Heartbreakers (1984) coming from Fun City Editions on July 26

[whiteberry]

Los Angeles painter Arthur Blue (Peter Coyote, E.T. and Bitter Moon) and businessman Eli Kahn (Nick Mancuso, Ticket to Heaven and Nightwing) are the best of friends, commiserating and competing always, whether on the racquetball court or in the singles bar. When Blue’s long-term girlfriend Cyd (Kathryn Harrold, Modern Romance and The Sender) leaves him for a more successful artist (Barney Miller’s Max Gail) and Eli’s father (George Morfogen, They All Laughed and V) passes away, they each fall for a beguiling French art gallery manager (Carole Laure, Sweet Movie and Get Out Your Handkerchiefs), and their fragmented bromance enters crisis mode. The late Carol Wayne (The Tonight Show and Surf II) co-stars and leaves a lasting impression as Blue’s sad artistic muse and sometime lover.

Filmmaker Bobby Roth (The Boss’ Son and Circle of Power/Brainwash) based his screenplay on his experiences growing up and working in Los Angeles, and the film reflects his insider’s view of the city and deep personal connection to the characters. Although filmed in Hollywood, Heartbreakers refreshingly and effectively evokes the mood of European relationship dramas. To this end, the film employs two of Germany’s most revered exports to world cinema: director of photography Michael Ballhaus (the longtime cinematographer for Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Martin Scorsese) and pioneering electronic musicians Tangerine Dream (Sorcerer, Thief and Risky Business), who contribute one of their most emotional and evocative scores. Out of print on home video since the tape era, this critically-acclaimed festival favorite has been restored in 2K from its original 35mm interpositive and is poised to wow and surprise audiences anew.

directed by: Bobby Roth
starring: Peter Coyote, Nick Mancuso, Carole Laure, Kathryn Harrold, Carol Wayne
1984 / 99 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD MA 1.0

Additional info:

• Region A Blu-ray
• New 2K restoration from its 35mm interpositive
• Booklet with new essays by Richard Harland Smith and Margaret Barton-Fumo
• Newly recorded audio commentary by filmmaker Chris O'Neill and Bill Ackerman of the Supporting Characters podcast
• "Pieces of My Life" - a newly filmed video interview with director Bobby Roth
• "Mr. Amour and the Outsider" - a newly filmed video interview with stars Peter Coyote and Nick Mancuso
• Video introduction by director Bobby Roth
• Image Gallery
• Isolated music track
• English SDH subtitles

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...-city-editions

TV Spot:

Heartbreakers (1984) Official TV Spot - YouTube

Siskel & Ebert:

Siskel & Ebert - Heartbreakers (1984) - YouTube

Vestron Video VHS:


Soundtrack by Tangerine Dream:
https://www.discogs.com/master/29196...ure-Soundtrack

[whiteberry]

It looks like this will be longer than the previous home video release (Vestron Video VHS):

From the Vinegar Syndrome newsletter:

Bobby Roth’s never-on-disc tense erotic drama, HEARTBREAKERS (presented in its fully uncensored version for the first time)

From one of the people on the audio commentary track:

Happy to join filmmaker/programmer @chrisoneill99 on a commentary for the @FunCityEdition release of Bobby Roth’s engaging sleeper HEARTBREAKERS (1984). 1st time on Blu-Ray, 1st time available in Roth's original version. The booklet features essays by @RHarlandSmith & @MarBarFu.

https://twitter.com/Characters_Pod/s...08671591604224

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by whiteberry

It looks like this will be longer than the previous home video release (Vestron Video VHS):

From jah13:

Originally Posted by jah13

This version of HEARTBREAKERS contains a longer, different cut of a pivotal, mid-film sex scene that was re-cut and truncated prior to the film's theatrical release. About 30 seconds worth.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...8#post20247128

[whiteberry]

It sounds like we are getting the version that got the X-rating that is briefly mentioned in the AFI Catalog entry for the movie ("LAT" is Los Angeles Times):

[Show spoiler] According to a 21 Sep 1984 LAT article, the film received a preliminary X-rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) for a sex scene involving “Blue,” “Eli,” and “Candy.” Roth cut much of the “sexual interplay” and the film was released with an R-rating.

Can't wait! Thank you Fun City Editions! It's always nice to see a previously VHS only movie get a blu-ray release, not to mention in its original version before it got cut to get a R-rating.

[jkoffman]

Like many FCE titles, I'm blind buying this. But I can't get this outta my head now.

YouTube

[BuddyGriffith]

I am super excited about this! A restoration and the original version!! It is great when 80s gems like this find their way to Blu. It gives me hope that we will get HDs of other gems and oddities like Enemy Territory (1987), Public Access (1993), Airborne (1993), Foxfire (1996), Radioactive Dreams (1986) or Twice Upon A Time (1983). Or even…What About Bob!!! At least some of those have DVD, whereas Heartbreakers I am still watching the VHS.

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by whiteberry

Siskel & Ebert:
Siskel & Ebert - Heartbreakers (1984) - YouTube

Ebert's Chicago Sun-Times review:
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/heartbreakers-1985

[jah13]

Gene very humorously didn't get this one, while Roger did.

The opposite of the last FCE release, THE COCA-COLA KID, which Gene waved the flag for, while Roger held his nose.

Originally Posted by whiteberry

Ebert's Chicago Sun-Times review:
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/heartbreakers-1985

[hiraeth]

One of my favorite American films of that era (and one of the few VHS I've held on to) - an earnest, incisive time capsule of 1980s upscale L.A. heterbro friendships and sexual mores, beautifully shot (by no less than Michael Ballhaus) and scored (by TD). Easy Day One.

Fwiw, writer-director Roth's much-later, much-messier, DV-shot Manhood makes an interesting (if more unsettling - both intentionally and unintentionally) companion piece.

[tangerinewolf]

Being a Tangerine Dream fan, I actually got the German audio cassette soundtrack first which led me to seeing the film.

Love the music. Love the film. Glad the blu-ray will be the uncut version.

[scribe1964]

I haven't seen this in many years, though I'm still a big fan of Tangerine Dream's score. I'm pretty sure Pauline Kael gave it a rave review. I've been wanting to see it again, and was hoping for a proper release, so I'm thrilled. And I had no idea there was a longer cut. Nice bonus. Tangerine Dream did at least three more scores for Bobby Roth movies.

[jah13]

Bobby actually worked with Tangerine Dream, and / or members of the band, at least 19 times. Hard to imagine any filmmaker worked with them more.

Originally Posted by scribe1964

I haven't seen this in many years, though I'm still a big fan of Tangerine Dream's score. I'm pretty sure Pauline Kael gave it a rave review. I've been wanting to see it again, and was hoping for a proper release, so I'm thrilled. And I had no idea there was a longer cut. Nice bonus. Tangerine Dream did at least three more scores for Bobby Roth movies.

[scribe1964]

Originally Posted by jah13

Bobby actually worked with Tangerine Dream, and / or members of the band, at least 19 times. Hard to imagine any filmmaker worked with them more.

Wow, that is INSANE.

[hiraeth]

Originally Posted by tangerinewolf

Love the music. Love the film. Glad the blu-ray will be the uncut version.

Originally Posted by scribe1964

I'm pretty sure Pauline Kael gave it a rave review. I've been wanting to see it again, and was hoping for a proper release, so I'm thrilled...

Asked by another filmmaker what unsung "auteurs" I felt made a mark with just one film, first two names came to mind were Wendell B. Harris (for Chameleon Street) and Bobby Roth (for Heartbreakers). It's a thoughtful, mature, gorgeous piece, and I hope it finds new thoughtful, mature, gorgeous fans.

Originally Posted by tangerinewolf

Being a Tangerine Dream fan, I actually got the German audio cassette soundtrack first which led me to seeing the film...

Found the German CD in the import clearance section during the Tower Records days, and listened to it incessantly for years (on, above and under the streets of NYC).

YouTube

[whiteberry]

@chrisoneill99:

Jonathan Hertzberg of @FunCityEdition appears on the latest I Eat Movies Podcast to talk about Heartbreakers (1984), and amongst many other things, says some nice things about the audio commentary on the disc from @Characters_Pod and I.

@FunCityEdition:

Yes! On the I Eat Movies podcast, we go deep on Bobby Roth’s HEARTBREAKERS, including the commentary by @chrisoneill99 & @Characters_Pod! There are spoilers, you’ve been warned!

https://anchor.fm/ieatmoviespodcast

[Frightener22]

Originally Posted by whiteberry

@chrisoneill99:


@FunCityEdition:


https://anchor.fm/ieatmoviespodcast

Much appreciated for the share! We're very proud of this one and were thrilled to have Jonathan on as our first guest.

[bergman864]

Order placed. Can't wait.

[scribe1964]

Originally Posted by Frightener22

Much appreciated for the share! We're very proud of this one and were thrilled to have Jonathan on as our first guest.

I really enjoyed the podcast. And it's a relief to know that there are other fans of this movie - and its soundtrack. For the longest time, I thought I was the only one!

[jah13]

Glad you enjoyed the podcast! Please help us spread the word on HEARTBREAKERS….you’re not alone, but it still qualifies as a hidden gem.

Originally Posted by scribe1964

I really enjoyed the podcast. And it's a relief to know that there are other fans of this movie - and its soundtrack. For the longest time, I thought I was the only one!

[CMHDude01]

I've been a fan of this movie ever since it came out and has been on my top ten wish list for years for a decent release. Years ago I transferred my VHS to DVD but was never happy with the overall quality. When this title was announced it made my day. I tried to reach out to Roth years ago to prompt him to do a disc release or to at least get it on streaming, after that, my expectations were it would never happen, I can't even remember the last time I saw it on broadcast TV. This morning I received notification it's on its way, can't wait to watch it in it's restored glory.