Fuller at Fox, Five Films 1951-1957 (Eureka MoC)

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Still though, this set is a nice “starter” set for those just getting into Fuller. Sure, for many of use we own most of, if not all, the films in the set or just want the two TT ports but it gives people a chance to discover a damn fine filmmaker.

As someone who doesn't own and hasn't seen any of Fuller's filmography, this is a perfect set. I'm down.

[Dailyan]

Specs and art:

SYNOPSIS
A towering figure of American cinema, Samuel Fuller was a master of the B-movie, a pulp maestro whose iconoclastic vision elevated the American genre film to new heights. After the major success of The Steel Helmet, Fuller was put under contract by Twentieth Century Fox after being impressed by Darryl F. Zanuck’s direct sales pitch (other studios offered Fuller money and tax shelters; Zanuck simply told him, “We make better movies.”).

Over a six-year period, Fuller would produce some of the best work of his career, (and therefore, some of the best films in American cinema), an uncompromising series of masterpieces spanning multiple genres (the Western, the War film, film noir, the Crime-Thriller) that would establish the director as a true auteur, whose influence continues to be felt today.

Collected here are five films from this fruitful period, all presented from stunning restorations. The impossibly tense Korean-War drama Fixed Bayonets! (1951); the outrageous and confrontational spy-thriller Pickup on South Street (1953); the Cold War submarine-actioner Hell and High Water (1954); the lushly photographed, cold-as-ice film noir House of Bamboo (1955); and the audacious Western with a feminist twist, Forty Guns (1957).
SPECIAL FEATURES

LIMITED EDITION BOX SET [2000 UNITS, INDIVIDUALLY NUMBERED]
All five films presented on Blu-ray in 1080p, with Fixed Bayonets!, Pickup on South Street, Hell and High Water, and Forty Guns presented from Fox's stunning 4K restorations, with House of Bamboo presented from a 2K restoration
Original, uncompressed, monaural soundtracks for all films
Optional English SDH available for all films
A new video essay by David Cairns covering ALL FIVE FILMS included in this release
FIXED BAYONETS! – audio commentary by film scholar Adrian Martin
PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET – Interview with critic, filmmaker and programmer Kent Jones [32 mins]
PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET – Interview with critic François Guérif [24 mins]
PICKUP ON SOUTH STREET – "Cinema Cinemas" French TV interview with Samuel Fuller [12 mins]
HELL AND HIGH WATER – Brand new audio commentary by author Scott Harrison
HELL AND HIGH WATER – A documentary on lead actor Richard Widmark [45 mins]
HOUSE OF BAMBOO – Audio commentary with Film Historians Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman
HOUSE OF BAMBOO – Audio commentary with Film historians Alain Silver and James Ursini
FORTY GUNS – Audio interview with Samuel Fuller from 1969 at the National Film Theatre in London [80 mins]
FORTY GUNS – Interview with film critic Jean-Louis Leutrat [17 mins]
Original theatrical trailers for all five films
A 100-PAGE PERFECT BOUND COLLECTOR’S BOOK featuring essays by Richard Combs, Murielle Joudet, Philip Kemp, Glenn Kenny, and Amy Simmons; excerpts from Fuller's autobiography A Third Face; and rare archival imagery

[CouncilSpectre]

^^ It certainly would be nice to have it included somewhere. Here would probably make most sense.

I’ve toyed with importing the TT of HAHW a few times - the TT Bamboo disc is faultless, and I have the other three MoCs - that being said, I’m a sucker for this sort of set, and as you say, hopefully we’ll get some new extras and perhaps a new transfer to sweeten the pot.

[CouncilSpectre]

Indeed

[justwannaboogie]

It's also on The Criterion Channel, I definitely need to give that a watch.

[DefLeppard]

+ Link

https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/full...oo-forty-guns/

Gotta order once I get home. £47.99 is a good price considering the indi. title price+additional bonus materials. Luckily I only have Pickup on south street.

Liked the colour scheme of the box set and hopefully the individual films be in slimline transparent amarays as in Imamura box set.

EDIT: Not taking chance with third party retailers fearing order cancellation due to low print run hence would like to go with Eureka store this time. Amz saves me a bit with EU VAT off but Eureka's packaging guarantees me the item in pristine state.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by DefLeppard

+ Link

https://eurekavideo.co.uk/movie/full...oo-forty-guns/

Gotta order once I get home. £47.99 is a good price considering the indi. title price+additional bonus materials. Luckily I only have Pickup on south street.

Liked the colour scheme of the box set and hopefully the individual films be in slimline transparent amarays as in Imamura box set.

Around the same price as Indicator’s set too with a similar number of discs/book

[bonehica]

Why does it have to have the 100 page book? I wants it, even if I already have all 5 films. New commentary of Hell and High Water as well. Ugh...decisions, decisions...

[Si Parallel Universe]

The cover art and the box , 4k upgrade and the two films getting the Eureka encode treatment are what is swaying me. I hope there are some additions on the extras front also.

[CrockettandTubbs]

Originally Posted by Si Parallel Universe

The cover art and the box , 4k upgrade and the two films getting the Eureka encode treatment are what is swaying me. I hope there are some additions on the extras front also.

*A new video essay by David Cairns covering ALL FIVE FILMS included in this release*

Minor gripe: but 2 film historian commentaries on Bamboo? Would have preferred another interview or retrospective featurette tbh

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by CrockettandTubbs

*A new video essay by David Cairns covering ALL FIVE FILMS included in this release*

Minor gripe: but 2 film historian commentaries on Bamboo? Would have preferred another interview or retrospective featurette tbh

It’s the late Nick Redman so it’ll be a wonderful listen

[CouncilSpectre]

Yep, definitely in for this!

[koberulz]

The usual question: when do Eureka charge for pre-orders?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by koberulz

The usual question: when do Eureka charge for pre-orders?

Immediately.

[Darby1985]

Caved within about 10 seecs of seeing the box art. Bought and paid for...roll on October!

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Immediately.

Ugh.

How quickly is this likely to sell out?

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by koberulz

Ugh.

How quickly is this likely to sell out?

I’m not sure; 2,000 is a small amount but people that already own Fixed Bayonets, Forty Guns, and Pickup on South Street might be put off.

[koberulz]

I have zero experience with Eureka, which doesn't help. I noticed Indicator's Fuller set is still in print, and that's been out a while.

I'm loathe to order one item, too....anything else I should be picking up? I have notes to compare the transfers on Lost Weekend, Yellow Sea and Harakiri with their region A counterparts, but that's about it.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by koberulz

I have zero experience with Eureka, which doesn't help. I noticed Indicator's Fuller set is still in print, and that's been out a while.

I'm loathe to order one item, too....anything else I should be picking up? I have notes to compare the transfers on Lost Weekend, Yellow Sea and Harakiri with their region A counterparts, but that's about it.

To be fair, Indicator’s set, in my opinion, is more for hardcore Fuller fans and the non-Fuller directed films are kind of a mixed bag (hence being a slower seller).

For Eureka titles I’d recommend titles like Ace in the Hole, Medium Cool, Nashville, Paper Moon, Rocco and His Brothers, Seconds, Shane, and Wild River.

[rebeccaeyre]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

To be fair, Indicator’s set, in my opinion, is more for hardcore Fuller fans and the non-Fuller directed films are kind of a mixed bag (hence being a slower seller).
.

I am surprised it has not sold out already, to be honest. I know most of the films on there are not directed by Fuller on that set but at least Indicator could claim that these films were not just only UK blu ray premieres, but world blu ray premieres too, which makes them very exclusive even today.

The Eureka set is a very different situation in that most people on here already own most of these films, including the ones that are new to the UK.

As a result, this LE set will take significantly longer to sell out than the Indicator set and as somebody who initially worked in marketing for a long time, I am rather baffled by this business decision unless Eureka are really that confident in the sale power of House of Bamboo and Hell & High Water? Two middle to lower tier Fuller movies.