Release News

The African Queen comes to Blu-ray in March

By brenden ⋅ January 13, 2010 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

It seems like we’ve been waiting an eternity for John Huston’s The African Queen to be available on disc - first DVD and now Blu-ray. In fact, it’s the only film on AFI’s original Top 100 Films list to remain unavailable on DVD to this day. I’m excited to tell you that the wait for The African Queen is finally over! Paramount will be releasing a newly restored edition of the film to home video on March 23rd, in both single disc and multi-disc collector’s editions.

The press release details aspects of the restoration process used to create the source for the new transfer:

“A six-year journey filled with challenges…the restoration process began at the source: Romulus Films—one of the film’s original production companies—provided access to the original three-strip negative at a London facility where the film was carefully scanned and digitized. The separate elements were then transferred to Los Angeles and painstakingly recombined and inspected frame by frame to ensure that every detail aligned and that any dirt and scratches were removed.

To ensure that the restored picture matched the filmmakers’ original vision, Paramount arranged a screening of an MPAA archive print for the film’s original cinematographer, Academy Award® winner Jack Cardiff, whose comments were recorded live during the screening. That same archival print was later screened alongside the newly restored version so that the restoration team could ensure that all of Cardiff’s notes had been addressed. The result is a vibrant, warm picture that reverentially recreates the film as it was originally meant to be seen.”

I can’t wait. Details below:

THE AFRICAN QUEEN
(March 23, 2010 - MSRP $26.99/$43.99 US)
Video: 1.37:1 1080p
Audio: English: TBA

Single Disc Edition Special Features:

* Embracing Chaos: Making The African Queen–This comprehensive documentary takes a look back at the production with commentary about the cast, the challenges of the filming locations and how the spectacular cinematography impacted the industry overall. Includes on-camera interviews with notable Hollywood icons, critics and crew members from the film including Martin Scorsese, Tony Huston, Richard Schickel and more, plus never-before-seen archival images and home movie footage provided by the estate of cinematographer Jack Cardiff.

The Commemorative, Limited-Edition Blu-ray box set includes the above along with:

* An audio disc with a recording of the Lux Radio Theater presents The African Queen radio broadcast
* A Senitype® film frame collectible reproduction
* Collectible postcards featuring reproductions of images related to the film
* A reproduction of Katharine Hepburn’s out-of-print memoir The Making of The African Queen or How I Went to Africa with Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind

Tags: Humphrey Bogart, John Huston, Katharine Hepburn, Paramount, The African Queen