laureatedvd.com

[oscar_merkx]

http://www.digitalbits.com/#mytwocents

Also, Paramount has announced MTV's Laguna Beach: The Complete First Season for release on 7/19. The High and the Mighty is now set for 8/2, with Homeland Security due to follow on 8/23.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=209150&perpage=20&display=&pagenumber=3

see post 53 for the coverart

[Ken Barnes]

Thanks, Oscar, for pointing this out. If I'm not mistaken, this is a first time video release in any format. And it's to be followed by an even rarer Wayne film "Island in the Sky." Great news for fans of the Duke

[oscar_merkx]

Here are the specs
Details on the DVD's:

THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY

Year: 1954
Running Time: 2 Hours 28 Minutes
Special Collector's Edition 2 Disc DVD Set
Widescreen Version Enhanced for 16:9 TVs
Dolby Digital: English 5.1 Surround, English 2.0 Surround
English Subtitles
Introduction by Leonard Matlin
Commentary by Leonard Matlin, William Wellman, Jr., Karen Sharpe, Pedro Gonzales-Gonzales and Vincent Longo
The Batjac Story
Stories From The Set
The Music And World Of Dimitri Tiomkin
Restoring A Classic
A Place In Flim History
Ernest K. Gann - Adventurer, Author & Artist
Flying In The Fifties
Theatrical Trailer
Television Trailer
The High And The Mighty Premiere Footage
Batjac Montage
Photo Gallery







Island in the Sky


THE ISLAND IN THE SKY

Year: 1953
Running Time: 1 Hours 49 Minutes
Special Collector's Edition
Full Screen Format
Dolby Digital: English Mono
English Subtitles
Introduction by Leonard Matlin
Commentary by Leonard Matlin, William Wellman, Jr., Darryl Hickman, James Lydon and Vincent Longo
Dooley's Down: The Making of Island In The Sky
Ernest K. Gann - Adventurer, Author & Artist
Flight School - The Art of Aerial Photography
The John Wayne Stock Company: Harry Carey,Jr.
Flying For Uncle Sam
Theatrical Trailer
Newsreel Footage of Premiere
Introduction to Gunsmoke TV Promo
Batjac Montage
Photo Gallery

[Ken Barnes]

Thanks, Oscar. This looks like a real high flying package.

Wayne collectors will find these irresistible

[G. Baynton]

Now that the John Wayne Estate have done a deal with Paramount which will encompass not just rarities like "The High and The Mighty," "Island in the Sky", "Hondo" and a much-awaited restored version of "McClintock" but also the Republic catalogue, perhaps we can see titles like " Dark Command," "The Fighting Seabees" and "War of the Wildcats" given decent DVD presentations unlike the slapdash Universal versions of recent memory.

Is there any chance that Laureate could be involved with these ?

[Kevin Craig]

Having recently purchased the first three titles in Paramount's series of John Wayne Batjac titles High and the Mighty, Island in the Sky and - the best of the three - Hondo, it's pleasure to report how beauitifully these DVDs have been presented. Unlike the clumsy and slapdash job that Universal did with their grotesquely misjudged John Wayne box set, these DVDs have a wealth of extras and can be wholeheartedly recommended.

[N. B.]

I've just purchased the new Paramount Special Edition DVD of "Hondo."
Apart from being one of John Wayne's best films, the DVD offers a superb quality picture, a welcome 5.1 soundtrack and a great batch of extras.

If all of Paramount's Batjac releases are going to be this good ( as are
"The High and the Mighty" and "Island in the Sky" ) then this is a series to collect. What a pity Universal didn't take the same caring approach with their mammoth box set.

[M. Belling]

I can report that Paramount's new DVD of "McLintock" offers a terrific picture quality, good sound, loads of extras. But the film itself is far from being John Wayne's best. Sure, it's good to see him with Maureen O'Hara,but the film itself simply doesn't justify its 127 minutes running time. The main fault is the script and the fact that nothing much happens.

I'm a big fan of John Wayne but I found this picture ponderous and tiresome. Let's hope that further films in Paramount's Wayne collection get back to more powerful stuff.

[D.Clarkwell]

While I can see M. Belling's point about McLintock, I think The High and the Mighty is even more pedestrian. The dialogue in this so-called classic is more like a series of dreary sermons and monotonous monologues.
The strange thing is that both films were huge box-office hits in their day.

But were they Wayne's worst films ? No, Nothing is worse than The Conqueror unless it's Jet Pilot. I say this in all candour and yet, believe it or not, I'm a big admirer of the Duke and I think Paramount's new DVD series is well done. I especially like Hondo and I hope that future releases will concentrate on the best of John Wayne.

[J.D.]

I agree that "The High and the Mighty," "Island in the Sky" and "McLintock" are far from being John Wayne's best films, but it's still great to have them available and in suuch fine DVD presentations.

"Hondo," on the other hand, is a superb Western and with the added DVD extras, this is top notch Wayne. It packs a lot of story and loads of action into just 83 minutes and is easily one the Duke's most satisfying films.

I hear that Paramount have now taken over the entire Republic catalogue,so perhaps we will, at last, get decent presntations of those films which Universal presented so badly in their disappointing box set.