Warner Archive - March Releases

[John Johnson]

Warner Archive has announced its March batch of Blu-ray releases. They are: The Magilla Gorilla Show: The Complete Animated Series (1964-1967), Monogram Matinee Volume One, Hit Man (1972), Earth II (1971), The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921), and Sadie McKee (1934).

The Magilla Gorilla Show: The Complete Animated Series

Direct from his Peebles Pet Shop habitat, Magilla Gorilla swings into the Blu-ray™ jungle, his inimitable goofiness and penchant for stumbling into trouble still intact to delight new generations of cartoon fans. As the naïve ape demonstrates, primates and humans share similar situations. Magilla gets to be an Army draftee (Private Magilla, featuring famous news anchor Walter Crancake), a football player (Gridiron Gorilla), an astronaut (Planet Zero) and more, ever silly situation an occasion for laughs. You can also relish the frisky feuding of Punkin' Puss and Mushmouse in a rootin'-tootin' shooting gallery of hillbilly hilarity. Lightning-fast sheriff Ricochet Rabbit and his coyote deputy Droop-a-long round out the animated animal antics. All 23 original, uncut episodes of this Hanna-Barbera classic series have been newly remastered from 4K scans of the original negatives (including the original Ideal Toys opening theme song, long-unseen bridges, the 'curtain call' and end credits) for pristine quality, along with eight bonus Magilla cartoons that are sure to please.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
MAGILLA THEME SONG: Live and un-plugged: Rare footage of Hoyt Curtin and Bill Hanna at the piano. Introduced by series animator Jerry Eisenberg,
MR. PEEBLES PET SHOP: Interview gallery with Magilla Gorilla's voice Allan Melvin, series animator Jerry Eisenberg, and Animation Historian Jerry Beck
HERE COMES A STAR: VintageTV Special which goes inside the Hanna-Barbera studios to introduce this New Simian Character, and the process which brought him to television stardom.
Optional English SDH subtitles
STREET DATE: MARCH 25.

Monogram Matinee Volume One

Three long-unseen western-themed B-pictures from Monogram Pictures have been compiled in one Blu-ray collection: MONOGRAM MATINEE VOL. 1. The films included represent the poverty-row's more popular outings from the year 1949. Country singer (and later Louisiana Governor) Jimmie Davis stars in a tale of bad guys vs. good guys aboard a riverboat in MISSISSIPPI RHYTHM, while cowboy Whip Wilson takes charge in the action-packed CRASHING THRU, while Western fan favorite Johnny Mack Brown is an ever-ready U.S. Marshal in WESTERN RENEGADES. Assembled as an homage to the Saturday matinees before the age of television, fans of these fondly remembered adventures can enjoy this triple feature, all newly remastered for the first-ever home video release.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATIONS FROM NITRATE AND SAFETY ARCHIVAL ELEMENTS
Optional English SDH subtitles
STREET DATE: MARCH 25.

Hit Man

Tyrone Tackett's brother wasn't the kind of man to throw his life away. Somebody killed him, plain and simple. And by the time Tyrone crisscrosses L.A. and pieces together the crime, lots of folks are going to pay. With equal amounts of tough and sexy, Bernie Casey portrays Tyrone and Pam Grier plays a sultry skin-flick star in this first Americanized remake of the iconic Michael Caine action film Get Carter. From Watts to the West Side, from porno parlors to a high-rise, from motel dives to a crime kingpin's sprawling pleasure dome, from corner hangouts to a wildlife preserve, Tyrone covers a lot of real estate, busts a lot of heads. And throughout, star Casey "keeps enough cool for a half a dozen movie heroes" (Roger Greenspun, The New York Times).

Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
Original theatrical trailer
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
STREET DATE: MARCH 25.

Earth II

In the peaceful space colony called "Earth II", even toy guns are banned. But something far more dangerous threatens this ideal world: a Chinese satellite armed with three nuclear warheads. The citizens of Earth II decide to disarm the warheads, despite China's warning that anyone who interferes will instigate a thermonuclear World War III. Outstanding special effects and an impressive cast headed by 2001: A Space Odyssey co-star Gary Lockwood highlights this space-frontier chiller that brings audiences to the terrifying edge of Doomsday. Can men and women of peace triumph over the formidable power of nuclear weapons? Earth II has the answer. Originally produced by M-G-M as telefilm/pilot for a projected television series, this new remastered Blu-ray release features additional footage intended for International distribution, not part of any previous release.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
Original theatrical trailer
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
STREET DATE: MARCH 25.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Rudolph Valentino stars in the role that made him a star, as the romantic Argentine hero who sacrifices his life for love in this classic adaptation of Vicente Blasco Ibáñez's novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Julio Desnoyers (Valentino), the libertine son of a wealthy Frenchman living in Argentina , follows in the footsteps of his family when they return to Europe. Julio lives as an artist in Paris and falls in love with married Marguerite Lurier (Alice Terry). When the World War breaks out, Julio remains aloof from the conflict, despite a visitation by the specters of the Four Horsemen-War, Conquest, Famine and Death. Marguerite volunteers for the Red Cross and devotes herself to her husband when he is blinded in action. Shamed by his lover's sacrifice, Julio enlists in the army, aware that his German cousins are fighting without mercy on the other side. Under the extraordinary direction of Rex Ingram, this film achieved the rare combination of critical acclaim and box-office success, going on to earn its place in film history as one of the greatest classics of the silent era. Newly remastered for Blu-ray release, based on Photoplay Productions' 1993 photochemical restoration of the film, accompanied by a magnificent orchestral score by Carl Davis.

Special thanks to Kevin Brownlow and Patrick Stanbury of Photoplay Productions for their invaluable support and guidance which enabled this new Blu-ray release.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE NEST PRESERVATION ELEMENTS
Silent, with Stereophonic Music Score Composed and Conducted by Carl Davis
STREET DATE: MARCH 25.

Sadie McKee

In this vivid melodrama, Joan Crawford is Sadie McKee, who must choose between love (with Gene Raymond) and money (with Edward Arnold)…and eventually gets both (with Franchot Tone). Crawford had an amazing ability to adapt her screen persona with changing times. She was a frenetic flapper in the '20s, a chin-up working girl in the '30s, and a film noir femme fatale in the '40s. Here she is at her Depression-Era peak as Sadie, a maid who sacrifices all for love, suffers like crazy but somehow winds up happy at the end.The leading lady gets excellent support from her three co-stars. Tone (who was soon to become Crawford's second husband)and Raymond are compelling as the handsome young suitors in her life, one good, one a scoundrel. And Edward Arnold is particularly memorable in his sympathetic portrayal of the millionaire drunk Sadie marries. But from rags to riches, from heartbreak to happiness, the film is all Crawford's.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE NEST PRESERVATION ELEMENTS
Classic 1934 cartoons
POP GOES YOUR HEART
SHAKE YOUR POWDER PUFF
WHY DO I DREAM THOSE DREAMS?
Original Theatrical Trailer
STREET DATE: MARCH 25.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35943

[Eric Paddon]

Earth II

In the peaceful space colony called "Earth II", even toy guns are banned. But something far more dangerous threatens this ideal world: a Chinese satellite armed with three nuclear warheads. The citizens of Earth II decide to disarm the warheads, despite China's warning that anyone who interferes will instigate a thermonuclear World War III. Outstanding special effects and an impressive cast headed by 2001: A Space Odyssey co-star Gary Lockwood highlights this space-frontier chiller that brings audiences to the terrifying edge of Doomsday. Can men and women of peace triumph over the formidable power of nuclear weapons? Earth II has the answer. Originally produced by M-G-M as telefilm/pilot for a projected television series, this new remastered Blu-ray release features additional footage intended for International distribution, not part of any previous release.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
Original theatrical trailer
Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
STREET DATE: MARCH 25.

Not a good TV movie as I discovered when I watched it a few years ago on the Warner Archive DVD during a Mariette Hartley marathon. What really lost me is that Lockwood plays an astronaut named "DAVID SAVILLE!" During the opening liftoff sequence I was half expecting him to turn to his fellow astronauts and say, "Ready Simon? Ready Theodore?"

That said I'll probably upgrade.

[AndyDursin]

EARTH II is kind of clunky for sure, but it looks great and is pleasingly dated in a good way. Note this Blu-Ray has several minutes of additional footage which was only in the international theatrical release print -- wasn't on the previous Archive DVD I guess.

And it's better than those Roddenberry pilots I used to get this confused with too!

[Eric Paddon]

I wouldn't rate it better than "Genesis II" because I prefer Mariette Hartley with her bikini scene and two navels in that one to how she is in this film as a misguided member of the colony. But I would rate it better than the horribly insulting, brain-dead "Planet Earth".

[John Johnson]

And it's better than those Roddenberry pilots I used to get this confused with too!

You too? LOL

[John Johnson]

I wouldn't rate it better than "Genesis II" because I prefer Mariette Hartley with her bikini scene and two navels in that one to how she is in this film as a misguided member of the colony. But I would rate it better than the horribly insulting, brain-dead "Planet Earth".

I have yet to get that. Nice to see Genesis II as a double feature.

[AndyDursin]

Yes Eric's right, the first one of those Roddenberry rejected pilots WAS pretty good. The second was terrible. All of these run together and were just before my time but I enjoyed this Blu-Ray nevertheless.

[John Johnson]

Yes Eric's right, the first one of those Roddenberry rejected pilots WAS pretty good. The second was terrible. All of these run together and were just before my time but I enjoyed this Blu-Ray nevertheless.

I remember watching these when I was younger, some interesting ideas, I have them on my Amazon list, so I'll pick them up at some point.

[Paul MacLean]

I wouldn't rate it better than "Genesis II" because I prefer Mariette Hartley with her bikini scene and two navels in that one to how she is in this film as a misguided member of the colony. But I would rate it better than the horribly insulting, brain-dead "Planet Earth".

Huge fan of Genesis II. I still smart over the networks rejecting what could have been a post-apocalyptic Star Trek (with the subterranean rail taking the place of the Enterprise and transporter). Such incredible potential. Sigh. Plus I love its admittedly kitschy (but highly appealing) early-1970s tone and style. Groovy!

[John Johnson]

I wouldn't rate it better than "Genesis II" because I prefer Mariette Hartley with her bikini scene and two navels in that one to how she is in this film as a misguided member of the colony. But I would rate it better than the horribly insulting, brain-dead "Planet Earth".

Huge fan of Genesis II. I still smart over the networks rejecting what could have been a post-apocalyptic Star Trek (with the subterranean rail taking the place of the Enterprise and transporter). Such incredible potential. Sigh. Plus I love its admittedly kitschy (but highly appealing) early-1970s tone and style. Groovy!

I often thought the colour scheme of the uniforms from ST: TNG were based on the Genesis II uniforms. Overall, the tv movie was fun, probably up there with The Fantastic Journey and Logan's Run.