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If one were to remove Akira Kurosawa's 1954 film "Seven Samurai" from cinema history, the entire medium would look different. "Seven Samurai" is one of the linchpins in action cinema, codifying the language of an entire genre. Additionally, its premise -- a helpless village is beset by bandits, requiring the starving citizens to hire a small, affordable, and ill-equipped gang of scrappy defenders -- is universally applicable to any genre. A keen observer might see the "Seven Samurai" story repeated frequently across film history; "Galaxy Quest," "A Bug's Life," "Battle Beyond the Stars," "The Invincible Six," and the fourth episode of "The Mandalorian" all repeat Kurosawa's film openly.

The most famous "Seven Samurai" retelling, however, is probably John Sturges' 1960 Western remake "The Magnificent Seven." The story between the "Sevens" is identical, with the samurai replaced by horse-riding cowboy archetypes, played by a cadre of internationally recognized movie stars. Charles Bronson,...

TV’s 1979 Titanic movie comes to Blu in two versions. We liked it when new but didn’t care for the cut-down theatrical version that hit DVD in 2002. Kino’s disc completes a set of various film versions of the infamous 1912 disaster, and allows us the chance for a Titanic ‘battle of the bands’ — we’ll rate them from several criteria. The filmed-in-England production has a nicely-chosen soap opera cast: David Janssen, Cloris Leachman, Ian Holm, Helen Mirren, Anna Quayle, David Warner, Susan Saint James, Harry Andrews.

S.O.S. Titanic

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1979 / Color / 1:66 widescreen / 102 + 144 min. / Street Date October 13, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95

Starring: David Janssen, Cloris Leachman, Ian Holm, Helen Mirren, Anna Quayle, David Warner, Timothy Spall, Susan Saint James, Harry Andrews, Ed Bishop, Jerry Hauser, Aubrey Morris, Norman Rossington, Catherine Byrne, Warren Clarke, Madge Ryan.

Cinematography: Christopher Challis

Film Editor: Rusty Coppleman

Original Music: Howard Blake

Special effects: Wally Veevers,...

Mill Creek and Kit Parker have raided the Columbia vault once again in search of Noir Gold from the ‘fifties. Their selection this time around has a couple of prime gems, several straight crime thrillers and domestic jeopardy tales, and also a couple of interesting Brit imports. They aren’t really ‘Noir’ either, but they’re still unexpected and different. The top title is Don Siegel’s incomparable The Lineup, but also on board is a snappy anti-commie epic by André De Toth. Get set for a lineup of impressive leading ladies: Diana Dors, Arlene Dahl, Anita Ekberg — and the great Colleen Dewhurst as a card-carrying Red!

Noir Archive 9-Film Collection Volume 3

The Shadow on the Window, The Long Haul, Pickup Alley, The Tijuana Story, She Played with Fire, The Case Against Brooklyn, The Lineup, The Crimson Kimono, Man on a String

Blu-ray

Mill Creek / Kit Parker

1957 -1960 / B&w...

Earlier this year, Kino Lorber released The Outer Limits Season 1 on Blu-ray, and if you've been eagerly looking forward to their second season Blu-ray, then your wait is nearly over, as they'll release the remaining 17 episodes of the series on a four-disc set on November 20th, and we have a look at the full list of special features, including audio commentaries and a new booklet essay by David J. Schow.

The Outer Limits Season Two Blu-ray: "Newly Re-Mastered in HD! The entire first season – 17 Episodes. A four-disc set that controls over 15 hours of transmission from the 1964-1965 series. Guest stars include William Shatner, Adam West, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Duvall, Robert Culp, Eddie Albert, Patrick O’Neal, Dabney Coleman and Robert Webber.

Special Features:

• 17 Episodes and 2 Alternates Episodes - All Newly Mastered in HD

• The Unknown – the alternate cut of “The Forms of Things Unknown” intended a pilot for a show...

When one thinks of John Sturges’ “The Magnificent Seven,” many noteworthy fight scenes may come to mind. However, few are probably aware of the fight that took place between lawyers, producers and stars over the film’s rights. With Antoine Fuqua’s updated version of the film set to be released this week, it is worth looking at the difficulties that went into making the original.

Read More: ‘The Magnificent Seven’: How The Remake’s Score Reflects the Vision of Late Composer James Horner

The 2000 documentary ‘’Guns for Hire’’ gives a behind the scenes look at the making of the classic Western. It details how Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 epic ‘’Seven Samurai’’ got the attention of producer Lou Morheim, who then envisioned Kurosawa’s film as a great Western. The documentary tells of how Morheim, as well as other producers, fought for the film’s rights. It also gives an...

I'll trade you two RKOs for two Warners', an even swap! This quartet of movie-magic wonderments offer a full course on old-school film effects wizardry at its best. Willis O'Brien passes the baton to disciple Ray Harryhausen, who dazzles us with his own effects magic for the first '50s giant monster epic. And the best monster thriller of the decade is offered at its original widescreen aspect ratio. It's all special enough to merit a mid-week review. Special Effects Collection Blu-ray The Son of Kong, Mighty Joe Young, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Them! Warner Home Video 1933-1954 / B&W / 1:37 Academy - 1:85 widescreen / 335 min. / Street Date October 27, 2015 / 54.96 or 19.98 separately Starring Robert Armstrong, Helen Mack,, Frank Reicher, Victor Wong; Robert Armstrong, Terry Moore, Ben Johnson, Frank McHugh; Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, Donald Woods, Lee Van Cleef; James Whitmore, Edmund Gwenn, Joan Weldon, James Arness, Onslow Stevens,...

AMC is developing a slate of miniseries with an eye toward following up on the success of its first effort in the genre, Broken Trail.

The Rainbow Media Holdings-owned cable channel is looking to try its hand at a war epic, with projects in consideration from such scribes as Michael Blake (Dances With Wolves), Michael Nankin (Battlestar Galactica) and John Leckley (Spawn).

AMC is looking to have its next miniseries in production by year's end for broadcast in 2008. The goal is to get the audience and acclaim that followed Trail, a Western starring Robert Duvall that was the highest-rated longform program on cable in 2006.

"Viewers really noticed projects of intelligence and high quality, and we are focused on producing only those for AMC," said Rob Sorcher, executive vp programming and production.

Among the projects in development include the Civil War drama Against the Guns of Quantrill, from Blake and executive producer Lou Morheim (The Magnificent Seven); Berlin Mesa, a drama about Nazis attempting to steal nuclear secrets, from Michael Frost Beckner (Spygame) and executive producer John Baldecchi (The Mexican); L-19, a fact-based drama on a German Zeppelin crash during World War I, from William Brookfield (Close Your Eyes) and executive producers Gub Neal and Justin Thompson (Case of Evil); and White Rose, revolving around a youth uprising in Nazi Germany, from Leekley, who would also executive produce.