Lots of really exciting releases on the horizon, so I wanted to share the news with you.
Criterion Collection
Criterion has announced that their three-film Josef von Sternberg box set, long out of print, is returning on Bluray on October 8, 2019. The set includes Underworld, The Docks of New York and The Last Command and its scarcity has long been a source of frustration for silent film fans. Nice to see it return!
I reviewed The Last Command here, if you’re interested.
Silent Blackmail at Last!
Kino has announced the upcoming release of Blackmail on Bluray and DVD. Alfred Hitchcock made both a talkie and a silent version but the silent has been scarce in the North American market and cheapie public domain releases have been the rule of the day for the talkie. The silent version has been scored by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.
The disc will be released on August 13, 2019 and is available for pre-order. Kino is also releasing Murder! (1930), which is a talkie but is still early Hitch.
I compared the silent and talkie versions of Blackmail, if you’re interested.
Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Kino is also releasing the 1927 version of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It’s a new 2K restoration with the original Movietone score. The disc also includes the 1910 and 1914 editions. The release date is August 20, 2019 and you can pre-order.
In other news…
Grapevine has released Tom Mix’s The Great K & A Train Robbery on Bluray, which should please western fans.
Movies Silently 
Criterion is also releasing HAXAN in October.
I can’t wait to buy the Josef Von Sternberg collection, the Alloy Orchestra scores are amazing and so are the films.
I’m extremely excited for all of these. Haxan is also coming out from Criterion in October. Long wanted to see the silent version of Blackmail as I only have been able to catch the talkie version. Can’t wait for the October Criterion flash sale for the Von Sternberg silent upgrade as I almost a few weeks ago was going to grab the Region B Eureka copy of The Lost Command.