Tag Archives: James Mason
The 1979 adaptation of Salem’s Lot on 4K in March
Commissions Earned
The 1979 TV miniseries adaptation of “Salem’s Lot“ is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray Limited Edition on March 31st via Arrow Video. Tobe Hooper directed the miniseries, based on the novel written by Stephen King. It starred David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Julie Cobb, and Elisha Cook Jr.
This release includes new 4K restorations of both the original two-part miniseries and the shorter theatrical cut distributed internationally. The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray include a 2160p video presentation in a 1.33:1 for the 2-part TV miniseries, a 1.85:1 aspect ratio for the theatrical cut, and lossless Mono sound for both versions. The release will come as a 2-disc set, with each version getting its own disc.
The 4K UHD Blu-ray Limited Edition is now available for preorder at Amazon, Arrow Video, and the MVD Shop. The bonus materials physically included are shown, and the entire set of supplemental materials is listed further below, sorted by disc.
Physical Extras:
- Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
- Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet containing new writing on the film by critics Sean Abley, Sorcha Ni Fhlainn, and Richard Kadrey, plus select archival material including interviews with director Tobe Hooper, and stars Lance Kerwin and Julie Cobb
- Salem’s Lot town sign sticker
- Double-sided foldout poster featuring two original artwork options
Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray):
- ORIGINAL TV MINI-SERIES VERSION
- Two viewing modes: Play as miniseries in two parts as per the original broadcast or as extended movie
- Brand new audio commentary by film critics Bill Ackerman and Amanda Reyes
- Archive audio commentary by director Tobe Hooper
- Alternate TV footage: commercial bumpers and original broadcast version of the antlers death
- Original shooting script gallery
Disc 2 (4K UHD Blu-ray):
- THEATRICAL VERSION & EXTRAS
- Brand new audio commentary by film critic Chris Alexander
- King of the Vampires, a new interview with Stephen King biographer Douglas Winter
- Second Coming, a new appreciation by author and critic Grady Hendrix
- New England Nosferatu, a new interview with filmmaker Mick Garris
- Fear Lives Here, a new featurette looking at the locations of Salem’s Lot today
- We Can All Be Heroes, a new featurette with film critic Heather Wixson, co-author of In Search of Darkness
- A Gold Standard for Small Screen Screams, a new featurette with film critics Joe Lipsett and Trace Thurman, co-hosts of the podcast Horror Queers
- Trailer
- Image gallery
Alfred Hitchcock The Ultimate Collection on 4K
Commissions Earned
“Alfred Hitchcock: The Ultimate Collection” is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on October 14th via Universal Studios Home Entertainment. This “ultimate collection” consists of a total of 15 films, listed below.
- “Saboteur” (1942)
- “Shadow of a Doubt” (1943)
- “Rope” (1948)
- “Rear Window” (1954)
- “The Trouble with Harry” (1955)
- “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (1956)
- “Vertigo” (1958)
- “North by Northwest” (1959)
- “Psycho” (1960)
- “The Birds” (1963)
- “Marnie” (1964)
- “Torn Curtain” (1966)
- “Topaz” (1969)
- “Frenzy” (1972)
- “Family Plot” (1976)
The tech specs for the 4K UHD Blu-ray set include a 2160p video presentation for each film, available in various aspect ratios and sound formats. These all will feature the HDR10 form of high dynamic range. “North by Northwest” will be the only one to feature Dolby Atmos sound. Meanwhile, the other films will be presented in a variety of DTS:X and DTS-HD Master Audio lossless Mono sound mixes. The tech specs for the Blu-ray will reflect this same variety of aspect ratios and sound formats, but will be presented in 1080p HD. The sound formats will likely be in lossless 5.1 surround sound for “North by Northwest.” The other films in the set, on Blu-ray, will feature an assortment of DTS:X and DTS-HD Master Audio Mono sound.
NOTE: All fifteen of these movies have previously been released in sets and/or individually over the years on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format. This will, however, mark the first time they have all been included together in one set.
UPDATED: The Blu-ray version of the set is now available for preorder on Amazon, but the 4K is not yet. Stay tuned for an update on that. In the meantime, you can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray version available for preorder at online retailer GRUV. Below you can find a glimpse at the packaging and contents for each version of the box set.
A 64-page collectible booklet, featuring storyboards, film trivia, photographs, letters, and much more, will be physically included with both versions of the set. The other bonus materials set to be included on the set run rather lengthy (as you’d expect), so you can find them listed further below after the break.
Read moreNorth by Northwest – 4K UHD Blu-ray Review
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.
Heaven Can Wait with Warren Beatty comes to Blu-ray
Amazon Commissions Earned
The 1978 film “Heaven Can Wait“ starring Warren Beatty is officially coming to Blu-ray Disc on November 30th via Paramount Home Entertainment. This will mark the first time this film has been on the Blu-ray format, making it its debut. The film, co-directed & co-written by Warren Beatty, co-starred Julie Christie, James Mason, Charles Grodin, Dyan Cannon, Buck Henry, Vincent Gardenia, and Jack Warden. Heaven Can Wait was nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards and ended up winning the Oscar for “Best Art Direction / Set Decoration.”
The tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD video presentation remastered from the original negative under Warren Beatty’s supervision, presumably in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. While the audio presentation (likely in the original Mono) has not yet been detailed, but stay tuned for an update on that. The release will come with a digital code (copy) of the film. You can now find the Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon.
Further below, after the break, you can find the full announcement about the upcoming Blu-ray release of this film.
The House of Hitchcock Collection Blu-ray October
“The House of Hitchcock“ Collection Limited Edition Blu-ray Disc box set is coming on October 1st, via Universal, according to retailers. The box set will include a total of 15 movies directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Those films, all previously available on the Blu-ray format, included in this set are listed below (in chronological order):
- “Saboteur“ (1942)
- “Shadow of a Doubt“ (1943)
- “Rope“ (1948)
- “Rear Window“ (1954)
- “The Trouble with Harry“ (1955)
- “The Man Who Knew Too Much“ (1956)
- “Vertigo“ (1958)
- “North by Northwest“ (1959)
- “Psycho“ (1960)
- “The Birds“ (1963)
- “Marnie“ (1964)
- “Torn Curtain“ (1966)
- “Topaz“ (1969)
- “Frenzy“ (1972)
- “Family Plot“ (1976)
The release will include not only the physical form box set replica (of sorts) of the infamous “Psycho” house but it’ll even include blueprints, movie poster cards for each film, a booklet about his work, a “Do Not Disturb” door hanger sign from the “Bates Motel”, letters, and more. Tech specs for the Blu-ray releases remain identical to the previously released versions. You can find the Blu-ray set available for pre-order over at Amazon. Bonus materials, some of which are exclusive to this box set, are listed below and the contents are even pictured, further below after the break.
- 7 TV Episodes from “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” [EXCLUSIVE DVD]
- 3 TV Episodes from “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” [EXCLUSIVE DVD]
- Documentaries
- Expert (Audio) Commentaries
- Interviews
- Screen Tests
- And Much More!
Stephen King stories turned film on Blu-ray get Steelbooks at Best Buy in October
Retailer Best Buy has three Exclusive Steelbooks on Blu-ray Disc planned for movies based on Stephen King stories. The TV mini-series “It“ (1990), TV movie “Salem’s Lot“ (1979), and film “The Shining“ (1980) will get Steelbook treatment on October 2nd via Warner. The titles are all available for PRE-ORDER over at Best Buy priced at just $12.99 each. Their art can be seen above and below, but the full-size art hasn’t appeared yet on the web side, just on the mobile app side.
These are all three re-releases already available on the Blu-ray Disc format. No new transfers or bonus materials will be found on the new Steelbooks. It’s my guess that these are just being repackaged, likely in a marketing tie-in, to go with the currently available Warner produced Hulu series “Castle Rock“ – based on Stephen King stories.