MGM November DVD releases

MGM November DVD releasesPosted: September 27th, 2003. THE PINK PANTHER FILM COLLECTION

PETER SELLERS’ greatest comedy creation, the accident prone, bumbling InspectorClouseau with his disastrously misplaced “French” vowels will finally bereleased to buy on a Special Edition DVD Box Set from 10 November 2003. THEPINK PANTHER FILM COLLECTION is a superb six disc box set comprising: ThePink Panther, A Shot in the Dark, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Revenge ofThe Pink Panther, Trail of the Pink Panther and a 3 hour bonus disc ofin-depth Special Features. At £59.99 (RRP) and including 12 hours of classic comedy, this gem of a set really is a steal!

THE PINK PANTHER FILM COLLECTION is packaged in a highly-collectable gatefoldbox designed by hip artist of the moment ‘SHAG’. This deluxe box features anexclusive fold-out mural of the characters in a stylised and amusing animatedsetting in lush pink and purples.

Top comedy director BLAKE EDWARDS (Breakfast At Tiffany’s) originatedThe Pink Panther and created a cult unrivalled by any other. Henry Mancini’sOscar® nominated theme tune, the rinky-dink animated credits, the cartoons andof course the film’s hilarious characters are instantly recognisable the worldover.

These multi-award winning films themselves are also considered to bemasterpieces, still popular after nearly forty years. PETER SELLERS lent histimeless comic genius to the character of Inspector Clouseau and it becamehis most memorable role.

Extras:

THE PINK PANTHER DISC:
• Audio Commentary with director Blake Edwards
• Trivia Track
• Original Theatrical Trailer (and featured on all feature discs)

BONUS SPECIAL FEATURES DISC:

• Inside The Pink Panther – New documentary
• That’s Panthertainment – Vintage 1978 special – includes outtakes and deleted scenes
• Behind the Feline: Cartoon Phenomenon – New documentary focusing on the cartoon creation
• Six of the best Pink Panther cartoons including Academy Award Winner The Pink Phink
• The Unknown Peter Sellers – 60 minute documentary
• The Commercial Peter Sellers – with Making Of
• Exclusive highly collectible eight page booklet
• Shots in the Dark – photo gallery

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

Now celebrating its 35th anniversary and recently voted the best children’sfilm ever by DVD shoppers, the magical musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG arriveson a digitally remastered, double disc Collector’s Edition DVD (RRP £19.99)and Limited Edition Collector’s Gift Set on 10 November 2003 (RRP £34.99).

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, from the book by Bond creator IAN FLEMING and adaptedfor the screen by ROALD DAHL, is the wonderful family film starring DICK VANDYKE as Caractacus Potts, an eccentric inventor who designs an extraordinarycar that not only drives but flies and floats.

Along with his two children Jemima (Heather Ripley) and Jeremy (Adrian Hall),and the beautiful Truly Scrumptious (Sally Ann Howes), Caractacus and Chittylead everyone into a magical world of pirates, castles and endless adventure.

With a fantastic cast including BENNY HILL, GERT FROBE, BARBARA WINDSOR, LIONELJEFFRIES, and ANNA QUAYLE, and timeless tunes such as the Oscar nominated titlesong, “Truly Scrumptious,” “Toot Sweets,” Me Ol’ Bamboo,” “Posh” and ”Chu-ChiFace,” CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG sounds and looks better than ever.

The COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD also boasts some truly scrumptious extrasincluding a making of feature, trailers, TV spots and a sing-along option.

The DVD will also be available in a LIMITED EDITION COLLECTOR’S GIFT SET whichalso includes some great Xmas pressies including a free Corgi CHITTY CHITTYBANG BANG model car as well as ticket voucher for the smash stage productioncurrently playing to sold out houses at London’s Palladium Theatre.

WEST SIDE STORY

One of the truly great musicals of all time, WEST SIDE STORY won an incredibleten Academy Awards, making it one of the most honoured of Hollywood films. Nowwith digitally remastered picture and sound, this masterpiece of moviemaking willbe released to buy as a DOUBLE-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD on 10 November 2003for £19.99 (RRP).

A contemporary version of Shakespeare’s tragic love story “Romeo & Juliet,”ROBERT WISE’S production is one of the great adaptations of Broadway to thecodes of Hollywood filmmaking. LEONARD BERNSTEIN’s beautiful score, STEPHENSONDHEIM’s wonderful lyrics and JEROME ROBBINS’ mesmerising choreography allcombine to capture the explosive tension of this dynamic, epic musical.

Starring NATALIE WOOD, RICHARD BEYMER, RITA MORENO and GEORGE CHAKIRIS, thefilm’s Academy Awards include Best Picture, Best Director (to date the onlymovie to share the Best Director Oscar between its two directors), BestCinematography, Best Supporting Actor (Chakiris) and Actress (Moreno).

The DVD extras reveal more about the making of the film and take the viewerbehind the scenes of performances of the spectacular songs including “America,”“Maria,” “I Feel Pretty,” “I Have a Love” and “Tonight.”

The streets of New York City are the setting for this drama within theconfines of a few city blocks ruled by rival gangs, the Jets and the Sharks,who are constantly vying for territory and whose sole purpose in life isprotecting their turf. Tony (Beymer) is a former Jet, once one of theirleaders. Maria (Wood) is Puerto Rican, and her brother, Bernardo (Chakiris)is the leader of the Sharks. When circumstances bring Tony and Maria togetherand they fall in love, the stage is set for tragedy on a grand scale, all ofwhich is captured on the screen in this cinematic masterpiece.

Available for a limited period in exclusive packaging with 200 pagecollector’s book. (RRP £24.99).

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

The 1971 movie version of the Broadway smash, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is one of thebest-loved film musicals ever and will be released to buy on SPECIAL EDITION DVDon 10 November 2003 (RRP £19.99).

Nominated for eight Academy Awards, it’s a wonderful film set to the backdropof the Russian Revolution at the turn of the 20th century. It’s the story of apoor Jewish milkman Tevye, played by the wonderful TOPOL, who is forced toface changes to his much-loved traditions as he sees his three oldest daughtersfight to marry the men that they love rather than those set up by a matchmaker.

Directed by master filmmaker NORMAN JEWISON (Moonstruck, Rollerball, JesusChrist Superstar, The Thomas Crown Affair), the film boasts beautiful,Oscar-winning cinematography and mesmerising performances from a talented castincluding ROSALIND HARRIS, MICHELE MARSH and PAUL MICHAEL GLASER.

There’s also the original stage score, beautifully orchestrated by JOHN WILLIAMS,which features a host of classic songs such as “If I Were a Rich Man,””Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Sunrise, Sunset.”

With enhanced picture quality and sound, this DVD also features some excellentextras for fans including fascinating commentaries from the Oscar-nominateddirector and star.

Mazeltov!

Special Features:

• Director Norman Jewison’s Audio Commentary
• Theatrical Trailer
• Documentary on the Making of Fiddler on the Roof
• Norman Jewison Looks Back: A series of Five Featurettes
• Deleted Song: Any Day Now
• Tevye’s Dream In Full Colour
• The Stories of Sholam Aleichem
• Historical Background Documentary with photographs by Ann Weiss
• Storyboard to Film Comparisons (5)
• Five Trailers – including original teasers and TV Spots
• Easter Egg: The Tale of The Beggar
• Production Materials – including original press book + international release posters
• Photographic Production Diary
• Original Production Notes
• Production and Design Storyboards

NICHOLAS NICKLEBY

From one of Charles Dickens’ most masterful novels come some of his mostmemorable characters, vibrantly and movingly brought to life by a star-studded,award-winning cast in NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. Available to own and rent on a twodisc COLLECTOR’S EDITION DVD £19.99 (RRP) and VHS £12.99 (RRP)from 10 November 2003.

Directed by the Academy Award-nominated writer/director of Emma, DOUGLAS MCGRATH,the film boasts a stunning, perfectly cast line up of stars including JAMIEBELL, JIM BROADBENT, TOM COURTENAY, ALAN CUMMING EDWARD FOX, ROMOLA GARAI,ANNE HATHAWAY, CHARLIE HUNNAM, BARRY HUMPHRIES, NATHAN LANE, CHRISTOPHERPLUMMER, TIMOTHY SPALL and JULIET STEVENSON.

In NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, when his father dies, young Nicholas’ family is leftpenniless, and he, his sister, and his mother venture to London to seek helpfrom their wealthy Uncle Ralph (Plummer). Unfortunately, Ralph’s intentionsare less than good, and the family is split apart.

Nicholas is sent to teach at Dotheboys Hall, a squalid school for orphan boysrun by the cruel and abusive Wackford Squeers (Broadbent). Within the dark,grim walls of Dotheboys, Nicholas befriends a kind-hearted and mistreated boynamed Smike (Bell) and together they run away, setting off on an adventure toreunite the Nickleby family and build a new home of their own.

A hugely enjoyable family release that is beautifully filmed and brilliantlyacted with wonderful locations and costumes, the double disc COLLECTOR’SEDITION DVD boasts some brilliant extras including:

• Audio commentary with MCGRATH
• “The Life of Charles Dickens – A Mirror to his Work” – documentary
• Making of feature entitled “Creating a Classic”
• “The Cast on the Cast” featuring interviews
• “Views on the Set” – multi-angled feature on 5 key scenes
• Behind the scenes photo gallery
• Theatrical trailer

AGENT CODY BANKS

Save the world. Get the girl. Pass maths.

FRANKIE MUNIZ (TV’s Malcolm In the Middle) and HILARY DUFF (TV’s Lizzie McGuire)star in the thrilling and action-packed junior spy adventure AGENT CODY BANKS,out to own on DVD (RRP £19.99) and VHS (RRP £12.99) – and to renton VHS and DVD from 24 November 2003.

Cody Banks (Muniz) seems like a typical teenager – he loves skateboarding, hatesmaths, his mum drives him crazy, and he feels like a complete idiot aroundgirls. But Cody has a really big secret even his family and best friends don’tknow: he’s actually an elite undercover agent for the CIA.

Cody is living every kid’s dream. Specially trained at a top secret facilitydisguised as summer camp, Cody can drive like a stuntman, jump kick like a pro,and has an arsenal of totally cool gadgets – plus, his boss is the unbelievably hot agent Ronica Miles (Angie Harmon). But when he gets his firstassignment, Cody discovers he has to befriend high school dream girl NatalieConnors (Duff) in order to spy on her father, a scientist developing a deadlyfleet of Nanobots with the power to destroy the planet. The problem? The CIAspent $10 million training Cody, but didn’t teach him to talk to girls.

Packed with special effects and exciting stunts, AGENT CODY BANKS follows Cody’sadventures as he navigates the dangerous, high-tech world of international spywork whilst also doing his chores to avoid getting grounded. From car, snowmobileand skateboard chases to walking on the ceiling with state-of-the-art suctionshoes, Cody has to use all his training to save the world….and maybe get thegirl.

Also starring IAN MCSHANE (Sexy Beast, TV’s Lovejoy).

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Audio Commentary with Frankie Muniz, Angie Harmon and Harald Zwart
• Deleted Scenes
• Outtakes
• 2 x Easter Eggs
• 8 Mini Featurettes
• Storyboard to Film Comparisons
• Multi-Camera Sequences
• Theatrical Trailer
• Agent Cody Banks 2 Teaser

IT’S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS MOVIE

‘Tis the season to be green and jolly as Kermit the frog and the whole Muppetgang bring Christmas cheer for all the family in the all-new, feature lengthIT’S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS MOVIE, out to own on DVD (RRP £12.99)and VHS (RRP £9.99) – and to rent on VHS and DVD from 24 November 2003.

Move over Santa….the Muppets are coming to town this Christmas! Kermit, MissPiggy, Animal, Fozzie Bear and the rest of the Muppets including newcomer Pepethe Prawn discover the true meaning of the holiday spirit.

It’s time to play the music with show-stopping numbers such as “Moulin Scrooge”and parodies of many Christmas films including It’s A Wonderful Life and TheGrinch, this heart warming tale follows the Muppets as they struggle to savetheir theatre from a Scrooge-like JOAN CUSACK and unexpectedly receive a littleheavenly help from WHOOPI GOLDBERG and angelic DAVID ARQUETTE.

Produced by the Jim Henson Company, IT’S A VERY MERRY MUPPET CHRISTMAS MOVIEfeatures a glittering array of all-star cameo appearances including MATTHEWLILLARD, WILLIAM H MACY, the cast of TV’s SCRUBS and even Yoda!

Heart-warming and hilarious, the DVD also features some fantastic deletedscenes and trailer.

PRANCER

PRANCER is a delightful live-action festive adventure that the whole family willenjoy. This heart-warming tale of a young girl’s Christmas hopes and dreamswill be available to own on DVD from the 17th November (RRP £12.99).

When Jessica, the young daughter of a poor farming family, finds an injuredreindeer just before Christmas she believes that it is her job to nurse himback to health and return him to Santa in time to pull the sleigh on ChristmasEve. Her bitter, widowed father has other ideas for the reindeer however andit is up to Jessica to persuade him not to give ‘Prancer’ to the local butcher.

Prancer is a charming holiday film that will be a delightful addition to anyfamily film collection this season.

AN ALL DOGS CHRISTMAS CAROL

The canine gang from ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN is back in a Dickens of a Christmasadventure: AN ALL DOGS CHRISTMAS CAROL is a fun animated version of the populartale with all your favourite dogs taking the lead roles! Available to own onDVD from 17th November (RRP £12.99).

The evil Carface (voiced by Ernest Borgnine) is trying to harness the power ofdogs the world over to ruin Christmas forever. It is up to dogs Charlie B.Barkin (voiced by Steven Weber), Itchy (voiced by Dom DeLuise), Sasha (voicedby singer Sheena Easton) and their friends to stop him and ensure that thespirit of Christmas remains.

A feature-length cartoon full of great songs and plenty of fun AN ALL DOGSCHRISTMAS CAROL can be enjoyed by kids of all ages this festive season!

JAMES BOND 2003 DVD BOXSET

MAKE MINE A DOUBLE

Raise a martini to James Bond, the super spy who has embodied style, wit anddanger for over 40 years. When the safety of the world is at stake, there’sonly one number to call – 007.

And it’s the same at Christmas when you’re looking out for that perfectChristmas gift or just wanting to extend your collection of essential DVDs,there’s only one man to turn to for a price that’s right – James Bond and thebrilliant BUY BOND GET BOND FREE promotion on SPECIAL EDITION DVD.

From 3 November 2003, consumers will be able to buy one Bond Special Edition DVDfor £19.99 (RRP) and receive another Bond DVD of their choice for free –including for the first time ever, the record-breaking, recent chart-topping,action-packed DIE ANOTHER DAY.

Whether you are adding to your classic collection of the world’s most famousand successful franchise or purchasing a great Christmas gift, these amazing007 discs – including the DOUBLE DISC SPECIAL EDITION DIE ANOTHER DAY DVD -are fully loaded with sensational special features such as commentaries,documentaries, original theatrical trailers, stills galleries and much more –over 87 hours in total!

The ultimate Bond DVD collection of all 20 007 movies will also be availableto buy in a cool and stylish DVD Box Set for £199 (RRP).

News page content input by Dominic Robinson, 2003.

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