Universal City, U.S.A - Fifteen of the most acclaimed films by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock come together on Blu-ray for the first time ever when ‘Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection’ is released on September 25, 2012 for a limited time only. Digitally restored from high-quality film elements and presented in perfect high-definition picture and sound, ‘Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection’ brings the Master of Suspense’s best work to home audiences as it’s never been seen before. This ultimate collector’s set features 13 films previously unavailable on Blu-ray, a collectible 50-page book featuring storyboards, costume sketches, correspondence, photographs, and much more. Plus a treasure trove of over 15 hours of documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, screen tests, trailers and a new documentary ‘The Birds, Hitchcock’s Monster Movie,’ enough to satisfy even the most ardent Hitchcock fan.

Spanning three-and-a-half decades of the director’s prolific career, ‘Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection’ includes the classic thrillers ‘Psycho’ , ‘The Birds’ , ‘Vertigo’ , ‘Rear Window’ , ‘North by Northwest’, ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much’ , ‘Marnie’ ,’ Saboteur’ , ‘Shadow of a Doubt’ , ‘Rope’ , ‘The Trouble with Harry’, ‘Torn Curtain’ , ‘Topaz’ , ‘Frenzy’ and ‘Family Plot’ . The films feature performances from some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, Julie Andrews, Paul Newman, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Tippi Hedren, Eva Marie Saint, Kim Novak and Sean Connery.

One of the most influential and revered cinematic innovators of all time, Alfred Hitchcock had a profound and lasting impact on modern moviemaking. Renowned for his signature wit, thrilling plots, pioneering camerawork and original editing style, Hitchcock’s masterful ability to wring every drop of suspense out of each scene is still studied and emulated by filmmakers around the world. He was nominated for five Best Director Academy Awards, and four of his films (all of which are included in this collection) appear on AFI’s prestigious ‘100 Years…100 Movies’ list.

‘Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection’ is the ideal gift for film lovers, Hitchcock fans—or anyone who wants to discover for themselves what makes him the undisputed Master of Suspense.

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Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak today unveiled the Academy’s new screening venue and announced its summer series, “Oscars Outdoors,” which will kick off on Friday, June 15 and run through Saturday, August 18. The open-air theater is part of the organization’s nearly 7.5 acre Academy Hollywood campus, which is also the site of the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study, home to the Academy Film Archive, the Science and Technology Council and the Linwood Dunn Theater.

Concurrently, the Academy announced a slate of summer and fall 2012 public programs at its other theaters, including 50th anniversary celebrations of the James Bond franchise and the Oscar-winning epic “Lawrence of Arabia.”

The “Oscars Outdoors” series will devote every Friday night to classics and contemporary favorites aimed at adult audiences, and every Saturday night to family-friendly fare. The final Friday night presentation, on August 17, will be an “Audience Choice” selection, determined by fans who cast votes on www.oscars.org/outdoors. Most features will be preceded by surprise animated or live-action short subjects.

“We are very excited to expand on our innovative programming and provide the community with a new venue that will deepen our ties to Hollywood,” said Sherak. “The events we are planning for the rest of the year are an ideal way to share our love of movies with a wider audience.”

On Saturday, May 19, the Academy will inaugurate its new open-air venue with an invitation-only screening of 1989 Best Picture nominee “Field of Dreams.”

Demolition at the site began in July 2011. The space now features an expansive lawn and an adjacent 10,000-square foot plaza, and will include a permanent 40×20 foot screen. In addition to hosting the “Oscars Outdoors” screening series, the venue is expected to serve the Academy and the community as an event space for special screenings, educational programs and other functions.

The Academy will also host a busy schedule of events at its theaters in Los Angeles and New York as well as programs at venues in London, the San Francisco Bay area and Washington D.C. Summer-fall highlights include a centennial celebration of Universal Pictures, featuring a slate of the studio’s landmark horror films; “The Science of Superheroes;” and “The Last 70mm Film Festival,” which will span six genres over six weeks. An expanded summer and fall programming calendar is available at www.oscars.org/lineup.

“These are not just screenings, but events,” noted Randy Haberkamp, Managing Director, Programming, Education, and Preservation. “We’re bringing a diverse range of programs and experiences to audiences as only the Academy can.”

The 2012 “Oscars Outdoors” screening schedule is as follows:

June
Friday, June 15: CASABLANCA
Saturday, June 16: SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS

Friday, June 22: RAISING ARIZONA
Saturday, June 23: FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF

Friday, June 29: A STAR IS BORN (1937)
Saturday, June 30: THE GOONIES

July
Friday, July 6: SHANE
Saturday, July 7: THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1996)

Friday, July 13: TO BE ANNOUNCED
Saturday, July 14: THE PRINCESS BRIDE

Friday, July 20: PILLOW TALK
Saturday, July 21: THE KARATE KID (1984)

Friday, July 27: DREAMGIRLS
Saturday, July 28: THE DARK CRYSTAL

August
Friday, August 3: NORTH BY NORTHWEST
Saturday, August 4: STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.

Friday, August 10: YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
Saturday, August 11: BACK TO THE FUTURE

Friday, August 17: Audience Choice (vote on www.oscars.org/outdoors)
Saturday, August 18: THE WIZARD OF OZ (Sing-Along)

Tickets to each “Oscars Outdoors” screening are $5 for the public; free for children 10 years and younger; and $3 for Academy members and students with ID. Seating is unreserved. Tickets are available at www.oscars.org/outdoors. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Screenings begin at sunset.

Attendees are encouraged to bring low lawn chairs, blankets, warm clothing. Popular food trucks will be on site during each screening.

The Academy Hollywood campus is located 1341 Vine Street in Hollywood (between De Longpre Avenue and Fountain Avenue, and between Vine Street and Ivar Avenue). The campus is accessible via the Metro Red Line train and the 210 Metro Local bus. Free parking will be available.

For more information about the Academy’s public events, visit www.oscars.org.

Image Courtesy of  cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com

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