Film Masters Selects July 29 For The Release Of A Limited Edition Blu-ray Of Director John Cromwell's Algiers

Film Masters announced that July 29 will be the street date for a new Blu-ray Limited Edition of director John Cromwell’s Algiers, starring Charles Boyer, Sigrid Gurie, Gene Lockhart and introducing Hedy Lamarr — of Ecstasy fame — in her American film debut.

Producer Walter Wanger loved French filmmaker Julien Duvivier’s 1937 film adaptation of Henri La Barthe’s 1936 novel, Pepe le Moko, so much that he bought it and set about to remake it for American audiences.  

This wasn’t going to be a strictly studio-bound production.  Instead, Algiers was going to be big and authentic.   To that end, special effects wiz and cameraman Lloyd Knechtel (already in Europe) was hired and dispatched to Algiers to shoot extensive background footage for the film, which was shipped to the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank.   

Legendary cinematographer James Wong Howe then matched his studio footage with the location shots and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was so impressed with Howe’s work that they nominated him for an Oscar (his first … during his career he would be nominated nine more times, winning for The Rose Tattoo in 1956, Hud in 1964 and Funny Lady in 1976).

Pepe le Moko (Charles Boyer) is a master jewel thief hiding out in The Casbah who lives by his wits.  As cunning as he is, he will ultimately be tripped up by his love for Gaby (Lamarr).

Walter Wanger’s Algiers had its world premiere at the 4 Star Theatre on Wilshire near La Brea on July 13, 1938 and publicity was nothing short of sensational.   The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News said of the film, “Anticipated as the best picture ever produced by Wanger.” 

The next morning film critic Edwin Schallert in the Los Angeles Times said of the film’s stars, “Boyer brings a genuine fervor to his portrayal which is far reaching, and Miss LaMarr (sic) a consummate loveliness, which may entitle her to stardom.”  May entitle her to stardom?   

Just a side note, on the same page that Schallert’s review ran, there was a two paragraph piece announcing that Walt Disney’s “full-length cartoon film” was being held over for a third week at the Pantages in Hollywood.   So, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was a “cartoon film” … I guess the concept of an animated feature film hadn’t quite entered the lexicon in the summer of 1938!

In addition to James Wong Howe’s Best Cinematography nomination, Algiers received three additional Oscar nominations — Charles Boyer for Best Actor, Gene Lockhart for Best Supporting Actor and Alexander Toluboff for Best Art Direction (he was also nominated in the same category in 1937 for Vogues of 1938 and in 1939 for Stagecoach).

Bonus features included with this Blu-ray Limited Edition of Algiers from Film Masters on July 29 are commentary from Karie Bible, famed tour guide at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and host of “Hollywood Kitchen,” who is joined by film historian Roy Windham (“Hedy Lamarr in Bombshell: The Hedy Lemarr Story) and liner notes written by Windham.

Oscilloscope Laboratories Tabs May 27 For The Blu-ray And DVD Release Of Writer/Director Matt Porterfield's Two Films By Matt Porterfield: Hamilton And Putty Hill

Oscilloscope Laboratories has a double feature lined up for delivery on both Blu-ray and DVD on May 27.   Titled Two Films by Matt Porterfield: Hamilton and Putty Hill, cinema fans will get a look-see at Baltimore-based indie filmmaker Matt Porterfield’s first two films.

In April of 2006, Porterfield delivered his self-produced first film, Hamilton, to the Wisconsin Film Festival for its debut.   He had worked on it for two solid years and that might have been the beginning and end of it, but then Chris Kalenbach of the Baltimore Sun got behind the film for a feature piece timed for the Maryland Film Festival during early May.  That changed everything!

Drawn from his own experiences growing up in Baltimore, Porterfield’s Hamilton is the story about two days in the lives of a young — who are new parents — couple by the names of Lena (Stephanie Vizzi) and Joe (Christopher H. Myers) who have little going for them … and by film’s end we come to care about them (and their future), but have little sense (deliberately so) as to what is to come.  Sad.  Perhaps best not to know.

Porterfield was now on the arthouse radar and got several screenings of his film at the Anthology Film Archives in New York City in August.   The New Yorker Magazine said of the film, “One of the most original, moving and accomplished American independent films in recent years.”

It then opened theatrically on October 6 at the Rotunda Cinematheque in Baltimore for a one-week engagement.   Held over!   An independent arthouse film from an unknown director held over for a second week!   But wait, it gets better … Hamilton was held over for a third week!!

His next film, Putty Hill, opened at the Berlin International Film Festival in February of 2010 and worked the festival circuit for a solid year before opening theatrically in February of 2011.

Porterfield did not start out to make Putty Hill, but rather a film project titled Metal Gods, but beyond the talking and planning stages it never developed.   And then something clicked and he was able to revisit some of the cast selections and shot the entire film in six weeks. 

He just needed the “hook,” which took the form of friends coming together for the funeral of a young man named Cory who died of a drug overdose.   

Two Films by Matt Porterfield: Hamilton and Putty Hill will be available for the first time on Blu-ray from O’Scope on May 27.   A DVD resissue will also be released the same date (out of print since 2011).

Mill Creek Entertainment Taps June 17 As The Street Date For The Blu-ray "Collector's Edition" Release Of Director Hal Needham's RAD

Mill Creek Entertainment has tabbed June 17 as street date for the release of a Blu-ray Collector’s Edition of stuntman-turned-director Hal Needham’s spring of 1986 BMX film, RAD.

Needham hit it big with his first directing effort in 1977, Smokey and the Bandit, which was followed by a sequel, Hooper, the two Cannonball Run films and Stroker Ace.  All starring his friend Burt Reynolds, for whom he had doubled as a stuntman. 
 

RAD was his first film in nearly a decade where he didn’t have Reynolds cast in the lead, instead he scouted out sites in North Carolina for his BMX/motocross tale, but due to budget considerations he eventually settled on the Calgary, Canada area for the production.

He built his own track at Bowness Park — “Helltrack” — and was able to recruit 5,000 extras for the big race finale.

Cru (Christopher) Jones (Bill Allen — Streamers, Born on the Fourth of July, Sioux City) is a local with skills … BMX skills that the race promoter soon discovers and sets about to make sure that he won’t be in the big race ($100,000 and a new Corvette).   You see, the fix is in as Bart Taylor (Bart Connor) and Mongoose Racing are “destined” to win the big event, so says Duke (played by Jack Weston) of the Federation of American Bicyclists.

But with the help of fellow BMX enthusiast, Christian Hollings (Lori Loughlin — Amityville 3D, Back to the Beach … plus numerous television series, including Full House and 90210), Cru is able to overcome every sneaky thing that Duke springs on him.   

Bonus goodies include documentary filmmaker Michael Kirsch’s newly prepared A RAD Documentary, three new featurettes — “Against the Odds,” “Ace in the Hole” and “Breakin’ the Ice” — the archived “making of” featurette, vintage video sessions with the cast and crew and a RAD Q&A session featuring Bill Allen, Bart Conner, writer Sam Bernard and Talia Shire.

 Also included as a special feature is the John Farnham  “Break the Ice” music video.

 

 

Film Masters Restores Writer/Director Spencer Williams' Thought-To-Be-Lost 1941 Film Release Of The Blood Of Jesus For Blu-ray And DVD Release On June 24

Film Masters has something very special lined up for the physical media marketplace on June 24.   This would be the HD restoration of both Blu-ray and DVD editions of writer, director and actor Spencer Williams’ 1941 film release of The Blood of Jesus … Williams was also the co-producer in association with Alfred N. Sack of Sack Amusements.

The film, for years, was thought to be lost.   However, prints were found in a warehouse in Texas, where Sacks likely stored them after the war when he opened several theatres in the Dallas area.   He died in 1969 and they were simply forgotten.

This all-black production was heralded as “The most reverent colored picture ever produced” when it made its first recorded public showing on Mar. 26, 1941 at the Bocanita Theatre in Scottsboro, Alabama.   For just 20 cents (ten cents for kids), you got the film, a short titled “Femenine Fitness,” a newsreel and Popeye the Sailor in the cartoon titled Eugene the Jeep.

The Blood of Jesus played primarily on the “Negro” circuit … it was not uncommon for the white audiences to go to the movies, exit and then the theatre would reopen for a colored movie at midnight.   Churches were also a popular place for colored movies ... if the local cinema was not accommodating.   Major cities had their own venues.

In the case of The Blood of Jesus, we begin with the recently married Martha Ann Jackson (played by Cathryn Caviness) being baptized on Sunday down by the river, but her husband, Ras (Spencer Williams), is a no-show.   He’s been out pouching and when the two meet back up at home he accidentally shoots her with his rifle.

It is touch and go as to whether she will survive.   The congregation prays and holds a bedside vigil, but she remains in a coma.   Enter an angel who takes Martha on a journey to the “Crossroads” where something of a morality story plays out … the sins of nightclubs, jazz and roadhouse temptations are offered up by Satan.  

Mixed in with Martha’s visions are 11 gospel songs performed by “The Heavenly Choir.” 

The question then becomes, will she have the strength to choose the right path?   Back at the “Crossroads” the choice is heaven, or off to hell?   June 24, The Blood of Jesus from Film Masters on both Blu-ray and DVD to find out which path Martha takes.

MVD Entertainment Group's Next "Marquee Collection" Release Will Be Director Bruno Barreto's One Tough Cop On June 24

Word has arrived that MVD Entertainment Group has a new addition to it “Marquee Collection” — too new to be cult, but not old enough to be shuffled off to the catalog category — lined up for delivery on June 24.

This would be none other than director Bruno Barreto’s 1998 film adaptation of Bo Dieti and Ken Gross’ 1988 tell-all autobiography, “One Tough Cop: The Bo Dietl Story,” which was shorten to One Tough Cop for its theatrical release.

Stephen Baldwin stars as detective “Bo” Dietl (Richard A. Dietl), a no-nonsense member of the New York City Police Department who was credited with over 1,400 felony arrests during his 15 years on the force.

Barreto’s One Tough Cop focuses on his 1981 investigation of the beating and rape of a young nun — known as the “Harlem Convent Rape Case.”   Not only is it a nasty bit of business, but Dietl is in the middle of dealing with a partner, Duke Finnerly (played by Chris Penn), who has a drinking and gambling problem, which makes him more of a liability than a crime-solver.

“This problem” also ties Dietl to his childhood friend, Richie La Cassa (played by Michael McGlone — The Bone Collector, The Brothers McMullen, Dirty Work, etc.), a known member of one of the city’s notorious “organized crime” families (aka: mobsters).   

How do walk the line between saving your partner’s ass, keeping peace with a friend on the wrong side of the law and solving a crime that even the bad guys want solved?  

This connection between Dielt and La Cassa draws heat from not only Dielt’s fellow detectives (and superiors), but the FBI as well (yes, that’s Amy Irving as an FBI investigator … she was married to Barreto at the time)!   

To complicate things even further, Gina Gershon stars as Joey, who “shares” more than just a friendship with both Dielt and La Cassa … how many lines can be crossed before there is no turning back?

The Blu-ray debut of One Tough Cop — MVD Entertainment Group’s newest “Marquee Collection” entry — on June 24 will give you all the answers!!

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment Locks Into June 24 As The Street Date For The Full-Spread Physical Media Launch Of Director Jared Hess' A Minecraft Movie

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has made it official.   Director Jared Hess’ blockbuster theatrical hit, A Mindcraft Movie, will get a full-spread physical media launch on June 24.

The ARR works out to 81 days and the domestic box office haul currently stands at an impressive $400.5 million.

Planned for distribution are stand-alone DVD and Blu-ray editions, plus two 4K Ultra HD selections — 4K Ultra HD only or a limited edition 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack SteelBook.

On the downside, the premium VOD window arrives on May 13, which will give the “Helper” community (pirates, bootleggers … call them what you will) 42 days to peddle their own Blu-ray editions of A Mindcraft Movie.

Bonus features, which are limited to the 4K Ultra and Blu-ray purchasing options, include five production featurettes — “Building the World of Minecraft: Block Party,” “Creepers, Zombies and Endermen Oh My!,” “A Minecraft Movie: Block Beats,” “A Minecraft Movie: Pixel Pals” and “Marlene + Nitwit.”

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Tabs June 24 As The Street Date For The Full-Spread Physical Media Rollout Of Director Marc Webb's Snow White

One can only imagine Louis B. Mayer’s reaction to the media stunts pulled by Rachel Zegler with respect to her starring role in the live-action remake of Snow White.   She’d never work in Hollywood again (O.K., maybe over on Poverty Row)!

The late Roger Corman could have made one hundred commercial films (or more) with what Walt Disney Studios plowed into this turkey.   But once things went south with director Marc Webb’s Snow White there was no turning back.

Each group within the studio was handed the task of salvaging what they could.   Those in charge of theatrical distribution managed to generate $86.1 million in ticket sales during the film’s domestic theatrical run.

Now comes the home entertainment challenge … what can you generate in physical media sales to help offset the red ink?   The street date for the full-spread launch of Snow White will be June 24.   This yields an ARR of 95 days.

Planned for distribution are Combo Pack editions for both the 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray) and Blu-ray (with DVD) formats, plus a stand-alone DVD purchasing option.

Physical media competition from the online pirate community — what we call “Helpers” — begins on May 13 with the opening of the Premium VOD window.   This means that Blu-ray editions (the format of choice for its bandwidth) will be in the marketplace six full weeks before the arrival of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment’s legitimate versions.

Bonus nuggets, which will be limited to the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray editions, include a “Sing Along” viewing option, deleted scenes, a blooper reel and a trio of featurettes — “Fearless, Fair, Brave and True: The Making of Snow White,” “Merry Tunes” and “Fairy Tale Fashion.”