By Arrow Video has announced its February 2025 releases and with it comes the first 4K UHD Blu-ray of William Friedkin’s controversial and notorious 1980 thriller “Cruising”.
Al Pacino starred in the original as an NYPD officer who goes undercover in the late 1970’s Manhattan gay club scene to find and catch a serial killer. The film was inspired by the true story of real murders in the 1960s and 1970s.
Friedkin’s film was boundary pushing in its day, poorly received by critics, did decently box-office wise, and was the subject of protests. It also was famously subjected to production issues and endured more than 40 edits totaling around thirty minutes of footage cut so Friedkin could get an R rating.
Universal, concerned about their reputation, had all the edited footage burned so no copies exist today that could be re-inserted into a Director’s Cut version.
The cuts have been blamed for the film’s fragmented and at times ‘incoherent’ editing, but Friedkin in commentary tracks has said this was an intentional stylistic choice.
The deluxe two-disc will be released on February 25th and will include a new 4K restoration of the film in its original theatrical cut from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films.
There’s also two archival commentary tracks from the late Friedkin – one solo, and one moderated by critic Mark Kermode. There’s also a new commentary track from musicians on the film’s soundtrack.
There’s also new interviews with cast and crew, including actors Karen Allen and Mike Starr, featurettes on the making of the film and the outcry from the gay community during its production, and Friedkin’s BeyondFest 2022 Q&A at the American Cinematheque.
A booklet will include contemporary articles from The Village Voice and The New York Times, essays from the film’s extras cast, an introduction from Friedkin, and an archive interview with star Al Pacino.
Source: Blu-ray.com
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