...Time and again in recent weeks I've been sharing information here about upcoming Blu-ray releases for Kino Lorber, but there's definitely reason for the frequent mentions: Kino Lorber and its Kino Lorber Studio Classics line are announcing terrific new extras-filled releases at an amazing pace! Here's some news on more upcoming titles:
*THE RIVER (1984) with Sissy Spacek, Mel Gibson, and Scott Glenn comes to Blu-ray July 28th. I saw this film on first release and am curious to see it again; my main memory is of the excellent John Williams score.
*BACKLASH (1956) with Richard Widmark and Donna Reed will be out on August 18th, with a commentary track by Samm Deighan. I briefly reviewed this John Sturges Western back in 2007 and hope to take a fresh look at it in late summer. *Coming August 25th, the previously mentioned release of John Ford's silent film HELL BENT (1918), starring Harry Carey (Sr.), and a three-film Reginald Denny Collection of silent films. My jaw dropped over that latter unexpected news. (Incidentally, I recently ordered Denny's 1925 film OH, DOCTOR! from Grapevine Video on a friend's recommendation.) Ford scholar Joseph McBride did the HELL BENT audio commentary, and historian Anthony Slide provides commentaries for all three Denny films.
...Cecil B. DeMille's THE SIGN OF THE CROSS (1932), which I reviewed last year after a UCLA screening, also comes to Blu-ray on August 25th. There are not one but two new audio commentaries, by David Del Valle and pre-Code expert Mark Vieira, who introduced the movie when I saw it at UCLA.
...From Variety: "Inside the Marketing Campaign to Bring Audiences Back to Movie Theaters."
...Caftan Woman's "One for June" Turner Classic Movies pick is H.M. PULHAM, ESQ. (1941) with Robert Young, Hedy Lamarr, and Ruth Hussey. I've been meaning to catch up with that one for some time now. It airs on June 28th.
...Necco Wafers are back!
...Film fashion expert Kimberly Truhler of GlamAmor will present a lecture on Joan Crawford's pre-Code fashions via Zoom on Sunday, June 14th. I've attended Kim's previous talks both in person and via Zoom and always enjoyed and learned from them. I hope to attend this one as well.
...Last week Classic Movie Hub announced a partnership with the streaming site Best Classics Ever, including a Classic Movie Hub Channel. Keep tabs on the Classic Movie Hub site for more developing news on this!
...Remembering the Miracle of Dunkirk, 80 years on.
...At Once Upon a Screen, Aurora takes a close look at one of my favorite Westerns, RIO BRAVO (1959). It was fun to read the reactions of someone seeing the film for the very first time!...I was disappointed -- but not surprised -- to learn that this year's Cinecon Classic Film Festival, scheduled for Labor Day weekend at Hollywood's Egyptian Theatre, has been cancelled. 2020 is shaping up as the "lost year" for festivals and conventions. Cinecon hopes to provide some "stream at home" options to enjoy Labor Day weekend and plans to resume business as usual in 2021.
...That said, the Telluride Film Festival announced plans to go ahead with an "in person" fest in Colorado on Labor Day weekend.
...Notable Passings: Alto sax player, composer, and arranger Lennie Niehaus has died at 90. Marc Myers pays tribute at JazzWax, posting a Niehaus interview, and he also shares ten tracks of Niehaus arrangements. Niehaus had a long collaboration with Clint Eastwood, who was his Army swimming instructor...The 2019 passing of actress Dolores Dorn was recently announced on Twitter. Her films included THE BOUNTY HUNTER (1954) with Randolph Scott, UNDERWORLD, U.S.A. (1961) with Cliff Robertson, and 13 WEST STREET (1962) with Alan Ladd. She was 85.
...For additional recent links of interest to classic film fans, please check out my May 30th roundup.
Have a great week!
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