Tag Archives: James Stewart

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.

It’s A Wonderful Life is getting a 4K SteelBook

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The 1946 classic Frank Capra film “It’s A Wonderful Life“ starring James Stewart is getting a 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook release on November 17th, via Paramount. This film has previously been released, last year, on the 4K format. You can find 4K screenshots of it here.

UPDATE: The release date for this 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook of the film has been pushed back by a total of two weeks from its originally slated release. To avoid confusion, I’ll only be mentioning the new updated release date here.

The film co-starred Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, and Beulah Bondi. The tech specs for the release include Black & White restored 2160p 4K video with Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of High Dynamic Range and Dolby TrueHD Mono sound. The release will come with a Blu-ray Disc of the colorized version of the film, and a digital code (copy) of the film. You can now find the 4K SteelBook is available for preorder over at Amazon. The bonus materials set to be included on the release are identical to those on the original 2019 4K and consist of the following on the 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc:

  • “Restoring a Beloved Classic” [in 4K]
  • “Secrets from the Vault”
  • “It’s A Wonderful Wrap Party”

Below, you can find a glimpse at the contents of this limited edition 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook version of the film which includes a mini reproduction of a vintage film poster.

its_a_wonderful_life_4k_steelbook

Further below, after the break, you can find the official announcement regarding this SteelBook release of the film on 4K UHD Blu-ray, as well as info about the restoration the film originally received.

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The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection on 4K

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“The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray in a box set on September 8th, via Universal. The set includes four films by the legendary director, chronologically including: “Rear Window” (1954), “Vertigo” (1958), “Psycho” (1960), and “The Birds” (1963). The tech specs for each film will vary and I’ll be noting them in a moment. Most importantly, they’ll be presented in 2160p with the HDR10 form of High Dynamic Range along with a variety of DTS:X and DTS-HD Master Audio sound.  Specifically: Rear Window will be in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio with DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono sound. Vertigo will be in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with DTS:X and Dolby Digital 2.0 mono sound. Psycho will be in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with DTS:X and Dolby Digital 2.0 mono sound. The Birds will be in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono sound. Lastly, it is noted that each film will be receiving a BD-100 (100 gigabytes) disc.

The release will come as a “combo pack” meaning that it will include a Blu-ray Disc counterpart and a digital code (copy) of each film. This release will also be presented in a collectible DiscBook packaging, as shown below.

the_alfred_hitchcock_classics_collection_4k_discbook_thumbClick for a larger view.

UPDATE: You can now find The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection 4K UHD Blu-ray set available for preorder over at Amazon.

It is also known that there will be a 60th Anniversary Edition 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook release of the film “Psycho” (1960) on 4K UHD Blu-ray, which is listed for preorder again over at retailer Best Buy. I’m not sure yet if that will be an exclusive and if any of the other four films will get SteelBook treatment. It’s likely only this film will, as it is celebrating an anniversary. You can find this 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook for Psycho pictured below.

psycho_1960_60th_anniversary_edition_4k_steelbookThe bonus materials set to be included on this box set include hours of content, which you can find listed in full detail (for each film) further below after the break — in the press release.

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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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