BD 131 A New Leaf

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What A Disgrace
Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:34 pm
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BD 131 A New Leaf

#1 Post by What A Disgrace » Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:46 am

Coming Dec 7

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One of America's greatest comic legends, Elaine May, made her debut as writer and director in the wonderful A New Leaf. Unanimously acclaimed from the start, but unavailable for many years, it now stands as a classic alongside Harold and Maude, Bananas and M*A*S*H* as a key film in the new direction of American screen comedy in the 1970s.

The great Walter Matthau stars as Henry, a once-rich playboy who has obliviously spent his entire inheritance. Desperate to marry into further financial support, he meets Henrietta (Elaine May), a shy, awkward, though independently wealthy botany professor. What follows is a giddy tale of dubious legal advice, ruthless skulduggery and ferns.

A most unorthodox romantic comedy, stuffed with deadpan hilarity and brilliant comic invention, The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present its UK home video première in a new Dual-Format edition.

SPECIAL FEATURES including:

• New high-definition digital transfer
• Uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• Booklet containing new writing and archival images
• Additional features to be announced!

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rapta
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
Location: Hants, UK

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#2 Post by rapta » Tue Sep 29, 2015 11:00 am

What A Disgrace wrote:Throw in a few supplements and I'll gladly double dip.
Just noticed on Twitter that this will be the last Eureka title of the year. An interesting one to finish on! Hope this means more 70's US comedy in the new year...the mere mention of Bananas in the blurb makes me wonder if they could finally get some Woody Allen films.

Also, first female director as part of MoC...am I right?

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Alphonse Tram
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2014 11:32 am

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#3 Post by Alphonse Tram » Tue Sep 29, 2015 11:32 am

I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I really don't find this film funny at all. I've seen it three times now, I recently found it on Netflix and gave it another go, It had been many years since my last viewing and during those years it had started turning up more and more in film canons and 'all time' lists. But I still can't get on with it, it's like Marmite I guess, not for me.

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Gregor Samsa
Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:41 am

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#4 Post by Gregor Samsa » Tue Sep 29, 2015 11:37 am

rapta wrote: Also, first female director as part of MoC...am I right?
Took them a good while to get there, but I believe so.

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swo17
Bloodthirsty Butcher
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
Location: SLC, UT

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#5 Post by swo17 » Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:13 pm

The Heartbreak Kid is more needed, but this could still be a nice upgrade if they managed to wrangle both cuts of the film. Not holding my breath though.

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Finch
Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:09 pm
Location: Edinburgh, UK

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#6 Post by Finch » Tue Sep 29, 2015 2:01 pm

Gregor Samsa wrote:
rapta wrote: Also, first female director as part of MoC...am I right?
Took them a good while to get there, but I believe so.
Nope. Leni Riefenstahl's in the series with Holy Mountain, and spine 1 at that.

Hope future Paramount titles include Targets and Johnny Guitar.

Calvin
Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 11:12 am

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#7 Post by Calvin » Tue Sep 29, 2015 2:14 pm

Finch wrote:
Gregor Samsa wrote:
rapta wrote: Also, first female director as part of MoC...am I right?
Took them a good while to get there, but I believe so.
Nope. Leni Riefenstahl's in the series with Holy Mountain, and spine 1 at that.
But it only stars her - it was directed by Arnold Fanck

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Gregory
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 4:07 pm

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#8 Post by Gregory » Tue Sep 29, 2015 2:24 pm

There were the women codirectors of the Maysles films.

I'd be amazed if Elaine May's cut of this film ever surfaces. Wasn't it something like three hours long?

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swo17
Bloodthirsty Butcher
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
Location: SLC, UT

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#9 Post by swo17 » Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:45 pm

Gregory wrote:There were the women codirectors of the Maysles films.
Also, Annie Tresgot's Wilder and Kazan docs are technically part of the MoC series.

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rapta
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
Location: Hants, UK

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#10 Post by rapta » Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:05 pm

Okay, nitpicking. This is the first feature film released as part of MoC by a singular female director.

I reckon this will just be the theatrical cut, and from the same source as the Olive disc (i.e. whatever Paramount sent them) but probably handled a little better and with some extras. I'm gonna watch this one Netflix UK tonight and see what I think of it (but have admittedly already placed a pre-order).
Finch wrote:
Gregor Samsa wrote:
rapta wrote: Also, first female director as part of MoC...am I right?
Took them a good while to get there, but I believe so.
Nope. Leni Riefenstahl's in the series with Holy Mountain, and spine 1 at that.

Hope future Paramount titles include Targets and Johnny Guitar.
Nope, she didn't direct it.

I too am hoping for Targets though! I think that's the most likely Bogdanovich film for Eureka to pick up next...assuming they're thinking of releasing one. I'm still waiting for them to follow up from Harold and Maude with another Ashby film (Bound For Glory would be my pick). My top choice as far as Paramount goes is still Malick's Days of Heaven but if they do have that lined up they're sure keeping it quiet...we'll have to see in the new year.
Last edited by rapta on Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:26 pm, edited 4 times in total.

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Paul Moran
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:06 pm
Location: UK

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#11 Post by Paul Moran » Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:10 pm

Damn! One of my favourite films, so much so that I paid well over my usual limit to import the Olive release back in October 2013. Another double dip coming up!

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rapta
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2014 5:04 pm
Location: Hants, UK

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#12 Post by rapta » Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:38 pm

Updated specs:
  • New high definition digital transfer with exclusive image restoration
  • Uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • The Bluebeard of Happiness, a new video essay by critic David Cairns
  • 32-PAGE BOOKLET featuring an essay by Glenn Kenny and archival images

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manicsounds
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 10:58 pm
Location: Tokyo, Japan

Re: BD 131 A New Leaf

#13 Post by manicsounds » Thu Dec 31, 2015 7:34 am


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