Warner's Good Night goes hybrid

Movie is first catalog HD DVD/DVD combo

By Susanne Ault -- Video Business, 8/1/2006

AUG. 1 | Warner Home Video has set Good Night, and Good Luck as its next HD DVD/DVD combo, marking the studio’s first catalog release in this hybrid form.

The Oscar-nominated drama directed by George Clooney streets Aug. 22 and is priced at $39.99. It was one of the studio’s first wave of titles released on rival high-definition format Blu-ray Disc on Aug. 1.

Warner’s past combos, offering HD DVD on one side of the disc and standard-definition on the other, have primarily been new releases.

Earlier hybrids include Rumor Has It…, ATL, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Firewall, all released simultaneously with the standard DVD.

Also headed to retail Aug. 22 on HD DVD are classic John Wayne western The Searchers and comedy Caddyshack. They are listed at $28.99 apiece.

“Each time I watch a film in the new HD DVD format, I’m struck by the night-and-day difference—resolution, contrast, vibrancy of color, crisp sound,” said George Feltenstein, Warner’s senior VP of theatrical catalog marketing. “The Searchers is a landmark western celebrating its 50th anniversary, so what a perfect time to have it on HD DVD.”

All three of Warner’s upcoming HD DVD titles include the same bonus features as their standard-definition counterparts.