Meanwhile today, our friend Don May, Jr. of Synapse Films has announced that Synapse has licensed the rights to – and will be releasing on Blu-ray and DVD – Dario Argento’s masterful 1977 Italian horror classic Suspiria. From the press release, they’re working with ‘Technicolor Rome and Technicolor Los Angeles to create an all-new high-definition 2K scan from the original negative for a possible 2014-15 video release. “It’s important to spend as much time as possible to create the definitive high-definition home video version for the fans,” May explains. “We’re going to take our time with this one.” The film scanning will be coordinated and supervised by Technicolor Hollywood’s Director of Restoration Services, Tom Burton, whose film restoration credits include Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Final specifications, retail pricing, and extras for the Synapse Films release of Suspiria will be announced closer to the as yet to be determined release date.’ To which we say: Rarin’! Great news indeed.
Also, Warner Home Video has set Scooby-Doo and The Vampires for DVD release on 1/14/14, followed by DCU: Justice League: War for Blu-ray and DVD release on 2/4/14, and Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map! and Dallas: The Complete Second Season for DVD only release on 2/11/14.
Our friends at Warner Archive have also a announced a few new titles on MOD DVD, including The Adventures of Superboy: The Complete Fourth Season (1991-92), The Half Naked Truth (1932), The Nuisance (1933), Turn Back the Clock (1933), HBO’s bin Laden documentary Manhunt (2013) and also Peter Weir’s Fearless (1993) on Blu-ray.
Sony has announced another batch of Manufactured on Demand DVD titles for release on 1/7/14, including Firefighter, The Pirates of Blood River, Affair in Trinidad, Lady by Choice, Lost and Found, Monsieur Ibrahim, The Miami Story, Never Take Candy from a Stranger, The Crimson Kimono and Trail of the Rustlers.
Paramount has set a Pain and Gain: Special Collector’s Edition for release on Blu-ray on 12/3, thought no word yet on what new content may be on it.
Shout! Factory will release a Night of the Demons: Collector’s Edition on Blu-ray and DVD on 2/4, along with a Witchboard Blu-ray/DVD Combo. Night will include a new commentary with director Kevin Tenney and actors Cathy Podewell, Hal Havins, Billy Gallo and FX artist Steve Johnson, new interviews with Tenney, writer/producer Joe Augustyn and actress Linnea Quigley, another commentary With Tenney, executive producer Walter Josten and producer Jeff Geoffray, a promo reel, video and theatrical trailers, TV and radio spots, and still galleries. Witchboard will include new audio commentary with writer/director Kevin Tenney and actors Stephen Nichols, James W. Quinn and Kathleen Wilhoite, a second commentary with Tenney, executive producer Walter Josten and producer Jeff Geoffray, new interviews with Tenney, actors Tawny Kitaen, J.P. Luebsen and James Quinn, The Making of Witchboard featurette, a still gallery, the trailer and TV spots.
Eagle Rock Entertainment has set George Thorogood & The Destroyers: Live at Montreux 2013 for release on Blu-ray, DVD and CD on 11/19.
Magnolia Entertainment will release the comedy Drinking Buddies on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/3.
Visual Entertainment has set The Mod Squad: The Complete Collection (1968-73) and Diagnosis Murder: The Complete Series (1993-2001) for DVD release on 11/12.
For those of you with all-region players (and you UK readers), Network and The British Film Institute have set the cult sci-fi classic The Brain Machine for DVD release on 11/4 (SRP £9.99). By the way, we’re going to try to report on more great U.K. releases that American BD and DVD fans may be interested in, so if you hear of any we should mention drop us an e-mail.
MVD Entertainment has set Here’s Edie: The Edie Adams Television Collection DVD box set for release on 11/19.
And Image will release Galactic Adventures: 3D Sun/Mars 3D on Blu-ray 3D on 12/3 (SRP $24.98). Note that the disc will work on BOTH regular Blu-ray players and Blu-ray 3D players.
We’ll leave you today with a look at the Blu-ray cover artwork for Paramount’s Pain and Gain: Special Collector’s Edition, Scream’s Witchboard and Night of the Demons, Lionsgate’s Buffalo 66 (due 1/14), Magnolia’s Drinking Buddies and Criterion’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (due 1/21)…
Have a great weekend!
- Bill Hunt