Eureka has announced its June 2020 masters of Cinema line-up today, which will feature a new 4K restoration of a true film noir masterpiece, Criss Cross, another trademark satirical and cynical comedy from Billy Wilder, A Foreign Affair, plus a re-issue of Martin Scorsese's rock documentary, The Last Waltz.
Criss Cross (USA 1949) | Blu-ray | 22 June 2020
llicit passion, greed, robbery, and murder collide in Criss Cross, a classic film noir suspense tale from a true master of the genre, Robert Siodmak (The Killers).
Steve Thompson (Burt Lancaster – Novecento, Birdman of Alcatraz) is a hardworking armoured car driver with a fatal attraction to his ex-wife Anna (Yvonne De Carlo – The Munsters), who’s now married to notorious hoodlum Slim Dundee (Dan Duryea – Winchester ‘73). Unable to stay away from her, Steve has a secret tryst with Anna … only to be discovered by Dundee. To cover up their affair, Steve convinces Dundee that he only met with Anna to get Dundee’s help in robbing an upcoming payroll shipment he will be driving. The hood falls for the ruse, which triggers a series of harrowing events that ultimately lead to violence and death.
Blu-ray features:
- 1080p presentation on Blu-ray, from a new 4K scan of the original nitrate negative
- Uncompressed LPCM 2.0 audio
- New audio commentary by film author Lee Gambin, and actress Rutanya Alda
- New video piece on the film by film scholar Adrian Martin
- Theatrical trailer
- Collector’s booklet featuring new writing by film historian Kat Ellinger; an essay by Adam Batty; archival writing and imagery
A Foreign Affair (USA 1948) | Blu-ray | 22 June 2020
From the inimitable Billy Wilder (Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend) comes this classic comedy that mixes romance with hard-boiled wit in a story about stiff-necked Iowa congresswoman Phoebe Frost (Jean Arthur – Shane) mired in jaded postwar Berlin.
As she investigates the morale of American troops, Phoebe is cynically wooed by fellow Iowan Captain John Pringle (John Lund), who is trying to cover up his affair with Nazi-tainted chanteuse Erika von Schlütow (Marlene Dietrich – Witness for the Prosecution, The Blue Angel).
Filled with sharp dialogue and satiric jabs, A Foreign Affair is one of Wilder’s most beloved comedies, which is making its UK Blu-ray debut here.
Blu-ray features:
- 1080p presentation on Blu-ray
- Uncompressed LPCM 2.0 audio
- Audio commentary by film historian Joseph McBride
- New video piece on the film by critic Kat Ellinger
- Archival interview with Billy Wilder
- Theatrical trailer
- Collector’s booklet featuring new writing by film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas; a new essay by critic Richard Combs; and more!
The Last Waltz (USA 1978) | Standard Edition Blu-ray | 22 June 2020
Perhaps the greatest rock documentary ever made, Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz captures what was advertised as legendary rock group The Band’s final farewell concert appearance. Joined on stage by more than a dozen special guests, including Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Muddy Waters and Joni Mitchell, The Last Waltz started as a concert, but it became a celebration.
Interspersed with candid discussions between director Scorsese and members of The Band, The Last Waltz has been called “the greatest rock concert movie ever made – and maybe the best rock movie, period.” And remember, “This film should be played loud!”
Blu-ray features:
- 1080p presentation of the film on Blu-ray
- PCM 5.1 Audio
- Optional English SDH subtitles
- Audio Commentary by director Martin Scorsese and Musician Robbie Robertson
- Audio Commentary by “The Band” members Levon Helm and Garth Hudson, journalists Jay Cocks and Greil Marcus, creative consultant Mardik Martin, producers Jonathan Taplin and Steven Prince, Cameraman Michael Chapman, Music Producer John Simon, Irwin Winkler and performers Mavis Staples, Dr. John and Ronnie Hawkins (includes optional subtitles identifying who is talking)
- Revisiting The Last Waltz featurette [22 mins]
- Archival Outtakes
- Stills gallery
- Collector’s booklet including essays and archival writing on the film
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