Arrow has announced the UK premiere Blu-ray release of Robert Altman's celebrated 3 Women, the 1977 acclaimed master work that pipped Star Wars to top Roger Ebert's films of the year on its initial release.

Shy and impressionable Pinky (Sissy Spacek – Badlands, Carrie) strikes up a friendship with her fellow nurse 'Thoroughly Modern' Millie (Shelley Duvall – Nashville, Thieves Like Us). As the two spend more time together Pinky becomes dependent on Millie, adopting aspects of her personality and appearance. Things take an unusual and darker turn as Pinky discovers Millie with a man, a local bar owner whose wife (Janice Rule) forms the third of the title's three women.

Based on a series of dreams and influenced by Ingmar Bergman's Persona, Robert Altman cut the deal for 3 Women with Twentieth Century Fox in a matter of minutes and the remarkable faith of the studio would produce one of the most striking works of the period.

The latest Robert Altman release to come from Arrow Academy (following The Long Goodbye), this new disc will feature an interview with David Thompson, editor of Altman on Altman and producer of the BBC's Robert Altman in England. The disc will also include an archive interview with Shelley Duvall from the Cannes Film Festival (where she won the Best Actress Award) in which she describes working with Altman, his methods and how she started acting.

Rounding off the disc are image galleries featuring behind-the-scenes photos, the Cannes Film Festival press conference and promotional shots. The Blu-ray comes with a collector's booklet with new writing on the film by film critic David Jenkins and excerpts from Altman on Altman, illustrated with original stills.

Presented in a glorious new 4k digital transfer, 3 Women will be released on UK Blu-ray by Arrow Video under the Arrow Academy banner on 13th July 2015 at the RRP of £24.99.

Extra features will include:

• New video interview with David Thompson, editor of Altman on Altman and producer of the BBC's Robert Altman in England

• Archive interview with Shelley Duvall from the Cannes Film Festival – the actress describes working with Altman, his methods and how she started acting

• Galleries featuring behind-the-scenes photos, the Cannes Film Festival press conference and promotional images

• Trailer

• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh

• Booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic David Jenkins and excerpts from Altman on Altman, illustrated with original stills