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Blu-ray. This gripping film, part science fiction, part philosophical musing on man's place in the universe, has gained cult status. Michael Murphy (Manhattan) stars as James Lesko with Nigel Davenport (A Man For All Seasons) as Dr. Ernest Hubbs, scientists in search of answers to an evolutionary shift in the ant population that's adopted a hive mentality allowing the ants to team with others of their species to create a super colony. In an effort to better understand the intelligent and powerful new life form, Lesko and Hubbs are faced with the choice of either communicating with, or eradicating their antagonists. Lynne Frederick is cast as Kendra, an ant attack survivor who'll play a pivotal role in deciphering the ants' mysterious existence. Phase IV is written for the screen by Mayo Simon (Futureworld), photographed by Dick Bush (Ken Russell's Tommy and Mahler) and scored by Brian Gascoigne (The Emerald Forest) with contributions by Stomu Yamashta, David Vorhaus and Desmond Briscoe.

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*This listing is for the standard edition version and does NOT come with a limited edition slipcase!* Vinegar Syndrome specializes in the masterful restoration and distribution of cult, horror, and erotic films from the 1960s-90s. Following a mysterious eclipse-like solar event, scientists begin to notice strange and unexplainable behavioral changes in ants. While initially written off as an unconcerning anomaly, it soon becomes apparent that the creatures have developed advanced intelligence along with the ability to work collectively. Scientists Ernest Hubbs and James Lesko have been transferred to a futuristic lab in a remote part of the Arizona desert in which to study these phenomena. However, when the ants begin to attack and kill both wildlife and humans, Hubbs and Lesko realize that the entire human race might now be at a deadly evolutionary disadvantage to the tiny insects… The sole feature film directed by acclaimed graphic artist Saul Bass, PHASE IV is a landmark of 1970s science fiction as it blends arresting visuals, photographed by Dick Bush (Sorcerer) along with nature photographer Ken Middleham, with a tense and harrowing animal attack narrative. Starring Nigel Davenport (Chariots of Fire), Michael Murphy (Nashville), and Lynne Frederick (Schizo) and featuring a mesmerizing musical score by electronic music pioneer Brian Gascoigne, Vinegar Syndrome presents PHASE IV on 4K UHD, newly restored from its 35mm original camera negative and at last containing its legendary and never-before-on-video Preview Version, featuring exclusive, extended, and alternate sequences which have remained unseen since 1974! Bonus Features: 1. 3-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray x2 2. 4K UHD presented in High-Dynamic-Range 3. Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative 4. The 84-minute Theatrical Version is available on both the UHD and Blu-ray discs 5. The 89-minute Preview Version with multiple soundtrack options is included on a Blu-ray disc 6. Commentary track for the Theatrical Version with film historian Matthew Asprey Gear 7. "Evolutions: The Making of Phase IV" (48 min) - a brand new documentary by Elijah Drenner featuring interviews with Jeffrey Bass, co-star Michael Murphy, screenwriter Mayo Simon, archivist Sean Savage and design historian/Saul Bass biographer Pat Kirkham 8. "Formicidae Sinfonia: The Music and Sounds of Phase IV" (15 min) - a brand new featurette with composer Brian Gascoigne and electronic music artist David Vorhaus 9. Deleted shots and sequences (2 min) 10. Raw footage from Saul Bass' original ending montage sequence (16 min) 11. Theatrical trailer 12. Still gallery 13. Reversible sleeve artwork 14. English SDH subtitles

Description

*This listing is for the standard edition version and does NOT come with a limited edition slipcase!* Vinegar Syndrome specializes in the masterful restoration and distribution of cult, horror, and erotic films from the 1960s-90s. Following a mysterious eclipse-like solar event, scientists begin to notice strange and unexplainable behavioral changes in ants. While initially written off as an unconcerning anomaly, it soon becomes apparent that the creatures have developed advanced intelligence along with the ability to work collectively. Scientists Ernest Hubbs and James Lesko have been transferred to a futuristic lab in a remote part of the Arizona desert in which to study these phenomena. However, when the ants begin to attack and kill both wildlife and humans, Hubbs and Lesko realize that the entire human race might now be at a deadly evolutionary disadvantage to the tiny insects… The sole feature film directed by acclaimed graphic artist Saul Bass, PHASE IV is a landmark of 1970s science fiction as it blends arresting visuals, photographed by Dick Bush (Sorcerer) along with nature photographer Ken Middleham, with a tense and harrowing animal attack narrative. Starring Nigel Davenport (Chariots of Fire), Michael Murphy (Nashville), and Lynne Frederick (Schizo) and featuring a mesmerizing musical score by electronic music pioneer Brian Gascoigne, Vinegar Syndrome presents PHASE IV on 4K UHD, newly restored from its 35mm original camera negative and at last containing its legendary and never-before-on-video Preview Version, featuring exclusive, extended, and alternate sequences which have remained unseen since 1974! Bonus Features: 1. 3-disc Set: 4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray x2 2. 4K UHD presented in High-Dynamic-Range 3. Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative 4. The 84-minute Theatrical Version is available on both the UHD and Blu-ray discs 5. The 89-minute Preview Version with multiple soundtrack options is included on a Blu-ray disc 6. Commentary track for the Theatrical Version with film historian Matthew Asprey Gear 7. "Evolutions: The Making of Phase IV" (48 min) - a brand new documentary by Elijah Drenner featuring interviews with Jeffrey Bass, co-star Michael Murphy, screenwriter Mayo Simon, archivist Sean Savage and design historian/Saul Bass biographer Pat Kirkham 8. "Formicidae Sinfonia: The Music and Sounds of Phase IV" (15 min) - a brand new featurette with composer Brian Gascoigne and electronic music artist David Vorhaus 9. Deleted shots and sequences (2 min) 10. Raw footage from Saul Bass' original ending montage sequence (16 min) 11. Theatrical trailer 12. Still gallery 13. Reversible sleeve artwork 14. English SDH subtitles

Description

Product description No Description Available. Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure Rating: PG Release Date: 24-APR-2007 Media Type: DVD Amazon.com There's no mistaking the 1968 mood of Play Dirty: this cynical war movie could only have been made during the disillusioned Vietnam era, despite its WWII subject. Michael Caine plays a British captain in North Africa, tapped to lead a suicidal mission across the desert to destroy a German fuel depot. He's got a scurvy band of mercenaries to help him (this was a year after The Dirty Dozen, so keep that in mind), although most of the time they seem indifferent to both the job and Caine's survival. Nigel Davenport plays Caine's black-hearted yet lethally competent assistant, possibly the most nihilistic character on the side of the good guys in any war movie. Large patches of the film play without dialogue, including a grueling sequence in which vehicles are winched up the side of a hill, but somehow this adds to the grim, fatalistic atmosphere. The hard edge suits the style of director Andre De Toth, veteran maker of many a B-picture (this was his next-to-last effort). Caine plays it repressed and close to the vest, the better to contrast with Davenport's Mephistophelian soldier of fortune. Oh, and the ending--well, you'll want to stick around for the ending. It was 1968, after all. --Robert Horton