Tag Archives: Orson Welles

1958 Orson Welles film Touch of Evil on 4K in February

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The 1958 film noir “Touch of Evil“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on February 15th, 2022 via KL Studio Classics, according to a social media post. The film, co-written & directed by, plus co-starring Orson Welles, starred Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff, and Joanna Moore.

This has received a new 4K restoration of the original Theatrical Cut, the “Reconstructed Cut,” and the “Preview Cut.” The tech specs for the release include a Black & White 2160p video presentation in Dolby Vision and HDR10 forms of high dynamic range. Each version of the film should theoretically be receiving a lossless Mono sound mix — although they have not been detailed. Also, the aspect ratio has not been specified if it will be in the 1.37:1 negative or the 1.85:1 intended ratios. Stay tuned for an update on all of that hopefully soon? The release will span across a 3-disc set with one BD-100 (triple-layer 100 gigabytes) disc for each version of the film.

UPDATE: You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray available for preorder over at Amazon. Also, you can find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and the Special Edition Blu-ray available for preorder directly over at Kino Lorber’s site. The bonus materials set to be included on the 4K release are listed below, for each of the three discs.

DISC 1
  • Brand New Dolby Vision HDR Master of the Theatrical Cut
  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
  • Audio Commentary with Writer/Filmmaker F.X. Feeney
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Optional English Subtitles
  • Triple-Layer UHD100 Disc
DISC 2
  • Brand New Dolby Vision HDR Master of the Reconstructed Cut
  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Imogen Sara Smith
  • Audio Commentary by Stars Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh with Reconstruction Producer Rick Schmidlin
  • EVIL LOST AND FOUND: Featurette
  • Optional English Subtitles
  • Triple-Layer UHD100 Disc
DISC 3
  • Brand New Dolby Vision HDR Master of the Preview Cut
  • Audio Commentary with Orson Welles Historians Jonathan Rosenbaum and James Naremore
  • BRINGING EVIL TO LIFE: Featurette
  • Optional English Subtitles
  • Triple-Layer UHD100 Disc

Citizen Kane on 4K via Criterion Collection in November

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The 1941 classic film “Citizen Kane” is officially coming to the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc formats on November 23rd via The Criterion Collection. This will make one of the first 4K physical releases by Criterion, as they have just unveiled recently. The film, co-written, produced, and directed by Orson Welles, also starred Orson Welles, as well as Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Comingore, Agnes Moorehead, Ruth Warrick, Ray Collins, Erskine Sanford, and Everett Sloane.

The tech specs for the release include a 2160p video presentation (in Black & White) in the original 1.37:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision forms of high dynamic range and uncompressed Mono sound. The movie has received a new 4K restoration. The release will come in the form of a “combo pack” meaning that the Blu-ray Disc counterpart of the film will be included, with an additional two Blu-ray Discs for extras — making for a 4-disc set. You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc versions are available for preorder over at Amazon and directly via Criterion‘s website. The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below, including physical extras.

  • Three audio commentaries: from 2021 featuring Orson Welles scholars James Naremore and Jonathan Rosenbaum; from 2002 featuring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich; and from 2002 featuring film critic Roger Ebert
  • The Complete “Citizen Kane,” (1991), a rarely seen feature-length BBC documentary
  • New interviews with critic Farran Smith Nehme and film scholar Racquel J. Gates
  • New video essay by Orson Welles scholar Robert Carringer
  • New program on the film’s special effects by film scholars and effects experts Craig Barron and Ben Burtt
  • Interviews from 1990 with editor Robert Wise; actor Ruth Warrick; optical-effects designer Linwood Dunn; Bogdanovich; filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Henry Jaglom, Martin Ritt, and Frank Marshall; and cinematographers Allen Daviau, Gary Graver, and Vilmos Zsigmond
  • New documentary featuring archival interviews with Welles
  • Interviews with actor Joseph Cotten from 1966 and 1975
  • The Hearts of Age, a brief silent film made by Welles as a student in 1934
  • Television programs from 1979 and 1988 featuring appearances by Welles and Mercury Theatre producer John Houseman
  • Program featuring a 1996 interview with actor William Alland on his collaborations with Welles
  • Selection of The Mercury Theatre on the Air radio plays featuring many of the actors from Citizen Kane
  • Trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: Deluxe packaging, including a book with an essay by film critic Bilge Ebiri
  • New Cover by Mike McQuade

The Transformers The Movie from 1986 on 4K in August

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The 1986 animated film “The Transformers: The Movie“ is officially coming to 4K UHD Blu-ray on August 3rd, via Shout! Factory, in a 35th Anniversary Limited Edition SteelBook. The film, directed by Nelson Shin, featured the voice talents of Peter Cullen, Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Stack, Frank Welker, and Orson Welles. The movie has received a new restoration from a new 4K transfer. Tech specs for the 4K release include a 2160p video presentation in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio with HDR10 and Dolby Vision as well as DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround and 2.0 Stereo lossless sound mixes. The release will also include a Blu-ray of the film in HD, presented in the 1.33:1 full-frame aspect ratio and DTS-HD MA 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo sound mixes.

NOTE: Despite the 4K UHD Blu-ray format being mostly region-free, this release could perhaps be region A locked, it appears. However, it has been stated that there will be both a standard and a SteelBook 4K UHD Blu-ray releases available in both the US and UK this September. Specifically, on September 28th you’ll see those 4K physical versions released to further celebrate the 35th anniversary.

You can now find the 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook available for preorder over at Amazon, as well as directly via Shout! Factory’s store where you will get an 18″x24″ lithograph print if you preorder (while supplies last). The bonus materials set to be included with the release are listed below.

  • NEW Feature-Length Storyboards, including deleted, alternate and extended sequences
  • NEW Fathom Events 30th Anniversary Featurette, including Stan Bush’s acoustic performances of “The Touch” and “Dare”
  • ‘Til All Are One – A comprehensive documentary looking back at THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE with members of the cast and crew, including story consultant Flint Dille, cast members Gregg Berger, Neil Ross, Dan Gilvezan, singer/songwriter Stan Bush, composer Vince Dicola and others!
  • Audio Commentary with Director Nelson Shin, story consultant Flint Dille and star Susan Blu
  • Featurettes
  • Animated Storyboards
  • Trailers and TV Spots

Further below, after the break, you can find the full announcement regarding this upcoming 4K physical release of the film.

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