Three The Hard Way (1974) Blu-ray (Warner Archive Collection) - Blu-ray Forum

MifuneFan · 03-10-2025, 08:52 PM

Warner Archive has just announced plans to release the star-studded blaxploitation action film Three The Hard Way (1974), directed by Gordon Parks Jr., tentatively on April 29th! Unlike the DVD release, this will be the original theatrical cut, and will be sourced from a new 4K scan from the OCN.

Three the Hard Way Blu-ray

Quote:

COMING TO BLU-RAY FROM THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION ON APRIL 29th!
NEW 2025 1080P HD MASTER FROM 4K SCAN OF THE ORIGINAL CAMERAS NEGATIVE
THREE THE HARD WAY (1974)
RUNNING TIME: 97 Minutes
COLOR
BD-50
RATED R
Aspect Ratio 16x9 1.85:1
Audio DTS HD-MA 2.0 Mono
Subtitles: ENGLISH SDH
Contains the Original Theatrical Trailer
Cast: Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly
Directed by Gordon Parks, Jr.

At the height of their big-screen popularity, three 1970s superstars head the cast of the action-thriller THREE THE HARD WAY. Directed with style and panache by Gordon Parks, Jr.(Super Fly), audience favorites Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly command the screen as a trio with a mission: They’re out to stop a secret white supremacist organization that plans to contaminate the water supplies of Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. with a substance that is a lethal poison only to the Black population. Three The Hard Way provides stands as an audience favorite of its era. Long only seen in an edited 89 minute version, this new Blu-ray presentation restores the film to its original 97 minute theatrical version, with our new master derived from a 4K scan of the original camera negative. Get in on the action with this blaxploitation classic!

HipsterTrash · 03-10-2025, 09:06 PM

Yes! Been dying for this one.

Stanis · 03-10-2025, 09:33 PM

Whoa, longer version? Better check what the previous Warner DVD release was

benricci · 03-10-2025, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanis

Whoa, longer version? Better check what the previous Warner DVD release was

The old DVD was the 90 minute cut.

MifuneFan · 03-10-2025, 09:42 PM

Nice. Didn't even see the part where it mentioned it'll have the theatrical version.

Stanis · 03-10-2025, 09:57 PM

We are getting ever closer to the HD debut of Hot Potato that I will absolutely will NOT buy

bongozoid · 03-10-2025, 10:20 PM

Yess!! This movie is absolute awesomeness; Jim Kelly's introduction in the film just leaves the whole area looking like a war zone and he uses every opportunity to get shirtless and punch nazis in the junk. Everything is completely over the top and just non-stop action. Great times!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanis

We are getting ever closer to the HD debut of Hot Potato that I will absolutely will NOT buy

Yeah... Jim Kelly's worst movie, for sure. Absolute dreck.

Stanis · 03-10-2025, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongozoid

Yeah... Jim Kelly's worst movie, for sure. Absolute dreck.

I might dislike Golden Needles more, but it is for sure bottom barrel Kelly

4Dblu · 03-11-2025, 04:44 PM

Wow, I remember when my father took me and my sister's to see this at the drive-in.. Old Classic...

JBL · 03-11-2025, 09:41 PM

IMDB says that TV cut is 105 minutes. I want no less than that one since Williamson is the only one still around. After reading views on time length, they say that a lot of the extra time was more or less meaningless - at least in the 105 minute version, so I guess 97 minutes might be fine. I know that discs like these don't usually include deleted scenes, but it would be nice.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072284...ef_=tt_spec_sm

monk302 · 03-19-2025, 05:00 PM

Looking forward to this release. Hot Potato and Golden Needles not Kelly's finest hours (lol).

nin74 · 03-19-2025, 09:49 PM

I love Three the hard way, a classic IMO. And together with Enter the dragon, Freeze bomb and Black belt Jones is Kellys best.

Watershipdownisgood · 03-19-2025, 10:36 PM

Hmmmmm since the Mack is no longer with WB, and WAC that means Shout! Factory will probably put it out in a future release most likely a standalone release, or a box set, but I'm betting it will be a standalone release.

Anyways, I guess Black Samson will probably be next, but what other titles are left besides the awful Hot Potato, and Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold? As we almost have every action blaxploitation WB title on Blu-Ray.

The ones that are MGM titles that are left, and missing on Blu-Ray are quite obscure.

Bare Knuckles
Bamboo Gods and Iron Men
Come Back Charleston Blue sequel to Cotton Comes to Harlem
The Slams

Is anyone vouching for these titles? If I have to guess probably Bare Knuckles, but I have no idea about the rest of them.

Well I'm going to go back to lurking again as I'm trying to be on my phone a lot less so it's going to be a while before I post anything again. I'll just be sticking to lurking the threads, and upvoting posts starting tomorrow of course, and even moreso after that.

bongozoid · 03-19-2025, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nin74

I love Three the hard way, a classic IMO. And together with Enter the dragon, Freeze bomb and Black belt Jones is Kellys best.

I'm partial to Black Samurai, personally. He beats up a midget AND a buzzard!

But I'll happily take any movie where Jim Kelly punches and kicks and stomps white dudes in the junk.

nin74 · 03-20-2025, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongozoid

I'm partial to Black Samurai, personally. He beats up a midget AND a buzzard!

But I'll happily take any movie where Jim Kelly punches and kicks and stomps white dudes in the junk.

Great flick. I got a Jim Kelly tattoo on my back (with three other 70's actionstars.)

Deciazulado · 04-06-2025, 12:00 AM

Three the Hard Way Blu-ray

classicmaterial · 04-06-2025, 03:44 PM

Anyone know what the extra footage involves?

I'm excited to watch this again as it's been a couple years since I've seen it

JBL · 04-29-2025, 12:19 AM

Waiting on a review! It WOULD be so nice to have all of the Shaft TV movies/shows in a proper BD remaster to HD. The old bootleg WARNER DVD was recorded from cable of all things!

kenixfan2025 · 04-30-2025, 01:41 PM

Where is it? Amazon and B&N are both temporarily out of stock. Not a single copy of this blu on eBay yet. Was it delayed altogether?

MifuneFan · 04-30-2025, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenixfan2025

Where is it? Amazon and B&N are both temporarily out of stock. Not a single copy of this blu on eBay yet. Was it delayed altogether?

MovieZyng has it in stock:

https://www.moviezyng.com/three-the-...l/840418325049

Other retailers should follow soon enough.

03-19-2025, 10:36 PM	#13
Watershipdownisgood Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Sep 2023 Location:Castle Rock, Colorado 4K collection:168 Blu-ray collection:1202 DVD collection:39 Digital collection:1 iTunes collection:1 Prime collection:2	Hmmmmm since the Mack is no longer with WB, and WAC that means Shout! Factory will probably put it out in a future release most likely a standalone release, or a box set, but I'm betting it will be a standalone release. Anyways, I guess Black Samson will probably be next, but what other titles are left besides the awful Hot Potato, and Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold? As we almost have every action blaxploitation WB title on Blu-Ray. The ones that are MGM titles that are left, and missing on Blu-Ray are quite obscure. Bare Knuckles Bamboo Gods and Iron Men Come Back Charleston Blue sequel to Cotton Comes to Harlem The Slams Is anyone vouching for these titles? If I have to guess probably Bare Knuckles, but I have no idea about the rest of them. Well I'm going to go back to lurking again as I'm trying to be on my phone a lot less so it's going to be a while before I post anything again. I'll just be sticking to lurking the threads, and upvoting posts starting tomorrow of course, and even moreso after that. Last edited by Watershipdownisgood; 03-20-2025 at 01:51 AM.

04-06-2025, 12:00 AM	#16
Deciazulado Site Manager Top contributor Member since:Aug 2006 Location:USiberia Home Theater Gallery:6 4K collection:1159 Blu-ray collection:7041 DVD collection:4040	pre-order Three the Hard Way Blu-ray

03-10-2025, 09:06 PM	#2
HipsterTrash Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Mar 2019 Location:Canada 4K collection:20 Blu-ray collection:2974	Yes! Been dying for this one.

03-10-2025, 09:33 PM	#3
Stanis Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Dec 2016 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- MA collection:- Digital collection:- iTunes collection:- Prime collection:- Trading Score:23	Whoa, longer version? Better check what the previous Warner DVD release was

03-10-2025, 09:42 PM	#5
MifuneFan Blu-ray Emperor Top contributor Member since:Mar 2012 Location:New York City 4K collection:27 Blu-ray collection:1143 Trading Score:69	Nice. Didn't even see the part where it mentioned it'll have the theatrical version.

03-10-2025, 09:57 PM	#6
Stanis Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Dec 2016 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- MA collection:- Digital collection:- iTunes collection:- Prime collection:- Trading Score:23	We are getting ever closer to the HD debut of Hot Potato that I will absolutely will NOT buy

03-11-2025, 04:44 PM	#9
4Dblu Power Member Member since:Aug 2008 Location:Big Small State Home Theater Gallery:15 4K collection:263 Blu-ray collection:1558 DVD collection:113 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:31	Wow, I remember when my father took me and my sister's to see this at the drive-in.. Old Classic...

03-11-2025, 09:41 PM	#10
JBL Active Member Member since:Mar 2013 Location:Bedford, NY Home Theater Gallery:1 4K collection:44 Blu-ray collection:244 DVD collection:32 Blu-ray reviews:81	IMDB says that TV cut is 105 minutes. I want no less than that one since Williamson is the only one still around. After reading views on time length, they say that a lot of the extra time was more or less meaningless - at least in the 105 minute version, so I guess 97 minutes might be fine. I know that discs like these don't usually include deleted scenes, but it would be nice. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072284...ef_=tt_spec_sm

03-19-2025, 05:00 PM	#11
monk302 New Member Member since:Mar 2025	Looking forward to this release. Hot Potato and Golden Needles not Kelly's finest hours (lol).

03-19-2025, 09:49 PM	#12
nin74 Special Member Member since:Mar 2020 Location:Sweden	I love Three the hard way, a classic IMO. And together with Enter the dragon, Freeze bomb and Black belt Jones is Kellys best.

04-06-2025, 03:44 PM	#17
classicmaterial Power Member Member since:Mar 2011 Location:New England 4K collection:106 Blu-ray collection:958 DVD collection:93	Anyone know what the extra footage involves? I'm excited to watch this again as it's been a couple years since I've seen it

04-29-2025, 12:19 AM	#18
JBL Active Member Member since:Mar 2013 Location:Bedford, NY Home Theater Gallery:1 4K collection:44 Blu-ray collection:244 DVD collection:32 Blu-ray reviews:81	Waiting on a review! It WOULD be so nice to have all of the Shaft TV movies/shows in a proper BD remaster to HD. The old bootleg WARNER DVD was recorded from cable of all things!

04-30-2025, 01:41 PM	#19
kenixfan2025 New Member Member since:Jan 2025	Where is it? Amazon and B&N are both temporarily out of stock. Not a single copy of this blu on eBay yet. Was it delayed altogether?

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