Tag Archives: Walter Matthau

1976 film The Bad News Bears is coming to Blu-ray in March

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The 1976 film “The Bad News Bears” starring Walter Matthau is finally coming to Blu-ray Disc on March 30th, via Paramount, according to an early retailer listing. The film, directed by Michael Ritchie, co-starred Tatum O’NealVic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten, Ben Piazza, Alfred Lutter III, Chris Barnes, Erin Blunt, and Jackie Earle Haley.

UPDATE #1: well, word has it that Justin Beahm’s Reverendent Entertainment did some new extras for this release. UPDATE #2: well, this has totally made my day and come as a great surprise. Here’s the list of bonus materials set to be included on this Blu-ray Disc debut of the film — via Justin Beahm‘s social media account.

  • Sometimes You Lose: Kevin Smith on The Bad News Bears
  • Life Imitates Art: Jackie Earle Haley on The Bad News Bears
  • Get to the Finals: Producer Stanley Jaffe on The Bad News Bears
  • Shot on Super-8: Jackie Earle Haley’s Home Movies

UPDATE #3: the tech specs include 1080p HD in presumably the original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (or perhaps 1.78:1) and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound.

It is also known, via the cover art (pictured above) that the release will come with a digital copy of the film. You can now find the Blu-ray listed for preorder over at Amazon as well as at retailers Target and Walmart.

The Odd Couple II makes its Blu-ray debut November

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The 1998 sequel The Odd Couple II is making its Blu-ray Disc debut on November 10th via Paramount. The film, based on Neil Simon‘s screenplay & directed by Howard Deutch, starred Jack LemmonWalter MatthauRichard Riehle, Jonathan Silverman, Lisa Waltz, Mary Beth Peil, Christine Baranski, and Jean Smart.

UPDATE: The tech specs for the Blu-ray include a 1080p HD presentation in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound mix.

No word yet on the bonus materials, if any set to be included on the release, but it would seem there aren’t any mentioned in the description (below). You can now find the Blu-ray Disc available to preorder over at Amazon. Speaking of Amazon here’s what they have listed as the item description, where it mentions the film will be making its Blu-ray debut as by this:

“FOR THE FIRST TIME ON BLU-RAY! It’s a comedy celebration as Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau reunite to reprise their roles as Felix and Oscar in Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple II. The times may have changed, but thankfully not the traits that make ex-roomies Felix Ungar (Lemmon) and Oscar Madison (Matthau) the all-time perfect mismatch. Oscar is still an uncompromising slob who thinks a brown sock and a black sock is close enough. Felix is still a fussbudget who can’t pass a spice rack without arranging it alphabetically. After years of going their separate ways, the two are together again, en route to the wedding of Oscar’s son to Felix’s daughter. They’ve got the map, the rental car, a tankful of Simon’s comedy zingers, and they’re getting 1,000 smiles to the gallon.”

1957 film “A Face in the Crowd” with Andy Griffith comes to Blu-ray in April

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1957 film A Face in the Crowd starring Andy Griffith is coming to Blu-ray Disc on April 23rd, via The Criterion Collection. The film, directed by Elia Kazan, co-starred Patricia NealAnthony Franciosa, Walter Matthau, Lee Remick, Percy Waram, and Paul McGrath. The technical specs for the release include 1080p Black & White video in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio that comes from a new 4K scan with Mono uncompressed sound. The release is available for pre-order now over at Amazon and directly through Criterion. Bonus materials and information regarding this release can be found below.

  • New, restored 4K digital transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • New interview with Ron Briley, author of The Ambivalent Legacy of Elia Kazan
  • New interview with Andy Griffith biographer Evan Dalton Smith
  • Facing the Past, a 2005 documentary featuring actors Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, and Anthony Franciosa; screenwriter Budd Schulberg; and film scholars Leo Braudy and Jeff Young
  • Trailer
  • PLUS: An essay by critic April Wolfe and a 1957 New York Times Magazine profile of Andy Griffith
  • New cover by Marc Aspinall

1971 Jack Lemmon film “Kotch” starring Walter Matthau on Blu-ray in February

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The 1971 Jack Lemmon directed film Kotch starring Walter Matthau is slated come to Blu-ray Disc on February 5th, 2019 via Kino Lorber Studio Classics. The film, based on the novel  of the same title, was nominated for a total of four Oscars. It co-starred Deborah WintersFelicia Farr, Charles AidmanEllen Geer, Biff Elliot. This upcoming Blu-ray comes from a new 4K scan of the original film negative. Tech specs for the release have not yet been fully detailed, however it is known that the 1080p video will be in the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The Blu-ray is available to pre-order over at Amazon and directly via Kino Lorber. Bonus materials set to be included on the release are listed below.

  • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Lee Gambin and Emma Westwood
  • Promotional Trailer with star Walter Matthau and director Jack Lemmon

Below after the break, you can find a bit more info regarding this release and the film itself.

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