Two of our favorite film classics are hitting Blu Ray! Francis Ford Coppola’s 1974 conspiracy masterpiece The Conversation starring Gene Hackman and David Lynch’s 1986 psychological mystery thriller Blue Velvet starring Kyle McLachlan, Isabella Rosselini, Laura Dern and Dennis Hopper.
Both these movies have garnered a devoted following from film geeks over the decades and each is like a fine wine, they seem to just get better with age. One thing they share is a unique captivating directorial vision. Coppola who was coming off the The Godfather films had always wanted to do smaller, more personal films and The Conversation is one of his most intriguing stories and was produced by his now famous indie studio Zoetrope.
David Lynch is an auteur known for his truly bizarre cinematic visions and Blue Velvet is the kind of movie that slowly pulls you into its dark world and doesn’t let you go until you’re in above your head. It also features one of Dennis Hopper’s most memorable performances as the gas sniffing maniac Frank Booth. When you see Hopper babbling, ranting and screaming “Mommy!”, you’ll never forget it. Get ready for one insane ride into the mind of one of film’s most interesting filmmakers!
Watching these titles in stunning high definition glory will be quite a treat for film lovers!
Official Press Release
From the mind of David Lynch (Mulholland Drive, “Twin Peaks”) comes a visionary story so startling, so provocative, so mysterious that it will open your eyes to a world you have never seen before. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment celebrates the anniversary of a groundbreaking American cinema classic when the BLUE VELVET: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION makes its curtain call on Blu-ray November 8. For the first time ever, fans will see over 50 minutes of deleted scenes from the film, thought to have been lost for the past 25 years, with a transfer and color correction supervised by Lynch himself.
Beneath the surface of small-town serenity lies a dark domain where innocence dare not tread and unpredictability is the norm. It is the haunting realm of BLUE VELVET. In this “shocking, deeply disturbing, startling mixture of the heartfelt and the horrific” (Newsweek), clean-cut Jeffrey Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan, “Twin Peaks”) realizes his Mayberry-like hometown is not-so-normal when he discovers a human ear in a field. His investigation catapults him into an alluring, erotic murder mystery involving a disturbed nightclub singer (Isabella Rossellini, Death Becomes Her) and a drug-addicted sadist (Dennis Hopper, Speed). Soon, Jeffrey is led deeper into their depraved existence past the point of no return.
Nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Directing (Lynch) and a Golden Globe® for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Hopper), BLUE VELVET features brilliant supporting performances from Laura Dern (Wild at Heart), Dean Stockwell (“Quantum Leap”), Hope Lange (Peyton Place) and David Lynch mainstay Jack Nance (Eraserhead).
Fans of Lynch’s filmmaking may also enjoy his solo debut as a musical artist, Crazy Clown Time, which is due out November 8 from Sunday Best Recordings / PIAS in America. Lynch produced and wrote the album’s 14 original songs, which spotlight him on guitar and vocals. Critics are already buzzing about the collection of dark and quirky pop, which is available on CD and LP as well as digitally.
BLUE VELVET: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Blu-ray Special Features
● Over 50 minutes of never-before-seen Lost Footage
● A Few Outtakes
Official Press Release
Francis Ford Coppola’s celebrated thriller The Conversation makes its first appearance on Blu-ray Disc and Digital Download from Lionsgate. The three-time Academy Award® nominated film, (Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound, 1974) features an outstanding all-star cast including Academy Award® winners Gene Hackman (Best Actor in a Leading Role, The French Connection, 1971) and Robert Duvall (Best Actor in a Leading Role, Tender Mercies, 1983); alongside Oscar® nominees Harrison Ford*, Frederic Forrest**; and Golden Globe® nominees Cindy Williams*** and John Cazale****. Written and directed by Coppola, this “haunting” (The New York Times) tale about eavesdropping, unrequited love and murder set in San Francisco comes to Blu-ray Disc for the first time on October 25th.
The Conversation won over critics and audiences with its innovative concept, and received further accolades with four Golden Globes® nominations across categories – Best Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Motion Picture Actor – Drama (Hackman). Winner of the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival, the film was selected for inclusion in the National Film Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Restored to debut in high definition, The Conversation includes never-before-seen screen tests, an on-location retrospective featurette, archival audio, all-new interviews with Coppola and composer David Shire as well as archival footage, audio commentaries, a “making of” featurette, short film, marketing gallery and trailer.
In an underground world of conspiracy, surveillance and mystery, the film follows expert wire-tapper and spy Harry Caul (Hackman) during a routine investigation. With a haunting past tormenting his every move, Caul makes it a golden rule to stay far outside of each project. However, his latest job turns out to be more than Caul bargained for when he’s caught inside a web of murder and secrecy that threatens his safety – and his sanity.
