Classic Films Soon To Be Released On Blu-ray and DVD...Yesterday, a bit under the radar, Hen's Tooth Video released Black Magic (1949) starring Orson Welles.

[deedee gauzot]

Based on a novel by Alexander Dumas, Black Magic stars Orson Welles as the 18th century master hypnotist and charismatic charlatan, Cagliostro.

After his mother is executed for supposedly practicing “witchcraft,” young Joseph Balsamo is raised by gypsies. Under their tutelage, he perfects his skills performing magic tricks and selling snake oil in the gypsy’s traveling caravan show. Eventually Balsamo meets Franz Mesmer, the famous hypnotist, who convinces Joseph he has even greater gifts which could heal the sick. But Joseph chooses a very different path assuming the name Cagliostro and embarking on a vendetta for power over the man who ordered his mother’s death.

[deedee gauzot]

[ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS COURTESY OF CLASSIC-FLIX@...]

[deedee gauzot]

 

Back in April, we announced that Warner had acquired the rights to distribute 74 films from the Samuel Goldwyn library. Today, the studio made public the first six to be released on standard DVD this January 15th.

Wuthering Heights (1939) and The Bishop's Wife (1947) will be the most welcome of the lot as they have proven to be the most scarce.

The other four are: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Guys and Dolls (1955), Hans Christian Andersen (1952) and The Pride of the Yankees (1942).

Almost all the bonus features will carry over from the previous HBO/MGM releases, and some will be added as in the case of Best Years which includes an introduction by Virgina Mayo and interviews with Virginia Mayo and Teresa Wright.

Retail will be $14.97 each, but they are all available at ClassicFlix.com for just $10.99.

 

 

 

[deedee gauzot]

Sony's Columbia Classics continue at a steady pace every month with the highlight for December being Full of Life (1956) starring Judy Holliday and Richard Conte. Other releases include:

• East of Sudan (1964) - Anthony Quayle, Sylvia Syms, Derek Fowlds, Jenny Agutter
• The Fighting Frontiersman (1946) - Charles Starrett, Helen Mowery, Smiley Burnette
• Chain Gang (1950) - Douglas Kennedy, Marjorie Lord, Emory Parnell, William 'Bill' Phillips, Thurston Hall

Also coming out is a compilation set of previously released Columbia Classic titles in Columbia Film Noir Collection, Vol. 1.

All will be available here at ClassicFlix on December 18th.

[deedee gauzot]

Mid-30's mysteries and crime dramas mark this week's wave from the Warner Archive Collection over at WBShop.

Loretta Young and Franchot Tone star in 1936's The Unguarded Hour which also features Lewis Stone and Roland Young; while Ricardo Cortez headlines in Shadow of Doubt and The White Cockatoo (both 1935).

Chester Morris gets in on the action with Moonlight Murder (1936), but a crime comedy also makes an appearance this week with 1940's The Golden Fleecing starring Lew Ayres, Rita Johnson and Lloyd Nolan.

Monogram Cowboy Collection, Vol. 4 is also due out the same day, but films have not been made public for the 3-disc nine film set.

All will be available here at ClassicFlix on Christmas Day.

These new DVDs add to the total of over 1,100 Warner Archive titles exclusively available for rent at ClassicFlix.com.