Tag Archives: Kevin McCarthy

1981 Joe Dante film The Howling on 4K in February

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The 1981 horror film “The Howling“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on February 15th, 2022 via Scream Factory (Shout! Factory) in a “Collector’s Edition” form. The film, directed by Joe Dante, starred Dee Wallace, Dennis Dugan, Patrick Macnee, Christopher Stone, Belinda Balaski, Kevin McCarthy, John Carradine, and Slim Pickens.

The tech specs have not yet been fully detailed but you can expect a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 (and possibly Dolby Vision) form(s) of high dynamic range from a 2021 4K restoration by StudioCanal — approved by director Joe Dante. The bonus materials for the release are listed below.

  • DISC ONE (4K UHD)
    • NEW 2021 4K Restoration By StudioCanal, Approved By Director Joe Dante
    • Audio Commentary With Director Joe Dante And Actors Dee Wallace, Christopher Stone, And Robert Picardo
    • Audio Commentary By Author Gary Bradner
  • DISC TWO (BLU-RAY)
    • NEW 2021 4K Restoration By StudioCanal, Approved By Director Joe Dante
    • Audio Commentary With Joe Dante, Dee Wallace, Christopher Stone And Robert Picardo
    • Audio Commentary By Gary Bradner
    • “Fun. Fur. Film.” – An Interview With Dee Wallace
    • “Howling’s Eternal” – An Interview With Executive Producer Steven A. Lane
    • “Cut To Shreds” – An Interview With Editor Mark Goldblatt
    • Interview With Co-Writer Terence H. Winkless
    • Interview With Stop Motion Animator David Allen
    • “Unleashing The Beast: The Making Of The Howling” – Vintage Featurette
    • “Making A Monster Movie: Inside The Howling” – Vintage Featurette
    • Deleted Scenes With Optional Commentary
    • Outtakes
    • Horror’s Hallowed Grounds – A Look At The Film’s Original Locations
    • Theatrical Trailer
    • Trailers From Hell – Writer Josh Olson On The Howling
    • Still Gallery

As you can tell, the release will come in the form of a “combo pack” with the 4K getting its Blu-ray Disc counterpart. You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon. You also can preorder the 4K UHD Blu-ray directly via ShoutFactory.com where you’ll receive a poster (while supplies last). Stay tuned for any further updates on the release later on.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) on 4K

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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

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

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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