Arrow Films’ Arrow Academy label is pleased to announce the release of The Killers, coming to Blu-ray for the first time in the UK on 24th February. One of the first post-noir movies, The Killers is a sizzling sun-drenched thriller packed with shadows where the darkness at the heart of its protagonists’ souls is allowed to rot in the heat of the day. Probably best known as the film which was originally intended to be the first TV movie, but pulled by broadcasters due to what was seen as overtly graphic violence, The Killers, most importantly, is the film which established Lee Marvin: achingly cool, unnervingly relaxed and physically daunting.
This feature-packed disc will be released as a deluxe Blu-ray featuring original and newly commissioned artwork, an archive interview with director Don Siegel, new and exclusive interviews with Dwayne Epstein, author of 'Lee Marvin: Point Blank' and Marc Eliot, author of 'Ronald Reagan: The Hollywood Years', alongside an exclusive collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mike Sutton, extracts from Don Siegel’s autobiography and contemporary reviews.
Here for the first time on Blu-ray, Arrow Academy is proud to release the film in both the alternate widescreen framing (1.85:1) and the more commonly seen 1.33:1/4:3 version. The Killers was originally commissioned as the first American TV movie, though it was intended from the outset to be released in European cinemas. However, following the JFK assassination, NBC became nervous about the film's subject matter, and the film debuted in American cinemas instead. But because of the original plans, previous video releases have treated The Killers as a TV movie and framed it at the then-universal TV shape of 1.33:1/4:3.
Synopsis
There is more than one way to kill a man...
"I gotta find out what makes a man decide not to run. Why all of a sudden he'd rather die."
So muses hitman Charlie (Lee Marvin) after his high-priced victim Johnny North (John Cassavetes) gives in without a fight. Obsessed with the answer, Charlie and his hot-headed associate Lee (Clu Gulager) track down Johnny's associates, and uncover a complex web of crime and deceit involving his femme fatale girlfriend Sheila (Angie Dickinson) and ruthless mob boss Jack Browning (Ronald Reagan in his last screen role).
Loosely inspired by the Ernest Hemingway story, and directed by Don Siegel (whose many other taut, efficient thrillers include Dirty Harry and the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers), The Killers was commissioned as the very first 'TV movie', but was given a cinema release because of its violence - although a cast like that really belonged on the big screen in the first place.
This super-deluxe package will be full of special features and bonus material including:
· High Definition digital transfer of the film by Universal Pictures, presented in alternative “television” and “cinema” aspect ratios
· Original uncompressed 2.0 mono PCM audio
· Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
· Reagan Kills: interview with New York Times bestselling writer Marc Eliot, author of 'Ronald Reagan: The Hollywood Years'
· Screen Killer: interview with Dwayne Epstein, author of 'Lee Marvin: Point Blank'
· Archive interview with Don Siegel (1984) from the French television series 'Cinéma Cinémas'.
· Gallery of rare behind-the-scenes images
· Reversible sleeve featuring the original poster and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh
· Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mike Sutton, extracts from Don Siegel’s autobiography and contemporary reviews, illustrated with original lobby cards
Blackest Ever Black is pleased to present the first vinyl edition of the legendary demos recorded in 1981 by Weekend - the trio of Alison Statton, Spike Williams and Simon Booth.
Alison Statton began her recording career with Philip and Stuart Moxham in Young Marble Giants, one of the most unique and important bands to come out of the UK post-punk/independent scene. YMGs dissolved in 1981, at which point Statton began writing with Wrexham native Mark 'Spike' Williams, one of the brains behind Z Block Records and a member of the band Reptile Ranch. They joined forces with guitarist Simon Booth to form Weekend, and recorded the exquisite demo versions of 'Drumbeat' (later titled 'Drumbeat For Baby'), 'Red Planes', 'Nostalgia' and 'Summerdays' that are collected on this new 12".
At the heart of the record are two truly remarkable pieces: 'Red Planes' and 'Nostalgia'. The former is a dubwise dream-pop epic, Statton's dispassionate, Nico-esque vocal wafting over a clucking Boss DR 55 pulse and seismic bass detonations, while Williams' violin, in Alison's words, "soars and dives and weaves through every possible mood with no inhibitions, creating an almost psychedelic feel, with a menacing undercurrent". It's somehow both starker and more richly atmospheric than the version that appears on the band's debut album, La Varieté (Rough Trade, 1982), not to mention significantly longer - nine minutes in total. Our only complaint is that it doesn't last for nineteen.
'Nostalgia', meanwhile, is surely one of the most perfectly elegiac songs committed to tape in the post-punk era. More fleshed-out than the La Varieté version, the instrumentation here - notably Statton's yearning recorder part ("Very Eno," as Spike astutely observes) - amplifies the emotional resonance of an already heart-stopping lyric. Written by Spike and Dave Hoddel, 'Nostalgia' is a poignant meditation on the attraction, and the danger, of dwelling on the past.
Shorn of the jazzy flourishes that would define the subsequent studio version, 'Drumbeat' (later titled 'Drumbeat For Baby') has a brittle, choppier quality more in line with Young Marble Giants than Weekend; it remains one of Williams and Statton's most infectious compositions. The instrumental 'Summerdays', is a different beast entirely to the cut on La Varieté; it's primarily a showcase of Simon Booth's lyrical guitar-playing, at times reminiscent of the courtly psychedelia of early Felt or Vini Reilly, and reminding us of Weekend's role as godparents of the nascent indie-pop movement.
Jazz became an increasingly prominent component of the Weekend sound, and by the time of La Varieté- their sole studio LP - they had welcomed jazzmen Larry Stabbins (saxophone), Roy Dodds (drums) and Dawson Miller (percussion) into their line-up. But despite its idiosyncratic brilliance and long-lasting influence (Belle & Sebastian and Kalima are but two groups who owe it an enormous debt), nothing on La Varieté, or on the handful of singles and live recordings Weekend put their name to before disbanding in 1983, quite matches the raw, impressionistic power of the '81 demos.
The four demos were released as a stand-alone CD by Vinyl Japan in 1995, and included as bonus tracks on Cherry Red's most recent CD reissue of La Varieté; however, until now they have never appeared on vinyl.
Licensed from Cherry Red, The '81 Demos (BLACKEST026) is a 12" limited to 1000 pieces, mastered by by Matt Colton at Alchemy and housed in an LP sleeve printed on reverse board stock, with printed inner featuring liner notes by Spike Williams, Alison Statton and Simon Booth. It is due to be released on March 3rd, 2014.
On 12th February Entertainment One releases Paranoia by Robert Luketic featuring Gary Oldman, Amber Heard, Harrison Ford and Liam Hemsworth.
This movie that is directed by the maker from Killers and The Ugky Truth features music from Junkie XL.
Synopsis:
An entry-level employee at a powerful corporation finds himself occupying a corner office, but at a dangerous price: he must spy on his boss's old mentor to secure for him a multi-billion dollar advantage.
Concluding the celebration of their 40th anniversary, The Residents are pleased to announce Shadowland, Part 3 of the Randy, Chuck & Bob Trilogy. Aspiring to examine life in reverse, the trilogy began in 2010 with The Talking Light, a study of ghosts and death; reflecting on love and sex, the group continued with their Wonder of Weird tour in 2013; and finally with Shadowland, Randy, Chuck & Bob will focus on the beginning of life - birth. As with Parts 1 & 2 of the trilogy, Part 3 will feature music from The Residents’ extensive catalog interspersed with short videos about birth, rebirth, reincarnation and NDEs (near death experiences).
So far, the following dates are known :
-
May 2- Belgium-Gent, Vooruit
-
May 3- Netherlands-Den Haag, Paard van Troje
-
May 4- Germany-Düsseldorf, Zakk
-
May 5 - Switzerland -St. Gallen, Grabenhalle
-
May 6 - Switzerland -Lausanne, Les Docks
"Victoria is a golden talent who has grown stronger every time I've seen her play. Rugby's best kept secret, that's the way I've been describing her.
"Words from the Cradle", her debut album, more than validates that belief.
Natural, authentic, precociously developed. There is just enough originality to maybe jar on first hearing, sending the listener back for another dose. You have someting new here, and new things take time.
With this album I consider Victoria a true songwriter. In this I mean she has the mark of a gifted painter in words and sound. Someone who not only looks, but sees, not only hears, but listens - her filter to process, instantly charming and unique. Victoria brushes with a broad palet. Nothing restricted or forced, occasional dabs of impressionism, always just the right touches of colour and shade.
Her sound is folk-inspired, but always real and grounded, no make-believe world of fairies and goblins here. Relationships are busy, urban and complex. There is cosiness and intimacy. The tracks are clear, stripped and focused. No unneccesary fat on these bones.
"Words from the Cradle" is homely and homespun, reflected in uncomplicated production and arrangements. A voice at times haunting, inducer of goosebumps, a voice you hold no barrier for. "Words..." is a beautiful document and I urge you to listen / buy."
Scott Baker, local poet Rugby, England.
