The 1959 film North by Northwest is coming to 4K

Commissions Earned

According to retailers, the 1959 film “North by Northwest” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook on November 19th via Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. The film, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starred Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Leo G. Carroll, Philip Ober, Adam Williams, and Martin Landau.

The tech specs and bonus materials for the 4K release(s) have not yet been announced but stay tuned for an update. The 4K releases will both include a digital copy. The 4K UHD Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook (pictured below) are now available for preorder at Amazon. You can also find the 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook available for preorder at online retailer GRUV.

The 1974 comedy Blazing Saddles is coming to 4K

Commissions Earned

The 1974 comedy “Blazing Saddles” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook via Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment on November 19th, according to retailers. The film, directed & co-written by Mel Brooks, starred Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Slim Pickens, Harvey Korman, and Madeline Kahn.

The tech specs for the 4K release include a 2160p video presentation in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos sound. The release will come with a digital copy. You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and the 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook (pictured below) available for preorder at Amazon. You can also find the 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook available for preorder at online retailer GRUV.

The following bonus materials will be included on the 4K disc.

  • Inappropriate Inspiration: The Blazing Saddles Effect
  • Scene-Specific Commentary by Mel Brooks
  • Blaze of Glory: Mel Brooks’ Wild, Wild West
  • Back in the Saddle
  • Additional Scenes

The 2024 film MaXXXine gets a 4K and Blu-ray in October

Commissions Earned

According to retailers, the 2024 film “MaXXXine” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on October 8th via Lionsgate. The movie from A24 studios, written & directed by Ti West, stars Mia Goth, Charley Rowan McCain, Elizabeth Debicki, Giancarlo Esposito, Moses Sumney, Kevin Bacon, Michelle Monaghan, and Halsey. It’s certainly worth noting that the film is “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.

The tech specs and bonus materials for the 4K and Blu-ray have yet to be detailed but stay tuned for an update. It is known that the 4K and Blu-ray will both come as a “combo pack” with the 4K getting its Blu-ray Disc counterpart and the Blu-ray getting its DVD counterpart. Each release will include a digital copy. You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray available for preorder at Amazon.

Further below, after the break, you can find the film trailer.

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The Sixth Sense and Signs come to 4K in October

Commissions Earned

The films “The Sixth Sense” (1999) and “Signs” (2002) are both officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on October 22nd via Hollywood Pictures and Touchstone Pictures (Disney). The films were both written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. “The Sixth Sense” starred Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, and Donnie Wahlberg. “Signs” starred Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin, and Cherry Jones. Notably, “The Sixth Sense” is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Below is some information about the restoration process the movies have received.

“The original negatives for both films were scanned at 4K resolution and restored in High Dynamic Range (HDR).”

The tech specs for The Sixth Sense on 4K include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround sound, on a BD-100 disc. Tech specs for Signs on 4K include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround sound, on a BD-100 disc. Each release will come as a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included along with a digital copy.

UPDATE: The digital versions of the film include Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range. However, these physical media releases on 4K UHD Blu-ray will only include HDR10 and not Dolby Vision. So, you’ll have to watch the 4K digital versions you will get included to experience these films in Dolby Vision.

You can now find “The Sixth Sense” and “Signs” on 4K UHD Blu-ray both available for preorder at Amazon. I have just been informed by someone at Disney that the films each will include their legacy bonus materials from the previous Blu-ray releases which are included in the 4K UHD Blu-ray sets. Below you can find a full list of those previously released extras, with some dating back to the DVD releases.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

  • Making Signs – 6 Part Documentary
    • Looking for Signs
    • Building Signs
    • Making Signs: A Commentary by M. Night Shyamalan
    • The Effects of Signs
    • Last Voices: The Music of Signs
    • Full Circle
  • Storyboards: Multi-Angle Features
  • Night’s First Alien Movie
  • Deleted Scenes

Signs (2002)

  • Deleted Scenes
  • Reflections From the Set
  • Between Two Worlds
  • Moving Pictures: The Storyboard Process
  • Music and Sound Design
  • Reaching the Audience
  • Rules and Clues
  • Publicity

Further below, after the break, you can find the full announcement about both films coming to 4K.

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The 1920 film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari on 4K in October

Commissions Earned

The 1920 German silent film “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on October 22nd via Kino Classics. The film, directed by Robert Wiene, starred Conrad VeidtWerner KraussLil Dagover, and Freidrich Feher. The movie has received a 4K restoration as described below and features a new orchestral score.

“This authoritative edition presents the F. W. Murnau Stiftung’s meticulous 4K restoration of the film, with a new orchestral score by Emmy®-winning composer Jeff Beal (House of Cards), which had its premiere performance at Carnegie Hall on June 3, 2024.”

Tech specs for the release include a Black & White tinted 2160p video presentation in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio with choices of audio presentations in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and 2.0 Stereo lossless sound. The release will come as a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included. UPDATE: The 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder at Amazon. Also, you can preorder the 4K UHD Blu-ray directly via Kino Lorber’s website. Below is a list of the different music tracks, audio mixes, and bonus materials included with the release.

  • Music by Jeff Beal (4KUHD & Blu-ray, 5.1 Surround and 2.0 stereo)
  • 2014 Orchestral Score (4KUHD & Blu-ray, 2.0 stereo)
  • Music by Paul D. Miller, aka DJ Spooky (Blu-ray, 2.0 stereo)
  • Caligari: How Horror Came to the Cinema (Blu-ray, 52 min.)
  • Restoration Demonstration (Blu-ray)
  • Audio commentary by composer Jeff Beal (4K UHD & Blu-ray)
  • Audio description for the vision-impaired (4K UHD & Blu-ray)

Further below, after the break, you can find a trailer for the film from the 4K restoration.

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The 1932 film Scarface gets a 4K and Blu-ray via Criterion

Commissions Earned

The 1932 film “Scarface” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on November 12th via The Criterion Collection. The film, co-directed by Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson, starred Paul Muni, Ann Dvorak, Karen Morley, Osgood Perkins, C. Henry Gordon, George Raft, and Boris Karloff.

The tech specs for the 4K release include a 2160p Black & White video presentation in the 1.35:1 aspect ratio with SDR (standard dynamic range) and Uncompressed PCM Mono sound. Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1.35:1 aspect ratio and Uncompressed PCM Mono sound. The 4K release will come as a “combo pack’ with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included. You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray available for preorder at Amazon. It’s certainly worth noting that you can also preorder the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray directly from Criterion’s website. The bonus materials set to be included with the releases are listed below.

  • Alternate ending, from the censored version of the film
  • New conversation between author Megan Abbott and actor Bill Hader
  • New interview with film scholar Lea Jacobs on director Howard Hawks’s innovative use of sound and editing
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Imogen Sara Smith
  • New cover by Mark Chiarello
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