
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993                   TAG: 9310020374
SECTION: SPECTATOR                    PAGE: S-19   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARTIE ZAD THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RESTORED MOVIE CLASSICS BEING REISSUED AS VIDEOS

For years the home-video industry has been taking and making big bucks from movie films, new and old. And now, refreshingly enough, Sony Pictures Entertainment is putting something back with "The Studio Heritage Collection," a line of restored classic films that have been remastered to original brilliance.

The initial group of six movies recently released consists of "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957), "The Guns of Navarone" (1961), "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939), "Holiday" (1939), "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941) and "The More the Merrier" (1943).

This marks the first time a line of videos has been completely dedicated to the presentation of restored films. Each video contains an interesting, 8-minute, detailed explanation of the film-restoration process and its importance.

The movies, listed at $19.95 each, have digitally remastered visual and audio components, restored to their original clarity, richness and brilliance. Wherever available, the videos also include an original theatrical trailer. None of these titles has been distributed in their old form since Aug. 15.

"Each film chosen to be part of `The Studio Heritage Collection' holds a respected and honored place in film history," said Paul Culberg, executive vice president at Sony Pictures Entertainment. "This new line exemplifies Sony Pictures Entertainment's commitment to film preservation and restoration and ensures that the art of the moving images will continue to be enjoyed by future generations in its best possible form."

Bill Humphrey, Sony's senior vice president of film and tape operations, added that the company, with UCLA, New York Museum of Modern Art and the film preservation unit at the Library of Congress, are committed to this as an ongoing project with plans and budgeting to restore about six films a year.

Humphrey's group is currently working on "Mickey One" (1965), "The Wild One" (1954), "Bonjour Tristesse" (1958) and "Knock on Any Door" (1949), all strong possibilities to be released in the first half of 1994.

Two other films surfacing from the "proposed" file into a group for planning and evaluation of condition and need are "Taxi Driver" (1976) and "A Man for All Seasons" (1966).

by CNB