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1941 on DVD in December

9 December 2009

It's one of the most talked about films in arguably the world's greatest and certainly the most successful director's filmography, but also one of the least viewed. Now, some 30 years after it bowed at cinemas, Steven Spielberg's wartime comedy 1941 is at last making its way to DVD as a 2-disc 30th anniversary edition.

Wedged in between Jaws, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Raiders Of The Lost Ark and E.T., 1941 is one of Spielberg's few forays into comedy. Nominated for three Oscars, it was scripted by Robert Zemeckis and stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd (whose next film together was the seminal Blues Brothers), Ned Beatty, Christopher Lee and a host of blink-and-you'll-miss-them cameos from the likes of James Caan and, in his first film role, Mickey Rourke.

Set in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and based on a reportedly true story, 1941 follows the widespread panic and paranoia that took hold in Los Angeles and particularly Hollywood as fears of a Japanese attack on mainland USA gripped the public and authorities.

Made by a director during the period of his creative peak, with all the event status of a blockbuster release (something that Spielberg almost singlehandedly created), 1941 is long overdue a reassessment and this 2-disc DVD release gives audiences the chance to do just that.

Featuring an all-star cast, including Saturday Night Live alumni, and cameos aplenty, 1941 is a madcap look at the Second World War. Vast in scope and ambition, it was much talked about in its initial release but has never received a UK DVD release until now. 1941 makes it UK DVD debut on 28th December 2009 courtesy of Universal Pictures at the RRP of £14.99. The following extras have been confirmed:

  • Making-of documentary;
  • Deleted Scenes;
  • Theatrical Trailers;
  • Production Photographs;
  • The Marketing Of 1941 featurette;
  • 1941 Comic Relief;
  • Reviews.