Q1 2018 TBDJacques Rivette's
La Belle Noiseuse (1991) on blu-ray from Cohen Media Group, from a new 4K restoration
Frenhofer, a once-famous artist hasn't painted in ten years. His last work, possibly his masterpiece, La Belle Noiseuse (the beautiful annoyance) remains unfinished. When another artist and his girlfriend Marianne visit, the beautiful and fiercely intelligent young woman inspires Frenhofer, and she reluctantly agrees to be his new model. Twisting Marianne's gloriously undressed body into torturous positions, the posing begins in wary hostility and escalates into a battle of the wills. Yet gradually, their efforts become a sincere collaboration, driving both to dangerous limits. One of the New Wave's greatest directors, Rivette creates a powerful, passionate film about an artist seeking truth, regardless of the cost.NSFWQ1 2018 TBDKing Vidor's
Ruby Gentry (1952) on blu-ray from Kino
Carolina is the setting for this family drama which has a young tomboy (Jennifer Jones) falling for a local gentleman (Charlton Heston). Their relationship is as tempestuous as her lifestyle, which eventually takes her off to the seas as the captain of a ship. February 19, 2018Frank Borzage's
Magnificent Doll (1946) on blu-ray from Arrow UK
Dolly Payne is adored by two leaders of the fledgling American government, James Madison and Aaron Burr. She plays each against the other, not only for romantic reasons, but also to influence the shaping of the young country. By manipulating Burr's affections, she helps Thomas Jefferson win the presidency, and eventually she becomes First Lady of the land herself.Magnificent Doll (1946) - Amazon UKFebruary 12/3, 2018Federico Fellini's
Orchestral Rehearsal (1978) on blu-ray from Arrow UK and Arrow US
Made in 1978 for Italian television, Orchestra Rehearsal is possibly Fellini's most satirical and overtly political film.
An allegorical pseudo-documentary, the film depicts an Italian television crew's visit to a dilapidated auditorium (a converted 13th-century church) to meet an orchestra assembling to rehearse under the instruction of a tyrannical conductor. The TV crew interviews the various musicians who each speak lovingly about their chosen instruments. However, as petty squabbles break out amid the different factions of the ensemble, and the conductor berates his musicians, the meeting descends into anarchy and vandalism. A destructive crescendo ensues before the musicians regroup and play together once more in perfect harmony.
Abounding with its director's trademark rich imagery and expressive style, Orchestra Rehearsal marks the last collaboration between Fellini and the legendary composer Nino Rota (due to the latter s death in 1979) who provides one of his most beautiful themes in the film s conclusion.Orchestral Rehearsal (1978) - Amazon UKQ1 2018 TBDHenry S. Kesler's Cold War noir
5 Steps to Danger (1957) on blu-ray from ClassicFlix, from a new 4K restoration
Hitchhiking on a deserted New Mexico road after his car breaks down, John Emmett (Sterling Hayden) gets picked up by Ann Nicholson (Ruth Roman), who is in a rush to reach Santa Fe, N.M. The distraught Ann is being pursued by psychiatrist Frederick Simmons (Werner Klemperer), who has been treating her in Los Angeles since she had a nervous breakdown, but she tells John that she is in possession of nuclear secrets that she must deliver to Dr. Reinhart Kissel (Karl Lindt) at a Santa Fe university.