Early in the evening of Tuesday, 10.3, I chatted with respected Hollywood historian and biographer Joseph McBride about Billy Wilder‘s Stalag 17 (’53), and more particularly about Joe’s commentary track for Kino Lorber’s upcoming 4K Bluray version (out 11.21).
I haven’t seen the 4K Stalag 17 but…well, let’s wait for it. I own an older Bluray version which I’m happy with, but I’m always hot to own the latest upgrade.
McBride’s book on Wilder (“Dancing on the Edge“) came out in September ’21. He’s also written authoritative studies on John Ford, Howard Hawks, Orson Welles, the Coen Brothers, Steven Spielberg, Ernst Lubitsch, Frank Capra, etc.
Here’s part one of our discussion (roughly 29 minutes)…
And here’s part two (around 27 minutes):
It’s very easy to talk to Joe about Hollywood histories and backstories and just kick it all around. It was generally a fine, wide-ranging discussion, not just about the genesis and the making of Stalag 17 but about William Holden, Wilder, John Ford…everyone and everything. McBride can chew this kind of fat for hours on end without breaking stride.
Please forgive the occasional intrusions of purring and meowing Katya.
Incidentally: A revised & expanded version of a critical study of John Ford (University Press of Kentucky), co-authored by McBride and the late Michael Wilmington, will be coming out later this year.
KL’s Stalag 17 4K UHD contains the following:
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
• Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Steve Mitchell and Combat Films: American Realism Author Steven Jay Rubin
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
• Audio Commentary by Actors Richard Erdman and Gil Stratton with Co-Playwright Donald Bevan
• Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
• Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Steve Mitchell and Combat Films: American Realism Author Steven Jay Rubin
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joseph McBride, Author of Billy Wilder: Dancing on the Edge
• Audio Commentary by Actors Richard Erdman and Gil Stratton with Co-Playwright Donald Bevan
• Stalag 17 – From Reality to Screen: Featurette (22:01)
• The Real Heroes of Stalag XVII B: Featurette (24:49)
• Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles
