George Stevens’ classic western SHANE (118 mins., 1952) has received a lovely 4K UHD from Kino Lorber, kicking off their mid-summer release slate. Stevens’ adaptation of Jack Schaefer’s novel, scripted by A.B. Guthrie, Jr. with “additional dialogue” by Jack Sher, is a gorgeous and emotional tale of a grizzled, veteran gunslinger (Alan Ladd) who comes to the aid of a homesteading couple (Van Heflin, Jean Arthur) living in Wyoming with their young son (Brandon DeWilde) – all of them antagonized by a cattle baron and his goon (Jack Palance).

The shots of Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons are just part of the beauty of “Shane,” which has a memorable story and indelible performances to match. One of Stevens’ crowning achievements, “Shane” isn’t just one of the great westerns but one of the finest films of the ‘50s altogether.

Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD offers a Dolby Vision HDR (1.37, mono) scan of the OCN that surpasses a gorgeous Warner Blu-Ray from 2013. Loyal Griggs’ photography is enhanced in terms of color and clarity here, with the remaster also presented in Kino Lorber’s included Blu-Ray. Extras include the trailer plus a newly recorded commentary from historian Alan K. Rode and an archival commentary with George Stevens Jr. and associate producer Ivan Moffat. An unquestioned classic absolutely worth a purchase on UHD!

Also debuting on 4K UHD from Kino Lorber is DANGER: DIABOLIK (100 mins., 1968, PG-13), a swingin’ 60s relic starring the cardboard John Phillip Law as the comic strip thief who — along with sexy galpal Marisa Mell — loves to steal from the uber-rich while avoiding the authorities at all costs.

Mario Bava directed this Dino DeLaurentiis production, which fits comfortably alongside “Barbarella” and other fantasy “freak outs” of the era. The production design, editorial style and use of colors are striking and completely over-the-top, while Ennio Morricone’s memorable music score likewise comes across as an artifact of its time. The plot and dialogue are secondary to the picture’s central atmosphere, which should please its aficionados and entertain casual viewers, though I think most viewers will likely find that a little of “Danger: Diabolik” goes a long way.

Paramount’s 4K remaster (1.85, mono) of the OCN yields the expected gains in Kino Lorber’s exceptional UHD, enhancing its pop-comic book look with appropriate Dolby Vision HDR flair. Extras include a new commentary with Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson while the remainder of the supplements are culled from Paramount’s 2005 DVD, which offered special features produced by American Zoetrope.

These include Bava and Law joining Video Watchdog’s Tim Lucas for a scholarly commentary on the production, while “Danger: Diabolik – From Fumetti to Film” goes behind the picture’s cult following and influence on filmmakers like Roman Coppola, musicians including Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, and comic book artist Steven Bissette. The Beastie’s “Body Movin’” video (which includes copious footage from the film) is also on-hand with commentary from Yauch, while trailers round out the disc.

Comedy in 4K

HIDING OUT 4K UHD (99 mins., 1987, PG-13): After the young star had a hit in “Pretty in Pink,” Jon Cryer had a busy 1987, albeit to mixed results: a supporting turn in the infamous turkey “Superman IV: The Quest For Peace” may have initially good on paper, while Cryer carried two “youth pictures” to middling box-office. “Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home” was the lesser of the lot, with the DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group’s “Hiding Out” hitting theaters ahead of Thanksgiving that year.

“Morgan Stewart” boasted the talented Alan Smithee as its director and a tepid story line, involving Cryer as a brat who comes home to help his stuffy father’s senatorial campaign. “Maxie” director Paul Aaron replaced original helmer Terry Winsor, but was so ashamed by the final product he opted to take his name off a film (smart move) which would’ve been quickly forgotten if people even knew it existed.

“Hiding Out,” thankfully, fared much better, despite its likewise tepid box-office. It’s a patented “fish out of water” tale – one with thriller components that infuse the material with a more mature tone than the typical ‘80s teen flick – with Cryer as a Boston stock broker who pretends to be a high school student after testifying in a mob trial and being pursued by relentless mafia hitmen. So, Cryer goes for the goofy ’80s dye-job and has a good time hanging out in high school down in Wilmington, N.C. (not coincidentally home of DEG’s new studios), where cousin Keith Coogan (of “Adventures in Babysitting”) offers tutoring and romantic interest is provided by Annabeth Gish, who was quite cute back in her teenage years.

For whatever reason there haven’t been a lot of releases for “Hiding Out” over the years, with the last domestic video appearance coming in a 2009 Lionsgate DVD. Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD offers a superb new scan of the 35mm OCN that features fine detail, much more satisfying colors (even in SDR) and looks fresher than any previous home video master (1.85, 5.1/2.0), while also finally supplying fans the Special Edition of the movie they’ve long desired.

The UHD/BD release (also featuring a 1080p edition of the 4K scan) features a slew of brand-new extras. These include new interviews with both Jon Cryer and Annabeth Gish recalling their work on the film, while three commentaries include director Bob Giraldi; historians Steve Mitchell (who notes the movie was undersold by DEG’s poor marketing and poster art) and Nathaniel Thompson; and a third track with critic Jarret Gahan. The trailer puts the finishing touches on a long-overdue, and highly recommended, new release of this late ‘80s teen movie fave.

BILLY MADISON 4K UHD (90 mins., 1995, PG-13; Universal): First solo-starring vehicle for Adam Sandler is a hit-or-miss, mostly juvenile affair with the comic starring as an overgrown kid who’s sent back to school in order to collect his inheritance. As silly Sandler comedies go, this one’s a notch under “Happy Gilmore” among the star’s early output (which is also by far his best), but still offers a few choice moments, including a memorable gag where Sandler attempts to make things right with a childhood acquaintance (Steve Buscemi) he used to pick on.

A new 4K scan of the 35mm OCN accompanies a Dolby Vision HDR grading of this box-office hit new to UHD from Kino Lorber (1.85). The disc features a new commentary by Bryan Connolly and “Billy Gilmore Podcast” host Wilson Smith. There are also archival extras including over

25 minutes of deleted scenes, outtakes, and commentary with director Tamra Davis, plus the restoration on a provided Blu-Ray as well.

SILENT SCREAM 4K UHD (87 mins., 1979, R; Kino Lorber): One of the most profitable horror films of the late ‘70s, “Silent Scream” traveled an unlikely road to success.

Director Denny Harris’ thriller about a college student (Rebecca Balding) who moves into a mansion with other co-eds, only to run into a brutal killer and an owner (Yvonne De Carlo) who may know more than she’s letting on, began shooting in 1978. Harris completed his initial version of the movie only to find out it was horrifically bad, which led him to recruit Ken and Jim Wheat to rewrite the picture while Harris recast numerous roles and reshot nearly all of the picture.

The finished product was picked up by American Cinema Releasing and platformed from limited to national release in early 1979. When the dust settled “Silent Scream” was an enormous hit on its small budget, even if it’s a movie that’s been diminished over the years since by an abundance of slashers from that time and produced in the wake of “Halloween.”

“Silent Scream,” though, has as much in common with “Psycho” and “Grand Guignol” thrillers as it does the John Carpenter classic, stylishly moving through “old dark house” styled thrills with a predictable yet agreeable script decently acted by all.

Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD includes a new scan of the OCN (1.85, mono) with loads of extras. These include commentary by the Wheats with Rebecca Balding, and another track with co-star Barbara Steele and David Del Valle. Three featurettes are reprised from an earlier release while an interview with Balding and audio talk with Harris are included plus the trailer, TV/radio spots, and a Blu-Ray copy.

LITTLE BUDDHA 4K UHD (140 mins., 1993, Not Rated): The gorgeous cinematography of Vittorio Storaro can, at least, be savored anew in Kino Lorber’s 4K UHD restoration of director Bernado Bertolucci’s 1993 box-office disappointment.

This companion piece to “The Last Emperor” from many of the same creative personnel was not nearly the success of its predecessor, with “Little Buddha” telling the dual story of an American boy (Alex Wiesendanger) and his family being whisked away to Tibet after monks believe he may be the reincarnation of their beloved Lama, with the story of Siddhartha (Keanu Reeves) and his spiritual awakening.

“Little Buddha” was an expensive production that failed to find an audience in the U.S., despite Miramax paying some $8 million for its U.S. release. Like most films acquired by the studio at that time (especially those running over two hours), the Weinsteins asked for the director to cut the film down and threatened to dump the movie on video if he didn’t. Bertolucci’s 123-minute U.S. version was barely distributed (the film only made $4 million and was only somewhat better received overseas) but viewers now have the chance to see his original 140-minute edit thanks to TF1’s French restoration (2:1) which offers wonderful color and contrasts in Dolby Vision.

Also available on an included Blu-Ray by Kino Lorber, “Little Buddha” is not nearly the film “The Last Emperor” is but it’s still a grandiose vision backed by outstanding production values the viewer can savor on UHD. Extra features include a commentary by critic Bilge Ebiri and archival documentary/interviews.

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Also New on 4K UHD

FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES 4K UHD (110 mins., 2025, R; Warner): Horror revivals have experienced a mixed 2025 to date, with decent money flowing for “28 Years Later,” tepid receipts for “I Know What You Did Last Summer”’s latest installment (maybe they should’ve called it “I Don’t Care What You Did Last Summer”), and boffo numbers for Warner’s redo of the “Final Destination” franchise.

Admittedly, there’s something of a disaster movie-gone amok component involved with this series that’s always generated some interest, as its formula of death coming for hapless youths via often lavish “kill set-pieces” has long elevated it, just a bit, over the typical teen hackathon. That’s the case here with this passable if entirely predictable resurrection of the series by directors Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky, which treads over familiar terrain with serviceable energy and a needed cameo from Tony Todd, who looks frail and passed away before the picture opened.

Warner’s 4K (2.39) includes a great-looking Dolby Vision HDR transfer and active Dolby Atmos sound mix, while extras include a commentary, three featurettes, and a Digital code.

THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME 4K UHD (101 mins., 2025, PG-13; Universal): Wes Anderson continues to turn out movies to his dedicated fan following, but it’s now been a while since any of his cinematic endeavors — in their own offbeat, eclectic manner as predictable now as a super-hero movie — have connected with mainstream audiences. The same goes for “The Phoenician Scheme” which puts Benicio Del Toro through Anderson’s paces as an entrepreneur dodging assassinations and trying to install his daughter (Mia Threapleton) as his successor despite her current profession as a nun. The usual assortment of Anderson players pops up here including Tom Hanks, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, and Bryan Cranston, but this is stilted and pretty much what you’d expect from Anderson at this point in time. Universal’s attractive 4K UHD (1.47) includes Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound, four featurettes, the Blu-Ray and a Digital HD copy.

CLUELESS 30^th Anniversary 4K UHD Steelbook (97 mins., PG-13; Paramount): Amy Heckerling’s delightful 1995 teen comedy turns 30 (!) this summer, and Paramount has celebrated the moment by releasing a glitzy Steelbook limited-edition.

Alicia Silverstone’s star-making performance is just one of the numerous pleasures to be found in Heckerling’s casual application of Jane Austen’s “Emma” to the Beverly Hills high school scene circa 1995. The movie’s often hilarious script and energetic tone is infectious, and superb supporting performances from Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy, Donald Faison, Wallace Shawn, Jeremy Sisto and Dan Hedaya make for a movie that’s just as much fun now as it was upon its initial release.

Paramount’s UHD offers a new Dolby Vision HDR (1.85) presentation of “Clueless” and the movie glistens with vivid color and satisfying detail. It also includes all the extras from its previous editions, in a newly dressed Steelbook with accompanying slipcase (exclusive to Amazon). I’ve always enjoyed David Kitay’s unreleased score for “Clueless,” which thankfully gives the movie a “timeless” feel that off-sets its copious, then-modern rock songs. A multi-part featurette includes 2005 interviews with the cast and crew, basically everyone except Silverstone. Even Brittany Murphy shows up, but not Silverstone, for whatever reason.

Outside of that minor disappointment, this is otherwise an engaging look back on the movie’s creation (Heckerling originally developed the project as a TV series, which it ironically became after the film was released), sporting all sorts of interviews and fun anecdotes. Basically, it shows that Heckerling knew exactly what she wanted with “Clueless,” and the result is clearly (along with “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”) her most satisfying film (and as a developed story, it might just be better as well).

SMALL SOLDIERS 4K UHD Steelbook (109 mins., 1998, PG-13; Paramount): When comedy and horror mixed in Joe Dante’s 1984 smash “Gremlins,” the tone was generally met with widespread approval by audiences if not most critics. When Dante’s penultimate big-studio movie, “Small Soldiers,” intertwined a kid-friendly (at least superficially) tale of “alive” action figures doing actual battle in Smalltown U.S.A. with more “adult” elements, that balance wasn’t nearly as satisfying. What should’ve been a fun fantasy involving miniature soldiers mixing it up with their friendlier creature rivals dubbed “Gorgonites” is hampered by some gross (and disturbing) death sequences for some of these “Small Soldiers,” which are more suited to “Trilogy of Terror” than “Toy Story.” A fatal misjudgment that prevented this expensive Dreamworks/Universal co-production from generating big box-office, though the film is still well-crafted with Kirsten Dunst, Phil Hartman, Denis Leary and Jay Mohr starring opposite the Stan Winston-designed figures, and some of Dante’s usual crew along for the ride (Jerry Goldsmith, Dick Miller, etc.). Making its 4K UHD debut from Paramount (1.85), “Small Soldiers” boasts superb Dolby Vision HDR, 5.1 DTS MA sound, the Blu-Ray, a Digital HD code, bloopers and an archival Making Of.

WARFARE 4K UHD (95 mins., 2025, R; A24): Alex Garland’s latest is a gut-punch, real-time look at a group of Navy SEALS fighting for their survival in Ramadi, based on Garland’s collaborator Ray Mendoza’s own experiences in 2006. Garland and Mendoza eschew melodramatics and set-up here, paring this short but pungent work down to the essentials in order to immerse the viewer in the helter-skelter situation the troops find themselves in. From a filmmaking perspective the approach is more impactful from a technical standpoint than a dramatic one, but interested viewers will likely find the finished product compelling. A24’s UHD includes Dolby Vision HDR (2.1) and Dolby Atmos sound which are both hugely effective; extras include an informative commentary featuring Garland, Mendoza and military consultant Brian Philpot; a featurette; and six collectible postcards.

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Also New & Noteworthy

BEWITCHED: The Complete Series (107 hours, 1964-72; Mill Creek): One of the seminal ‘60s sitcoms remains a viewer fave all these years later. Though I was born after “Bewitched” came to a close in 1972, I watched reruns growing up in the ‘80s when I came home from elementary school – making it a series that’s long had appeal to multiple generations beyond its eight broadcast years on ABC.

The show itself, of course, is pretty much formula all the way, but Elizabeth Montgomery’s appeal carries “Bewitched” effortlessly through its standard-issue plots with witch/domestic goddess Samantha Stephens’ routine usually impacted by her meddling family (most notably Agnes Moorhead’s turn as Sam’s mother, Endora); meanwhile, husband Darrin (Dick York and, later, Dick Sargent) typically finds himself occupied with issues involving his boss (David White) and/or at work, with the two situations often intertwined.

“Bewitched”’s eight seasons have been collected on Blu-Ray by Mill Creek in a 22-disc set. The transfers are terrific in terms of color and detail, though fans and purists may not be in love with the decision to frame these for 16:9, which I assume was done with current syndication in mind. The good news, at least, is that seldom does it appear that anything vital is being cropped out of frame – no, it’s not a practice I typically am a fan of, but the image clarity is superb and you are getting some 254 episodes of the show for under $100. (In contrast, Imprint in Australia has released the series in a number of box-sets which, collectively, will run you nearly 5X the price to purchase in total; these are, however, 4:3 formatted).

Mill Creek’s set also includes some nice special features including an episode guide with booklet notes, plus over a dozen commentary tracks and a retrospective featurette. Packaging is your usual “complete series” type of stacked-disc set, with a slipcover provided for good measure.

A DATE WITH JUDY Blu-Ray (114 mins., 1948; Warner Archive): Delightful MGM musical with an all-star cast adapted a popular ‘40s radio series that followed Judy Foster, a high schooler looking forward to the big dance and getting involved in the various romances of family and friends. Jane Powell stars opposite Elizabeth Taylor and a big-time cast including Carmen Miranda, Xavier Cugat, Wallace Beery, and Robert Stack – it’s all upbeat studio fare from the post-WWII era, scripted by Dorothy Cooper and Dorothy Kingsley, with a terrific score that produced a genuine classic (“It’s a Most Unusual Day”). Warner’s lovely Blu-Ray (1.378, mono) includes an episode from the “A Date With Judy” radio show, a Tom & Jerry cartoon,. MGM musical short, vintage Powell radio interview and the trailer.

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