Also today, Powerhouse Films has announced that their Indicator label will return to classic Columbia Noir in May with the Columbia Noir #6: The Whistler Blu-ray box set (in the UK only; it’s confirmed Region B). Look for it to include The Whistler (1944), The Mark of the Whistler (1944), The Power of the Whistler (1945), Voice of the Whistler (1945), Mysterious Intruder (1946), The Secret of the Whistler (1946), and The Thirteenth Hour (1947)—all staring actor Richard Dix—as well as the final film, The Return of the Whistler (1948), starring Michael Duane. Special features will include newly recorded commentaries, critical appreciations, and rare archival short films. You’ll also get a 120-page book. The set is limited to 6,000 units and streets on 5/20. Here’s what it looks like (the link will take you to the Powerhouse films website where you can pre-order the title)...

Kino Lorber Studio Classics has set Michael Ritchie’s Fletch (1985) and Fletch Lives (1989) for release on Blu-ray on 4/16, each mastered from a new 2K scan of the 35mm interpositive. They’ll also include new audio commentaries by Bryan Reesman and Max Evry.

Blue Underground has officially announced the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray release of Jess Franco’s Night of the Blood Monster (1970 – aka The Bloody Judge) on 3/26. Extras will include audio commentaries, interviews, deleted and alternate scenes, trailers, and more.

And here’s a surprise: Turbine Medien has just announced the German Blu-ray release of Howard Ziehm and Michael Benveniste’s sci-fi parody Flesh Gordon (1974) on 2/22, in honor of the film’s 50th anniversary! And there are no less than four different Mediabook versions, each with different cover artwork. Here’s what they all look like...

The actual contents in each version are the same, including 2 Blu-ray discs that feature both the original uncut English version and the German versions of the film (with English and German 2.0 mono audio in DTS-HD MA format, plus subtitles in both languages), the Super-8 version, a video comparing the English and German versions, the US trailer, Trailers from Hell with Mick Garris, an introduction by Jason Williams, audio commentary by director Howard Ziehm, and the 135-minute Sex Rays & Stop Motion conversation with Dr. Rolf Giesen and Christian Genzel. The package also includes a 64-page book called The Journey to Porn by Christian Genzel featuring a guest article by Ingo Rumpf and rare photos.

And Shout! Studios has just announced that last year’s popular Toei anime Kamen Rider Geats: The Complete Series is coming to Blu-ray on 4/23 as an 8-disc set. All 49 episodes will be included. The series is just the latest entry in the long-lived anime franchise that originally premiered on Japanese television in 1971.

Also newly announced by Shout are Anthony Hickox’s Jill Rips (2000) on Blu-ray and a 4-disc Classic Tokusatsu Collection for Blu-ray release (both) on 2/27, including Prince of Space (1959), Invasion of the Neptune Men (1961), Watari, the Ninja Boy (1966), Golden Ninja (1966), Dragon Showdown (1966), and Ninja Scope (1969).

Finally, there’s been a lot of talk online recently of a “new 4K restoration” of Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s Amélie (2001) that’s being screened at various film festivals. Many theaters are currently promoting this (see here, here, here, etc). But here’s the thing: Jeunet himself has confirmed (in a new interview with Backstory Magazine published just yesterday) that there is indeed a new restoration, but it’s 2K... not 4K. Note that any future disc release here in the States (likely on Blu-ray) would be a Sony title. Watch for potential announcements in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, you can watch the interview yourself here on YouTube...

We’ll leave you today with a look at the cover artwork for the new Criterion titles and more. We’ll add the Amazon.com pre-order links as they go live...

Stay tuned...

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