Columbia Classics

[hearthesilence]

The second Columbia Classics set will be launching in September, and comprise Anatomy of a Murder, Oliver!, Taxi Driver, Stripes, Sense and Sensibility, and The Social Network.

Given its age, I double-checked and found out The Social Network was promoted by RED as the first feature film to be shot and projected in 4K, which lines up with my memory of its release. But someone just informed me that the film was actually edited or worked on at lower resolution (probably 2.8K) before it was processed into a 2K DI. The UHD should still be an improvement (even without HDR, it will have the full 2K image rather than a slight downconversion into HD), but it totally passed me by that Fincher would want to shoot in 4K for the additional freedom that comes with having more image to manipulate. That is, if he suddenly wanted to "zoom in" on a shot or re-frame it, he'd have the additional imagery to do so without needing any extrapolation or upconverting. (And of course working in 4K would have dramatically slowed their workflow to a crawl.)

[PfR73]

Bell, Book and Candle (102 mins.)

Is that definitely the timing on the new set? If so, it appears to be the same length as my UK DVD which (after PAL speed-up) is 98 minutes. However, I've read that is a cut version and that the previous R1 edition is 106 minutes - the length also given by Amazon and imdb.

Found this post while trying to verify this claim on IMDb: "The 1999 U.S. DVD release includes both the original theatrical version (as seen in theaters and on VHS) and an extended version (which is obviously not labeled as such). The theatrical version runs for 102 minutes, while the extended version is approximately 4 minutes longer at a runtime of 106 minutes. The theatrical version is presented in 4:3 full screen, while the extended version is presented in 16:9 widescreen."

I own the Kim Novak Collection DVD and the Twilight Time Blu-ray and both are 102 minutes. I've never owned the original flipper DVD. Is there any truth to this 106 minute runtime?

[britcom68]

Hi there, I just popped in my ancient flipper dvd to verify the times as follows:
dvd/case itself lists time as "approximate 103 minutes"
The counter for the widescreen version is: One hour and 42minutes, 21secs. The counter for the full-screen version identical to widescreen.

(minor miracle that this dvd is still working, almost makes up for imdb having incorrect listings)

[Finch]

Lawrence of Arabia 4k is getting a stand-alone release on June 7th as a steelbook (ditto River Kwai).

[therewillbeblus]

Excellent news, keep breaking up those enormous Oscar sets

[swo17]

Except ugh steelbooks

[hearthesilence]

Has there ever been a steelbook worth getting simply for the steelbook?

[stevewhamola]

Has there ever been a steelbook worth getting simply for the steelbook?

I can only imagine the thunderous pearl-clutching this comment would spark on another forum...

[Matt]

Has there ever been a steelbook worth getting simply for the steelbook?

Well, I suppose “worth” would be entirely subjective, but I’m quite fond of my Blood and Black Lace, Fall of the House of Usher, and Passion of Joan of Arc steelbooks. All three are favorite films in beautifully designed packages from boutique labels I want to support, so they were “worth getting” to me. I personally wouldn’t see the point in collecting steelbooks (particularly these ugly cash grabs from major studios), but better that than crypto or NFTs I guess.

[FrauBlucher]

I did go the steelbook route with Master of Cinema's Metropolis and Dr Caligari, but I believe they added extra supplements to those editions that were not on the original releases. Those are the only two. They are good looking packages for whatever that's worth.

[ianthemovie]

Is this version of Bridge on the River Kwai any different from the previous standalone 4K release?

[bad future]

Is this version of Bridge on the River Kwai any different from the previous standalone 4K release?

I don't know about the new steelbook, but if anyone got it when first released in the US, I do know they quietly added the original mono on later pressings. I'm not sure if the US packaging was ever revised to reflect the addition; I imported the UK 2019 update, which does list mono on the back, before it was clear that the US discs had or would be adding it. So if they aren't changing the discs again, I would expect this to at least be a good way to ensure getting a later pressing, though it's been long enough at this point that I don't know if many of the earlier version are likely to still be in stock anyway.

[Ribs]

Sony has slowly and quietly been doing new discs with Dolby Vision for older discs, which they’ve done for Ghostbusters and Karate Kid in their recent box sets and Labyrinth in its anniversary special edition last year. This continues that trend and adds Dolby Vision where there wasn’t one in the past. I don’t have a DV capable TV so I’m not even sure if there is any possibility it would constitute any comprehensible difference when viewed in HDR10.

[EddieLarkin]

They've been re-encoding them too, with a higher bit rate and thus better grain compression. So you'd get that from the HDR10 base (since Sony do not use DV FEL the two "layers" are identical, except for the DV tone mapping metadata obviously). But the difference is going to be very difficult to see or appreciate unless you're a major pixel peeper.

Those who can use DV though should definitely opt for these new discs over the old ones, as essentially no TVs are capable of tone mapping early Sony HDR10 discs properly.

[tenia]

Stuff like Kwai is a bit silly though : a first release, then a quiet re-pressing adding the original mono track, and now a disc with both the mono track and DV. This looks like a AAA video game roll-out with humpteen non-free DLC until finally you get it all.

[hearthesilence]

Well, I suppose “worth” would be entirely subjective, but I’m quite fond of...[cut]...Passion of Joan of Arc

I did go the steelbook route with Master of Cinema's Metropolis and Dr Caligari, but I believe they added extra supplements to those editions that were not on the original releases. Those are the only two. They are good looking packages for whatever that's worth.

I have those three titles and didn't know they had steelbooks. Yeah, they do look cool - probably would have picked them up as more extras would be the clincher. If the non-steelbook editions were identical, I'd have passed though. (And in the case of Joan of Arc, we now have Criterion's edition.)

[dwk]

Sony is releasing a Fright Night in a special edition on UHD on October 4th

4K ULTRA HD DISC
Feature scanned from the original camera negative and presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
All-new Dolby Atmos audio + 5.1 + original Dolby Stereo

BLU-RAY™ FEATURE DISC
Feature presented in High Definition, sourced from the 4K master
5.1 + original Dolby Stereo
Special Features:
NEW: Deleted Scene Storyboards – Tom Holland guides us through the film’s only deleted scene, using his personal pre-production storyboards
NEW: Holland/Beyda Spec Trailer with an Introduction by Tom Holland – the never-before-seen alternate trailer cut by Fright Night editor Kent Beyda with the guidance—and narration—of Tom Holland
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Tom Holland, Actors Chris Sarandon & Jonathan Stark, Moderated by Filmmaker Tim Sullivan
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Tom Holland, Actors William Ragsdale & Stephen Geoffreys, FX Artist Randall Cook, Moderated by Journalist Jeremy Smith and Filmmaker Tim Sullivan
You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night
What is Fright Night
Tom Holland: Writing Horror
Theatrical Trailers

BLU-RAY™ SPECIAL FEATURES DISC
Special Features:
NEW: Fright Night 35th Anniversary Script Read – an anniversary cast reunion and script reading featuring writer/director Tom Holland and special guests including Rosario Dawson, Jason Patric, and many more!
NEW: The Queer Lens: Bryan Fuller in Conversation with Amanda Bearse – a candid discussion between Fright Night aficionado Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror) and Fright Night star Amanda Bearse about the Gothic’s queer roots, the film’s queer subtext, and its metaphorical power
NEW: A Novel Approach: The Splatterpunk Story of the Fright Night Novelization – Tom Holland, Fright Night novelization authors John Skipp and Craig Spector, and publisher Mark Alan Miller discuss how the progenitors of the splatterpunk genre came to work on the book, their writing process, and the novel’s enduring legacy
NEW: SFX Storyboard Comparisons – a selection of original storyboards from key effects sequences, compared with their final filmed versions
Roddy McDowall: From Apes to Bats
Tom Holland and Amanda Bearse Talk Fright Night
Round Table with Tom, Stephen and William
Shock Till You Drop Presents Choice Cuts with Tom Holland and Ryan Turek
First Ever Fright Night Reunion Panel - Fear Fest 2 (2008)
Weekend of Hell Panel with Amanda and Stephen
Vintage EPK with Behind-the-Scenes Raw Footag

[tenia]

I love how the movie has been released like 4 different times now and there still are "never-before-seen alternate trailer" to include.

[Ribs]

Third Columbia Classics 4K set incoming, including It Happened One Night, From Here to Eternity, To Sir With Love, The Last Picture Show, Annie, and As Good As It Gets.

[hearthesilence]

That's two more Criterion titles getting a UHD upgrade elsewhere (It Happened One Night and The Last Picture Show). The former may be the same 4K master but the latter is probably a new, improved scan since Criterion used a hi-def restoration.

[Ribs]

The Columbia Classics set will also include on Blu-ray (in HD) the 1956 remake of It Happened One Night, You Can't Run Away with It; the 1932 Little Orphan Annie movie; and To Sir With Love II.

[beamish14]

That's two more Criterion titles getting a UHD upgrade elsewhere (It Happened One Night and The Last Picture Show). The former may be the same 4K master but the latter is probably a new, improved scan since Criterion used a hi-def restoration.

I just truly hope we get the original theatrical cut. I saw a brand new 35mm print of Last Picture Show, and the quality of those inserts that Bogdanovich used still look abysmal in almost every instance, particularly in an extended speech that Ben Johnson delivers

[hearthesilence]

I just truly hope we get the original theatrical cut. I saw a brand new 35mm print of Last Picture Show, and the quality of those inserts that Bogdanovich used still look abysmal in almost every instance, particularly in an extended speech that Ben Johnson delivers

Is that the long take by the reservoir where the clouds seem to part (i.e. the sun starts shining through on Ben)? If so, I didn't realize that shot was shorter...it's probably my favorite part of the film. I took it for an homage to Howard Hawks's Red River when the clouds came in, though that was an accident and Bogdanovich would have to fabricate it.

[Rupert Pupkin]

I'm really intrigued to see "The Last Picture Show" in 4K even the blu-ray will be sourced from a new restoration.
So that means that the BBS set Criterion will be out of print ? and the lost the "The Last Picture Show" ?
I was not aware that Bogdanovich did a redux of The Last Picture Show. I thought that the only version was the theatrical one on the Criterion.
The Blu-Ray is now available in Germany and other countries, but it's the Criterion master.

they never release the movies of these 4K box set in a single-edition combo Blu-Ray + UHD ?
I have seen "Sense & Sensibility" on eBay but it's probably "extracted" from the box set and not meant to be sold individually.

[beamish14]

I just truly hope we get the original theatrical cut. I saw a brand new 35mm print of Last Picture Show, and the quality of those inserts that Bogdanovich used still look abysmal in almost every instance, particularly in an extended speech that Ben Johnson delivers

Is that the long take by the reservoir where the clouds seem to part (i.e. the sun starts shining through on Ben)? If so, I didn't realize that shot was shorter...it's probably my favorite part of the film. I took it for an homage to Howard Hawks's Red River when the clouds came in, though that was an accident and Bogdanovich would have to fabricate it.

I think I was mistaken. Based on this, the scene in question is identical in both. Perhaps there exists some damage on the source of the print that I saw.

The Director’s Cut just doesn’t really add up to a whole lot more, and I say that as someone who really likes what Bogdanovich did when given the opportunity to re-edit Nickelodeon (which really looks fantastic in monochrom; it’s a far more successful experiment than Parasite or Mad Max: Fury Road in Chrome) and Texasville)