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Tuesday, 16 September 2014 11:43

Monty Python Live (Mostly), WKRP music update, Penny Dreadful & the My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition

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We’ve got a new Doogan’s Queue column today from Todd (in Gripe Soda), running down all of this week’s best new releases on Blu-ray and DVD. Don’t miss it!

Also this morning, our own Tim Salmons has turned in a Blu-ray review of Joseph Anthony’s Tomorrow (1972) from B2MP Inc. The film stars Robert Duvall and is an adaptation of a short story by William Faulkner. Do check it out.  [Read on here…]

In announcement news today... and we’ve been waiting for this one... Eagle Rock Entertainment has announced the Blu-ray, DVD and digital release of Monty Python Live (Mostly): One Down Five to Go on 11/11 (SRP $24.98 and $19.98 for the discs). This is of course an HD presentation of one of their last-ever performances, recorded live at The O2 arena in London on 7/20. Extras will include behind-the-scenes Sneak Peek featurettes including (The Reunion – November 2013, The Announcement – November 2013, The Production – November 2013 to July 2014, Backstage at The O2 – July 2014, and Highlights from the 10 Shows at London’s O2 Arena – July 2014), plus exclusive footage of the Pythons as Pepperpots and Gumbys. Should be pretty fun.

Our friends at Shout! Factory have posted a statement about the upcoming DVD release of WKRP in Cincinnati: The Complete Series. As many of you know, the series included tons of music from major artists of the 70s and 80s, and fans have wondered whether all of it will be included on the DVD set. The answer is nearly all of it will, but the rights for a few tracks here and there couldn’t be secured. In any case check out Shout!’s statement for the details and our hats off to them for going all-out with what was surely difficult work.

Also today, Showtime and CBS have announced that Penny Dreadful: The Complete First Season will arrive on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/14 (SRP $48.99 and $42.99). Extras will include a number of behind-the-scenes featurettes, including (What is a Penny Dreadful?, Literary Roots, Coming Together, The Artisans Pt. 1, The Artisans Pt. 2, The Grand Guignol, Prostitution and Sex in Victorian Times, British Exploration & The Search for the Nile, and The Science of Medicine), plus the first two episodes of Ray Donovan: Season One as a cross-promote.

Speaking of CBS, Parade magazine has revealed for CBS (though you’d never know it today because the story is already buried on their website) that the My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition will finally arrive on Blu-ray Combo on 12/9. The film has just been given an extensive 4K restoration by none other than Robert A. Harris, and will include 90-plus minutes of never-before-released archive material, trailers, and film of the film’s British premiere. I can promise you this: It looks great. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing some of the restored material in 4K and man! It’s impressive as hell. You’re all in for a treat. Here’s what the open package looks like (the cover art is shown above left)...

My Fail Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray Disc)

Monty Python Live (Mostly) (Blu-ray Disc)    Penny Dreadful: The Complete First Season (Blu-ray Disc)    My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition (Blu-ray Disc)

As you can see, we also posted the cover artwork for Monty Python Live (Mostly): One Down Five to Go, Penny Dreadful: Season One and the My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition. Note that the new My Fair Lady BD isn’t available for pre-order yet on Amazon, but we’ll add it ASAP.

That’s all for now. Check back tomorrow for new columns from Michael Coate and more. Stay tuned…

- Bill Hunt