Tag Archives: David Lean

Lawrence of Arabia gets individual 4K release in June

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The 1962 film “Lawrence of Arabia“ is finally getting an individual 4K UHD Blu-ray “60th Anniversary Limited Edition” SteelBook release on June 7th via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  This film had previously been released on the 4K format as part of a box set and this will mark the first time it has been available outside of that set as an individual release.

The film, a winner of 7 Academy Awards (“Oscars”), directed by David Lean, starred Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Jose Ferrer, Anthony Quayle, Claude Rains, Arthur Kennedy, Omar Sharif, and Peter O’Toole.

This has been “fully restored from the original camera negative.”  The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray release include a 2160p video presentation in the 2.20:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos sound.  It also includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround lossless mix as well.  NOTE: The film is split up across 2 discs for both the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray versions. Speaking of which, the release comes in the form of a “combo pack” meaning it includes its Blu-ray Disc counterpart and a digital code (copy) of the film.

You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook available for preorder over at Amazon.  The bonus materials set to be included with this release are listed below.

  • Unused International Prologue (on 4K only)

Blu-ray Extras:

  • Secrets of Arabia: Feature-Length Picture-in-Graphics Track
  • Peter O’Toole Revisits Lawrence of Arabia
  • Making of Lawrence of Arabia Documentary
  • Deleted Balcony Scene with Introduction by Anne V. Coates
  • The Lure of the Desert: Martin Scorsese on Lawrence of Arabia
  • A Conversation with Steven Spielberg
  • Wind, Sand and Star: The Making of a Classic (1963 & 1970 Versions)
  • Maan, Jordan: The Camels Are Cast
  • In Search of Lawrence
  • Romance of Arabia
  • King Hussein Visits Lawrence of Arabia Set
  • In Love with the Desert Documentary
  • Lawrence at 50: A Classic Restored
  • Archival Interviews
    • Steven Spielberg on Lawrence of Arabia
    • William Friedkin on Lawrence of Arabia
    • Sydney Pollack on Lawrence of Arabia
  • New York Premiere Footage
  • Advertising Campaigns
  • Vintage Trailers & TV Spots

Further below, after the break, you can find the official announcement about this film coming to 4K along with another David Lean film (“The Bridge on the River Kwai“) that I will be covering individually in its own news story.

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“Columbia Classics” Volume 1 set on 4K in June

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BREAKING: Six well-known films have all been restored in 4K and will be getting an exclusive release on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format via what is being called the “Columbia Classics: 4K Ultra HD Collection – Volume 1“ box set, which is set for a June 16th release, via Sony. The set, a limited-edition collection, will be literally limited with only what is said to be fewer than 8 thousand units produced — as quoted below from the press release:

The six films in the COLUMBIA CLASSICS 4K ULTRA HD COLLECTION are only available on 4K Ultra HD disc within this special collector’s set with a limited-edition run of fewer than 8,000 units in the U.S

This 4K box set includes the following films:

  • “A League of Their Own” (1992)
    • directed by Penny Marshall
  • “Dr. Stranglelove: Or How…” (1964)
    • directed by Stanley Kubrick
  • “Gandhi” (1982)
    • directed by Richard Attenborough
  • “Jerry Maguire” (1996)
    • directed by Cameron Crowe
  • “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962) [Restored]
    • directed by David Lean
  • “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” (1939)
    • directed by Frank Capra

UPDATE: I have now talked with the folks at Sony and have the full details on this release for you, via an extremely lengthy press release that you’ll be able to read in its entirety, further below after the break. The tech specs for the films include 4K video with HDR10 form of High Dynamic Range and a variety of Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio sound mixes on the six different films. Lastly, regarding tech specs, it is worth noting that the film Gandhi will actually receive Dolby Vision and HDR10, in terms of video. You can find this 4K UHD Blu-ray box set already listed for preorder over at Amazon. Below (as mentioned) are the full details about this upcoming very limited box set.

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