“The Wizard of Oz” Two-Disc Special Edition And Three-Disc Collector’s Edition DVDs

(July 11, 2005 - Burbank, CA) – Voted by the American Film Institute (AFI) as the Best Family Film of all time, "The Wizard of Oz" has charmed audiences of every age for more than 60 years. On October 25, Warner Home Video (WHV) will celebrate this beloved classic with two bonus-packed DVD treasuries – a "Two-Disc Special Edition" and a "Three-Disc Collector’s Edition." For the very first time, these versions of "The Wizard of Oz" boast a stunning new digital transfer of the original film, using Warner’s “Ultra-Resolution” technology, plus a newly remastered soundtrack. As a result, viewers will experience the movie’s Technicolor splendor and unforgettable, award-winning songs and music like never before. Both DVD editions offer extensive bonus content, including four revealing new documentaries; a new feature-length commentary by Emmy Award®-winning producer and Oz historian John Fricke; an Emmy®-nominated making-of documentary hosted by Angela Lansbury; a Lansbury-narrated onscreen storybook treatment of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" with its colorful original illustrations; outtakes and deleted scenes; vintage vault featurettes; and more than six hours of audio-only treasures, including original recording sessions for songs and underscoring and rare Oz radio programs. "The Wizard of Oz Three-Disc Collector’s Edition" includes an additional disc of special content, featuring a new documentary about Oz author L. Frank Baum and a newly restored transfer of the 1925 feature-length silent version of "The Wizard of Oz" starring Oliver Hardy and Larry Semon with a fresh score by Robert Israel. Disc three is also highlighted by several additional rare "Oz" film features and shorts, originally produced between 1910 and 1933. In addition to the bonus disc, the "Collector’s Edition DVD" will include reproductions of the original eight-page Grauman's Chinese Theatre "Oz" souvenir program from August 15, 1939, the invitation to that premiere; the sixteen-page Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio News magazine from August 14, 1939, celebrating "The Wizard of Oz"; nine beautifully restored natural color Kodachrome portraits and publicity photos from the film ... and more. "The Wizard of Oz Two-Disc Special Edition" will be available for $26.99 SRP and the "Three-Disc Collector’s Edition" will sell for $39.92 SRP. With operations in 90 international territories Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.# # #