Winter's Tale, Elvis And More On Warner Home Video's DVD And Blu-ray Release Calendar This Summer

Warner Home Video was busy this past week with new release announcements for writer/director Akiva Goldsman’s film adaptation of Mark Helprin’s 1983 novel, Winter’s Tale, two new Elvis film transfers destined for the Blu-ray format and more.

It took over 30 years to bring Helprin’s romantic “out of time” tale to the screen … and for good reason, it is a film that is difficult to translate to the screen.   Call it a fairytale set in a mystical New York City, with an evil demon (played by Russell Crowe), star-crossed lovers (Collin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay), a flying horse and miracles.

Unless one is familiar with the book — and with a 30-year gap since its publication — it is perfectly understandable that the film underperformed in its recent theatrical run, pulling in just $12.6 million.

Now comes the home entertainment push, where Warner Bros. has the opportunity to pick up some tasty DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack sales (both SKUs featuring UltraViolet) as Winter’s Tale would seem to be much more conducive  for sales action in this venue.  

 The street date selected is June 24 … with that late June date the ARR works out to 130 days. 

Bonus features include the production featurette titled “Winter’s Tale: A Timeless Love,” with additional scenes and a second featurette titled “Characters of Good & Evil” exclusive to the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack.

Shifting to Aug. 12 there will be a celebration for Elvis fans as two of his films have been selected for special edition Blu-ray Digibook treatment.   

Viva Las Vegas 50th Anniversary Premium Digibook, teaming Elvis with Ann Margaret, includes the featurette, “Kingdom: Elvis in Vegas” and commentary from rock journalist and the author of “Elvis in Hollywood,” Steve Pond.

The newly-remastered Elvis: That's The Way It Is arrives as a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack special edition, with the Blu-ray disc sporting a newly restored presentation of the film (as well as the original theatrical cut), the featurette titled “Patch It Up: The Restoration of Elvis: That's The Way It Is” and 12 outtakes showcasing various song and non-musical sequences.   The companion DVD disc features the 1970 theatrical cut.

Also added to the release calendar this past week is a newly-remastered collection of Snoopy, Charlie Brown and Lucy animated tales.   The double-disc collection, titled This is American, Charlie Brown, will be available on June 17.

Included in the package are eight animated stories: “The Mayflower Voyagers,” “The Birth of the Constitution,” “The Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk,” “The NASA Space Station,” “The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad,” “The Great Inventors,” “The Smithsonian and the Presidency ” and “The Music and Heroes of America.”

Also on the kidvid front look for Challenge of the Gobots (a four-disc set) on May 6 and on May 13 the DVD release of The Jetsons: Season 3 will be available.

To download this week's complete edition of the DVD and Blu-ray Release Report:  DVD & Blu-ray Release Report