My Two Cents
Thursday, 02 May 2024 17:28

Coppola’s The Conversation in 4K, plus Twister & more Warner Ultra HDs, a new restoration of John Ford’s The Searchers, New Adventures of Batman & more

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We have four new disc reviews to share with you today, as well as some exciting catalog 4K release news! But first those reviews...

Stephen has taken a look at Jack Nicholson’s Goin’ South (1978) in 4K Ultra HD from Paramount and Vinegar Syndrome via their new Cinématographe label.

Dennis has turned in his thoughts on Henry Hathaway’s western 5 Card Stud (1968) on Blu-ray also from Paramount via Vinegar Syndrome.

Stuart has reviewed Franklin J. Schaffner’s Islands in the Stream (1977) on Blu-ray via Imprint Films.

And I’ve just given Peter Gabriel: Back to Front – Live in London (2014) a review in 4K Ultra HD from Real World and Eagle Rock via Mercury Studios.

Now then, the big news today is that StudioCanal has set a new 4K restoration of Francis Ford Coppola’s neo-noir thriller The Conversation (1974) for release on 4K Ultra HD on July 15 in the UK. This is in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary. The film is also returning to theaters in the UK on July 5.

The legendary film stars Gene Hackman as San Francisco surveillance expert Harry Caul, who finds himself confronted with a moral dilemma when his wiretapped conversation recordings reveal a possible murder. The supporting cast includes John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest, Teri Garr, Robert Duvall, and Harrison Ford. [Read on here...]

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The Conversation has been scanned in 4K from the original camera negative, using a director-approved reference print as a color grading reference. The 5.1 sound mix created in 2000 by Walter Murch will be included, as will the original mono audio track. American Zoetrope restoration supervisor James Mockoski was involved in this work, which was approved by Coppola.

The 2-disc UHD Collector’s Edition package (which is apparently all region) will include audio commentary with Coppola, a second commentary with editor Walter Murch, a Q&A with Walter Murch (filmed at Curzon Soho in 2017), a behind the scenes gallery, screen tests for Cindy Williams and Harrison Ford, Coppola script dictations, a 1973 interview with Hackman, an interview with composer David Shire by Coppola, 2 featurettes (Close-Up on The Conversation and Harry Caul’s San Francisco: Locations Then & Now), Coppola’s 1956 short film No Cigar, the film’s theatrical trailer, and the new 50th anniversary trailer.

The packaging will also include a 64-page booklet with essays, the soundtrack on cassette tape, and a pair of posters with original artwork. You can see the opening packaging below (click here or on the image to pre-order it via Amazon UK)...

The Conversation (4K Ultra HD)

And here’s a new trailer for the restoration...

Here’s some exciting release news as well: As we first revealed late last year, Jan de Bont’s original Twister (1996) is coming to 4K Ultra HD this year from Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment, no doubt timed to coincide with the theatrical release of the new sequel film. And now we finally have both a street date and cover artwork! Look for the title to arrive on 7/9 as a 4K Steelbook, complete with a new Dolby Atmos sound mix. The release will also include a new retrospective featurette called The Legacy of Twister: Taken by the Wind with the director. Plus you’ll get all of the legacy Blu-ray extras. You can see the cover artwork for this below. Pre-orders are expected to begin soon.

I mentioned that we first revealed this title late last year. In fact, we’ve had it in our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits for months now. Other WBDHE titles that are either coming to 4K this year or being considered for release on the format by the studio include Gravity (2013), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), North by Northwest (1959), Caddyshack (1980), Dances with Wolves (1990), the Dirty Harry films, the Lethal Weapon films, Once Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), Purple Rain (1984), and more. So be sure to check the list regularly for the latest updates.

Speaking of Gravity, Warner is releasing a new Blu-ray version of the film on 5/14 with the Dolby Atmos sound mix from the previous Diamond Luxe edition.

And here’s some exciting news: John Ford’s beloved western The Searchers (1956) has been given a new restoration! Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging and The Film Foundation have scanned the original 8-perf 35mm VistaVistion negative in 13K and completed a 6.5K digital restoration. The original mono audio mix has also been restored. The rest of this effort is both a new 4K master likely to be used for a physical 4K Ultra HD release in the next 12-24 months, as well as a new 65mm film-out preservation negative and new 70mm theatrical exhibition prints! What’s more, this new 70mm print is being screened at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre in Santa Monica this weekend. The Saturday show is already sold out, but tickets for the Sunday screening are still available here.

Warner and DC are also releasing The New Adventures of Batman: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray on 6/25. The set will include all 16 episodes along with The Dark Knight Revisited featurette.

And Vinegar Syndrome’s new Cinématographe label has set Abel Ferrara’s Dangerous Game (1993) for release on Blu-ray on 5/28. The package will include audio commentary with Chris O’Neill and Bill Ackerman, new interviews with Ferrara, James Russo, Nancy Ferrara, composer Joe Delia, and editor Anthony Redman, the Abel Ferrara’s Game of Mirrors video essay, the theatrical trailer, and text essays. You can pre-order it here on the Vinegar Syndrome webstore.

We’ll leave you today with a look at the cover artwork for a few of the titles mentioned above and more, each with Amazon pre-order links if available. Remember, anytime you order literally anything from Amazon after clicking to them through one of our links, you’re helping to support our work here at The Bits and we really do appreciate it!

The Man from UNCLE (4K Ultra HD) Twister (Steelbook 4K Ultra HD) Gravity (Remastered Blu-ray)

Red Line 7000 (Blu-ray Disc) Anselm (Blu-ray 3D) The New Adventures of Batman: The Complete Series (Blu-ray Disc)

Stay tuned...

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