Criterion Details 400 Blows and Last Metro

Posted January 13, 2009 10:24 AM by Josh Dreuth

The Criterion Collection has announced the technical specs and special features for the upcoming Blu-ray releases of 'The 400 Blows' and 'The Last Metro', both of which are due to hit store shelves on March 24th. Both titles will receive 1080p video transfers with 'The 400 Blows' having a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and 'The Last Metro' having a 1.66:1 aspect ratio.

Audio for both titles has been listed as French Dolby Digital Mono, but we expect that is only a place holder for a DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack, similar to previous Criterion releases. The listed extras for 'Blows' does list an uncompressed mono soundtrack, which may indicate a secondary PCM soundtrack.

Extras for 'The 400 Blows' include:

New, restored high-definition digital transfer, with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack
Two audio commentaries: one by cinema professor Brian Stonehill and another by Francois Truffaut's lifelong friend Robert Lachenay
Rare audition footage of Jean-Pierre Leaud, Patrick Auffay, and Richard Kanayan
Newsreel footage of Leaud in Cannes for the showing of The 400 Blows
Excerpt from a TV program in which Truffaut discusses his youth, his critical writings, and the origins of Antoine
TV interview with Truffaut about the global reception of The 400 Blows and his own critical impression of the film
Theatrical trailer PLUS: An essay by film scholar Annette Insdorf

For 'The Last Metro' extras include:

New, restored high-definition digital transfer
Two audio commentaries: one featuring Annette Insdorf, author of Francois Truffaut, and one with actor Gerard Depardieu, historian Jean-Pierre Azema, and Truffat biographer Serge Toubiana
Deleted scene
French television excerpts of interviews with Truffaut, actress Catherine Deneuve, Depardieu, and actor Jean Poiret
New video interviews with actresses Andrea Ferreol, Sabine Haudepin, and Paulette Dubost, assistant director Alain Tasma, and camera assistants Florent Bazin and Tessa Racine
Une histoire d'eau, Truffaut's 1958 short film co-directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Theatrical trailer
New and improved English subtitle translation PLUS: A new essay by Armond White

Source: Blu-ray.com | Permalink |

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News comments (7 comments)

bottomboy

Jan 13, 2009

GREAT NEWS FROM CRITERION! bring on more Truffaut (maybe The Bride Wore Black) and more classic films!

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Beta Man

Jan 13, 2009

going to stay on top of the Criterion collection this time..... once I got 100 movies behind on the DVD collection, I never made up the ground

pandemonium

Jan 13, 2009

day one purchase! love me some Truffaut!!!

pmpboarder

Jan 13, 2009

Absolutely, Beta Man! I have very few Criterion DVDs (all of Wes Anderson's, 'Chasing Amy,' Beastie Boys Anthology, etc.), so I'm overwhelmed by how far I am behind. But once Criterion announced they were going Blu, I saddled up and got ready for the ride. I've already got all but 'The Last Emperor' (I'm saddened by the lack of the extended televised version) and 'El Norte,' which are next on my list.