News From the Lake for September 10th, 2014

You know the routine. Click after the jump for what’s going on in the world of classic film and what’s new on DVD and Blu-ray.

The fall got a whole lot more epic with the announcement that TCM and Fathom Events are pairing up to bring Gone With the Wind to the big screen in honor of its 75th Anniversary. The screenings are set for September 28th and October 1st at 2pm and 7pm. You might recall GWTW being the honored film at this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival. The screening coincides with the upcoming anniversary edition of the classic film on Blu-ray, as well as an exhibit planned at the Harry Ransom Center, and a showing of the film on TCM. If you missed the film or didn’t attend the TCM Film Festival you might want to check out Fathom Events site to see where the film will play.

L.A. residents, Warner Brothers continues to impress with their 2014 speaker series. Dawn Moore, daughter of Lone Ranger star Clayton Moore is the speaker for this week. She’ll discuss her father’s work as well as showing off the original Lone Ranger mask before it hits the auction block. This year’s series, geared towards “Meet[ing] the Family” in support of the VIP Studio Tour has yielded some intriguing people and it’s great that Moore is coming out to talk about her famous father. The event takes place today at 6:30pm at the Warner Bros. Tour Center. Did I mention it’s free, as well? If anyone stops by let me know how it was!

New on DVD and Blu-ray

Warner Archive: Warner Archive’s putting out another classic film on Blu after the amazing release of Out of the Past. This month’s film is the 1965 Blake Edwards comedy, The Great Race. I haven’t seen this Natalie Wood, Tony Curtis-starrer but I’m eager to see it since Edwards as a director makes me laugh. Also out this week: two interpretations of The Desert Song; the 1943 version stars Dennis Morgan while the 1953 version has Kathryn Grayson. Animation fans should also appreciate the release of Loopy Da Loop: The Complete Collection. All of these manufactured on-demand titles can be found at Warner Archive’s website.

Sony: Sony isn’t big on releasing classic films, and those they do release end up being put under their Columbia Classics banner. In honor of its 75th-anniversary, the studio is debuting Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on Blu-ray! There isn’t much new bonus content, carrying over past content from the Frank Capra Collection box set. Hopefully, we’ll be receiving confirmation on Mr. Deeds Goes to Town soon.

20th Century Fox: Two new comedies are coming to DVD courtesy of Fox Cinema Archives: 1945’s Molly and Me, and 1938’s Straight, Place and Show starring the Ritz Brothers. They’ll be available September 30th.