Press Release Warner Archive Collection Press Release: High Society (1956) (4k UHD Combo) (Blu-ray) (2 Viewers)

[Ronald Epstein]

COMING TO 4K FROM THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION ON MAY 27th!
New 4K UHD HDR Dolby Vision Master from 13.5k scans of the Original VistaVision Negative!

HIGH SOCIETY (1956)
4K UHD/Blu-ray Combo
4K Disc-BD 100
Blu-ray Disc-BD 50
HDR Dolby Vision 4K disc
Disc authoring and compression by Fidelity in Motion
NOT RATED
COLOR
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 1.85:1
Audio Specs: New Dolby Atmos soundtrack mixed from original magnetic stereo sources, and Original 1956 Theatrical Mono Optical soundtrack
Subtitles: English SDH

Cast: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong
Directed by Charles Walters

Special Features: Featurette “Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love” (HD), 1956 Premiere Newsreel (HD), M-G-M CinemaScope cartoon MILLIONAIRE DROOPY (HD), Audio-only promo spots featuring Bing Crosby with Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra, Original Theatrical Trailers (HD)

Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra romp elegantly through the scenic, moneyed grounds and waters of outwardly elitist Newport, Rhode Island, in this hip, witty musical version of Philip Barry’s The Philadelphia Story. Legendary Louis Armstrong as himself, plays his trumpet and narrates in prose and song the peccadillos of his songwriter friend C.K. Dexter Haven (Crosby), his beautiful perfectionist ex-wife Tracy Samantha Lord (Kelly, in her final film role), and her stuffy fiancée George Kittredge (John Lund). Sinatra and wise-cracking Celeste Holm are a scandal sheet reporter and photographer who arrive to cover the wedding and complicate the tangled romances. Armstrong and his composer buddy conspire musically and by other devious means to stop Tracy’s marriage. Dexter wants her back, but she takes off with the magazine writer – all of which gives everybody wonderful excuses to break into the incomparable songs of Cole Porter. M-G-M pulled out all the stops to make High Society a must-see screen event back in 1956, even arranging to license Paramount’s magnificent widescreen process VistaVision, to ensure the film would be something special. Now meticulously restored and remastered from its original VistaVision negative, and accompanied by a thrilling new Dolby Atmos remixed soundtrack (as well as the film’s original theatrical mono optical soundtrack), this long-awaited release is sure to be most welcomed by fans of this box-office smash.


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COMING FROM THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION ON MAY 27th
New 1080p HD Master from 13.5k scans of the Original VistaVision Negative!

HIGH SOCIETY (1956)
Blu-ray Disc
BD 50
Disc authoring and compression by Fidelity in Motion
NOT RATED
COLOR
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 1.85:1
Audio Specs: New Dolby Atmos soundtrack mixed from original magnetic stereo sources and Original 1956 Theatrical Mono Optical Track
Subtitles: English SDH

Cast: Biing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong
Directed by Charles Walters

Special Features: Featurette “Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love” (HD), 1956 Premiere Newsreel (HD), M-G-M CinemaScope cartoon MILLIONAIRE DROOPY (HD), Audio-only promo spots featuring Bing Crosby with Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra, Original Theatrical Trailers (HD)
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra romp elegantly through the scenic, moneyed grounds and waters of outwardly elitist Newport, Rhode Island, in this hip, witty musical version of Philip Barry’s The Philadelphia Story. Legendary Louis Armstrong as himself, plays his trumpet and narrates in prose and song the peccadillos of his songwriter friend C.K. Dexter Haven (Crosby), his beautiful perfectionist ex-wife Tracy Samantha Lord (Kelly, in her final film role), and her stuffy fiancée George Kittredge (John Lund). Sinatra and wise-cracking Celeste Holm are a scandal sheet reporter and photographer who arrive to cover the wedding and complicate the tangled romances. Armstrong and his composer buddy conspire musically and by other devious means to stop Tracy’s marriage. Dexter wants her back, but she takes off with the magazine writer – all of which gives everybody wonderful excuses to break into the incomparable songs of Cole Porter. M-G-M pulled out all the stops to make High Society a must-see screen event back in 1956, even arranging to license Paramount’s magnificent widescreen process VistaVision, to ensure the film would be something special. Now meticulously restored and remastered from its original VistaVision negative, and accompanied by a thrilling new Dolby Atmos remixed soundtrack (as well as the film’s original theatrical mono optical soundtrack), this long-awaited release is sure to be most welcomed by fans of this box-office smash.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thank you for supporting HTF when you preorder using the link below. As an Amazon Associate HTF earns from qualifying purchases. If you are using an adblocker you will not see link.

Amazon.com

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[Conrad_SSS]

The Blu-ray is great...but the big news is the 4K/BD combo!

 

[RichMurphy]

First 4K with THE SEARCHERS, and now Dolby Atmos comes to the Warner Archive!

 

[ahollis]

Holy shit!!!!!! YES!!!!

 

[Robert Crawford]

Despite not being a fan of this movie, I will purchase it on day one to support WA’s entry into the 4K/UHD format.

 

[[email protected]]

If they had announced this yesterday, for an April Fool's joke, they could have listed The Bowery Boys instead.

 

[lark144]

Despite not being a fan of this movie, I will purchase it on day one to support WA’s entry into the 4K/UHD format.

At its best, the film is erratic, and when dialogue from the original PHILADELPHIA STORY appears, the whole thing pretty much falls apart. However, the clips in the reconfigured THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT which came out a few months ago, were mind-boggling, which is reason enough, I think, as a fan of Vista-Vision, to purchase this. However, what I hold dear is the role of the All-Stars, especially Edmond Hall, Louis Armstrong's clarinet player, whose comments on the action, even the over-abundant sets, always cracks me up. The band has a sense of reality, and also community, that clashes with the artificiality of the rest of the film, and which I often re-watch, whenever I need an infusion of positive vibes, not to mention joy.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Atmos is an interesting choice for this one, but as long as they're going back to original magnetic sources, it will be interesting, having originally been released in Perspecta.

 

[Keith Cobby]

Been waiting since the dawn of blu ray for this announcement. Great film, great score, great stars, and in VistaVision in 4k.

 

[Jimbo.B]

I like the movie but don’t love it. On the surface, Grace seemed a good choice for Tracy Lord but she just can’t deliver the sparkling Phillip Barry dialog with the effortlessness of Hepburn. Bing doesn’t project the old money class of Cary and Frank is certainly no folksy Jimmy. Moving the location to Newport doesn’t seem to quite work either because it’s always been a vulgar getaway for millionaires. As a result you lose the conflict of quiet old money with the loud world of an ugly gossip rag that is the heart of the story.

 

[DigniT@DigniT!]

For the constellation casting of Sinatra, Armstrong, Crosby, Kelly and Holmes it is well worth it for me! Yes it's uneven and doesn't always work but there are enough thrilling musical moments to make up for the dry stretches. This should look and sound spectacular. I am all in. The opening and THAT'S JAZZ are worth the price alone! Great news indeed!

 

[LeoA]

Other than sadness over knowing that this quite possibly will be the last Bing Crosby movie that will hit Blu-Ray, great news to see this finally be announced.

 

[Astairefan]

Other than sadness over knowing that this quite possibly will be the last Bing Crosby movie that will hit Blu-Ray, great news to see this finally be announced.

Going Hollywood might have a chance from WAC. The consensus seems to be that the footage included in their recent remaster of That’s Entertainment! has had some work done, so WAC might do it. There is also his pre-stardom appearance in Confessions Of A Co-Ed being worked on by Kino as part of their Sylvia Sidney Pre-Code Double Feature (which does not have a release date yet). Otherwise, I am inclined to agree with you, since Universal's MOD program is doing almost nothing with new-to-blu titles.

 

[Paul Penna]

Despite not being a fan of this movie, I will purchase it on day one to support WA’s entry into the 4K/UHD format.

I'm going to because A) It was a film I saw (age 10) with my folks in original release, a rarity since they weren't regular movie goers, but big event films would get them out of the house - 10 Commandments, 80 Days, Gigi, Lawrence, that kind. I still have shreds of sound and visual memories, mainly from "True Love." B) I don't have it in any form; and C) My new upgraded projection system happens to be 4k capable and since it's VistaVision why not?

 

[Robert Harris]

Except for some (original) dupes early on, this will be magnificent.

 

[richardburton84]

Just asking since it isn’t noted on the press release like that for Rhapsody in Blue: Will the overture be included?

 

[Thomas T]

Well, we all knew it was coming eventually so hopefully this will silence the "why are they releasing Fill In The Blank when such classics as High Society, Around The World In 80 Days or Raintree County etc. etc. have yet to be released?" crowd. Kudos to the Warner Archives who will release no movie before they're ready to be released. I'm sure our patience (those of us who were patient) will be rewarded.

 

[Robert Harris]

VVLA is finally have its moment.

 

[Robin9]

Let me be brief: I'm delighted by this announcement.