IT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM SHELF!

Flicker Alley posted a couple of new Blu-ray pre-orders on their website, and fans of large-format Cinerama and 70mm films will be extremely pleased.  Cinerama rarity, The Golden Head (1965) will get a Blu-ray/DVD combo release in the Smilebox format to approximate the curved screen.  In addition, the 70mm travelogue documentary, Flying Clipper (1963) will get a Blu-ray/4K UHD combo release.  I believe this is the first UHD release from Flicker Alley.

Each release is up for preorder $29.95 (a 25% discount) on the Flicker Alley website.  Here are the full details:

The Golden Head

Brand: Flicker Alley
Format: Blu-ray/DVD Dual-Format Edition
Region: ABC/0
Director: Richard Thorpe
Featuring: Buddy Hackett, George Sanders
Composers: Gregory Faust
Year: 1965
Language: English
Length: 115 mins.
UPC: 6-17311-68609-2

PRE-ORDER ONLY: RELEASE DATE – MARCH 26, 2019

Largely unseen since its original theatrical release in 1965, and almost never shown in the U.S., The Golden Head is somewhat of a Cinerama mystery, not only in its “Emil and the Detectives” – style plot, but in its history as a unique, multi-national and nearly “lost” widescreen wonder.

A British-Hungarian-American production, the film takes place in and around Budapest, and follows the adventures of the Stevenson children: Milly, Michael, and Harold. In Hungary with their father, a British inspector attending an international convention of criminal investigators, the kids stumble upon a plot hatched by two thieves (Buddy Hackett, in his first role since the success of It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, and George Sanders), to steal the golden bust of Saint László from the Cathedral of Gyór and smuggle it out of the country. The Stevenson trio trails the thieves through Budapest and beyond in what amounts to a widescreen tour of the culture and landmarks of Hungary, highlighted by crazy chase scenes of earthy humor and elements of slapstick comedy.

Notoriously replaced by Flying Clipper (aka Mediterranean Holiday) after an 8-week theatrical run in London, The Golden Head was rarely seen ever again. Now, thanks to a brilliant, new restoration by Cinerama Inc., the 70mm Technirama can be enjoyed by all alongside the other critically acclaimed Blu-ray and DVD publications in Flicker Alley’s Cinerama collection.

BONUS MATERIALS INCLUDE:

• Fortress of Peace – A short film directed by John Fernhout, portraying the Swiss Army fighting against an unnamed, unseen enemy which originally screened theatrically in front of The Golden Head.
• A Tale of Old Whiff – Originally in Smell-O-Vision, a 70mm scope cartoon where a dog, named “Old Whiff”, searches for a dinosaur bone.
• Restoration of The Golden Head – A featurette narrated by David Strohmaier about the new restoration of this Cinerama title.
• Restoration of the Animation, A Tale of Old Whiff – A featurette narrated by David Strohmaier about the restoration of this animated classic.
• Image Gallery – Featuring original production, exhibition and promotional materials.
• Trailer Gallery – Featuring restored Cinerama titles.
• A Program Booklet – A facsimile representation of the original program booklet.

The Golden Head (1964) – Trailer from Flicker Alley on Vimeo.

Flying Clipper (aka Mediterranean Holiday)

Brand: Flicker Alley
Format: Blu-ray/4K UHD Combo
Region: ABC/0
Director: Hermann Leitner and Rudolf Nussgruber
Featuring: George Henry Sanders, Buddy Hackett, Jess Conrad and Robert Coote
Composer: Riz Ortolani
Year: 1963
Language: German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Slovakian & Japanese
Length: 158 mins.
UPC: 6-17311-68619-1
PRE-ORDER ONLY: RELEASE DATE – MARCH 26, 2019

Flying Clipper, directed by Hermann Leitner and featuring narration from Burl Ives, follows the untold adventures of a Swedish sailing ship and its young crew as they navigate the Mediterranean Sea in the early 1960s. This documentary is a stunning travelogue that takes you to the dreamiest destinations of the old world. Under the stewardship of Captain Skoglund, a group of 20 Merchant Marine cadets venture through historical landmarks, such as Tutankhamen’s tomb, and other known wonders of the Mediterranean coastline. First Portugal, then Egypt, this odyssey travels to various points in Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Monaco, ending in Spain.

Photographed in 1962 with specially designed 70mm cameras, Flying Clipper was the first German film produced in this high-resolution large format. Whether it’s the spectacular imagery of the Formula 1 race in Monaco or the seascape views aboard the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-La, this documentary is a technical masterpiece that preserves the breathtaking visuals of its maiden voyage. Cinematography by Tony Braun (The Wild Geese), Siegfried Hold (Old Shatterhand), Heinz Hölscher (Rampage at Apache Wells), Klaus König (Go For It, Baby) and Bernhard Stebich.

Scanned in 4K from an original 70mm print and digitally restored, Flying Clipper now unfolds in your home theater with the same brilliance as a cinema screen. With a completely new Dolby Atmos design created to enhance the subtle nuances of the original sound (German and English), you experience the thunderous racing atmosphere of Monaco in the middle of your living room. Now available for the first time in the US on Blu-ray and UHD 4K Blu-ray.

BONUS MATERIALS INCLUDE:

• Multiple Audio Options – Watch Flying Clipper with its original soundtrack or with the new restoration featuring Dolby Atmos Surround Sound.
• Theatrical Trailer – A restoration of the original theatrical trailer.
  Lobby Card Slideshow – A virtual slideshow of the original lobby cards.
• An Interview with Jürgen Brückner – The camera operator, distributor and film chronicler sheds light on the production of Flying Clipper and shooting in 70mm.
• An Interview with Herbert Born – 70mm expert Herbert Born explains the process that went into restoring Flying Clipper for UHD Blu-ray.
• An Interview with Marcus Vetter – A film projectionist guides us through the process of screening 70mm.
• An Interview with Christoph Engelke – Detailing the audio restoration for Flying Clipper and how the new Dolby Atmos version was crafted.
• A Restoration Comparison – Side-by-side comparison showcasing the restoration work on the film.
• Trailer Gallery – Additional 4K Busch Media Group trailers.
• A Program Booklet – A facsimile representation of the original program booklet.

Flying Clipper (Mediterranean Holiday) (1963) – Trailer from Flicker Alley on Vimeo.