New DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD Activity For The Period Ending May 21, 2021

 

 

New DVD Additions

 

4 Digital Media

05/18/21 — Released 2149: Aftermath

 

1091 Media (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Take Out Girl

 

Breaking Glass Pictures

05/18/21 — Released Amityville Poltergeist

 

CMI Education/PESI Publishing

05/18/21 — Released Polyvagal Theory and the Neuroscience of Connection: How a Polyvagal Perspective Can Enhance the Treatment of Trauma and Anxiety (2 disc set) and Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for PTSD: A Brief Evidence-Based Treatment for Reduced Dropouts and Improved Outcomes in Fewer Sessions (2 disc set)

 

Capital Motion Picture Group (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Maiden Danced to Death (Hungarian)

 

Championship Productions

05/18/21 — Released Coaching to Win + Set Plays vs. Zone Defense, NABC On the Court Open Practice with James Jones: Opponent Prep & Skill Development, NABC On the Court Open Practice with Kyle Smithpeters: Improving Skills & Playing Efficiently, NABC On the Court Open Practice with Tom Palombo: Small Group Skill Development, Offense & Defense and Practice Drills to Improve Skills that Complement a Motion Offense

 

Cohen Media Group

05/18/21 — Released It Happened Tomorrow

 

Daywind Music Group

05/18/21 — Released Crabb Family: I See Revival

 

Document Records, Ltd.

05/18/21 — Released Searching for Secret Heroes (with bonus CD)

 

EWTN

05/11/21 — Released @ Home with Jim & Joy: Dorothy Pilarski / the importance of Motherhood, @ Home with Jim & Joy: Jim and Joy Pinto Answer Viewer Calls, Questions, And E-Mails Live From the Pinto House, Called to Communion, EWTN Live: Archbishop Bashar Warda / Living the Catholic faith and some of the beautiful traditions in Iraq,  Journey Home: Fr. Eric Roush / Former Agnostic, Women of Grace: Fr. Daniel Brandenburg - "Mary's Seven Sorrows,"  Women of Grace: Vicki Thorn - The Misconception of Contraception and World Over with Raymond Navarro: Cardinal Gerhard Muller

05/18/21 — Released @ Home with Jim & Joy: Gretchen Crowe / praying the Rosary with St. John Paul II,  @ Home with Jim & Joy: Jim and Joy Pinto Answer Viewer Calls, Questions, And E-Mails Live From the Pinto House, Called to Communion, EWTN Live: Kevin Dunn and Matthew Wojciechowski / discuss the 2021 Canada March For Life, Women of Grace: Archbishop Charles Chaput - "What Are You Living For, What Would You Die For?," Women of Grace: Fr. Jeffrey Kirby - "Will the Real Religion Please Stand Up" and World Over with Raymond Navarro: Carter Snead

 

Elvis DVD Collector & Movie Store (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Charge of the Light Brigade, Dark Command, David Copperfield, Destination Tokyo, Dixie Ray Hollywood Star (aka: It's Called Murder Baby), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, East Side West Side, Edge of Darkness, Escape to Witch Mountain, Grave of the Vampire, House of 1,000 Dolls (German), I Love Lucy: Colorized Episodes (4 episodes: Superstar Special, Job Switching, Lucy Gets in Pictures, Christmas Special), Last of the Buccaneers, Policewoman Centerfold, Return from Witch Mountain,Silk, Summer Camp Girls and Toughest Man Alive

 

Freestyle Digital Media (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Without Grace

 

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Influence, Miss Angela and Sound of Violence

 

Hallmark Channel (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Birthday Wish, Christmas Note and Once Upon a Prince

 

ITN Distribution

05/18/21 — Released Blood of the Brave (Serbian)

 

Icarus Films

06/29/21 — Sets 317th Platoon (French/Vietnamese)

 

Image Entertainment

05/18/21 — Released Hunted, Salisbury Poisonings, Shadow Lines (aka Nyrkki): Season 1 (3 disc set) and Son (ARR of 74 days; box office: $55,068)

 

Indican Pictures

05/18/21 — Released Zombie Bro (ARR of 130 days; box office: $4,885)

 

Just for the Hell of It (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released American Playhoue: A Flash of Green, Getting Even (Italian), Guardian, Mr. Patman, My Deep Hunger, Nasty Hero and Nurse on Call (Aka Nurses Report) (German)

 

Kino Lorber

05/18/21 — Released Madame Rosa (French) and Wojnarowicz

 

MPI Home Media

05/18/21 — Released Shithouse (ARR of 214 days; box office: $18,148)

 

MVD Entertainment Group

05/18/21 — Released Mackintosh and T.J.

 

No Sunrise Wasted (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Who's on Top?

 

PBS Direct

05/18/21 — Released PBS KIDS: 15 Sports Stories

 

Paramount

07/20/21 — Sets Georgetown (with Digital Copy)

 

Rarefilmsandmore.com (MOD)

05/04/21 — Released Lawa (Polish) and Leila (Farsi)

05/11/21 — Released Bizarre, Bizarre (French), Count Dracula's Great Love, Double Feature (2 film set: Mad Holiday, But It's Nothing Serious), Hassan and Nayima (Arabic) and Master of the House (silent-1925)

05/18/21 — Released And the Fifth Horseman is Fear (Czech), Desperado Outpost (Japanese), Destiny (Arabic) abd Ministry of Fear

 

Scorpion Releasing

05/18/21 — Released Baxter (French) and Daydreamer

 

Shout! Factory

05/18/21 — Released Nest

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent. (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Big Hit, Blind Date, Jagged Edge, Money Train, Short Circuit 2 and Sleepwalkers

 

The High School Sports Network (MOD)

05/11/21 — Released 2021 AIA 1A State Baseball Semifinals #1, 2021 AIA 1A State Baseball Semifinals #2, 2021 CHSAA 2A Spring Football Championship, 2021 CHSAA 4A Spring Football Championship, 2021 FHSAA Boys Volleyball Quarterfinals #1, 2021 FHSAA Boys Volleyball Quarterfinals #2, 2021 FHSAA Boys Volleyball Quarterfinals #3, 2021 FHSAA Boys Volleyball Quarterfinals #4, 2021 GHSA 1A Private Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 GHSA 1A Private Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 GHSA 1A Public Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 GHSA 1A Public Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 GHSA 6A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 GHSA 6A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 GHSA 7A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 GHSA 7A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 LHSAA Class 1A Baseball Semifinals #1, 2021 LHSAA Class 1A Baseball Semifinals #2, 2021 LHSAA Class 3A Baseball Championship, 2021 LHSAA Div III Baseball Championship, 2021 LHSAA Div IV Baseball Championship, 2021 MHSAA Class 4A Softball Championship Game 2, 2021 MHSAA Class 4A Softball Championship Game 3 (If Nec), 2021 MHSAA Class 5A Softball Championship Game 2, 2021 NCHSAA 4A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 OSSAA Class 3A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 OSSAA Class 4A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 OSSAA Class 5A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 OSSAA Class 5A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 OSSAA Class 6A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 SCHSL 1A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 SCHSL 5A Boys Soccer Championship and 2021 SCHSL 5A Girls Soccer Championship

05/18/21 — Released 2021 AAA 3A Baseball Championship, 2021 AAA 4A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 AAA 4A Softball Championship, 2021 AAA 5A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 AAA 5A Softball Championship, 2021 AAA 6A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 AAA 6A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 AAA 6A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 AAA 6A Softball Championship, 2021 AHSAA 1A Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 1A Softball Championship, 2021 AHSAA 2A Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 2A Baseball Championship Game 2, 2021 AHSAA 3A Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 3A Baseball Championship Game 2, 2021 AHSAA 4A Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 4A Baseball Championship Game 2, 2021 AHSAA 4A Softball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 4A Softball Championship Game 2 (If Nec), 2021 AHSAA 5A Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 5A Baseball Championship Game 2, 2021 AHSAA 5A Softball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 6A Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 6A Baseball Championship Game 2, 2021 AHSAA 7A Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 AHSAA 7A Baseball Championship Game 2, 2021 AIA 1A State Baseball Championship, 2021 AIA 2A State Baseball Championship, 2021 AIA 2A State Softball Championship, 2021 AIA 4A State Softball Championship, 2021 AIA Boys 4A State Volleyball Championship, 2021 AIA Boys 5A State Volleyball - FINAL, 2021 CHSAA 3A Spring Football Championship, 2021 CHSAA 5A Spring Football Championship, 2021 CIF Southern Section Diving Championships, 2021 FHSAA 1A Baseball Championship, 2021 FHSAA 1A Baseball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 1A Baseball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA 1A Softball Championship, 2021 FHSAA 1A Softball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 2A Baseball Championship, 2021 FHSAA 2A Baseball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 2A Baseball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA 2A Softball Championship, 2021 FHSAA 2A Softball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 2A Softball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA 3A Softball Championship, 2021 FHSAA 3A Softball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 4A Softball Championship, 2021 FHSAA 4A Softball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 4A Softball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA 5A Softball Championship, 2021 FHSAA 5A Softball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 5A Softball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA 6A Baseball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 6A Baseball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA 6A Softball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 6A Softball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA 7A Baseball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 7A Baseball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA 7A Softball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA 7A Softball Semifinals #2, 2021 FHSAA Boys Volleyball Championship, 2021 FHSAA Boys Volleyball Championship, 2021 FHSAA Boys Volleyball Semifinals #1, 2021 FHSAA Boys Volleyball Semifinals #2, 2021 GHSA 1A Public Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 GHSA 1A-5A Boys Lacrosse Championship, 2021 GHSA 1A-5A Girls Lacrosse Championship, 2021 GHSA 4A Baseball Championship Game 1, 2021 GHSA 4A Baseball Championship Game 2, 2021 GHSA 6A-7A Boys Lacrosse Championship, 2021 GHSA 6A-7A Girls Lacrosse Championship, 2021 LHSAA Class 1A Baseball Championship, 2021 LHSAA Class 4A Baseball Championship, 2021 LHSAA Class 5A Baseball Championship, 2021 LHSAA Class B Baseball Championship, 2021 LHSAA Div I Baseball Championship, 2021 LHSAA Div II Baseball Championship, 2021 NCHSAA 1A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 NCHSAA 2A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 NCHSAA 3A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 NSAA Class A Baseball Cons First Round #1, 2021 NSAA Class A Baseball Cons First Round #2, 2021 NSAA Class A Baseball Cons Second Round #1, 2021 NSAA Class A Baseball Cons Second Round #2, 2021 NSAA Class A Baseball Second Round #1, 2021 NSAA Class A Baseball Second Round #2, 2021 NSAA Class B Baseball Cons First Round #1, 2021 NSAA Class B Baseball Cons First Round #2, 2021 NSAA Class B Baseball Cons Second Round #2, 2021 NSAA Class B Baseball Second Round #1, 2021 NSAA Class B Baseball Second Round #2, 2021 NSAA Class B Baseball Semifinal, 2021 NSAA Class B Boys Spring Soccer Semifinals #1, 2021 NSAA Class B Boys Spring Soccer Semifinals #2, 2021 NSAA Class B Girls Spring Soccer Semifinals #1, 2021 NSAA Class B Girls Spring Soccer Semifinals #2, 2021 OSSAA 2A Baseball Championship, 2021 OSSAA 3A Baseball Championship, 2021 OSSAA 4A Baseball Championship, 2021 OSSAA 5A Baseball Championship, 2021 OSSAA 6A Baseball Championship, 2021 OSSAA Class 3A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 OSSAA Class 4A Girls Soccer Championship, 2021 OSSAA Class 6A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 SCHSL 3A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 SCHSL 3A Girls Soccer Championship , 2021 SCHSL 4A Boys Soccer Championship, 2021 WHSAA 3A Boys Soccer Quarterfinals #1, 2021 WHSAA 3A Boys Soccer Quarterfinals #2, 2021 WHSAA 3A Boys Soccer Quarterfinals #3, 2021 WHSAA 3A Boys Soccer Quarterfinals #4, 2021 WHSAA Boys And Girls Track And Field Championship, 2021 WHSAA Softball Cons First Round #1, 2021 WHSAA Softball Cons First Round #2, 2021 WHSAA Softball Cons Second Round, 2021 WHSAA Softball Cons Second Round, 2021 WHSAA Softball Quarterfinal, 2021 WHSAA Softball Quarterfinal, 2021 WHSAA Softball Quarterfinal, 2021 WHSAA Softball Quarterfinal, 2021 WHSAA Softball Semifinals #2, 2021 WHSAA Softball Winners Semifinal Game, 2021 WHSAA Track Championship Day 2, 2021 WHSAA Track Championship Day 2, 2021 WIAA Div 1 Boys Alternate Soccer Semifinals #1, 2021 WIAA Div 1 Boys Alternate Soccer Semifinals #2, 2021 WIAA Div 2 Boys Alternate Soccer Semifinals #1 and 2021 WIAA Div 2 Boys Alternate Soccer Semifinals #2

 

Uncork’d Entertainment

05/18/21 — Released Dawn of the Beast

 

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

05/18/21 — Released Dara of Jasenovac (Serbian)

 

Vermont Movie Store (MOD)

05/04/21 — Released Apache Rifles,  Battle at Bloody Beach and Ghost in Monte Carlo

05/11/21 — Released Danielle Steel's Mixed Blessings

05/18/21 — Released Night of the Fox (2 disc set) and Seventies: The Complete Series (2 disc set)

 

Vertical Entertainment

05/15/21 — Released Dara of Jasenovac (Serbian) and Enhanced

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent.

05/15/21 — Released Alienist: Angel of Darkness (2 disc set)

 

WOWNow Entertainment

05/18/21 — Released Kid Brainiac Season 1

 

WOWNow Entertainment (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Election Fraud Hearing At Senate, Quick Wisdom With Bliss: 15 Minute Yoga Workout, Quick Wisdom With Bliss: History Of Yoga and Rudy's Gettysburg Address

 

Zeus Video (MOD)

05/04/21 — Released 17 Miracles, Bad Bascomb, Dodge City and Dragonball Evolution

05/11/21 — Released '49-'17 (silent-1917), 2 Epic, 20,000 Years in Sing Sing, 4 for Texas, Boy Meets Girl, Callaway Went Thataway, Fifty Million Frenchmen and First Traveling Saleslady

05/18/21 — Released $50,000 Reward (silent-1924), 800 Leagues Over the Amazon (Spanish), Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Affairs of Susan, Alexander's Ragtime Band, Anatomy of a Psycho, And God Created Women (French), Arsene Lupin, Arsene Lupin Returns, Babbitt, Back Street (1961 version), Badman's Territory, Barbary Coast Gent, Barnacle Bill, Betrayed, Bhowani Junction, Brother Rat, By The Light of the Silvery Moon, Bye Bye Birdie, Jericho, Man of the West and Public Hero Number 1

05/25/21 — Sets Blow-Up, Blue Skies, Bobbikins, C-Man, Cabin in the Sky, Cain's Hundred, Calamity Jane, Call Me Madam, Calm Yourself, Can Can, Cattle Town and Chain Lightning

 

 

 

New Blu-ray Additions:

 

1091 Media (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Take Out Girl

 

Cauldron FIlms

07/06/21 — Sets Beyond Terror (Spanish)

 

ClassicTVShop (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released It's Your Move: The Complete Series (2 disc set)

 

Criterion Collection

08/10/21 — Sets After Life (Japanese)

08/17/21 — Sets Original Cast Album: Company

08/24/21 — Sets Ashes and Diamonds (Polish)

08/31/21 — Sets Beasts of No Nation

 

Elvis DVD Collector & Movie Store (MOD)

05/04/21 — Released Escape from Zahrain, Farewell to Arms, Foreign Intrigue, Gun the Man Down, Kremlin Letter, New Leaf and Once is Enough

05/11/21 — Released Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, Fort Massacre, Grass is Greener and Time Limit

05/18/21 — Released Apprentice to Murder, Art of Love, Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Corrupt Ones, Dead Pit, Eyeball, Fuzz, Girl Hunters, Graduation Day, Jungle Book, Killer Elite, Killer is Loose, Midway, River of Death, Sunday in the Country, That Touch of Mink, Tower of Evil, Triple Cross and While the City Sleeps

 

Fun City Editions

06/29/21 — Sets Walking the Edge (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack)

 

FUNimation

05/18/21 — Released Cannon Busters: The Complete Season (2 disc set), Nekopara: The Complete Series (2 disc set) and Sakura Wars The Animation (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy)

 

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Influence, Miss Angela and Sound of Violence

 

Image Entertainment

05/18/21 — Released Hunted and Son

 

Kino Lorber

05/18/21 — Released Madame Rosa (French)

 

MPI Home Media

05/18/21 — Released Shithouse

 

No Sunrise Wasted (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released Who's on Top?

 

Scorpion Releasing

05/18/21 — Released Baxter (French) and Daydreamer

 

Paramount Home Entertainment

07/13/21 — Sets Almost Famous (2 disc set)

 

Severin Films, LLC

07/20/21 — Sets Siege (aka: Self-Defense) and Skinned Deep (with bonus CD)

 

Shout! Factory

05/18/21 — Released Eyes of a Stranger, He Knows You're Alone, Nest, Prince's Voyage (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack) (French) and Wildcats

05/25/21 — Sets City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold, Deadly Force: Mission Budapest (aka: The Rookies), Explorers: Collector's Edition and The Hand

 

Smart Mark Video (MOD)

05/18/21 — Released IWA Mid-South: This Means War - Jeffersonville, IN

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent.

05/18/21 — Released Alienist: Angel of Darkness (2 disc set) (with Digital Copy)

05/25/21 — Sets Supernatural: The Complete Fifteenth and Final Season (4 disc set) (with Digital Copy)

06/01/21 — Sets Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal: The Complete First Season (with Digital Copy)

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

06/08/21 — Sets There was a Crooked Man

06/15/21 — Sets Guns for San Sebastian and Ziegfeld Follies

06/22/21 — Sets Chain Lightning and It Happened at the World's Fair

06/29/21 — Sets Madame Curie

 

 

New 4K Ultra HD Additions:

 

 

 

Arrow Video

07/27/21 — Sets The Cat O’ Nine Tails (Italian)

 

Gunpowder & Sky

06/29/21 — Sets Prospect (Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack)

 

Paramount Home Entertainment

07/13/21 — Sets Almost Famous (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

 

Severin Films

05/18/21 — Released Santa Sangre (4K Ultra HD/2 Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Bonus CD)

 

Universal Pictures Home Ent.

05/18/21 — Released Animal House (4K Ultra HD/ Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy) and The Sting (4K Ultra HD/ Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

 

Director Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous Will Be Ready For A 4K Ultra HD Release On July 13

Various sites had the news — the rumors — that circulated like the speed of light during these past two weeks.   Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous was going to be get the 4K Ultra HD treatment from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Could it be true?   Would it also include the fan-favorite “Bootleg” cut of the film?   What other treasures?   What about the music … so many questions!!  On Friday afternoon, May 21, Paramount made it official, Almost Famous will be available on July 13 as a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack.

And yes, both the original theatrical cut and the “Bootleg” cut of the film (clocking in at an additional 35 minutes) are included in this package.

But wait, there is more.   Almost Famous is also joining the “Paramount Presents” promotional line-up as a new Blu-ray release on July 13 as well (yes, the Blu-ray includes both cuts of the film).

The film is perfect.  Great writing (Cameron Crowe won the Oscar for his script), a magnificent cast (both Frances McDormand and Kate Hudson went head-to-head in the Best Supporting Actress category … they knocked each other off and Marcia Gay Harden slipped in for Pollock), that begins with Patrick Fugit in his feature-film debut as teenage rock writer William Miller; Philip Seymour Hoffman as his begrudging rock mentor, Lester Bangs; the Stillwater band members — Billy Crudup as Russell Hammond nailed it — the rock groupies (aka: "Band Aids" … Kate Hudson, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Bulk and more) all make sense, even if the morals and parental supervision are a little suspect … it goes on and on, perfect.

The music … the soundtrack won the Grammy.   Again, perfect … the “Tiny Dancer” sequence on the bus captured the moment; everyone fits.

This is a movie that you can watch again, and again, and again.   And yet, ironically, at the time of its theatrical release it did not re-coup its production budget, but you cannot call Almost Famous a failure.   In the 21 years since its release (September of 2000) the film has become a legend … not cult, legend.

As to bonus goodies — beyond the two viewing options — we have the newly-minted “Filmmaker Focus” feature with Cameron Crowe, four new featurettes — “Casting and Costumes,” “Rock School,” “Extended Scenes” and “Odds & Sods” — and the “Bootleg” cut features commentary with Cameron Crowe (and someone very close to him).   There are also a ton of vintage goodies.

In other release news this week from Paramount Home Entertainment, two-time Oscar-winner in the Best Supporting Actor category, Christoph Waltz, directs and stars in Georgetown, a murder mystery based on the 2011 murder of wealthy socialite Viola Herms Drath.   It will be making its DVD debut on July 20.

Christoph Waltz plays Ulrich Mott, a role-playing schemer who had the very good fortune of marrying a woman, Elsa Breht (Vanessa Redgrave), who is rich and very much older than him … old enough to be his mother (and more).   He uses her position and wealth to create a fantasy world of parties and fictions about himself.  

This all comes crashing down when Elsa is found murdered.

Enter Amanda Breht (Annette Bening), her daughter, who suspects that the darling of Georgetown society is not what he seems to be … can she uncover his deception before he walks away clean … or, before she too becomes another victim?

 

 

 

Icarus Films Sets The DVD Debut Of Director Pierre Schoendoerffer's The 317th Platoon For June 29

Icarus Films announced this past week that director Pierre Schoendoerffer’s 1965 film, The 317^th Platoon, has been restored and will be making its domestic DVD debut on June 29.

Where do you start?   The director?  The production?   The release?   How about that it was on VHS back at the turn of this century and that was it, gone … pfffffft.

This is a film about the war in Vietnam.   Not our war, but the French war that came before our involvement in Southeast Asia.   Schoendoerffer, who was French, even though his name is decidedly German — a product of the Alsace region, which went back and forth between Germany and France for several hundred years and sparked at least two major wars between the countries — lost his father in the early days of World War II, survived the occupation and after the war became something of a French-version of Ernest Hemingway.

He would become a prolific writer, often doing books on his own personal experiences.   Towards the end of 1951, he found himself in Saigon as a cameraman for the French army … he was a quick learner and by the spring of 1954, he had arrived at this French base in the jungle called Dien Bien Phu. 

Two days after the battle ended, Schoendoerffer was captured by Vietnamese forces and hauled off to a prisoner-of-war camp, where he spent four months as a prisoner before being released.  

Skip ahead to 1965 and Schoendoerffer is now a filmmaker.   He writes books, makes films and his next project will be a film version of his own 1963 book, “La 317e Section,” which was drawn from his experiences at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu.  This, of course is, The 317^th Platoon, which was literally filmed on the fly in the jungles of Cambodia by Schoendoerffer and a minimalist crew.

Somehow Schoendoerffer was able to convince future two-time Oscar nominee Jacques Perrin and Bruno Cremer to go with him to Cambodia and star in his film.   Since Schoendoerffer was a trained combat cameraman and his production took place during the non-stop rainy season (the only real safe time to film), the story of this lost patrol has a feeling of realism that makes it seem like actual combat footage.

France filmmakers have not done a lot of Vietnam war movies, unlike their American counterparts, who have made more movies about the war than you can shake a stick at.   This rarity opened theatrically in France and then shifted over to the Cannes Film Festival about five weeks later, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or and Schoendoerffer won Best Screenplay.  

After a few more festivals … by 1968 it was largely gone from the public eye.

Now restored, Icarus Films will have the DVD release ready on June 29 … consider it, for all intensive purposes, virtually unseen; a lost film treasure, found.   The 317^th Platoon is presented in French and Vietnamese with English subtitles.