From Jedis to Munsters, this week’s DVD and Blu-ray new releases includes titles for all sorts of film fans. There’s also some cult flicks making their Blu-ray debut, as well as two new additions to the Criterion Collection’s lineup of significant films. Yes friends, we’ve got another week of great titles for you, so take a look at all of these fantastic new releases!Star
Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
The Skywalker saga comes to a thrilling conclusion as the Resistance prepares for its final stand against the First Order–now under the command of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and a returned Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Strong with the Force, young Jedi Rey (Daisy Ridley) must summon every bit of power she can or else become a pawn in Palpatine’s twisted plot to rule the galaxy once more. With Carrie Fisher (who appears by way of unused footage), Mark Hamill, and Billy Dee Williams.
The Prince of Tides (Criterion Collection)(1991)
Powerful drama stars Nick Nolte as Tom Wingo, a South Carolina football coach with a failing marriage who goes to New York City to help psychiatrist Dr. Susan Lowenstein (Barbra Streisand, who also directed) unravel his sister’s emotional problems. Eventually, Tom confronts his own dark secrets while falling in love with Susan. Romantic adaptation of Pat Conroy’s novel co-stars Blythe Danner, Kate Nelligan, and Jeroen Krabbe.
Show Boat (Criterion Collection)(1936)
The second film version of the classic Hammerstein-Kern/Edna Ferber musical stars Irene Dunne as Magnolia Hawks, the paddleboat performance progeny fated for romance and heartbreak at the hands of ne’er-do-well cardsharp Gaylord Ravenal (Allan Jones). Charles Winninger, Helen Morgan, Paul Robeson, Helen Westley, Hattie McDaniel co-star under James Whale’s direction; legendary score includes “Bill,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” “Ol’ Man River,” “Ah Still Suits Me.”
Bluebeard’s 8th Wife (1938)
Lively Ernst Lubitsch comedy, based on a 1921 French stageplay, stars Gary Cooper as pampered millionaire Michael Brandon, who’s gone through seven marriages and is eager to make poor French shopgirl Nicole (Claudette Colbert) his next bride. Coaxed by her father, Nicole accepts Michael’s proposal, then sets out to change his ways. With David Niven, Edward Everett Horton; scripted by Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett.
The Flame of New Orleans (1941)
In order to nab a wealthy husband, French golddigger Claire Ledoux (Marlene Dietrich) lands in 1840s New Orleans and fakes an illness at the opera. Her act draws the attention of a rich businessman, whom she plans to marry, but a rugged sea captain who falls for her and some old acquaintances from Europe may threaten the scheme. French director René Clair’s period comedy/drama co-stars Roland Young, Bruce Cabot.
The Complete Hal Roach Streamliners Collection, Vol. 1: The Tracy and Military Comedies (1941)
The first six Roach “Streamliner” service farces starring William Tracy as photographic-memoried but fallible inductee Dorian “Dodo” Doubleday and Joe Sawyer as aggravated top sarge William Ames are collected here. When Dodo quickly ascends to the rank of sergeant thanks to his smarts, he suddenly finds himself on a date with a gorgeous WAC (Elyse Knox)…which sends former drill instructor Ames into a jealous fit! Series opener “Tanks a Million” (1941) also stars James Gleason, Noah Beery, Jr. Having shown off his book smarts–and shown up Ames–at the C.O.’s gunnery class, Dodo pays for it when he has to take on the unit’s best marksmen in a shooting match! “Hay Foot” (1942) co-stars Douglas Fowley. Ames takes a flush Dodo out for a night on the town–which finds them crashing a swanky society party, as well as a few vehicles–in “About Face” (1942). Margaret Dumont, Jean Porter, Marjorie Lord co-star. Ames seeks to make Dodo look bad when he assigns him to train a clan of recruits from the sticks. It literally backfires when they prove to be natural snipers, in “Fall In” (1943). Arthur Hunnicutt, Frank Faylen co-star. As they finally ship out, Dodo and Ames have to contend with a pretty nurse (Marjorie Woodworth) on board–as well as, possibly, a Japanese spy–in “Yanks Ahoy” (1943). Mustered out, Dodo returns to his job on the police beat of the city paper, and he’s soon tangled up in the murder of a showgirl who’d been blackmailing his boss. Of course, Ames is the cop assigned to the case, in Here Comes Trouble” (1946). Betty Compson, Joan Woodbury co-star.
The Song of Songs (1933)
After the death of her father, country girl Lily (Marlene Dietrich) moves to the big city of Berlin to work in her aunt’s bookstore. A customer asks Lily to model for a statue he is creating called “Song of Solomon,” and she finds both the statue’s sculptor and a wealthy arts patron falling in love with her. Brian Aherne, Lionel Atwill co-star in this romantic drama directed by Rouben Mamoulian.
Mr. Robot: The Complete Series
Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) is a computer expert who suffers from social anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and delusions. A cybersecurity engineer by day and a hacker by night, Elliot is recruited by the mysterious Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) to join an anarchistic hacktivist group whose main goal is to wipe out everyone’s debt records. Carly Chaikin, Portia Doubleday, Martin Wallstrom also star in this timely TV series. All 45 episodes of the series are included in this 14-disc set.
Indiscretion of an American Wife (1953)
Vacationing in Rome, married American Mary Forbes (Jennifer Jones) has an affair with an Italian man (Montgomery Clift), but a farewell tryst on an empty train leads to their detainment by authorities. Carson McCullers, Paul Gallico (each uncredited), and Truman Capote were among the writers who had a hand in the script for this evocative melodrama from director Vittorio De Sica and producer David O. Selznick. Included on this disc are De Sica’s 89-minute version, released abroad as “Terminal Station,” and the 72-minute stateside edition, edited per Selznick’s instructions.
Standing Up, Falling Down (2019)
After four years of chasing his stand-up comedy dream in Los Angeles, 34-year-old Scott Rollins (Ben Schwartz) has crashed and burned. Left with little money and a fledging “career,” Scott has no choice but to regroup, lick his wounds, and return to his parents’ house in Long Island. While trying to figure out what to do next, he pines after his ex, Becky (Eloise Mumford), a successful photographer who has since married a former mutual friend. On a night out at a local bar, Scott strikes up an unlikely friendship with a very flawed, but very charming dermatologist, Marty (Billy Crystal), who has a few regrets of his own. Marty and Scott help each other find the courage to face the failures in their lives and take stock in what their futures could bring.
VFW (2019)
At an urban VFW post, the old soldiers would hang out sharing war stories from days gone by. However, when a young woman flees the crack house down the block carrying a half-million worth of a designer drug–with the dealers and a pack of cranked-up addicts in pursuit–the grey warriors would discover that they were far from done with armed combat. Action-packed stunner stars Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Martin Kove, Fred Williamson, David Patrick Kelly, George Wendt.
Hollywood Horror House (1973)
Having broken her leg in a boozy reverie, generations-past screen diva Katherine Packard (Miriam Hopkins) needed a live-in caretaker, and young charmer Vic Valance (David Garfield, son of John) stepped up for the job. The doting facade, however, soon gives way to a perverse agenda as he takes over the household, and deals with the rest of her protesting retinue one by one. Low-end Grande Dame Guignol co-stars Gale Sondergaard, Florence Lake, Joe Besser, Minta Durfee.
The Transformers: The Complete Original Series
Airing from 1984-87, the original animated series about the shape-changing robots that are more than meets the eye finds the Autobots and Decepticons leaving their home planet of Cybertron and crash-landing on Earth, where their ancient power struggle continues, with the fate of our world now hanging in the balance. Voiced by Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, Corey Burton, Scatman Crothers, Don Messick, Casey Kasem, and Dick Gautier.98 episodes on 15 discs.
Munster, Go Home! (1966)
The Munsters make their movie debut, traveling to England to claim a castle Herman’s (Fred Gwynne) inherited. Their British relatives try to scare them off so they can have the place for themselves…but also so no one finds out about the counterfeiting business they’ve got set up in the basement. Yvonne De Carlo, Al Lewis, Butch Patrick, Debbie Watson, Hermione Gingold, Terry-Thomas, and John Carradine co-star.
Click here for a rundown of all of this week’s new releases.