Although no details are provided, Turner Classic Movies has announced that they will be showing World Premiere "restorations" of the following films at the 2015 TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, March 26-29:
The Grim Game (1919) [stars Harry Houdini] Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) 42nd Street (1933) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) Calamity Jane (1953) Roman Holiday (1953) The Proud Rebel (1958) Rififi (1958) Spartacus (1960) 1776 (1972) Apollo 13 (1995)
So I noticed. Jeepers, it feels like only yesterday they already restored SPARTACUS. I'll be very interested to know the story behind that one. On the face of it, it seems pretty discouraging that a film might need restoration every few decades or so…
That said, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what they've done for one of my lifelong favorites, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.
Spartacus has been cancelled, maybe they couldn't finish the restoration in time (well that's what I'm hoping), but glass half full: the restored Hunchback Of Notre Dame & 42nd Street. I'd love those two turning up on Blu-ray this year.
1776 is described as follows: "New 4K definitive Director’s cut restoration from the original negative, which includes some footage not previously seen and presented in collaboration with director, Peter H. Hunt, and Sony Pictures."
This sounds like the same cut of the film that was presented on the 2002 DVD, albeit upgraded to theater-quality resolution.
