Warner Home Video Kicks Off The Century with New Favorites And Classic Collectibles on Dvd

BURBANK, Calif., Jan 31, 2000 (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) -- February DVD Releases Feature Gripping Dramas,

      Heartwarming Romances and a Celebration of America's Greatest Movie Legend With Four Humphrey Bogart Classics

      Warner Home Video (WHV) today announced an entertaining lineup of DVD releases for February including four timeless Humphrey Bogart titles.

      Each priced at $24.98, suggested retail, the diverse slate of releases will provide something for every member of the family to enjoy.

      WHV salutes the great movie legend Humphrey Bogart, recently chosen the American Film Institute's No. 1 male actor of all time, with four classic titles on DVD:

      - "The Big Sleep" (available Feb. 15, catalogue No. 65026, $24.98) Private Eye Philip Marlowe takes on a blackmail case and follows a trail of scoundrels in this classic pairing of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. This digitally re-mastered DVD offers the rare opportunity to view two versions of the film noir on one disc. The original was finished in 1945 but never released. The second version, released in 1946, which displays the couple's on-screen chemistry, is the one watched and admired for more than 50 years. Both versions are on the disc, along with a documentary, "The Big Sleep Comparisons 1945/46, which analyzes scene differences between the two versions and features an introduction by UCLA Film Preservationist Robert Gitt.

      - "Casablanca" (currently available, catalogue No. 65008, $24.98) This wartime romantic classic ranked by the American Film Institute as the No. 2 greatest movie of all time, stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. The digitally re-mastered DVD contains a documentary "You Must Remember This" (with a special introduction by Lauren Bacall), original theatrical trailers and limited-edition collector's cards.

      - "Key Largo" (available Feb. 15, catalogue No. 65010, $24.98) A burned-out GI takes a stand when a sadistic mobster takes over a Florida hotel and terrorizes its occupants. This digitally re-mastered DVD costars Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore and Claire Trevor, an Academy Award(R) winner for her performance.

      - "The Maltese Falcon" (available Feb. 15, catalogue No. 65012, $24.98) Bogart shot to stardom as sleuth Sam Spade in John Huston's breakthrough detective mystery. Recently selected by the American Film Institute as the film most representative of Bogart's career, the digitally re-mastered DVD features an all-new introduction and a documentary "Becoming Attractions: The Trailers of Humphrey Bogart," which traces Bogart's Warner Bros. career. The original theatrical trailer and limited-edition collector's cards are also included.

      Following are additional highlights of the February release schedule:

      -"187" (available Feb. 15, catalogue No. 15432, $24.98) Was it a gang hit or a sudden act of rage that left a high school student dead in this thriller? Or did a once-idealistic teacher (Samuel L. Jackson) finally snap? The disc includes a feature-length audio commentary with stars Samuel L. Jackson, Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez, director Kevin Reynolds and writer Scott Yagemann and also includes the original theatrical trailer.

      - "Chill Factor" (available Feb. 22, catalogue No. 18046, $24.98) Academy Award(R) winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and Skeet Ulrich are on the run, struggling to keep a top-secret bioweapon out of the hands of pursuing terrorists -- and to keep the deadly cargo at a temperature below its 50-degree detonation point. Special DVD features include a feature-length audio commentary by director Hugh Johnson, a behind-the-scenes visual effects presentation, production notes and animated menus, the original theatrical trailer for this and 12 other movies, cast and crew bios, filmographies and interviews and Dolby Digital 5.1 English and French audio. DVD-ROM content includes links to Morgan Creek and Warner Bros. Web sites, as well as an original DVD-ROM game that lets you sample an alternative ending to the movie.

      - "Splendor in the Grass" (available Feb. 15, catalogue No. 15739, $24.98) This passionate film, starring Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty in his screen debut, tells the story of two lovers who find their awakening sensuality in conflict with their moral values and those of the small town in which they live.

      -"Two If By Sea" (available Feb. 22, catalogue No. 14159, $24.98) In this comedy, the FBI is on the trail of petty thief (Denis Leary) and his girlfriend (Sandra Bullock). When they take up temporary residence in a beach house on a posh island, their love for each other is put to the ultimate test. DVD features include behind-the-scenes featurettes, the original theatrical trailer, Web-enabled DVD with links to Morgan Creek and Warner Bros. Web sites, soundtrack selection, cast and crew biographies and filmographies, Dolby Digital 5.1 English and French audio and English, French and Spanish subtitles.

      More than 5,000 DVD titles are currently available from all the major studios at traditional retail outlets and through online services and it is estimated that nearly 100 million DVD and music videos were shipped in 1999.

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     CONTACT: Warner Home Video

      Ronnee Sass, 818/954-6439

      818/954-6480 (fax request for materials)

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