Tag Archives: Billy Wilder

1944 Billy Wilder film Double Indemnity on 4K in May

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The 1944 film noir “Double Indemnity” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on May 31st via The Criterion Collection.  The film, directed and co-written by Billy Wilder, starred Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson.

This release comes from a new 4K restoration.  The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p Black & White video presentation in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range and an uncompressed LPCM Mono sound mix.  Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD Black & White video presentation in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio and LPCM Mono sound.  The 4K release will come in the form of a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included.  You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and the Blu-ray from Criterion available for preorder over at Amazon.

Bonus materials set to be included with the releases are listed below.

  • Audio commentary featuring film critic Richard Schickel
  • New interview with film scholar Noah Isenberg, editor of Billy Wilder on Assignment
  • New conversation between film historians Eddie Muller and Imogen Sara Smith
  • Billy, How Did You Do It?, a 1992 film by Volker Schlöndorff and Gisela Grischow featuring interviews with director Billy Wilder
  • Shadows of Suspense, a 2006 documentary on the making of Double Indemnity
  • Audio excerpts from 1971 and 1972 interviews with cinematographer John F. Seitz
  • Radio adaptations from 1945 and 1950
  • Trailer

1960 Billy Wilder film The Apartment on 4K in March

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The 1960 Academy Award-winning film “The Apartment“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on March 8th via KL Studio Classics.  The movie won 5 “Oscars” (Academy Awards) including “Best Picture” out of the 10 awards it was nominated for.  Directed and co-written by Billy Wilder, the film starred Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, and Edie Adams.

The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray release include a 2160p Black & White video presentation in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio and lossless 5.1 surround and the original 2.0 Mono sound mixes on a BD-100 disc.  NOTE:  This release appears that it will be presented in SDR (standard dynamic range) and lack HDR (high dynamic range).  The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart featuring the same aspect ratio and audio mixes.

UPDATE:  You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon.  You also can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder directly via Kino Lorber’s website.

It’s most certainly worth noting that there will also be a Blu-ray “Special Edition” released (by KL Studio Classics) on March 8th as well, which is included in this set.

The full set of bonus materials that will be included with the two discs of the 4K UHD Blu-ray release are listed below.

4K UHD Disc 1:

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
  • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Bruce Block

BLU-RAY Disc 2:

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
  • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Bruce Block
  • Inside The Apartment: Documentary (29:36)
  • Magic Time: The Art of Jack Lemmon (12:47)
  • Theatrical Trailer

1959 film Some Like It Hot comes to 4K February

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The 1959 classic film “Some Like It Hot“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on February 8th, 2022 via KL Studio Classics. The film, directed, produced, and co-written by Billy Wilder, starred Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, George Raft, Pat O’Brien, and Joe E. Brown. KL Studio Classics had already hinted that this film was coming [next year] in a tweet from earlier this year.

The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a Black & White 2160p video presentation in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision form of high dynamic range with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and 2.0 Mono lossless mixes — on a BD-100 disc. The release will come as a “combo pack” with the Blu-ray Disc counterpart included. You can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon, directly via KLStudioClassics.com, or over at online retailer Deep Discount. The bonus materials set to be included on each disc of the release are detailed below.

4K UHD DISC 1:

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
  • Audio Commentary by Paul Diamond (Son of I.A.L. Diamond) and Screenwriters Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel: Featuring Interviews with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon

BLU-RAY DISC 2:

  • The Making of SOME LIKE IT HOT (25:45)
  • The Legacy of SOME LIKE IT HOT (20:22)
  • Nostalgic Look Back: Documentary (31:13)
  • Memories from the Sweet Sues: Featurette (12:03)
  • Virtual Hall of Memories (21:04)
  • Billy Wilder and Volker Schlöndorff Discuss SOME LIKE IT HOT (14:27)
  • More with Billy Wilder and Volker Schlöndorff (6:02)
  • Tribute to I.A.L. Diamond (2:01)
  • Theatrical Trailer (2:20)