Brightburn

This week on blu-ray brings us three new releases making home video debuts. Two are from Universal in the form of the David Yarovesky-directed superhero horror film called Brighburn and the Anne Hathaway/Rebel Wilson comedy called The Hustle. Brightburn is getting a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD release in addition to a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD edition. Both come with a handful of interesting bonus materials.

Also of note this week is Universal's Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD release of the comedy-drama film adaptation of A Dog's Journey which comes with an audio commentary with director Gail Mancuso, some deleted scenes, interviews, and a gag reel.

We have pretty cool release coming out of the Warner Archive Collection as the 1990 dark comedy The Witches is getting a brand new remaster and a blu-ray release while Cohen Media is putting out a fantastic-looking Volume 3 blu-ray edition of The Buster Keaton Collection which contains two films Battling Butler and Seven Chances. But the big news here is that both films are getting brand new 4k restorations. {googleads}

The big release getting our attention this week is Arrow Films' blu-ray release of the William Friedkin erotic crime thriller Cruising which stars Al Pacino, Paul Sorvina, and Karen Allen. The film posts a brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, supervised and approved by writer-director William Friedkin himself. And if that weren't enough, we also get a newly remastered 5.1 DTS-HD Master audio that is also supervised by Friedkin.

Kino's release of Billy the Kid vs. Dracula, Shout Factory's release of The Horror of Frankenstein and a Collector's Edition of The Harder They Come, in addition to Kino Lorber's release of Sweet Charity round out this week's list of our most wanted titles on blu-ray and 4k UHD.

 


Here is what is coming out on blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD This week

BrightburnBrightburn (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD)

Sony

Street Date: August 20, 2019

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With Brightburn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.

  • 3 "Quick Burns" Vignettes hosted by Actor Elizabeth Banks, Producer James Gunn & Director David Yarovesky
  • "Hero-Horror!" featurette: I
  • "Nature vs. Nurture" featurette
  • Filmmaker Commentary with Director David Yarovesky, DP Michael Dallatorre, and Costume Designer Autumn Steed

The Hustle The Hustle (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD)

Universal Studios

Street Date: August 20, 2019

Josephine Chesterfield (Anne Hathaway) is a glamorous, seductive Brit who defrauds gullible wealthy men. Penny (Rebel Wilson) amasses wads of cash by ripping off her marks in neighborhood bars. Despite their different methods, both are masters of the art of the fleece so they con the men that have wronged women. Wilson's talent for physicality and Hathaway's withering wit are a combustible combination as the pair of scammers pull out all the stops to swindle a naïve tech billionaire (Alex Sharp) in this hilarious comedy.

  • Audio Commentary with Director Chris Addison
  • Hitting the Mark - Featurette
  • Comedy Class - Featurette
  • Con Artists - Featurette

CruisingCruising (Blu-ray)

Arrow Films

Street Date: August 20, 2019

New York is caught in the grip of a sadistic serial killer who is preying on the patrons of the city's underground bars. Captain Edelson (Paul Sorvino) tasks young rookie Steve Burns (Pacino) with infiltrating the S&M subculture to try and lure the killer out of the shadows – but as he immerses himself deeper and deeper into the underworld, Steve risks losing his own identity in the process.

  • Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, supervised and approved by writer-director William Friedkin
  • Newly remastered 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio supervised by William Friedkin
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • Archival audio commentary by William Friedkin
  • The History of Cruising – archival featurette looking at the film's origins and production
  • Exorcising Cruising – archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

The Front PageThe Witches (Blu-ray)

Warner Archive Collection

Street Date: August 20, 2019

From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to The Wizard of Oz, many classic tales through the centuries wouldn't be half as exciting without the devious doings of a witch. Now add another to the venerable tradition of stories that deliver family fun every witch way, a collaboration combining the effects wizardry of executive producer Jim Henson and the imagination of Willy Wonka creator Roald Dahl.

Brand new remaster


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The Harder They ComeThe Harder They Come (Blu-ray)

Shout Factory

Street Date: August 20, 2019

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff stars as Ivan Martin, an aspiring singer hoping to make a name for himself. Robbed of his money and possessions, he finds work with a self-righteous preacher and an unscrupulous music mogul who exploits young hopefuls. In desperation, the simple country boy turns outlaw, at war with both the police and his rivals. Ivan's dream of stardom soon becomes a reality as he rises to the top of both the pop charts ... and the most-wanted lists.

DISC ONE:

  • Brand new 4K r from the original 16 mm negative
  • New Audio Commentary with author David Katz (Jimmy Cliff: An Unauthorized Biography)
  • One and All: The Phenomenon of THE HARDER THEY COME
  • Hard Road to Travel: The Making of THE HARDER THEY COME - directed by Chris Browne
  • Vintage interviews with Jimmy Cliff, Arthur Gorson and director Perry Henzell
  • Vintage interview with a director of photography David MacDonald
  • Vintage interview with line producer Yvonne Brewster
  • THE HARDER THEY COME music video

DISC TWO:

  • New No Place Like Home - restoration from the original 16mm film elements
  • New audio commentary with Sally Henzell, David Garonzik, Cookie Kinkead and Arthur Gorson
  • New Perry Henzell: A Filmmaker's Odyssey - A short film on the long path to completing "NO PLACE LIKE HOME"
  • New Rise Up from the Cutting Room Floor – the restoration of "NO PLACE LIKE HOME"
  • New Audio Bonus Feature – P.J. Soles original vocal track and original acoustic guitar demo by Steven Soles for the title song "World Full of Beauty"
  • New Theatrical Trailer

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DISC THREE:

  • THE LEGACY OF PERRY HENZELL: A STORY OF JAMAICAN CINEMA (Produced and directed by Arthur Gorson and David Garonzik, Executive Producer Justine Henzell)
  • New Filmin' in the Gully – Anatomy of Three Scenes – with "The Harder They Come" cinematographer Franklyn "Chappy" St. Juste
  • New Duppies in the Control Room – Dynamic Sounds Studios Then and Now
  • New 10A – Jamaica's Film Yard – The story of Perry Henzell's Kingston home and production center – featuring Sally Henzell, Jason Henzell, Maxine Walters, Justine Henzell and more
  • New A Conversation with Sir Ridley Scott
  • New Live From the Reggae Awards: Red Carpet interviews with stars of the Jamaican music industry - conducted at Kingston's most recent annual music awards show
  • New Out of Many One Filmmaker – The Disciples of Perry Henzell: featuring interviews with directors Storm Saulter, Rass Kassa, Chris Browne and producer Maxine Walters.
  • New Everyone A Star: The Original Cast – including actors P.J. Soles, Carl Bradshaw and Winston Stona
  • New Big Heap of Help: The Original Support Team – interviews with Perry's first personal assistant Beverley Manley, Assistant Director Bobby Russell, and more
  • New Roots: The Family Henzell - including interviews with Sally Henzell, Justine Henzell and Jason Henzell
  • New How Perry Rocked the World – interviews with "Native" Wayne Jobson, historian Chris Salewicz, and composer Steven Soles.

The Horror of FrankensteinHorror of Frankenstein (Blu-ray)

Shout Factory

Street Date: August 20, 2019

Young Victor Frankenstein returns from medical school with a depraved taste for beautiful women and fiendish experiments. When he runs out of fresh body parts for his research, he turns to murder to complete his gruesome creation. Now, his monster (David Prowse, the Star Wars films) has unleashed its own horrifying killing spree. The true horrors of Dr. Frankenstein have only just begun ...

  • Presented In Two Aspect Ratios – 1.66:1 And 1.85:1
  • New Audio Commentary By Film Historian Bruce G. Hallenbeck
  • New Interview With Assistant Director Nicholas Granby
  • New Veronica Carlson: A Portrait Of Hammer – An Interview With The Actress
  • New Jimmy Sangster: An Exclusive Interview – An Interview With The Producer/Director
  • Gallows Humor: Inside The Horror Of Frankenstein
  • Audio Commentary With Producer/Director Jimmy Sangster And Hammer Films Historian Marcus Hearn
  • Frankenstein, Dracula, And Me: A Conversation With Veronica Carlson
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Still Gallery

  • Sweet CharitySweet Charity (Blu-ray)

Kino Lorber

Street Date: August 20, 2019

Charity Hope Valentine (Shirley MacLaine) always tries to look on the bright side of life, despite working in a rundown dance hall and contending with a seemingly endless run of bad dates. Determined to find love, Charity falls for suave actor Vittorio Vidal (Ricardo Montalban), but their romance is all too brief. However, when Charity finds herself stuck in an elevator with the reserved Oscar Lindquist (John McMartin), it turns out that she may have finally met her match.

  • Brand new 4K remaster of the roadshow edition
  • New 4K remaster of the 145-minute alternate version
  • Audio Commentary by Film Historian Kat Ellinger
  • A Girl Who Wanted to be Loved: A Booklet Essay by Film Historian Julie Kirgo
  • Edith Head's Costume Design: The Art of Exaggeration – Featurette
  • Sweet Charity: From the Stage to the Screen – Featurette
  • 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio
  • Theatrical Trailer

A Dog's JourneyA Dog's Journey (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD)

Universal Studios

Street Date: August 20, 2019

Picking up where A Dog's Purpose left off, A Dog's Journey, continues the tale of lovable farm dog Bailey, as he finds a new destiny and forms an unbreakable bond, and learns that some friendships transcend lifetimes. A hit with audiences, who rated it an "A" CinemaScore, the movie is "a must-see for any dog lover" (Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer) and the perfect choice for family viewing, teaching universal lessons about the values of friendship and devotion.

  • Audio Commentary with Director Gail Mancuso
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes
  • Gag Reel
  • A DOG'S Sequel - New and returning cast members discuss their roles in A Dog's Journey and share their appreciation for director Gail Mancuso
  • Everyone's Best Friend - Sit down with the cast to hear about their life-long love of man's best friend
  • Working with Dogs - Cast and crew share the joys of working with animal-actors
  • A Healing Journey - Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid and others discuss the bond between dogs and humans
  • Scoring the JOURNEY - Director Gail Mancuso and composer Mark Isham discuss the music in the film

The Buster Keaton COllection vol 3The Buster Keaton Collection: Volume 3 (Blu-ray)

Cohen Media

Battling Butler/Seven Chances

Street Date: August 20, 2019

Seven Chances (1925)

Buster gets word that if he can be married by seven o'clock that evening he will inherit $7,000,000. When his sweetheart refuses, he proposes to everyone in skirts, including a Scotsman. Hopeful still, he advertises for a bride and is horrified to discover 500 would-be=brides hot on his trail in a hilarious chase to the finish.

Battling Butler (1926)

Based on the popular stage musical, Battling Butler stars Keaton as a pampered socialite who pretends to be a famed prizefighter in order to impress his girlfriend's bullying brothers.

  • New 4K restorations
  • Buster Keaton: The Daredevil - Featurette
  • New Restoration Trailers

Billy the Kid vs. DraculaBilly the Kid vs. Dracula (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD)

Kino Lorber

Street Date: August 20, 2019

Billy the Kid Verus Dracula is an outrageous low-budget horror-western directed by cult filmmaker William Beaudine (The Ape Man, Voodoo Man). Traveling by stagecoach, Dracula (the great John Carradine) plots to convert Billy the Kid's (famed stuntman Chuck Courtney) fiancée, Betty Bentley (Melinda Casey), into his vampire bride. When the sinister bloodsucker kidnaps Betty and takes her to an abandoned silver mine, Billy must confront the Count, but soon realizes his six-shooters' bullets are no match for the undead—and an all-out battle of good vs. evil ensues.

  • Audio Commentary by Film Historians Lee Gambin and John Harrison
  • Trailers