BLU-RAY REVIEW

Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection Volume 3

Featured In Issue 264, November/December 2022

Picture4.5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
11888066
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated | R | PG |PG-13
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$164.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-66)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
(Running Time In Minutes):
Various
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
ABC
(Theatrical Year):
(Theatrical Release):
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
11/25/2022
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
(Director):
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(Subtitles):

The limited edition "Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection Volume 3" features for the first time ever six landmark films: "It Happened One Night", "From Here To Eternity", To Sir, With Love", "The Last Picture Show", "Annie" and "As Good As It Gets" in 4K Ultra HD. Included is a 80-page hardbound book featuring in-depth sections about the making of each film within the set via six all-new inclusive essays from renowned writers.

"It Happened One Night" (105 minutes) Not Rated

Directed by Frank Capra, "It Happened One Night' has Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert teaming up for laughs as mismatched lovers in this 1934 screwball comedy classic. Spoiled Ellie Andrews (Colbert) escapes from her millionaire father (Walter Connolly), who wants to stop her from marrying a worthless playboy. En route to New York City, Ellie gets involved with an out-of-work newsman, Peter Warne (Gable). When their bus breaks down, the bickering couple set off on a madcap hitchhiking expedition. Complications fly when the runaway heiress and brash reporter fall in love. The film was the first to be honored with all five major Oscars®: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Screenplay.

"From Here To Eternity" (118 minutes) Not Rated

In "From Here To Eternity," passion and tragedy collide on a military base as a fateful day in December 1941 draws near. Private Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) is a soldier and former boxer being manipulated by his superior and peers. His friend Maggio (Frank Sinatra) tries to help him but has his own troubles. Sergeant Warder (Burt Lancaster) and Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr) tread on dangerous ground as lovers in an illicit affair. Each of their lives will be changed when their stories culminate in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Winner of eight Oacars®, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting awards for Frank Sinatra and for Donna Reed.

"To Sir, With Love" (105 minutes) Not Rated

In "To Sir, With Love" (1967), a novice teacher faces a class of rowdy, undisciplined working-class punks. The film reflected some of the problems and fears of teens in the 1960s. Sidney Poitier gives on of his finest performances as Mark Thackeray, an out-of-work engineer who turns to teaching in London's tough East End. The graduating class, led by Denham (Christian Roberts), Pamela (Judy Geeson) and Barbara (Lulu), sets out to destroy Thackeray as they did his predecessor by breaking his spirit. But Thackaray, no stranger to hostility, meets the challenge by treating his students as young adults who will soon enter a work force where they must stand or fall on their own.

"The Last Picture Show" (118 minutes) Rated R

Released in 1971, Director Peter Bogdanovich's "The Last Picture Show' garnered eight Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture. The film is a frank, bittersweet drama of social and sexual mores in small-town Texas. The film features a talent-laden cast led by Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepard and Timothy Bottoms. Cloris Leachman and Ben Johnson each won Oscars® for their work in supporting roles,

"Annie" (127 minutes) Rated PG

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, "Annie" is the musical story of plucky, red-haired orphan. One day Annie (Aileen Quinn) is chosen to stay for a week with the famous billionaire "Daddy" Warbucks (Albert Finney). One week turns into many, and the only person standing in the way of Annie's fun is Miss Hannigan, the tyrannical ruler of the orphanage (Carol Burnett). Will Miss Hannigan's zany attempts to kidnap the irrepressible Annie succeed?

"As Good As It Gets" (139 minutes) Rated PG-13

Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Greg Kinnear and Cuba Gooding, Jr. star in James L. Brooks' comedy, "As Good As It Gets," now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Nicholson won an Academy Award® for his performance as Melvin Udall, an obsessive-compulsive novelist with Manhattan's meanest mouth. But when neighbor Simon is hospitalized, Melvin is forced to babysit Simon's dog. And that unexpected act of kindness, along with waitress Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) helps put Melvin back in the human race. Nominated for seven Academy Awards®, including Best Picture (1997) and both Nicholson and Hunt winning Oscars®.

Special features include a digital copy of each film:

"It Happened One Night"

A new freaturette "You Can't Run Away From It", the 1956 remake starring June Allyson and Jack Lemon newly restored in HD, commentary featuring Frank Capra, Jr., the featurettes 'Frank Capra Jr. Remembers"and "Screwball Comedy?", original live radio broadcast, advertising material and theatrical trailer.

"From Here To Eternity"

New freaturettes are "Strength And Sacrifice: The Making Of", "Eternal History Revisited", "From Here To Esternitys 1980 TV Pilot" starring William Devane and Barbara Hershey. Also included are the theatrical trailers, and excerpt from "Fred Zimnnemnn––As I See It" and commentary featuring Zinnemann and Alvin Sargent. There is a bonus disc containing the nearly five-hour 1979 TV miniseries starring Natalie Wood, William Devane and Peter Boyle, presented in HD.

"To Sir, With Love"

Features commentary by Actor Judy Gleeson and film historians Julie Kirgo and Nick El, commentary with novelist E.R. Braithwaite and author/teacher Salome Thomas-El. Featurettes are comprised of the new "To Sir, With Love II" the 1992 TV movie sequel, "To Poitier, With Love", "Beginnings Of An Acting Career", "Those Schoolboy Days", "Look And Learn", "E.R. Braithwaite: In His Own Words", Lulu And The B-Side", "Miniskirts, Blue Jeans And Pop Music!", "To Sidney, With Love" and "Principle El: He Chose To Stay". And the theatrical trailer.

"The Last Picture Show'

Both the Director's Cut and the Theatrical Version are in 4K Ultra HD. Special features on the Blu-ray Disc are commentary featuring Director Peter Bogdanovich, the featurettes "A Look Back Documentary", the new "A Tribute To Bogdanovich", "A Discussion With Filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich", "Location Footage" and "Promotional Featurette" and theatrical trailers.

"Annie"

Special feature are the new "Little Orphan Annie", a newly HD restored 1932 feature starring Mitzi Green as Annie; a new cast commentary; the featurettes "Aileen Quinn: A Conversation" (new), "Behind The Music With Charles Strouse" (new), "Looking Back: Behind The Scenes" (new), "Sing Along With Annie!", "My Hollywood Adventure With Aileen Quinn" and "Musical Performances By Play: It's the Hard-Knock Life"; and the theatrical trailers and TV spots.

"As Good As It Gets"

Special features are commentary featuring Director James L. Brooks, Stars Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt and Greg Kinnear, Editor Richard Marks, Producer Laurence Mark and Composer Hans Zimmer, the featurettes "Behind The Scenes Footage" (new), "The Making Of As Good As It Gets" (new) and "Archival Theatrical EPK Soundbites" (new), two deleted scenes, and theatrical trailer.

The 2.40:1, 1.85:1, 1.37:1 and 1.33:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10 pictures were reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display and sourced from 4K Digital Intermediate formats.

Four of the film are presented in Dolby Atmos with all new mixes.

"It Happened One Night" 4K (3.5)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)

"From Here to Eternity" 4K (3.5)
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)
German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)

"To Sir, with Love" 4K (4)
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)
German: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)

"The Last Picture Show" 4K (3.5)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)

"Annie" 4K (4)
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Italian: Dolby Digital 4.0
Korean: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Polish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps)
German: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps)

"As Good as It Gets" 4K (4.5)
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0
Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0
Chinese: Dolby Digital 2.0
Czech: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps)