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1. ‘Rocky’ – 1976
Seminal film from 1976 that won both Best Picture and Best Director, Rocky will be released on Blu-ray this May. Though this uplifting underdog story has been released on Blu-ray before, MGM Home Entertainment has seen fit to issue a remastered edition. Directed by John G. Avildsen, Rocky told the tale of never-been heavyweight boxer, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), who’s handpicked by the reigning champ, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), for the one-time shot at winning the heavyweight championship. While MGM has not released any specifics about extras, previous versions included a making-of documentary, several featurettes like The Ring of Truth and Three Rounds With Legendary Trainer Lou Douva, and video commentary featuring Stallone.
Releases May 6, 2014
2. ‘Harvey’ – 1950
A classic fantasy comedy and one of James Stewart’s most beloved films, Harvey is another remastered release making its way onto Blu-ray this month. Once again being presented by Universal Studios, this particular version of Harvey will contain three different copies: Blu-ray, downloadable digitial, and UltraViolet. The film starred Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd, a good-natured drunk whose best friend is a six-foot tall rabbit that only he can see. Naturally, his new pal winds him up in the asylum, but only until others star seeing the giant animal as well. Stewart was nominated for Best Actor for what many consider to be his finest performances. While no details on extras are known, Harvey will presumably contain the ones from the 2012 release, which include a special introduction photo montage featuring Stewart; two featurettes, The Carl Laemmle Era and The Lew Wasserman Era; and the original theatrical trailer.
Releases May 6, 2014
3. ‘McLintock!’ – 1963
Released last year by stingy distributor Olive Films, this classic John Wayne Western comedy will finally see a proper studio release courtesy of Paramount Pictures. Co-starring frequent leading lady Maureen O’Hara and loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, McLintock! featured Wayne as a proud and defiant cattle baron who reunites with his headstrong wife (O’Hara) after his daughter returns home from college. But the reunion is anything but joyous, as the two go at each other with verbal fireworks, culminating in the infamous spanking scene. Unlike the Olive Films version, McLintock! is chock full of extras, including an introduction by film critic Leonard Maltin; commentaries by Maltin, O’Hara, Stephanie Powers, Michael Wayne, and Frank Thompson; the featurettes The Making of McLintock! and The Corset: Don’t Leave Home Without One!; a photo gallery; and the theatrical trailer.
Releases May 20, 2014
4. ‘Red River’ – 1948
Another great film being released this month by The Criterion Collection, Red River was directed by Howard Hawks and featured John Wayne in one of his best roles. Wayne played a tyrannical Texas rancher whose tensions with his independent-minded adopted son (Montgomery Clift) grow to epic proportions on a cattle drive to Missouri. A treatise on masculinity and the myths of the Old West, Red River finally arrives on Blu-ray and features a number of great special features that include a new 4K digital restoration of the rare original theatrical release; new interviews with director Peter Bogdanovich, film critic Molly Haskell, and Western scholar Lee Clark Mitchell; audio excerpts from a 1972 interview conducted by Bogdanovich with Hawks, and a 1970 interview with novelist and screenwriter Borden Chase; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien, as well as a 1991 interview with Hawks’ favored editor, Christian Nyby, and a new paperback edition of Chase’s previously out of print novel.
Releases May 27, 2014
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