Olive Films Releases Classic Aviation Film, Rare Counterculture Gem, and New Anime Discoveries
Chicago, IL – Olive Films, a boutique theatrical and home entertainment distribution label dedicated to bringing independent, foreign, and classic films to DVD and Blu-ray, has announced that October 18th will be the release date of eight new titles, including a canonical aviation film, and a rare counterculture gem from 1970, and the long-awaited launch of Oribu Anime.
“This Autumn is a very exciting time for us,” said Alex Kopecky of Olive Films. “We’re thrilled by the outpouring of positive responses we’ve received for the debut of our new Olive Signature line. Moreover, we’re also releasing four titles that have never had legitimate DVD releases in the US: The Fake, The King of Pigs, Strategic Air Command, and Little Fauss and Big Halsy as well as four other films new to Blu-ray.”
ORIBU ANIME:
THE KING OF PIGS (2011) and THE FAKE (2013)
With the DVD and Blu-ray debut of The King of Pigs and The Fake, Olive Films proudly launches Oribu Anime, an exciting new voice in modern animation. Showcasing some of the world’s most provocative animators, Oribu Anime aims to push towards the outer reaches of modern, sophisticated anime. Oribu’s first two titles come from rising Korean director Yeon Sang-ho, whose recent live-action film Train to Busan (2016) has been called the best zombie movie in years. With the director’s international reputation growing every day, audiences are primed to enjoy his earlier animated films.
Both The King of Pigs and The Fake are unflinching, dark, cynical films that comment on Korean society as a whole. The King of Pigs opens moments after a once-successful businessman has brutally murdered his wife. From there, the film flashes back to his school days and the abusive events that shaped his own life. In The Fake, religious figures Elder Choi and Pastor Sung plan to swindle their faithful village out of the money they’re about to receive from a project that involves the whole village being flooded to build a new dam. When a local outcast realizes that their plan will not only steal from the villagers but also put them in danger, he is left with no option but to unleash all hell on the con artists.
STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND (1955)
Strategic Air Command is also scheduled to debut on DVD and Blu-ray. Directed by the great Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, June Allyson, and Frank Lovejoy, its absence on disc has left a gaping hole in the collections of aviation film fans, and Olive Films happily fills that void on October 18th. The film’s greatest claim to fame is its stunning aerial photography, which was filmed in Vistavision and is presented here in 1.66:1.
Notably, Strategic Air Command reflects James Stewart’s love of aviation as well as his military background. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941, and after flying 20 combat missions, he became one of few Americans to rise from private to colonel in just four years. When he retired in 1968, he held the rank of Brigadier General. Filmed with cooperation from the Air Force, Strategic Air Command also has the distinction of being the only feature film to ever focus on the B-36 Peacemaker.
LITTLE FAUSS AND BIG HALSY (1970)
Olive Films has also announced the first legitimate DVD and Blu-ray release of Little Fauss and Big Halsy, a film directed by Sidney J. Furie starring Robert Redford, Michael J. Pollard, and supermodel Lauren Hutton. Following the motorcycle racing circuit, the film provides an interesting take on the counterculture bike films of its time. It boasts a soundtrack of songs by Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Bob Dylan and a screenplay by Charles Eastman that was one of the first film scripts to be published as a hardcover book.
People may also remember the film for the on-set tensions between Robert Redford and Michael J. Pollard, who were rumored to strongly dislike each other. Also, although Redford chose the project in part to undercut his clean, likeable image, he supposedly grew to dislike the film because of the sleazy, caddish character he plays.
It’s unfortunate that Little Fauss and Big Halsy has been so neglected on home media, but Olive Films is proud to change that with their October 18th DVD and Blu-ray release.
Other Olive Films
Blu-ray debut of Villa Rides (1968), directed by Buzz Kulik; starring Yul Brynner, Robert Mitchum, Charles Bronson, Herbert Lom, Robert Viharo, Fernando Rey, Alexander Knox, and Grazia Buccella.
Blu-ray debut of Gas-s-s-s (1970), directed by Roger Corman; starring Cindy Williams, Bud Cort, Ben Vereen, Elain Giftos, and Bob Corff.
Blu-ray debut of The Return of Dracula (1958), directed by Paul Landres; starring Francis Lederer, Norma Eberhardt, Ray Stricklyn, Virginia Vincent, John Wengraf, Gage Clarke, Jimmy Baird, and Greta Granstedt.
Blu-ray debut of Special Effects (1984); directed by Larry Cohen; starring Zoe Tamerlis, Eric Bogosian, Brad Rijn, and Kevin O'Connor.
Bonus Features: New Audio Commentary with director Larry Cohen and filmmaker Steve Mitchell.
About Olive Films
Olive Films is a Chicago-based boutique theatrical and home entertainment distribution label dedicated to bringing independent, foreign, documentary, and classic films to life. Its catalog boasts over 500 titles ranging from Hollywood classics to contemporary titles. More information about Olive Films may be found at olivefilms.com.
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