My Two Cents
Thursday, 22 May 2014 15:35

Scream’s Phantom of the Paradise BD details, a bit of release news & Gordon Willis RIP

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We’ve got some announcement news odds and ends to report for you today, but first our own Tim Salmons has turned in a review of Scream Factory’s new Nosferatu the Vampyre Blu-ray – the 1979 remake by Werner Herzog. The film and disc are definitely worthy of your time, so be sure to check it out. [Read on here...]

Now then... Scream Factory has confirmed that their Blu-ray Combo release of The Final Terror (due 7/1) will include interviews with actors Adrian Zmed and Lewis Smith, post production supervisor Allan Holzman and composer Susan Justin, audio commentary with Andrew Davis, and the film’s theatrical trailer. They also have Phantom of the Paradise coming on 8/5, including a TON of new and previous content (some on the BD and some on the DVD). New extras will include: Audio commentary with Jessica Harper, Gerrit Graham, and the Juicy Fruits (Archie Hahn, Jeffrey Comanor and Harold Oblong aka Peter Eibling), audio commentary with production designer Jack Fisk, interviews with director Brian DePalma, Paul Williams talking about the music, producer Edward R. Pressman, drummer Gary Mallaber, and make-up effects wizard Tom Burman discussing the Phantom Helmet, the Alvin’s Art and Technique featurette on the neon poster, and Phantom of the Paradise Biography by Gerrit Graham (the 1974 Publicity Sheet written by and read by Graham). Legacy content will include the Paradise Regained documentary, interviews with costume designer Rosanna Norton and Paul Williams, alternate takes, Swan Song outtake footage, radio and TV spots, a still gallery, and the theatrical trailer.

Meanwhile, Anchor Bay and RADiUSTWC have set Errol Morris’ documentary The Unknown Known for Blu-ray and DVD release on 7/1.

Magnolia Home Entertainment has set Fracknation for Blu-ray and DVD release on 6/24.

IFC Films (via IFC Midnight) will release Almost Human on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/17.

Icarus Films has set Northern Light for DVD and digital release on 7/15.

Paramount and CBS will release Unforgettable: The Second Season on DVD on 6/24.

Well Go USA has set Kid Cannabis and Rigor Mortis for Blu-ray and DVD release on 7/8.

Drafthouse Films and Cinedigm will release The Final Member on Blu-ray and DVD on 6/17.

And Cinedigm also has Some Velvet Morning coming on DVD on 6/24.

Finally, we need to take a moment today to acknowledge the passing (last Sunday) of the master cinematographer Gordon Willis. He was 82. If you’ve seen such classics as The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Manhattan, Annie Hall, Klute, Zelig, and All the President’s Men, then you know his work well. Though Willis was nominated twice for an Oscar, he won neither. The Academy awarded him an honorary Oscar in 2009. Willis was a legend of cinema and will be missed accordingly. You can read more here at The New York Times. (A quick personal note: I had the great pleasure last night to dine with our old friend Robert A. Harris – who worked with Willis on the recent restoration of The Godfather films (see this article from American Cinematographer) – as well Ed Peters and Kevin Koster from The HTF. Robert regaled us with stories of Willis among many other topics. Fittingly, a toast was made in Gordon’s honor. Evenings like that are rare and special, and remind us why we love this medium.)

Stay tuned...

- Bill Hunt

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