Eureka! Entertainment | Recent Updates

The first day of Autumn…

Mon, 22 Sep 2008, 01:51:39 GMT

With summer now officially out of the way we can concentrate on Autumn releases.

This season we have a great bunch of releases – to start we have 2 films from award winning director Maurice Pialet Police and L’Enfance-Nue (Naked Childhood) the first L’Enfance-Nue [Naked Childhood] – One of the earth-shaking feature debuts in the history of cinema, provides a perspective on growing-up that rejects both sentimentality and modish cynicism. Its unflinching, but also warmly accommodating, outlook on childhood attracted François Truffaut to take on the role as co-producer of Pialat’s film — which, ironically, exists as much as a response to Truffaut’s own debut The 400 Blows as that film was to the ‘cinema of childhood’ that came before the New Wave.

By the same director – Police – delivers on the raw promise of its title, insofar as much of its action qualifies as an insistently ‘procedural’ descent into the Paris drugs underworld. But the hyper-real route that the film takes to arrive there, before veering into a zone of dangerous emotional play, contributes to a disorienting, adventurous, and ultimately tremendously exciting experience unlike any ‘police-thriller’ ever before conceived.

Directed by Rocco De Villers on a meagre budget of $15,000 – The highly controversial and poignant Pure Race – When friends Tony Anderson (Fred Hunting) and Carl Fields (Gregory C. Haynes) experience car trouble on their way home from college, they unsuspectingly stumble upon a neo-Nazi militia. Before long, Tony and Carl have become prey in a deadly game of cat and mouse and must overcome their own prejudice to survive.

We also have 2 great TV series for the whole family to enjoy:

Lemur Street – From the makers of Meerkat Manor, Lemur Street is an animal soap opera exploring two warring gangs of lemurs who live as neighbours on the tropical island paradise of Madagascar. The gangs are each made up of about 20 ring-tailed lemurs, both ruled by a dominant female and their lives are packed with drama, infighting and bullying as they jostle for dominance. Roving opportunistic males trying to join the troop, babies and juveniles causing havoc and the constant threat of boa constrictors, eagles, hawks and territory wars ensure our lemurs lives are full of colour.

Maid Marian and her Merry Men – Complete Series 1-4 Box Set – Maid Marain and her Merry Men was consistently number 1 in the children’s TV ratings throughout its four series, partly because it was popular with children of all ages, but also because it became “must see” viewing for students and young adults. It was popular with the critics too, winning a Bafta, an RTS Award and the International Prix Jeunesse. This perfectly conceived historical farce is witty, warm and stylish. An excellent cast and faultless writing has drawn comparisons to Blackadder, Red Dwarf, and The Young Ones. It is one of those rare programmes made for and enjoyed by both children and adults and has secured a huge fan-base in the seventeen years since the first series was initially transmitted.

In October 3 classics. – The Clouded Yellow – Starring Trevor Howard and Kenneth More, This action-packed thriller ranks alongside Hitchcock’s great British thrillers. When ex-spy David Somers takes a low-profile job in the country cataloguing a butterfly collection, he finds that dangerous work continues to pursue him. David grows fond of his employer’s niece, a fragile, fey young woman named Sophie. When Sophie is framed for the murder of Hick – the spiteful handyman, he becomes embroiled in a murder mystery and goes underground with the beautiful suspect. The fugitives stay one step ahead of the police until the breathless climax.

The Benny Goodman Story – The music of Benny Goodman comes to life in this wonderful musical biography of the famed King of Swing. Featuring all the outstanding songs and instrumentals made famous by the immortal clarinetist, the story follows the innovative musician from his childhood in Chicago to his historic concert at Carnegie Hall in 1938. Steve Allen (Casino, The Player), Oscar winning actress Donna Reed (It’s a Wonderful Life, From Here to Eternity, Dallas) and Sammy Davis, Sr. star in this unforgettable tribute to Goodman and his music with performances by the original Benny Goodman Quartet (Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, Ben Pollack, Edward “Kid” Ory and Lionel Hampton) along with Harry James, Martha Tilton and Ziggy Elman. The priceless soundtrack highlights Goodman himself with classic renditions of “Sing, Sing, Sing”, “One O’ Clock Jump”, “Stompin’ At The Savoy”, “Moonglow”, “Goody, Goody” and many more.

And last but by no means least – The Horses Mouth stars Alec Guinness In Ronald Neame’s film of Joyce Cary’s classic novel, Alec Guinness transforms himself into one of cinema’s most indelible comic figures: the somewhat vulgar but dedicated painter in search of his artistic vision, Gulley Jimson. As the ill-behaved Jimson searches for a perfect canvas, he determines to let nothing come between himself and the realization of his exalted vision. A perceptive examination of the struggle of artistic creation, The Horse’s Mouth is also Neame’s comic masterpiece.

Summer Releases…

Mon, 14 Jul 2008, 01:42:13 GMT

Mad Detective is now on release at selected cinemas across the UK see the Mad Detective micro-site for more details. Directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai – Breaking new ground and establishing new cinematic rules, Johnnie To’s latest giddily entertaining collaboration with Wai Ka Fai radically raises the level of storytelling in modern film. This ingenious realisation of a supernaturally gifted copper is fast-paced and furious, yet also complex and disturbingly funny. The film premiered at the Tiger Far East Film Festival on June 8 at the ICA in London.

Our only DVD release in July was Bruno Dumont’s powerful 1997 debut feature La vie de Jésus One of the great debut films of recent times, Bruno Dumont’s La vie de Jésus [The Life of Jesus] presents life’s brutality and exhilaration played out by turns within the quarters of a tiny Flemish country town.

Due for release in August is Carl Th. Dreyer’s seminal horror, Vampyr. Beautifully restored, this is a very special release and one not to be missed… Among the mass of features there is an audio commentary by Oscar winning director Guillermo del Toro.

On the same day as Vampyr we release a double pack containing two of French director Georges Franju’s (Eyes Without a Face) most mind-bending films – Judex and Nuits Rouges. With gorgeous new transfers of both films, available in their original aspect ratio for the first time on video in the UK, this release is accompanied by a 40 page booklet and more!

August 18th see’s the release of our informative documentary Dear Kitty – Remembering Anne Frank. More than 50 years after Anne Franks arrest, Miep Gies once again walks through the building where she used to work. Anne Frank called the people who helped her while she was hiding from the Nazis, ‘the helpers’. Of the four helpers, Miep Gies is the only one still living. Includes a bonus Documentary The Short Life of Anne Frank, narrated by Jeremy Irons.

Hot Titles Coming This Summer…

Mon, 19 May 2008, 05:01:32 GMT

Now in May we are all looking forward to summer, and the release of our final Masters of Cinema twinpack in our Kenji Mizoguchi series – Akasen Chitai and Yokihi. Akasen Chitai was sadly, the very last film by Kenji Mizoguchi. Both Akasen Chitai and Yokihi were nominated for the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival

Also in May we have 10cc – Clever Clogs – Classic tracks from one of the most interesting and talented bands to ever grace the world of music, are all included in this live collection of songs alongside new tracks and presented on DVD for the very first time.

Moving into June Another Music DVD, The Stranglers – On Stage/On Screen – Virtually every track on this blistering DVD is either a hit or a classic album track from the legendary Stranglers. The concert recorded at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire was a sell-out and was described by long time manager Sil Wilcox as their greatest ever live gig.

A subject that is on everyones mind at the moment is Climate change, June 23rd sees the release of The Truth About Climate Change featuring Sir David Attenborough, this two part documentary is presented by Sir David Attenborough who asks the question “What is the future for our world?“ Sir David discovers that the world is warming at an unprecedented rate, and finds out why this is now far beyond any normal allowance for cyclical fluctuation. But are humans to blame? These changes are already in motion whatever we do now, but Sir David believes that we may be able to act to prevent a catastrophe.

A date for everyones diary should be July 18th – This marks the general release of Mad Detective – Directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai – Breaking new ground and establishing new cinematic rules, Johnnie To’s latest giddily entertaining collaboration with Wai Ka Fai radically raises the level of storytelling in modern film. This ingenious realisation of a supernaturally gifted copper is fast-paced and furious, yet also complex and disturbingly funny. If you can’t wait until then The film will be premiering at the Tiger far East Film Festival (May 29-June 8) at the ICA in London.

Due for release in late Summer is Carl Th. Dreyer’s seminal horror, Vampyr. Beautifully restored, this is a very special release and one not to be missed… Among the mass of features there is an audio commentary by oscar winning director Guillermo del Toro.

New for 2008…

Sun, 03 Feb 2008, 20:00:08 GMT

The Masters of Cinema Series released two silent classics in January — Frau im Mond by Fritz Lang, and Der letzte Mann by F. W. Murnau. Both titles contain specially made documentaries and 36-page booklets.

February saw two releases: Luchino Visconti’s Rocco and His Brothers, a two-disc set packed with supplements; and our second Mizoguchi twinpack containing Chikamatsu Monogatari and Uwasa no Onna.

Our single Masters of Cinema Series release for March 2008 was an iconic film by the late Michelangelo Antonioni — La notte (1961).

Coinciding with the start of a 20-date tour, March also saw the release of Kiki Dee’s long-awaited live DVD Under the Night Sky, on the Eureka label.

Now in April we welcome the Spring with our third Mizoguchi twinpack — Ugetsu Monogatari / Oyu-sama, and in May our final twinpack in the series — Akasen Chitai / Yokihi. Due for release in the Summer is Carl Th. Dreyer’s seminal horror, Vampyr. This is a very special release and one not to be missed…

Our Christmas titles…

Mon, 05 Nov 2007, 21:50:16 GMT

The Masters of Cinema Series has experienced its busiest two months of releases since its inception three years ago. October saw three new releases – Edvard Munch by Peter Watkins, and two René Laloux animations Les Maitres du temps and Gandahar.

November 19 sees a further three landmark releases, all with carefully crafted 80-page books. F. W. Murnau’s incredible Nosferatu (1921) has been restored for the best audio and visual experience since it was first released over 85 years ago. For full details click the link, or here.

Our second November release is the film F. W. Murnau made ten years later — and which was sadly to be his final film — Tabu (1931). Our new edition features Murnau’s pre-Paramount edit of the film, rarely seen anywhere until now. Containing natural nudity and titlecards censored on previously seen versions, this new package comes complete with a full-length audio commentary and a gorgeous 80-page book.

Finally, we’re extremely excited and honoured to welcome master Japanese filmmaker Kenji Mizoguchi to the Series, with the first of four twinpacks — Sansho Dayu / Gion Bayashi, also on November 19. Mizoguchi has always been a particular favourite of ours and these releases have been a major labour of love for us.

The nights close in….

Sat, 22 Sep 2007, 07:24:44 GMT

September sees two releases in The Masters of Cinema Series. Luchino Visconti’s incredible Bellissima starring Anna Magnani, and our second film by Masahiro Shinoda – Silence / Chinmoku which is based on a story so intriguing that Martin Scorsese’s next film is also based on it.

The Masters of Cinema Series has three releases in October: Gandahar and Les Maîtres du temps, two mindmelting adult animations from René Laloux (the director of Fantastic Planet); and from the director of Punishment Park, Peter Watkins’ ridiculously good Edvard Munch— a revolutionary study of the famous Norwegian painter’s early life. The film was a particular favourite of the late Ingmar Bergman who deemed it to be “a work of genius”.

We’ve been working like crazy to bring out a strong November line-up in time for Xmas. First up we have the new restoration of Murnau’s Nosferatu in a deluxe 2 x disc set complete with a new commentary track by Brad Stevens and R. Dixon Smith, and a fantastic hour-long German documentary on the film by Luciano Berriatúa. Secondly, also in November, Murnau’s tragic last film Tabu; and finally, for all cinephiles’ Xmas stockings, our first Kenji Mizoguchi twinpack – Sansho Dayu / Gion Bayashi. All three November releases will come with 80-page books (as will Edvard Munch).

Sunblock and wellies…

Thu, 05 Jul 2007, 07:43:01 GMT

No summer holidays for us! We’ve been eyes down, working furiously to bring you some excellent titles.

In May, the Masters of Cinema Series released Pabst’s Diary of a Lost Girl, starring the exquisite Louise Brooks.
Coinciding with the Oscar-winning Last King of Scotland, MoC also brought you Barbet Schroeder’s documentary General Idi Amin Dada: Autoportrait. A shocking and amazing documentary, made with the co-operation of Idi Amin himself.

Eureka were also proud to release Little Red Flowers onto DVD. Set in a post-war Beijing nursery, this subtle film explores issues of individuality and of socialisation through the eyes of a rebellious 4-year old. Microsite here

June saw the long-awaited release of Le Silence de la mer by acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Melville (Les Armée des ombres, Le Samourai).

Eureka released the Edo period pinku trilogy, Hanzo the Razor. This 3-disc, 3-film box set stars Shintaro Katsu (Zatoichi – The Blind Swordsman) as Hanzo Itami, the samurai ‘long-arm-of-the-law’ with unorthodox interrogation methods.
More next month…

Two films by the Maysles…

Thu, 10 May 2007, 04:00:46 GMT

May sees the release of two definitive editions of classic documentaries by the brothers David and Albert Maysles. Salesman is a non-fiction portrait of a band of door-to-door Bible peddlers. It was deemed “culturally significant” by the United States Library of Congress; honoured as one of the 25 best American films ever made; and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Grey Gardens has a worldwide cult following and inspired the current smash-hit Broadway production. It features Edith and “Little Edie” Beale, the bohemian black-sheep of the aristocratic Bouvier clan, as they go about their daily routines on a decrepit Long Island estate.

More Maysles films can be seen in London throughout May 2007 at the BFI Southbank’s Maysles season (our DVDs are available from the BFI shop in the same complex).

Also released this month, the MoC Series editions of General Idi Amin Dada Autoportrait (see the real Amin, as portrayed by Oscar-winning Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland) and G. W. Pabst’s Diary of a Lost Girl.

Little Red Flowers – out now at cinemas

Sun, 07 Jan 2007, 09:25:07 GMT

Please visit our brand new microsite for Little Red Flowers — out now in UK cinemas. The film tells the tale of a rebellious four-year-old named Qiang studying at a post-1949 Beijing residential nursery school.

Unable to conform, yet longing for the accolades given to other students in the form of little red flowers, he instead uses his charm and wits to scheme against the teacher.

This beautiful film is a contemporary satire that examines the inherent pressure of being forced to fit into the confines of a society.

Welcome to our new website

Wed, 13 Sep 2006, 07:36:58 GMT

After many months in development — here it is, our new website.

Please peruse the full Eureka! catalogue by using the section tab headings above… Eureka! Classics, Eureka! TV, Theatrical, and The Masters of Cinema Series which has its own microsite, with essays and trailers. Click any MoC Series release to be automatically forwarded there.

The website will be updated weekly with new information, so please bookmark us and come back soon.

We have also recently launched dedicated microsites for Junebug here, and Terkel in Trouble here.

Please let us know what you think of the new site by emailing us at info@eurekavideo.co.uk