Arrow Video’s December Releases Spotlight Rob Reiner, David Lynch, ‘Logan’s Run,’ ‘Bullitt,’ And More
by David Lewis
Every month, Arrow Video releases a handful of cult films, overlooked Hollywood items, and all types of genre excursions from all over the world on physical media. But it turns out the boutique label has been saving some of their biggest releases for the end of the year, offering some very popular hits for December.
First up, wanna go for a ride? David Lynch‘s 1986 noir nightmare Blue Velvet is getting the Arrow 4K UHD treatment. Starring Kyle McLachlan, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini, Dean Stockwell, and Dennis Hopper, the Oscar-nominated cult classic explores the dark underbelly of suburbia and inner-ear ruptures. The UK-only 2-disc set includes a treasure trove of special features. You’ll get The Lost Footage, which includes nearly an hour of deleted material; a feature-length “meditation” on the making of the film; a 2002 documentary; excerpts from the censored TV version; and a 1986 episode of Siskel & Ebert at The Movies, in which the critics give wildly different takes on the film. Plus all the usual Arrow goodies, such as trailers and TV spots, a perfect-bound book, a double-sided poster, and more.
It’s Carousel time! Renew! 1976’s Logan’s Run is up next, presented on 4K UHD in a new 4K restoration from the original negative. Michael York stars as the title character in a dystopian tale where no one is allowed to live past the age of 30. It also stars Peter Ustinov, Farrah Fawcett, and Jenny Agutter. Special features include an archival audio commentary with York, director Michael Anderson, and costume designer Bill Thomas, plus a previously unreleased solo commentary with York, and a third commentary with film historians. Plus, you can expect interviews, featurettes, video essays, deleted scenes and alternate angles, newsreel footage, trailers, TV spots and radio spots, a reversible sleeve, a double-sided poster, a perfect-bound book, six postcards, stickers, and more.
Next up, Arrow pays tribute to the late, great Rob Reiner with a UK-only 4K UHD edition of the 1988 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally…, starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. It includes a commentary with Crystal, Reiner, and writer Nora Ephron, and a second solo commentary with Reiner. There’s also The Directors: Rob Reiner documentary, interviews, featurettes, a music video for “It Had To Be You” by Harry Connick Jr., deleted scenes, a collectors’ booklet, a reversible sleeve, and more.
Move over, A Christmas Story; Arrow is celebrating the yuletide season with the 4K UHD release of the best holiday movie that director Bob Clark ever made — 1974’s proto-slasher classic Black Christmas. Starring Margot Kidder, John Saxon, Olivia Hussey, and Keir Dullea, Christmas arrived four years before Halloween, but is still bone-chilling. The UK-only disc comes with four audio commentaries, including one with Clark and one with Saxon and Dullea, plus documentaries, featurettes, archival interviews, two scenes with alternate audio effects, alternative title sequences, and more.
Moving from ice-cold horror to just plain ol’ cool, Arrow is revving up a 4K UHD of the 1969 police thriller Bullitt starring the incomparable Steve McQueen as a San Francisco detective who likes to drive fast and inspired big screen action heroes for decades after. Sporting a new 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative, the 4K includes the feature-length documentary The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing. It also comes with a vintage audio commentary with director Peter Yates, a new commentary with film critics, featurettes, interviews, trailers, a reversible sleeve, a collectors’ booklet, and more. Available in the US and UK.
Keeping the pedal to the metal, Arrow hops across the Pacific for the 4K UHD release of 1989’s action comedy Pedicab Driver, starring Sammo Hung. He and Once Upon a Time in China vet Max Mok play pedicab drivers who find out that their respective love interests both have ties to the same ruthless mafia boss. With a new 4K restoration from the original negative, the 4K comes with new audio commentary by Hong Kong film experts, interviews, featurettes, the theatrical trailer, a reversible sleeve, a collectors’ booklet, and more. Available in the US and UK.
Finally, don’t miss Arrow’s November releases, which include a Coen Brothers classic, the original Clash of the Titans, and more.
