By Grabthar’s Hammer, here’s something incredibly exciting: Paramount has just listed Dean Parisot’s Galaxy Quest (1999) in 4K Ultra HD and 4K Steelbook on 12/3 (a Walmart-exclusive Steelbook will also be available), in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary! I can officially confirm that all three aspect ratios from the original theatrical run have made their way to this 4K release. The presentation will also include both Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. Parisot has done a new Filmmaker Focus interview looking back on the film as well. And hours of legacy special features will carry over. You can see the cover art above left and also below.
[Editor’s Update: I’ve confirmed with the studio that everything from the previous Blu-ray release carries over to the new 4K disc except Mike and Denise Okuda’s Galactopedia Trivia track. So you will definitely want to keep your previous Blu-ray to retain it. But yes, the Thermian language track is there and there is a new Filmmaker Focus with Director Dean Parisot as well.]
While we’re talking Paramount, we’ve learned that the recently-announced White Christmas (1954) has been restored in 4K from a brand-new scan of the original 35 mm VistaVision negative. (The previous Blu-ray was mastered from the VistaVision IP.) Flicker and color breathing—common issues in VistaVision films—have been stabilized and the film has been carefully re-framed using vintage framing guides and multiple vintage 35 mm print reviews to ensure accuracy. There are still some shots that will look slightly soft—this is the result of known focus issues with the Stein VistaVision cameras that the studio used to shoot the film. (White Christmas was Paramount’s first film in the VistaVision format, so there were some learning issues baked into the production.) On the audio side, the original mono audio has been restored and a brand new 5.1 up-mix has also been created. All of this information comes per Charlotte Barker, Paramount’s Director of Film Restoration. Bottom line: The film should look better than ever before in 4K Ultra HD, which is due on 11/5. Thanks to Bits reader Ben G. for the heads up!
In other release news, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set Gillian Armstrong’s Little Women (1994) for 4K Ultra HD on 11/19. Mastered from the original camera negative, the presentation will include Dolby Vision HDR and English 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio. Extras will include audio commentary with Armstrong, deleted scenes with commentary, The Making of Little Women, a Costume and Production Design featurette, and the film’s trailer.
Kino Lorber Studio Classics has just revealed that Clint Eastwood’s The Eiger Sanction (1975) and Play Misty for Me (1971) are coming to 4K Ultra HD on 11/4, the same day as their previously-announced Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970) in 4K (which will include the International Cut in 4K and the restored Domestic Cut on Blu-ray). All will include Dolby Vision HDR.
KLSC is also releasing Enrique López Eguiluz’s Frankenstein’s Bloody Terror (1968) on Blu-ray 3D with the help of our friends at the 3-D Film Archive. The film has been restored from new 4K scans of both negatives. And the company has revealed that Michael Winterbottom’s The Claim (2000) is coming soon to Blu-ray from Kino Cult as well.
Also today, our friends at Via Vision have just unveiled a stunning 175-disc DVD box set of Prisoner: The Complete Series! This is an Australian series (known as Cell Block H internationally) that debuted in 1975 and that ran for 8 years and 692 episodes. It’s also the precursor to the popular Wentworth series. The discs will come in a custom hardbox with a soundchip that reproduces the iconic audio of the cell doors slamming. A 48-page book of liner notes and photos is also included. It’ll set you back $770 Australian dollars (or about $520 US dollars), but only 1,000 copies will be made. And at 175 discs, it’s one of the biggest box sets in physical media history, eclipsed only by the original 2007 release of this same series, which was 179 discs. (Thanks to Bits reader Jim R. for the confirmation on that original release!) You can see the packaging below and pre-order it here...
Dark Sky Selects has announced its long-awaited Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 50th Anniversary “Chain Saw” Edition box set for release in October exclusively at the darkskyselects.com website. For $299.98, you’ll get the film in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray, along with a Blu-ray packed with bonus features. It will also come packaged in a replica of the chainsaw, the opening of which triggers the prop’s sound in the film. Only 5,000 units will be available and you can pre-order it here...
And our friends at Severin Films have just made a deal with the Russ Meyer Trust to release newly-restored physical media versions of the filmmaker’s exploitation classics, starting with Vixen! (1968), Supervixens (1975), and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens (1979). You can also expect such entries as Lorna (1964), Up! (1976), Mudhoney (1965), Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970), and the iconic Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965) to follow in the not-too-distant future.
A couple last items today: A24 is going to be bringing Jonathan Demme’s fantastic Talking Heads live concert film Stop Making Sense (1984) back into IMAX theaters for one night only on 10/2. This is totally worth your time if you haven’t had the experience of seeing the film in a theater yet. Bring your friends and dance in the isles!
And many of you will know that I’m a fan of human spaceflight: SpaceX has just concluded their successful Polaris Dawn mission, which featured the first private spacewalk in human history. It also flew to the highest altitude humans have reached since the Apollo missions. And here’s the reason I mention it: During the mission, the crew worked to raise money for charities, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. One of the activities they did as part of this work, was a live violin performance of John Williams’ Rey’s Theme from Star Wars: The Force Awakens in orbit by crewmember Sarah Gillis, with the participation of Williams and orchestras around the world. It’s pretty wonderful, and you can view it here.
All right, we’ll leave you with a look at the cover artwork for a bunch of the titles mentioned above and more, with Amazon links (added as they become available)...
Stay tuned!
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