Warner Archives has a number of new releases for this week. The headliner is probably Neil Jordan’s Michael Collins making it’s Blu-ray debut. And I get it and I’m excited for it. But the real winner for me Melinda, the film that marked Jim Kelly’s acting debut. It’s a shame that it’s only DVD, but that will do for now. Hopefully a Blu-ray will follow at some point.
As a reminder all DVDs from the Warner Archive Collection are manufactured on demand and must be ordered directly from the WBShop.com.
Michael Collins – Blu-ray
Warner Archives salutes the 20th anniversary of Neil Jordan’s incendiary classic about the rise and tragic fall of one of the most significant figures of the 20th Century. Liam Neeson leads an astonishing all-star assemblage as the title character, the man who brought down an empire and secured liberty for Eire. The late, great Alan Rickman is riveting as Collins cohort Éamon de Valera, Aidan Quinn anchors the firebrands as Harry Boland while Stephen Rea is inside man Ned Broy. Michael Collins greets its double decade with a brand new transfer on a bold, brave Blu-ray disc. Also starring Julia Roberts.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
New! Commentary by Neil Jordan; Theatrical Trailer (HD); In Conversation with Neil Jordan; Deleted Scenes; The South Bank Show documentary with Neil Jordan; Interview and Actual Footage of Michael Collins.
A Fine Pair – DVD
Rock Hudson and Claudia Cardinale star in this swinging sixties caper of theft and sexual liberation. Gorgeous, exotic Esmeralda Marini (Cardinale) convinces ex-police detective Mike Harmon (Hudson) to travel to Austria to help her return a set of stolen jewels to the rightful owners. But by the time Harmon realizes that he has been duped into stealing the gems, he also discovers he has a taste for the high life, the beautiful Marini, and high-stakes theft. Score by Ennio Morricone, directed by Francesco Maselli.
Melinda – DVD
This seminal Blaxpoitation crime drama lent its funky cinema DNA to a slew of subsequent kick ass street flicks. It also introduced the world to the great Jim Kelly and the urban aspects of Kung Fu fighting. Calvin Lockhart stars as the too-pretty, easy-speaking DJ Frankie J. Parker whose whirlwind romance with the mysterious Melinda (Vonetta McGee) puts Frankie in the frame for murder. As Frankie tackles the out-of-town gangsters (Paul Stevens, Ross Hagen) the set-up, one sweet innocent (Rosalind Cash) gets swept into the serpent’s nest (literally). It’s a good thing Frankie has a martial-art street power squad on his rolodex… Directed by Hugh A. Robertson.
