http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=56166
Warner Home Video have announced the UK Region 2 DVD release of The Big Red One: The Reconstruction for 2nd May 2005 priced at £19.99. This brand new extended version starring Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill and Robert Carradine recreates the film to fit Fuller's original vision prior to release in 1980.
Painstakingly restored for the DVD release, this version of the film will be the subject of a limited theatrical Digital Presentation at London's NFT 29 April-5 May 2005, and will be joined by hours of outstanding features upon its DVD debut on 2nd May 2005.
"The real glory of war," Samuel Fuller said, "is surviving." A decorated combatant with the famed U.S. First Infantry in WWII, Fuller survived. His 1980 film version of his war experiences did not until now. Working with 70,000 feet of vault materials and Fuller's shooting script, critic/filmmaker Richard Schickel heads a reconstruction that adds over 40 minutes and transforms a truncated but admired war film into an epic masterwork. Lee Marvin, in a richly layered performance now revealed as one of his finest, stars as the sergeant of peach-fuzzed riflemen fighting from North Africa to Normandy and across Europe. The film is the squad's combat diary, war as it's fought and sweated and bled, and, maybe, survived.
Fuller had served with the Big Red One - the First Infantry Division - and the autobiographical content of his film kept it close to his heart. This full-length version, which is close to the late director's original cut, is one of American cinema's great war movies and will be released internationally by Warner Home Video on 2nd May.
DVD Features:
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1
Commentary by Richard Schickel
Featurette: The Fighting First a War Dept. Film (13mins)
Reconstruction Trailer - 2004 (2:20mins)
Alternate Scenes (31:03)
Anatomy of a Scene (18:10)
Documentary: The Men Who made Sam Fuller (55mins)
Documentary: The Real Glory: Reconstructing the "Big Red One"
Original Promo Reel (30mins)
Stills Gallery