‘Touch of Evil’ Blu-ray set due out April 15

The long-awaited domestic Blu-ray release of “Touch of Evil” is set for April 15. Amazon.com lists the single disc, limited edition release at $29.98, but now available for $20.99. Amazon reports the aspect ratio at 1.85:1 on an all-region release. According to Bluray.com the disc will feature three versions of the film: the Preview Version, […]

Orson Welles fans had much to celebrate in 2013

The past 12 months have been a rewarding time for Orson Welles’ fans. Sure, a completed The Other Side of the Wind is still a dream and no one has discovered Welles’ cut of The Magnificent Ambersons, but there was much to celebrate. • First, there was the discovery of silent footage intended for use […]

‘Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts’ set includes appearances by Orson Welles

Launched in 1974 and running for a decade on NBC, “The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts” gathered some legendary show biz names together to salute and snipe at each other. StarVista/Time Life has released a dozen of these roasts in a new six-DVD collection, which carries a suggested list price of $59.99. Martin was the genial […]

‘Jane Eyre’ with Orson Welles coming to Blu-ray this fall

“Jane Eyre’ starring Orson Welles and Joan Fontaine will make its debut on Blu-ray this fall. Twilight Time, which specializes in limited edition classic films on home video, is listing the 1943 drama, directed by Robert Stevenson, for release on November 12. On the same day, Twilight Time will release the 1968 musical “Oliver!” (1968) […]

‘Touch of Evil’ being readied for Blu-ray release

Universal Studios is readying “Touch of Evil” for domestic release on Blu-ray. Wellesnet veteran Roger Ryan alerted us to a remark made by Michael Daruty, head of Universal’s Technical Operations, in TIME. While the article focused on the restoration and home video release of “Schindler’s List,” Daruty revealed that Welles’ 1958 thriller is undergoing its […]

CITIZEN KANE 70th Anniversary Blu Ray arriving on September 13

Warner Bros. has released the official press release for their 70th Anniversary edition of  Citizen Kane, due out on September 13, 2011. It will come in three editions:   a  DVD 3-disc set, priced at $49.99;  a Blu ray 3-disc set priced at $64.99, and the Amazon exclusive edition which will include a fourth disc […]

ROSABELLA: ORSON WELLES YEARS IN ITALY now out on DVD

Ciro Giorgini has written to let us know that his fine documentary Rosabella is now available on DVD, with new interviews with Elsa Martinelli and Suzanne Cloutier as extras.  It can be ordered from Minimum Fax in Italy For 19. Euros, and comes with the book Orson Welles: Interviews on the art of the Cinema […]

Henry Mancini on the scoring of Orson Welles’s TOUCH OF EVIL

Orson Welles had a perception of everything in the film, including the music. He knew. He truly understood film scoring. …Touch of Evil was one of the best things I’ve ever done. —Henry Mancini ************************* While Orson Welles often had trouble in his dealings with producers and studio executives, he usually attracted the highest calibre […]

Rick Schmidlin on the re-editing and restoration of Orson Welles’s noir masterpiece TOUCH OF EVIL

An Interview with RICK SCHMIDLIN The re-edit producer of ORSON WELLES’ masterpiece TOUCH OF EVIL ************************************************************************** The following interview with Rick Schmidlin took place shortly after the re-edited version of the film debuted in 1998. Since that time I’ve not spoken with Rick, although I was quite happy that he posted many comments about his […]

Universal delivers Orson Welles noir masterpiece TOUCH OF EVIL in three versions

Vargas: You framed that boy, Captain. Framed him! _____________________________________________________ Firstly, Universal Home Entertainment must be greatly commended for finally releasing all three versions of Orson Welles’s Touch of Evil on DVD. This is, in itself, a rather historic milestone and one which Criterion helped paved the way for, with it’s own groundbreaking three-disc set for […]