Child, which couldn't quite capture the box office of The Sixth Sense even with Kim Basinger in the lead. Extras include an audio commentary with Director Chuck Russell and Visual Effects Supervisor Joel Hynek and cast & crew interviews. Also on 2/13 comes two great Albert Brooks comedies, Mother and his first directorial effort, the ahead-of-its-time docudrama Real Life. All of the above are 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and include English 5.1 and 2.0 surround Dolby Digital mixes and the trailers. Retail is $29.95 each. Finally on 2/13 comes Volumes 19 and 20 of Star Trek The Original Series, featuring the episodes "The Changeling / The Apple" and "Mirror, Mirror / The Deadly Years," respectively. All are full frame and with 5.1 remixes, along with the original broadcast trailers for each episode. Retail is $19.95 each.

Then on 2/27 comes a batch of very strong modern classics. First up is 1980's Best Picture winner, Ordinary People in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and English and French 1.0 mono tracks and the trailer. Also due is the 60's "swingin'" comedy Alfie in 1.85;1 anamorphic widescreen and with a new 5.1 surround mix and the original English mono track, and the trailer. Finally, we there is another Best Picture winner, the classic Terms Of Endearment. In addition to the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, new 5.1 Dolby Digital mix and the original mono track, the disc also features the trailer and a new audio commentary with Director James L. Brooks, Co-Producer Penney Finkelman Cox and Production Designer Polly Platt. Paramount will also be issuing the sequel The Evening Star, also in anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 surround, along with a commentary by Director Robert Harling. Retail for all of the above is $29.95 each.

'Cherry' falls onto DVD

I suppose after all the Screams, the I Know What You Did Last Summers and the Urban Legends, the teen horror slasher cycle had to burn itself out. What looked like a promising satire in Cherry Falls now seems to have gone directly to video. USA is releasing the teen horror thriller as a double feature along with Terror Tract on 2/27. Both are widescreen and in 5.1 surround, along with production notes, cast & crew bios and the trailer. Retail is $29.95 for the double-sided disc.

New Line has an 'Affair'

Coming on 1/27 from New Line is the foreign import An Affair Of Love. This controversial erotic romance is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and full frame versions, with its original French 5.1 track and English subtitles only. Extras are minimal, with filmographies, the complete web site accessible via DVD-ROM, and the trailer. Also on 1/27 is the drama The Five Senses, in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and full frame, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround, and with the same extras. Retail for each is $24.95.

Sound Of Music winner

This one is a bit late as we were waiting to receive the prize, but we now have a winner of our Sound Of Music contest. A nice job goes out to Steve Whitman of Kent, Washington, who picks up a copy of The Sound Of Music signed by Director Robert Wise and Actress Charmain Carr. Congrats!

Disc specs and updates

Lastly today, we have a couple of release news updates. Unfortunately, 20th Century Fox has canceled the DVD release of Olive The Other Reindeer, originally scheduled to debut on 10/31. The VHS was released, but the DVD has been indefinitely postponed, and in any event will not be released this holiday season. No reason was given for the cancellation. Also, Miramax delivered a final spec sheet to us for the 12/19 bow of Princess Mononoke, which confirms that in addition to the original Japanese 5.1 surround track, the disc will also include a English 5.1 dub.

This week's Top Pick contest

Yikes, there is a Big Momma in da house today! That's right, one lucky winner gets to go out on a dream date with Big Momma, courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Alright, so it is only a digital dream date, but you still get audio commentary, plenty of behind-the-scenes material and even a THX-certified transfer. Check out the box to your right, and good luck!

And a nice job goes out to last week's winner of our big Thanksgiving Spectacular, Trevor McDowell of Orlando, Florida, who picked up copies of Gladiator, Chicken Run, X-Men, Escape From New York and Planes Trains & Automobiles DVD. Congrats!

Two new Disney animated favorites

A couple of new Disney announcements today, and judging by the special features on these, it looks like they are beginning to put some real effort into the presentation of even their "non A-list" animated/live action classics (well, at least in terms of the supplements.) Coming on 1/16 is the 70's favorite Pete's Dragon. Presented in full frame and 2.0 stereo only, the disc includes three still galleries with production material, art development and advertising and merchandising, the "Reluctant Dragon" animated short, a "Where's Elliot?" interactive game, a "Disney Family Album" and Disney television show promos. Retail is $29.95.

Then on 2/17 comes the direct-to-video sequel Lady And The Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure in 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen and English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, along with an audio commentary with Director Darrell Rooney and the cast, a making-of featurette, "Tramp's Hunt: Search for Scamp and Friends" interactive game and three Disney animated shorts. Retail is also $29.95.

Farscape comes to DVD this February

Alright, so it might not be Buffy or The Simpsons, but judging from email, there are a lot of fans of the sci-fi series Farscape out there just waiting for some DVDs. AD Vision has announced a 2/6 arrival of Farscape: The Premiere Episode/I, E.T. The 100-minute disc is full frame and with 5.1 and 2.0 stereo Dolby Digital tracks, along with an audio commentary with creator Rockne S. O'Bannon, executive producer Brian Henson and members of the cast, Actor Profiles, ."The Making of a Space Opera" featurette and episode notes. No word yet on future installments other than that they will arrive, but this first collection can be yours for $24.95...

Kubrick gets a little wider

Since this is our last update until we return Monday post-Thanksgiving (well nourished and a little bit chubbier, I hope), I thought we should go out on a high note. After Studio Day a couple of weeks back, for me one of the most exciting bits of news was Warner's planned reissues of the much-maligned Kubrick Collection box set released last year. But as most Kubrick fans among you out there probably wondered along with me, would these new reissues be remastered and finally present the films (Barry Lyndon, A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket among them) in the way most of us DVD obsessives want them, namely widescreen and with preferably new 5.1 remixes? Only time would tell, it seemed...

But in some good news, we've been given some further tidbits on these releases, and for me the news is all positive. First off, these titles will be coming a bit sooner than many (myself included) thought. Columbia's reissue of Dr. Strangelove is planned for late winter, while the Warner titles are pegged as of now for spring (though whether all the Kubrick Warner titles will be released at once or as a box remains privileged information we haven't been granted.) There is also, of course, the planned theatrical rerelease and subsequent DVD reissue of a newly remastered version of 2001: A Space Odyssey also planned for next year.

But even better, remastering of all the Warner titles has already begun this fall, and all will receive new anamorphic widescreen transfers and 5.1 remixes. The Kubrick estate is decidedly involved with these releases we're told, though all expectations are still for little if any special features. But just remastered versions of these films is enough to get me very excited...seeing The Shining in widescreen and 5.1 will be quite a treat! Alright, eBay here I come, I have an old Kubrick Collection box set to sell. Now that is indeed something to be thankful for...

More Columbia winter titles

Columbia has announced a few more titles to keep us warm during those cold frigid winter months. First up on 1/23 are two Cirque Du Soleil performances, a repromote of Quidam and the new Dralion. Both are in anamorphic widescreen and feature 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, talent files and "Journey Of Man And Dralion" promos, while the latter also features a making-of featurette and multi-angle performances of some segments. Sounds pretty neat, and retail is $29.95 each. Then a week later on 1/23 comes the foreign film Solomon & Gaenor, in widescreen and 2.0 surround, with talent files and trailers. Retail is $29.95. Finally on 2/6 is the Rene Russo (with gorilla companion) family comedy Buddy, featuring anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers, English 5.0 and 2.0 surround mixes, a making-of featurette, talent files and trailers. Price is $24.95

November 21 : Dreamworks serve up a 'What Lies Beneath' special edition; new Scooby-Doo from Warner

Dreamworks serves up a chilling 'Beneath' special edition

While most expected Robert Zemeckis' latest What Lies Beneath to be a hit last summer (especially given the high-voltage combination of Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford), the film raked it in even more than most pundits predicted, eventually eating up over $150 million at the box office. The upcoming DVD is due on 1/30, and includes a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital tracks, along with an audio commentary with director Robert Zemeckis, the HBO First Look documentary, a still gallery with production photos, production notes, cast & crew biographies and the trailer. Retail is but only $26.95.

More 'Scooby-Doo' from Warner

Aggressively pulling out the chestnuts from the Scooby-Doo treasure chest, Warner will be releasing two more Scooby favorites on DVD on 3/6. Scooby-Doo & The Witch's Ghost and Scooby-Doo On Zombie Island. Both discs features full frame transfers and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo mixes, along with the "Scooby jukebox,," two interactive games, Scooby recipes and promo spots. Retail is $19.95 each.

November 20 : Thanksgiving Top Pick contest; Trimark February titles; Universal sues Image!?

This week's Top Pick contest - Thanksgiving Giveaway

This week's contest is extra special. While our Top Pick proper is DreamWorks' stellar 2-disc set of Gladiator, in honor of Thanksgiving, we're also giving away four other big releases for the week, Fox's X-Men, MGM's Escape From New York, Paramount's Planes, Trains & Automobiles and another Dreamworks title, Chicken Run. One lucky winner is gonna nab 'em all, so check out the box to your right, and good luck!

And a nice job goes out to last week's winner Steve Seyers of Peoria, Illinois,, who picked up a copy of Warner's Perfect Storm DVD. Congrats!

Trimark sets February titles

I guess Halloween comes at a strange time of year over at Trimark, as they have scheduled a number of horror-ific titles this February. Coming up on 2/27 are Shark Attack 2 (with audio commentary), The Stepdaughter (in anamorphic widescreen and with a making-of featurette), Spiders (with a making-of featurette) and completing the quintet, Leprechaun 3 and Leprechaun 4: In Space. Also due are Seven Girlfriends in anamorphic widescreen and with an audio commentary by Timothy Daly and the acclaimed Steal This Movie, with audio commentaries with Vincent D'Onofrio & Janeane Garofalo and Director Don Greenwald, storyboard comparisons, still gallery with production art, a making-of featurette, a Ringo Starr music video, promos and the trailer. Retail for each is $24.95.

Universal Sues Image Entertainment

Just a quickie to check out today's editorial which has a release news-related item, Universal's pending lawsuit against Image Entertainment. Seems Universal is not happy with how Image allegedly handled the sale of 50 of their licensed titles. This could have an impact on how these titles are handled after Image's license expires, which is only a few months away. Read the editorial for more..