Federal Men in July

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Federal Men July 31st Film Chest Retail: $24.98, Our: $19.99

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Film Chest has announced the crime-drama series Federal Men set for release on July 31st.

The series, also known as Treasury Men in Action, had a five-year run with over 180 episodes and starred Walter Greaza.

The 3-disc set, with 16 episodes from season 5, will retail for $24.98, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $19.99. More details below.


Federal Men, which ran for five seasons (1950-55) on ABC, featured true government stories of fraud and deception. In each thrilling episode – based on real-life cases – “The Chief” (Walter Greaza, The Street With No Name) and his agents pursue counterfeiters, loan sharks, gamblers, bootleggers, swindlers, smugglers and confidence men.

Featuring a who’s-who of Hollywood, series guest stars included James Dean, Claude Atkins, Carolyn Jones and Ben Gazzara and more.

Episodes featured in this three-disc collection from the fifth and final season include:

• The Case of the Man Outside
• The Case of the Bad Bargain
• The Case of the Black Sheep
• The Case of the Little Tin Box
• The Case of the Man Trap
• The Case of the Gentleman Cheat
• The Case of the Green Feathers
• The Case of the Buried Treasure
• The Case of the Princely Pauper
• The Case of the Iron Curtain
• The Case of the Man Next Door
• The Case of the Tight Squeeze
• The Case of the Leather Bags
• The Case of the Chartered Chiseler
• The Case of the Slippery Eel
• The Case of the Steady Hand

ARTWORK ADDED: Baby Jane, Dead Ringer Blus

--ARTWORK ADDED TO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT--

ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (Blu-Ray) October 9th Warner Bros. Retail: $34.99, Our: $30.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (50th Anniversary Edition) October 9th Warner Bros. Retail: $14.96, Our: $12.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Dead Ringer (Blu-Ray) October 9th Warner Bros. Retail: $19.98, Our: $15.99

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Bette Davis will go Blu twice on October 9th as Warner has scheduled the Blu-Ray debuts of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Dead Ringer.

Also out will be a 2-disc standard DVD (50th Anniversary Edition) of Baby Jane which will carry over the bonus features from the previous edition. Ringer is expected to carry over bonus features as well.

The Blu-Ray Book release of Baby Jane will carry over all the bonus features too, plus include 36 pages of essays and behind-the-scenes photography.

COLUMBIA CLASSICS: Time Out for Rhythm, The Heat's On & Westerns

Sony has announced eight Columbia Classic DVDs for release on August 7th.

Two highly anticipated titles are Time Out for Rhythm (1941) starring Rudy Vallee and Ann Miller and featuring Rosemary Lane, Allen Jenkins and the Three Stooges; and The Heat's On (1943) starring Mae West.

Also out are:

• The Crooked Web (1955) - Frank Lovejoy, Mari Blanchard, Richard Denning
• The Nebraskan (1953) - Philip Carey, Roberta Haynes, Wallace Ford, Richard Webb, Lee Van Cleef
• A Tornado in the Saddle (1942) - Russell Hayden, Dub Taylor, Tristram Coffin
• The World Was His Jury (1958) - Edmond O'Brien, Mona Freeman, Karin Booth, Robert McQueeney, Paul Birch
• Wyoming Renegades (1954) - Philip Carey, Gene Evans, Martha Hyer, William Bishop, Douglas Kennedy

Lord Jim (1965), which has long been out of print on standard DVD, is also being released as part of this MOD wave.

BLU: Universal Classic Monsters - The Essential Collection in October

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Universal Classic Monsters (Blu-Ray) October 2nd Universal Retail: $159.98, Our: $129.99

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Expected for some time, Universal has announced an October 2nd release date for Universal Classic Monsters - The Essential Collection (Blu-Ray).

The 8-disc set features eight of the "most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon (2D & 3D)."

It contains an exclusive collectible book, as well as over 12 hours of bonus features, with old and new ones in the mix. Details below.

It will retail for $159.98, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $129.99.

NOTE: Singles will not be made available. When there are, we will have them for rent.

SYNOPSIS:
From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Now, Universal Classic Monsters - The Essential Collection showcases 8 of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Starring Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains and Elsa Lanchester in the roles that they made famous, these original films set the standard for a new horror genre with revolutionary makeup, mood-altering cinematography and groundbreaking special effects.

Featuring over 12 hours of revealing bonus features plus an exclusive collectible book, each film has been digitally restored from high resolution film elements for the ultimate classic monster experience.

Dracula (1931) - English & Spanish Versions
Relive the horror, the mystery, and the intrigue of the original 1931 vampire masterpiece starring Bela Lugosi and directed by Tod Browning. The inspiration for hundreds of subsequent remakes and adaptations, this classic film launched the Hollywood horror genre with its eerie passion, shadowy atmosphere, and thrilling cinematography. The children of the night are calling…

BONUS FEATURES:

• The Road to Dracula
  
• Lugosi: The Dark Prince
  
• Dracula: The Restoration
• Monster Tracks
• Dracula Archives
  
• Alternate Score by Philip Glass Performed by The Kronos Quartet
• Feature Commentary with Film Historian David J. Shal
• Feature Commentary with Screenwriter Steve Haberman
• Trailer Gallery

Frankenstein (1931)
Boris Karloff stars as the screen's most memorable monster in what many consider to be the greatest horror film ever made. Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) dares to tamper with the life and death by creating a human monster (Karloff) out of lifeless body parts. It's director James Whales' adaption of the Mary Shelley novel blended with Karloff's compassionate portrayal of a creature groping for identity that makes Frankenstein a masterpiece not only of genre, but for all time.

BONUS FEATURES:

• The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
  
• Karloff: The Gentle Monster
  
• Monster Tracks
  
• Universal Horror
  
• Frankenstein Archives
  
• Boo! A Short Film
  
• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Rudy Behlmer
• Feature Commentary with Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• Trailer Gallery
• 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics
  

The Mummy (1932)
In 1921 a field expedition in Egypt discovers the mummy of ancient Egyptian prince Im-Ho-Tep, who was condemned and buried alive for sacrilege. Also found in the tomb is the Scroll of Thoth, which can bring the dead back to life. One night a young member of the expedition reads the Scroll out loud, and then goes insane, realizing that he has brought Im-Ho-Tep back to life. Ten years later, disguised as a modern Egyptian, the mummy attempts to reunite with his lost love, an ancient princess who has been reincarnated into a beautiful young woman.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
  
• He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
  
• Unraveling The Legacy of The Mummy
  
• The Mummy Archives
  
• Feature Commentary with Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns and Brent Armstrong
• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Paul M. Jensen
• Trailer Gallery
• 100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era
  

The Invisible Man (1933)
Claude Rains delivers a remarkable performance in his screen debut as a mysterious doctor who discovers a serum that makes him invisible. Covered by bandages and dark glasses, Rains arrives at a small English village and attempts to hide his amazing discover. But the same drug which rends him invisible slowly drives him to commit acts of unspeakable terror.

Based on H.G. Well' classic novel and direct by the master of macabre James Whale, The Invisible Man no only fueled a host of sequels but features some special effects that are still imitated today.

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
One of the most popular horror classics of all time and an acclaimed sequel to the original Frankenstein. The legendary Boris Karloff reprises his role as the screen's most understood monster who now longs for a mate of his own. Colin Clive is back as the overly ambitious Dr. Frankenstein, who creates the ill-faed bride (Elsa Lanchester).

Directed by the original's James Whale (his last horror film) and featuring a haunting musical score, The Bride of Frankenstein ranks as one of the finest films not only of the genre, but for all time.

BONUS FEATURES:

• She's Alive! Creating The Bride of Frankenstein
  
• The Bride of Frankenstein Archive
  
• Feature Commentary with Scott MacQueen
• Trailer Gallery
• 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics
  

The Wolf Man (1941)
Upon the death of his brother, Larry Talbot returns from America to his ancestral home in Wales. He visits a gypsy camp with village girl Jenny Williams, who is attacked by Bela, a gypsy who has turned into a werewolf. Larry kills the werewolf but is bitten during the fight.

Bela's mother tells him that this will cause him to become a werewolf at each full moon. Larry confesses his plight to his unbelieving father, Sir John, who then joins the villagers in a hunt for the wolf. Larry, transformed by the full moon, heads for the forest and a fateful meeting with both Sir John and Gwen.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Monster by Moonlight
  
• The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
  
• Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.
  
• He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
  
• The Wolf Man Archives
  
• Trailer Gallery
  
• 100 Years of Universal: The Lot
  
• Feature Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver

Phantom of the Opera (1943)
This spectacular retelling of Gaston Leroux's immortal horror tale stars Claude Rains as the masked phantom of the Paris opera house - a crazed composer who schemes to make a beautiful young soprano (Susanna Foster) the star of the opera company and wreak revenge on those who stole his music. Nelson Eddy, the heroic baritone, tries to win the affections of Foster as he tracks down the disfigured "monster" who has begun murdering those who resist his mad demands. This lavish production remains a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time.

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) - 2D & 3D
Scientists drug and capture the creature, who becomes enamored with the head scientist's female assistant (Julie Adams). The lonely creature, "a living amphibious missing link," escapes and kidnaps the object of his affection.

Chief scientist (Richard Carlson) then launches a crusade to rescue his assistant ans cast the ominous creature back to the depths from where he came. Well-acted and directed, and with Bud Westmore's brilliantly designed monster, Creature From The Black Lagoon remains an enduring tribute to the imaginative genius of its Hollywood creators.

WARNER ARCHIVE: Maisie Collection, Vol. 2

Maisie's second and final volume has been announced as The Maisie Collection, Vol. 2 is posted over at WBShop.

A presumed 5-disc set, it will be available here at ClassicFlix on August 7th.

These new DVDs add to the total of over 900 Warner Archive titles exclusively available for rent at ClassicFlix.com.

Rawhide - Season Five in September

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Rawhide - Season 5, Vol. 1 September 18th Paramount Retail: 39.99, Our: $29.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Rawhide - Season 5, Vol. 2 September 18th Paramount Retail: 39.99, Our: $29.99

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Paramount has announced season five of Rawhide with two separate sets, Rawhide - Season 5, Vol. 1 & Rawhide - Season 5, Vol. 2, scheduled to release on September 18th.

Each 4-disc set will retail for $39.99, but is available at ClassicFlix for only $29.99. Bonus features are not expected.

FOX CINEMA ARCHIVES: 18 More in Impressive Wave

Eighteen more Fox titles, most with "A" stars that have been sought after for years, have been announced for release on July 3rd.

Part of the Fox Cinema Archives line, they can be found in the recent additions section or on the Fox Cinema Archives page.

Of particular note are:

• Sweet Rosie O'Grady (1943) - Betty Grable, Robert Young, Adolphe Menjou, Reginald Gardiner and Virginia Grey
• Junior Miss (1945) - Peggy Ann Garner, Stephen Dunne, Allyn Joslyn, Faye Marlowe, Mona Freeman, Sylvia Field, Barbara Whiting, Connie Gilchrist and Scotty Beckett
• The Baroness and the Butler (1938) - William Powell and Annabella
• Always Goodbye (1938) - Barbara Stanwyck, Herbert Marshall, Ian Hunter, Cesar Romero and Lynn Bari

Also note that two titles scheduled to release on the same day have been delayed (Outcasts of Poker Flat & The Raid).

COLUMBIA CLASSICS: Safari, And Baby Makes Three in September

Sony has announced three Columbia Classic DVDs for release on September 4th.

Two A's are Safari (1956) with Victor Mature and Janet Leigh; and And Baby Makes Three (1949) with Robert Young, Barbara Hale, Robert Hutton, Janis Carter and Billie Burke.

Also out is the B drama Among the Missing (1934) with Richard Cromwell.

MORE BLU HITCH: Dial M for Murder (3D), Strangers on a Train

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Dial M for Murder (Blu-Ray) 3D October 9th Warner Bros. Retail: $35.99, Our: $30.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Strangers on a Train (Blu-Ray) October 9th Warner Bros. Retail: $19.98, Our: $15.99

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Hitchcock fans will be pleased.

A day after Universal announced a 15-disc Alfred Hitchcock Blu-Ray set, Warner Bros. has announced two more Hitch films on Blu: Dial M for Murder (Blu-Ray) 3D and Strangers on a Train (Blu-Ray).

Streeting on October 9th, Dial M will be presented in standard Blu as well as Blu-Ray 3D. Bonus features are not yet known.

Strangers comes out on the same day and will carry over the commentary from the standard 2-disc special edition (leaving out the Strangers on a Train: A Hitchcock Classic documentary, 3 featurettes and a newsreel). It will also be the "final release version" as the "preview version" will not be included.

NOTE: The Dial M case is lenticular.

BUSTER BLU: The Navigator in September

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

The Navigator (Ultimate Edition) September 4th Kino Retail: $29.95, Our: $23.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

The Navigator (Blu-Ray) September 4th Kino Retail: $34.95, Our: $27.99 SPECIAL 3-Day Price $21.98

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Kino has announced a September 4th released date for The Navigator (1924) on standard DVD & Blu-Ray.

Bonus features are still sketchy, but some initial details are below.

The Blu-Ray will have a special pre-order price of $21.98 until Monday.

SYNOPSIS:

Brilliantly exemplifying Buster Keaton's ability to mime rich humor from the inanimate, The Navigator is a classic of the Golden Age of Comedy, centered on and about a single extraordinary prop: an immense five hundred-foot yacht.

In a return to the "pampered youth" role he had played in The Saphead (and would return to in Battling Butler), Keaton stars as Rollo Treadway, an inexperienced lad of extraordinary wealth -- and surprisingly little common sense -- who finds himself adrift on "The Navigator" with no one else on board except an equally naïve girl (Kathryn McGuire). After discovering each other's presence in an ingenious ballet of unintentional hide-and-seek, the couple resourcefully fashion a home for themselves aboard the derelict boat, in spite of their unfamiliarity with the tools of domesticity.

They then embark on a series of misadventures on the ocean floor (where Rollo in a diving suit must parry the attacks of an aggressive swordfish) and upon the high seas, surrounded by a fleet of menacing cannibals, where the film reaches its explosively funny climax, with the aid of a crate of rocket flares.

BONUS FEATURES:

• The Navigator short subject documentary
• Audio Commentary (TBD)
• Trailers and more features to be announced

Alfred Hitchcock -The Masterpiece Collection (Blu-Ray) in September

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Alfred Hitchcock - Masterpiece Collection (Blu) September 25th Universal Retail: $299.98, Our: $229.99

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Universal has announced a September 25th release date for Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection (Blu-Ray).

Duplicating their standard DVD set, and adding North by Northwest, the studio doesn't appear to be offering singles to coincide with this set (although several have already been released on Blu).

It will retail for $299.98, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $229.99.
SYNOPSIS:
Universally recognized as the Master of Suspense, the legendary Alfred Hitchcock directed some of cinema’s most thrilling and unforgettable classics. Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection features 15 iconic films from the acclaimed director’s illustrious career including Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo, North by Northwest and many more.

Starring Hollywood favorites such as James Stewart, Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Paul Newman, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Tippi Hedren, Sean Connery and Kim Novak, this definitive collection showcases a true cinematic master at his best. Featuring over 15 hours of insightful bonus features plus an exclusive collectible book, each film has been digitally restored from high resolution film elements for the ultimate Hitchcock experience.

15 DISC SET:

• Saboteur (1942)
• Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
• Rope (1948)
• Rear Window (1954)
• The Trouble with Harry (1955)
• The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
• Vertigo (1958)
• North by Northwest (1959)
• Psycho (1960)
• The Birds (1963)
• Marnie (1964)
• Torn Curtain (1966)
• Topaz (1969)
• Frenzy (1972)
• Family Plot (1976)

ARTWORK ADDED: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (Blu-Ray)

--ARTWORK ADDED TO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT--

ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (Blu-Ray) September 4th Universal Retail: $26.98, Our: $21.99

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In plenty of time for Halloween, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (Blu-Ray) has been scheduled for a release date of September 4th.

Hailed as the teams best picture, and part of Universal's 100th anniversary celebration, it will come as a 2-disc combo pack that will include a standard definition version (containing all the bonus features).

It will retail for $26.98, but is available at ClassicFlix.com for only $21.99.
SYNOPSIS:
Comedy meets horror when Bud Abbott and Lou Costello encounter Universal’s classic monsters in the frightfully funny Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

The world of baggage handlers Chick Young (Abbott) and Wilbur Grey (Costello) is turned upside down when they receive the remains of Dracula (Bela Lugosi) and Frankenstein (Glenn Strange) bound for the House of Horrors museum. When Dracula and Frankenstein escape, complete chaos ensues as Chick and Wilbur get mixed up in an evil plot to switch Wilbur’s brain with Frankenstein’s and are aided by Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney, Jr.), who turns into The Wolf Man when the moon is full!

Featuring a perfect blend of laughs and thrills, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is one the “all-time great horror comedies.” (Leonard Maltin)

FOX CINEMA CLASSICS: First 13 Now Available

Announced late last month, and updated a few days later, was the joyous news of an upcoming 20th-Century Fox MOD program.

Now, we are pleased to announce that the first thirteen are available here at ClassicFlix with a release date of next Tuesday. They can be found in the recent additions section.

The next twenty will release on July 3rd and should be listed here at ClassicFlix within the next week.

Also, to make the Fox Cinema Classics line easy to find, we've created a link on the "By Collection" page.

OLIVE: Macbeth, Cyrano and Double Life Standard & Blu in September

WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

A Double Life September 18th Olive Films Retail: $19.95, Our: $14.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

A Double Life (Blu-Ray) September 18th Olive Films Retail: $29.95, Our: $21.99 SPECIAL 3-Day Price $17.98

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Cyrano de Bergerac September 18th Olive Films Retail: $19.95, Our: $14.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Cyrano de Bergerac (Blu-Ray) September 18th Olive Films Retail: $29.95, Our: $21.99 SPECIAL 3-Day Price $17.98

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Macbeth September 18th Olive Films Retail: $24.95, Our: $17.99

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WHAT: WHEN: STUDIO: PRICE:

Macbeth (Blu-Ray) September 18th Olive Films Retail: $29.95, Our: $21.99 SPECIAL 3-Day Price $17.98

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More great titles are coming from Olive Films as they have announced the DVD and Blu-Ray release of A Double Life (1947), Cyrano de Bergerac (1950) and Macbeth (1948).

This marks the Blu debut for Double and Cyrano, and the DVD and Blu bow for Macbeth.

Streeting on September 18th all three Blu-Ray's will have a special pre-order price of $17.98 until Thursday.

WARNER ARCHIVE: Film Noir & Mario Lanza in New Wave of Five

Negulesco Noir and Lanza Musicals are the theme this week from the Warner Archive Collection as they have posted five new DVD's over at WBShop.

3 Jean Negulesco helmed Film Noirs:

• The Conspirators (1944) - Hedy Lamarr, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre
• Nobody Lives Forever (1946) - John Garfield, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Walter Brennan, Faye Emerson, George Coulouris
• Three Strangers (1946) - Sydney Greenstreet, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Peter Lorre, Joan Lorring

2 Mario Lanza Musicals:

• For the First Time (1959) - Johanna von Halem, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Kurt Kasznar
• Seven Hills of Rome (1957) - Renato Rascel, Marisa Allasio, Peggie Castle

All will be available here at ClassicFlix on July 31st.

These new DVDs add to the total of over 900 Warner Archive titles exclusively available for rent at ClassicFlix.com.

MGM MOD: Four More in Latest Wave

Three B's, and a "so bad, it's good" war-drama (Operation Bikini) make up MGM's upcoming MOD releases. The first three street on June 26th, while Bikini is out on July 10th. They are:

• The Cat Burglar (1961) - Jack Hogan, June Kenney, John Baer, Gregg Palmer
• Mystery of the 13th Guest (1943) - Dick Purcell, Helen Parrish, Tim Ryan, Frank Faylen
• One Thrilling Night (1942) - John Beal, Wanda McKay, Warren Hymer, J. Farrell MacDonald, Tom Neal
• Operation Bikini (1963) - Tab Hunter, Frankie Avalon, Scott Brady, Jim Backus, Gary Crosby, Michael Dante, Jody McCrea

WARNER ARCHIVE: Red Skelton Wave

Six new titles, all starring Red Skelton, are out this week from the Warner Archive Collection and have been posted over at WBShop. They are:

• The Great Diamond Robbery (1953) - Cara Williams, James Whitmore, Kurt Kasznar
• A Southern Yankee (1948) - Brian Donlevy, Arlene Dahl, George Coulouris
• The Clown (1953) - Jane Greer, Tim Considine
• Half a Hero (1953) - Jean Hagen, Charles Dingle, Willard Waterman, Mary Wickes
• The Yellow Cab Man (1950) - Gloria DeHaven, Walter Slezak, Edward Arnold, James Gleason
• Watch the Birdie (1950) - Arlene Dahl, Ann Miller, Leon Ames, Pamela Britton

All will be available here at ClassicFlix on July 24th.

These new DVDs add to the total of over 900 Warner Archive titles exclusively available for rent at ClassicFlix.com.

UNIVERSAL VAULT: The Amazing Mrs. Holliday, One Desire

Two more titles have been added from Universal's Vault Series. They are:

• The Amazing Mrs. Holliday (1943) - Deanna Durbin, Edmond O'Brien, Barry Fitzgerald, Arthur Treacher, Harry Davenport
• One Desire (1955) - Anne Baxter, Rock Hudson, Julie Adams, Natalie Wood

Both are now available for rent at ClassicFlix... and nowhere else!