It's been awhile coming, but finally Warner Bros. has broken open their vault and bringing out the master of thrillers, Alfred Hitchcock for modern 3D! His 1954 DIAL M FOR MURDER will be remastered for today's audience and 3D screens. I couldn't be happier!Look for the release on Blu-ray 3D October 9.
Here are the original specs for the film:
- Camera: Warner All-Media
- Laboratory: Warner Bros. Studio Laboratory, USA (color by: WarnerColor)
- Film negative format (mm/video inches): 35 mm
- Cinematographic process: StereoVision 3-D (re-release version); WarnerVision (dual-strip 3-D)
- Printed film format: 35 mm
- Aspect ratio: 1.85 : 1
Here's the storyline from RottenTomatoes (rated a stellar 81% by critics and 89% by audience):
Based on the popular mystery play by Frederick Knott, Dial M For Murder is more talky and stagebound than most Hitchcock films, but no less enjoyable. British tennis pro Ray Milland suspects that his wealthy wife Grace Kelly is fooling around with handsome American Robert Cummings. Milland blackmails a disgraced former army comrade (Anthony Dawson) into murdering Kelly and making it look like the work of a burglar. But Milland's carefully mapped-out scheme does not take into account the notion that Kelly might fight back and kill her assailant. When the police (represented by John Williams) investigate, Milland improvises quickly, subtly planting the suggestion that his wife has committed first-degree murder. He almost gets away with it; to tell you more would spoil the fun of the film's final thirty minutes. Hitchcock claimed that he chose this single-set play because he was worn out from several earlier, more ambitious projects, and wanted to "recharge his batteries." Compelled by Warner Bros. to film Dial M for Murder in 3-D, Hitchcock perversely refused to throw in the standard in-your-face gimmickry of most stereoscopic films of the era--though watch how he visually emphasizes an important piece of evidence towards the end of the film.
Warner Bros. is also releasing STRANGERS ON A TRAIN in it's original 2D.
Here's the trailer:
And here's the press release (for full details including STRANGERS ON A TRAIN - click the source link at the bottom):
DIAL M FOR MURDER RETURNS IN 3D!
On Blu-ray 3D™ October 9 From Warner Home Video
Oscar® Winners Grace Kelly and Ray Milland Star
Burbank, Calif., June 22, 2012 – Dial M for Murder, Alfred Hitchock's suspense classic, was among the first films that helped Warner Bros. introduce 3D in U.S. theatres in the early '50s. Now, thanks to advanced Blu-ray™ technology and the tireless efforts of Warner Bros.' Motion Picture Imaging (MPI) division, Warner Home Video has meticulously and painstakingly restored the original 3D presentation, and, when Dial M for Murder Blu-ray 3D debuts October 9, audiences will finally be able to see the film in their homes as it was originally meant to be seen. A 2D version will also be included for those who have yet to upgrade TVs and players to 3D. Dial M for Murder Blu-ray 3D will be priced at $35.99 SRP, and the order due date is September 4.
Originally designed to lure audiences away from their TV sets, 3D utilized a "left-eye/right-eye" dual projection process and polarized glasses, the basis for what is seen today. However, with the advent of CinemaScope ("the miracle you can see without glasses") and the higher costs associated with 3D, the fad was fading by the time Dial M for Murder was released in theatres. As a result, most 1954 moviegoers only saw the film projected in 2D, and it wasn't until the early 1980s that a classic 3D film revival allowed Dial M for Murder to be briefly seen theatrically, albeit in a "faux 3D" 70 mm composite print.
To ready Dial M for Murder for this current release, MPI's work included a 4K scan of the original camera negative, and a full restoration of the two "eyes," as well as convergence fixes to ensure perfect alignment.
Said Jeff Baker, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog:
"Given the current trend toward 3D, we're delighted to be releasing this authentic classic 3D. This is not a conversion from 2D to 3D, but an original work, with a big tip of the cap to MPI, that illustrates just how good 3D can be. The Warner library has the largest number of classic 3D titles (15) of any studio and over the years we've been looking to release them, but not until now has the technology been perfected to the point we can do that. We're hoping Dial M for Murder is the first of several classic 3D films to be released, with the long-awaited, much requested "House of Wax" expected next."
Ranked number 9 on the American Film Institute's 2008 list of the 10 greatest films in the "Mystery" genre, Dial M for Murder was adapted by Frederick Knott from his hit Broadway stage play. The film stars two Oscar® winners: Grace Kelly (Best Actress in a Leading Role, The Country Girl, 1954) in her Hitchcock film debut and Ray Milland (Best Actor in a Leading Role, The Lost Weekend, 1945). Robert Cummings ("The Bob Cummings Show") and John Williams (Midnight Lace) also star.
Synopsis – Dial M for Murder
When American writer Mark Halliday (Cummings) begins a relationship with the very married Margot Wendice (Kelly) in London, he unknowingly sets off a chain of blackmail and murder. After sensing Margot's affections for Halliday, her husband, Tony Wendice (Milland), fears divorce and disinheritance, and plots her death. Knowing former school chum Captain Lesgate aka Charles Swann (Anthony Dawson) is involved in illegal activities, Tony blackmails him into conspiring to kill Margot. When she ends up killing Lesgate in self-defense, Tony implicates her as being guilty of premeditated murder. Halliday must out-strategize Tony to save Margot's life.
Special Features:
Featurettes: Hitchcock and Dial M and 3D: A Brief History
· Original 1954 Theatrical trailer
DIAL M FOR MURDER BLU-RAY 3D
Street Date: October 9, 2012
Order Due Date: September 4, 2012
Rating: PG
Feature Run time: 105 mins.
Pricing: $35.99 SRP
Cat: 1000298479
Note: All enhanced content listed above is subject to change.
"OSCAR®" and "ACADEMY AWARD®" are the registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
About Warner Home Video:
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc., commands the largest home entertainment distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Video and New Line Cinema.
This is a VERY good day indeed...
Source: Engadget Thanks for the heads up Mr. Turner!
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