STACK #187 May 2020

FILM FEATURE

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Collectors are well served this May with the launch of a new boutique Blu-ray label offering a range of classic catalogue titles in deluxe limited editions. Words Scott Hocking

War of theWorlds (1953)

T he new Imprint Films label from Via Vision Entertainment has something for every film buff. There’s the film noir gem Sorry, Wrong Number (1948); historical epic Waterloo (1970); Ridley Scott’s feature debut The Duellists (1977); the camp cult classic I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958); and perhaps most exciting of all, a new 4K restoration from the original camera negative of the 1953 sci-fi classic The War of the Worlds . “Our vision was to create an ongoing collector’s series of quality films, released in HD with premium packaging and carefully curated exclusive bonus material,” says Josh Hibberd, Head of Acquisitions & Commercial

and proves that there is a sustainable physical market out there for this type of model. “We have a crack team of film and TV enthusiasts working behind the scenes on the label engaging with studio archives, film historians, directors and producers around the world to bring the best exclusive supplementary materials to complement each film.” H.G. Wells’s seminal alien invasion tale from 1898, TheWar of theWorlds , has since been adapted for the big and small screen multiple times, as well as inspiring a musical concept album. But the precursor to producer George Pal’s 1953 version was the 1938 radio drama narrated by Orson Welles, which became

Our vision was to create an ongoing collector’s series of quality films, released in HD with premium packaging and carefully curated exclusive bonus material

Development at Via Vision Entertainment. “We really wanted to tap into the film collectors market that supports the physical medium, and who want to collect every numbered release. Since our initial announcement, the feedback and buzz surrounding the label has been exciting

28 MAY 2020

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