Lionsgate:

The Hitman’s Bodyguard (**) (2017), is a serviceable action entry starring Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson. Extras include outtakes, deleted/extended scenes, three featurettes.

The engrossing thriller from last August, Wind River (***), a tale revolving around the investigation of a girl’s death on an Indian reservation and starring Jeremy Renner, has also been issued. Extras include deleted scenes and a video gallery.

Warner Archive: (Available for purchase at www.wbshop.com)

One of the biggest grossing films of its year, the coming of age tale Summer of 42 (*** ½) (1971) has been issued with a sparkling new transfer. Other releases include the 1955 Cinemascope film noir Hell on Frisco Bay (1955) (***) starring Allan Ladd, Edward G. Robinson and Fay Wray; the 1991 comedy with Michael J. Fox, Doc Hollywood (** ½) and the excellent 1995 Stephen King adaptation Dolores Claiborne (*** ½), which includes a director’s commentary.

Scream/Shout Factory:

John Landis’s vastly underrated fish out of water comedy Into the Night (1985) (***), starring Jeff Goldblum as a bored air traffic controller who gets involved in saving a smuggler (Michelle Pfeiffer) from bumbling thugs, has been issued as a Shout Select special edition and features multiple featurettes. Also just released from Shout/Scream, in a snappy two-disc edition with brand new extras, is the Oscar winning Stephen King adaptation Misery (1990) (***).

Kino:

Based on true events, The Burning Bed (1984) (*** ½), features Farrah Fawcett in her acclaimed and shattering performance as battered housewife Francine Hughes, who set fire to her husband after years of suffering abuse. Extras include a director interview.

Other releases from Kino include the 1968 western Death Rides a Horse (***); the 1980 thriller Nightkill (** ½), starring Jacklyn Smith and the 2016 documentaries Inn Saei: The Power of Intuition and Dawson City: Frozen Time (both ***), the latter a look into a former Canadian gold rush town that served as a storage location for a recently discovered stockpile of silent films.

Paramount:

The Godfather Trilogy: Omerta Edition (1972-90) (*** ½ average) is a repackaging of the classic trilogy (limited to 45,000 units) celebrating the 45th anniversary of the original film. New extras include trivia/quote cards and new packaging resembling a classic novel.

Warner:

The first four Harry Potter films (*** average) have been issued in the new Ultra 4K HD format for the first time and feature spectacular new transfers. Each set contains a bonus Blu-ray housing all of the extras from the previous releases.

Olive Films:

Operation Petticoat (1959) (***), an early effort from the great Blake Edwards and starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis in what is best described as a submarine comedy, is being issued as part of the company’s limited edition, Olive Signature, line of titles. Extras include interviews with Edwards’ daughter and Lesley Ann Warren, audio commentary and newsreel footage of the film’s premiere.

Twilight Time:
(limited to 3,000 units and available for purchase at www.screenarchives.com and www.twilghttimemovies.com)

Bananas (1971) (*** ½) is one of writer/director/actor Woody Allen’s ‘early, funny ones’ and features Allen as Fielding Mellish, a failed products tester who inadvertently gets caught up in a South American revolution. Extras include a music/effects track and the film’s trailer.

Doctor Dolittle (1967) (**) is the much discussed (and not in a good way) musical film adaptation of Hugh Lofting’s children’s books, revolving around the title character, who has a knack for ‘talking to the animals.’ It was infamously nominated for best picture, competing against the likes of Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate. Extras include audio commentary, trailer and isolated music track.

Other releases from Twilight Time include the touching 1957 Oscar winner Sayonara (***), starring Marlon Brando as an Air Force major falling in love with a Japanese actress, the 1959 box office smash Gidget (** ½) and the award wining 1977 Japanese drama The Yellow Handerchief (***).
Criterion:

Desert Hearts (1985) (***) was a groundbreaker in the genre now deemed as lesbian cinema, a tale of a forbidden romance in the late 50s between a professor and the carefree young woman she chances to meet. Extras include director commentary, new interviews and a booklet essay.

Jabberwocky (1977) was the first film to be directed by Monty Python alum, Terry Gilliam. It’s a medieval tale involving a bumbling fool saddled with the task of slaying a dragon. Extras include new documentaries and interviews, theatrical trailer, new 4K transfer and an essay booklet.

Coming in December–Mother!, Home Again, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Despicable Me 3 , The Hospital, Alice, Silent Night Deadly Night (collector’s edition), Auntie Mame, and A New Leaf.

Image: Jeremy Renner and Gil Birmingham in Wind River