On 22 March 2021, Indicator presents a pair of world premiere Blu-ray editions of very different, but equally exceptional, Howard Hawks films: The Criminal Code (1931) is a pre-Code prison movie, starring the great Walter Huston (Dragonwyck) as a district attorney-turned-prison warden who gets to witness first-hand the effects of his convictions; and Twentieth Century (1934), another pre-Code production, is the film which not only set the template for the screwball comedy but also made Carole Lombard a major star.
Next is the UK Blu-ray premiere of Crimewave (1985). Directed by Sam Raimi after the success of his The Evil Dead, this comic-book inspired amalgam of slapstick and film noir was scripted by the Coen Brothers, and features an eclectic cast which includes Louise Lasser (Bananas), Paul L Smith (Popeye), Brion James (Blade Runner), and cult favourite Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead).
Also released on 22 March is the world premiere Blu-ray of Things Change (1988), David Mamet’s second feature as director. Mamet regular Joe Mantegna plays Jerry, a low-level gangster assigned to spend the weekend with Gino (played by much-loved screen veteran Don Ameche), who is about to become the fall guy in a gangland killing. Things Change is pure Mamet, demonstrating his trademark wit, intelligence, and knack for rapid-fire dialogue.
THE CRIMINAL CODE (1930) | Limited Edition Blu-ray | 22 March 2021 | £15.99
Howard Hawks (Twentieth Century) made his first film for Columbia Pictures with this pre-Code prison movie. The great Walter Huston (Dragonwyck) stars as a district attorney-turned-prison warden who gets to witness first-hand the effects of his convictions, especially Phillip Holmes (An American Tragedy), imprisoned after killing a man in a drunken brawl.
Co-starring Boris Karloff (Frankenstein), The Criminal Code is tough, no-nonsense, quintessential Hawks.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES:
- High definition remaster
- Original mono soundtrack
- Audio commentary with film historian Nora Fiore (2021)
- The Howard Hawks Masterclass with John Carpenter (1997): archival audio recording of an event from the British Film Institute’s 1997 Howard Hawks retrospective at the National Film Theatre, London
- Kim Newman on Boris Karloff (2021): the author and critic discusses the non-horror roles of the iconic actor
- Codes and Convictions (2021): video essay comparing The Criminal Code with its 1950 film noir remake, Convicted
- Lux Radio Theatre: ‘The Criminal Code’ (1937): radio adaptation starring Edward G Robinson
- Image gallery: publicity and promotional material
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Philip Kemp, extracts from interviews with Howard Hawks, Henri Langlois on the early sound films of Howard Hawks, overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 3,000 copies
TWENTIETH CENTURY (1934) | Limited Edition Blu-ray | 22 March 2021 | £15.99
The second film Howard Hawks (The Criminal Code) made at Columbia Pictures is among his greatest works. John Barrymore plays a theatre impresario down on his luck. Carole Lombard is his former protégé, now a major star. When the two meet by chance aboard the Twentieth Century locomotive, their love-hate relationship is reignited.
Now recognised as a classic, Twentieth Century is the film which established the template for the screwball comedy – and made Lombard a star.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES:
- 4K restoration
- Original mono soundtrack
- Audio commentary with novelist and film historian Farran Smith Nehme (2021)
- Stars in Her Eyes (2021): academic Lucy Bolton discusses the film career of Carole Lombard
- Howard Hawks Study Day (1997): archival audio recording of an event from the British Film Institute’s 1997 Howard Hawks retrospective at the National Film Theatre, London
- Super 8 version: cut-down home cinema presentation
- Image gallery: publicity and promotional material
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson, extracts from interviews with Howard Hawks, overview of contemporary and modern critical responses, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 3,000 copies
CRIMEWAVE (1985) | Limited Edition Blu-ray | 22 March 2021 | £15.99
After the colossal success of The Evil Dead, director Sam Raimi teamed up with the Coen brothers (fresh from Blood Simple) to make his next film, Crimewave, an unusual mixture of screwball comedy, film noir and B-movie homage.
Raimi’s film tells the bizarre story of a security-system installer, Vic (Reed Birney), who finds himself in the electric chair when he falls in love with Nancy (Sheree J Wilson), a femme fatale on the run from two bumbling exterminators ‘of all sizes’ (Paul L Smith and Brion James).
A notoriously troubled production which flopped upon its original release, Crimewave can now be enjoyed as a riotously entertaining showcase for Raimi and the Coens, which also benefits from a highly amusing performance from cult-horror star Bruce Campbell.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES:
- High Definition remaster
- Original mono audio
- Alternative presentation with pre-release Broken Hearts and Broken Noses title sequence
- Audio commentary with actor Bruce Campbell (2013)
- The Crimewave Meter with Bruce Campbell (2013): the Evil Dead star revisits Crimewave and his various collaborations with Sam Raimi
- Made in Detroit with Edward Pressman (2013): the producer discusses his participation in the making of the film
- Leading Man with Reed Birney (2013): the actor talks about his lead role in Crimewave and his wider career
- Rank Outsider (2021): genre-film expert, critic and author Kim Newman remembers the film’s original UK cinema release
- New appreciation by the comedian, musician and writer Rob Deering (2021)
- Alternative titles and credits
- Original theatrical trailers
- TV spots
- Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Amanda Reyes, interview extracts with cast and crew members, an overview of contemporary critical responses and film credits
- UK premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 3,000 copies
THINGS CHANGE (1988) | Limited Edition Blu-ray | 22 March 2021 | £15.99
Written and directed by David Mamet (Oleanna), the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright known for his intense dramas, Things Change is a charming, expertly crafted ‘mistaken identity’ comedy.
The Mob force unassuming shoe-shine man Gino (Don Ameche, Trading Places) into taking the hit for a murder he didn't commit. The pay-off? A fishing boat in Sicily when he gets out. Small-time crook Jerry (Joe Mantegna, House of Games) takes Gino on one last jaunt to Lake Tahoe before his term begins, but, when Gino is mistaken for a major league gangster, the duo soon fall prey to local hoodlums…
An unexpected change of pace for Mamet, Things Change benefits from an intelligent, witty script and superb central performances from Ameche and Mantegna, who received Best Actor awards at the Venice Film Festival for their efforts.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY FEATURES:
- High Definition remaster
- Original stereo audio
- New interview with writer-director David Mamet
- New interview with actor Joe Mantegna
- New Interview with actor William H Macy
- New Interview with composer Alaric Jans
- Original theatrical trailer
- Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Ellen Cheshire, an archival production report, extracts from interviews with David Mamet and Don Ameche, an overview of contemporary critical responses and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 3,000 copies
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