The Birds (Blu-ray SteelBook) (Zavvi Exclusive) [UK]

[Noodles]

Release date: October 17, 2016
Purchase links: Zavvi.com - (Pre-order on Saturday 17th of September at 6PM BST)
Price: £15.99 / €19.35
Notes: Limited to 2000 copies

 

[paulboland]

Wish they'd do a proper Psycho one now too.

The previous UK one was rubbish and don't get me started on the U.S. 'Poop Art'.......

I would take a guess psycho might happen and would also be a instant purchase for me
even though I already have the film on Blu-ray 5 times already

 

[C.C. 95]

I would take a guess psycho might happen and would also be a instant purchase for me
even though I already have the film on Blu-ray 5 times already

That's what I meant about Hitch releases being the "usual suspects": The Birds, Psycho, North By Northewst, & Rear Window always get the most play. Nothing wrong with that - but (I'm sure you'll agree as a Hitch aficionado) it gets frustrating - as the man has a WEALTH of great films that the average person doesn't know about, that deserve a little more daylight. We ALL know Psycho, The Birds, etc....
Bonus info for the blu ray retailers: Orson Welles directed more than just Citizen Kane!

 

[virkia]

Seriously? I was not aware of that fact. Huh.

1) LIFEBOAT - still available to this day from at least two retailers 4 1/2 years after release in April 2012.
2) PSYCHO - available on and off for about a year after release in August 2010.
3) NORTH BY NORTHWEST - available for at least one year after release in Jan 2013.

This steel could be particularly nice and it has a slipcase and even though I got burnt with THE BURNING I'll stick my neck out and say that surprised I will be if all 2,000 copies sell out anytime soon.
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Like the film like the steelbook but already have this set

Snap . . . and a bit embarrassed to admit that this steelbook will be a quadruple Blu-ray dip for me for this particular title.
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Bonus info for the blu ray retailers: Orson Welles directed more than just Citizen Kane!

Another director unrepresented in the U.K. with steelbooks and barely represented with Amarays.
Only a couple of steelbook I can recall with Mr. Welles as actor/director or actor only - to wit, TOUCH OF EVIL (Eureka - Nov, 2011 - OOP)) and THE THIRD MAN (Nov 2014 - Zavvi excl - 30 quid) with the latter title having had 5 separate releases including the steelbook (talk about "the usual suspects" lol).
U.K. Blu-rays released already include THE TRIAL, THE STRANGER, THE IMMORTAL STORY, FALSTAFF: CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, TOO MUCH JOHNSON. COMPULSION, CASINO ROYALE (1967) and another "usual suspect" CITIZEN KANE with 3 releases here if I remember correctly.
Now where are THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (released in Japan in January of this year), THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, JANE EYRE, JOURNEY INTO FEAR, F FOR FAKE . . .

 

[C.C. 95]

1) LIFEBOAT - still available to this day from at least two retailers 4 1/2 years after release in April 2012.
2) PSYCHO - available on and off for about a year after release in August 2010.
3) NORTH BY NORTHWEST - available for at least one year after release in Jan 2013.

This steel could be particularly nice and it has a slipcase and even though I got burnt with THE BURNING I'll stick my neck out and say that surprised I will be if all 2,000 copies sell out anytime soon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Snap . . . and a bit embarrassed to admit that this steelbook will be a quadruple Blu-ray dip for me for this particular title.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Another director unrepresented in the U.K. with steelbooks and barely represented with Blu-rays.
Only a couple of steelbook I can recall with OW as actor/director or actor only is TOUCH OF EVIL (Eureka - Nov, 2011 - OOP)) and THE THIRD MAN (Nov 2014 - Zavvi excl - 30 quid) with the latter title having had 5 separate releases including the steelbook (talk about "the usual suspects" lol).
U.K. Blu-rays include THE TRIAL, THE STRANGER, THE IMMORTAL STORY, FALSTAFF: CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, TOO MUCH JOHNSON. COMPULSION, CASINO ROYALE (1967) and another "usual suspect" CITIZEN KANE with 3 releases here if I remember correctly.
Now where are THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS (released in Japan in January of this year), THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI, JANE EYRE, JOURNEY INTO FEAR, F FOR FAKE . . .

Criterion just released the blu for F FOR FAKE (yeah, I know. Not UK.), But I have been hoping someone got the Japanese editions of Citizen Kane and Ambersons for a review! (Especially Ambersons).
Normally I would've jumped right on those, but I really do want to hear about the quality of them first at those prices. Lady from Shanghai (despite the studio interference like with Ambersons) is still a corker!
That Touch od Evil Steelbook with all three versions is a must! It's a revelation to watch the opening sequence as it was meant to be seen!
I wanted so badly to get to the cinema when refurbished Falstaff was being shown - but alas, I missed it.
Y'knos what would kick my ass? If someone did a series of Archers Steelbooks! All the Powell and Pressburger!
Start with the technicolor ones! The refurbished Tales of Hoffman, Red Shoes, & Narcissus!
I aso have that Hitchcock boxed set that @Flash showed. I got the UK edition. If memory serves, there is one film that the UK version has that the US doesn't (and vice versa). (Am I right on that @paulboland ?)
It's a great package.

 

[Noodles]

Despite owning the Masterpiece Collection set and the Ultimate Filmmaker Collection set (which is a fantastic looking edition FYI), I still haven't watched The Birds. I remember seeing bits of it on TV once when I was a kid and I now have a massive fear of birds... or anything with wings and beaks for that matter! Same goes for Jaws and sharks, but that's a whole other topic.

Think I might finally check the film out over the weekend anyway and then decide whether to pick this up or not. It also reminds me that I really need to get rid of my MC set, since the UFC set is more than enough for me... not taking any steelbook editions in to account, as you can obviously never have enough of those.

 

[steelmybeatingheart]

Criterion just released the blu for F FOR FAKE (yeah, I know. Not UK.), But I have been hoping someone got the Japanese editions of Citizen Kane and Ambersons for a review! (Especially Ambersons).
Normally I would've jumped right on those, but I really do want to hear about the quality of them first at those prices. Lady from Shanghai (despite the studio interference like with Ambersons) is still a corker!
That Touch od Evil Steelbook with all three versions is a must! It's a revelation to watch the opening sequence as it was meant to be seen!
I wanted so badly to get to the cinema when refurbished Falstaff was being shown - but alas, I missed it.
Y'knos what would kick my ass? If someone did a series of Archers Steelbooks! All the Powell and Pressburger!
Start with the technicolor ones! The refurbished Tales of Hoffman, Red Shoes, & Narcissus!
I aso have that Hitchcock boxed set that @Flash showed. I got the UK edition. If memory serves, there is one film that the UK version has that the US doesn't (and vice versa). (Am I right on that @paulboland ?)
It's a great package.

i'd certainly prefer to see steel releases for films that don't already have them, rather than more badly designed re-releases for films that had steels only recently. agree with you and @paulboland on your points and i'm hopeful that this we will see a lot more classics released in the format.

i'd like to see Notorious, Spellbound and Rope on steel, and Touch of Evil is a no-brainer. plus, i think there'd be a large ready and willing group of purchasers for new steels for all of the Powell & Pressburger films (including me!). there is already one for Colonel Blimp, but a steel for A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes or Black Narcissus would surely sell out PDQ.

 

[paulboland]

Criterion just released the blu for F FOR FAKE (yeah, I know. Not UK.), But I have been hoping someone got the Japanese editions of Citizen Kane and Ambersons for a review! (Especially Ambersons).
Normally I would've jumped right on those, but I really do want to hear about the quality of them first at those prices. Lady from Shanghai (despite the studio interference like with Ambersons) is still a corker!
That Touch od Evil Steelbook with all three versions is a must! It's a revelation to watch the opening sequence as it was meant to be seen!
I wanted so badly to get to the cinema when refurbished Falstaff was being shown - but alas, I missed it.
Y'knos what would kick my ass? If someone did a series of Archers Steelbooks! All the Powell and Pressburger!
Start with the technicolor ones! The refurbished Tales of Hoffman, Red Shoes, & Narcissus!
I aso have that Hitchcock boxed set that @Flash showed. I got the UK edition. If memory serves, there is one film that the UK version has that the US doesn't (and vice versa). (Am I right on that @paulboland ?)
It's a great package.

Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection
USA release had North by Northwest
UK did not have North by Northwest

The UK re release repackaged as Hitchcock - Ultimate Filmmaker Collection
includes North by Northwest and Bare bones release of To Catch A Thief (No extras)
USA masterpiece collection did not include To Catch a Thief

Note
UK Hitchcock - Ultimate Filmmaker Collection is a nice box set but if you want the best version of To Catch a thief you might want to consider purchasing To Catch a Thief Blu-ray on its own as that one has the extras but for some reason it's not the same disc in the box set

Psycho UK Blu-ray has an extra

• Lamb to Slaughter" Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode

USA release don't have this extra

 

[Goonboy]

I'm a liking this

 

[C.C. 95]

i'd certainly prefer to see steel releases for films that don't already have them, rather than more badly designed re-releases for films that had steels only recently. agree with you and @paulboland on your points and i'm hopeful that this we will see a lot more classics released in the format.

i'd like to see Notorious, Spellbound and Rope on steel, and Touch of Evil is a no-brainer. plus, i think there'd be a large ready and willing group of purchasers for new steels for all of the Powell & Pressburger films (including me!). there is already one for Colonel Blimp, but a steel for A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes or Black Narcissus would surely sell out PDQ.

Geez. I forgot about the Colonel Blimp steelbook...and I HAVE it!
A Matter of Life and Death would be great... But what I would really love is a restoration (with lost footage) of Powell's director's cut of The Elusive Pimpernel. (If it is even possible).
(It is possible that the footage is gone forever. He used to ask his wife Thelma Schoonmacher "What did they do with my beautiful film?").

 

[virkia]

Wow! My kind of thread - classic films from Hitchcock to Powell & Pressburger by way of Orson Welles with no negativity about the release and little to no mention of foreign premium editions. Wow!
Thanks for that, people - a pleasant change and most refreshing !
Anyway, regarding Powell & Pressburger: we do have a few of their films out here on Blu-ray in the U.K. including those mentioned above by C.C. 95 - THE RED SHOES (BD), COLONEL BLIMP (SB & BD),TALES OF HOFFMAN (BD) - as well as THE THIEF OF BAGDAD (BD), BLACK NARCISSUS (BD) and THE EDGE OF THE WORLD (BD) but I personally would be overjoyed to see Amarays and most unlikely, steelbooks, for A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, A CANTERBURY TALE and I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING.
Thankfully we have Michael Powell's solo undeniably creepy pre-PSYCHO psycho PEEPING TOM on Blu-ray Amaray with cool slipcover with cutout keyhole (now that artwork would make for a cool steelbook front!)

This release makes me feel kind of nostalgic for the WB steelbook wave of 10 Classic steelbooks in January 2013:-

Spoiler: WB CLASSICS STEELBOOK WAVE

The Jazz Singer Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1927][Region Free]
Al Jolson, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

Gone With The Wind Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1939][Region Free]
Clark Gable, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

A Streetcar Named Desire Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1951][Region Free]
Marlon Brando, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

Ben Hur Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1959][Region Free]
Charlton Heston, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

Grand Hotel Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1932][Region Free]
Greta Garbo, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

North By Northwest Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1959][Region Free]
Cary Grant, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1948][Region Free]
Humphrey Bogart, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

The Maltese Falcon Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1941][Region Free]
Humphrey Bogart, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

Casablanca Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1942][Region Free]
Humphrey Bogart, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

Dr Zhivago Steelbook (Blu-ray + UV Copy) [1965][Region Free]
Omar Sharif, et al
Sold by: Amazon EU S.a.r.L.
£12.59
Condition: New

 

[Starling]

There's an endless amount of classics that deserve Steelbook treatment, not least It's a Wonderful Life.

Why studios release the same movie over and over again is beyond me.

 

[HUBMUSWELL]

Why studios release the same movie over and over again is beyond me.

 

[steelbobawny]

Good to see more Hitchcock on steelbooks, solid artwork choices, can't go wrong with the posters and existing artwork. there are so many classic Hitchcock movies, hopefully more to come.

I've been watching my Hitchcock Masterpiece Collection this year and buying the other Hitchcock releases, I had only seen a handful in the past. Hitchcock truly is one of the greatest directors, I can see the influence he has had on movies long after and even today.

 

[Stevieboy]

Definitely picking this up as it's my favourite Hitchcock film, but gonna wait till it hits a tenner in the sales near Xmas

 

[Lollard2002]

Be very interested to see how this one sells.. I'll certainly buy it as i don't have the film on blu-ray and God only knows when we'll get a full restoration of the film.

 

[Lollard2002]

I'd say The Birds is up there with Psycho and North by Northwest in my top 5 Hitchcock films. If I remember rightly I have the steelbook of Psycho and North by Northwest. So that's 3 of his films I have on steelbook (LIfeboat being the other one)

 

[Starling]

We should open a betting ring as to how long this'll remain in stock. I say 6 days.

I'm gambling on Hitchcock, classic movie, slip case and 2k ltd edition.

 

[BluSteel2012]

@Noodles is there any chance you could also attach the links to the Zavvi.de site when you put up the UK links anymore?

I'll be purchasing mine from the German site and its handy to have access to the links (like above) before they actually appear on the sites themselves.

 

[blu-steel]

I would take a guess psycho might happen and would also be a instant purchase for me
even though I already have the film on Blu-ray 5 times already

Psycho was my first Steelbook purchase.

 

[paulboland]

@Noodles is there any chance you could also attach the links to the Zavvi.de site when you put up the UK links anymore?

I'll be purchasing mine from the German site and its handy to have access to the links (like above) before they actually appear on the sites themselves.

@BluSteel2012
Zavvi Germany Link
http://www.zavvi.de/blu-ray/the-bir...teelbook-limited-to-2000-copies/11335991.html