ARTWORK & PRICE CORRECTION: Samson and Delilah

--ARTWORK ADDED TO PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENT--

... Additionally, the retail price has been set at $19.99 and not the previously mentioned $24.99. All those that purchased at the $19.99 price have been credited $4 as a result of the correction.


ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT

WHAT:
WHEN:
STUDIO:
PRICE: 
Samson and Delilah (1949)
March 12th
Paramount
Retail $24.99, Our: $19.99
Buy Now
Add to QueueAdd to Queue Top Priority

Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (1949) comes to DVD on March 12th.

Starring Victor Mature, Hedy Lamarr, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury and Henry Wilcoxon, this long-awaited Biblical epic has been restored from the original nitrate Technicolor negatives and will feature French and Spanish dubbing, as well as English, French and Spanish subtitles. No additional bonus features are expected.

Retail will be $24.99, but It is available at ClassicFlix.com for just $19.99.


Paramount Press Release

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Legendary director Cecil B. DeMille’s epic masterpiece Samson and Delilah makes its long-awaited DVD debut on March 12, 2013 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.

Starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr in the title roles, Samson and Delilah tells the story of the Bible’s fabled strongman and the woman who seduces and betrays him. The film brings to life Samson’s incredible feats, including his battle with a lion, his single-handed assault on a thousand Philistine soldiers, his struggle with a giant and finally the spectacular climax in which he pulls down the pagan temple. But it is Delilah’s quest for revenge and ability to bring down even the mighty Samson that drive this thrilling and powerful story. The lavish production earned five Academy Award® nominations and won for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. The film also stars venerable actors George Sanders, Angela Lansbury and Henry Wilcoxon.

Sometimes referred to as DeMille’s rehearsal for The Ten Commandments, Samson and Delilah was enormously popular around the world upon its release in 1949. Over 60 years later, the original film elements required significant work in order to return the film to the vibrant masterpiece that had so thrilled theater audiences. The original nitrate three-strip Technicolor negatives were scanned in 4K, and the three strip image was registered, cleaned and color corrected in 4K. In addition, DeMille’s original nitrate print was used in order to complete the original music overture and special effect work was done to clean up original optical images, a particularly tricky three-strip challenge. Finally, the original mono audio track was cleaned up and restored.

Interestingly, the restoration team noticed a shimmer effect in some of the scenes. Since they were simultaneously restoring Sunset Boulevard, they looked at production photos of Norma Desmond’s visit to the Samson and Delilah set and saw the enormously powerful lights that were required for the Technicolor production. This explained the shimmer effect, which was left intact. Arriving just in time for Easter, the Samson and Delilah DVD will be presented in full screen with English Mono Dolby Digital, French Mono Dolby Digital and Spanish Mono Dolby Digital, as well as English, French and Spanish subtitles. 

TCM VAULT: Western Horizons - Universal Westerns of the 1950's

WHAT:
WHEN:
STUDIO:
TITLES: 

Western Horizons - Universal Westerns of the 1950's 
February 19th
Universal
Horizon’s West (1952), Saskatchewan (1954), Dawn at Socorro (1954), Backlash (1956), Pillars of the Sky (1956)
 


Five big-budget Universal Technicolor Westerns are coming via TCM's Vault line on February 19th.

The 5-disc set, Western Horizons - Universal Westerns of the 1950's, will contain all the usual bonus features associated with the Vault line.

Available exclusively for purchase at TCM.com, this set will be available for rent here at ClassicFlix and nowhere else!

SYNOPSIS:
Turner Classic Movies and Universal Studios Home Entertainment proudly present Western Horizons: Universal Westerns of the 1950s—an unprecedented collection of five big-budget, Technicolor Westerns featuring many of the finest actors and directors the genre has ever known.

With strong supporting performances by such screen legends as Raymond Burr, Dennis Weaver, Lee Van Cleef, William Campbell, Harry Morgan, Ward Bond and Lee Marvin, this collection unites many of the finest talents ever to work in Westerns.

Horizon’s West (1952)
Helmed by Bud Boetticher, Robert Ryan and Rock Hudson are Texas brothers who find themselves on opposite sides of the law.

Saskatchewan (1954)
Alan Ladd and Jay Silverheels find the courage to revolt against Ladd’s commander to save Shelley Winters and other border settlers in this Raoul Walsh directed film.

Dawn at Socorro (1954)
Rory Calhoun is a gambler and gunslinger who attempts to reform himself and saloon girl Piper Laurie this George Sherman oater.

Backlash (1956)
John Sturges directs this "Revenge Western" with Richard Widmark out to get the men who killed his father, but fellow traveler Karyl (Donna Reed) complicates his journey.

Pillars of the Sky (1956)
Native Americans vow to battle the white men who have violated their treaty as Jeff Chandler, Dorothy Malone and other settlers try to maintain order in the high-stakes western drama directed by George Marshall.

BONUS FEATURES:

  • Introduction by Robert Osborne
  • Behind-the-Scenes Photos
  • Biographies/TCM Articles
  • Publicity Stills
  • Movie Posters
  • Scene Stills

OFFICIAL: Samson and Delilah in March

WHAT:
WHEN:
STUDIO:
PRICE: 
Samson and Delilah (1949)
March 12th
Paramount
Retail $24.99, Our: $19.99
Buy Now Add to QueueAdd to Queue Top Priority


Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (1949) comes to DVD on March 12th.

Starring Victor Mature, Hedy Lamarr, George Sanders, Angela Lansbury and Henry Wilcoxon, this long-awaited Biblical epic has been restored from the original nitrate Technicolor negatives and will feature French and Spanish dubbing, as well as English, French and Spanish subtitles. No additional bonus features are expected.

Retail will be $24.99, but It is available at ClassicFlix.com for just $19.99.

Paramount Press Release

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Legendary director Cecil B. DeMille’s epic masterpiece Samson and Delilah makes its long-awaited DVD debut on March 12, 2013 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.

Starring Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr in the title roles, Samson and Delilah tells the story of the Bible’s fabled strongman and the woman who seduces and betrays him. The film brings to life Samson’s incredible feats, including his battle with a lion, his single-handed assault on a thousand Philistine soldiers, his struggle with a giant and finally the spectacular climax in which he pulls down the pagan temple. But it is Delilah’s quest for revenge and ability to bring down even the mighty Samson that drive this thrilling and powerful story. The lavish production earned five Academy Award® nominations and won for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. The film also stars venerable actors George Sanders, Angela Lansbury and Henry Wilcoxon.

Sometimes referred to as DeMille’s rehearsal for The Ten Commandments, Samson and Delilah was enormously popular around the world upon its release in 1949. Over 60 years later, the original film elements required significant work in order to return the film to the vibrant masterpiece that had so thrilled theater audiences. The original nitrate three-strip Technicolor negatives were scanned in 4K, and the three strip image was registered, cleaned and color corrected in 4K. In addition, DeMille’s original nitrate print was used in order to complete the original music overture and special effect work was done to clean up original optical images, a particularly tricky three-strip challenge. Finally, the original mono audio track was cleaned up and restored.

Interestingly, the restoration team noticed a shimmer effect in some of the scenes. Since they were simultaneously restoring Sunset Boulevard, they looked at production photos of Norma Desmond’s visit to the Samson and Delilah set and saw the enormously powerful lights that were required for the Technicolor production. This explained the shimmer effect, which was left intact. Arriving just in time for Easter, the Samson and Delilah DVD will be presented in full screen with English Mono Dolby Digital, French Mono Dolby Digital and Spanish Mono Dolby Digital, as well as English, French and Spanish subtitles. 

COLUMBIA CLASSICS: Charley Chase Shorts, Vol. 1 & More

More from Sony's Columbia Classics line as four releases are scheduled for January 15th.

The DVD gods are shining brightly on Charley Chase of late with Milestone's recent release, and now Sony's announcement of Charlie Chase Shorts, Vol. 1. No words on specific shorts from the studio.

Also out is Yul Brynner and Kay Kendall in Once More, With Feeling (1960) and Jack Holt and Dick Purcell in Flight Into Nowhere (1938).

Previously released on standard DVD, and out the same day, Who Was That Lady? (1960) boasts a stellar cast of Tony Curtis, Dean Martin, Janet Leigh, James Whitmore, John McIntire, Barbara Nichols, Larry Keating, Larry Storch, Simon Oakland and Joi Lansing.

DEMILLE: Samson and Delilah (1949) in March

No further details at this time, but Cecil B. DeMille's Samson and Delilah (1949) starring Hedy Lamarr, Victor Mature, George Sanders and Angela Lansbury will be released by Paramount in March. Stay tuned for more details.

GOLDWYN: Wuthering Heights, Bishop's Wife & More in January

Back in April, we announced that Warner had acquired the rights to distribute 74 films from the Samuel Goldwyn library. Today, the studio made public the first six to be released on standard DVD this January 15th.

Wuthering Heights (1939) and The Bishop's Wife (1947) will be the most welcome of the lot as they have proven to be the most scarce.

The other four are: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Guys and Dolls (1955), Hans Christian Andersen (1952) and The Pride of the Yankees (1942).

Almost all the bonus features will carry over from the previous HBO/MGM releases, and some will be added as in the case of Best Years which includes an introduction by Virgina Mayo and interviews with Virginia Mayo and Teresa Wright.

Retail will be $14.97 each, but they are all available at ClassicFlix.com for just $10.99.











WARNER ARCHIVE: Mid-30's Mysteries and Crime Dramas

Mid-30's mysteries and crime dramas mark this week's wave from the Warner Archive Collection over at WBShop.

Loretta Young and Franchot Tone star in 1936's The Unguarded Hour which also features Lewis Stone and Roland Young; while Ricardo Cortez headlines in Shadow of Doubt and The White Cockatoo (both 1935).

Chester Morris gets in on the action with Moonlight Murder (1936), but a crime comedy also makes an appearance this week with 1940's The Golden Fleecing starring Lew Ayres, Rita Johnson and Lloyd Nolan.

Monogram Cowboy Collection, Vol. 4 is also due out the same day, but films have not been made public for the 3-disc nine film set.

All will be available here at ClassicFlix on Christmas Day.

These new DVDs add to the total of over 1,100 Warner Archive titles exclusively available for rent at ClassicFlix.com.

COLUMBIA CLASSICS: Judy Holliday & Richard Conte in Full of Life

Sony's Columbia Classics continue at a steady pace every month with the highlight for December being Full of Life (1956) starring Judy Holliday and Richard Conte. Other releases include:
  • East of Sudan (1964) - Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Syms, Derek Fowlds, Jenny Agutter
  • The Fighting Frontiersman (1946) - Charles Starrett, Helen Mowery, Smiley Burnette
  • Chain Gang (1950) - Douglas Kennedy, Marjorie Lord, Emory Parnell, William 'Bill' Phillips, Thurston Hall
Also coming out is a compilation set of previously released Columbia Classic titles in Columbia Film Noir Collection, Vol. 1.

All will be available here at ClassicFlix on December 18th.




FOX ARCHIVES: 15 More in New Wave

20th Century-Fox has another spectacular wave of new Cinema Archive titles due out on December 13th. Fifteen to be exact -- with those of particular note below:

  • The Big Show (1961) - Esther Williams, Cliff Robertson, Nehemiah Persoff, Robert Vaughn
  • The Best Things in Life Are Free (1956) - Gordon MacRae, Dan Dailey, Ernest Borgnine, Sheree North, Tommy Noonan
  • The Brasher Doubloon (1947) - George Montgomery, Nancy Guild, Conrad Janis
  • Dreamboat (1952) - Clifton Webb, Ginger Rogers, Anne Francis, Jeffrey Hunter, Elsa Lanchester
  • Inferno (1953) - Robert Ryan, Rhonda Fleming, William Lundigan
  • The Jackpot (1950) - James Stewart, Barbara Hale, James Gleason
  • The Late George Apley (1947) - Ronald Colman, Vanessa Brown, Richard Haydn, Charles Russell
  • Sentimental Journey (1946) - John Payne, Maureen O'Hara, William Bendix, Cedric Hardwicke, Glenn Langan
  • The Story of Alexander Graham Bell (1939) - Don Ameche, Loretta Young, Henry Fonda, Charles Coburn, Gene Lockhart, Spring Byington
  • That Lady in Ermine (1948) - Betty Grable, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Cesar Romero, Walter Abel, Reginald Gardiner
Also, Madison Avenue (1962), which was previously announced and already due out, has been pushed back to this same release date.

All can be found in the recent additions section.




BLU NOIR: Laura in February

WHAT:
WHEN:
STUDIO:
PRICE: 
Laura (Blu-Ray)
February 5th
20th-Century Fox
Retail $24.99, Our: $20.99
Buy Now
Add to QueueAdd to Queue Top Priority

A definitive noir classic, Laura (Blu-Ray) has been announced by Fox for release on February 5th.

Bonus features (below) will carry over from the standard release. Retail will be $24.99, but It is available at ClassicFlix.com for just $20.99.

A definitive film noir classic, Laura tells the shocking story of a Park Avenue society beauty murdered in her apartment, which brings Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) to New York's most elegant neighborhood. As he tries to get inside the head of the victim, Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney), he also questions the men in her life - the acerbic critic Waldo Lydecker (Clifton Webb) and playboy fiancee Shelby Carpenter (Vincent Price).

Lulled by her stunning portrait, fine liquor and classical music, McPherson doesn't know he's in for a heart-stopping shock with the sudden appearance of a woman who seems to be Laura herself. Steeped in suspense, heightened reality and witty sophistication, Laura leads to a shocking climax.

BONUS FEATURES:

  • Extended Movie Version - with Alternate Opening
  • Commentary by Composer David Raksin and Wesleyan University Film Professor Jeanine Basinger
  • Commentary b Film Historian/Author Rudy Behlmer
  • Documentaries
    • "Gene Tierney: A Shattered Portrait"
    • Vincent Price: The Versatile Villain"
  • Deleted Scene - with Optional Commentary by Rudy Behlmer
  • Theatrical Trailer