Cinematographe will issue a standard 4K Blu-ray release of John D. Hancock's Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), starring Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia, Ann Wedgeworth, and Danny Aiello. The release is scheduled to arrive on the market on May 27.
Description: Bruce Pearson (Robert De Niro, Taxi Driver) and Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty, The Last Detail) are friends and teammates, playing on The New York Mammoths as catcher and pitcher, respectively. Henry is pulling double duty as an insurance salesman on the side, selling policies to other baseball players, while engaged in a contract dispute with the baseball team's ownership. When Bruce is diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, realizing he is terminally ill, Henry wavers from his ongoing negotiations to make sure Bruce can be his catcher for one last season.
Based on the acclaimed novel by Mark Harris, who adapted it into a screenplay for this film, BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY is often cited as one of the great sports films of all time. Featuring a talented ensemble cast, including an Oscar nominated turn from veteran character actor Vincent Gardenia (Moonstruck), and deft direction from stage and screen director John Hancock (Let's Scare Jessica to Death), Cinématographe is proud to bring this iconic baseball film to 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray. both world debuts, in a new 4K restoration of its original 35mm camera negative, supervised by director John Hancock.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
TWO-DISC SET (4K BLU-RAY/BLU-RAY)
NEW4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
NEW audio commentary with director John Hancock moderated by Cinématographe's Justin LaLiberty
NEW audio commentary with film historian Jim Hemphill
NEW Death at the Box Office - video interview with director John Hancock