In Part 1 of this diptych series covering Jean Renoir’s work in America (1941-1947), we have reviews of Swamp Water (1941) from Twilight, plus a film review of Fox’s 1952 colour remake, Lure of the Wilderness, and reviews of This Land is Mine (1943) and The Southerner (1945) from VCI. Also, a few slivers of home video news.
In Part 2 of ‘Swell Welles,’ reviews of Warner Home Video’s Citizen Kane set on Blu-ray, featuring Kane, the 1996 documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane, and the 1999 HBO TV movie RKO 281, plus authentic editorial blather.
In Part 2 of my profile of home video label Twilight Time, I interview TT’s resident film historian Julie Kirgo, and discuss the virtues of special features content on DVDs and Blu-rays (and their sudden paucity of late). Also reviewed: TT’s sparkling Blu-rays of Picnic (1955) and John Huston’s awesome, awesome The Roots of Heaven (1958), AND a tally of upcoming Twilight Time releases thru June.
As the TIFF Bell Lightbox begins its latest retro – a full-on salute to French filmmaker Robert Bresson – I’ve added a review of A Man Escaped (1956). Also noted: screenings in town, those that ‘hate’ Toronto, Rob Ford’s ‘irrelevant’ fixation, and the latest Lucasified indulgence that no one seems to care about.
Just uploaded is a lengthy interview with Twilight Time co-founder Nick Redman, and related reviews of Twilight Time’s swanky Blu-ray of Ray Harryhausen’s Mysterious Island (1961), plus a review of Bernard Herrmann’s original soundtrack recording. Also packed into the Editor’s Blog – a lengthy editorial on the illusion of value that’s being sold with existing MOD programs.
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