Lionsgate is proud to announce the first wave of Music Makers DVD releases that include Ballad in Blue, Beyond the Sea, Buena Vista Social Club and A Man Called Adam as well as the DVD release of Care Bears: Helping Hearts, all arriving on January 12th.
Music Makers
Lionsgate is celebrating the icons of music with Music Makers, a new music-themed DVD line that features classic feature films, revealing live performances, behind-the-scenes videos and documentaries. The first films to be highlighted in the series are A Man Called Adam and Ballad in Blue - both available for the first time on DVD - along with and Buena Vista Social Club and Beyond the Sea. Each 2-disc set includes "Music Makers Vol. 1," a five song CD including tracks by Ray Charles, Bobby Darin and Sammy Davis, Jr.! A must-have for any music fan, Music Makers will be available just a few weeks before the Grammy Awards ceremony.
A Man Called Adam Synopsis:
Golden Globe® nominee Sammy Davis, Jr. (Best TV Actor-Musical/Comedy, "Sammy and Company," 1977) headlines a star-studded cast including Louis Armstrong, Emmy® winner Ossie Davis (Outstanding Performer in a Children's Special, "Finding Buck McHenry," 2001), Academy Award® nominee Cicely Tyson (Best Actress in a Leading Role, Sounder, 1972), Mel Tormé and Frank Sinatra, Jr. in this powerful drama about a jazz musician who "has it all" - love, friendship and fame - but whose tormented past threatens to destroy him and his career.
Ballad In Blue Synopsis:
Ray Charles stars as himself in this heartwarming story of a blind American musician who befriends a young blind boy in London struggling with his disability and with a vigilantly overprotective mother. Can the music star teach the child, and his family, how to heal? Featuring such iconic Ray Charles tracks as "Let the Good Times Roll," "What'd I Say," "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack" and "I Gotta Woman," Ballad in Blue is an uplifting classic drama that is not to be missed.
Buena Vista Social Club Synopsis:
Guitarist/composer Ry Cooder teamed up with acclaimed director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas) to bring to life the Grammy® award-winning smash hit album featuring the rediscovered talents of Cuba's foremost folk musicians. From the crumbling barrios of their native Havana to their triumphant, sold-out concerts in Amsterdam and New York City's Carnegie Hall, Buena Vista Social Club is an unforgettable journey into the vibrant personalities and unforgettable music of the artists who sparked a worldwide musical phenomenon. An Academy Award® nominee for Best Documentary Feature, the film was called "exhilarating" (The New York Times) and "a wonderfully sweet story [that] offers up some sensational music" (Houston Chronicle). The DVD features audio commentary from director Wim Wenders plus the theatrical trailer.
Beyond the Sea Synopsis:
Two-time Academy Award® winner Kevin Spacey (Best Actor in a Supporting Role, The Usual Suspects, 1995; Best Actor in a Leading Role, American Beauty, 1999) directs and stars in this gripping biopic of one of America's greatest performers, Bobby Darin. Working his way from shady nightclubs to his dream destination, The Copacabana, Darin lived a rags-to-riches life. He was a marvel at singing, songwriting and performing such hits like "Splish Splash," "Mack the Knife" and others, stealing the hearts of fans everywhere - despite the suffering of his own heart. Critics across the country raved about Spacey's performance. The New York Times exclaimed "Mr. Spacey does Darin better than Darin" and Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed "Spacey is a marvel." The DVD features audio commentary with the director and producer plus a "making of" featurette that includes interviews with the cast and crew.
Pricing: DVD $14.98 each (2-Disc DVD and CD sets)
Care Bears: Helping Hearts
Coming in January 2010, kids can discover the fulfillment that comes with lending a helping hand as Lionsgate presents eight all-new, never-before-released Care Bears™ episodes on the new DVD Care Bears: Helping Hearts. Perfectly timed for Valentine's Day, join Love-a-Lot, Oopsy, Funshine and the rest of the Care Bears in Care-a-lot as they embark on new adventures that focus on helping others. Care Bears: Helping Hearts teaches kids valuable lessons and are full of mom-friendly themes that help kids develop emotional intelligence. Care Bears: Helping Hearts also features Kid Friendly Direct Play, allowing kids to play the DVD without the assistance of a parent. Care Bears: Helping Hearts comes complete with all-new O-card packaging and will be available exclusively on DVD for the suggested retail price of $14.98.
The Care Bears brand currently enjoys 95% awareness among moms of girls ages 2-5. Beloved since the 1980s, Care Bears continues to be one of the most recognizable and top preschool properties in existence (according to Lieberman Consumer Research January 2006).
Pricing: DVD $14.98
