By Peter M. Bracke

June 9 through 11 : Indie wrapup; Release tidbits; reading the Disney fine print

Seeing as Fridays tend to be a bit lighter on release news than most other days, as well as functioning as a three-day update (as we don't update release news here on weekends), I thought it would be a good idea to add more content when possible. So, Friday will now become "catch-all" day, and in addition to the Indie Wrapup I'll be going through release news-related reader email to add any interesting submitted tidbits, as well as saving corrections, updates or new spec details for Friday as well. To start this new "feature" off, there is some interesting new updates on a few big recent announcements, as well as an important reader-submitted observation on the Buena Vista Gold Collection "Satisfaction Guaranteed" offer. Hope you like these changes to the Friday update!

Tidbits & updates on LEON, NATURAL BORN KILLERS and CIDER HOUSE RULES

Here's a few feature updates on some upcoming titles, staring with Columbia's LEON. In addition to the information previously listed features (anamorphic trasnfer, 5.1 and 2.0 soundtracks), the disc will also have an isolated score, and English, Spanish, French and Portuguese subtiltes. Retail is $29.95 and street 8/15.

Next is some more information on the Oliver Stone set coming from Warner this fall. We heard back from Trimark that their version of NATURAL BORN KILLERS will not be included in this set. However, there will be a new Warner edition of the film, but it will only be the R-Rated theatrical cut. No other features are known for this new version, other than that it will be a part of the Warner box set. Interesting...

(Speaking of Warner, they issued a press release today for their big Halloween video promotion, which also included a little announcement for SCOOBY DOO AND THE ALIEN INVADERS, due on 10/5.)

Finally, I seem to be having a problem with aspect ratios lately. I incorrectly listed THE CIDER HOUSE RULES yesterday as being in 1.85:1, when it is 2.35:1. Damn, I am getting senile. Also, on REINDEER GAMES due on 8/15, look for an audio commentary with Director John Frankenheimer and deleted scenes. Strangely, though, the title is not listed a "Miramax Collector's Series," even though usually just a featurette is enough to earn the "Collector's Series" banner...

This week's INDIE ROUNDUP

Alrighty, it's time for this week's indie wrapup. Woo-hoo, let's go!

Trimark has some new July releases on the way, including SPY GAMES on 7/11, in widedcreen and English 5.1 and the trailer, and UFC HITS: VOLUME 1 & 2, which is "the most supreme match-ups and extreme fights" ever compiled from the UFC. Presented in full frame and 2.0 stereo, the disc also includes interviews with the performers and some multi-camera angle fight sequences. Then, on 7/25 comes THE PERFECT TENANT starring Linda Purl and Maxwell Caulfield(!), in widescreen and 2.0 stereo and with a trailer. All of the above are $24.95 each.

Coming from Pioneer are a number of new titles in August. Due 8/29 is ECW: EXTREME REVOLUTION, a wrestling extravaganza in full frame and 2.0 stereo, and retailing for $24.95. Also due on that day is THE OSMONDS: BEST OF MUSIKLADEN (scary!) and THE BEST OF MUSIKLADEN VOLUME 4. Both are full frame and 2.0 stereo, and $24.95 each.

Then comes more from the world of anime. Watch for JUBEI-CHAN: THE NINJA GIRL - SECRET OF THE LOVELY EYEPATCH and COWBOY BEBOP SESSION 5 (including interviews with the cast and creators and additional footage) for $29.95 each.

Coming from A&E on 8'/15 are three new 2-disc sets, including CIVIL WAR COMBAT, two more episodes of AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT: THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD/LORD EDGWAR DIES and WWII: THE LOST COLOR ARCHIVES. Price is $44.95 for each set, and all are full frame and 2.0 stereo.

A relative newcomer to DVD, New Yorker has three new titles due on 7/18. Look for the drama CEMENT GARDEN, in 1.85:1 widescreen and 2.0 stereo with the trailer, cast bios and production notes, and R-Rated and Unrated versions of Tim Roth's directorial debut WAR ZONE. Each disc features a 1.85;1 widescreen transfer, 2.0 surround track, a making-of featuette, audio commentary with Roth and production notes, cast bios and the trailer. Retail for each of these discs is $29.95 each.

Lastly, from MTI on 8/22 comes something called SOULER OPPOSITE, in widescreen and 2.0 surround, and including cast and crew bios and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Disney's "Satisfaction Guarantee" largely excludes Internet

You may recall that a couple of months back Disney announced they would be instituting a new "Satisfaction Guaranteed" offer on their animated Gold Classic Collection DVD releases. this guarantee was pretty straightforward, offering a full refund if the consumer was dissatisfied with the disc for any reason.

However, like any deal, there is always the fine print to watch out for, and this one is no different. A reader Bill B. did an examination and discovered a condition of the guarantee is that it is only applicable if you purchase the disc in the same state you live in. Guess that means most Internet purchases wouldn't count. This seems to be a strange little rule, but if you're buying any of the Gold Classic Collection Disney titles under the assumption you can return them if you are dissatisfied with them, you may want to consider this little clause first.

June 8 : Hey, OLLIE, give us a box set!; new MGM and BUENA VISTA titles

The wild and wacky world of OLIVER STONE

Hey Ollie, can you give us a hit? Our favorite pot-smoking auteur Oliver Stone is set to receive the royal DVD treatment this fall, with no less than six studios all planning new Oliver Stone DVDs, and one in particular even plotting a spiffy Oliver Stone collection as well. So far, six Stone films have been released on DVD: PLATOON, BORN ON THE FORTH OF THE JULY, U-TURN, NIXON, JFK and NATURAL BORN KILLERS. To be honest, these are a mixed bag. Only 1 is anamorphic (U-TURN), and PLATOON and NATURAL BORN KILLERS are straight ports of the laserdisc special editions (the KILLERS transfer even rehashes the weak D2 master from the laserdisc as well.) NIXON and JFK feature longer extended cuts, but not much else.

However, by the end of this year, Stone just may be the crown prince of DVD. According to a Warner spokesperson, timed to coincide with the 9/5 bow of his latest opus ANY GIVEN SUNDAY will be a Oliver Stone box set, though the exact title of the collection and contents has yet to be announced. The only known details are to expect a feature-loaded edition of ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, and Mr. Stone will be extensively involved with the releases. Also included will be a new version of JFK (yes, it will be anamorphic), and other titles in the set include the never-before-on-DVD HEAVEN & EARTH.

However, perhaps even more exciting is that similar to THE KUBRICK COLLECTION, the Oliver Stone set will feature the participation of other studios. A Universal spokesperson confirmed that a new version of BORN ON THE FORTH OF JULY as well as TALK RADIO will be released this fall individually but also a part of the set. Artisan is also contributing to the Stone DVD canon with a new special edition of THE DOORS (expect many if not all of the laserdisc features to be included in this reissue), though its availability as part of the set remains unconfirmed at presstime. Also unavailable at presstime is the inclusion of Columbia's U-TURN, though sources say it is expected to be included in the set.

Two more studios will be releasing Stone titles this fall as well. As first indicated at last March's Studio Day event, Fox will be releasing a special edition of Stone's examination of 80's greed WALL STREET this fall, and MGM has set an August bow for a movie-only edition of PLATOON and has put a special edition of Stone's SALVADOR into production as well. However, none of these are planned as part of the Warner box set according to reps at both studios. As for any possible inclusion or reissues of either Buena Vista's NIXON or Trimark's NATURAL BORN KILLERS, calls were not returned before posting, but of course stay tuned...

Lastly, that leaves...THE HAND. Hey, shouldn't this get the ultra-deluxe treatment? It does, after all, feature two-time Oscar-winner Michael Caine of JAWS THE REVENGE fame, so shouldn't it be the crown jewel of the set? It is also a Warner title, so we can hope it will be included as part of the collection as well. Stay tuned for more details...

Oops...two late announcements

Boy, sometimes I think I'm just getting really old and senile. Here's a couple of late, late announcements I somehow missed. First up is THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, which joins the rest of the Miramax August slate on 8/15. The $32.95 Collector's Series disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and 5.0 English surround mix, an audio commentary with Director Lasse Hallstrom, a making-of featurette, deleted scenes (with optional commentary) and the trailer.

Then, from MGM on 7/18 comes the thriller STONEBROOK, in full frame and 2.0 stereo, along with the trailer. Retail is $19.95.

FOX LORBER unleashes 10 more DIRECTOR SERIES titles

While I was initially skeptical of the Fox Lorber DIRECTOR series biographies on famous filmmakers because I thought they'd be bad fluff, I watched a couple and really liked them for the most part. Now, Fox Lorber will be launching two more waves of them, and including quite a few cool directors in there.

On 8/1 comes documentaries on auteur ROBERT ALTMAN, ADRIAN LYNE, MILOS FORMAN, BARRY LEVINSON and some dude named STEVEN SPIELBERG. Then on 9/5 watch for five more, on that dirty old man CLINT EASTWOOD, MARTIN SCORSESE, ickmeisters DAVID CRONENBERG and WES CRAVEN, and (oh god, please, noooooo!) BARBRA STREISAND.

All the DIRECTORS series titles are $19.95 each, full frame and 2.0 stereo, and include director biographies/filmographies. Each of these waves of five titles will also be available in a box for $79.95, which amounts to a solid $20 discount on buying them separately.

June 7 : PARAMOUNT August titles; WARNER's September slate; More COLUMBIA August titles; cool BOND artwork alternatives; BRAVEHEART correction

PARAMOUNT August fun

After the big BRAVEHEART announcement yesterday, there is more great stuff on the way for August as well. Coming on 8/15 is SHANE and all three NAKED GUN movies. In what seems to be a growing trend for Paramount, all these discs have commentaries, which is great to see. SHANE is presented in its original full frame aspect ratio and restored English 3.0 and English and French 1.0 mono tracks, as well as features an audio commentary with the late director George Stevens.

The NAKED GUN films (see the press release) are all in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, English 5.1 surround and each disc feature an audio commentary by David Zucker, Robert K. Weiss and Peter Tilden. All of the above discs are $29.95.

Finally, the full press release arrived for NASHVILLE finally today in my box, and it will have a full Robert Altman commentary as well as interviews. Price remains $29.95 and street date 7/11.

By the way, many readers have written in to say they really like seeing the press releases for titles, and we would like to put them all up, but alas the vast majority come in fax or print form, and we just don't have the manpower to type them all in. I wish all studios would follow Paramount and Columbia's lead and send announcements out via email, but alas they don't. So, we'll put up press releases when we can.

WARNER September slate of classic fun

Lovers of classics and musicals should be happy come 9/19, when Warner adds 10 new titles to their slate just in time for the holidays.

First up are 4 reissues of previous MGM releases, boasting the same features but in the snapper case. Watch for ADAM'S RIB, DARK VICTORY, JEZEBEL and WOMAN OF THE YEAR.

Then comes a number of cool new titles. All the following include trailers and production notes. 42ND STREET is presented in its original B&W full frame dimensions with an English 1.0 mono soundtrack, and three featurettes: "Harry Warren: America's Foremost Composer," "Hollywood Newsreel" and "A Trip Through A Hollywood Studio" as well as the theatrical trailer and some extensive production notes on Busby Berkeley. Then comes THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and English 5.1, and as includes a new making-of feature and never-before-seen screen tests of Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell.

Then we have Elizabeth Taylor in BUTTERFIELD 8, which features 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers, English and French tracks and the theatrical trailer. Next is PAT & MIKE, also in full frame and English 1.0 mono, and TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME, in full frame and English 1.0, with two deleted songs "Baby Doll," "Boys And Girls Like You And Me." Finally there's yet more GOOD NEWS, which is presented in its original full frame dimensions as well and English 1.0 mono, along with some rare deleted footage, the trailer and two "Good News" excerpts "Good News" and "The Varsity Drag."

All of the above are $24.95 each, and again street 9/19.

COLUMBIA adds two more August titles

Yet more Columbia announcements for August have come in. Look for CAT BALLOU on 8/8, which includes full screen and anamorphic widescreen transfers, "The Legend of Cat Ballou" featurette, an audio commentary with Actors Dwayne Hickman and Michael Callan, and a still gallery with vintage advertising materials. Then comes the male weepie classic BRIAN'S SONG, which is full screen and includes "Gayle Sayers: First And Goal" featurette and an audio commentary with Actors James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. Both discs also feature the usual talent files, production notes and trailers, and retail for $24.95 each.

Cool BOND artwork

I don't know who the artist is of these, but MGM needs to hire this guy pronto! Check out http://members.aol.com/zinema/ for some pretty spiffy alternate Bond Collection box cover art, utilizing the original movie poster imagery. I must admit, I really dig these, and can we hope the mystery author makes hi-res versions available for downloading? I'd gladly replace the existing (and in my opinion, rather lame) current Bond Collection artwork with these. Pretty cool stuff, I think!

Speaking of MGM and artwork, looks like they've dropped those "collectible booklets" from at least some of there titles lately. I just picked up DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, and all it has is a simple little one-sheet insert. Sigh. I like those little booklets, they were the one thing MGM did that separated them a bit from some other studios. Guess only the Bond's get a book!?

BRAVEHEART finally arrives

After what seems like years of waiting, the official press release finally arrives for BRAVEHEART from Paramount, and the disc looks to be all that was expected. Boasting a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, 5.1 mix and an audio commentary with Director Mel Gibson and a nearly 30-minute featurette, the $29.95 disc is due on 8/29. Thank god this has finally been announced!

A quartet of new COLUMBIA August titles

You Luc Besson fans out there should be pleased this August, as those two long-awaited DVD no-shows, THE BIG BLUE and LEON: INTEGRAL VERSION will finally make a bow on 8/15. Both are the longer European cuts not seen in US theaters (LEON was cut considerably and renamed THE PROFESSIONAL for US release), with these new cuts running 168 minutes and 133 minutes respectively. Each $27.95 disc is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 and 2.0 English and French surround tracks, and include talent files, production notes and trailers. As we were told at Studio Day last march, Mr. Besson did not want to participate in the creation of any new supplementary materials for these discs, but just having them in anamorphic widescreen and their unexpurgated cuts will be pretty cool.

Then, on 8/22, Columbia has set the teen comedy GIRL and the horrific Kim Basinger drama I DREAMED OF AFRICA. You know any film whose main character is named "Suki" has to be bad, and apparently audiences agreed as the film only made about $12 bucks at the box office. Anyway, both feature 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and full frame transfers, 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, talent files, production notes and trailers, while AFRICA also features an audio commentary with the director and a featurette. Retail is $24.95 for both.

New & Noteworthy tidbits from FOX, UNIVERSAL, NEW LINE and PARAMOUNT

Lots of good little odds and ends today...

First up, final specs came in for Fox's THE BEACH. Though some laughed when this Leonardo DiCaprio follow-up to TITANIC didn't ignite the US box office, it did very well overseas, and to be honest I'm curious to check it out on video after missing it in the theater. Anyway, in addition to the 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer and English 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes (as well as French 2.0 surround and English and Spanish subtitles), the disc features an audio commentary with Director Danny Boyle, deleted scenes with alternate ending, the All Saints music video for "Pure Shores" and a storyboard gallery. Retail is $34.95 and street 7/25.

Next up are some price drops on 4 good Universal special editions. The retail has been lowered from $34.95 to $29.95 for JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING, 12 MONKEYS (Dolby Digital version), PSYCHO (1998) and TREMORS, and $29.95 to $24.95 for both the full frame and widescreen versions of THE MUMMY. Great, more excuses to spend money!

Speaking of getting wiped out, Freddy's back, though now you won't have to break the bank if you want to get WES CRAVEN'S NEW NIGHTMARE but were too embarassed to have A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE on their shelves. New Line will be issuing all the NIGHTMARE films from last year's cool box set individually at the end of August, though not the 8th NIGHTMARE ENCYCLOPEDIA which will still only be available in the box set. Retail will be $24.95 for each disc, with the same features. However, I've heard to expect new box art, but stay tuned for any confirm on that...

Finally, the NASHVILLE special edition from Paramount will be out on 7/11, not the 6/27 date I reported last month. However, I haven't got the full press release, even though the July titles have all been announced. I was told to expect an interview with Robert Altman, though I've read in some places it will also have a commentary with Altman as well. I guess I'll wait fro the press release on this one. (In the meantime, check out the latest Premiere magazine for a great article on the film and the DVD, including an interview with Robert Altman.)

Also, I made a mistake in my post on ANGELA'S ASHES, due on 7/18. I stated there would be a commentary with Author Frank McCourt and Director Alan Parker. In truth, there will be two commentaries, one with each participant separately. Sorry about the error!

Finally, look for the press release on Paramount's August titles any day now, which is expected to include that little medieval Mel Gibson movie BRAVEHEART and the NAKED GUN movies. Stay tuned!

June 5 : COLUMBIA does CRICHTON, BOOGIE NIGHTS specs, two new ARTISAN special editions

COLUMBIA launches early Crichton this August

Hey, remember Cynthia Rhodes? You know, the dance diva who starred in FLASHDANCE, STAYIN' ALIVE and (who can forget) DIRTY DANCING? She could of had the world eating out of her hands by the end of the 80's, and what does she do? Goes of and marries Richard Marx and is never heard from again! Thanks alot, Rich!

Anyway, now you, too, can remember Cynthia on 8/22, when Columbia bow's the Michael Crichton "thriller" RUNAWAY, also starring Tom Selleck and KISS' Gene Simmons, sans kabuki makeup. Truth be told, this is a fun little flick, so it is cool that it is coming to DVD. Look for 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and full transfers, a 4.0 English surround mix, and the usual Columbia talent files, production notes and the trailer. Retail is $24.95.

Final BOOGIE NIGHTS specs

Finally, New Line has sent off a list of the full BOOGIE NIGHTS 2-disc set specs, or at least I think this is the last of the announcements! In addition to all the previous single-disc contents (PT Anderson commentary, 9 deleted scenes) there are 4 more deleted scenes, the group commentary last heard on the Criterion laserdisc starring Anderson and just about the entire cast, and finally the 30 minute documentary "Exhausted" on porn legend John Holmes. Retail remains $29.95, and street date is 8/29.

Since we were curious as to why this particular disc features the supplements from the Criterion disc, we put in a call to PT Anderson's publicists, and interestingly enough according to them, Mr. Anderson produced the group commentary himself and thus owns it. Interesting, and I wonder if this is a trend we'll see happen with more filmmakers? (By the way, the artwork from the Criterion disc seems to be reused for the New Line disc as well, and check the June 2 update below for a pic of the new box art.)

ARTISAN debuts two new August special editions

Artisan has set a 8/15 date for a couple of special editions for two "cult" titles. First up is Jim Jarmusch's GHOST DOG: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI (the trailer to which was greeted by laughter in many theaters, but who knows?). The disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer and 5.1 mix, as well as an audio commentary with Jarmusch, deleted scenes, the 30-minute documentary "The Odyssey: Journey Into the Life of a Samurai" and the usual cast bios and trailer. Following on the same day is PREMONITION, a horror film starring Christopher Lloyd. Never heard of this one, but if he's in it, it just might be truly terrifying! The disc is full frame only and 5.1, along with an audio commentary with director Gavin Wilding, cast bios and the trailer. Retail for both of the above is $29.95.

June 2 through 4 : UNIVERSAL sets BROCKOVICH and more August titles; COLUMBIA sets STAND BY ME special edition for August; this week's Indie Wrapup; BOOGIE art

Universal sets ERIN BROCKOVICH and two more August titles

In addition to those CLASSIC MONSTER titles due on 8/29, Universal has set three more titles for August. All feature the usual cast bios, production notes, web links and trailers, and retail for $24.95 each. First up on 8/8 is the direct-to-video sequel DRAGONHEART: A NEW BEGINNING, which also includes Spotlight On Location and special effects featurettes. Then on 8/15 comes the controversial wrestling documentary BEYOND THE MAT, which is presented in its original full frame aspect ratio and 2.0 surround track. And last but certainly not least is the latest Julia Roberts megahit (and a film I really liked) ERIN BROCKOVICH, also due 8/15. The disc will feature a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer and 5.1 surround mix, a Spotlight On Location featurette and one on the real Erin Brockovich, as well as deleted scenes. Along with the CLASSIC MONSTER titles, it should be a good August from Universal.

COLUMBIA revisits STAND BY ME this August

Another nice Columbia reissue is on the way, for Rob Reiner's coming of age classic STAND BY ME. Based on a Stephen King short story, this was a surprise box office hit in the late summer of 1986, and still holds up pretty well. The old movie-only disc is being discontinued, and on 8/29 watch for a new edition with audio commentary by Rob Reiner, a making-of featurette, isolated score, and the usual cast bios, production notes and trailers. The disc will feature the same transfer and sound mix as the previous edition. Retail is $27.95.

NEW LINE goes two-disc

We've had a lot of emails asking about the upcoming 2-disc sets from New Line for P.T. Anderson's BOOGIE NIGHTS and MAGNOLIA due 8/29, especially how the packaging is going to be handled. As you probably know, New Line is one of the last studios along with Warner to still be using the "snapper case," so how that packaging could be modified for 2-discs was intriguing. New Line sent me along the box art for BOOGIE NIGHTS, which as you can tell uses the cool Criterion artwork. New Line tells me the outer packaging will feel similar the snapper case cardboard, with two pullout sleeves with the discs. Looks interesting, and just thought I'd throw up the image for you...

This week's INDIE WRAPUP

Some new stuff this week, including yet another mega-batch from Image...

Check out the Image Entertainment site for the full details, because as usual Image always announces like a zillion titles at once! Highlights include the first-ever DVD release of KRONOS, AFI'S 100 YEARS 100 MOVIES 2-disc set, D.W. Griffith's THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES, Mario Bava's BLACK SABBATH (with deleted footage), CAVE OF THE LIVING DEAD(?), DAME EDNA'S NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH #2, DINOSAURUS!, Herchell Gordon Lewis' GRUESOME TWOSOME (with commentary, "Wig-O-Rama" short and still gallery), the 1922 version of OLIVER TWIST, SHE DEVIL ON WHEELS and SPACE THING, as well as two more TWLIGHT ZONE episode collections.

Coming from Pioneer on 8/22 is the long-delayed special edition of LITTLE ODESSA. The disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, 2.0 surround track and an audio commentary with Director James Gray and Star Tim Roth, film to storyboard comparison with comments by the director and a still gallery. Also on this day watch for the Robert Mitchum version of THE BIG SLEEP and Billy Dee Williams in TRIPLECROSS, both in full frame and 2.0 surround. Retail for all three of the above is $24.95 each.

Finally, from Amazing Fantasy on 6/27 comes GUN, which was a short-lived series from Director Robert Altman that quickly disappeared from TV screens. The $24.95 disc is in full frame and 2.0 stereo.

June 1 : New FOX, UNIVERSAL and HBO announcements

FOX adds two FLY double features this September

Looks like Fox is really going all out this Halloween, adding two FLY double features for 9/5 along with THE OMEN set due the same day as well. Each double feature will be presented on a dual-layer disc and retail for $34.95, with the first containing the original THE FLY and RETURN OF THE FLY, and the second featuring the 1986 Cronenberg remake of THE FLY and the Eric Stoltz starrer THE FLY II. The first two are 2.35:1 while the latter two are 1.85:1, and all are anamorphic. All feature trailers, and the original THE FLY features the 1.0 mono track and a 5.1 remix, while the 80's FLYs are 2.0 surround and includes a making-of featurette.

UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTER details

Those 4 new Universal CLASSIC MONSTER titles, THE INVISIBLE MAN, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN, all have been given a go date of 8/29. Each $29.95 dual-layer disc features a transfer in the original 1.37:1 aspect ratio and English 1.0 mono soundtrack with English and French subtitle options, and the usual cast & crew bios and production notes. Look for an audio commentary and Documentarian David J. Skal back on board to deliver a new documentary on each film (except on ABBOTT & COSTELLO) and a still gallery. The 8-pack with all the CLASSIC MONSTER titles will also be available the same day for $199.95.

HBO adds more fall titles

HBO has announced five new fall titles for a few awaited fan favorites. On 9/12 comes the horror cult classic THE CHANGELING, followed by GOTTI on 9/19 and IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2 on 9/26, and then in October watch for (ohhhhh yeaaahhh!) THE CANNONBALL RUN on 10/10 and Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in MR. AND MRS. BRIDGE on 10/29. GOTTI and IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2 are full frame, while the others are 1.85:1 widescreen. All are 2.0 surround except THE CHANGELING which is 1.0 mono. Retail is $24.95 for the theatrical films, and $19.95 for the two made-for-HBO titles.