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Still trying to figure out what to spend your income tax refund on? Well, there are plenty of classic films coming out on Blu-ray and 4K/UHD from the Kino Lorber Studio Classics line. From comic strip-inspired action and vintage Abbott and Costello comedies to ’70s horror and laughs with Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito, there’s a title sure to attract your interest.
Death Ship (1980) – Drifting at sea, the survivors of a wrecked cruise ship consider themselves lucky when they come upon a mysterious, long-abandoned vessel anchored in place. Their safe haven becomes a terror trap, though, when they discover that the supernatural forces keeping the WWII German warship afloat resent the intrusion. Women and children first…to die! George Kennedy, Richard Crenna, Nick Mancuso, Sally Ann Howes, and Saul Rubinek star in this ensemble shocker. Includes both the theatrical and extended cuts. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English DTS Lossless stereo; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; isolated music score; documentary; featurette; theatrical trailers.
Hold That Ghost (1941) – There are high spirits on hand when bumbling gas jockeys Chuck (Bug Abbott) and Ferdie (Lou Costello) find themselves the benefactors of a gangster’s rundown (and haunted) tavern…and codes to a hidden stash of moolah. Trapped inside the club–along with a health nut (Richard Carlson), an impresario (Mischa Auer), and a radio “screamer” (Joan Davis)–the boys have to outrun the gangster’s henchmen to reap their fortune. With appearances by Shemp Howard and The Andrews Sisters. 86 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; theatrical trailer.
The House of Seven Corpses (1973) – In this creepy terror tale, a movie crew arrives at a supposedly haunted mansion to shoot a horror picture, and the reading of passages from the Tibetan Book of the Dead summons vengeance-seeking spirits. Can the filmmakers possibly survive the real-life terror they have unleashed? John Ireland, Faith Domergue, Carole Wells, and John Carradine star. 88 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; interview; theatrical trailer; more. Two-disc set.
The Phantom (1996) – The mysterious masked defender of the African jungle leaps from the comics pages to the big screen with this thrilling adventure saga. Billy Zane stars as the purple-clad “Ghost Who Walks,” latest in a line of familial Phantoms, who must battle a scheming businessman in search of the mystical Skulls of Touganda. Kristy Swanson, Treat Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones also star. 100 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English DTS 5.1, DTS Lossless stereo; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; interviews; theatrical trailer.
Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins… (1986) – Slam-bang action thriller, based on the “Destroyer” pulp novels, stars Fred Ward as a New York City cop whose death is faked by a clandestine government group that recruits him to be a secret agent. Given the new identity of Remo Williams, and trained by an enigmatic martial arts master (Joel Grey), he snaps into action to bring down a corrupt arms dealer. A showdown on the scaffolded Statue of Liberty is a highlight. With Wilford Brimley, Kate Mulgrew. 121 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English DTS 5.1, DTS Lossless stereo; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; interview; featurettes; radio spot; theatrical trailer. Two-disc set.
Stone Cold (1991) – Suspended loose-cannon cop Joe Huff (college/NFL linebacker Brian Bosworth) can now fill his free time…courtesy of the FBI, who’s strong-arming him into infiltrating a white supremacist cycle gang in the Deep South. Can he avoid a wipeout at the hands of the psychotic head biker (Lance Henriksen)? Full-throttle action vehicle for “The Boz” co-stars William Forsythe, Sam McMurray, Arabella Holzbog. 92 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English DTS 5.1, DTS Lossless stereo; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; interviews; TV spots; theatrical trailers. Two-disc set.
Throw Momma from the Train (1988) – Howlingly funny dark comedy stars Billy Crystal as novelist Larry Donner and Danny DeVito as sheltered, middle-aged mama’s boy Owen Lift. Taking a cue after viewing Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train,” Owen pushes Larry’s despised ex-wife off a cruise ship…so now, Larry has to fulfill his end of the deal and knock off Owen’s overbearing and abusive mother (Anne Ramsey). Co-stars Kim Greist, Kate Mulgrew, Branford Marsalis, Rob Reiner; directed by DeVito. 88 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English DTS Lossless stereo; Subtitles: English; audio commentary; featurettes; interview; deleted scenes; theatrical trailer.
and last, but certainly not least…
Ilsa, The Wicked Warden (1977) – With lash in hand and fire in her heart, that ferocious fräulein Ilsa (Dyanne Thorne) brings her flair for flagellation to a South American prison. Watch as she oversees an onslaught of heinous atrocities committed upon the female felons that take part in her “game” of torture. Tania Busselier, Lina Romay, Eric Falk, Howard Maurer co-star; directed by Jesús Franco. AKA: “Greta the Mad Butcher,” “Greta the Torturer,” “Wanda the Wicked Warden.” 95 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; audio commentary; featurettes; theatrical trailer.
Each of these titles will street over the next two weeks. Follow the above links to pre-order them from Movies Unlimited, and stay tuned to MovieFanFare for more new release announcements from Warner Archive and other companies.