Tag Archives: Don Siegel

Escape from Alcatraz comes to 4K in November

Amazon Commissions Earned

The 1979 film “Escape from Alcatraz” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on November 8th via KL Studio Classics.  The film, directed by Don Siegel, starred Clint Eastwood, Patrick McGoohan, Roberts Blossom, Jack Thibeau, Paul Benjamin, Larry Hankin, and Fred Ward.

The film has received a new 4K scan (by Paramount Pictures) of the original camera negative.  Tech specs for the release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 lossless sound mixes, on a BD-100 disc.  Tech specs for the Blu-ray included in this “combo pack” are 1080p HD video, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and the same lossless 5.1 surround and 2.0 audio mixes on a BD-50 disc.   You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon as well as directly via Kino Lorber‘s website.  The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson
  • THE GHOSTS OF ALCATRAZ: NEW Interview with Screenwriter Richard Tuggle
  • TALES FROM THE CELLBLOCK: NEW Interview with Actor Larry Hankin
  • Theatrical Trailer (Newly Remastered in 2K)

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) on 4K

Amazon Commissions Earned

The 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on November 23rd via KL Studio Classics, according to a recent Facebook announcement. The film, based on the novel “The Body Snatchers” (written by Jack Finney) and directed by Philip Kaufman, starred Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, Art Hindle, and Leonard Nimoy. The movie has been newly restored from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative, which was then approved & color graded by the film’s director (Philip Kaufman).

The tech specs for the release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range as well as lossless 5.1 surround sound and 2.0 Stereo audio mixes (presumably in DTS-HD Master Audio format), on a BD-100 disc. The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” meaning that it will include its Blu-ray Disc counterpart, featuring the same 4K restoration and audio options (on a BD-50 disc for that).

UPDATE: You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon.

The bonus materials set to be included on this release are listed below specific to each disc.

4K UHD Blu-ray extras:

  • Audio Commentary by Director Philip Kaufman
  • Audio Commentary by Author/Film Historian Steve Haberman

Blu-ray Disc extras:

  • Audio Commentary by Director Philip Kaufman
  • Audio Commentary by Author/Film Historian Steve Haberman
  • Star-Crossed in the Invasion: Interview with Actress Brooke Adams (9:06)
  • Re-Creating the Invasion: Interview with Screenwriter W.D. Richter (15:43)
  • Scoring the Invasion: Interview with Composer Denny Zeitlin (15:34)
  • Leading the Invasion: Interview with actor Art Hindle (25:04)
  • Writing the Pod: Interview with Jack Finney Expert Jack Seabrook (11:14)
  • Re-Visitors from Outer Space, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Pod – Featurette (16:14)
  • Practical Magic: The Special Effects Pod – Featurette (4:38)
  • The Man Behind the Scream: The Sound Effects Pod – Featurette (12:47)
  • The Invasion Will Be Televised: The Cinematography Pod – Featurette (5:24)
  • TV Spots
  • Radio Spots
  • Theatrical Trailer

Play Misty for Me gets Special Edition Blu-ray

play_misty_for_me_special_edition_bluray_tilted– Amazon Commissions Earned –

The 1971 film Play Misty for Me directed by Clint Eastwood is getting a Special Edition Blu-ray Disc release on November 10th via KL Studio Classics. The film starred Clint Eastwood, Jessica WalterDonna Mills, John Larch, Jack Ging, Irene Hervey, James McEachin, Clarice Taylor, and Don Siegel. This motion picture has received a brand new 2K master. Tech specs for the release have not yet been fully detailed, however, it is known that it will be on a BD-50 (50 gigabytes) Blu-ray Disc. Stay tuned for an update regarding the aspect ratio and details about what audio configuration and format(s) it is presented in. You can now find the Special Edition Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon. This will come with limited edition slipcover (pictured above) and reversible artwork, as seen on Amazon. The release will include a few new extras and the complete list of bonus materials are below.

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
  • NEW Interview with Co-Star Donna Mills
  • NEW Video Essay by Film Historian Howard S. Berger
  • Play It Again… A Look Back at “Play Misty For Me” – Documentary
  • The Beguiled, Misty, Don and Clint – Featurette
  • TRAILERS FROM HELL with Adam Rifkin
  • Theatrical Teaser in HD
  • Theatrical Trailer in HD
  • Two TV Spots
  • Stills Montage
  • Clint Eastwood Directs and Acts: Photo Montage
  • The Evolution of a Poster

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” gets a Signature release on Blu-ray in October

invasion_of_the_body_snatchers_olive_signature_bluray.png

The original 1956 Don Siegel directed film adaptation of Invasion of the Body Snatchers starring Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter is getting a “Olive Signature” edition Blu-ray Disc release on October 16th via distributor Olive Films. The film has received a new high-definition digital restoration, according to the distributor. This new version on Blu-ray Disc is now available for PRE-ORDER over at Amazon. A list of bonus materials set to be included on the release are listed below.

  • Audio Commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith
  • Audio Commentary by actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, and filmmaker Joe Dante
  • “The Stranger in Your Lover’s Eyes” – A two-part visual essay with actor and son of director Don Siegel, Kristoffer Tabori, reading from his father’s book A Siegel Film
  • “The Fear is Real” – Filmmakers Larry Cohen and Joe Dante on the film’s cultural significance
  • “I No Longer Belong: The Rise and Fall of Walter Wanger” – Film scholar and author Matthew Bernstein discusses the life and career of the film’s producer
  • “Sleep No More: Invasion of the Body Snatchers Revisited” – An appreciation of the film featuring actors Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, along with comments from film directors and fans, John Landis, Mick Garris, and Stuart Gordon
  • “The Fear and the Fiction: The Body Snatchers Phenomenon” – Kevin McCarthy and Dana Wynter, along with film directors John Landis, Mick Garris and Stuart Gordon, discuss the making of the film, its place in history, and its meaning
  • 1985 archival interview with Kevin McCarthy hosted by Tom Hatten
  • “Return to Santa Mira” – An exploration of the film’s locations
  • “What’s In a Name?” – On the film’s title
  • Gallery of rare documents detailing aspects of the film’s production including the never-produced opening narration to have been read by Orson Welles
  • Essay by author and film programmer Kier-La Janisse
  • Original theatrical trailer