How the West Was Won

[Jeff]

Warner Home Video has announced a 2-disc special edition of How the West Was Won which stars John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and James Stewart. The set will be available to own from the 26th August, and should retail at around $20.97. As well as a remastered and restored widescreen presentation, the 2-disc release will include a Film Historian Commentary, Dave Strohmaier’s critically-acclaimed, feature-length documentary Cinerama® Adventure, Making of How the West Was Won (Archival featurette), and the original theatrical trailer. An Ultimate Collector’s Edition will also be available for $59.92. This will include the 2-disc special edition, as well as a 20-page theatrical press book reproduction, 10 behind-the-scenes photo cards and 10 postcards, and an exclusive movie poster offer.

Streeting simultaneously will also be a Blu-ray™ Hi-Def ($34.99 SRP) version. Again, all the 2-disc features will be included, along with special Digi-book packaging featuring 32-pages of rare press materials and behind-the-scenes photos. Also, exclusive to Blu-ray is the “SmileBox” version of the film which presents the image with a unique curvature that virtually recreates the true Cinerama® experience in a home theater. We've attached the official package artwork for the Ultimate Collector's Edition below:

[Person]

WOW - they are including a Smilebox version? An bold, amazing package once again from Warner.

[OliverB]

The Smilebox version is apparently only to be included with the BD set.

[Joe Buck]

The Smilebox version is apparently only to be included with the BD set.

[Person]

Damn, are you guys not going Blu-Ray this year? The SD box looks clunky and is quite expensive. I'm not a big fan of the film (it's a fairly good epic) to buy either edition, but if I was a big fan, this would force me to go Blu-Ray.

[arsonfilms]

Damn, are you guys not going Blu-Ray this year? The SD box looks clunky and is quite expensive. I'm not a big fan of the film (it's a fairly good epic) to buy either edition, but if I was a big fan, this would force me to go Blu-Ray.

I won't be going Blu-Ray for several years, actually. If at all.

The Smilebox version is a heck of an inclusion though, and if it were available in SD it might make me upgrade to the Ultimate Edition from the standard 2-disc release. Such a shame, though.

[domino harvey]

Ruh Roh, prepare for the incoming spite against the sharp transfer's DULL colors!

[Alphonso]

It looks like The Searchers all over again. Isn't technicolor supposed to be highly saturated, leaning toward the primaries? The cloudless sky is suddenly overcast.

[Person]

NO! Surely to fuck that will not be the final color levels?

Here's the full, original article.

That article is from May 2006. It is possible that more work has been undertaken since then. Time will tell.