collecting four genre-spanning works, the great John Ford takes centre stage with another in its series of acclaimed filmmaker-focused, limited-edition box sets. In addition, the directorial debut of Jack Garfein THE STRANGE ONE, getting a blu-ray release. The film introduced the acting talents of Ben Gazzara and George Peppard to the big screen.
Released 20 April, JOHN FORD AT COLUMBIA 1935–1958 showcases some of the most unexpected and surprising turns in the director’s prolific career: THE WHOLE TOWN’S TALKING (1935) is a screwball comedy about a law-abiding man (played by Edward G Robinson) who happens to be the doppelganger of Public Enemy No. 1, ‘Killer’ Mannion; THE LONG GRAY LINE (1955) is a Ford military picture with a difference, focusing its attentions away from the battlefield and onto the fifty-year career of an Irish immigrant who rises through the ranks at West Point; GIDEON’S DAY (1958, released in the US as GIDEON OF SCOTLAND YARD) takes us on a twenty-four journey in the life of Jack Hawkins’ titular London-based detective; and THE LAST HURRAH (1958) is a star-studded political drama boasting the talents of Spencer Tracy, Jeffrey Hunter, Pat O’Brien, Basil Rathbone, Donald Crisp, and John Carradine.
Also available on 20 April is THE STRANGE ONE, the first of only two pictures directed by Jack Garfein. Adapted from Calder Willingham’s novel, End as a Man, this uncompromising exposé of the practice of hazing in a military college features a number of actors from New York’s famed Actors Studio – including Ben Gazzara, Pat Hingle, Clifton James, and George Peppard – each at the start of their lengthy careers in film.
THE WHOLE TOWN’S TALKING (1935)CRIME, COMEDY
4K restoration- Original mono audio
- Introduction by TCM host Ben Mankiewicz (2014)
- Cymbaline (2020): a new video essay by Tag Gallagher, author of John Ford: The Man and His Films
- Leonard Maltin on ‘The Whole Town’s Talking’ (2014): archival appreciation by the film critic and historian
- Sheldon Hall on ‘The Whole Town’s Talking’ (2020): new appreciation by the film historian
- Pamela Hutchinson on Jean Arthur (2020): a look at the life and career of the acclaimed actor
- Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Farran Smith Nehme, an extract from the W R Burnett’s Jail Breaker, Edward G Robinson on The Whole Town’s Talking, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- UK premiere on Blu-ray
THE LONG GRAY LINE (1955) COMEDY, DRAMA
4K restoration- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with film historians Diana Drumm, Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme
- Living and Dead (2020): a new video essay by Tag Gallagher, author of John Ford: The Man and His Films
- Leonard Maltin on ‘The Long Gray Line’ (2014): archival appreciation by the film critic and historian
- The Red, White and Blue Line (1955): rare promotional film, featuring the principal cast of The Long Gray Line
- Original theatrical trailer
- Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Nick Pinkerton, archival interviews with John Ford, Maureen O’Hara on The Long Gray Line, an overview of contemporary critical responses, Anthony Nield on The Red, White and Blue Line, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
GIDEON’S DAY (1958) CRIME, DRAMA, COMEDY
4K restoration- Original mono audio
- Alternative feature presentation with the US Gideon of Scotland Yard titles
- Audio commentary with film historian Charles Barr (2020)
- Milk and Sugar (2020): a new video essay by Tag Gallagher, author of John Ford: The Man and His Films
- Leonard Maltin on ‘Gideon’s Day’ (2014): archival appreciation by the film critic and historian
- John Ford’s London (2020): new appreciation by Adrian Wootton, Chief Executive of Film London
- Interview with Elaine Schreyeck (2020): the continuity supervisor recollects her work on the set
- John Ford and Lindsay Anderson at the NFT (1957): rare silent footage of Ford visiting London’s National Film Theatre during the production of Gideon’s Day
- Original UK theatrical trailer
- Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Robert Murphy, an interview with producer Michael Killanin, Jack Hawkins on Gideon’s Day, Lindsay Anderson on John Ford, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- UK premiere on Blu-ray
THE LAST HURRAH (1958) COMEDY, DRAMA
2K restoration- Original mono audio
- True Blue (2020): a new video essay by Tag Gallagher, author of John Ford: The Man and His Films
- Leonard Maltin on ‘The Last Hurrah’ (2014): archival appreciation by the film critic and historian
- Super 8 version: original cut-down home cinema presentation
- Original theatrical trailer
- Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Imogen Sarah Smith, John Ford on Spencer Tracy and The Last Hurrah, screenwriter Frank S Nugent on John Ford, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- UK premiere on Blu-ray
THE STRANGE ONE (1957) DRAMA, FILM-NOIR
Adapted from Calder Willingham’s novel, End as a Man, this uncompromising exposé of the practice of hazing in a military college features a number of actors from New York’s famed Actors Studio – including Ben Gazzara, Pat Hingle, Clifton James, and George Peppard – each at the start of their lengthy careers in film.
High Definition presentation- Two presentations of the film: The Strange One, with the original US title sequence, and End as a Man with the rarely seen UK titles
- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with critic Nick Pinkerton (2020)
- Finding Direction (2020): Jack Garfein recalls his directorial debut and his work with the Actors Studio
- Ben Gazzara Remembers ‘The Strange One’ (2009): archival interview with the acclaimed actor
- Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
- Original theatrical trailer
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
- Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Brad Stevens, Ben Gazzara on The Strange One, an archival interview with Jack Garfein, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 3,000 copies
