Bitter Dregs

One of the great things about the success of TV on DVD is that we get to see all of those interesting shows the premium cable networks are running. Sure, they aren't all worth watching, but there are some good ones that I'd like to see, at least via Netflix. Since these channels tend to run their movies in pan/scan, it isn't worth the money to subscribe just for a few original shows. So we wait for the DVDs, which works out pretty well. One of the shows I've heard good things about, but haven't seen is HBO's Deadwood. The first season will be out on 2/8/05 (SRP $99.98). The 6-disc set will include the episodes in anamorphic widescreen video with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Extras will include HBO's 30-minute Making of Deadwood special, the 45-minute History of Deadwood documentary, a 45-minute inteview with series creator David Milch conducted by Keith Carradine and audio commentary on 4 episodes (participants include David Milch, Molly Parker, Keith Carradine, Brad Dourif, Robin Weingart, Ian McShane and Tim Olyphant). It'll soon be time to get another series into the queue!

Paramount has, on 1/18/05, William Wyler's Carrie (1952 starring Laurence Olivier and Jennifer Jones), Joseph Anthony's The Matchmaker (1958 with Shirley Booth, Shirley MacLaine and Anthony Perkins) and Melville Shavelson's A New Kind of Love (1963 with Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward).

Robert Harris has an online interview with Warner's George Feltenstein. George is Warner's classic film marketing dude and the interview is worth a read for those like me who dig the classic film DVDs and believe Warner to be doing a great job on the titles they've released lately. Check it out here.

DVD Savant has reviews of Animal Farm (1954) and Damn Yankees (1958, not the one Phil was in!).