Posted Tue Oct 22, 2013 at 10:00 AM PDT by Tom Landy
Films from Jules Dassin and Michael Mann are getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment this January.
In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is preparing 'Rififi' for Blu-ray on January 14.
After making such American noir classics as 'The Naked City' and 'Brute Force,' blacklisted director Jules Dassin went to Paris and embarked on his masterpiece: a twisting, turning tale of four ex-cons who hatch one last glorious heist in the City of Lights. At once naturalistic and expressionistic, this melange of suspense, brutality, and dark humor was an international hit and earned Dassin the Best Director prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Blu-ray will feature a 2K restored 1080p transfer, uncompressed monaural soundtrack, and supplements will include: Interview with director Jules Dassin; Set design drawings by Alexandre Trauner; Production stills; Trailer; A booklet featuring an essay by critic J. Hoberman.
Michael Mann's 'Thief' will also be available on Blu-ray on the same date.
The revered American auteur Michael Mann burst out of the gate with his bold artistic sensibility fully formed with 'Thief,' his first theatrical feature. James Caan stars, in one of his most riveting performances, as a no-nonsense ex-con safecracker planning to leave the criminal world behind after one final diamond heist, but discovering that escape is not as simple as he hoped. Finding hypnotic beauty in neon and rain-slick streets, sparks and steel, 'Thief' effortlessly established the moody stylishness and tactile approach to action that would define such later iconic entertainments from Mann as 'Miami Vice,' 'Manhunter,' and 'Heat.'
The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements will include: Audio commentary featuring Mann and actor James Caan; New interviews with Mann, Caan, and Johannes Schmoelling of the band Tangerine Dream, which contributed the film's soundtrack; Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Nick James.
Suggested list price for each Blu-ray is $39.95.
You can find the latest specs for 'Rififi' and 'Thief' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under January 14.
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