Tuesday, February 19, 2019

The Criterion Collection Announces It May Of 2019 Film Restoration Release Calendar


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
The Criterion Collection announced its May of 2019 slate of new film restorations that will be making the move to the home entertainment package media marketplace this past week.   As always, the choice of what is the leader of the pack is a subjective one.

We are going to go with auteur filmmaker David Lynch’s 1986 thriller, Blue Velvet, which will be available on May 28 as a new 4K film restoration — supervised by none other than Lynch himself.   Planned for distribution on that date are both Blu-ray and double-disc DVD product offerings.

As to bonus materials, there is the feature-length 2016 documentary titled Blue Velvet Revisited by documentary filmmaker Peter Braatz (who was an intern on the set of Blue Velvet back in 1986).   Also included is documentary filmmaker Jeffrey Schwarz’s 2002 documentary, Mysteries of Love, on the making of the film and David Lynch has assembled an astonishing 51 minutes worth of deleted scenes and alternate takes.

Another gem to be found in the Criterion selection of films during the month of May is the May 7 Blu-ray and double-disc DVD presentation of director William Wyler’s 1949 Best Picture nominee, The Heiress, starring Olivia de Havilland (Best Actress), Montgomery Clift and Sir Ralph Richardson (nominated for Best Supporting Actor).

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
Bonus goodies include a newly-prepared video session with screenwriter Jay Cocks (Oscar-nominated for Gangs of New York and The Age of Innocence) and film critic Farran Smith Nehme, a video session with historian Larry McQueen on the film’s costumes (Edith Head and Gile Steele shared the Oscar for Best Costume Design) and a vintage 1950 short film about Edith Head title “The Costume Designer.”

There is also some vintage footage featuring Olivia de Havilland from The Paul Ryan Show (circa 1979), clips from The Merv Griffin Show (circa 1973) and an interview featuring Ralph Richardson (circa 1981).

Rounding out the DVD and Blu-ray selection from The Criterion Collection during the month of May are Funny Games and House of Games (both on May 14), Let the Sunshine In (May 21) and One Sings, the Other Doesn’t (May 28).


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