Warner Archive Collection New Releases: Out West and Down South
TV Tune In Time
THE DAKOTAS: THE COMPLETE SERIES (1962-63) Marshall Frank Ragan (Larry Ward) is the Lawman, Deputy J.D. Smith (Jack Elam) is the Gunslinger, Deputy Del Stark (Chad Everett) is the Killer's Son and Deputy Vance Porter (Mike Greene) is the Gentle Giant. Unlikely companions on the trail of justice, but thanks to a shared injustice, the four come together as an unstoppable, unwavering quartet of crimefighters out to ensure that evil never again be allowed to flourish in the badlands of the Dakota territory. The Dakotas quickly established itself as a breed apart from William T. Orr's other classic Warner Bros. TV Westerns. Its heroes are a bit darker, its tales a bit more daring, and its corner of the West a bit more grim and gritty. Future TV superstars having a sojourn in this stark series include Russell Johnson (Gilligan's Island), Richard Jaeckel (Spenser: For Hire), Werner Klemperer (Hogan's Heroes), Telly Savalas (Kojak), and DeForest Kelly (Star Trek). Initial quantities of this release will be traditionally replicated (pressed) in anticipation of high consumer demand.
KUNG FU: THE LEGEND CONTINUES, THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (1993-94) As the second season begins, Kwai Chang Caine (David Carradine) returns to the city his son, Peter (Chris Potter), calls home in an attempt to make peace with the past and build a new future. But not all are content to let the past remain behind as a slew of menaces, both mob and mystical, return to imperil the city's innocents. It's a good thing there's a hero cop and his Kung Fu master "Pop" on hand to keep the peace and dole out some Eastern wisdom... Among the threats are a returning Shadow Assassin (Martin Kove), Tan's sorceress spawn, Zia (Marla Sucharetza), and master criminal George Vladpallin (Geordie Johnson). Not all the returns are unwelcome though - as a kidnapped Kwai Chang and Dalai Lama (James Hong) sends the 'Dragonswing' team (Sixties superspies Robert Vaughn and Patrick MacNee) back into action. Other guests of note are Neve Campbell, Mako and Regis Philbin (as himself!). Initial quantities of this release will be traditionally replicated (pressed) in anticipation of high consumer demand.
HART OF DIXIE, THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON (2013-14) This beloved fish-out-of-water rom-dramedy continues to offer charm, quirk and plenty of "Southern exposure" as its third season puts transplant Eastern doc Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) through her BlueBell paces. As the season begins, Zoe has seemingly left it all behind - including Wade (Wilson Bethel) - to settle down in the big city with the perfect man toy (Josh Cooke) when, thanks to Dr. Brick Breeland (Tim Matheson), she must return for one last goodbye. But this farewell may turn into a Southern fried hello! Also starring Jaimie King, Cress Williams, Kaitlyn Black and Scott Porter. 16x9 Widescreen Initial quantities of this release will be traditionally replicated (pressed) in anticipation of high consumer demand.
Monogram & Allied Artists Presents
BLACK MIDNIGHT (1949) When he was a young man, cinema legend Roddy McDowell starred and produced a series of films for Monogram in order to learn about the business from the inside out. Under the auspices of Oscar 'Budd' Boetticher, already showing signs of his future Western greatness, a wild thoroughbred gallops through the middle of a young man's quest to redeem his criminal cousin. With Kirby Grant and Lyn Thomas.
BAD MEN OF TOMBSTONE (1949) Monogram mashes the western and crime movie genre together for a satisfying stew of unsavory characters double-crossing themselves in this Cowboy Noir. Barry Sullivan stars as Tom Horn, a desperate man one sliver away from making the right choice, but too venal and weak to actually make it. Tossed in a cell with unabashed bad man William Morgan (Broderick Crawford), Horn finds himself number two in the baddest gang in lawless Tombstone. But a lass (Marjorie Reynolds) and a fortune in stolen gold may tempt Horn one step too far.
SEVEN ANGRY MEN (1955) Allied Artists brings its "A" game to this gripping biopic about abolitionist John Brown that serves up a most arresting perspective on the notorious freedom fighter - that of his own family. Raymond Massey is masterful as Brown - ably mixing kindness and killer inside a Prophet-like frame. Jeffrey Hunter is the scion we follow the tale of the desperate quest to keep Kansas slave-free. Co-starring Debra Paget and featuring Dennis Weaver and Guy Williams as two more of the Brown boys. 16x9 Widescreen
SCREAMING EAGLES (1956) On the eve of the invasion of Normandy, three new recruits join the seasoned men of 1st Platoon, "D" Company, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment - The Screaming Eagles. Pvt. Mason (Tom Tryon) is the square peg jamming up the efficient workings of the squad - but when their night drop lands the paratroopers 20 miles behind the objective, the private must learn how to be a soldier, fast. With a cast of up-and-comers, including Martin Milner, Alvy Moore, Robert Blake, Paul Burke, Mark Damon and Jacqueline Beer. 16x9 Widescreen
FACE OF FIRE (1959) Just off The Red Badge of Courage, Albert Band returns to the works of Stephen Crane for this realist horror show about intolerance in small town 19th Century America that's based on the classic novella, The Monster. Monk Johnson (James Whitmore) is the most popular gent in town - especially where the ladies are concerned - but a chemical fire destroys his face and much of his mind. But the local surgeon (Cameron Mitchell), will do anything he can to save this 'Monster' the town now abhors because he sustained his injuries while saving his son. Interestingly, Band deploys these two journeyman character actors against type, with the harder Mitchell as a compassionate man of science and letters, and the loquacious Whitmore as the scarred and inarticulate monster. 16x9 Widescreen
Warner Archive at WonderCon 2015
This weekend we're shipping out to far off Anaheim to celebrate the finest in genre TV/films, animation and Robin's 75th Birthday at WonderCon! Come see us at the following panels:
Toonstock II: Warner Archive Collection's Music Meister Sing-Along
Saturday, April 4 • 5:45pm - 6:45pm Room 300DE
Once more, with feeling! You're invited to the second annual toe-tapping, floor-stomping celebration of great cartoon music, this year featuring the first-ever WonderCon Anaheim exclusive sing-along with the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "Mayhem of the Music Meister." Join composers Kristopher Carter, Michael McCuistion, and Lolita Ritmanis, BTBATB producer James Tucker, Michael Jelenic, Warner Archive Collection podcast hosts Matt Patterson and DW Ferranti, and a few surprise guests for an entertaining, interactive look/listen at some of the great cartoon music of the past 50+ years.
Warner Archive Collection's More Than Sidekicks!
Sunday, April 5 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm Room 300AB
Superheroes may get the glory, but it's their "sidekicks" that do all the real heavy lifting...and steal your heart. Join the definitive voice of Robin, Loren Lester (Batman: The Animated Series), Eisner Award-winning writer J.M. DeMatteis, Warner Archive Collection podcasters D. W. Ferranti and Matthew Patterson, and a myriad of special guests for an engaging look at some of the most endearing sidekicks to grace popular DC-based TV series; from Burt Ward in the 1966 Batman series and Legends of the Superheroes TV special and the early TV cartoon incarnations of Teen Titans and Batman & Robin to modern high-def presentations of Young Justice, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Beware the Batman, and the popular Teen Titans Go!.