Several new DVDs will offer special editions of beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classics, including the adaptations of the Broadway musicals Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music (in its 40th anniversary) and their original movie musical State Fair. All three will be released by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on November 15th, and are set at the retail price of $26.98.
A two-disc set, Oklahoma! Special Edition will include both the Cinemascope
and Todd AO versions that were filmed simultaneously in 1955. Disc 1 will
include the Cinemascope feature in 2.55:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby
Digital 5.0 & Stereo Surround. As extras, viewers can switch on commentary by Ted
Chapin and Hugh Fordin, sing along subtitles, watch the trailer and a separate chapter
list for songs only with a play-all feature. On disc 2, Oklahoma! will feature the Todd AO Version in 2.20:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby
Digital 5.0 & Stereo Surround, with extras including commentary by Shirley
Jones and Nick Redman, more Sing Along Subtitles, "Cinemascope vs. Todd
AO," "The Miracle of Todd-AO" and "The March of
Todd-AO" featurettes, excerpts "Oh, What a Beautiful
Mornin'" performed by Gordon MacRae on stage and "People Will Say We're in Love"
performed by Gordon MacRae & Florence Henderson. There will also be still galleries (behind-the-scenes, lobby cards and one-sheets), teaser and theatrical trailers and a separate
chapter list for songs only with a play-all feature.
State Fair: Special Edition will include both the original 1945 movie
musical about rustic romances in Iowa on 1.37:1 fullscreen and Dolby Digital Stereo & Mono on disc 1 and
the 1962 version in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital 4.0 Surround on disc 2. On the first disc, viewers can access a commentary with Richard Barrios and Tom Briggs, sing along subtitles, "From Page, To Screen, To Stage: State Fair" featurette, still galleries (set design and wardrobe, behind the scenes, lobby cards and one sheets) and the theatrical trailer. Pat Boone gives commentary on the second disc, and the "State Fair" television pilot and a stage excerpt of "It Might As Well Be Spring" performed by Mary Martin will also be featured.
As for The Sound of Music: 40th Anniversary Release, it will feature 2.20
anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital 4.0 Surround track, with bonuses including a new introduction by star Julie Andrews, commentary with director Robert
Wise, a second new commentary with Andrews and Christopher Plummer, an isolated
score, a song "play-all" feature and sing-a-long subtitles.
A retrospective documentary called "A Few Of My Favorite Things" will be on the second disc, as will "Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer: A
Reminiscence," "On Location With The Sound of Music," "From
Liesl to Gretl: 40th Anniversary Reunion" and "When You Know the Notes
to Sing: A Sing-Along Phenomenon" featurettes. The disc will also come complete with a storyboard gallery,
behind-the-scenes, lobby cards and one-sheets, screen tests (Mia Farrow and
Marni Nixon), teaser and trailers (1st Anniversary trailer, Academy Award trailer, 1973 reissue trailer, testimonial trailer) and TV spots.In addition to Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music, other Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals were adapted into films--Carousel (1956), South Pacific (1958), The King and I (1956) and Flower Drum Song (1961); Cinderella (1950) was an original TV musical, and has been remade several times (as well as having had a stage version). For more informatin, visit www.davisdvd.com.
