Audio will be included in both a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack mixed from original magnetic stereo sources, as well as the original 1956 Theatrical mono optical soundtrack! Extras will include a pair of featurettes (Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love and 1956 Premiere Newsreel), the MGM CinemaScope cartoon Millionaire Droopy (1956), audio-only promo spots featuring Crosby with Kelly and Sinatra, and original theatrical trailers.

While we’re talking about Warner Bros., it appears that Brad Bird’s The Iron Giant (1999) has received a recent 4K restoration, and the new 4K DCP is being screened selectively around the country. I’ve had more to say about this title on our Digital Bits Patreon blog today for subscribers. I suspect we’ll hear more about this title officially soon enough.

[Editor’s Note on this title as well: I’ve finally heard back from my studio sources and learned that the Gateway Film Center and AFI screening calendar listings were incorrect regarding the Iron Giant DCP screenings being in 4K—the studio’s latest (and recent) DCP is still 2K only at the moment. While it’s likely that this film will get a 4K restoration at some point sooner than later, it hasn’t happened yet. I’ll share updates as I hear them. Stay tuned…]

Meanwhile, our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics have just revealed that Jared Hess’ Nacho Libre (2006) is coming soon to 4K Ultra HD with a new Dolby Vision master. That’s obviously another great Paramount catalog title.

Which means it’s a good time to confirm that Kino Lorber Studio Classics has recently completed significant catalog licensing deals with both Paramount and Universal. The latter explains KLSC’s recent announcement that Bryan Connolly’s Billy Madison (1995) is coming in 4K UHD on 7/29.

Also coming to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on 7/29 from KLSC are Red Braddock’s Curdled (1996) and Bob Giraldi’s Hiding Out (1987).

Not to be outdone, it’s worth noting that both Arrow Video and Shout! Factory have completed new catalog licensing deals as well with Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment. So trust me when I say that you can expect a lot of great catalog tiles—including fan-favorite genre titles—from both companies in the next 12-24 months. (To wit, you may have seen my comments on Friday with regard to John Boorman’s Excalibur (1981) being in production for physical 4K UHD release.)

Circling back to KLSC for a moment, the company has also revealed that it’s working on a new Blu-ray release of Jean Becker’s French-Italian crime thriller A Man Called Rocca (1961), featuring a 2021 4K restoration by StudioCanal. The street date is TBA.

Also, Kino Lorber is releasing the Manetti Brothers’ Diabolik Trilogy on Blu-ray on 7/29, including the Italian crime actioners Diabolik (2021), Diabolik: Ginko Attacks! (2022), and Diabolik: Who Are You? (2023).

Full Moon Features is releasing David DeCoteau’s Creepozoids (1987) on Blu-ray on 8/12, along with Charles Band’s Blood Dolls (1999).

Discotek Media is releasing Noboru Iguchi’s RoboGeisha (2009) on Blu-ray on 7/29.

And finally today, StudioCanal has just announced a new 4K restoration of Eleanor Coppola, Fax Bahr, and George Hickenlooper’s legendary documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse (1991)! It will premiere at the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Italy in June, and then will get a theatrical showing in the UK on 7/4. Best of all, a physical 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray Collector’s Edition will be released by StudioCanal in the UK on 7/28 (and it appears that the Blu-ray will be all region). Extras will include a pair of all-new featurettes (The Making of Hearts of Darkness and Eleanor Coppola: Art Is All Around Us), as well as legacy special features. Here’s what the package looks like (click on the image to pre-order it on Amazon UK)…

And here’s a look at the restoration trailer…

That’s all for now. Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt

(You can follow Bill on social media on Twitter, BlueSky, and Facebook, and also here on Patreon)