The Criterion Collection, purveyors of high class DVDs, today announced that they were entering the Blu-ray field with a spate of fall releases, one of which is Carol Reed’s classic The Third Man, featuring Welles in one of his most iconic roles as Harry Lime. This was announced via their newsletter, and it doesn’t appear to be on their site yet, but visit any decent DVD forum and people will no doubt be frothing with excitement about it, as well they should. Now, how long until we get F FOR FAKE and MR. ARKADIN on Blu?
In other DVD news, Universal is releasing a 50th anniversary edition of TOUCH OF EVIL this summer, but no details have been announced. Rumor has it that this release will see all three versions of the film included, but that remains speculative at this point. We can live in hope. Also announced was Image Entertainment’s release of DON QUIXOTE, which will almost certainly be the Franco abomination rather than anything more worthwhile (and frankly, a blank disc might be a better option).