Those looking to add some of the latest restored films to their home movie collections on the 4K UHD Blu-ray format are in for treat this month. June’s offerings for collectors include: one of America’s definitive noir classics, Brian De Palma’s foray into the gangster genre, Top Gun director Tony Scott’s collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, and James Dean’s final role on the big screen.
Double Indemnity
Six-time Academy Award-winning writer-director Billy Wilder’s 1944 noir thriller Double Indemnity comes to 4K, courtesy of The Criterion Collection. Hailed by critics and audiences upon its initial release, and today regarded as a cinematic masterpiece, the film stars Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck, and is a twisted story of passion, betrayal, suspicion, and murder.
Selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in 1992, this new digital restoration from Criterion was created from a 35mm film negative held by the British Film Institute which was scanned in 4K resolution and presented with HDR and Dolby Vision. The film's original mono soundtrack has also been remastered. Additional material includes new featurettes with film critics Eddie Muller and Imogen Sera Smith, film scholars Noah Isenberg and Volker Schlöndorff.
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray June 1.
The Untouchables
Brian De Palma’s 1987 crime thriller The Untouchables arrives on 4K UHD courtesy of Paramount. With a screenplay by David Mamet, the film features unforgettable performances from an all-star cast including Robert De Niro as Al Capone and Sean Connery in his Academy Award-winning supporting role of Jimmy Malone. Set during the Prohibition era of the 1930s, Federal Agent Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) sets out to bring down crime boss Al Capone. Hindered by rampant corruption, Ness assembles a small team of underdogs to take to the streets and put an end to Capone’s reign.
For the film’s 35th anniversary, Paramount is providing audiences with a new native 4K scan of the film and has remastered the audio in Dolby Atmos, bringing new life to Ennio Morricone’s Academy Award-nominated score. Brutal and unrelenting, The Untouchables has earned its place as a classic within the genre.
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray and 4K Digital June 1.
Giant
George Stevens' 1956 classic Giant starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, Carol Baker, and James Dean will also be released in 4K. A sweeping epic, upon its initial release Giant was considered ahead of its time bringing audiences face to face with themes relating to classism and social change, along with racial intolerance by exposing the segregation and marginalization of Mexican Americans. It's also significant in Dean's career in that his work in the film garnered his third and final Academy Award nomination for Best Actor his following his tragic death in 1955.
This new 4K restoration was completed by Warner Bros. Post-Production Creative Services: Motion Picture Imaging and Post-Production Sound. Using both the original camera negatives and protection RGB separation master positives for the best possible image, and color corrected in high dynamic range, this new transfer will allow audiences to experience Giant like never before.
Available on 4K Digital Blu-ray and 4K Digital June 21.
True Romance
Arrow Video is bringing Tony Scott’s 1993 cult classic True Romance to the 4K format. Penned by Quentin Tarantino, the film stars Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, Gary Oldman, Val Kilmer, James Gandolfini, and Brad Pitt. This gleefully subversive thriller features two newlyweds, a Cadillac driving across country, a suitcase filled with stolen contraband, and both the Mafia and police hot on their tail. Scott’s signature action set pieces are on full display here and Tarantino’s snappy dialogue delivers audiences generous dollops of thrills, laughter and suspense.
Arrow’s release of True Romance is stacked, featuring both the theatrical and director's cuts of the film with both 4K restorations completed in house at Arrow Video from the original camera negatives. Both cuts are supported by an uncompressed DTS HD-MA 5.1 audio soundtrack and the release features a treasure trove of extras including commentaries by Scott, Tarantino, and cast members, deleted scenes, an alternate ending, interviews and loads more. It’s worth noting for fans that True Romance’s release in 4K is a limited edition.
Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray June 28.
By Adam J. Yeend
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