Warner Bros Announces First Quarter 90th Anniversary Releases: Best of Musicals and Best Picture DVD Box Sets

Warner Home Video will release two new DVD box sets early in the first quarter as part of their 90^th Anniversary initiative running throughout 2013: The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collections: Best Pictures (January 29) and The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collections: Musicals (February 5).

One of the most respected, diversified and successful motion picture studios in the world, Warner Bros. began when the eponymous brothers -- Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack -- incorporated on April 4, 1923. Four years later, the release of The Jazz Singer, the world’s first “talkie,” set a tone of innovation and influence that would forever become synonymous  with films passionately produced, selectively acquired, carefully preserved and impeccably curated for both the casual and ultimate movie lover to enjoy forever. 

The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collections will be released throughout the year in five separate sets. Each features a gem-packed collection of 20 essential movie classics in five major genres: Best Pictures (January), Musicals (February),Romance (April), Comedy (July) and Thrillers (September). A booklet will be included in each Collection which contains photos and synopses of all the films in the set. Each set will sell for $98.92 SRP.

The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection: Best Pictures

Warner Bros.’ library, the world’s largest, contains more Best Picture Oscar^® winners than any other studio with 22 wins (all 22 award-winning films are included in The Best of Warner Bros. 100 Film DVD Collection streeting the same day). The films in The Best of Warner Bros. Best Pictures will be divided into three chapters on 23 discs: A New Era (1929-1949);The Golden Years (1946-1959); and The New Classics (1975-2006). Included are:

Broadway Melody of 1929                                                 1929

Grand Hotel                                                                           1932

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)                                            1935

The Life of Emile Zola                                                           1937

Gone With The Wind                                                           1939

Mrs. Miniver                                                                          1942

Casablanca                                                                           1942

Best Years of Our Lives                                                        1946

An American in Paris                                                           1951

Around the World in 80 Days                                            1956

Gigi                                                                                         1958

Ben-Hur                                                                                  1959

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest                                      1975

Chariots of Fire                                                                     1981

Amadeus                                                                               1984

Driving Miss Daisy                                                                1989

Unforgiven                                                                                            1992

The Lord of the Rings™: The Return of the King              2003

Million Dollar Baby                                                              2005

The Departed                                                                        2006 

The Best of Warner Bros. 20 Film Collection: Musicals

The films in The Best of Warner Bros. Musicals won a combined total of 29 Oscars^®, including three Best Picture Winners and 9 winners for Music (Score and Song). The collection will be divided into three chapters on 21 discs: You Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet (1927-1951); The Music Makers (1951-1964); and Now, That’s Entertainment (1967-1988). Films included are:

The Jazz Singer	1927	Award for Special Award to Warner Bros.
Broadway Melody of 1929	1929	Award for: Outstanding Picture
42nd Street	1933
The Great Ziegfeld	1936	Awards for: Actress; Dance Direction; and Outstanding Production.
Wizard of Oz	1939	Awards for: Music; and, Music - Song
Yankee Doodle Dandy	1942	Awards for: Actor; Music; and, Sound Recording.
An American in Paris	1951	Awards for: Art Direction; Cinematography; Costume Design; Music; Best Motion Picture; and Writing.
Show Boat	1951
Singin' in the Rain	1952
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers	1954	Awards for: Music – Scoring of a Musical Picture.
A Star Is Born	1954
The Music Man	1962	Award for: Music
Viva Las Vegas	1964
Camelot	1967	Awards for: Art Direction; Costume Design; and, Music.
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory	1971
Cabaret	1972	Awards for: Actor in a Supporting Role; Actress; Art Direction; Cinematography; Directing; Film Editing; Music; and Sound
That’s Entertainment	1974
Victor, Victoria	1983	Award for: Music.
Little Shop of Horrors	1986
Hairspray	1988

The year-long celebration will also include several stand-alone releases of new-to-format classics on Blu-ray™ for the first time, including The Jazz Singer, all three James Dean films (East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, Giant), Cabaret andAcademy Award® Best Picture Winners Grand Hotel (1932), Mrs. Miniver (1943), and Driving Miss Daisy(1990).  

Fans are encouraged to visit www.bestofwb.com for all content and a richer integrated experience.