Cecil B. DeMille Classics, ‘Kingsglaive,’ ‘Wonder Woman 1984,’ More on Home Entertainment … Plus a Giveaway!

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. (DVD Artwork). ©Paramount.

By ANGELA DAWSON

Front Row Features

Movies

The Greatest Show on Earth (Romantic Drama)

Legendary director Cecil B. DeMille’s grand spectacle “The Greatest Show on Earth” arrives for the first time on Blu-ray as part of the Paramount Presents line Tuesday March 30, from Paramount Home Entertainment.

A two-time Academy Award-winner—including Best Picture and Best Writing, Motion Picture Story— “The Greatest Show on Earth” captures the thrills, chills and exhilaration of the circus. Featuring three intertwining plot lines filled with romance and rivalry, DeMille’s film includes spectacular action sequences, including a show-stopping train wreck.

“The Greatest Show on Earth” also boasts a sensational cast, including Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame and James Stewart.

Newly restored from a 4K scan of the original negative, this essential movie of the Golden Age of Hollywood packs action, romance, laughs and treachery into an epic only DeMille could create, resulting in one of 1952’s biggest hits.

The limited edition Paramount Presents Blu-ray disc includes the newly restored film in collectible packaging with a foldout image of the film’s theatrical poster and an interior spread with key movie moments. The Blu-ray also includes a new “Filmmaker Focus” with film historian Leonard Maltin, exploring the making of the film and its reception, as well as access to a Digital copy of the film

Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (Action Fantasy)

Debuting Tuesday March 30 on 4K Ultra HD is “Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV,” from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

The magical kingdom of Lucis is home to the sacred Crystal, and the menacing empire of Niflheim is determined to steal it. King Regis of Lucis (Sean Bean) commands an elite force of soldiers called the Kingsglaive. Wielding their king’s magic, Nyx (Aaron Paul) and his fellow soldiers fight to protect Lucis. As the overwhelming military might of the empire bears down, King Regis is faced with an impossible ultimatum—to marry his son, Prince Noctis, to Princess Lunafreyaof Tenebrae (Lena Headey), captive of Niflheim, and surrender his lands to the empire’s rule. Although the king concedes, it becomes clear that the empire will stop at nothing to achieve their devious goals, with only the Kingsglaive standing between them and world domination. Based on the iconic game, which has sold nearly nine million copies worldwide since its launch.

Bonus materials on the home entertainment include the featurettes: “A Way with Words: Epic and Intimate Vocals,” where Paul, Headey, Bean, along with the filmmakers, reveal the process of creating the vocals for the film; “Fit for the Kingsglaive: Building the World,” an in-depth exploration of imagining and designing the one-of-a-kind world of Lucis; “To Capture the Kingsglaive: The Process,” where viewers can explore the intricate process of capturing the physical performances at the heart of this computer-generated film; and “Emotive Music: Scoring the Kingsglaive, where viewers learn about the creation of the truly innovative and impactful score.

Our Friend (Drama)

The inspiring drama “Our Friend” arrives on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday March 30, from Universal Home Entertainment.

“Our Friend” tells the inspiring and extraordinary true story of the Teague family – journalist Matt (Casey Affleck), his vibrant wife Nicole (Dakota Johnson) and their two young daughters—and how their lives are upended by Nicole’s heartbreaking diagnosis of terminal cancer. As Matt’s responsibilities as a caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming, the couple’s best friend Dane Faucheux (Jason Segel) offers to come and help out. As Dane puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, the impact of this life-altering decision proves greater and more profound than anyone could have imagined. The film is directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite from a screenplay by Brad Ingelsby, based on an article by Matthew Teague.

The Blu-ray and DVD includes a behind-the-scenes featurette with the filmmakers and the cast including Segel, Johnson and Affleck, discussing why they were drawn to this true story and how they worked together to honestly portray the real people at its center.

“Our Friend” also is available now on Digital.

The Ten Commandments (Historic Epic)

Just in time for Easter, Cecil B. DeMille’s legendary epic “The Ten Commandments” arrives on 4K Ultra HD for the first time Tuesday March 30, from Paramount Home Entertainment.

The 1956 epic tells the inspiring story of Moses, who led the enslaved Israelites out of Egypt to The Promised Land. Charlton Heston stars in this acclaimed film in the role as Moses and Yul Brynner in his iconic role as the Pharaoh. “The Ten Commandments” was filmed in Egypt and the Sinai with one of the biggest sets ever constructed for a motion picture.

As part of the restoration done in 2010, the film was scanned in 6K and those files were the basis for this brand-new Dolby Vision version, which shows off the full beauty of the original VistaVision negative. The VistaVision format used special cameras to feed 35mm film into the camera horizontally in order to capture a wider image spread over two 35mm film frames, giving VistaVision twice the resolution of regular 35mm film. In addition, Paramount spent over 150 hours doing new color work and clean-up on the scan. The move to Dolby Vision created the opportunity to further improve the look of the film: blacks are more enhanced and improvements were made to smooth out special effects mattes to create the most vibrant pristine image possible.

The 4K film presentation on the 65th anniversary since this epic film’s release contains an introduction by DeMille, an intermission, an overture/exit music card, and an entr’acte card, along with a DTS-HD 5.1 lossloss soundtrack.

The new set includes a 4K Ultra HD disc, two Blu-ray discs and access to a Digital copy of the film. The 4K disc includes not on the 1956 feature in 4K Ultra HD, but also commentary by Katherine Orrison, author of “Written in Stone: Making Cecil B. DeMille’s epic ‘The Ten Commandments.’”

Blu-ray disc #1, includes Part 1 of the film plus the Orrison commentary, while disc #2 has her commentary plus newsreel footage of the film’s New York premiere as well as theatrical trailers, including a 10-minute “making-of” trailer.

Wonder Woman 1984 (Action Fantasy)

It’s time for a hero when “Wonder Woman 1984” arrives on Premium Video on Demand (PVOD), 4K, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Tuesday March 30, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

The film is directed by Patty Jenkins and stars Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”) in the title role. “Wonder Woman 1984” also stars Chris Pine (“Wonder Woman,” the “Star Trek” films) as Steve Trevor, Kristen Wiig (“Bridesmaids,” “The Martian”) as Barbara Minerva, Pedro Pascal (“Game of Thrones,” “The Mandalorian”) as Maxwell Lord, Robin Wright (“House of Cards,” “Blade Runner 2049”) as Antiope and Connie Nielsen (“Wonder Woman,” “I Am the Night”) as Hippolyta.

The fate of the world is once more on the line, and only Wonder Woman can save it. This new chapter in the Wonder Woman story finds Diana Prince (Gadot) living quietly among mortals in the vibrant, sleek 1980s—an era of excess driven by the pursuit of having it all. Though she’s come into her full powers, she maintains a low profile, curating ancient artifacts and only performing her super-heroic acts incognito. But now, Diana will have to step directly into the spotlight and muster all her wisdom, strength and courage in order to save mankind from a world of its own making.

The 4K, Blu-ray and DVD include the following featurettes: “The making-of ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Expanding the Wonder,” “Gal & Kristen: Friends Forever,” “Small but Mighty,” “Scene Study: The Open Road,” “Scene Study: The Mall,” “Gal & Krissy Having Fun,” “Meet the Amazons,” “Black Gold Infomercial,” a gag reel and “Wonder Woman 1984 Retro Remix.”

The “Wonder Woman 1984” 4K UHD Combo Pack will be available for $44.95 (SRP); the Blu-ray will be available for $35.99 (SRP) and the DVD will be available for $28.98 (SRP).

Front Row Features is giving away a copy of Universal Pictures’ heartwarming and inspiring drama “Our Friend” starring Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck, on DVD to one lucky reader. To enter the contest, simply email your name to frontrowfeatures@gmail.com by April 5 for your chance to win. Good luck!