PRINT

"JFK 50 Year Commemorative Ultimate Collector’s Edition" Available November 12 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

(August 21, 2013 – Burbank, CA) – November 22, 2013 will mark 50 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will commemorate this tragic chapter in U.S. history by honoring one of our most influential presidents with the release of a new collection featuring the award-winning motion picture, “JFK.” Director Oliver Stone’s controversial highly-charged story surrounding the tragedy debuts November 12 as “JFK 50th Commemorative Ultimate Collector’s Edition” (“JFK UCE”) on Blu-ray. Stone’s film is considered one of the most provocative of our time. In addition to box-office success and critical acclaim, it captured eight Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor), winning two (Best Cinematography and Film Editing). It also won Stone a Best Director (Motion Picture, 1992) Golden Globe and ultimately played a major role in the national debate that lead to passage of the 1992 Assassination Materials Disclosure Act. Stone directed from a screenplay he wrote with Zachary Sklar. The all-star cast includes Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, Sissy Spacek, Jack Lemmon, Joe Pesci, Donald Sutherland, Laurie Metcalf, John Candy, Walter Matthau, Sally Kirkland, and Edward Asner. The “JFK UCE” includes the “Director’s Cut” with 17 additional minutes not seen in theaters and will feature three captivating documentaries – Oliver Stone’s “JFK: To the Brink,” the insightful look at the JFK presidency that was included in his 2012 Showtime Series, “The Untold History of the United States;” the brand-new “JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later” from filmmaker Robert Kline; and “John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums,” a documentary produced by George Stevens, Jr., and written and directed by Bruce Herschensohn, who also composed the music. The film was named one of the Ten Best Films of 1965 by the National Board of Review. In addition, the “JFK UCE” includes the feature film drama, “PT 109,” about Kennedy’s World War II experiences as a skipper in the South Pacific. The “JFK UCE” also contains commemorative items from the Kennedy Presidential Library: collectible reproductions of family and presidential photos, a campaign poster from the 1960 presidential campaign, and a copy of Kennedy’s historic inaugural address. Lastly, there is a 32-page book of famous quotations, and a 44-page “JFK” movie photo book. The “JFK 50th Commemorative Ultimate Collector’s Edition” will sell for $59.99 SRP. The documentaries “JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later” and “John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums” will also be available on DVD separately, for $5.94 and $11.97 SRP respectively. “Untold History of the United States,” containing “JFK: To the Brink,” will make its U.S. Blu-ray debut October 15. Special Features:
    • “JFK: To The Brink” – Chapter from Oliver Stone’s “Untold History of the United States”
    • New Documentary – “JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later”
    • Remastered Documentary – “John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums”
    • Feature film – “PT 109”
    • Behind the Story
      o Commentary by Director Oliver Stone
      o Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy
    • Multimedia Essays
      o Assassination Update – The New Documents
      o Meet Mr. X: The Personality and Thoughts of Fletcher Prouty
    • Deleted/extended scenes with commentary by director Oliver Stone (production audio only)
    • Theatrical trailer
About The UCE’s Special Features: “JFK: To the Brink”: This documentary is Chapter 6 from the powerful historical series “Untold History of the United States,” a ten-part Showtime Original Series, debuting on Blu-ray October 15 through WBHE. The in-depth, surprising, and totally riveting series, co-written by Stone with Peter Kuznick and Matt Graham, was directed and narrated by Stone. This one-hour segment sheds valuable additional insight into JFK’s presidency during the Bay of Pigs; on the brink of total war during the Cuban Missile Crisis; through early Vietnam; JFK's attempts at peace with Khrushchev; and finally the President’s assassination. “JFK Remembered: 50 Years Later”: 50 years after his assassination on November 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy remains as vital and compelling as when he was first elected. This documentary reacquaints us with the first Irish-Catholic president and the youngest in U.S. history, presenting images and personalities frozen in time. From Kennedy's nomination to his election, from his inspiring inaugural address to the Bay of Pigs, from civil rights and racial struggles to space exploration, from the Berlin Wall appearance to his leadership during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy ranks among the great presidents in the history of the United States. “John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums” (1965): This documentary tribute to President Kennedy was named one of the Ten Best Films of the Year by the National Board of Review. Produced by George Stevens Jr. for the United States Information Agency (USIA), it was narrated by Gregory Peck, and written and directed by Bruce Herschensohn, who also composed the music. The film chronicles the thousand days of JFK’s presidency, featuring numerous clips from speeches and an intimate look at Kennedy family life. It was not originally intended for the general public; however, the quality was considered so outstanding that a special act of Congress allowed it to eventually be shown theatrically. “PT 109” (1963): Before Kennedy was president, he was a hero in World War II. Based on the book by Robert J. Donovan, this film stars Academy Award-winning actor Cliff Robertson (Best Actor in a Leading Role – “Charly” 1969) as Lieutenant Kennedy. While a young captain of a PT boat in the South Pacific, Kennedy lead his men in a daring rescue of American Marines stranded on a small island inside the area of Japanese control. On another mission, a Japanese destroyer sliced the small boat in half, and miles from the nearest island Kennedy proves himself a hero with his efforts to save his crew. About Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.:
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment's home video, digital distribution and interactive entertainment businesses in order to maximize current and next-generation distribution scenarios. An industry leader since its inception, WBHE oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHE distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com and WB Ultra. About Warner Home Video:
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., commands the largest home entertainment 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 Video and New Line Cinema.
###