Studios line up new titles for Father's Day gifts

DSN Retailing Today, March 28, 2005 by Doug Desjardins

Shoppers looking for a quick-fix gift for Father's Day will have plenty to choose from this spring in the video aisles. Several studios are timing the releases of some high-testosterone hit films just in time for the June 19 holiday.

Heading the list is 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, which has new special collector's edition DVD releases of three hit action films from 2004. Fox has "I Robot," "The Day After Tomorrow" and "Man on Fire" due out May 24 in special editions priced at $26.98.

"They're being timed for Father's Day and for the start of the summer movie season," said Steven Feldstein, senior vp of marketing communications for 20th Century Fox. "That's why all three DVDs will come with a Movie Money ticket for free admission to "The Fantastic Four." Fox's marquee summer film "The Fantastic Four" will arrive in theaters July 1.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is also timing the release of two recent theatrical films before Father's Day (dates to be announced). They include the action film "Assault on Precinct 13" with Ethan Hawke and the Dennis Quaid comedy "In Good Company."

Another high-profile film due out in May is the holiday hit "National Treasure." The adventure starring Nicolas Cage will be released by Buena Vista Home Entertainment on May 3 with plenty of extras and an alternate ending.

For sports fans, Paramount Home Entertainment will release its Samuel L. Jackson football drama Coach Carter on June 14 less than one week before Father's Day. The studio is also slotting a June 7 release for "MacGyver: The Complete Second Season" and "The Official NCAA Championship" DVD.

Other studios are mining their libraries for older titles that are sure to appeal to fathers. Warner Home Video will bring the 1954 classic "East of Eden" to DVD for the first time as part of its "Complete James Dean Collection." That film, along with two-disc special editions of "Giant" and "Rebel without a Cause" are due on May 31. And Warner will bow the "Essential Steve McQueen Collection" on May 31 headed by a two-disc edition of "Bullitt" along with "The Getaway", "Papillon" and "Tom Horn."

Twentieth Century Fox has a "Cowboys and Soldiers Collection" due on May 24 that will features classics such as "The Bravados," "Forty Guns" and "Broken Lance." And New Line Home Entertainment has the John Waters comedy "A Dirty Shame" due out on June 8.