Tag Archives: James Stewart

Alfred Hitchcock The Ultimate Collection on 4K

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“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.

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The 1950 film Harvey is coming to 4K in August

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The 1950 film “Harvey“ is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on August 19th via Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Henry Koster directed the movie. It starred James Stewart, Josephine Hull, Charles Drake, Cecil Kellaway, Victoria Horne, Wallace Ford, and Peggy Dow. It’s worth noting this motion picture is celebrating its 75th anniversary.

The tech specs for the 4K included a 2160p Black & White presentation in a 1.37:1 aspect ratio with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range. It will include lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono sound on a BD-66 disc. The release will come as a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray Disc counterpart included as well as a digital copy, compatible with Movies Anywhere.

The 4K UHD Blu-ray is now available for preorder at Amazon and Walmart. The bonus materials set to be included are listed below.

  • Special Introduction by Film Star James Stewart with Photographic Montage
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • 100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era
  • 100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era

Winchester ’73 gets Criterion 4K and Blu-ray in January

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The 1950 film “Winchester ’73” is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc on January 28th via The Criterion Collection. The film, directed by Anthony Mann, starred James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, Rock Hudson, Stephen McNally, Millard Mitchell, Charles Drake, John McIntire, and Will Geer.

The movie has received a new 4K digital restoration, “undertaken by Universal Pictures in collaboration with The Film Foundation.” The tech specs for the 4K release include a Black & White 2160p video presentation in the 1.35:1 aspect ratio with SDR (standard dynamic range) and uncompressed Mono sound. NOTE: This 4K release will NOT include HDR (high dynamic range). Tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD Black & White video presentation in the 1.35:1 aspect ratio and uncompressed Mono sound. The 4K release will come as a “combo pack” with its Blu-ray counterpart included.

UPDATED: The 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray are now available for preorder at Amazon but stay tuned for an update. Also, you can preorder directly via the Criterion website. The following bonus material will be included with each of the releases.

  • Audio commentary featuring actor James Stewart and film historian Paul Lindenschmidt
  • New interview with film programmer Adam Piron on the portrayal of Native Americans in the Western genre
  • Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the film from 1951
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Imogen Sara Smith
  • New cover by Gregory Manchess

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance comes to 4K in May

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1962 western “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance“ will officially be the first 4K UHD Blu-ray release in the Paramount Presents line on May 17th, as spine number 31, from Paramount Home Entertainment.  The film, directed by John Ford, starred James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Lee Van Cleef, Woody Strode, Edmond O’Brien, Andy Devine, and John Carradine.

This comes from a new scan and remaster.  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 and restored Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless surround sound as well as restored Mono in Dolby Digital.  The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” meaning that it will include its Blu-ray Disc counterpart along with a digital code (copy) of the film.  You can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available now for preorder over at Amazon.  The release will include collectible packaging with tasteful artwork and a fold-out replica of the original movie poster (pictured below) on the slipcover.

The bonus materials set to be included with this release are listed below.

  • Filmmaker Focus – Leonard Maltin on The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance—NEW!              
  • Feature commentary by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, along with his archival recordings with John Ford and James Stewart                                         
  • Selected scene commentary with introduction by Dan Ford, along with his archival recordings with John Ford, James Stewart and Lee Marvin                             
  • The Size Of Legends, The Soul Of Myth                              
    • Chapter 1: Changing Of The Guard                                      
    • Chapter 2: The Irascible Poet                                  
    • Chapter 3: The Hero Doesn’t Win, The Winner Isn’t Heroic                                          
    • Chapter 4: Most Things Happen By Accident                                   
    • Chapter 5: The Great Protector                              
    • Chapter 6: Spotlight – Lee Marvin                                        
    • Chapter 7: Print The Legend                                   
  • Original Theatrical Trailer         

Further below, after the break, you can find the full announcement about this release.

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1954 Alfred Hitchcock film Rear Window on 4K September

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According to multiple retailer listings, the 1954 film “Rear Window“ directed by Alfred Hitchcock is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray individually on September 7th, via Universal. The film starred James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter, Raymond Burr, Judith Evelyn, Ross Bagdasarian, Georgine Darcy, Sara Berner, Frank Cady, Jesslyn Fax, and Irene Winston.

NOTE: This film had previously been released on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format in a box set, “The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection“ from 2020.

The tech specs for the release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono lossless sound, on a BD-100 disc. The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” meaning that it will include the Blu-ray Disc counterpart as well as a digital code (copy) of the film. You can now find the standard individual 4K UHD Blu-ray of the film available for preorder over at Amazon. There will also be a 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook of this film available as an exclusive over at retailer Best Buy (pictured below) which is not yet functional as a preorder. Stay tuned for an update regarding that.

The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • Rear Window Ethics: An Original Documentary
  • A Conversation with Screenwriter John Michael Hayes
  • Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of The Master
  • Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock
  • Hitchcock/Truffaut – In 1962, filmmaker François Truffaut, aided by his translator and associate, Helen G. Scott, spent numerous hours interviewing Alfred Hitchcock for his book, Hitchcock. The audio recording of those interviews provides the soundtrack to this montage of film clips and stills, giving audiences a deeper insight into one of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpieces.
  • Masters of Cinema
  • Production Photographs
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Re-release Trailer Narrated by James Stewart
  • Feature Commentary with John Fawell, Author of “Hitchcock’s Rear Window: The Well-Made Film”

1958 Alfred Hitchcock film Vertigo on 4K in September

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According to multiple retailer listings, the 1958 film “Vertigo“ directed by Alfred Hitchcock is coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray individually on September 7th, via Universal. The film starred James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Raymond Bailey, Ellen Corby, and Konstantin Shayne.

NOTE: This film had previously been released on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format in a box set, “The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection“ from 2020.

The tech specs for the release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 form of high dynamic range and DTS:X immersive sound, on a BD-100 disc. The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” meaning that it will include the Blu-ray Disc counterpart as well as a digital code (copy) of the film. You can now find the standard individual 4K UHD Blu-ray of the film available for preorder over at Amazon. There will also be a 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook of this film available as an exclusive over at retailer Best Buy (pictured below) which is not yet functional as a preorder. Stay tuned for an update regarding that.

The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • Obsessed with Vertigo: New Life for Hitchcock’s Masterpiece
  • Partners In Crime: Hitchcock’s Collaborators
    • Saul Bass: Title Champ
    • Edith Head: Dressing the Master’s Movies
    • Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock’s Maestro
    • Alma: The Master’s Muse
  • Foreign Censorship Ending
  • Hitchcock/Truffaut – In 1962, filmmaker François Truffaut, aided by his translator and associate, Helen G. Scott, spent numerous hours interviewing Alfred Hitchcock for his book, “Hitchcock.” The audio recording of those interviews provides the soundtrack to this montage of film clips and stills, giving audiences a deeper insight into one of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpieces.
  • Feature Commentary with Film Director William Friedkin
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Restoration Theatrical Trailer
  • 100 Years of Universal: The Lew Wasserman Era

Columbia Classics 4K Collection Volume 2 in October

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There will be a “Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection Volume 2“ coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on October 12th via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The limited edition 6-film collection will include the following films:

  • “Anatomy of a Murder” (1959)
  • “Oliver!” (1968)
  • “Taxi Driver” (1976)
  • “Stripes” (1981)
  • “Sense and Sensibility” (1995)
  • “The Social Network” (2010)

These six different films spanning decades have all received 4K restorations and will be getting new sound mixes unless otherwise noted below. All of the films will be presented in 4K resolution with HDR10 form of high dynamic range. And, two films (“Taxi Driver” and “The Social Network”) will be presented in Dolby Vision form of HDR as well. All of the films with the exception of one (“Taxi Driver”) will also get new Dolby Atmos sound mixes as well as their original 5.1 and in some cases Mono lossless mixes. All of the details regarding those tech specs and such can be found a bit further below. All six films will get a digital code (copy) for each in 4K, via Movies Anywhere.

UPDATE: The release date has been pushed back yet again (to 10/12), from its originally slated 9/14 release. You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray set available for preorder over at Amazon. Via that preorder listing, you can find a hi-res image glimpse at the interior of the packaging (seen below).

The release will come with some physical extras in the form of an 80-page booklet and a bonus Blu-ray Disc that will feature 20 classic Columbia Pictures shorts in HD for the first time, including “The Three Stooges – Disorder in the Court” from 1936. The booklet will include six essays about each of the films and are detailed below.

“… six all-new incisive essays from renowned writers Julie Kirgo, John Kenrick, Glenn Kenny, Michael G. McDunnah, Kayti Burt and Nev Pierce.”

You can find the full details below after the break about this upcoming limited edition 4K UHD Blu-ray box set.

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1952 film The Greatest Show on Earth gets Blu-ray in March

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The 1952 film “The Greatest Show on Earth” is coming to Blu-ray Disc, as spine #16, in the Paramount Presents line on March 30th — according to an early retail source. The Academy Award-winning film (for ‘Best Picture’), directed by Cecil B. DeMille, featured a cast of Charlton Heston, James Stewart, Betty Hutton, Gloria Grahame, Dorothy Lamour, and Cornel Wilde. The movie has received a new 4K scan and restoration, according to the back package art. The tech specs for the release include a 1080p HD presentation in (likely the original) 1.37:1 aspect ratio with DTS-HD Master Audio Mono sound. The Blu-ray debut of this film will include a digital copy of the film. You can find the upcoming Blu-ray already listed for preorder over at Amazon. It’s worth noting that the studio (Paramount) has not yet officially made an announcement regarding this release and I’m going on what a retailer is rather elaborately indicating here. So, stay tuned for an official confirmation with further details. The only bonus material set to be included on the release (as seen on the back package art) is listed below.

  • Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on The Greatest Show on Earth

Further below, you can find the artwork for the entire packaging for this Paramount Presents Blu-ray release.

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