by Blade Runner on Thu May 27, 2004 1:05 pm
THX 1138 Gets New Release
Director George Lucas' dark 1971 SF movie THX 1138 will be re-released in theaters on Sept. 10 in a new director's cut, followed on Sept. 14 by a two-disc collector's-edition DVD from Warner Home Video, the company confirmed. The theatrical release will occur in 20 cities, including Ann Arbor, Mich.; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; New York; Philadelphia; San Francisco; Seattle; Portland and others, the company said.
Francis Ford Coppola produced the film, a dystopian nightmare starring Robert Duvall. The DVD release of THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut offers two new documentaries, including A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope, a chronicle of Coppola's independent studio. In addition, Lucas and co-writer and sound designer Walter Murch both provide audio commentary on the film, and the DVD includes Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB, the original, award-winning short film Lucas made while a student at the University of Southern California, which inspired the theatrical movie. Other bonus features on the DVD set include Theatre of Noise, an isolated sound-effects track, and branching video that showcases the film's pioneering sound design, as well as the film's original theatrical trailer.
The collector's-edition DVD will carry a suggested retail price of $26.99. THX 1138 will also be available in a single-disc version with limited special features for $19.97.