Arrow Video Looks To Mar. 31 For The 4K Ultra HD Debut Of Director Tobe Hooper's 1979 Two-Part Mini-Series Adaptation Of Stephen King's Salem's Lot (International Theatrical Cut Also Included)

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has circled Mar. 31 on the calendar as the debut date for a double-disc 4K Ultra HD edition of director Tobe Hooper's 1979 two-part mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's 1975 novel, Salem's Lot.

Broadcast on Nov. 17 and Nov. 24, 1979 as a two-part mini-series in the United States, the production was re-cut into a a theatrical version that was subsequently released in 1980 is selective foreign markets.   Arrow Video is including both the mini-series and the theatrical cut as part of this 4K Ultra HD presentation. 

Bonus features (mini-series) include the archival commentary from filmmaker Tobe Hooper, plus a newly-prepared commentary option from film critics Bill Ackerman and Amanda Reyes.

The international theatrical cut comes with commentary from film critic Chris Alexander and a half-dozen featurettes — "King of the Vampires," "Second Coming," "New England Nosferatu," "Fear Lives Here," "We Can All be Heroes" and "A Gold Standard for Small Screen Screams." 

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment Tabs Feb. 17 As The Street Day For A 4K Ultra HD Edition Of Director William Wyler's Ben-Hur

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has tag Feb. 17 as the debut date for a 4K Ultra HD edition of director William Wyler’s 1959 Oscar-winner for Best Picture, Ben-Hur.

From the announcement of the production on Dec. 13, 1952 in Hedda Hopper’s nationally syndicated column to its star-studded “Gala Premier” at the Loew’s State Theatre at Broadway and 45th Street in New York City on Nov. 18, 1959, the film was the talk of the film industry for nearly seven full years.   From who would star (a long list of names) — with Charlton Heston finally selected (he captured the Oscar for Best Actor) — who would write the film adaptation (at least a dozen scripts were in the mix) and where it would be filmed. 

There were on the order of 50,000 (a nice round number) extras used and 365 speaking parts … Ben-Hur, was — by any standard of measurement — a mammoth film production.

When it first came to VHS (remember videocassettes … another world) it was a pan-and-scan release, however it was decided (in a daring move at the time) that the chariot race sequence (2.76:1 aspect ratio) would be presented in its proper aspect ratio, which meant a slow transition from 1.33:1 to 2.76:1 and then back to pan-and-scan at the end of the race.   It worked like a charm!!   

No such “transitions” will be necessary with the 4K Ultra HD release of Ben-Hur on Feb. 17.