The holiday season is officially underway! And we’ve got a stellar rundown of new Blu-rays and DVDs that you’ll definitely be thankful for. Check out the great titles that are now available!
Angel Has Fallen (2019)
With the physical wear of his duty growing, agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is weighing a promotion to Secret Service head from President Trumbull (Morgan Freeman) when a brazen fishing vacation assassination attempt leaves them the only survivors. Falsely accused of being in on the plot, and with Trumbull comatose, a fleeing Banning faces a race to uncover those responsible and clear his name. Thrilling third franchise entry co-stars Danny Huston, Tim Blake Nelson, Nick Nolte, Piper Perabo.
Great Day in the Morning (1956)
In 1861, gunslinging drifter Owen Pentecost (Robert Stack) came to Denver in search of fast riches, and got them when he took saloon owner Jumbo Means (Raymond Burr) for his business and holdings at cards. Becoming a big man in a politically polarized town, though, means he’ll have to take a stand when Southern sympathizers angle to ship a fortune in gold to the Confederacy. Jacques Tourneur’s historical actioner co-stars Virginia Mayo, Ruth Roman, Alex Nicol, Leo Gordon, Regis Toomey.
Official Secrets (2019)
In 2003, British intelligence translator Katharine Gun (Keira Knightley) stumbled onto an effort from the American NSA designed to push six UN Security Council nations into voting for the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The U.K press’s wrestling with the information she’d leaked to them, and the resultant blowback of her indictment under the Official Secrets Act, receive a riveting recounting in Gavin Hood’s fact-based effort; Matt Smith, Matthew Goode, Ralph Fiennes, Rhys Ifans, Indira Varma also star.
Christmas In July (1940)
Madcap comedy from writer/director Preston Sturges stars Dick Powell as Jimmy McDonald, an office clerk and radio contest buff whose co-workers trick him into thinking he’s won a $25,000 coffee slogan contest. Jimmy immediately takes girlfriend Betty (Ellen Drew) on a wild shopping binge, with hilarious complications to follow when he discovers he’d been duped. Legendary laughfest also stars William Demarest, Raymond Walburn, Franklin Pangborn, Rod Cameron.
Don’t Let Go (2019)
L.A. cop Jack Radcliff (David Oyelowo) was still reeling from the mass homicide of his brother’s family–including beloved niece Ashley (Storm Reid)–when he stunningly received a cell phone call from her…that had been made two weeks in the past. Will he be able to steer her, and the rest of his relatives, out of peril before their future becomes horrible reality? Gripping fantasy/procedural also stars Bryan Tyree Henry, Mykleti Williamson, Shinelle Azoroh, Byron Mann, and Alfred Molina. AKA: “Relive.”
Now, Voyager (Criterion Collection)(1942)
Bette Davis stars in one of the all-time-great melodramas as Charlotte Vale, a plain spinster who endures emotional abuse from her domineering mother (Gladys Cooper). With help from a psychiatrist (Claude Rains), Charlotte becomes a confident, independent woman who romances a handsome, sophisticated (and married) architect (Paul Henreid) while on a South American cruise. Ilka Chase, Bonita Granville, John Loder also star.
All About Eve (Criterion Collection)(1950)
Maturing stage diva Margo Channing (Bette Davis) was moved enough by the straits of wide-eyed fan Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) to take her on as an assistant. It isn’t long, though, before the not-so-naive apprentice craftily works Margo’s inner circle against one another in furtherance of her own aspirations to stardom. Joseph L. Mankiewicz’ multiple-Oscar-winning, sardonic show business saga also stars Celeste Holm, Hugh Marlowe, George Sanders, Thelma Ritter, Gary Merrill, and Marilyn Monroe.
The Bells of St. Mary’s (Olive Signature)(1945)
Bing Crosby reprises his “Going My Way” role of dedicated priest Father O’Malley, who faces the biggest challenge of his life when he is assigned to shore up a financially troubled parochial school. Thrust into a battle of wills with strong-willed nun Sister Mary Benedict (Ingrid Bergman), the two must learn to cooperate in order to save the beleaguered institution. Oscar-winning favorite co-stars Henry Travers, William Gargan.
Mary (2019)
Seaman David (Gary Oldman) was looking to salvage his fraying marriage to Sarah (Emily Mortimer), so he splurged on an auction ship to start a family charter business. Once out on the ocean with their daughters and deck hands, however, they discover–to their everlasting terror–the spectral reasons why the second-hand craft had been abandoned. Effective maritime menacer also stars Jennifer Esposito, Stefanie Scott, Chloe Perrin, Owen Teague, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo.
Amazing Grace (2018)
In January 1972, Aretha Franklin joined with the choir at the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Watts, and the live gospel album that resulted, “Amazing Grace,” became her personal best-seller as well as the genre’s. The documentary chronicle that Sydney Pollack shot of the performance was tied up in litigation for over 40 years–until now–and this restored presentation provides the Queen of Soul at the height of her powers; “Amazing Grace,” “Mary, Don’t You Weep,” many more performed.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette (2019)
Director/co-scripter Richard Linklater’s seriocomic adaptation of Maria Semple’s novel stars Cate Blanchett as Bernadette Fox, an antisocial former architect who, one day, vanishes without a word. There’s nothing nefarious afoot, however, as her loving teenaged daughter Bee (Emma Nelson) is left to ascertain, Bernadette has taken off to Antarctica in an effort to re-ignite the creative spark that once made her a renowned figure in her line of work. Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig, Judy Greer co-star.
Prophecy (1979)
Nature runs rampant in this scary shocker from director John Frankenheimer. In the remote wilderness of Northern Maine, industrial pollution from a local paper mill has begun to mutate the wildlife population into bizarre creatures. Now, a big-city doctor (Robert Foxworth) and his wife (Talia Shire) find themselves fighting for their lives against a giant, bloodthirsty grizzly bear. With Armand Assante, Victoria Racimo, Richard Dysart.
Chuka (1967)
Rod Taylor gets tough in this tense dustup as Chuka, an outcast gunfighter who’s reluctantly forced to get in the middle of a dispute between a motley squad of castoff soldiers guarding a fort and the starving Indians who want to take it over. Matters get complicated for Chuka when he finds his former love in the fort and the commanding officer refuses to give in to save lives. John Mills, Ernest Borgnine, and Luciana Paluzzi co-star.
All in a Night’s Work (1961)
When a “mystery woman” (Shirley MacLaine) is seen leaving the hotel room of a deceased magazine publisher, the dead man’s nephew and heir (Dean Martin) tries to put the moves on her in an effort to suss out her involvement and avoid a scandal, in this spry, romantic screwball comedy. Cliff Robertson, Charlie Ruggles, Jack Weston, Gale Gordon also star; directed by Joseph Anthony (“The Rainmaker”).
Greta (2019)
In Fortaleza, gay, Garbo-loving septuagenarian nurse Pedro (Marco Nanini) had a gravely ill transgender friend (Denise Weinberg)–and no empty beds at the facility where he worked. He makes the decision to smuggle a recently admitted criminal (Demick Lopes) out of the hospital and into his own home to be treated…and finds himself developing an unusual and intense bond with his suspect charge. Intriguing effort from Brazil co-stars Gretta Star.
Olivia (1951)
In the 18th century, British teenager Olivia Dealey (Marie-Claire Olivia) was shipped off to a French finishing school presided over by the charismatic headmistress Mlle. Julie (Edwige Feuillère) and her brittle, suspicious second, Mlle. Cara (Simone Simon). Peace at the institution becomes imperiled when the young student’s fascination with her new principal threatens to develop into something more. Challenging adaptation of the Dorothy Bussy novel co-stars Yvonne de Bray. AKA: “The Pit of Loneliness.”
The Holly and the Ivy (1952)
With Christmas imminent, recently widowed village parson Martin Gregory (Ralph Richardson) was particularly looking forward to the holiday visit from his three grown children (Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton, Denholm Elliott). However, each had their own piece of difficult news to share–and didn’t know how to break it to a father they felt gave more attention to his parishioners than to them. Long-sought seasonal drama from the Wynyard Browne play co-stars John Gregson, Hugh Williams.
Dracula (1979)
Broadway vamp Frank Langella brings an eerie sensuality to his portrayal of the Count in this stylish adaptation of the smash stage play. As the only “survivor” of a shipwreck off the coast of England, the undead Dracula relocates to Carfax Abbey, where he continues his unholy quest for a bride and begins a battle of wills with Professor Van Helsing (Laurence Olivier). Donald Pleasence, Kate Nelligan, Trevor Eve co-star.
Click here for a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases!