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Variety (2001) - Film: U Homevid Hitches Up 'Window'

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HOLLYWOOD -- The new millennium has been a boon for fans of Alfred Hitchcock movies. Two of the director's pics -- "The Birds" and "North by Northwest" -- were released on DVD in elaborate special editions last year.

This week, 10 additional Hitchcock classics are being released by Universal Studios Home Video, led by the restored version of "Rear Window."

The other nine films being released are "Family Plot," "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "Rope," "Saboteur," "Shadow of a Doubt," "Topaz," "Frenzy," "Torn Curtain" and "The Trouble With Harry."

Universal previously released special DVD editions of "Psycho" and "Vertigo" as well as DVD versions of several episodes of the TV series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."

Each of the 10 titles features a newly produced documentary on the making of the movie. The featurette on "Rear Window," for instance, includes comments from Curtis Hanson and Peter Bogdanovich, who talk to viewers about -- and through -- the director's clever and innovative techniques.

Also included on "Rear Window's" dual-layer collector's edition is a conversation with screenwriter John Michael Hayes, production notes, photographs and posters, two trailers -- one narrated by Stewart for the film's theatrical re-release -- and DVD-ROM access to the original script.

The nearly two-hour movie is presented in a 1.66:1 aspect ratio and a Dolby Digital two-channel version of the original mono sound.

Hitchcock's daughter Pat, assistant director Herbert Coleman and cast members such as Georgine Darcy are also interviewed. With the exception of the Warner release of "North by Northwest," the rest of the titles from Universal are also available in two sets of eight DVDs.