Criterion has announced a January 7 2014 release for a new dual format edition of Akira Kurosawa‘s Throne of Blood, which will include both Blu-ray and DVD discs. Criterion’s new dual format strategy was announced back in August and is similar to what BFI has been doing in the UK with many of their releases.
Criterion’s new release will be the first time that Throne of Blood is officially available on Blu-ray with English subtitles. As an American release, it will be Region A for the Blu-ray and Region 1 for the DVD.
In addition to the new high definition transfer, the new release will also include the Throne of Blood episode of the Toho Masterworks documentary Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create, bringing it in line with other Kurosawa releases from Criterion. The other extra features on the discs remain the same as with Criterion’s 2003 DVD release, and include a commentary by Michael Jeck, two subtitle translations, theatrical trailer and a booklet with essays by Stephen Prince and the subtitle translators Linda Hoaglund and Donald Richie.
For more information about the Criterion release and the chance to pre-order from their own webshop, see the Criterion website.
