Out of the Past - 3:19pm

"Murder is for keeps and happy endings are for saps" on July 27th, when Warner Home Video will unleash The Film Noir Classic Collection. Featuring five classic noir titles never-before released on DVD: Murder My Sweet, The Set Up, Out of the Past, John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle and Gun Crazy. Available individually or as a box set, each features audio commentary, from directors Robert Wise and Martin Scorsese and actor James Whitmore as well as other film noir experts including Alain Silver, Jim Ursini and Glenn Erickson. Other extras include a new intro on The Asphalt Jungle, and theatrical trailers on each flick. All are remastered in their original aspect ratios, and retail will be $19.95 a pop or $49.95 for the entire collection.

If it Bleeds...

...We can kill it! So what if it only took five tries? After years of waiting for fans, Fox Home Entertainment will at least release the Predator: Collector's Edition, which has long been available overseas but not domestically. Available in both anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions, each with Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, the extras on each two-disc set will be plentiful. Get ready for audio commentary with director John McTiernan, a subtitled trivia track, the "If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It" documentary and seven-part "Inside The Predator" featurette, a deleted scene, three outtakes, three "Red Suit" special effects vignettes, two Predator "Camouflage Tests," a still gallery, the "Predator Profile," multiple easter eggs, and new Alien Vs. Predator sneak peeks. Retail will go for $26.95.

The Force Returns... Again - 3:19pm

Just in are more exciting summer announcements from Universal Studios Home Video. Due on July 6th are 2 Brothers & a Bride plus a new Woody Allen Four Movie Comedy Collection reissue featuring Anything Else, Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Hollywood Ending and Small Time Crooks. 2 Brothers and a Bride is remastered in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio and Dolby mono, while the Woody Allen films are the same as the previous versions (i.e., no new extras). Retail will be $14.95 for 2 Brothers & a Bride and $59.95 for the Woody Allen box set.
 
Next up on July 27th are the indie favorites High Art and The Celebration, each presented in anamorphic widescreen with filmographies, production notes and trailers, plus an audio commentary with director Lisa Cholodenko on High Art. Also at last getting a release on the 27th is the Melanie Griffith thriller Tempo, which has been previously postponed. Specs remain the same (anamorphic widescreen transfer and trailers). List price will be $19.95 apiece.

Due on August 3rd is the two-disc collection The Best of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello: Volume 3, featuring Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Mexican Hayride, Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer-Boris Karloff, Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, Comin' Round the Mountain, Lost in Alaska and Abbott and Costello Go to Mars. All are presented in 4:3 full screen and Dolby mono, with only production notes and filmographies as extras. Retail will be $26.95 for the whole shebang. Finally, August 3rd will also see the release of the two-disc The Deanna Durbin Sweetheart Pack, featuring Three Smart Girls, 100 Men and a Girl, First Love, It Started with Eve, Can't Help Singing and Lady on a Train. Retail will also be $26.95.