Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › DVD › EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

post #1 of 38
11/3/07 at 8:59am
Thread Starter 
MOVIES UNLIMITED is taking pre-orders for a 1/29 release of EL CID: 2 discs with audio commentary, featurettes, interviews, trailers. A "Collector's Edition" will also be available in a box with a book containing photos and historical articles.
Reply
post #2 of 38
11/3/07 at 9:03am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Thanks for spotting that release date. This is THE ONE I've been waiting for!
Reply
post #3 of 38
11/4/07 at 9:10am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

This is the news I've been waiting for since the launch of DVD 10 years ago. I hope this means that the other Bronston epics won't be far behind.
Reply
post #4 of 38
11/4/07 at 9:41am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

FANTASTIC NEWS!!!! HD perhaps?
Reply
post #5 of 38
11/4/07 at 10:17am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Fantastic news indeed.

It's incredible what kind of movies Heston was making during the 1950s and 1960s.
Reply
post #6 of 38
11/4/07 at 1:21pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Koc
FANTASTIC NEWS!!!! HD perhaps?


Titles like this are what high def was created for. I hope it does come out on one of the formats(preferably both).
Reply
post #7 of 38
11/4/07 at 1:49pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

If the release is from Weinstein, you can forget about a HD release.
Reply
post #8 of 38
11/5/07 at 3:41pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Even if it's not Hi-Def (too bad!), I will order the 2-disc set ($27.96 at DVD Planet; anyone seen a better on-line price?). This also sparkles hopes for 55 Days at Peking and The Fall of the Roman Empire. I've been waiting for these three so long, I'm glad the first one appears finally.

Would be marvellous HD sets indeed!


Cees
Reply
post #9 of 38
11/5/07 at 3:56pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

The Cid! The Cid!

About time too, fantastic news, one of my all time favorites.
Reply
post #10 of 38
11/5/07 at 4:22pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

I first saw it in a theater when I was 19 - twice.
Own a VHS version.


Cees
Reply
post #11 of 38
11/5/07 at 4:29pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

I first saw it on the telly... when I was about 13.

I still have it on tape somewhere, and Rozsa's incredible music score on LP & CD.


Steve
Reply
post #12 of 38
11/6/07 at 4:47am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Quote:
If the release is from Weinstein, you can forget about a HD release.

Aint that the truth. Hopefully the SD transfer is up to snuff.
Reply
post #13 of 38
11/6/07 at 3:35pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

How likely is it that we will see Fall of the Roman Empire shortly after El Cid ?
Reply
post #14 of 38
11/7/07 at 7:42am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Douglas R and ken New, I couldn't agree more. This is absolutely the number one DVD that I've been waiting for for years. As the release date gets closer, I'll be looking for the differences between the two editions before buying.

As there are other Chuck Heston fans in this thread, can anyone give me a rundown on The Warlord? It was out on DVD six years ago, but it has gone out of production. Used, it was selling for $80+(!) on Amazon last month, and now it is going for $50, a little too pricey for a blind buy. I didn't have any luck in the trade/buy used section of this site.
Reply
post #15 of 38
11/7/07 at 5:11pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

The Warlord is a very good film IMO but for $50 I wouldn't recommend a blind-buy to someone unless money isn't an issue.
Reply
post #16 of 38
11/7/07 at 5:40pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gordon McMurphy
How likely is it that we will see Fall of the Roman Empire shortly after El Cid ?
Very good, if enough of us buy this disc.
Reply
post #17 of 38
11/8/07 at 12:46am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Does the Weinstein company have a decent track record for good transfers for old films?

I'm not sure if I should pre-order this, or wait to see some reviews.
Reply
post #18 of 38
11/8/07 at 12:17pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon Howson
Does the Weinstein company have a decent track record for good transfers for old films?
They haven't released many old films, but their Shaw Brothers discs have been stellar. If their treatment of the Bronston films is anything like their DVDs of KING BOXER and ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN, I think everyone will be happy.
Reply
post #19 of 38
11/8/07 at 5:45pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffrey:K
They haven't released many old films, but their Shaw Brothers discs have been stellar. If their treatment of the Bronston films is anything like their DVDs of KING BOXER and ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN, I think everyone will be happy.

Good to know, thanks for the reply.
Reply
post #20 of 38
11/9/07 at 3:14am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffO
As there are other Chuck Heston fans in this thread, can anyone give me a rundown on The Warlord? It was out on DVD six years ago, but it has gone out of production.

The Warlord DVD was 2.35:1 but non-anamorphic. The picture (for a non-anamorphic) is fairly good with some nice colours. But some scenes seem very grainy and the print is dirty in places.
Reply
post #21 of 38
11/9/07 at 9:41am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

The Hollywood Reporter states that EL CID will include:

Cast Interviews;

1961 Radio interviews with Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren;

Feature-length commentary from Bill Bronston, son of producer Sam Bronston, and historian-author Neal M. Rosendorf, assistant professor of U.S. international history at Long Island University;

Documentary on the importance of film preservation and restoration;

Featurettes on Bronston, director Anthony Mann and composer Miklos Rozsa;

"Making of" documentary, "Hollywood Conquers Spain";

The collector's edition also comes with reproductions of the original 1961 souvenir program and El Cid comic book, as well as six color production stills.
Reply
post #22 of 38
11/9/07 at 11:20am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Thanks Jim_K, Simon L, and Douglas R. All good news. Simon, welcome to the forum.

Has anyone heard about differing running lengths of El Cid? I heard that different cuts of the movies were shown during the early 60s, plus there was some footage never shown, but available in movie format. It would be nice if they could give us everything filmed. That was before my time, but someone who was around in the early 60s was telling me about this. To me this sounds as if there was a 180 minute cut for the 1961 version, and a 170 minute cut for a 1963 rerelease (these numbers are just examples, not exact).
Reply
post #23 of 38
11/9/07 at 1:48pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

This one has me really excited for this is one of my favorite films and all the discussion forced me pull out the Criterion laserdisc edition that was released in 1996. I compared the Special Features on the laserdisc with the announcement and find that all are there along with more. I would guess since the old Miramax released the Martin Scorsese restored film back in 1993 and was part of the Criterion release, that we are looking at the 184 minute release, which includes Overture and intermission. The laserdisc was also presented in Dolby Digital (AC-3) so we should have a good 5.1 soundtrack.

The laserdisc was exceptional and a thing of beauty at the time. I look forward to this DVD and the other Bronston films, including Circus World. I would also expect that the Weinsteins would be very careful about this release since it is under a collection that carries their mother's name.
Reply
post #24 of 38
11/9/07 at 2:24pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Has anyone heard about differing running lengths of El Cid?

I can't speak for the U.S, but in the U.K and I believe Australia, it was never cut for general release after its long running roadshow showings.
Reply
post #25 of 38
11/12/07 at 12:21pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

My hope with this release is that the "fringing" problem that was very evident in the second reel of the film is finally fixed. I saw the Miramax reissue at the Cinerama Dome some years ago and for the first half of reel two there were some serious separation problems that made it hard to enjoy the film (if you have ever seen a film in that theater and know how big the screen is, imagine a film that has one of the separation masters out of alignment and you'll get what I mean). Fortunately the picture snapped back into place and the rest was absolutely beautiful.

I had a Region 0 disc from Brazil that had no registration problems and was complete, albeit without the overture, intermission, entr'acte and exit music, but it was nice to see the film at home (the same company also had ROMAN EMPIRE, also without the roadshow materials and in 1:85 [!]). I am so looking forward to replacing that disc with this one-and I will get the deluxe package, too!!
Reply
post #26 of 38
1/19/08 at 9:23am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

There are two sets of El Cid coming out. Both are 2 disc sets. The "Deluxe Edition" looks like it's just the discs: the "Limited Collector's Edition" looks like it has the poster cards and a bunch of other stuff in a bigger box.

My question: are the discs themselves the same?

Street prices are $17 and $26, respectively, for the two sets.


EDIT: DVDBeaver says they are the same discs, and opines that you should pass on the trinkets, "most of which end up in the garbage".
Reply
post #27 of 38
1/19/08 at 10:14pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

I bought an import of el Cid about five years ago, a bare bones flipper and an adequate port of the Criterion laser disc, then I bought another import which is still in the shrink wrap, which I misplaced and then found today. I've been waiting years for a proper release of El Cid, my favorite of Heston's epics and one of my favorite films. I'll grab the collector's edition.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffO
As there are other Chuck Heston fans in this thread, can anyone give me a rundown on The Warlord? It was out on DVD six years ago, but it has gone out of production. Used, it was selling for $80+(!) on Amazon last month, and now it is going for $50, a little too pricey for a blind buy. I didn't have any luck in the trade/buy used section of this site.
Unless I'm mistaken, GoodTimes ported the widescreen laser disc of The Warlord for their DVD. A decent picture, properly framed, non-anamorphic. No complaints. I bought mine in the discount bin at Best Buy for $4.88 not to long ago. An intelligent and under-rated film with one of Heston's three best performances. If you like Heston and his later collaboration with Franklyn Schaffner, you won't be disappointed in The Warlord. The title is misleading. It's neither an epic nor a war film although there is some action and plenty of tension. It's a romantic tragedy having more in common with The Lion In Winter than El Cid. I think the basic plot inspired Corman's Masque of the Red Death, too.
Reply
post #28 of 38
1/20/08 at 10:18am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

The library where I work often gets DVDs in advance of street date and I was fortunate enough to get a look at El Cid last night......a simply beautiful transfer. Rich, deep color, nice detail, almost zero grain. Sometimes looked like HD. Can't wait to purchase a copy!
Reply
post #29 of 38
1/20/08 at 10:29am

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

Posted by Richard--W:
Quote:
An intelligent and under-rated film with one of Heston's three best performances.

I agree that The War Lord is an underrated film that deserves a deluxe release. It also features one of the rare music scores by Jerome Moross of The Big Country fame.

Now I want to know: what are the other two of "Heston's 3 best performances"?
Reply
post #30 of 38
1/20/08 at 1:26pm

Re: EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29

I don't know about Richard W ,but I would go with Ben Hur(no surprise there) and Khartoum.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: DVD
Home Theater Forum › Home Theater Forum › Blu-ray, DVD, Streaming Video and Digital Downloads › DVD › EL CID (2 disc) release date: 1/29