Walter Hill was on a major hot streak in the early ’80s as a director. His streak included The Warriors, Southern Comfort, 48 Hours and producing Alien. He was ready to make his musical. This was a rock and roll fantasy in a world gone to Hell. He wisely cast Eddie and the Cruisers’ star Michael Paré as the muscle and Diane Lane (Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains) as the singer. Willem Dafoe (Wild At Heart) breaks through as the heavy. Hill made a visual spectacle the celebrated how much pull he had as director. I once attended a workshop with cinematographer Andrew Laszlo (The Warriors) where he broke down how he shot the big musical scene. Using multiple cameras, he had them set up for various f-stops to compensate for the live light show. After he got everything perfect, he shipped the film elements the editing department which proceeded to use all the “messed up” lighting because they thought it looked cooler. Over three decades, Streets of Fire does look and feel cooler than a lot of the stuff that came on in the ’80s. Now the film is getting the retrospective version it deserves with Streets of Fire: Collector’s Edition from Shout! Select. Here’s the press release from Shout! Factory:
Directed by Walter Hill
STREETS OF FIRE COLLECTOR’S EDITION 2-DISC BLU-RAY™ SET
Starring Michael Paré, Diane Lane, Rick Moranis and Amy Madigan
Featuring New 2K High-Def Transfer, All-New Cast and Crew Interviews,
Feature-length Documentary, Music Videos and More!
DEBUTS ON HOME ENTERTAINMENT SHELVES MAY 16, 2017
FROM SHOUT! SELECT™ HOME ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
From acclaimed writer-director Walter Hill comes the stylish rock-and-roll fable, starring Michael Paré (The Virgin Suicides), Diane Lane (Man of Steel), Rick Moranis (Ghostbusters) and Amy Madigan (The Dark Half). Amid a brooding rock & roll landscape, the Bombers motorcycle gang, led by the vicious Raven Shaddock (Willem Dafoe), kidnap diva Ellen Aim (Diane Lane). Her hope for rescue lies with unlikely heroes: soldier of fortune Tom Cody (Michael Paré) and his sidekick, the two-fisted beer-guzzling McCoy (Amy Madigan). Joined by Ellen’s manager, Billy Fish (Rick Moranis), the trio plunges headfirst into a world of rain-splattered streets, hot cars, and deadly assassins.
This cult favorite features a razor-sharp cast and original songs written by Jim Steinman, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and Ry Cooder and performed by The Blasters and The Fixx. STREETS OF FIRE is a rock & roll shotgun blast to the senses.
On May 16, 2017, Shout! Select home entertainment series is proud to debut STREETS OF FIRE Collector’s Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray™ set on North American home entertainment shelves. This definitive collector’s edition features new 2K high-def transfer, cast and crew interviews plus feature-length documentary, vintage featurettes, music videos and more! A must-have for movie collectors, pop-culture enthusiasts and loyal fans to complete their entertainment library, STREETS OF FIRE Collector’s Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray is available for pre-order at:
https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/action-adventure/streets-of-fire-collector-s-edition
*** Avid fans and collectors please take note: those who order STREETS OF FIRE Collector’s Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray directly from ShoutFactory.com and get it shipped two weeks early, plus receive a limited-edition 18″x24″ poster featuring our newly commissioned artwork! Available while supplies last.
STREETS OF FIRE Collector’s Edition 2-Disc Blu-ray
DISC ONE:
o NEW 2K Scan Of The Interpositive
DISC TWO:
o NEW The Making of Streets of Fire
o RUMBLE ON THE LOT: Walter Hill’s Streets Of Fire Revisited
o Vintage Featurettes: Rock And Roll Fable, Exaggerated Realism, Choreographing The Crowd, Creating The Costumes, From The Ground Up
o Music Videos
o Theatrical Trailer
o On Air Promos
o Still Gallery
