New to Blu-ray and DVD “Fear and Desire” and “Magic Mike” (release date, October 23, 2012)

Director Stanley Kubrick, age 24, shooting “Fear and Desire.”

“Fear and Desire” (1953) directed, produced and edited by a then barely known talent, a 24 year-old filmmaker named Stanley Kubrick, comes to Blu-ray and DVD this week.  Kubrick, of course, would go on to direct such films as “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968), “A Clockwork Orange” (1971), “Barry Lyndon” (1975), “The Shining” (1980), and others.

Kubrick, then an unproven commodity, did not have a large budget for “Fear and Desire.”  He smartly chose a story that would conform well to his low budget aesthetic. The story of “Fear and Desire” involves a group of American soldiers, one of whom is played by a very young Paul Mazursky (director and actor), trapped behind enemy lines during World War II.  All that was needed were some actors in uniform out in the woods and minimal indoor sets. 

DCP – Digital Cinema Package – at Film Forum

Peter Sellers as Dr. Strangelove in Stanley Kubrick's DR. STRANGELOVE

On Friday, March 2, Film Forum started a week long series of 13 classic films screened in the digital format DCP (Digital Cinema Package).  What this means is that these films were screened in high definition video, projected from a hard drive, as opposed to traditional 35mm film prints.  The movies shown were selected by Bruce Goldstein, Film Forum’s Director of Repertory Programming.

While digital screenings may not seem remarkable to the average moviegoer, it is remarkable for Film Forum.  The repertory side of Film Forum prides itself on showing only 35mm film prints of older movies, many of which are brand new prints.  The reason for Film Forum’s commitment to 35mm is that this is the way these films were meant to be seen.   Film Forum’s decision to have a series of classic films in the digital format, the way most theatres now screen current movies, could be seen as a break with tradition.  On the other hand it is also an acknowledgement that the digital format has made great strides in quality, especially when it comes to the restoration of older films.  Film Forum has made it very clear that DCP will not be replacing 35mm prints at Film Forum.