THRONE OF BLOOD Criterion Dual Format Blu-ray/DVD in January 2014

Source: The Criterion Collection, Image Entertainment Official Site: criterion.com/735-throne-of-blood

A vivid, visceral Macbeth adaptation, THRONE OF BLOOD (????, Kumonosu-jo, 1957), directed by Akira Kurosawa, sets Shakespeare’s definitive tale of ambition and duplicity in a ghostly, fog-enshrouded landscape in feudal Japan. As a hardened warrior who rises savagely to power, Toshiro Mifune (YOJIMBO) gives a remarkable, animalistic performance, as does Isuzu Yamada (BLACK RIVER) as his ruthless wife. THRONE OF BLOOD fuses classical Western tragedy with formal elements taken from Noh theater to create an unforgettable cinematic experience. DUAL FORMAT BLU-RAY/DVD Catalog #: CC2323BDDVD UPC: 7-15515-11241-3 SRP: $39.95 Release Date: January 7, 2014 SPINE #190 Production Year: 1957 Rating: Not Rated Run Time: 109 Minutes Color Format: Black & White Audio: PCM Mono Language: Japanese Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Number of Discs: 2 Closed Captions: No Subtitle: English Special Features: • One Blu-ray and two DVDs, with all content available in both formats • New, restored 2K digital film transfer, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray • Audio commentary featuring Japanese-film expert Michael Jeck • Documentary on the making of the film, created as part of the Toho Masterworks series AKIRA KUROSAWA: IT IS WONDERFUL TO CREATE • Two alternate subtitle translations, by Japanese-film translator Linda Hoaglund and Kurosawa expert Donald Richie • Trailer • A booklet featuring an essay by film historian Stephen Prince and notes on the subtitling by Hoaglund and Richie

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