Lionsgate Bringing ‘Apocalypse Now’ to Blu-ray

Among my favorite movies, Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now ranks very high. It’s a brilliant and disturbing look at war and its effect on the men who fight it. Plus, it’s full of great performances from an amazing cast, action and also makes you think. What more could you ask from a film?

Nothing, really, except for all of the film’s brilliance and cinematic power, it never got the Blu-ray release it deserved. But now, it seems, that’s going to be remedied as Lionsgate is releasing the film on Blu-ray. Not only will the film be on Blu-ray, the release will come in two different versions, the standard and “full disclosure” edition, which will contain a host of impressive features.

Among these are both versions of the film, never seen before interviews with Coppola and other involved in the production, production stills, script notes, the Hearts of Darkness documentary and so much more. For the full list of features in both editions, check out the full press release after the jump.

Also, be sure to check out the Blu-ray trailer for the film after the jump as well. The Apocalypse Now Blu-ray will hit store shelves on October 19th.

Lionsgate is excited to announce the premiere of the new trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now on October 19th in stunning high definition on Blu-ray Disc and Digital Download.

Often hailed as “one of the greatest of all films” (Chicago Sun-Times), the iconic film about the hell of war that has captivated audiences for decades features an all-star critically acclaimed cast that includes Marlon Brando (The Godfather), Martin Sheen (TV’s “The West Wing”), (Crazy Heart), Dennis Hopper (Easy Rider), Harrison Ford (The Indiana Jones series) and Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix Trilogy). This highly anticipated Blu-ray Disc premieres in 1080P High Definition Widescreen in two deluxe-edition releases: a 3-Disc Full Disclosure Edition and a 2-Film Set. Also for the first time, these movies will be presented for home entertainment audiences in their original theatrical aspect ratios (2.35:1). Nominated for eight Academy Awards® (1979) including Best Picture, Apocalypse Now is also a highlight on the AFI’s list of 100 Years…100 Movies.

Both Blu-ray versions contain Apocalypse Now and Apocalypse Now Redux with more than nine hours of bonus material including new interviews with on-screen and behind-the-scenes talent. The 3-Disc Full Disclosure Edition will include the acclaimed making-of feature documentary Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse – packaged with the original film for the first time – as well as even more brand new bonus features. In addition, this version features a 48-page collectible booklet with a special note from Francis Ford Coppola, never-before-seen archives from the set, behind the scenes photos and more! The Full Disclosure Edition will be packaged in a keepsake case featuring archival poster images designed by Japanese artist Eiko Ishioka. Exploding onto shelves on October 19, 2010, the Apocalypse Now 3-Disc Full Disclosure Edition will be available for $59.99 and the Apocalypse Now 2-Film Set will retail for $39.99.

SYNOPSIS
In the Vietnam War epic, Martin Sheen stars as Army Captain Willard, a troubled man sent on a dangerous top-secret mission into Cambodia to assassinate a rogue Green Beret, Col. Kurtz (Brando), who has barricaded himself in a remote outpost. As Willard ventures deeper and deeper into the wilderness of the jungle, he embarks on a strange journey that leads him to Kurtz – but also forces him to come face to face with the terrifying vision of the heart of darkness in us all.

2-FILM SET BLU-RAY DISC SPECIAL FEATURES*
· Apocalypse Now and Apocalypse Now Redux – presented in 1080P High Definition
Widescreen, in their original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratios and new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
· NEW “A Conversation with Martin Sheen and Francis Ford Coppola”
· NEW “An Interview with John Milius” interview by Francis Ford Coppola
· NEW “Fred Roos: Casting Apocalypse” featurette
· NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN Complete Francis Ford Coppola interview with Roger Ebert at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival
· NEW TO THIS EDITION Original 1938 Mercury Theatre Radio Reading of “Heart of Darkness” featuring Orson Welles
· Monkey Sampan “lost scene”
· Additional Scenes
· “Destruction of the Kurtz Compound” end credits with audio commentary by Francis Ford Coppola
· “The Hollow Men,” video of Marlon Brando reading T.S. Eliot’s poem
· “The Birth of 5.1 Sound” featurette
· “Ghost Helicopter Flyover” sound effects demonstration
· “A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· “The Music of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· “The Synthesizer Soundtrack” article by music synthesizer inventor Bob Moog
· “Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· “The Final Mix” featurette
· “Apocalypse Then and Now” featurette
· “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· “PBR Streetgang” featurette
· “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette
*Subject to change

3-DISC FULL DISCLOSURE EDITION BLU-RAY DISC SPECIAL FEATURES*
· Apocalypse Now and Apocalypse Now Redux – presented in 1080P High Definition Widescreen, in their original 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratios and new 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
· INCLUDED ONLY ON THE FULL DISCLOSURE EDITION Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, including optional audio commentary with Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola – first time in 1080P High Definition
· EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION 48-page collectible printed booklet with special note from Francis Ford Coppola, never-before-seen archives from the set, behind the scenes photos and more!
· EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION John Milius Script Excerpt with Francis Ford Coppola Notes
· EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION Storyboard Gallery
· EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION Photo Gallery, including images from photographer Mary Ellen Mark
· EXCLUSIVE TO EDITION Marketing Archive
· NEW “A Conversation with Martin Sheen and Francis Ford Coppola”
· NEW “An Interview with John Milius” interview by Francis Ford Coppola
· NEW “Fred Roos: Casting Apocalypse” featurette
· NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN Complete Francis Ford Coppola interview with Roger Ebert at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival
· NEW TO THIS EDITION Original 1938 Mercury Theatre Radio Reading of “Heart of Darkness” featuring Orson Welles
· Monkey Sampan “lost scene”
· Additional Scenes
· “Destruction of the Kurtz Compound” end credits with audio commentary by Francis Ford Coppola
· “The Hollow Men,” video of Marlon Brando reading T.S. Eliot’s poem
· “The Birth of 5.1 Sound” featurette
· “Ghost Helicopter Flyover” sound effects demonstration
· “A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· “The Music of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· “The Synthesizer Soundtrack” article by music synthesizer inventor Bob Moog
· “Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· “The Final Mix” featurette
· “Apocalypse Then and Now” featurette
· “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· “PBR Streetgang” featurette
· “The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette
· *Subject to change

WRITTEN BY
John Milius Jaws, Red Dawn, HBO’s “Rome,” Dirty Harry
and Francis Ford Coppola Tetro, The Godfather Trilogy, The Conversation, The Great Gatsby, Patton

DIRECTED BY
Francis Ford Coppola Tetro, The Godfather Trilogy, The Conversation, The Outsiders

CAST
Marlon Brando The Godfather, On the Waterfront, Superman, The Wild One, A Streetcar Named Desire
Robert Duvall Crazy Heart, The Road, Sling Blade, Network, The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II
Martin Sheen TV’s “The West Wing,” The Departed, Bobby, The American President
Frederic Forrest The Rose, The Conversation, Valley Girl, Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Music Box
Albert Hall TV’s “Men of a Certain Age,” TV’s “Ally McBeal,” Malcolm X, Devil in a Blue Dress
Sam Bottoms The Last Picture Show, TV’s “East of Eden,” Seabiscuit, SherryBaby, Bronco Billy
Laurence Fishburne TV’s “CSI,” The Matrix Trilogy, Mission Impossible III, Mystic River, The Color Purple
Christian Marquand The Longest Day, Lord Jim, The Flight of the Phoenix, …And God Created Woman
Aurore Clement A Private Affair, Love Comedy, Mon Homme, The Captive, Tender Souls
Harrison Ford The Indiana Jones series, The Fugitive, Regarding Henry, Witness, The Star Wars Trilogy
and Dennis Hopper Easy Rider, TV’s “Crash,” Speed, True Romance, Hoosiers, Blue Velvet

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Year of Production: 1979, 2000
Title Copyright:
Apocalypse Now: © 1979 Omni Zoetrope. All Rights Reserved.
Apocalypse Now Redux: © 2000 Zoetrope Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse: © 1991 ZM Productions. TM, ® and © by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
Type: Blu-ray Disc Premiere
Rating:
Apocalypse Now: R
Apocalypse Now Redux: R for disturbing images, language, sexual content and some drug use.
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse: R for language.
Genre: War / Thriller / Drama
Closed Captioned: English SDH
Subtitles: English, Spanish and French
Format: Apocalypse Now, Apocalypse Now Redux – 1080P High Definition 16×9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse: 4×3 Full Screen (1.37:1)
Feature Running Time: 2-Film Set: 355 minutes
Full Disclosure Edition: 451 minutes
Blu-ray Audio Status: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio

Trailer