Tag Archives: Gregory Peck

To Kill a Mockingbird is coming to 4K in October

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The 1962 film “To Kill a Mockingbird” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on October 11th in a “60th Anniversary Edition” via Universal Studios Home Entertainment.  The film, winner of 3 Academy Awards, directed by Robert Mulligan, starred Gregory Peck, John Megna, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, Ruth White, Paul Fix, Brock Peters, Frank Overton, Rosemary Murphy, Collin Wilcox, and Robert Duvall.

The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p Black & White video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range along with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless surround and lossy DTS 2.0 Mono sound mixes on a BD-100 disc.  Tech specs for the new 60th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray include a 1080p HD Black & White video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with DTS-HD MA 5.1 and DTS 2.0 Mono sound mixes on a BD-50 disc.  The releases will come in the form of a “combo pack” with the 4K getting its Blu-ray counterpart, the Blu-ray getting its DVD counterpart, and each including a digital code (copy) of the film.

You cannot yet find the 4K UHD Blu-ray or Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon, but stay tuned for an update on that soon.  The bonus materials set to be included with the releases are listed below.

  • TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD: ALL POINTS OF VIEW (NEW) – Delve deep into the impact and legacy of To Kill a Mockingbird in this new documentary as film historians, scholars, and Gregory Peck’s grandson, Christopher Peck, reflect on the message of hope, courage and integrity that are still relevant 60 years after the film was released.
  • FEARFUL SYMMETRY – A feature-length documentary on the making of To Kill a Mockingbird with cast and crew interviews and a visit to author Harper Lee’s home town.
  • A CONVERSATION WITH GREGORY PECK – An intimate feature-length documentary on one of the most beloved actors in film history with interviews, film clips, home movies and more.
  • ACADEMY AWARD® BEST ACTOR ACCEPTANCE SPEECH – Gregory Peck gives a speech at the Academy Awards® after winning for his performance as Atticus Finch.
  • AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE LIFE ACHIEVEMENT SPEECH – Gregory Peck’s speech after receiving the AFI Life Achievement Award.
  • EXCERPT FROM “TRIBUTE TO GREGORY PECK” – Cecilia Peck’s heartwarming farewell to her father given at the Academy in celebration of his life.
  • SCOUT REMEMBERS – Actress Mary Badham talks about her time acting alongside Gregory Peck.
  • FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR ROBERT MULLIGAN AND PRODUCER ALAN PAKULA
  • ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER
  • 100 YEARS OF UNIVERSAL: RESTORING THE CLASSICS – Join in on the in-depth look at the film restoration process.

It’s also worth noting that a 4K UHD Blu-ray 60th Anniversary Limited Edition will be available, and is not yet available for preorder.  This limited edition will come with some physical extras listed below.

  • 44-page booklet
  • Four collectible international theatrical poster cards
  • A film strip replica

Below, after the break, you can find the full announcement about the upcoming home video releases of this film to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

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1961 film The Guns of Navarone comes to 4K in November

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The 1961 classic film The Guns of Navarone is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray, to celebrate its 60th anniversary, on November 2nd via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The film, directed by J. Lee Thompson, starred Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn.

According to the press release, the movie has received a 4K transfer “from the original camera negative”. The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range and Dolby Atmos sound and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 4.0 lossless surround and stereo sound mixes. The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” meaning that it will include its Blu-ray Disc counterpart and a digital code (copy) of the film.

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

The bonus materials set to be included with this release on the 4K and Blu-ray Discs are listed below.

4K ULTRA HD DISC

  • Playback available with and without Original Roadshow Intermission Card
  • Special Features:
    • NEW: Main Title Progression Reel
    • Theatrical Trailer

BLU-RAY DISC

  • Special Features:
    • Audio Commentary by Director J. Lee Thompson
    • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Stephen J. Rubin
    • The Resistance Dossier of Navarone: Interactive Feature
    • Forging The Guns of Navarone: Notes from the Set
    • An Ironic Epic of Heroism
    • Memories of Navarone
    • Epic Restoration
    • A Heroic Score
    • Great Guns
    • No Visitors
    • Honeymoon on Rhodes
    • Two Girls on the Town
    • Narration-Free Prologue
    • Message from Carl Foreman

Further below, after the break, you can find the full details about this film’s upcoming 4K release.

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1953 film Roman Holiday on Blu-ray September

roman_holiday_bluray_paramount_presents_contents– Amazon Commissions Earned –

The 1953 film Roman Holiday will officially be making its debut to Blu-ray Disc on September 15th, via Paramount Presents – as spine #9. The film, directed by William Wyler and winner of 3 “Oscars” (Academy Awards), starred Gregory PeckAudrey Hepburn, and Eddie Albert. The tech specs for the release have not yet fully been detailed but it is known that the release has received a new 4K restoration, as detailed in the press release.

The original negative was processed at a local film lab in Rome and was unfortunately badly scratched and damaged.  The film had to be pieced back together, but the splices were so weak due to the damage that extensive amounts of tape had to be used to allow the negative to make it through a printing machine.  Because of the fragile state of the negative, a Dupe Negative was made and then blown up a few thousandths of an inch to cover all the splice tape that held the original negative together.

In anticipation of this new Blu-ray release, the film was digitally restored using the Dupe Negative and a Fine Grain element to capture the best possible image.  Every frame was reviewed, and the film received extensive clean up to remove thousands of scratches, bits of dirt, and other damage.  Because audio elements to properly up-mix to 5.1 do not exist, the original mono track was remastered, and minor anomalies were corrected.  The result is a film returned to its original vibrancy and beauty that remains true to director William Wyler’s vision.

You can now find the Blu-ray listed for preorder over at Amazon and retailer Best Buy. The release will include a digital copy of the film and the following bonus materials.

  • Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on Roman Holiday            
  • Behind the Gates: Costumes
  • Rome with a Princess
  • Audrey Hepburn: The Paramount Years 
  • Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist 
  • Paramount in the ’50s: Remembering Audrey
  • Theatrical Trailers
  • Four Photo Galleries:  Production, The Movie, Publicity, The Premiere  

Below, after the break, you can find the full details regarding this upcoming release.

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The Omen Collection Deluxe Edition on Blu-ray

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The Omen Collection [Deluxe Edition] is coming to Blu-ray Disc as a 5-disc set on October 15th via Scream Factory. This set features the five films “The Omen” (1976), “Damien: Omen II” (1978), “The Final Conflict” (1981), “Omen IV: The Awakening” (1991), and the remake “The Omen” (2006). There are no specific details yet regarding tech specs for the films but stay tuned for an update. It is however definitely worth noting that the first film in this set (“The Omen” original from 1976) will come with a new video transfer from a new 4K remaster. The other four films have not been said to have received new transfers, but they still could as details will be announced at a later point this year. That said, bonus materials are currently “in progress” so you will have to wait to hear what those are specifically, as well. You can now find the Blu-ray set available to pre-order over at Amazon as well as directly from Shout! Factory’s store (with an added bonus rolled lithograph for the first 666 customers).

“Arabesque” with Gregory Peck comes to Blu-ray in June

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The 1966 film Arabesque starring Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren is set to be coming to Blu-ray Disc on June 4th via Universal, according to an early alert to retailers. The film, directed by Stanley Donen, co-stars Alan Badel, Kieron Moore, and Carl Duering. The tech specs and bonus materials (if any) for the release have not yet been detailed but stay tuned for a later update. The Blu-ray is now available to pre-order over at Amazon.