Director Hal Ashby’s Newly Discovered Cut Of “Lookin’ To Get Out” Debuts On DVD June 30 From Warner Home Video
(April 7, 2009 – Burbank, CA) – “Lookin’ to Get Out,” in a newly discovered version from the late director Hal Ashby, will debut on DVD June 30 from Warner Home Video. The never-before seen cut of the comedy had its World Premiere Saturday, April 4 at the Sarasota Film Festival’s 2009 Filmmaker Tribute. The gala event honoring the noted director was held at the Sarasota Opera House and included on-stage conversations about Ashby’s life and work with Jon Voight and other distinguished collaborators. Among those attending were Bill Paxton, Stanley Tucci, Steve Buscemi and the director’s daughter, Leigh MacManus. The panel was moderated by Nick Dawson who launches his new biography, “Being Hal Ashby: Life of a Hollywood Rebel.”
“Lookin’ to Get Out” stars Jon Voight, Ann-Margret and Burt Young, and features the film debut of seven-year-old Angelina Jolie.
Twenty-seven years, after “Lookin’ to Get Out” was released, a new version was discovered. As Voight, who was instrumental in the film’s development, screenplay (as a co-writer), tells it, “For various reasons, the film we released didn’t really represent Hal’s best work. I knew every version of the script and every cut, so I was understandably excited when I heard about this, yet I also didn’t want to be disappointed. But when I saw it, I knew instantly it had Hal’s touch. The way he took all the elements and made it his own, it was almost like we were working together again. When Hal Ashby [an Oscar® winning editor] cut his films himself, it was magic.”
Ashby’s most important films were screened throughout this year’s festival, including “Harold And Maude,” “Shampoo,” “The Last Detail,” “Bound For Glory,” “The Slugger’s Wife,” “Coming Home” and “Being There.”
About the Film and the Director
The comedy tells the story of two gamblers who head to Las Vegas hoping to turn their luck around after losing a lot of money in NY. Oscar®-winner Jon Voight (Actor in a Leading Role for “Coming Home”), who also co-wrote the screenplay, stars as Alex Kovac, a charming, happy-go-lucky gambler, with Oscar® nominee Burt Young (Actor in a Supporting Role for “Rocky”) as his buddy. Ann-Margret (“Bye Bye Birdie,” “Viva Las Vegas”) co-stars as Alex’s ex-girlfriend.
Hal Ashby’s first work in Hollywood was as an assistant editor on a number of high profile titles. His first job as editor was on Tony Richardson’s “The Loved One,” followed by Norman Jewison’s “The Cincinnati Kid,” “The Russians are Coming the Russians are Coming,” “The Thomas Crown Affair” and “The Heat of the Night” for which Ashby was awarded an Oscar®.
Ashby’s directorial debut came with “The Landlord” from a script which producer Norman Jewison encouraged him to direct. Ashby then helmed his best known group of films, including “The Last Detail,” “Shampoo,” “Bound for Glory,” “Coming Home” and “Being There” -- all acclaimed with excellent reviews and Academy Award nominations. In fact, 10 were given nods in acting categories -- Lee Grant, Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid, Jack Warden, Jon Voight, Jane Fonda, Bruce Dern, Penelope Milford, Melvyn Douglas and Peter Sellers. Grant, Fonda, Voight and Douglas took Oscars® for their performances.
Ashby died of cancer in 1988 at the age of 59.
DVD Special Features:
• “Lookin’ to Get Out: The Cast Looks Back” - New featurette with Jon Voight, co-writer Al Schwartz, Burt Young and Ann-Margaret as they reminisce at the making of “Lookin’ to Get Out”
• Theatrical trailer “Lookin’ to Get Out Extended Version” has an all-new transfer and includes a new featurette and interviews with the cast about the making of the movie. The film is part of Warner Home Video’s previously announced “Director’s Showcase: Take Four” which includes the May 26th release of Hugh Hudson’s new “Revolution Revisited Director’s Cut,” starring Al Pacino; John Boorman’s “Beyond Rangoon”; Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Zabriskie Point” and David Cronenberg’s “M. Butterfly.” With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.# # #
• Theatrical trailer “Lookin’ to Get Out Extended Version” has an all-new transfer and includes a new featurette and interviews with the cast about the making of the movie. The film is part of Warner Home Video’s previously announced “Director’s Showcase: Take Four” which includes the May 26th release of Hugh Hudson’s new “Revolution Revisited Director’s Cut,” starring Al Pacino; John Boorman’s “Beyond Rangoon”; Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Zabriskie Point” and David Cronenberg’s “M. Butterfly.” With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.