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Digital Bits:

20th Century Fox has announced a John Frankenheimer Collection for release on DVD on 1/22 (SRP $39.98). The 4-disc set will include The Manchurian Candidate, Ronin, The Train and Young Savages.

Yep, those are all films directed by John Frankenheimer, all right. They don't have much in common beyond that, though.

If rights weren't a issue, it would be nice to see his 60s work together.

Matt wrote:Yep, those are all films directed by John Frankenheimer, all right. They don't have much in common beyond that, though.

Oh, so you've seen the cover-art then

I wonder if The Train will feature a new anamorphic 1.66:1 transfer? I love that movie.

I doubt it. I'm guessing this is just a packaging job.

I own - and thoroughly enjoy - Ronin and The Manchurian Candidate (as well as Seconds). Recommendations on picking up the other two separately?

Might pick up this, as I´ve considered buying both Ronin and Manchurian for some time now. I thought those two films were out in 2 disc editions. Am I wrong? Anything of particular interest on the 2nd discs of Ronin and Manchurian, or will this set satisfy my needs?

Poncho Punch wrote:I own - and thoroughly enjoy - Ronin and The Manchurian Candidate (as well as Seconds). Recommendations on picking up the other two separately?

The Train is amazing. I've not seen The Young Savages, at least not that I can remember. It was Frankenheimer's first feature. It doesn't appear to be available separately at the moment, so it may be available only in this upcoming set.

Even though Fox handles distribution for them, this is actually an MGM product.

Here is the actual art, which isn't half as cool as Domino's. I'm curious as to how they plan to shove four discs into what appears to be a single-wide Amaray case.

I'm curious as to how they plan to shove four discs into what appears to be a single-wide Amaray case.

Two double-sided discs?

Cinephrenic wrote:Two double-sided discs?

Maybe. The original Digital Bits quote and the Amazon page both refer to it as a four-disc set though.

It's probably an early error. I don't even think Amazon even knows yet. But the pictures sure seems to point out that way. I haven't seen a single amaray that holds four seperate discs as you pointed out. If they are releasing these double-sided, then this really does suck.

Here in Australia we have single amaray cases which hold 4 discs. One on each inside cover and one on each side of the insert flipper. The UK has them well. Single amaray cases with flippers for 2-disc sets were used here from the outset rather than the thicker double cases used in the US (but now also obselete).

It's been some time since I've taken a look at it, but I seem to recall the Ronin disc being double-sided already, with widescreen and full-screen versions of the film on opposite sides. Additionally - and again, I'm going off of my memory here - the full-screen version did provide additional information on the top and bottom of the frame; it was not a simple pan and scan job, but a significant reframing of the film, and this presentation was likely taken into consideration during shooting. I see no reason to believe that MGM would remove features from a disc for inclusion in a box-set.

Jeff wrote:

Cinephrenic wrote:Two double-sided discs?

Maybe. The original Digital Bits quote and the Amazon page both refer to it as a four-disc set though.

Fox's retail site also lists it as a 4-disc set, although it's been wrong in the past a couple times.

Manchurian Candidate coming to Best Buy exclusive-Blu on May 3

I hope "The Train" is next....