Ignite Films To Release New 4K Restoration Of The Sci-Fi Classic “Invaders From Mars”

IGNITE FILMS TO RELEASE 4K RESTORATION INVADERS FROM MARSJan Willem Bosman Jansen of Ignite Films acquires and restores Classics for the Future, as their motto says. Ignite Films is set to release a sensational new 4K restoration of the sci-fi classic Invaders From Mars in all its terrifying color, just in time for its 70th anniversary. Fearful memories of this timeless 1953 bone-chiller still haunt the dreams of fans who have never forgotten the story of a young boy (Jimmy Hunt) who witnesses an alien invasion.

The newly restored version of Invaders From Mars will have its first public showcase screening at the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood on April 23. Jimmy Hunt will be in attendance at the TCM Classic Film Festival screening.

Pre-orders for the 4K UHD Blu-ray launched in the United States on opening day of the TCM Festival, April 21, with a special limited (1,000) bundle which includes an autographed mini-poster signed by the film’s star Jimmy Hunt. The newly restored 4K UHD Blu-ray of Invaders from Mars will be released by Ignite Films worldwide in Fall 2022. Arrow Video will release in the UK. The Big Pieces Company is supporting the release in the US and overseeing international sales.

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Review: Hitchcock’s “Notorious”; Romance Amidst Espionage

By Armando Inquig

Notorious film 1946 Armando Inquig
Released in 1946, “Notorious” stands as one of the quintessential masterpieces in Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography.

Blending suspense, romance, and espionage, the film is often remembered for its clever narrative and cinematic techniques. Over the decades, “Notorious” has cemented its place as a classic and its influence in countless other films.

Set right after World War II, the story follows Alicia Huberman, the daughter of a recently convicted Nazi spy. American intelligence agent T.R. Devlin approaches her with a mission: to use her old connections to infiltrate a group of Nazis hiding out in Rio de Janeiro. As the two work together, their professional relationship starts to get complicated by a growing romance.

Set right after World War II, the story follows Alicia Huberman, the daughter of a recently convicted Nazi spy. American intelligence agent T.R. Devlin approaches her with a mission: to use her old connections to infiltrate a group of Nazis hiding out in Rio de Janeiro. As the two work together, their professional relationship starts to get complicated by a growing romance.

Alicia is then tasked to rekindle his past relationship with Alex Sebastian, a former acquaintance and Nazi sympathizer. This becomes key to the mission, but it puts a huge strain on her relationship with Devlin.

As she gets deeper into the assignment, Alicia discovers something much darker: the Nazis are hiding uranium ore inside wine bottles — part of a plan to develop atomic weapons. Eventually, Sebastian realizes Alicia is working against him. Along with his mother, he starts slowly poisoning her.

Devlin starts to suspect something’s wrong and figures out the truth just in time. He rescues her, and the story builds to a powerful finish where Sebastian is left to face the other Nazis, now aware that he’s been harboring an American spy.

“Notorious” taps into the anxieties of its time. It’s set in the aftermath of the war and hints at the Cold War tensions that were starting to build. But at its core, “Notorious”, it’s a love story interwoven with themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption. The relationship between Alicia and Devlin is complicated; he loves her but is torn by the compromising position he’s placed her in, while she constantly seeks his trust and validation.

Previously available only on DVD, The Criterion Collection has now released Notorious on blu-ray in 4K digital restoration. The release comes with audio commentaries featuring film historian Rudy Behlmer and Alfred Hitchcock scholar Marian Keane.

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Film Review: The Struggle And Hope In “The Bicycle Thieves”

By Armando Inquig

The Bicycle Thieves lays bare the harsh reality of life in post-war Italy. Released in 1948, during a time of deep economic struggle, the film captures the raw aftermath of war with a simplicity that makes its message all the more powerful. Directed by Vittorio De Sica, it’s one of the defining works of Italian neorealism, and still widely considered one of the greatest films ever made.

The story follows Antonio Ricci, a down-on-his-luck man in Rome trying to provide for his family. Things start to look up when he finally lands a job putting up advertising posters — but the job depends on having a bicycle. His wife, Maria, sacrifices their bed linens to get the bike back from a pawn shop, and Antonio heads out to work, hopeful for the first time in a long while.

But his luck quickly turns. While he’s up on a ladder hanging a poster, someone steals his bicycle. He gives chase, but the thief vanishes into the crowd.

What follows is a long and often heartbreaking day as Antonio and his young son, Bruno, comb the city trying to find the bike. Their search takes them through different parts of Rome, each offering a glimpse into the city’s wide economic gap. At a bustling market full of stolen goods, they come up short. At one point, they find someone who may know the thief, and they track down a suspect. But Antonio can’t prove anything, and the man walks free.

As the day wears on, Antonio’s desperation grows. Eventually, in a moment of hopelessness, he tries to steal a bicycle himself — only to be caught in front of a crowd, and most painfully, in front of Bruno. The bike’s owner, seeing their situation, decides not to press charges.

The film ends with Antonio and Bruno walking away together, hand in hand, fading into the crowd. The bicycle — and the hope it once brought — is gone.

De Sica paints a painfully honest picture of what poverty can do to a person. Antonio is not a hero or a villain — just a man pushed to his breaking point by a world that doesn’t seem to care. His story still resonates, not because of the time or place, but because of the emotions it captures so clearly: struggle, pride, shame, and love.

The Bicycle Thieves is moving, human, and unforgettable.

The Criterion Collection recently released the film on Blu-ray in a 4K digital restoration. This special edition also includes a 2003 documentary on screenwriter and longtime De Sica collaborator Cesare Zavattini, directed by Carlo Lizzani.

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Classic Film Review: A Detective’s Dilemma In Alfred Hitchcock’s “Sabotage”

By Armando Inquig

Sabotage-The-Woman-Alone---Alfred-HitchcockAlthough ‘Sabotage’ is one of Alfred Hitchcock’s lesser-known films, its darker elements mark it as a significant precursor to his later works.

Released in 1936, Sabotage is one of Hitchcock’s British productions before he moved to the US and transitioned into Hollywood. The film is narratively daring for its time, incorporating dark and tragic elements that Hitchcock would later become known for.

The film follows cinema owner Karl Verloc (played by Oscar Homolka), a man who engages in attacks against the city’s infrastructure. His wife, Mrs. Verloc (Sylvia Sidney), and her younger brother, Stevie (Desmond Tester), are unaware of his activities.

Detective sergeant Ted Spencer (John Loder) is assigned to investigate Verloc and infiltrate his life under the guise of a cinema patron. As Spencer delves deeper into his investigation, Mrs. Verloc gradually senses that something is wrong with her husband. It is soon revealed that Verloc, pressured by his co-conspirators, is planning to carry out a big sabotage act.

Verloc secretly instructs Stevie to deliver a film canister containing a lethal bomb, set to explode in the heart of London. Stevie is unaware of its contents and innocently agrees to transport the canister. But the bomb tragically detonates on a crowded bus, killing the young boy and sending shockwaves through the city. Mrs. Verloc is devastated by the loss of her brother and, in a moment of anger, she confronts Karl and ends up stabbing and killing him.

By now, Detective Spencer who seemingly developed feelings for Mrs. Verloc, is torn and conflicted. Will Detective Spencer abide by his obligations and turn Mrs. Verloc in, or will his emotions prevail and help her escape?

In true Hitchcockian fashion, the film navigates moral dilemmas about loyalty, guilt and justice, themes that became a hallmark of his storytelling style and continued throughout the rest of his career. His direction is steady, focused on the psychological complexities of the characters without devolving into conventional tropes.

“Sabotage” is released as “The Woman Alone” in the United States, and is now available in Blu-ray in the United Kingdom in a high-definition format.

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