By Peter M. Bracke

Lawrence redux?

Well, I know some of you out there made fun of my "double dip" editorial the other day (no cone jokes, please), but perhaps it was more timely than I thought? Rolling out the red carpet, Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment held a lavish press event last week to celebrate the recent DVD release of Lawrence of Arabia at the Sony High Definition Center in New York. Certainly one of the crown jewels of their catalog, Columbia welcomed a number of notable guests to the party, including many high-level Columbia reps, relatives of director David Lean, DVD supplement producer Laurent Bouzereau, and even star Peter O'Toole via a taped video message.

While such events are becoming more and more common to help launch high-profile DVD titles like Lawrence (though such shindings are probably only of marginal interest to the average consumer) some of the trades attending the gala are now reporting some news that I think consumers will definitely be interested in. According to a recent article in Video Store Magazine, Peter O'Toole's video message was recorded too late to be included on the current DVD, and that Columbia also hoped to include Maurice Jarre's isolated score on the disc, but was unable to due to legal restrictions, But most interesting of all was the news that Columbia is considering releasing a new 40th Anniversary DVD edition of Lawrence in 2002, which would hopefully include the O'Toole material as well as possibly Jarre's score.

Since all this comes from a published report with no direct quotes, we contacted Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment spokesperson Fritz Friedman to discuss this possible new edition of Lawrence Of Arabia and see what is up. First off, the current version has been billed s a "limited edition," and will not remain on the market indefinitely. According to Friedman, "We're going to be releasing it (Lawrence Of Arabia) in a limited theatrical release next year for the 40th anniversary of the film." And as for a new DVD? "We might do something different with it," rather than just reissue the current DVD edition or not releasing anything new at all, Friedman explained, but "we're just not sure yet what our plans are." And according to Friedman, talk of such features as more O'Toole material or isolated scores is just speculation...for now.

So, while overall we here at DVDFILE were pleased with the current Lawrence Of Arabia set, who knows if we'll see a better one next year? I suppose the obvious question is...if you're going to re-release a huge film like Lawrence Of Arabia theatrically in honor of its 40th Anniversary, why wouldn't you just have held off on the DVD release until 2002? Hmmmm, do I want cherry, chocolate or butterscotch on that cone?

Universal sees double

Proving it ain't just how you sell it but how you resell it, Universal is releasing a spate of new "two for one" DVD packs on 5/22. Retailing for only $34.95 per pack, these are pretty good deals, especially considering that when first released, most of these titles cost the same amount just by themselves. The two packs include Casino and Carlito's Way, Apollo 13 and Backdraft, 12 Monkeys and The Jackal, American Pie and Half Baked, Babe and Babe: Pig In The City, and Liar Liar and Ed-TV. All these discs are the Dolby Digital special editions, with the exception of Backdraft, which is the standard movie-only version and not the new special edition that still has yet to be announced for release (though Universal indicated it was in production at last year's Studio Day.) Again, street is 5/22 and retail $34.95 per 2-pack.

More on Kubrick

Warner has just issued a slightly updated press release for the upcoming Kubrick Collection. This release contains all the tech specs for these discs, so, this should be the final word on what's gonna be on these puppies. We'll have our own bit of coverage on these Kubrick reissues soon, and are quite looking forward to getting the discs and checking 'em out. Street date is 6/12, and check out the updated release for all the specs.

State & Main

On 6/19, New Line will release David Mamet's latest comedy, the satiric look at indie filmmaking State & Main. The DVD will include fullscreen and anamorphic widescreen transfers, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround mixes, an audio commentary "featuring cast members" (participants TBA), the trailer and the complete theatrical website available to DVD-ROM users. Retail is $24.95.

Calling deep core

On 6/29. Paramount will unleash the underwater thriller Deep Core (anyone heard of this one?) The disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks, an audio commentary with director Rod Mcdonald, a still gallery, cast and crew bios and the trailer. Retail is $29.95.

Criterion trio

Home Vision has just announced three new additions to the Criterion Collection, due on 6/19. First up is the Bergman classic Cries & Whispers, featuring a new 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, the original Swedish mono mix, and "Ingmar Bergman: Reflections on Life, Death, and Love," a 1999 interview with Bergman and Erland Josephson. Next is John Schlesinger's classic Billy Liar, in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and a English 2.0 mono mix, and finally My Man Godfrey, in 1.33:1 full screen and English 1.0 mono, along with an audio commentary by film historian Bob Gilpin, outtakes, the Lux Radio Theater adaptation, a still gallery and the trailer. Retail is $39.95 each, except for Cries & Whispers which is $29.95.

Horatio blows his horn again

Hot on the heels of its recent TV airing, A&E will release Horatio Hornblower: The Adventure Continues on 5/15. The 2-disc set includes the complete 200-minute program in full frame and English 2.0 surround (despite the fact that, like the first Hornblower adventure, the series was filmed in 16x9 widescreen), along with "Sail 2000: Aboard The Eagle" featurette, an "Interactive 3D Naval Cannon" and a Royal Navy Warships guide. Retail is $39.95.

A De Palma Obsession

Odd the way the DVD format works sometimes. While some directors, such as Spielberg, Lean, Cameron, Carpenter, Kurosawa and Stone, to name but a few, have had their fair share of films released on DVD, one of our modern cinema's more well-known auteurs hasn't been so well represented on DVD thus far. Brian De Palma is a genius to some, copycat king to others, but whatever your opinion of him, most of his films have yet to be released on DVD. Well, that is about to change, with a number of De Palma titles scheduled for release on DVD in the coming months. Aside from a new special edition of Carrie, along with Dressed To Kill and Blow Out due this fall from MGM, Columbia has just announced one of De Palma's early "homages" to Hitchcock, Obsession, for DVD release on 6/29.

Long in gestation, the disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, a new English 5.1 Dolby surround track as well as English and French 2.0 surround tracks, English, French and Spanish subtitles, the new Laurent Bouzereau documentary "Obsession Revisited," talent files, production notes and trailers. Retail is $24.95, and check out the press release here.

More on Legend

Well, good news for Legend fans. Yesterday, a notice was sent out to North American retailers (see post below) indicating that the currently-postponed Legend 2-disc set has been canceled. We heard back from Universal Studios Home Video PR today, and though there is still no new release date for the disc, the title will still be released. According to a Universal PR spokesperson, and the notice was "badly worded" and was issued due to the fact that Legend is such an active title that they literally have "hundreds of thousands of back orders" and the statement was issued to alert retailers to stop ordering the title until it is officially re-announced. So, it has been canceled on the retail end until a new date is announced, but not permanently discontinued. According to the Universal spokesperson, a new statement may be issued to clarify the situation.

So, when or if you do receive a notice from any retailer you preordered the title from saying it is canceled, don't worry. When it is renounced, you will be able to preorder it again. By the way, despite odd emails to the contrary, Legend was officially announced and then delayed (just check out the press release here.) Stay tuned, the glimpses I've seen of this title look terrific, so I'm crossing my fingers it will be released sometime this year...

Random Notes

Some spec updates have come in for a few recently-announced titles. Buena Vista has a few new titles due on 7/3, including Wes Craven Presents Dracula 2000, which in addition to a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and English 5.1 Dolby surround mix, will also bear the Miramax Collector's Series logo and include an audio commentary with director Patrick Lussier, three making-of featurettes, deleted footage, trailers and TV spots, with more to be announced. Also, the Mimic II disc will feature the "5 days of Mimic II" feature chronicling the production, as well as some deleted scenes. Finally, Malena features a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer, 5.1 mix, and the trailer. Retail is $29.95 for each.

Finally, the Two Girls And A Guy disc due from Fox on 6/6 will feature the unrated 90-minute version, as well as a new audio commentary with director James Toback. Retail remains $22.95.

APRIL 10

Legend canceled?

Hopefully this is not as dire as it sounds...? Universal has just issued a statement to North American retailers announcing that the Legend 2-disc Collector's Edition (original set for release last November, then unceremoniously postponed) has been discontinued. The notice is addressed to "All our valued customers" (i.e., retailers) and is dated April 10, 2001. It reads in full: "Please note that the following title will be discontinued effective immediately - 'Legend Collector's Edition DVD.' All backorders in our system will be canceled. Please notify the necessary personnel and adjust your records accordingly. Thank you for your assistance." End of statement.

So, is that it? No more Legend? Just what is going on with this title? Before getting too depressed, our calls to Universal Studios Home Video PR have not been returned as of press time to confirm exactly what this means. Certainly, fans have wanted Legend so badly for so long, I find it hard to believe Universal won't ever release this title.

To be honest, we have heard plenty of rumors on what is up with the postponement. Originally announced as a two-disc set with not one but two different cuts of the film (see the original press release for the full details,) we've heard a variety of stories behind the postponement. But what is fact is that Universal released a 89-minute cut of the film theatrically in the United States in 1985, while 20th Century Fox distributed a slightly different version overseas that same year. Thus, some have speculated that Fox may be holding up the rights for some reason tied to distribution or the fact that the DVD contains a cut of the film different than they released theatrically. Others have said Ridley Scott may be involved with the delay, or that extra features are being added, or a zillion other theories. Unfortunately, with no official word from Universal or Scott Free productions (Ridley Scott's production company), all we have to go by right now is the statement above. Stay tuned, though, and we'll post anything substantial that comes in regarding this eagerly-awaited title...

Kubrick redux

With the new Kubrick Collection remasters due in mid June and we await a look at the results, some have emailed wondering how Warner is going to handle the new packaging for the set. Warner has issued some shots of the new box art, and for the most part they are exactly the same, except for a slightly modified to banner that now sports the label "Digitally restored and remastered." Also, the image on the 2001 disc is a bit different, and the collection box set package is a bit of a tease, at it features the original poster art not seen on the individual disc covers. Can't wait to take a good, long look at these discs when they arrive 6/12!

In the garden

One thing you gotta love about Oscar time, it tends to inspire studios to go back and release or re-release all their old catalog titles that won Academy Awards or were nominated in the past. Columbia has just announced a 6/19 street date for the 1974 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film, The Garden Of The Finzi Continis. The disc includes a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, the original Italian 2.0 stereo mix, English subtitles, talent files and bonus trailers. Retail is $29.95.

What it feels like to be Madonna

Well, leave it to Madonna to stir up controversy. After a one-time, late-night showing, MTV and VH-1 "banned" Madonna's "controversial" new video What It Feels Like For A Girl. Directed by new hubby Guy Ritchie, the video features Ms. M driving around, throwing shade and generally getting into all sorts of trouble. Hot on the heels of her "Music" DVD single (which so far is the biggest-selling music DVD single of all time), on 4/24 she'll be releasing What It Feels Like For A Girl as a DVD single, too. Since controversy usually equals profits, expect another big hit for Madonna (like she needs the cash!). The disc features just the one video plus two audio mixes. Retail is $9.95.

Rocky rehash

Well, we got our Rocky Collection box set today, and after taking a quick look-see, we are not all that impressed. For the record, Rocky II and Rocky IV are indeed the exact same, non-anamorphic transfers as before (and are the same discs, in fact) and they still haven't fixed the subtitle problems on Rocky IV! Also, Rocky V is in 2.0 surround, not mono nor 5.1. We'll be posting our review of the set real soon, and it probably won't be much of a rave review...

Singleton times three

Columbia has just announced more new titles due on 7/3, including a 3-pack highlight the work of director John Singleton. In addition to the already-released Boyz In The Hood and Poetic Justice, the 3-pack includes the new release Higher Learning, featuring 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen formats, English 5.1 and English, French and Spanish 2.0 surround tracks and subtitles, production notes, talent files and trailers. Retail is $24.95 for Higher Learning, and $50.95 for the 3-pack.

Also due on 7/3 is everybody's favorite born-again Prince protégé Vanity in The Last Dragon. The disc features a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English 2.0 surround mix, the trailer and not much else. Retail is $19.95. Finally, watch for the fantasy. The Indian In The Cupboard, in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen, with English, French and Spanish 2.0 surround and subtitle tracks, talent files, production notes and trailers. Retail is $24.95.

Meg and Russell, together again

Hot off its less-than-blistering box office performance and zero Academy Award nominations, Warner has set a 6/19 retail arrival date for the Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe hostage thriller Proof Of Life. While the merits of this film will continue to be debated, I'm sure, what is attracting the most attention for the film lately is the rather public and ugly nature of the controversy. Director Taylor Hackford recently blamed the real-life Ryan and Russell romance (which the tabloids gleefully splashed all across their front pages) as having a "disastrous effect" on the film's box office showing. Then Crowe, never one to laugh anything off, fired off his own choice words on the matter, telling one reporter that the director was "unprofessional" for such talk and was being an all-around spoilsport. (Ooh, such drama, don't you love it?) To further add to the film's problems, in very sad news a crew member was killed during production, further casting a dark pail over the whole affair. Perhaps this film was just the victim of really, really bad luck?

Anyway, perhaps with the DVD release audiences will give the film a second chance (especially since Warner is trying that old "let's change the cover art" trick.) Due on 6/19, the disc features a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, English and French 5.1 surround tracks, two making-ofs, and an audio commentary with Taylor Hackford (who, along with Oliver Stone and John Carpenter, seems to be trying to set the record for the most number of director commentaries ever recorded.) Other extras include the usual cast filmographies and trailers. Retail is $24.95.

Into the dustbin

A number of popular Image catalog titles have just gone out of print, with most of 'em soon to be re-released by other studios. If you didn't already know, Image had licensed about 30 catalog titles from Universal back in 1997, the distribution rights to which have now expired. Titles like John Carpenter's Prince Of Darkness and They Live, Wes Craven's The Serpent And the Rainbow, John Hughes' Sixteen Candles and Weird Science, the disaster flicks Airport and Earthquake, and plenty more are now out of print.

Image also controlled the distribution rights to a number of Orion and Hemdale titles, such as Bull Durham, Dances With Wolves, The Silence Of The Lambs, Mississippi Burning, the RoboCop films, and The Terminator. All of these titles are also now out of print, though MGM controls the rights to these gems, and has already announced that they will reissue them sometime in the future, though when remains to be seen. Lastly, due in part to much consumer disappointment, the movie-only edition of Escape From New York is also going bye-bye, with a new special edition due in 2002, and MGM's old movie-only edition of Carrie is also now out of print. Watch for more news on reissues of all of these titles soon!

More from Buena Vista

Coming in July are a few more new titles from Buena Vista, including the recent theatrical comedy Double Take, starring Eddie Griffin and Orlando Jones. The disc is due on 7/17 and feature. Also coming on 7/17 is the direct-to-video sequel Mimic 2 in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen, English 5.1 surround and with the trailer; the import Malena in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and English and French 5.1 surround; and City On Fire with Chou Yun Fat, also in anamorphic widescreen and the original Cantonese 2.0 surround track. Retail is $29.95 each.