Classic Movies on Blu-ray for May 2014
Another month, another slew of great classic movies being released on Blu-ray. Among those making the transfer to the popular format are a great satire about journalism that turned out to be Billy Wilder’s first flop; George Cukor’s sophisticated comedy starring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell; Mel Brooks’ great Western spoof starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder; and an underrated murder mystery starring the master of horror Bela Lugosi. Whether one is an avid collector or just an occasional buyer, all these films make for worth additions to anyone’s Blu-ray shelf.
A scathing indictment on American journalism from director Billy Wilder, Ace in the Hole starred Kirk Douglas as a drunk, amoral reporter from the big city who finds himself on a small-time paper in New Mexico looking for a big scoop. The film was a brilliant satire on the state of the newspaper business, but turned out to be Wilder’s first-ever commercial flop. Now it’s available on Blu-ray courtesy of The Criterion Collection and features a ton of great extras, including audio commentary from film scholar Neil Sinyard; an interview with Douglas from 1984; a documentary portrait of Wilder from 1980 with film critic Michel Ciment; excerpts from a 1986 appearance by Wilder at the American Film Institute; an audio interview with Wilder’s co-screenwriter Walter Newman; a stills gallery ; the original theatrical trailer; and a video afterward by filmmaker Spike Lee.
Releases May 5, 2014
A classic sophisticated comedy featuring a trio of strong female characters, George Cukor’s The Women finally makes its way to Blu-ray for the first time. The film starred Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell as three New York socialites who unearth a scandalous extramarital affair. Released by Warner Bros., The Women will contain a number of special features that include the documentaries From the Ends of the Earth and Style Center of the World; alternate footage from the fashion show sequence; scoring session musical cues; and theatrical trailers for the film and the musical remakeThe Opposite Sex (1956).
Releases May 6, 2014
Arguably the best comedy made by director Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles celebrates its 40th anniversary with a new Blu-ray release. The film starred Cleavon Little as a black man who becomes the new sheriff of a racist Old West town populate by an evil railroad villain (Harvey Korman), a Marlene Dietrich-like chanteuse (Madeline Kahn), and the sheriff’s bumbling sidekick (Gene Hackman). Originally released in 2006, the 40th anniversary edition contains a contemplative interview with Brooks; the cast reunion documentary Back in the Saddle; audio commentary with Brooks; 10 art cards with funny quotes and images from the film; deleted scenes; the pilot for the 1975 TV series, Black Bart, which was inspired by the movie; and the original theatrical trailer.
Releases May 6, 2014
Starring horror maestro Bela Lugosi, The Death Kiss will make its way to Blu-ray for the first time courtesy of Kino Classics. When a leading man is killed while filming the last scene of a gangster movie, similar incidents begin to pop up and lead the police to suspect sabotage, with a list of suspects that include the studio boss (Alexander Carr), the dead actor’s manager (Lugosi), the director (Edward Van Sloan), and the leading actress (Adrienne Ames). Kino has declined to list any extras included in the set at this time.
Releases May 6, 2014
1. ‘Ace in the Hole’ – 1951
A scathing indictment on American journalism from director Billy Wilder, Ace in the Hole starred Kirk Douglas as a drunk, amoral reporter from the big city who finds himself on a small-time paper in New Mexico looking for a big scoop. The film was a brilliant satire on the state of the newspaper business, but turned out to be Wilder’s first-ever commercial flop. Now it’s available on Blu-ray courtesy of The Criterion Collection and features a ton of great extras, including audio commentary from film scholar Neil Sinyard; an interview with Douglas from 1984; a documentary portrait of Wilder from 1980 with film critic Michel Ciment; excerpts from a 1986 appearance by Wilder at the American Film Institute; an audio interview with Wilder’s co-screenwriter Walter Newman; a stills gallery ; the original theatrical trailer; and a video afterward by filmmaker Spike Lee.
Releases May 5, 2014
2. ‘The Women’ – 1939
A classic sophisticated comedy featuring a trio of strong female characters, George Cukor’s The Women finally makes its way to Blu-ray for the first time. The film starred Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, and Rosalind Russell as three New York socialites who unearth a scandalous extramarital affair. Released by Warner Bros., The Women will contain a number of special features that include the documentaries From the Ends of the Earth and Style Center of the World; alternate footage from the fashion show sequence; scoring session musical cues; and theatrical trailers for the film and the musical remakeThe Opposite Sex (1956).
Releases May 6, 2014
3. ‘Blazing Saddles’ – 1974
Arguably the best comedy made by director Mel Brooks, Blazing Saddles celebrates its 40th anniversary with a new Blu-ray release. The film starred Cleavon Little as a black man who becomes the new sheriff of a racist Old West town populate by an evil railroad villain (Harvey Korman), a Marlene Dietrich-like chanteuse (Madeline Kahn), and the sheriff’s bumbling sidekick (Gene Hackman). Originally released in 2006, the 40th anniversary edition contains a contemplative interview with Brooks; the cast reunion documentary Back in the Saddle; audio commentary with Brooks; 10 art cards with funny quotes and images from the film; deleted scenes; the pilot for the 1975 TV series, Black Bart, which was inspired by the movie; and the original theatrical trailer.
Releases May 6, 2014
4. ‘The Death Kiss’ – 1932
Starring horror maestro Bela Lugosi, The Death Kiss will make its way to Blu-ray for the first time courtesy of Kino Classics. When a leading man is killed while filming the last scene of a gangster movie, similar incidents begin to pop up and lead the police to suspect sabotage, with a list of suspects that include the studio boss (Alexander Carr), the dead actor’s manager (Lugosi), the director (Edward Van Sloan), and the leading actress (Adrienne Ames). Kino has declined to list any extras included in the set at this time.
Releases May 6, 2014