Classic Movies Being Released on Blu-ray in January 2015
While the pickings are slim this month, January starts the new year with several classics making their long-awaited debut on Blu-ray. Among them are a tense psychological thriller starring Gregory Peck as infamous Nazi doctor Joseph Mengele; an adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's post-World War I novel featuring Tyrone Power; a tear-jerking drama containing late-career performances from Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda; and a brave attempt to adapt Leo Tolstoy's most famous novel by noted director King Vidor.
A political thriller featuring late career performances from several great classic actors, The Boys From Brazil makes its debut on Blu-ray via indie distributor Shout! Factory. The film followed Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman (Laurence Olivier)—who was based on real-life Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal—on his quest to track down infamous Auschwitz doctor Joseph Mengele (Gregory Peck) in Paraguay. Along the way, he discovers a plot where Mengele plans to harvest hundreds of young men in an effort to replicate Hitler's genetic structure. The Boys From Brazil is excellent film with an Oscar-nominated performance from Olivier and will be a welcome addition on any collector's shelf. While there are no known extras on the Blu-ray, the release does feature an AVC 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 and a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track.
Releases Jan. 6, 2015
Based on the classic novel by W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor's Edge makes its way onto blu-ray for the first time. The film stars Tyrone Power as World War I veteran, Larry Darrell, who goes on a postwar, soul-searching journey as a bohemian in Paris and later in the Far East. Along the way, he makes the amorous acquaintance of an old friend (Anne Baxter) who descends into alcoholism, while his fiancé (Gene Tierney) tires of him and goes off to marry a wealthy man. Nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Razor's Edge will debut on Blu-ray via 20th Century Fox and will include some extras like audio commentary from various film historians, as well as news footage from Fox Movietone.
Releases Jan. 13, 2015
Another film featuring late career performances from noted classic era actors, a collector's edition of On Golden Pond makes its way to Blu-ray this month. Directed by Mark Rydell, the film starred Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda as an aging couple taking their annual summer vacation at their New England cottage. But they're interrupted by their daughter (Jane Fonda), her fiancé (Dabney Coleman), and his son (Doug McKeon), which triggers conflict that ultimately melts away years of resentment that resolves into genuine affection. One of Henry Fonda's last films, On Golden Pond earned the great actor his only Academy Award for Best Actor, which was accepted by Jane Fonda due to her father's declining health. The Blu-ray will be released by Shout! Factory and features audio commentary by the director; two featurettes, Reflections On Golden Pond and A Woman of Substance: Katharine Hepburn Remembered; and the original theatrical trailer.
Releases Jan. 20, 2015
An adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's impossible novel from director King Vidor, War and Peace will be released on Blu-ray for the first time courtesy of Warner Bros. The film starred Audrey Hepburn as Natasha Rostova, the daughter of a Russian count and countess who comes of age during the Napoleonic invasion of Russia while engaging in a complex relationship with Count Pierre Bezukhov (Henry Fonda) and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. For obvious reasons, Vidor's War and Peace is a seriously condensed version of the nearly endless novel, but still proved to be too long and complex for audiences. But it is a commendable film and will make a great addition to anyone's collection. In typical fashion, Warner Bros. has declined to release any technical specs or added features in advance.
Releases Jan. 20, 2015
1. 'The Boys From Brazil' – 1978
A political thriller featuring late career performances from several great classic actors, The Boys From Brazil makes its debut on Blu-ray via indie distributor Shout! Factory. The film followed Nazi hunter Ezra Lieberman (Laurence Olivier)—who was based on real-life Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal—on his quest to track down infamous Auschwitz doctor Joseph Mengele (Gregory Peck) in Paraguay. Along the way, he discovers a plot where Mengele plans to harvest hundreds of young men in an effort to replicate Hitler's genetic structure. The Boys From Brazil is excellent film with an Oscar-nominated performance from Olivier and will be a welcome addition on any collector's shelf. While there are no known extras on the Blu-ray, the release does feature an AVC 1080p transfer in 1.78:1 and a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track.
Releases Jan. 6, 2015
2. 'The Razor's Edge' – 1946
Based on the classic novel by W. Somerset Maugham, The Razor's Edge makes its way onto blu-ray for the first time. The film stars Tyrone Power as World War I veteran, Larry Darrell, who goes on a postwar, soul-searching journey as a bohemian in Paris and later in the Far East. Along the way, he makes the amorous acquaintance of an old friend (Anne Baxter) who descends into alcoholism, while his fiancé (Gene Tierney) tires of him and goes off to marry a wealthy man. Nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Razor's Edge will debut on Blu-ray via 20th Century Fox and will include some extras like audio commentary from various film historians, as well as news footage from Fox Movietone.
Releases Jan. 13, 2015
3. 'On Golden Pond' – 1981
Another film featuring late career performances from noted classic era actors, a collector's edition of On Golden Pond makes its way to Blu-ray this month. Directed by Mark Rydell, the film starred Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda as an aging couple taking their annual summer vacation at their New England cottage. But they're interrupted by their daughter (Jane Fonda), her fiancé (Dabney Coleman), and his son (Doug McKeon), which triggers conflict that ultimately melts away years of resentment that resolves into genuine affection. One of Henry Fonda's last films, On Golden Pond earned the great actor his only Academy Award for Best Actor, which was accepted by Jane Fonda due to her father's declining health. The Blu-ray will be released by Shout! Factory and features audio commentary by the director; two featurettes, Reflections On Golden Pond and A Woman of Substance: Katharine Hepburn Remembered; and the original theatrical trailer.
Releases Jan. 20, 2015
4. 'War and Peace' – 1956
An adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's impossible novel from director King Vidor, War and Peace will be released on Blu-ray for the first time courtesy of Warner Bros. The film starred Audrey Hepburn as Natasha Rostova, the daughter of a Russian count and countess who comes of age during the Napoleonic invasion of Russia while engaging in a complex relationship with Count Pierre Bezukhov (Henry Fonda) and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. For obvious reasons, Vidor's War and Peace is a seriously condensed version of the nearly endless novel, but still proved to be too long and complex for audiences. But it is a commendable film and will make a great addition to anyone's collection. In typical fashion, Warner Bros. has declined to release any technical specs or added features in advance.
Releases Jan. 20, 2015
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