Classics to cult hits, art house favorites to TV season sets. There’s a potpourri of perfection when it comes to this week’s new Blu-ray and DVD titles. Take a look at what releases are now available. Your home video library is about to get a bit more crowded…
There’s Always Tomorrow (1955)
Toy manufacturer Clifford Groves (Fred MacMurray) may have found success, but with a spouse (Joan Bennett) and kids who take him for granted, fulfillment is something else entirely. Can he deal with the temptation when now-divorced ex-flame Norma Miller Vale (Barbara Stanwyck) re-enters his life…or the fallout when his son sees them together and assumes the worst? Ross Hunter-Douglas Sirk mellowdrama also stars Pat Crowley, Jane Darwell.
All I Desire (1953)
A decade ago, Naomi Murdoch (Barbara Stanwyck) abandoned her stodgy small-town life–as well as her school principal husband (Richard Carlson) and two daughters–to pursue a stage career and an adulterous affair. Now, having come home to affect reconciliation, she must deal with a family’s skepticism and a town’s unforgiving judgment. Ross Hunter-Douglas Sirk soaper also stars Maureen O’Sullivan, Lyle Bettger, Lori Nelson, Marcia Henderson.
Pat and Mike (1952)
Shady sports promoter Mike Conovan (Spencer Tracy) thought he’d made his greatest find in multi-disciplined college phys-ed teacher Pat Pemberton (Katharine Hepburn). However, does he have the answers for her competitive fires going out whenever her professor fiancé (William Ching) is watching? Comedy highlighted by crisp direction from George Cukor and “cherce” Ruth Gordon/Garson Kanin dialogue also stars Aldo Ray, with early appearances by Charles Bronson, Chuck Connors.
The Sign of the Cross (1932)
Ancient Rome is the setting for this C.B. DeMille epic that stars Fredric March as the Roman prefect in love with Christian martyr Mercia (Elissa Landi), Charles Laughton in a flamboyant turn as depraved emperor Nero, and Claudette Colbert as Nero’s scheming wife, Poppaea. With Ian Keith, Arthur Hohl. Among the highlights are the burning of Rome, the final conflict in the arena, and Colbert’s milk bath.
Breezy (1973)
Clint Eastwood helmed this sensitive drama with William Holden as Frank Harmon, a lonely, divorced businessman who strikes up a relationship with Breezy (Kay Lenz), a gorgeous, guitar-strumming hippie. In order to get out of trouble with the police, Breezy claims Frank is her uncle, and she moves in with him. A real romance blossoms between the couple, but Frank’s friends’ disapproval weighs heavily on him and his unusual tryst. With Roger C. Carmel, Joan Hotchkis.
The Beast Must Die (1974)
At his isolated mansion, wealthy hunter Tom Newcliffe (Calvin Lockhart) hosts a gathering with an unusual purpose…to determine which of his guests is actually a vicious werewolf. Who is it, and will Newcliffe find out the secret before becoming his (or her) prey? Based on a short story by James Blish, this chiller gives you the chance to guess the monster’s true identity during a “werewolf break.” Peter Cushing, Marlene Clark, Michael Gambon, and Charles Gray also star. AKA: “Black Werewolf.”
Hell Bent (1918)
In this early feature directing assignment for John Ford–one of Harry Carey’s popular “Cheyenne Harry” vehicles–Harry’s flight from the law brings him into the lives of kindly dance hall girl Bess Thurston (Neva Gerber) and Beau Ross (Joe Harris), the owlhoot determined to have her. When Ross kidnaps Bess and flees deep into the desert, can Harry catch them…and even if he does, will any survive the return trip? Duke Lee, Vester Pegg also star.
The King of Staten Island (2020)
New Yorker Scott Carlin (Pete Davidson) was 7 when he lost his firefighter father on 9/11–a trauma that made him what he is today, a stay-at-home stoner and arrested adolescent. With his mom (Marisa Tomei) looking to move on with another (fire)man (Bill Burr), and his kid sister (Maude Apatow) on the college path he passed up, he realizes he’s got to come to terms with his grief. Semi-autobiographical seriocomedy scripted by Davidson and director Judd Apatow, co-stars Bel Powley, Steve Buscemi.
Two-disc set includes “The Reckless Age,” “Whatever Happened to Jones?,” and “Skinner’s Dress Suit.”
Without Love (1945)
Amidst the wartime housing shortage in Washington, D.C., contractor-inventor Pat Jamieson (Spencer Tracy) leases space in the home of scientifically inclined widow Jamie Rowan (Katharine Hepburn), and takes her on as a research partner. Mutually attracted–but burned in relationships–the two agree to a platonic marriage, but will that be sustainable? Romantic charmer from Philip Barry’s (“The Philadelphia Story”) play co-stars Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn.
The Complete Hal Roach Streamliners Collection, Volume 4: The Musicals
The trio of song-filled “Streamliner” treats from Hal Roach featuring players like Frances Langford, Harry Langdon, Marjorie Woodworth, and George Givot is collected here. When all-girl school Mar Brynn College insults a pack of macho guys from Quinceton University, they decide to put one of their own (Johnny Downs) into a dress and have him enter their rival’s beauty contest. What happens when he falls for the student (Frances Langford) putting on the event? “All-American Co-Ed” (1941) co-stars Langdon, Woodworth, Noah Beery, Jr., Alan Hale, Jr.; score includes “Out of the Silence,” “The Farmer’s Daughter.” Everyone at the family rancho was beaming with Cholita (Ann Ayars) expected back home after years in Mexico City, childhood sweetheart José (Jorge Negrete) most of all. What’ll he do when she shows up with a tenderfoot radio singer fiancé (Givot) on her arm? South-of-the-border shenanigans abound in producer Hal Roach’s lively Technicolor romantic comedy “Fiesta” (1941), co-starring Antonio Moreno, Armida, and The Guadalajara Trio; score includes “Ride Mi Caballeros,” “Quien Sabe.” Leading her pals on a Caribbean jaunt in the hopes of meeting the cabaret singer she’s smitten with, a Florida playgirl (Woodworth) makes her first mistake when she takes on a fleeing alimony cheat (Givot) as a tour guide. Will she make another when she passes on the attentions of their handsome pilot (William Marshall)? The fun Roach confection “Flying With Music” (1942) co-stars Edward Gargan, Jerry Bergen, Jane Kean, Claudia Drake; score includes “Pennies for Peppino,” “Song of the Lagoon.”
The Balcony (Special Edition)(1963)
Fascinating version of Jean Genet’s psycho-erotic play is set in a fictional country where an accommodating brothel allows visitors act out elaborate fantasies of power and desire. With the nation embroiled in a revolution, the establishment’s madam (Shelley Winters) is approached by the chief of police (Peter Falk) to fill in for the vanished queen. Lee Grant, Peter Brocco, Ruby Dee, and Leonard Nimoy also star.
Endeavour: The Complete Seventh Season (Masterpiece)(2020)
This compelling prequel series to Britain’s long-running “Inspector Morse” program stars Shaun Evans as the young Endeavour Morse. Set in the mid-’60s, the series finds Detective Constable Morse assigned to Oxford shortly after leaving the university before completing his studies. Morse may be a neophyte officer, but his considerable powers of deduction are already much in evidence…as is his interest in Jaguar cars. With Jack Laskey, Anton Lesser. All three episodes from the seventh series are included in this two-disc set.
The Flash: The Complete Sixth Season (2019)
The combination of a particle accelerator explosion and lightning strike imbues young Central City forensics cop Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) with super-speed, and he uses his newfound abilities to combat metahuman menaces threatening his town, as well as to unearth the truth about his mother’s mysterious slaying. Lively, popular take on the DC Comics hero from The CW co-stars Candice Patton, Tom Cavanagh, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, and Jesse L. Martin. This release includes all 19 episodes from the sixth season.
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (Collector’s Edition)(1990)
Creepy horror and laughs anthology-style, written by George Romero and Michael McDowell (from stories by Stephen King, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Japanese folklore) and based on the hit TV show. In “Lot 249,” a college student tries to stop a mummy on the prowl; a hit man is hired to kill a murderous “Cat from Hell”; and an artist marries “the perfect woman,” in “Lover’s Vow.” Christian Slater, Steve Buscemi, David Johansen, Rae Dawn Chong, William Hickey, Julianne Moore, and Deborah Harry star.
Toni (Criterion Collection)(1935)
Come to the South of France in search of work, Italian migrant laborer Antonio Canova (Charles Blavette) found a willing lover in landlady Marie (Jenny Hélia)…but couldn’t deny his hunger for Josefa (Celia Montalván), the abused girlfriend of his boss (Max Dalban). His fixation would compromise his life with the one, and set up tragedy as he tracked down the other. Fact-inspired, neorealism-presaging effort from Jean Renoir co-stars Édouard Delmont, Andrex.
The New York Ripper (1982)
Start spreading the blood…I’m slashing today. If you want to wake up to the sound of a city that never stops screaming, then see Italian horror master Lucio Fulci’s terrific tale of a misogynistic psycho killer striking at the Big Apple’s core. Banned-in-Britain splatterfest stars Jack Hedley, Almanta Keller, Howard Ross, Andrea Occhipinti star.
The Burnt Orange Heresy (2020)
The relentless self-promotion of acerbic art critic (and failed artist) James Figueras (Claes Bang) got him the notice of overbearing and obscenely wealthy collector Joseph Cassidy (Mick Jagger). Now, his new patron wants him to work his way into the good graces of acclaimed but reclusive painter Jerome Debney (Donald Sutherland)…and facilitate Cassidy’s theft of Debney’s last available creation. Stylish thriller adapted from the Charles Willeford novel also stars Elizabeth Debicki.
Click here for a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases.