HTF forum posted this news:
The Elia Kazan Film Collection, featuring the Documentary and 15 of Kazan’s Most Noteworthy and Popular Films In a Collectible DVD Gift Set, Arrives November 9th from Fox Home Entertainment


New York, NY (September 8, 2010) – Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and THIRTEEN’s “American Masters” series today announced that they have acquired A Letter to Elia, Martin Scorsese’s new documentary exploring the life and talent of Oscar®-winning director Elia Kazan. The film, co-directed by Scorsese and Kent Jones, made its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival and its North American premiere at the Telluride Film Festival. It is also an official selection of the New York Film Festival where it will screen alongside Kazan’s America, America on September 27th.


Martin Scorsese cites the works of Elia Kazan as being highly influential on his life and career.


Of making the film, Scorsese says, “It took many years. I asked my old friend and collaborator Kent Jones to work with me, and we spent quite a long time looking at the films, talking about them, looking at the life, the fame, the infamy, and finding the tone, the balance that felt right for this picture. I feel that the finished film speaks to the power of art, in this case the art of Elia Kazan.”


With respect to the Elia Kazan Film Collection, Scorsese added, “I’m very excited that Fox is making our film available as part of a box set of Kazan’s work – I’m especially pleased by the inclusion of five pictures that have never been released on DVD, Wild River and America, America in particular. Getting the movies seen – that’s what we’re all aiming for.”


A Letter to Elia, produced by Scorsese and Emma Tillinger Koskoff, was co-financed and executive produced by Stone Douglass and Taylor Materne’s Far Hills Pictures. WME Global assembled financing and brokered the distribution deal to PBS and Fox.


A Letter to Elia will air nationally on PBS as part of the “American Masters” series on October 4, 2010, accompanied by a companion short documentary featuring some of the country’s most noteworthy actors and directors talking about Kazan’s influence on their work and on the American film industry.


On November 9th, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release the Elia Kazan Film Collection, an 18-disc DVD gift set including A Letter to Elia and 15 of Kazan’s most acclaimed and noteworthy films. The full collection, in addition to the documentary, includes: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn(1945), Boomerang! (1947), Gentleman’s Agreement (1947), Pinky (1949), Panic in the Streets (1950), A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), Viva Zapata!(1952), Man on a Tightrope (1953), On the Waterfront (1954), East of Eden (1955), Baby Doll (1956), A Face in the Crowd (1957), Wild River (1960),Splendor in the Grass (1961), and America, America (1963). Of the collection, 5 films have never before been released on DVD: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Viva Zapata!, Man on a Tightrope, Wild River, and America, America. The Elia Kazan Film Collection will be available for $199.98 U.S. / $349.98 Canada.

That's great and surprising news, specially seeing the list of films included, which are from like 3-4 different studios. I wonder which version of A Streetcar Named Desire they are going to include. By the way, would this be like the first official US release of Boomerang? I've seen the film at Costco and FYE, but it was never in-stock at any other retailer.

I personally hope Bn.com has some blockbuster deal on it like when I bought the massive John Ford Fox set as the price seems a bit steep. but the new titles are incredible after so few new releases as of late to DVD. I was able to buy Boomerang a couple times from both Borders and from deepdiscount at one point

hope they release them individually. been waiting for a tree grows brooklyn for awhile.

I could see this set discounted at Costco for at least $100.

I already have seven of the 15 films, but I'll pick this up anyways. At the very least it should look pretty nice next to my Ford at Fox and Murnau/Borzage at Fox sets.

I already have 10 of these, so I hope things like America, America get individual releases.

Nice to see Wild River getting an R1 release, it's probably his most underrated film.

America, America, FINALLY. Been wanting this for a very long time!

So, counting the new doc, it looks like there's 16 films included. But it lists the disc count at 18. Any ideas what the extra two discs are for? Was there a bonus disc of WB's "Streetcar"? Could that be one of them?

As gifted and talented as he was, i will never spend a plugged nickel on any of his work.

He named names.

Streetcar and East of Eden both got 2-discers.

Better throw out all of your Edward Dmytryk-directed or Budd Schulberg/Clifford Odets-penned films then, assuming you have any.

Sounds nice but I already have the films I wanted. Heres to hoping they release the documentary seperately!

If Netflix carries it, you should really check out Wild River - Clift and Remick have wonderful chemistry, and it's much less heavy-handed than a lot of Kazan's other work.

Say what you want about his politics, but he was a great filmmaker.

Finally!! America, America!

Is this up for pre-order anywhere?

So far, $154.29 at CD Universe.

So no chance of blu? I don't get it.

Viva Zapata and Wild River were released individually.

http://www.amazon.com/Viva-Zapata-Ma...ds=viva+zapata

http://www.amazon.com/Wild-River-Mon...rds=wild+river

Now all I need is A Tree Grows In Brooklyn and Man On A Tightrope to be released on their own.