Diary of Anne Frank 50th Anniversary on DVD June 16
Few stories have captured a significant historical experience and continue to make an impact to this day than The Diary of Anne Frank. On June 16, 2009, four days after what would have been Anne Frank’s 80th birthday, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release a 50th Anniversary Edition on Blu-ray and DVD of the cinematic classic based on the young Jewish girl’s experience during the Holocaust. The diary which has sold more than 31 million copies, has been translated into 67 languages, is still taught in schools around the world, and arguably one of the key texts of the twentieth century, inspired two-time Academy Award winning Director George Stevens (Best Director, Giant, A Place in the Sun) to start a dialog with Anne’s father Otto Frank that led to the making of this three-time Academy Award winning film. Starring Millie Perkins (Wall Street), Oscar winner Joseph Schildkraut (Best Supporting Actor, The Life of Emile Zola), two-time Academy Award winner Shelley Winters (Best Supporting Actress, A Patch of Blue), Richard Beymer and Diane Baker, The Diary of Anne Frank chronicles the lives of two Jewish families from 1942 to 1944 hiding from the Nazis. Cramped in a tiny Amsterdam attic for two years, Anne and seven others struggle to survive as sirens in the street below constantly reminded them that Hitler’s army was waiting.
To mark the 50th Anniversary, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has worked closely with George Stevens Jr. to create The Diary of Anne Frank 50th Anniversary Edition BD and DVD which includes all-new bonus features that talk to the film’s cinematic history, the letters that were shared between George Stevens and his son during the making of the film, a reflection by the film’s surviving stars and more.
Synopsis: With compelling performances from an all-star cast, including Shelley Winters, Ed Wynn, Richard Beymer and Lou Jacobi, The Diary of Anne Frank is as gripping and heart-wrenching now as it was during its initial release! In honor of the film’s 50th Anniversary, this Special Edition DVD offers an unprecedented look at the making of the film with an audio commentary, seven exclusive featurettes, photo galleries and more!
Following the Nazi invasion of Amsterdam, 13-year-old Anne and her family go into hiding in the confines of an attic. Anne’s remarkable account of their lives, their growing fear of discovery, their deplorable living conditions and even the blooming of her first love are intimately portrayed in this extraordinary portrait of humanity. Nominated for eight 1959 Oscars® and winning three, The Diary of Anne Frank remains one of cinema’s most astounding and enduring treasures.
*Won: Best Supporting Actress (Winters), Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White and Cinematography, Black-and-White. Nominated: Best Picture and Director (Stevens), Best Supporting Actor (Ed Wynn), Best Costume Design, Black-and-White, Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.
Blu-ray Disc Specs:
The Diary of Anne Frank 50th Anniversary Edition BD release is presented in widescreen format (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio, Spanish Mono and French 5.0 Dolby Digital with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:
· Audio commentary with George Stevens Jr. and Millie Perkins (Anne Frank)
· ALL NEW Introduction: George Stevens Jr. and World War II
· ALL NEW The Making of The Diary of Anne Frank: A Son’s Memories
· ALL NEW The Diary of Anne Frank: Memories from Millie Perkins and Diane Baker (Margot Frank)
· ALL NEW Shelley Winters and The Diary of Anne Frank
· ALL NEW The Score of The Diary of Anne Frank – a look at the legendary composer Alfred Newman
· ALL NEW The Diary of Anne Frank: Correspondence – Letters between George Stevens and his son written during the making of the film
· ALL NEW Fox Legacy with Tom Rothman
· Diary of Anne Frank: Echoes from the Past
· Diary of Anne Frank: Excerpt from “George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey”
· George Stevens Press Conference
· Millie Perkins Screen Test
· Movietone News:
o Millie Perkins, To Be Anne Frank in Film of Diary
o Nobel Peace Prize to Belgian Priest
o Anne Frank Diary Star Readies For Film’s 1st Nights
o Academy Award Highlights
o Millie Perkins Visits the Los Angeles County Museum of Art
o Brilliant Turnout For L.A. Premiere Anne Frank Diary
· Theatrical Trailer
· International Trailer
· Interactive Pressbook Gallery
· Behind-the-scenes Gallery
DVD Specs:
The Diary of Anne Frank 50th Anniversary Edition DVD release is presented in widescreen format (2.35:1 aspect ratio) with English 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound, Spanish Mono and French 4.0 Dolby Surround with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Bonus features include:
· Audio commentary with George Stevens Jr. and Millie Perkins (Anne Frank)
· ALL NEW Introduction: George Stevens Jr. and World War II
· ALL NEW The Making of The Diary of Anne Frank: A Son’s Memories
· ALL NEW The Diary of Anne Frank: Memories from Millie Perkins and Diane Baker (Margot Frank)
· ALL NEW Shelley Winters and The Diary of Anne Frank
· ALL NEW The Score of The Diary of Anne Frank – a look at the legendary composer Alfred Newman
· ALL NEW The Diary of Anne Frank: Correspondence – Letters between George Stevens and his son written during the making of the film
· ALL NEW Fox Legacy with Tom Rothman
