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Kino Classics Reveals April Lineup Including 4K UHD Releases For ‘Spaceballs’ And ‘The Good, The Bad & The Ugly’

By Dillon Gonzales
February 12, 2021
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Kino Lorber Studio Classics has unveiled the details of their April 2021 4K UHD and Blu-Ray releases including works from such icons as Mel Brooks, Clint Eastwood, Carole Lombard, Douglas Sirk, Lea Thompson and more. Get all the details on this incredibly packed lineup below:

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WESTERN CLASSICS II

(THE REDHEAD FROM WYOMING/PILLARS OF THE SKY/GUN FOR A COWARD)

Street Date: 4/6/21

This collection features three classic 1950s westerns.

THE REDHEAD FROM WYOMING (1953) – In this action-packed, 1870s western, screen legend Maureen O’Hara (Miracle on 34th Street, Against All Flags) sparkles as Kate Maxwell, a saloon proprietress caught between her feelings for suave promoter Jim Averell (William Bishop, The Texas Rangers) and the town’s appealing, but less flamboyant, sheriff (Alex Nicol, Red Ball Express). Unknown to Kate, Jim, who has set her up to buy and sell mavericks, is using her saloon as a clearinghouse for rustled beef. There’s plenty more about Jim that Kate doesn’t know, and by the time she learns the truth, both she and the town are in grave danger. With villainy stalking them at every turn, Kate and the sheriff must battle overwhelming odds to set things right—if they can! The athletic agility and cool beauty associated with Maureen O’Hara are well displayed here. She rides the range with skill, her red hair and makeup undisturbed, as she expertly fires her Winchester. Beautifully shot in Technicolor by the great Winton C. Hoch (The Searchers, The Quiet Man) and co-starring Robert Strauss (Attack), Gregg Palmer (Taza, Son of Cochise), Jack Kelly (TV’s Maverick) and Dennis Weaver (The Gallant Hours). The Redhead from Wyoming is the Old West at its thundering and glorious best!

PILLARS OF THE SKY (1956) – From George Marshall, the acclaimed director of Destry Rides Again, The Ghost Breakers, Murder, He Says, The Blue Dahlia and The Mating Game, comes this action-packed cavalry western starring Jeff Chandler (Red Ball Express), Dorothy Malone (The Tarnished Angels), Lee Marvin (Prime Cut) and Ward Bond (Canyon Passage). First Sergeant Emmett Bell (Chandler) faces off with Apache chieftain Kamiakin (Michael Ansara, Texas Across the River) in this nuanced portrayal of racial tensions between Native Americans and white settlers in 1860s Oregon Country. Bell must lead his men and civilian charges on a mad dash to federal sanctuary. Pillars of the Sky is a tale of frontier survival that’s truly an action-thriller set against widescreen western horizons.

GUN FOR A COWARD (1957) – Screen great Fred MacMurray (Murder, He Says) stars as ranch herder Will Keough, who wants nothing more than to tend to his cattle and live in peace. His two younger brothers, Hade (Dean Stockwell, Compulsion) and Bless (Jeffrey Hunter, A Kiss Before Dying) are as different as night and day—Hade is wild and reckless and Bless refuses to use a gun, branding him a coward. Making matters worse is the brothers’ merciless mother (Josephine Hutchinson, Son of Frankenstein) and Will’s sweetheart (Janice Rule, Invitation to a Gunfighter) who finds herself drawn to the sensitive Bless. Ultimately, a showdown will have to take place—but which sibling will survive? Wonderfully directed by Abner Biberman (The Price of Fear) and co-starring Chill Wills (Giant) and John Larch (Play Misty for Me).

Bonus Features: NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan (The Redhead from Wyoming) | NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Toby Roan (Pillars of the Sky) | NEW Audio Commentary by Author/Film Historian Lee Gambin | Theatrical Trailers (All Three Films) | Optional English Subtitles

CAROLE LOMBARD COLLECTION II

(HANDS ACROSS THE TABLE/LOVE BEFORE BREAKFAST/THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS)

Street Date: 4/6/21

This collection includes three 1930s classics starring screen legend Carole Lombard.

HANDS ACROSS THE TABLE (1935) – From Mitchell Leisen, the acclaimed director of Easy Living, Midnight, Remember the Night and To Each His Own, comes this classic screwball comedy starring Hollywood legends Carole Lombard (No Man of Her Own) and Fred MacMurray (Murder, He Says). Regi Allen (Lombard) is a marriage-minded manicurist employed in a swanky hotel barbershop where she hopes to find herself a wealthy husband. She soon meets charming playboy Theodore Drew III (MacMurray), a dedicated customer who won’t take no for an answer. There’s one big problem: neither of these two gold diggers has what the other really wants—money! The plot thickens when Regi discovers that Theodore is engaged to marry a very wealthy woman. However, Theodore’s infatuation with Regi has him attempting to extricate himself from his upcoming nuptials in a hilarious sequence of mishaps and miscommunication. Ralph Bellamy (His Girl Friday) co-stars.

LOVE BEFORE BREAKFAST (1936) – From Walter Lang, the outstanding director of State Fair, Cheaper by the Dozen, There’s No Business Like Show Business, The King and I, Desk Set and Can-Can, comes this wacky screwball comedy starring screen goddess Carole Lombard (Supernatural) as a beautiful socialite who must choose between two men. Madly in love with Kay Colby (Lombard), wealthy businessman Scott Miller (Preston Foster, The Last Days of Pompeii) buys the oil company her fiancé Bill (Cesar Romero, The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend) works for and transfers him to Japan. Finally able to make his move, Scott woos the Park Avenue beauty until she finally agrees to be wed. However, when Kay claims she is only marrying him for his money, Scott breaks the engagement and brings back Bill so she can choose which suitor she loves the most.

THE PRINCESS COMES ACROSS (1936) – Screen greats Carole Lombard (Nothing Sacred) and Fred MacMurray (There’s Always Tomorrow) star in The Princess Comes Across, a fast-paced murder mystery with a touch of comedy. A stage-struck Brooklyn actress (Lombard) draws on her talent, posing as royalty aboard an ocean liner bound for Hollywood. Her ruse soon becomes hilariously complicated when she unwittingly becomes involved in a murder. Meanwhile, a fellow passenger (MacMurray) is smitten by the “princess” and he soon gets swept up in her charade. Set aboard a glorious ship, this clever caper which was inspired by a true-life incident includes an unforgettable scene featuring MacMurray performing “My Concertina” during a talent show. Directed by William K. Howard (Johnny Come Lately).

Bonus Features: NEW Audio Commentaries by Filmmaker Allan Arkush and Filmmaker/Historian Daniel Kremer (Hands Across the Table / The Princess Comes Across) | NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Joshua Nelson (Love Before Breakfast) | Theatrical Trailer (Love Before Breakfast) | Optional English Subtitles

THE PRODUCERS (SPECIAL EDITION)

Street Date: 4/13/21

Synopsis: From Mel Brooks, the legendary director of Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, History of the World: Part I and Spaceballs, comes this startling, stunning, outrageous and breathtaking comedy starring screen icons Zero Mostel (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum) and Gene Wilder (Haunted Honeymoon). Low-rent Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Mostel) and his high-strung accountant, Leo Bloom (Wilder), discover that, with the help of a few gullible investors, they can make more money on a flop than on a hit! Armed with the worst show ever written (“Springtime for Hitler”) and an equally horrific cast, this double-dealing duo is banking on disaster. But when their sure-to-offend musical becomes a surprise smash hit, they find themselves in the middle of a Broadway blitzkrieg! Brooks won an Oscar for his original screenplay, and Wilder, in his star-making performance, was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Co-starring comedy greats Dick Shawn (It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World) and Kenneth Mars (What’s Up Doc?).

SPACEBALLS (4K UHD OR BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION)

Street Date: 4/13/21

Synopsis: From Mel Brooks, the legendary director of The Producers, Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie and Life Stinks, comes this intergalactic spoof starring Brooks, John Candy (Once Upon a Crime), Rick Moranis (Little Shop of Horrors), Bill Pullman (Lost Highway), Daphne Zuniga (Modern Girls), Dick Van Patten (High Anxiety), George Wyner (Fletch), Michael Winslow (Police Academy) and comedy great Joan Rivers. The farce is with you in this uproarious salute to science fiction! When the evil Dark Helmet (Moranis) attempts to steal all the air from planet Druidia, a determined Druish princess (Zuniga), a clueless rogue (Pullman) and a half-man/half-dog creature who’s his own best friend (Candy) set out to stop him. But with the forces of darkness closing in on them at ludicrous speed, they’ll need the help of a wise imp named Yogurt (Brooks) and the mystical power of “The Schwartz” to bring peace and merchandising rights to the entire galaxy! The hilarious cast also includes John Hurt (Alien), Rudy De Luca (Transylvania 6-5000) and the voice of Dom DeLuise (The Cannonball Run) as Pizza the Hut.

DYNASTY 3-D AKA QIAN DAO WAN IL ZHU

Street Date: 4/13/21

Synopsis: Fully Restored in 3-D by 3-D Film Archive! When an emperor’s son is accused of treason against the throne, he ends up in a fight for his life against all comers. Directed by Mei-Chun Chang (Revenge of the Shogun Women), this pop-out martial-arts spectacular stars Bobby Ming, Tao-Liang Tan, Kang Chin, David Wei Tang and Ying Bai, who was given an award for Best Supporting Actor at the 1977 Golden Horse Film Festival. This special edition is the first 3-D Film Archive release in Compatible 3-D, so you can view it on any system. The package has both BD3D polarized AND anaglyphic (red/cyan) 3-D versions, and contains one pair of anaglyphic 3-D glasses with information on how to acquire additional glasses.

Bonus Features: The House of Terror – Restored 1953 3-D Comic Book | Two Stereo Slide Presentations from 10-Time Emmy Award Winning Writer Eric Drysdale: “Sold on Stereo, Commercial 3D in the 1950s” and “Inside a Mid-century Department Store” | “Go Away I Like You Too Much” 3-D Music Video from The Simple Carnival by Jeff Boller | Super-Touch Lens System Featurette by 3-D Expert Mike Ballew, Produced by Joe Tiberio | Restored 4 channel Quadrophonic Sound | 1 Pair of Anaglyphic 3-D Glasses with Information on How to Acquire Additional Glasses | Dual-Layered BD50 Disc | Optional English Subtitles

THE WILD LIFE

Street Date: 4/13/21

Synopsis: The Wild Life stars Christopher Penn (Mulholland Falls), Eric Stoltz (Bodies, Rest & Motion), Lea Thompson (SpaceCamp), Jenny Wright (Near Dark) and Ilan Mitchell-Smith (Weird Science) as teens on the verge of adulthood who discover that playing grown-up can be a confusing game. Older men, singles apartments, all-night parties and falling in love bring heartbreak and hilarity. Also featuring Randy Quaid (The Long Riders) in a special appearance as a Vietnam vet who teaches one of the kids an important lesson and Rick Moranis (Spaceballs) as a wacky nerd-on-the-make, this coming-of-age story is a humorous, bittersweet look at the best and worst times of everyone’s life. Screenwriter Cameron Crowe’s follow-up to his smash hit Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Wild Life was the second and final film directed by veteran Hollywood producer Art Linson (Where the Buffalo Roam).

Bonus Features: NEW Audio Commentary by Writer/Podcaster Mike McBeardo McPadden, Author of TEEN MOVIE HELL and Author/Disc Jockey Ian Christe | NEW Interview with Co-Star Ilan Mitchell-Smith | 9 Radio Spots | Theatrical Trailer | Dual-Layered BD50 Disc | Optional English Subtitles

NORTH SHORE

Street Date: 4/13/21

Synopsis: THE PEAK! THE DREAM! THE ULTIMATE TEST! The adventure of a lifetime begins. Featuring breathtaking surfing action and some of the most dangerous waves on Earth, North Shore is an adrenaline-powered look into the high-performance sport of big wave surfing. Rick Kane (Matt Adler, Teen Wolf) is a teenage surf champion from Arizona who dreams of conquering the legendary waves off Oahu’s North Shore. When he finally makes it to Hawaii, he learns the harsh reality of life on the beach: the waves are tough and the locals are even tougher. But with help from a surfing guru (Gregory Harrison, Razorback) and the love and support of a local girl (Nia Peeples, DeepStar Six), Rick conquers his fears, gains the respect of his adversaries and discovers the real secret to mastering the powerful waves of this island paradise. North Shore captures the essence of surfing life and the harmony that can exist between a surfer and the massive ocean waves. Also featuring appearances by wave legends Gerry Lopez and Laird Hamilton and World Champions Shaun Tomson, Derek Ho and Mark Occhilupo.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (4K UHD BLU-RAY)

Street Date: 4/27/21

Synopsis: For three men the Civil War wasn’t hell… it was practice! By far the most ambitious, unflinchingly graphic and stylistically influential western ever made, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is a classic actioner shot through with a volatile mix of myth and realism. Screen legend Clint Eastwood (A Fistful of Dollars) returns as “The Man with No Name,” this time teaming with two gunslingers to pursue a cache of $200,000 and letting no one, not even warring factions in a civil war, stand in their way. From sun-drenched panoramas to bold hard close-ups, exceptional camerawork captures the beauty and cruelty of the barren landscape and the hardened characters who stride unwaveringly through it. Hailed as “the best directed movie of all time” by Quentin Tarantino, this epic masterpiece was directed by the great Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in the West) and co-stars Lee Van Cleef (For a Few Dollars More) as Angel Eyes and Eli Wallach (The Magnificent Seven) in the role of Tuco. Music by legendary composer Ennio Morricone (Death Rides a Horse).

BATTLE HYMN

Street Date: 4/27/21

Synopsis: From Douglas Sirk, the legendary director of All I Desire, Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows, Written on the Wind and The Tarnished Angels, comes this classic Korean War drama starring screen great Rock Hudson (The Last Sunset). As a WWII fighter pilot, Colonel Dean Hess (Hudson) accidentally bombed a German orphanage, killing thirty-seven children. After entering the ministry to atone for the tragedy, Hess eventually rejoins the Air Force to train pilots in South Korea, while devoting his spare time to building a shelter for orphans. But now, to protect these children in a territory fraught with danger, he must fight… and face the past once again. Hudson gives an unforgettable performance as a one-man crusade to right the war’s wrongs. Martha Hyer (House of 1,000 Dolls), Dan Duryea (Thunder Bay), Don DeFore (Too Late for Tears) and Jock Mahoney (The Land Unknown) co-star in this compelling drama based on actual events.

Bonus Features: NEW Audio Commentary by Film Critic Nick Pinkerton | Theatrical Trailer | Dual-Layered BD50 Disc | Optional English Subtitles

A LOVELY WAY TO DIE

Street Date: 4/27/21

Synopsis: A Lovely Way to Die stars screen legend Kirk Douglas (Lonely Are the Brave, The Vikings) as Schuyler, a hard-boiled police detective who turns in his badge after charges of brutality are made against him. Hired by a prominent attorney (Eli Wallach, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly), Schuyler is assigned to protect Rena Westabrook (Sylva Koscina, The Secret War of Harry Frigg), a beautiful young woman who is accused of murdering her wealthy husband. While trying to uncover more information about the murder, Schuyler falls for his lovely client and gets embroiled in a murderous scheme of blackmail, deadly secrets and lies. David Lowell Rich (Madame X) wonderfully directed this colorful sixties caper featuring early unbilled screen appearances by Ali MacGraw (The Getaway), Doris Roberts (TV’s Everybody Loves Raymond) and John P. Ryan (Runaway Train).

Bonus Features: NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell | U.S. Theatrical Trailer (HD) | International Theatrical Trailer (HD) | Dual-Layered BD50 Disc | Optional English Subtitles

THE TIME TRAVELERS

Street Date: 4/27/21

Synopsis: Scientists step through a time portal and travel 107 years into the future. They find a barren underground post- nuclear war world where a handful of “normal humans” are being attacked by mutants. Preston Foster (I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, The Last Days of Pompeii), Philip Carey (Fighting Mad, The Seven Minutes), Merry Anders (Tickle Me), Steve Franken (Avalanche, Freeway), and Dennis Patrick (Heated Vengeance, Joe) star in this sci-fi classic. Now watch this thrilling adventure from a brand new 2020 2K scan!

Bonus Features: Brand New 2K Master | Theatrical Trailer | Optional English Subtitles