As difficult as it may be to believe, it has been 45 years since Jaws ushered in the age of the summer blockbuster. A special 4K edition of that film leads off the latest new releases, in a week that also includes a masterful HBO sequel series to what is arguably the greatest graphic novel ever made, cult classics, recent dramas and more. Dive in to the latest Blu-ray and DVD offerings below!
Jaws (45th Anniversary Limited Edition)(1975)
The film that started the “summer blockbuster” trend, director Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Peter Benchley’s novel is a masterpiece of action and suspense. The New England resort town Amity Island is terrorized by a man (and woman)-eating great white shark, and it’s up to the local police chief (Roy Scheider), a marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss), and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) to stop the feeding frenzy. With Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton; features a classic score by John Williams. This 45th anniversary special edition includes documentaries, a limited edition booklet and many more treasures from the Jaws archives that you can sink your teeth into!
Watchmen: An HBO Limited Series (2019)
The story started in the popular graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons picks up 34 years later in HBO’s acclaimed nine-part series. In 2019 Tulsa, Oklahoma, Det. Angela Abar (Regina King)–a masked police officer also known as Sister Night–conducts a murder investigation that leads her to a white supremacy group, a man (Louis Gossett, Jr.) who claims to be her grandfather, and former vigilantes Laurie Blake (Jean Smart) and Adrian Veidt (Jeremy Irons). With Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson. All nine episodes of the limited series are featured in this three-disc set.
Urban Cowboy (40th Anniversary Edition)(1980)
Moving from his rural Texas home to take an oil refinery job near Houston, young hardhat Bud Davis (John Travolta) begins hanging out at famed honky tonk nightclub Gilley’s. In this world of country music, “weekend cowboys,” and fast women, Bud falls for feisty Sissy (Debra Winger), but their romance has more bumps than a ride on the mechanical bull. Romantic drama co-stars Scott Glenn, Madolyn Smith, with appearances by The Charlie Daniels Band, Bonnie Raitt, and others.
Sorry, Wrong Number (Import)(1948)
Classic suspense thriller stars Barbara Stanwyck in her Oscar-nominated role as Leona Stevenson, a bedridden woman who accidentally hears a murder being planned over the telephone. And as she slowly begins to realize that she is the intended victim, Leona must try and stop the plot before she’s disconnected…permanently. With Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards, Wendell Corey.
Waterloo (Import)(1970)
Rod Steiger makes a charismatic (if somewhat tall) Napoleon in this lavish Italian/Russian epic directed by Sergei Bondarchuk (“War and Peace”). Famed for its extravagantly mounted battle scenes, this historical drama depicts the French military leader’s attempt to recapture the French throne after escaping from his exile on Elba to his final battle against the allied forces of England and Prussia at Waterloo. Also stars Christopher Plummer, Jack Hawkins, Virginia McKenna, and Orson Welles.
Glengarry Glen Ross (Collector’s Edition)(1992)
David Mamet scripted this forceful, acclaimed adaptation of his award-winning Broadway drama. Set in the dingy New York office of a real estate company, the film follows the less-than-honest agents who resort to every sleazy, underhanded, and unethical tactic in the book in their efforts to get their clients to sign on the dotted line. Al Pacino, Alan Arkin, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris, Jack Lemmon, and Alec Baldwin comprise the stellar ensemble cast.
A Summer Romance (2019)
With his company’s acquisition plans in the balance, big-town developer Richard Belmont (Ryan Paevey) flew to Montana to meet struggling ranch owner Sam Weaver and see if he could wheedle him into selling out. It happens that “Sam” is short for Samantha (Erin Krakow)–and when she challenges Richard into earning his keep as he negotiates, he might be heading for a merger that he hadn’t anticipated. Enjoyable Hallmark effort also stars Sarah Strange, Geoff Gustafson, Lucie Guest.
Let’s Kill Uncle (1966)
Standing to inherit the family fortune once he reached his majority, orphaned teen Barnaby Harrison (Pat Cardi) was sent to live with retired intelligence officer uncle Kevin (Nigel Green) at his remote island home. Unfortunately, Kevin’s got his own evil designs on his late brother’s estate…and after Barnaby gets wise, a battle of wits ensues to see who gets who first. William Castle’s long-sought, darkly funny take on the Rohan O’Grady novel co-stars Mary Badham, Linda Lawson. AKA: “Let’s Kill Uncle, Before Uncle Kills Us.”
Just My Type (2020)
With relationship and career sputtering, pop culture writer Vanessa Sills (Bethany Joy Lenz) sought some R&R at a Pacific Northwest B&B, and found that one of the locals was a personal hero–long-reclusive mystery novelist Martin Clayborne (Brett Dalton). Advised by her boss to land an interview (or else), she finds herself collaborating with her initially suspicious subject on a surprise, but not unwelcome, ending. Warm Hallmark effort also stars Aleque Reid, Colleen Wheeler, Fred Keating.
Harley Quinn: The Complete First Season (2019)
Gotham’s funnygal fatale claims center stage In this animated–and assuredly for adults only–DC Universe series, as Harley (voiced by Kaley Cuoco) breaks it off with the Joker (Alan Tudyk) and assembles her own unimposing posse of criminal castoffs, including Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), King Shark (Ron Funches), and Doctor Psycho (Tony Hale), in order to take over the town. Violent, profane, and very funny offering also features the voices of Jason Alexander, J.B. Smoove, and Diedrich Bader as Batman.
Beanpole (2019)
In 1945 Leningrad, lanky hospital nurse Iya (Viktoria Miroshnichenko) felt the paralyzing weight of her present duties, the memories of her wartime gunnery service, and caring for the young son of her comrade-in-arms Masha (Vasilisa Perelygina). A tragic accident before Masha’s return from the front, however, would place the relationship of the traumatized friends on a stunning path. Acclaimed character study co-stars Konstantin Balakirev, Andrey Bykov.
Blood & Flesh: The Real Life and Ghastly Death of Al Adamson (2019)
Having grown up in Hollywood the son of silent film actors, director Al Adamson would collaborate with fading stars before the lens and rising talent behind it for an impressive string of “B” exploitationers from the ‘60s to the ‘80s. In retirement, he’d meet a sad end as grisly as one of his horror scenarios. Archival interviews with the man himself combine with the reminisces of dozens of collaborators to shed light on a singular show business life and career.
Carnival Magic (1983)
When was the last time you saw a good talking chimp movie? I mean a really good talking chimp movie? B-auteur Al Adamson’s long-lost “family” film finds a travelling circus’s fortunes saved when the show’s magician reveals his simian sidekick, Alexander the Great, can speak. Things get hairy for Alex when a jealous animal trainer arranges to have the ape stolen and taken to a medical lab for dissection! Don Stewart, Jennifer Houlton, Mark Weston, and Trudi the Chimp star.
Who Killed Teddy Bear (1965)
Gritty crime drama focuses on Norah Dain (Juliet Prowse), a New York City nightclub DJ understandably creeped out by a series of obscene phone calls, her co-worker Lawrence Sherman (Sal Mineo), and Lt. Dave Madden (Jan Murray), a police detective who’s taken an oddly personal interest in the case. Could the troubled Lawrence be the person on the other end of the line, and can Madden catch him before he turns violent? With Elaine Stritch, Margot Bennett, Daniel J. Travanti.
They Came from Beyond Space (1967)
Alien beings use mind control to enslave several Earth scientists in order to help repair their damaged spaceship, in this adaptation of Joseph Millard’s novel “The Gods Hate Kansas.” The only hope for humanity rests with one man who, thanks to a protective metal plate in his head, seems to be immune to their powers and devotes himself to foiling the extra-terrestrials’ sinister plans. Robert Hutton, Jennifer Jayne, Michael Gough star; directed by Hammer Films’ Freddie Francis.
1BR (2019)
Having transplanted to Los Angeles in escape of issues back home, reticent law clerk Sara (Nicole Brydon Bloom) was thrilled by her coveted acceptance into an exclusive yet affordable apartment complex. Over time, though, it became apparent that her solicitous new neighbors were being a bit too welcoming…and by the time their agenda came to light, she’d have bigger problems than getting her deposit back. Disquieting chiller co-stars Naomi Grossman, Giles Matthey, Taylor Nichols, Celeste Sully.
Spring Night, Summer Night (1967)
Teenager Carl (Ted Heimerdinger) longed to leave the dirt poverty of Appalachian Ohio and his dysfunctional mixed family behind, but didn’t want to saddle his half-sister Jessica (Larue Hall) with their combustible parents. After the fateful night they acted on their mutual attraction, Carl ran from home–and returned five months later to try and deal with the consequences. Restored and rediscovered, this compelling neorealist indie also stars John Crawford, Marjorie Johnson.
The Queen (1968)
The forerunner to “Paris Is Burning,” this documentary–narrated by organizer/MC Jack “Flawless Sabrina” Doroshow–captures the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest in all of its cross-dressing glory. Shown are the preparations for the glittery competition by 40 contestants, including blonde Philadelphia legend Harlow. Andy Warhol, George Plimpton, Terry Southern, and Edie Sedgwick are among the celebrity judges.
America as Seen by a Frenchman (1960)
In the late ‘50s, French documentarian François Reichenbach spent a year-and-a-half wandering the United States from coast to coast, and the end product of his travels was this whimsical and compelling observation of ordinary Americans and their pastimes. From Disneyland to a striptease school, from beauty pageants to prison rodeos, time-dimmed aspects of mid-20th century U.S. culture are captivatingly chronicled. Score by Michel Legrand.
Star Trek: Short Treks (2018)
Originally airing as a web anthology series that debuted in 2018, seven live-action and two animated shorts tell brief–yet no less exciting–stories that help broaden the ongoing “Star Trek” universe. Set primarily during the “Star Trek: Discovery” era, the shorts feature appearances by Doug Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Rainn Wilson, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, and Anson Mount. Includes “Runaway,” “The Brightest Star,” “Q&A,” “The Trouble with Edward,” and more.
Click here for an overview of all of this week’s new releases!