Operation Breadbasket Restoration – Update

Robert Culp with Jesse Jackson on the cover of JET magazine, 1968Previously back in 2011 I posted that Robert Culp’s documentary “Operation Breadbasket” was awarded a grant from the National Film Preservation Foundation to be preserved in a project being spearheaded by his son, Joseph Culp. I recently learned from Joseph that the restoration of the film is nearly complete and that they were working on getting funding to make a new documentary to follow up on the original. Possibly a Kickstarter campaign but more details to come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Spy: The Complete Series DVD Release Coming in June!

happykellyI recently learned that I Spy: The Complete Series is slated for release on June 24, 2014 from the folks at Shout! Factory and Timeless Media. This will be a complete box set of all three seasons of I SPY on 18 discs. Shout! Factory promises an official press release in the coming weeks with more details but the set is available for pre-order at Shout! Factory’s website and from Amazon.com.

 

I SPY previously was released on DVD in season sets back in 2008 from Image Entertainment. The only extras included at the time were audio commentaries from Robert Culp, attached to the episodes he wrote, and used previously in a DVD release of episodes packaged by common theme. Although the Image Entertainment season sets were “newly remastered” the film was not exactly digitally remastered. The master tapes used were excellent but there are specks and dust noticeable from time to time. With 2015 marking the 50th anniversary of the show’s debut, a digital remaster of the episodes would be wonderfulness.

Although I SPY fans will be wise to not set their hopes too high for new extras or digitally remastered episodes, if you’re watching Shout! Factory, fans will nonetheless have some great expectations for this set.

An Evening with Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice…and Paul & Joe

Bob & Carol & Ted & AliceLooking for something to do this Saturday night (3/15/14) in LA at 5pm? How about heading on over to Cinefamily theatre and taking in a double feature of BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE with DRINKING BUDDIES. And, if that wasn’t enough, directors Paul Marzusky and Joe Swanberg will be in person for the screenings of their respective films.

The Cinefamily website notes that this screening of BCTA will be the “world premiere of new DCP restoration!” DCP being Digital Cinema Package. In layman’s terms, it’s basically the conversion of print film as we’ve known it into the digital age and into digital formats. DCP provides for sharper images and better sound quality, reportedly even more so than Blue-Ray or HD.

Tickets are $14 and the event begins with BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE at 5pm.

Insight!

 

Hickey & Boggs Part of AFI Silver Theatre Film Series

Hickey & Boggs

AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, in partnership with The National Building Museum, has been presenting the film series “Overdrive: LA Modern, 1960-2000” which looks at the legacy of Los Angeles architecture and use in film. The series began February 8th and runs through April 17th, 2014 with several films being screened as part of the series, including Robert Culp’s sole big screen directorial effort “Hickey & Boggs” from 1972.

AFI Silver accurately describes the film as a “neo-noir to end all noirs” and recognizes the films broad use of known LA locations, such as the Los Angeles Coliseum and Dodger Stadium, along with street scenes in LA’s core, topless bars, homes with freeways in the front yard and other once fine homes falling off cliffs along the ocean.

The film will be screened Sunday, March 9 at 4:00pm, Monday March 10 at 9:30pm and Tuesday March 11 at 9:15pm. General admission tickets are $12.

The March 9th screening will be introduced by National Building Museum’s assistant curator Deborah Sorensen.

AFI Silver Theatre is located in Silver Spring, MD. For more information check out AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center – Overdrive: L.A. Modern, 1960-2000 and The National Building Museum Event Calendar.