RADIANCE'S NOVEMBER RELEASES DEBUT FOUR BLU-RAY PREMIERES

Monday 19th August 2024 - posted by Robert

Coming to the UK and US on November 18th/19th: Kinji Fukasaku makes his third entry in the Radiance collection with his proto Battles Without Honour classic Japan Organised Crime Boss.

Two major yakuza factions from Tokyo and Osaka battle over control of Yokohama, using local gangs as their proxies. Amid this violent struggle, Tsukamoto (Koji Tsuruta, Big Time Gambling Boss), the head of one of the local gangs, is released from an eight-year prison sentence. The feud forces him into action, but he learns that those pulling the strings have political connections and that he is up against overwhelming forces. A predecessor to and blueprint for Fukasaku's Sympathy for the Underdog, Japan Organised Crime Boss also signals the director's first collaboration with Bunta Sugawara, the later star of Battles Without Honour and Humanity as well as with Tomisaburo Wakayama (The Bounty Hunter Trilogy) and gangster-turned-movie star Noboru Ando (Eighteen Years in Prison).

The Limited Edition Blu-ray features a new 4K restoration by Toei Company, uncompressed mono PCM audio, an archival interview with Kinji Fukasaku, an interview with yakuza film historian Akihiko Ito (2024), a visual essay on Koji Tsuruta's collaborations with Fukasaku by yakuza cinema expert Nathan Stuart (2024), a trailer and a newly improved English subtitle translation, along with a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow and a booklet featuring new writing by Stuart Galbraith IV and an archival review of the film, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings.

PREORDER LINKS:
- Amazon UK
- Amazon US
- Radiance (direct)


Coming to the UK and US on November 18th/19th: Fresh from its Cannes premiere, Marco Bellocchio's powerful Years of Lead political thriller Slap the Monster on Page One makes its world Blu-ray debut from a new 4K restoration.

Days before a general election a young girl is raped and murdered. Bizanti (Gian Maria Volonté, The Working Class Goes to Heaven), the editor of a right-wing newspaper uses the story to help the conservative candidate his paper supports. The tumultuous time of Italy's 'Years of Lead' are captured in Marco Bellocchio's powerful political drama which directly addressed topics of its day and even prefigured the creation of the right-wing paper Il giornale, which came into being two years after this film. In an age of media manipulation Slap the Monster on Page One has never been more relevant and stands proudly alongside such Italian activist classics as We Still Kill the Old Way and The Mattei Affair.

The Limited Edition Blu-ray features a 4K restoration of the film from the original negative by Cineteca di Bologna in collaboration with Surf Film and Kavac Film, under the supervision of director Marco Bellocchio, uncompressed mono PCM audio, an archival interview with Marco Bellocchio (21 mins), a newly filmed interview with critic and author Mario Sesti (2024, 25 mins), an appreciation by filmmaker Alex Cox (2024, 10 mins) and a newly improved English subtitle translation, along with a reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters and a booklet featuring new writing by Wesley Sharer, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings.

PREORDER LINKS:
- Amazon UK
- Amazon US
- Radiance (direct)


Coming to the UK on November 18th: Ray Milland directs and stars in Panic in Year Zero, an apocalyptic sci-fi thriller featuring teen idol Frankie Avalon.

When Harry Baldwin (Ray Milland, The Lost Weekend) takes his family on a fishing trip, their holiday is brutally interrupted as a catastrophic atomic war breaks out, destroying their suburban Los Angeles home. What remains of the United Nations announces on the radio that society has broken down, and the Baldwins realise that they must quickly learn how to navigate this new 'year zero', and do whatever it takes in order to survive. Milland stars alongside teen idol Frankie Avalon as well as directing this bleak and visceral apocalypse thriller, described as 'the most expressive on-the-ground nightmare of the cold-war era' (Village Voice).

Mastered in HD from the 35mm fine grain positive by MGM, the Limited Edition Blu-ray features uncompressed mono PCM audio, an audio commentary by critic Richard Harland Smith (2016), a new interview with Kim Newman (2024), an archival interview with Ray Milland (1972), "Atomic Shock!" - an interview with filmmaker Joe Dante (2016, 9 mins), a trailer and optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, along with a reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters and a booklet featuring new writing by film critic Christina Newland, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings.

PREORDER LINKS:
- Amazon UK
- Radiance (direct)


Coming to the UK on November 18th: Francois Truffaut makes his third entry in the Radiance collection with dark costume drama The Story of Adele H., featuring a stunning performance from Isabelle Adjani and co-starring Bruce Robinson.

The year is 1863. Adele Hugo (Isabelle Adjani, Possession) is the daughter of the legendary poet and novelist Victor Hugo. After falling in love with the British soldier Lt. Pinson (Bruce Robinson), Adele sails by herself to Nova Scotia, intending to persuade Pinson to marry her. Pinson callously rejects her advances; unperturbed, she continues to pursue him, and her obsession becomes wilder and more desperate, leading her to become increasingly outcast from society. The Story of Adele H. is a handsomely mounted costume drama that is nevertheless one of Francois Truffaut's darkest and most psychologically complex works, with a legendary, Oscar-nominated central performance from the then 20-year-old Adjani.

The Limited Edition Blu-ray features a High-Definition digital transfer, uncompressed mono PCM audio, an interview with Francois Truffaut (1975), an interview with Isabelle Adjani (1980), footage of the premiere in Lyon with Truffaut and Isabelle Adjani (1975), an interview with cinematographer Nestor Almendros (1986), an interview with critic Phuong Le (2024), a trailer and optional English subtitles, along with a reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters and a booklet featuring archival writing, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings.

PREORDER LINKS:
- Amazon UK
- Radiance (direct)

AKIRA KUROSAWA'S SEVEN SAMURAI ON 4K UHD / BLU-RAY FROM BFI

Thursday 1st August 2024 - posted by James

Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece newly restored in 4K is released on UHD & Blu-ray on 21 October 2024


Akira Kurosawa’s SEVEN SAMURAI, one of the greatest action films ever made, and the BFI’s best-selling Blu-ray/DVD/VHS release of all time, is released on 4K UHD (Ultra High Definition) for the first time in the UK on 21 October 2024 along with a Blu-ray release. The BFI’s new presentation will have its UK premiere at BFI IMAX on 26 September as part of the BFI’s forthcoming UK-wide season ART OF ACTION and will be screened in selected cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 27 September.

The 1954 film, nominated for two Oscars and three BAFTAs, has influenced the work of directors from George Lucas to Steven Spielberg, and spawned remakes, most notably John Sturges’ acclaimed THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960). Newly restored in 4K by Toho, Japan, it had a world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival 2024.

Each home entertainment format will be available as a Limited Edition 2-disc set with a perfect-bound book, a set of four postcards and a double-sided poster. Special features include a newly recorded commentary and the English subtitles have been updated and improved.

When 16th-century farmers whose village is repeatedly attacked by merciless bandits ask an elderly masterless samurai (Takashi Shimura) for help, offering nothing but food in return, he hesitantly agrees, and assembles a band of warriors to defend and train the villagers. Boasting terrific performances, particularly from Shimura and Toshirô Mifune as a peasant masquerading as a samurai, the film has superb camerawork and expertly mounted battle sequences.

Special Features
4K (2160p) presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) for the UHD release, HD (1080p) presentation for the standard Blu-ray release
Newly recorded audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Seven Samurai (2002, 50 mins)
The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa's career and influence
Original trailer
BFI rerelease trailer
Double-sided poster featuring artwork by Matt Needle and the BFI’s poster designed for the film’s rerelease
A set of four postcards featuring iconic scenes from the film
Perfect-bound book featuring new and archival writing on the film
Updated and improved English subtitles
Other extras TBC

BFI Shop link (4K UHD + bonus features Blu-ray)

Amazon UK link (4K UHD + bonus features Blu-ray)

BFI Shop link (Blu-ray + bonus features Blu-ray)

Amazon UK link (Blu-ray + bonus features Blu-ray)

AKIRA KUROSAWA'S IKIRU ON BLU-RAY FROM BFI

Tuesday 30th July 2024 - posted by James

Released on BFI 2-disc Blu-ray on 19 August 2024


With a beautifully nuanced performance by Takashi Shimura (who starred in 21 of Kurosawa’s films) as the dying bureaucrat, IKIRU is an intensely lyrical and moving film that explores the nature of existence and how we find meaning in our lives. This classic of world cinema and of Kurosawa’s non-Samurai films, was re-made in 2022 as the Oscar-nominated LIVING, starring Bill Nighy. It comes to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK, restored in 4K and presented in High Definition. Extras include an audio commentary.

Opening with a simple shot of an X-ray, IKIRU proceeds to tell the tale of Watanabe (Takashi Shimura), a dedicated, downtrodden civil servant now diagnosed with terminal cancer. After a bout of self-pity, he determines to change his unfulfilling existence and discover a zest for life, plunging into hedonistic pleasure-seeking on the frenetic streets of post-war Tokyo. But Watanabe is soon driven to give lasting meaning to his life, and lights upon a plan to construct an urban children’s playground.

Special features
Restored in 4K and presented in High Definition
Audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Ikiru (2002, 42 mins): made as part of the Toho Masterworks series and featuring interviews with Kurosawa, script supervisor Teruyo Nogami, writer Hideo Oguni, actor Takashi Shimura and others
Introduction by Alex Cox (2003, 15 mins)
It’s Ours Whatever They Say (1972, 39 mins): a community action film by Jenny Barraclough telling of the battle fought by a group of mothers against a London council to establish a playground for children on a derelict site
The People People (1970, 22 mins): intended for school leavers, this COI film shows the vast range and variety of jobs available within the civil service, highlighting the ways in which civil servants help individuals, the community in general and Parliament
Original theatrical trailer
Image gallery
***First pressing only*** Illustrated booklet with essays by Tony Rayns and James-Masaki Ryan, a review originally published in Monthly Film Bulletin in 1959, notes on the special features and film credits

Product details
RRP: £24.99 / Cat. no. BFIB1521 / PG
Japan / 1952 / black and white / 143 minutes / Japanese language with optional English subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.37:1 // Disc One: BD50, 1080p, 23.98fps, LPCM 1.0 mono audio (48kHz/24-bit) Disc Two: BD25, 1080i, 29.97fps, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio (192kbps)

BFI Shop link

Amazon UK link

News Archive

The database contains 67886 entries with 208810 releases compared.