Warner Bros. Home Entertainment To Release DVD And Blu-ray Editions Of Perry Mason: The Complete First Season On Dec. 01

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has picked Dec. 1 as the home entertainment launch date for the new “retro” series of Perry Mason: The Complete First Season.   Both double-disc DVD and double-disc Blu-ray editions featuring all eight episodes will be available.

Starring Matthew Rhys (Emmy-winner for his performance as Philip Jennings in The Americans television series) as Perry Mason, Juliet Rylance (A Dog’s Purpose) as Della Street and Chris Chalk (Gotham) as Paul Drake, this new cable series goes back to the Erle Stanley Gardner roots of the Perry Mason novels of the 1930s (Warner Bros. had made a series of films with Warren Williams beginning in 1934 with The Case of the Howling Dog).

The “classic” Raymond Burr television series was actually updated to the present day (circa 1957), whereas this new series give us Los Angeles of the 1930s.   Angles’ Flight, for example, from the 1930s, which had apartment buildings bracketing it, has those old buildings “restored” digitally, plus there are numerous shots in and around Los Angeles that give it a “Chinatown” flair … very solid production values.

The great news is … Perry Mason has been renewed for a second full season.

As to bonus goodies, there is a video session with producer Robert Downey Jr. and actor Matthew Rhys and a separate video session with Downey and his co-producer wife Susan Downey (who also produced the Sherlock Holmes movies … among others), plus there are two featurettes — “The Characters of Perry Mason” and “Under the Fedora.”

In other release news this past week from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, there have been new Blu-ray releases added to the studio’s October release calendar.  

Up first on Oct. 6 is the Blu-ray debut of director Michael Patrick Jann’s 1999 black comedy hit, Drop Dead Gorgeous, starring Kirsten Dunst and Denise Richards as dueling contestants in the Teen Princess Pageant, with their respective mothers, Ellen Barkin and Kirstie Alley, re-visting past “beauty pageant” grudges.        

Heading to Blu-ray on Oct. 13 are director Barbet Schroeder’s film adapation of the Alan Dershowitz’s book of the same name, Reversal of Fortune, which earned Jeremy Irons the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Claus von Bulow, and director Howard Hawks’ Best Picture nominee, Sergeant York, starring Gary Cooper (who won Best Actor laurels … he would also win the Best Actor Oscar in 1952 for High Noon).

Oct. 27 brings us the Blu-ray debut of Vincent J. Donehue’s 1960 film adaptation of Dore Schary’s Tony-winning play, Sunrise at Campobello, teaming Ralph Bellamy and Greer Garson as Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt (Garson would be nominated Best Actress for her performance … her seventh, having won in 1943 for Mrs. Miniver).

And the month of October wraps up on the 27^th with Blu-ray releases for both director David Miller’s film adaption of Clare Boothe Luce’s stage play, The Opposite Sex, starring June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, Ann Miller and Leslie Nielsen and Mervyn LeRoy’s 1940 drama, Waterloo Bridge, starring Vivien Leigh and Robert Taylor.

 

 

 

New DVD • Blu-ray • 4K Ultra HD Additions For The Period Ending September 18, 2020

 

 

 New DVD Additions

 

7idea Productions (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Portland and Westerns Toledo Branch, Part 2: Summit to Albany

 

Abingdon Press

09/15/20 — Released Adam Hamilton: Incarnation

 

Bayview Entertainment

11/24/20 — Sets ABBA: Rock Case Studies, AC/DC: The Brian Johnson Years, Bad Company: Total Rock Review, Bob Dylan: The Best of Bob Dylan, Creedence Clearwater Revival: Music in Review, David Bowie: Inside Bowie & The Spiders 1972-74, Doors: The Halcyon Years, Eric Clapton: Masterpieces, Genesis: Up Close and Personal, Kinks: In Their Own Words, Metallica: Master of Puppets – The Essential Albums of All Time and Motorhead: Inside Motorhead

 

Championship Productions

09/15/20 — Released Coaching Basketball the Bob Hurley Way, Dick Bennett's Encyclopedia of the Pack Line & Blocker/Mover Systems and Joe Gallo: Using a Zone as Your Primary Defense

 

Cinema Libre

11/10/20 — Sets Quiet Explosions: Healing the Brain

 

Cleopatra Entertainment

11/06/20 — Sets Mean Man: The Story of Chris Holmes

 

Comeback Productions (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Man in the Arena

 

Criterion Collection

12/01/20 — Sets Crash (2 disc set)

12/08/20 — Sets Mouchette (French) and Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Two Takes by William Greaves (2 disc set)

12/15/20 — Sets Amores Perros (Spanish) (2 disc set)

 

EWTN

09/08/20 — Released @ 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: Paul Kengor / Topic Karl Marx and Evil and why it is important to understand this topic today, Women of Grace: Fr. Dwight Longenecker - Contemporary Challenges and the Spiritual Battle and World Over with Raymond Navarro: Gerhard Cardeinal Müller /Matt Schlapp & Patrick Carolan / Most Rev. Salvatore Cordileone

09/15/20 — Released @ Home with Jim & Joy: Debbie Georgianni & Jerry Usher / Stories of trustful surrender as a way to grow in faith, @ 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: Robert Reilly / The founding and foundation of America and Journey Home: Anniversary Special with Dr. Scott Hahn / Reflecting on 23 years of The Journey Home on EWTN

 

Electric Entertainment

09/15/20 — Released Outpost: Season Two (3 disc set)

 

Film Detective

11/10/20 — Sets Other Side of Madness

 

First Run Features

09/15/20 — Released For They Know Not What They Do

 

GVN Releasing

09/15/20 — Released Guilt

 

Grasshopper Film

09/15/20 — Released Influenza (Korean)

 

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Death of a Vlogger, DTF, Easy Does It, I've Got Issues, Meddler (Spanish) and One Hour Outcall

 

HBO Home Entertainment

09/15/20 — Released Succession: The Complete Second Season (3 disc set)

 

Huron Mountain Films (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Planet of the Humans

 

I-Cine

09/08/20 — Released Gia Dinh Duc Hanh (12 disc set) and Thay Doi So Phan (10 disc set)

09/15/20 — Released Chang Diep Vien Nha Ben (10 disc set), Na Tra Hang Yey Ky (15 disc set) and Vuc Tham Chieu Troi (12 disc set)

 

Icarus Films

11/10/20 — Sets Adventures of Modern Art (2 disc set)

 

Image Entertainment

09/15/20 — Released Killing Eve: Season 3 (2 disc set)

 

Indie Rights, Inc. (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Edge of Extinction

 

IndiePix

09/15/20 — Released Blue Eyes and Harvest

 

Kino Lorber

09/15/20 — Released Proud (French) and Tommaso

 

Kit Parker Films

10/13/20 — Sets Navajo

 

Ligonier Ministries

09/15/20 — Released Union with Christ

 

MPI Home Media

09/15/20 — Released Luz: The Flower of Evil (Spanish)

 

MVD Entertainment Group

12/15/20 — Sets Guncrazy

 

Magnolia Home Entertainment

09/15/20 — Released Fear Pharm

 

Once Upon a Tale

09/15/20 — Released Lil' Santa's Book Club: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus Part 2

 

PCN Productions (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released 2020 Keystone Cuisine: Broken Axe Brew House

 

Paramount Home Media

11/10/20 — Sets Spontaneous (with Digital Copy)

 

Psykik Junky Pictures, LLC

09/15/20 — Released My Pure Joy

 

Quiver Films

09/15/20 — Released Becky (ARR of 102 days; box office: $1,003,700)

 

Raging Pictures (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Instant Death and Skin Traffik

 

Railway Productions

09/15/20 — Released Semaphores Searchlights and the Southwest Chief

 

Rarefilmsandmore.com (MOD)

09/08/20 — Released Der Meineidbauer (German), Im Sechsten Stock (German), Little Alexander (Russian) and Un Pilota Ritorna (Italian)

09/15/20 — Released Night at the Crossroads (French)

 

SRS Cinema

09/15/20 — Released Bad Magic

 

Smart Mark Video (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Game Changer Wrestling: Acid Cup 2, Night 1 - Philadelphia, PA, Game Changer Wrestling: Acid Cup 2, Night 2 - Philadelphia, PA, Intergender Bonanza: The Stan Styles Intergender Bonanza 6 - Williamstown, NJ and Legacy: Rowdy Roddy Piper

 

Sony Pictures Home Ent.

09/15/20 — Released Outlander: Season Five (4 disc set)

11/03/20 — Sets Crown: The Complete Third Season (4 disc set)

 

Summer Hill Films

09/15/20 — Released Extreme Number and Future

 

TLA Releasing

09/15/20 — Released Vilom (Hindi)

 

TPR Music (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Great Kat: Beethoven’s Egmont Overture For Guitar, Actor And Symphony Orchestra

 

The Teaching Company, LLC

09/08/20 — Released How Digital Technology Shapes Us (4 disc set), Understanding the U.S. Government (4 disc set), White Collar Criminal Law Explained (4 disc set) and Your Public Persona: Self-Presentation in Everyday Life (2 disc set)

 

TomCat Releasing

09/15/20 — Released Christabel (Portuguese)

 

Uncork’d Entertainment

09/15/20 — Released Monstrous and Robot Riot

 

VIZ Media

09/15/20 — Released Pokemon Sun & Moon Ultra Legends: The Last Grand Trial (2 disc set)

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

09/08/20 — Released Prodigal Son: The Complete First Season (4 disc set)

09/15/20 — Released Mom: The Complete Seventh Season (2 disc set)

09/22/20 — Sets Riverdale: The Complete Fourth Season (4 disc set)

10/20/20 — Sets Adventures of Don Juan, Catlow and Scarecrow and Mrs. King: The Complete First Season (5 disc set)

10/27/20 — Sets Bishop's Wife, Black Lightning: Season 3 (3 disc set), Hans Christian Andersen and That's Dancing

 

Wild Eye Releasing

09/15/20 — Released Amityville Clownhouse and And Then You Die

 

WOWnow Entertainment

09/15/20 — Released Halloween Dance and Pets: Cattitude

 

 

 New Blu-ray Additions

 

7idea Productions (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Portland and Westerns Toledo Branch, Part 2: Summit to Albany

 

Arrow Video

09/15/20 — Released Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway (2 disc set)

 

Cleopatra Entertainment

11/06/20 — Sets Mean Man: The Story of Chris Holmes

 

Comeback Productions (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Man in the Arena

 

Criterion Collection

12/01/20 — Sets Crash

12/08/20 — Sets Mouchette (French) and Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Two Takes by William Greaves

12/15/20 — Sets Amores Perros (Spanish)

 

Dynamic

09/15/20 — Released Puccini: Suor Angelica

 

Gravitas Ventures (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Death of a Vlogger, DTF, Easy Does It, I've Got Issues, Meddler (Spanish) and One Hour Outcall

 

Image Entertainment

09/15/20 — Released Killing Eve: Season Three (2 disc set)

 

Indie Rights, Inc. (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Edge of Extinction

 

Invincible Pictures

09/15/20 — Released Hanukkah

 

Kino Lorber

09/15/20 — Released Cat and the Canary, Disputed Passage, Ghost Breakers, Spawn of the North and Tommaso

 

Lionsgate Home Entertainment

09/15/20 — Released Little Monsters: Collector's Series (with Digital Copy) and Shivers: Collector's Series (with Digital Copy)

 

MVD Entertainment Group

12/15/20 — Sets Guncrazy

 

Meridian Releasing Group (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released MRG Collective: Quarantined

 

Naxos

09/15/20 — Released Morricone Conducts Morricone

 

PCN Productions (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released 2020 Keystone Cuisine: Broken Axe Brew House

 

Paramount Home Media

12/01/20 — Sets Popeye: 40th Anniversary Edition (with Digital Copy)

 

Quiver Films

09/15/20 — Released Becky

 

Raging Pictures (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Instant Death and Skin Traffik

 

Railway Productions

09/15/20 — Released Semaphores Searchlights and the Southwest Chief

 

Scorpion Releasing

09/15/20 — Released Def-Con 4

 

Sentai FilmWorks

09/15/20 — Released Bodacious Space Pirates: Complete Collection (4 disc set) and Z/X Code Reunion: Complete Collection (2 disc set)

 

Shout! Factory

09/15/20 — Released The TV Set

 

UMC Entertainment (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released House Divided: Season Two (2 disc set)

 

Warner Bros. Home Ent. (MOD)

09/15/20 — Released Flying Leathernecks

 

 

 New 4K Ultra HD Additions

 

Lionsgate Home Entertainment

12/08/20 — Sets Total Recall (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

 

Vinegar Syndrome

10/27/20 — Sets Dial Code Santa Claus (French) (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack)

 

Walt Disney Studios Home Ent.

09/15/20 — Released Hocus Pocus (4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack) (with Digital Copy)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vinegar Syndrome Announces Oct. 27 Film Restoration Release Slate • Features 4K Ultra HD Edition Of Dial Code Santa Claus

The news this past week from Vinegar Syndrome was certainly very interesting.  First, the next wave of genre-themed film restorations from Vinegar Syndrome will arrive on Oct. 27.

That out of the way, the lead release is a limited edition (just 4,000 being pressed) of director René Manzor’s 1989 film festival entry, Dial Code Santa Claus (which had a whole bunch of “aka” titles, including Game Over) … it is being released as a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack.

The film opened in March of 1989 at the Laon Film Festival of Youth and Children's Films and then the following January it had a brief theatrical break in France … played a few more festivals and sort of disappeared.  

Manzor’s film then got a retrospective festival showcase at the Paris International Fantastic Film Festival in December of 2017 and now, after this long journey, Vinegar Syndrome will be bringing it home.

Why is that March date in 1989 important?   Because 18 months later, at Thanksgiving of 1990, the John Hughes-written Home Alone (directed by Chris Columbus) arrived in theatres.   Home Alone went into production in January of that year, about nine months after Manzor’s film had its festival debut.

The reason that is brought up is that Manzor’s film has several plot elements that are similar, but not necessarily matching to Hughes’ script.   These include a smart, very clever kid (played by Alain Lalanne, aka: Alain Musy, who had also appeared in Manzor’s debut film, The Passage) who has to fend for himself during Christmas, an outside threat (in this case a deranged Santa Clause) and a toy store.

You decide …. Hughes, in the credits of Home Alone, acknowledges both Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life, but not Manzor’s film … whether he actually saw it or not remains to be seen.

This 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative includes two extensive interview sessions with director René Manzor (clocking in at nearly an hour and a half) and actor Alain Musy (40 minutes), a behind-the-scenes featurette, the short film from Manzor titled Synapse and the Bonnie Tyler music video “Merry Christmas.”

On the Blu-ray release front from Vinegar Syndrome on Oct. 27 are new film restorations of Cemetery of Terror (1985, 4K film restoration from 35mm negative elements, includes commentary from director Rubén Galindo Jr.) Necromancer (1988, directed by Dusty Nelson … 4K film restoration from 35mm original negative), Rest in Pieces (1987, director José Ramón Larraz, includes both English and Spanish-language viewing options) and Whodunit? (aka: Island of Blood … also a 4K restoration from original 35mm negative).

 

Bayview Entertainment Tabs Nov. 24 For A Twelve-Strong "Rock Legends" DVD Release Promotion

There are twelve rock-fan reasons to celebrate on Nov. 24.   That’s right, twelve; an even dozen DVDs are on the way from Bayview Entertainment showcasing the talents of recording legends (bands) — and a couple of solo artists mixed in as well.

So, let’s get to it.   ABBA: Rock Case Studies is a look back at the pop/rock superstars from Sweden.   Interviews with those close to group, including publicists John Tobler and Jeff Rose are in the mix, along with musician Les Davidson who breaks down the music of ABBA group members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.   As a bonus there are clips of ABBA in action on the Dick Cavett Show.

This Bayview Entertainment DVD release mix on Nov. 24 also includes Genesis: Up Close and Personal (featuring interviews with the likes of Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel, plus live performances), The Kinks: In Their Own Words (great personal insights from members of this ‘60s rock group, including Mick Avory, John Gosling and John Dalton, plus vintage footage of Dave Davies) and Creedence Clearwater Revival: Music in Review (band members Doug Clifford and Stu Cook walk fans down memory lane with an analysis of Creedence albums, including insights on “Bayou Country,” “Green River” and more).

On the solo-artist front, look for Bob Dylan: The Best of Bob Dylan (a look had some Dylan’s classics, including such songs “Blowin’ in the Wind,” Knocking on Heaven’s Door,” “Hurricane” and more) and Eric Clapton: Masterpieces (features a critical analysis of his work, including vintage footage from the Yardbirds and Cream, with insights from Jack Bruce and Pete Brown and classic tracks such as “Layla,” “I Shot the Sheriff” and “Crossroads” … and more).

Rounding out the rock royalty DVD selections are: AC/DC: The Brian Johnson Years, Bad Company: Total Rock Review, David Bowie: Inside Bowie & The Spiders 1972-74, The Doors: The Halcyon Years, Metallica: Master of Puppets – The Essential Albums of All Time and Motorhead: Inside Motorhead.