There are few more impressive and collectible sights in the physical media world than a Columbia Classics 4K Blu-ray boxset. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has already released four such six-movie collections to great acclaim and healthy sales – so it’s no surprise to find Sony Pictures plundering the Columbia Pictures archives again for six more titles to devote its excellent remastering attentions to.
The fifth Columbia Classics Volume includes arguably the most eclectic mix of movies yet – though one thing they definitely have in common is that they’re all very good. Genuine classics in five cases, at least.
For me the most stand-out titles are “On The Waterfront” with Marlon Brando, and Martin Scorsese’s excellent adaptation of Edith Wharton’s “The Age Of Innocence”. But 1966 Oscar winner “A Man For All Seasons”, Sydney Pollack’s “Tootsie” and 1949’s “All The King’s Men” are all genuine classics too.
For me the only non-classic title in this set is Greta Gerwig’s 2019 adaptation of “Little Women” – though even this film is far from bad. It’s just not quite up there with the rest.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has, as usual with these Columbia Pictures boxsets, really gone the extra mile both with the films’ remastering for 4K disc, and the extra features provided with each title.
All the films are presented in 4K with Dolby Vision high dynamic range, and many of them carry new Dolby Atmos sound mixes. The HDR and Dolby Atmos elements of the “Age Of Innocence” remaster have even been supervised by legendary Scorsese collaborator Thelma Schoonmaker. Some of the best extra features provided with this latest movie collection are all new, too – including multiple commentary tracks.
As if all this wasn’t enough, the “Columbia Classics Volume 5” package also includes an exclusive bonus disc containing four rare 1920s feature films from the Columbia Pictures library: “The Belle Of Broadway” (1926), presented in HD; “Ladies Of Leisure” (1926), presented in 4K SDR; “The Desert Bride” (1928), presented in 4K SDR; and “The Scarlet Lady” (1928), presented in 4K SDR.
“Columbia Classics Volume 5” goes on sale on October 1st, and experience suggests you’d better get your order in good and early if you want to be sure of getting your hands on what is, as usual with these boxsets, a limited edition release.
Here are all the technical and extra feature details on each of the six movies included in the “Columbia Classics Volume 5” 4K Blu-ray boxset:
All The King’s Men
4K Disc includes:
* Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
+ Mono DTS-HD Master Audio
Blu-ray disc:
* Feature presented in high definition, sourced from the 4K master
* Mono DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
* NEW: Audio Commentary Featuring Film Historians Julie Kirgo and Peter Hankoff
* NEW: Force of Will: The Making of All The King’s Men Featurette
* Theatrical Trailer
“ALL THE KING’S MEN” has a run time of approximately 109 minutes and is not rated.
On The Waterfront
4K Discs include:
+ Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, restored from the original camera negative
+ 3 separate 4K presentations of the film, with 1.66, 1.37 and 1.85 aspect ratios, plus noted audio options
+ Dolby Atmos English audio
+ 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
+ Mono DTS-HD Master Audio
Blu-ray Disc Includes:
* Feature presented in high definition at 1.66 aspect ratio, sourced from the 4K master
* 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
+ Mono DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
* NEW: Budd Schulberg: A Righteous Indignation Featurette
* NEW: Boris Kaufman: A Vision Beyond Borders Featurette
* Audio Commentary Featuring Critic Richard Schickel and Film Historian Jeff Young
* Contender: Mastering the Method Featurette
* Interview with Director Elia Kazan
* Martin Scorsese and Kent Jones Featurette
* Eva Marie Saint Interview
* Thomas Hanley Interview
* On the Aspect Ratio
* Stills Gallery
* Theatrical Trailer
“ON THE WATERFRONT” has a run time of approximately 108 minutes and is not rated.
A Man For All Seasons
4K Disc includes:
* Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, restored from the original camera negative
* Dolby Atmos English audio
* 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
+ Mono DTS-HD Master Audio
Blu-ray Includes:
* Feature presented in high definition, sourced from the 4K master
* 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
* Mono DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
* Audio Commentary Featuring Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman
* NEW: Moral Clarity with Bishop Robert Barron Featurette
* The Life of St. Thomas More Featurette
* Theatrical Trailer(s)
“A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS” has a run time of approximately 120 minutes and is rated G.
Tootsie
4K Disc includes:
* Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, restored from the original camera negative
* Dolby Atmos English audio
* 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
* Mono DTS-HD Master Audio
Blu-ray Includes:
* Feature presented in high definition, from the 4K master
* 5.0 DTS-HD Master Audio
* Mono DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
* NEW: Audio Commentary with Film Critic Cerise Howard & Filmmaker Rohan Spong
* A Better Man: The Making of Tootsie 3-Part Documentary
* Dustin Hoffman Interview
* 9 Deleted Scenes
* Screen Test Footage
* Theatrical Trailer
“TOOTSIE” has a run time of approximately 116 minutes and is rated PG.
The Age Of Innocence
4K Disc includes:
+ Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision, restored from the original camera negative
+ Dolby Atmos English audio
+ High Dynamic Range and Dolby Atmos audio approved by editor Thelma Schoonmaker
+ 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
+ 2-Channel Surround DTS-HD Master Audio
Blu-ray Includes:
* Feature presented in high definition, sourced from the 4K master
* 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
+ 2-Channel Surround DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
* Martin Scorsese Interview
* Jay Cocks Interview
* Original 1993 Making-Of
* Moments from Set: B-Roll
* Theatrical Trailer
“THE AGE OF INNOCENCE” has a run time of approximately 138 minutes and is rated PG for thematic elements and some mild language.
Little Women (2019)
4K Ultra HD Includes:
* Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
* Dolby Atmos English audio
* 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
* NEW: Audio Commentary Featuring Writer / Director Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan
* NEW: Revisiting ‘Little Women’: A Conversation with Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan
* Theatrical Trailer
Blu-ray Includes:
* Feature presented in high definition, sourced from the 4K master
* 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Special Features:
* A New Generation of Little Women Featurette
* Making a Modern Classic Featurette
* Greta Gerwig: Women Making Art Featurette
* Hair & Make-Up Test Sequence
* Little Women Behind the Scenes
* Orchard House, Home of Louisa May Alcott
“LITTLE WOMEN” has a run time of approximately 135 minutes and is rated PG for thematic elements and brief smoking.
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