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The early ‘70s were a fertile time for “Disease of the Week” movies, both on the big-screen (where “Love Story” was all the rage) and on the small-screen as well, where the emotionally charged “Brian’s Song” showcased the bond between Chicago Bears player Gayle Sayers and his cancer-stricken teammmate Brian Piccolo. Though based on a 1956 book by Mark Harris, BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY (96 mins., 1973, PG; Cinematographe) fits comfortably within that genre, though the sincerity of John Hancock’s film and its central performances lift the material, making it worthy of rediscovery on Cinematographe’s freshly remastered 4K UHD and Blu-Ray limited edition set.

Harris adapted his own book, one of a quartet that followed pitcher Henry Wiggen (Michael Moriarty) through assorted trials and tribulations in professional baseball – but none more poignant than this particular story, which had been first brought to television in the late ‘50s via a live broadcast starring none other than Paul Newman. Moriarty’s performance as Wiggen anchors this character-driven piece that showcases the contrasts as well as mutual fondness Wiggen has for his catcher, Bruce Pearson, played with an appropriate southern accent by Robert DeNiro. When Pearson is diagnosed with terminal Hodgkin’s disease, Wiggen is able to get management to retain him for one last season as Bruce plays out a final year as Henry’s catcher, all the while Henry tries to help him get his personal, and financial, assets in order.

“Bang the Drum Slowly”’s delivery eschews the expected levels of saccharine, phony emotion given the subject matter, which is both a credit to director Hancock as well as something of a drawback. The relationship between the two men is convincingly rendered with both DeNiro and Moriarty doing a superb job, and yet the general restraint one feels throughout the movie also prevents it from packing the emotional gut-punch that viewers felt during a movie like “Brian’s Song.” The result is still more than serviceable, but it’s interesting that the movie never quite generates the emotional peaks of some of its genre counterparts from that time.

Making its 4K UHD premiere as well as Blu-Ray debut, Cinematographe’s limited-edition release sports a new 4K restoration (1.85, mono) from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision HDR. Not having seen this movie since an ancient VHS rental, I was struck by the natural level of detail in this Paramount-licensed master, which looks just divine here on UHD. Extras include a new commentary with John Hancock as moderated by the label’s own Justin LaLiberty; a commentary track with historian Jim Hemphill; a new interview with Hancock; a new video essay by Chris O’Neill; and text essays by critic Noah Gittel, critic Glenn Kenny, and writer/filmmaker Dan Mecca.

Also new from Cinematographe is CHILD’S PLAY (100 mins., 1974, PG) – no, not another release of the original 1988 Chucky thriller, but rather the Sydney Lumet-directed story of bad things (possibly) going down at a Catholic boys’ boarding school outside New York City.

Lumet’s filmography doesn’t typically include a lengthy discussion of this particular movie, which stars Beau Bridges as a former student who returns to “St. Charles” as a gym teacher. Alas, this isn’t exactly “Welcome Back, Kotter” as Bridges quickly finds teachers James Mason and Robert Preston squabbling, with Mason’s abrasive Mr. Malley preoccupied with out-of-school concerns involving his ailing mother. After receiving a series of mysterious phone calls, Mason blames Preston’s Mr. Dobbs for the apparent intimidation, but is that the explanation…or is there something else at play causing a cascade of students to likewise buckle under the tensions between the duo as a result?

“Child’s Play” is well acted and atmospheric, fitting nicely within Lumet’s body of work, and features suitably ominous music from Michael Small. Alas, the issue with the picture is the source material – a Broadway play by Robert Marasco (“Burnt Offerings”) that seems to be heading somewhere and…well, let’s just say what this movie is ultimately about scarcely matches the tension Lumet infuses in the build-up. The ambiguous finale is typical of the time and underwhelming from a dramatic perspective.

Still an intriguing curio for Lumet devotees, “Child’s Play” has been remastered in a 4K transfer (1.85) in Cinematographe’s limited-edition Blu-Ray. This is a superior presentation, by far, compared to Paramount’s DVD-era HD master which was included in an out-of-print Olive Blu-Ray years back. New extras include a commentary by Adrian Martin; an audio essay by Daniel Kremer; a talk with production designer Philip Rosenberg; a documentary short by Daniel Griffith, “One Stop on the Road to Serpico”; an hour-long doc on the first half of Lumet’s career; a 2006 “Charlie Rose Show” interview between the PBS host and Lumet; and a number of new liner note essays in Cinematographe’s hardbound box-set.

Film Movement’s latest Blu-Rays are led by a new edition of Lee Tamahori’s celebrated ONCE WERE WARRIORS (102 mins., 1994), a groundbreaking production from New Zealand about contemporary Maori living in Auckland. Film Movement’s Blu-Ray (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA) sports a new commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson along with a 16-page booklet sporting critic Peter Calder’s liner notes…also new from Film Movement is THE SALES GIRL (123 mins., 2021), a Mongolian import about a stoic college student who has to take a temp job in a sex shop. Her character development informs this sharply-written piece, on Blu-Ray (2:1, 5.1/2.0) from Film Movement along with a Making Of featurette.

Canadian International Pictures’ compilation KEANU & CO. offers a trio of Afterschool Special-like, mid ‘80s features: “Out of a Job,” “Running Scared,” and “One Step Away.” Oddly, despite this compilation’s title and promotion of Keanu Reeves, he only appears in the latter feature, playing a troubled teen. All-new 2K scans (1.33, mono) adorn this CIP Blu-Ray along with commentary by Canadian cinema experts Paul Corupe and Jason Pichonskly; interviews with the movie’s stars (just not the obvious one); plus additional shorts and even a VHS transfer of “One Step Away” for nostalgia purposes.

SMILEY FACE (85 mins., 2007; Darkstar) stars Anna Faris and John Krasinski in a stoner comedy packed with familiar faces, including Jane Lynch, John Cho and Danny Trejo among others. Gregg Araki’s film is a cut above the likes of “Half Baked” and sports a commentary with critic Elizabeth Purchell and Mia Lee Vicino booklet notes (1.78, 5.1 DTS MA)…IFC debuts the 2013 teaming of director Paul Schrader and writer Bret Easton Ellis: THE CANYONS (99 mins., 2013), an uneven drama charting the toxic relationship between vain young couple James Deen and Lindsay Lohan. IFC’s Blu-Ray (2.35, 5.1 DTS MA) includes the Director’s Cut, a new commentary from critic Adrian Martin, a video interview with Schrader along with a featurette and booklet notes by Mitchell Beaupre.

New from Shudder is Kurtis Harder’s INFLUENCER (92 mins., 2022), the story of a social media influencer who meets a new bestie on a backtracking trip – only to wish she hadn’t. Familiar story elements are worked fairly effectively in “Influencer,” new on Blu-Ray with two commentaries, both featuring the director; deleted/extended scenes; behind-the-scenes footage; trailers and more (2.39, 5.1)…Alex De La Iglesia’s cult film THE LAST CIRCUS (106 mins., 2010) has developed a small following over the years, and receives a brand-new Special Edition from Magnet. In addition to a new transfer (2.35, 5.1) from the original HDCAM source, there’s a fresh podcaster commentary; a video essay from Alexandra Heller-Nicholas; a Making Of; VFX footage; trailers and BJ Colangelo’s booklet notes.

Masashi Yamamoto’s WONDERFUL PARADISE (97 mins., 2020) is newly released by Kani Releasing, the disc sporting a 12-minute interview with the director plus the trailer and booklet notes with commentary by Ariel Esteban Cayer…ETR Media’s VIDEOMAN (93 mins., 2018) presents a features-packed Special Edition of Kristian Soderstrom’s tale of a VHS collector (Stefan Sauk) who, while hunting down a collectible video tape, finds his life turning into the kind of Italian slasher (Giallo) he so covets. New interviews with Sauk, the director, other cast members, deleted scenes, shorts, a 1080p (1.85) transfer and 5.1 DTS MA Italian audio (with English subtitles) comprise ETR’s Blu-Ray.

Dekanalog’s latest is HUKKLE (78 mins., 2002), an unusual and nearly dialogue-free picture that earned critical acclaimed on the international arthouse circuit. Dekanalog’s Blu-Ray (1.85) was derived from a new 4K digital restoration with extras including two shorts, the complete script, and an interview with director Gyorgy Palfi and co-writer Zsofia Ruttkay…In DREAM TEAM (92 mins., 2024), directors Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn follow two Interpol agents trying to solve the murder of a coral smuggler. Yellow Veil’s Blu-Ray (1.85) of this surreal comedy of sorts sports extensive extras: interviews, commentary, and “episode introductions from Professor Dr. Sir Roger Peninis”…Finally, Brainstorm Media’s release of director John Rosman’s apocalyptic thriller NEW LIFE (85 mins., 2023) features two commentaries, interviews with the cast and Rosman, a behind-the-scenes segment, and the trailer (2.39, 5.1 DTS MA).

NEXT TIME: Synapse Delivers Cult Fave TRICK OR TREAT (1986) on 4K UHD! Until then, don’t forget to drop in on the official Aisle Seat Message Boards and direct any emails to our email address. Cheers everyone!