Foundrywire

This summer, greed, murder and paranoia take first class seats on NIGHT TRAIN, a taut, new thriller starring Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon, Saw), Leelee Sobieski (88 Minutes, The Wicker Man) and Steve Zahn (Management, Joy Ride). National Entertainment Media brings this nail-biting suspense film in the vein of Shallow Grave and The Ninth Gate to audiences as a simultaneous direct-to-DVD and Blu-ray release ($24.98 SRP each) that promises a one-way ticket to terror. Plus, over 50 minutes of exclusive bonus features are stowed away on NIGHT TRAIN, which pulls in to stores on July 7.

A petty thief pushes his way into the lives of an unhappily married couple, and irrevocably changes their world in French director Bertrand Blier’s (Going Places, How Much Do You Love Me?, Get Out Your Handkerchiefs) darkly comedic sex caper, MÉNAGE. Upon its 1986 U.S. theatrical run, the acclaimed film, nominated for 8 César Awards and the prestigious Cannes Golden Palm Award, was called “Blier’s most satisfying work ” And on July 14, this powerful probe into a seamy, sexual side of Paris starring Oscar nominee Gérard Depardieu (La Vie en Rose, Cyrano de Bergerac, Changing Times), Michel Blanc (Monsieur Hire, Grosse Fatigue) and Miou-Miou (The Science of Sleep, Dry Cleaning), makes its DVD debut for $24.98SRP…only from KOCH Lorber Films

The New York Times called Marco Ferreri “arguably the greatest Italian satirist to ever step behind the camera.” And upon his death in 1997, Gilles Jacob, artistic director of the Cannes International Film Festival, said “The Italian cinema has lost one of its most original artists, one of its most personal authors…No one was more demanding nor more allegorical than he in showing the state of crisis of contemporary man”. On July 14, KOCH Lorber celebrates one of world cinema’s most daring and confrontational auteurs with DVD releases of two acclaimed films from Ferreri: BYE BYE MONKEY (1978), starring Gérard Depardieu (La Vie en Rose, Changing Times), Marcello Mastroianni (La Dolce Vita, Federico Fellini’s 8 ½) and Geraldine Fitzgerald (Arthur, Wuthering Heights) and DON’T TOUCH THE WHITE WOMAN (1974), a satire of the highest order starring Catherine Deneuve (8 Women, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), Mastroianni and Michel Piccoli (Atlantic City, Strange Affair).

Imagine having the ability to recognize a lie – any lie – as it is being told. The idea sounds appealing, until fully thought through. DAKOTA SKYE explores this concept through a gifted 17 year-old girl, who, unable to trust the people she loves, grows disillusioned with life. Newcomer Eileen Boylan (Sleepover, “South of Nowhere”) charmed audiences with her fresh performance as Dakota Skye as the film earned six awards* during its 2008 film festival run. This summer, DAKOTA SKYE debuts on DVD loaded with special features including an audio commentary, making-of documentary, outtakes and bloopers, and more. DAKOTA SKYE arrives in-stores July 21 for $24.98SRP from E1 Entertainment.

Over the course of six mesmerizing seasons, the BBC’s acclaimed mystery series WIRE IN THE BLOOD has collected fans and rave reviews worldwide, airing throughout Europe and Latin America, to Australia and Southeast Asia. The series is seen on BBC America in the U.S., and recently earned the prestigious New York Festivals International TV Drama Gold World Medal. Based on Val McDermid’s best-selling novels, WIRE IN THE BLOOD stars Robson Green ("Grafters", "Touching Evil") as Dr. Tony Hill, criminal expert and psychologist, and Simone Lahbib ("Monarch of the Glen", "Bad Girls") as Detective Inspector Alex Fielding. On July 21, all four mysteries of the gripping sixth season debut on DVD as WIRE IN THE BLOOD: THE COMPLETE SIXTH SEASON will be available to U.S. audiences as the latest addition to E1 Entertainment’s British DVD Collection.

This summer, E1 Entertainment brings family entertainment home again with two classic stories of love, friendship and perseverance. 1977 Emmy® award winner MARY WHITE stars Ed Flanders (“St. Elsewhere,” Salem’s Lot) as real life journalist William Allen White who reflects on his short time with his 16 year old daughter, played by Kathleen Beller (“Dynasty,” The Godfather-Part II). Based on the children’s novel by Ouida, 1960’s A DOG OF FLANDERS stars David Ladd (Misty, The Wild Geese) and Donald Crisp (Pollyanna, How Green Was My Valley) about an impoverished boy and his grandfather, and the abandoned dog that teaches them hope. MARY WHITE and A DOG OF FLANDERS come to DVD on July 21 for the family-friendly price of $14.98SRP each.

This summer, E1 Entertainment will delight children and parents alike with the release of two new DVD collections of specially-chosen episodes from the award-winning series SHELLEY DUVALL’S FAERIE TALE THEATRE. Each DVD contains four fantastical stories filled with wicked stepsisters, dancing princesses, evil goblins, beautiful mermaids, and no shortage of A-list actors! FAERIE TALE THEATRE: PRINCESS TALES features updated versions of the timeless tales “Cinderella,” “The Little Mermaid,” “The Dancing Princesses” and “The Princess and the Pea.” FAERIE TALE THEATRE: TALES FROM HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN includes captivating narratives from the beloved children’s author, including “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “The Nightingale,” “The Snow Queen” and “Thumbelina.” These magical DVDs arrive July 21, and will each be family-friendly priced for $14.98SRP.

Over a three-year period Filmmaker Joshua Dugdale was given extraordinary access to the behind-the-scenes life of spiritual and political leader the XIV Dalai Lama, and his epic struggle with China for peace and freedom for the people of Tibet. The result: an astonishing film of rare historic importance nominated by the Foreign Press Association for “Best Documentary of the Year.” THE UNWINKING GAZE premiered as the opening night film at the 2008 London International Film Festival and will make its U.S. DVD debut from IndiePix® on July 14 for $24.95SRP wherever DVDs are sold, online and at indiepixfilms.com.

Up until recently, whaling was more or less universally accepted and whales were seen as resources to be exploited rather than thinking, feeling animals with their own intrinsic value. But thanks to the work of passionate conservators such as Dr. Roger Payne, a renowned whale biologist and activist credited with spearheading global public awareness of the plight of whales, the world no longer turns a blind eye to these beautiful ocean behemoths. Weaving together a unique hybrid of natural history and biography, the award-winning A LIFE AMONG WHALES is a fascinating exploration into Payne’s life and pioneering work in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Featuring remarkable cinematography and capturing Payne’s infectious spirit and fascinating discoveries, A LIFE AMONG WHALES makes its DVD debut July 21 from IndiePix® and will be available nationwide wherever DVDs are sold, online and at indiepixfilms.com for $19.95SRP.

If God spoke to you and asked that you re-define the Hollywood epic with a multi-million dollar cross between Star Wars and The Ten Commandments, what would you do? Ten years ago, charismatic pastor and fledgling filmmaker Richard Gazowsky received such a prophetic message. Using donations from his congregation, he slowly transformed his Voice of Pentecost Church in San Francisco into a fully functioning movie studio with the far-reaching goal to make a film entitled, Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph, a $50 million biblical science fiction movie that would change filmmaking forever. AUDIENCE OF ONE, director Michael Jacobs feature documentary debut, chronicles the energetic Gazowsky as he attempts to film “the greatest picture ever made”. The festival favorite – winner of the Silverdocs Beyond Belief Award and the Audience Award at the SF DocFest -- will be available from IndiePix® on August 18 wherever DVDs are sold, online and at indiepixfilms.com for $24.95SRP.

When a freak accident during an experimental space mission catapulted Astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) across a thousand galaxies to an alien battlefield, a cult classic was born with the epic, adventure-filled TV series Farscape. The award-winning fan favorite show, which ran from 1999-2003 on Sci Fi and was named by TV Guide as one of television’s best cult shows ever, is about to blast off again on DVD courtesy of a pact between A&E Home Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company.

Scholastic Storybook Treasures™ presents a unique DVD exploring the magical world of numbers in a colorful, animated and engaging production just in time to help kids sharpen their brainpower for school. CHICKA CHICKA 123…AND MORE COUNTING FUN not only helps young math lovers learn to count to the millions, it also features newly updated Read-Along captioning on the title story, perfect for kids just learning to read. The newest release in the award-winning DVD line will be available for $14.95SRP.

Aleister Crowley, self proclaimed “The Great Beast” and known by the press as “The Wickedest Man in the World” was perhaps the most controversial and notorious individual in British History -- if not the entire 20th Century. IN SEARCH OF THE GREAT BEAST 666 dramatically documents the chilling life, impulses and journey of Crowley (1875-1947), a man who was voted in a BBC poll to be one of the most influential Britons of all time. Was he related to U.S. President George Bush? And how was he connected to Scientology, Jack the Ripper, Winston Churchill, Hitler and Ian Fleming (creator of James Bond)? Discover the unsettling answers in this compelling documentary, which makes its U.S. DVD debut on July 28 for $19.95SRP…only from The Disinformation Company.

Cross over the shadowy doorstep and into the sinister world of crime writing’s Grand Dame with AGATHA CHRISTIE: POIROT & MARPLE. In this unprecedented 17-disc collection of classic mysteries, put up the tea kettle, lock the door and sit back as two of Christie’s most popular mystery-solvers, the prim and proper Miss Marple (Joan Hickson) and the diminutive, dapper Hercule Poirot (David Suchet), cleverly crack 21 spine-tingling murder cases. Gathering together all of the crime-solving duo’s lavish films in a handsome slimline collector’s set -- packed with more than 35 hours of Christie’s most acclaimed and fan-favorite adaptations – will be available to add to every sophisticated home entertainment collection for $134.95 SRP…only from A&E Home Entertainment.

1 in 3 Americans believe in extraterrestrial phenomena, and many also accept the theory that Earth was visited by intelligent life forms thousands of years ago. Are monuments like Stonehenge and Easter Island the last remains of this ancient alien visitation? And, is it possible that they brought with them technology that drastically affected the course of history and man’s own development? Discover for yourself in the eye-opening HISTORY™ special ANCIENT ALIENS, which premiered to nearly two million viewers and makes its DVD debut on July 28 for $19.95SRP.

The 2008 collapse of the U.S. economy wreaked havoc on the American people. And while the stock market imploded before us all, a select group of investors were ruinously devastated by a far more trusted source: former Wall Street guru Bernie Madoff. On July 28, HISTORY™ delves into the personal chaos suffered by the Madoff investors and then gets to the heart of America’s trying economic times with RIPPED OFF: MADOFF AND THE SCAMMING OF AMERICA. Featuring two captivating specials – including the bonus CRASH: THE NEXT GREAT DEPRESSION? -- the timely and relevant DVD will be available for $19.95SRP from A&E Home Entertainment.

This summer, take a dark and chilling journey into the checkered history of organized crime with THE MAFIA: THE COLD BLOODED HISTORY OF THE MOB. It’s a sweeping saga of bloodshed, betrayal and big business, focusing on a legendary organization that has survived power struggles and the constant attention of the law, and, on July 28, it comes to rich and fascinating life courtesy of HISTORY™. A comprehensive examination of the mob throughout the 20th century, from prohibition to WWII, to the Cold War, to JFK’s presidency and John Gotti, this definitive 4-disc set – timed to release with the highly anticipated theatrical premiere of Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp as notorious American gangster John Dillinger – offers 10 hours of compelling documentaries for $34.95SRP.

After taking the 2006 international film festival circuit by storm with six wins , and a hop across the pond for a 2008 U.S. theatrical run, the critically-acclaimed British thriller LONDON TO BRIGHTON will at last be released stateside on DVD this summer. Writer/director Paul Andrew Williams took home two prestigious directorial awards for his feature film debut – an exhilarating race against time through Britain’s ruthless underworld. LONDON TO BRIGHTON stars Lorraine Stanley (Eden Lake, Cass) in a role that earned her a London Critics Circle nomination for best actress of the year, as well as Johnny Harris (RocknRolla, Atonement) and Claudie Blakley (Severence, Pride and Prejudice). Available August 11 for $24.98 SRP from E1 Entertainment, the LONDON TO BRIGHTON DVD is a must-own for fans of new, action-packed British drama in the vein of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and RocknRolla.

A broken heart, a camping trip, a battle axe, a bikini-clad demon and a lesbian ex-fiancée… the perfect ingredients for this summer’s newest cult-comedy, new on DVD from E1 Entertainment. DARK RISING’s six Canadian Comedy Awards nominations included a “Best Male Performance” nod to WWE® and TNA® Wrestling star Jason “Christian Cage” Reso for his feature film acting debut. Fans of Army of Darkness, My Name is Bruce and Bubba Ho-tep will revel in adding DARK RISING to their DVD library of camp classics. DARK RISING arrives in-stores August 11 for $19.98 SRP.

Though he was awarded an honorary Oscar® in 2000, 83 year-old Andrzej Wajda, Poland’s most celebrated filmmaker shows no signs of slowing down with KATYN, a 2009 U.S. theatrical release of his most deeply personal film. An epic and sweeping drama that exposes an oft-overlooked moment in WWII history, KATYN is based on the “stunningly brutal” novel by Andrzej Mularcyk detailing Joseph Stalin’s horrific 1940 liquidation of the Polish officer corps in Katyn Forest. Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Academy Award® in 2008, the powerful KATYN will make its U.S. DVD debut on August 11 for $26.98SRP, complemented by a host of enlightening extras including an interview with Wajda, and interviews and reactions from the Polish premiere.

This summer, E1 Entertainment casts out a line into the picturesque rivers of Scotland and reels in ALMOST HEAVEN, a new romantic comedy starring Donal Logue (“Grounded for Life,” Max Payne). Logue plays a washed-up television director filming a low-budget fishing show with his temperamental ex-wife. Though looking to revive his career, he instead finds love and redemption – in the most unlikely of places. ALMOST HEAVEN also stars Tom Conti (Reuben, Reuben), Lynda Boyd (She’s the Man), Julie Cox (Children of the Dune) and Joely Collins (daughter of musician Phil Collins). A direct-to-DVD debut, ALMOST HEAVEN arrives in stores August 25 for $24.98 SRP.

The CBS mini-series event MISTRAL’S DAUGHTER was the hot topic around the water cooler in 1984, and now the provocative adaptation of Judith Krantz’s #1 New York Times Best-Seller arrives on DVD for the very first time. The opulent 6-hour production stars Stacy Keach (W., “Prison Break") as the arrogant but brilliant French painter Julien Mistral, and Stefanie Powers (“Hart to Hart”, McLintock) as his beautiful muse. Lee Remick (The Omen, Days of Wine and Roses), Robert Urich (“Spenser for Hire”, “Lonesome Dove”), Timothy Dalton (License to Kill, The Living Daylights) and Joanna Lumley (“Absolutely Fabulous”, A Rather English Marriage) also star in this sweeping story that spans three generations. The MISTRAL’S DAUGHTER 3-DVD set will steam-up store windows on August 25 for $39.98 SRP.

Following his critically-acclaimed, award-winning performance in 2008’s Milk, rising star James Franco (Pineapple Express, Spider Man) stars opposite the captivating Sienna Miller (Factory Girl, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) in CAMILLE. Franco portrays an ex-con who tries to elude the consequences of the law by embarking on a honeymoon to Niagara Falls with his unsuspecting new bride, Miller. But in this delightfully twisted tale of undying love, one wrong turn can change everything – as an unexpected accident sets the couple on a magical journey ripe with comedy, romance and adventure. Also starring the immortal David Carradine (Kill Bill, “Kung Fu”), Ed Lauter (Mulholland Falls, Seabiscuit) and Scott Glenn (W., Nights in Rodanthe), CAMILLE arrives in stores on September 15 as a simultaneous direct-to-DVD and Blu-ray release ($24.98 SRP each) from National Entertainment Media.

The iconic and masterful Bruce Lee brought martial arts to the masses and broke through the stereotypical portrayal of Asians in American film before his untimely death at the age of 32. Coming off its powerhouse premiere on HISTORY™, A&E Home Entertainment presents HOW BRUCE LEE CHANGED THE WORLD, a raw, behind-the-scenes look into the fascinating, yet abbreviated, life of the legendary film and martial arts superstar. On August 25, film and martial arts fans will have the opportunity to discover the real Bruce Lee with this intimate feature-length documentary packed with rare home movies and insightful interviews, plus a collectible Bruce Lee poster.

From a seething ocean of radioactive, molten rock to a refuge for life as we know it, Earth has undergone a staggering series of cataclysmic transformations in its long and epic history. Assailed relentlessly for millions of years by meteorites, our once toxic and hostile planet has been covered in water and in ice, and seen the rise and sundering of continents, the creation of an atmosphere, and, ultimately, the beginning of life. This August, join A&E Home Entertainment and HISTORY™ for a seat on a breathtaking roller coaster ride through Earth’s 4.5 billion year history with HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE and HOW THE EARTH WAS MADE BLU-RAY. The groundbreaking program will be available as a 4-disc collector’s set ($39.95SRP) featuring all 13 episodes from the first season, as well as a Blu-ray single ($29.95SRP), delivering the visually stunning premiere – with its breathtaking vistas and cutting-edge CGI – in high definition.

Sun Tzu was the Nostradamus of warfare and his book “Art of War”, though written 2,400 years ago, has never been out of print and is still the ultimate how-to guide for winning at war – or at sports, business or life. In this top-rated HISTORY™ special based on the immortal treatise, Tzu’s words are brought to rich life in ART OF WAR, a compelling, feature-length documentary, debuting on DVD August 25 for $14.95SRP…only from A&E Home Entertainment.

Strap on your sandals and sharpen your swords, as a riveting portrayal of some of the most exciting battles of ancient history – as well as the tales of betrayal, lust, conquest and brutality that often accompanied them – come to life with BATTLES BC: THE COMPLETE SEASON ONE, an eye-opening new series from HISTORY™. Utilizing the stunning green screen technology and live-action stunts that enliven Hollywood blockbusters, the series lavishly illustrates the battle strategies, tactics, and weapons of some of the greatest military legends in history. And on August 25, join A&E Home Entertainment as this bloody flashback to eight epic empirical battles debuts in a 2-disc DVD set, giving a remarkable understanding to home audiences of what exactly it meant to be a “world beater”.

They rob, kill, and terrorize, and, each day, their bloody fingerprints are indelibly imprinted into American history. This is the world of GANGLAND. On August 25, delve deep into the brutal bloodlines of America’s gangs -- from Memphis and St. Louis to Dallas, Charlotte and Detroit -- as SEASON FOUR of GANGLAND goes to the darkest corners of the country to infiltrate some of the most dangerous terrain in the world. Packed with rarely seen footage and compelling interviews with gang members and law enforcement, GANGLAND: THE COMPLETE SEASON FOUR contains all 12 eye-opening episodes in a 3-disc set for $34.95SRP…only from A&E Home Entertainment

World War II encompassed some of America’s greatest triumphs and most bitter defeats and HISTORY™ ULTIMATE COLLECTIONS: WORLD WAR II is a comprehensive and intimate survey of this epic war. This August, in time to mark the 70th anniversary of the beginning of “The Last Great War” and the 65th anniversary of D-Day, A&E Home Entertainment will release HISTORY™ ULTIMATE COLLECTIONS: WORLD WAR II: THE WAR IN EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC, a new, value-priced edition of their essential anthology on the greatest war of the twentieth century: