Two-Disc DVD Features New Documentary Exploring Birth of Bay Area's Revolutionary American Zoetrope

Director's Cut of Influential THX 1138 Scheduled for 20-City Theatrical Release Beginning September 10

BURBANK, Calif. (May 24, 2004) - Director George Lucas's widely influential first film, the prescient science-fiction adventure THX 1138, debuts on DVD September 14 from Warner Home Video in a Two-Disc Collector's Edition that features The George Lucas Director's Cut of the film. The Two-Disc Collector's Edition DVD will sell for $26.99 SRP. THX 1138 will also be available in a single-disc version with limited special features and will sell for $19.97 SRP.

A theatrical release of the film will precede the DVD release and will begin on September 10 in 20 cities including Ann Arbor, Mich.; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; New York; Philadelphia; San Francisco; Seattle, Portland and others.

Made in 1971, THX 1138 marked the stunning debut of one of the screen's most innovative filmmakers and was produced by Francis Ford Coppola and his revolutionary American Zoetrope studios. Produced at the height of the American independent movement, THX 1138 stars Robert Duvall in a thought-provoking and visually rich exploration of a theme that would repeat itself throughout Lucas's career: One man's quest to realize his own potential amid an oppressive society.

"THX 1138 is how I saw 1970. It was designed as a metaphor for the way we were living at the time," Lucas says. "The world has taken a strange twist from there, but I think the ideas that we examined in THX 1138 are still valid in the 21st century."

Coppola said, "We were intent on nothing less than changing the way movies were being made. The friends who made the move to San Francisco together with me in the late 1960s were remarkable filmmakers. Looking back, it was an extraordinary and defining experience for all of us."

In addition to the film, the DVD release of THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut offers two new documentaries, including A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope, a fascinating chronicle of the birth and rise of the radically different independent studio founded by director Francis Ford Coppola. THX 1138 had been positioned as the first in a slate of films from the newly established independent studio.

Although its original theatrical run was short, THX 1138 attracted an enormous following, particularly among college students, and became one of the most influential films of its time. Lucas says, "We wanted to make a different kind of film, and I hope that when audiences see it today on DVD they will find it to be as intriguing as we envisioned."

THX DVD Details

"We are thrilled to be releasing this landmark movie, which gave the world notice of what was to come from this legendary filmmaker," states Michael Radiloff, WHV's Vice President Theatrical Catalog Marketing.

Jim Ward, Vice President of Marketing and Distribution for Lucasfilm Ltd. said, "The DVD experience is going to be fantastic both for the film's longtime admirers and viewers who are discovering it for the first time. From both a visual and aural standpoint, THX 1138 is a remarkable and unique movie, and the DVD will present the experience with all of the nuance and complexity that George Lucas created."

The hour-long exploration of the independent filmmaking movement in San Francisco that accompanies THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut - A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope - features new interviews with Coppola, Lucas, Duvall, Martin Scorsese, John Milius, Matthew Robbins, Walter Murch, Caleb Deschanel and others who helped build American Zoetrope. The 30-minute documentary Artifact from the Future explores the memorably tumultuous making of THX 1138.

Additionally, Lucas and co-writer and sound designer Murch both provide audio commentary on the film, and the DVD includes Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB, the original, award-winning short film Lucas made while a student at the University of Southern California. Other bonus features on the DVD set include "Theatre of Noise," an isolated sound-effects track and branching video that showcases the film's pioneering sound design; and the film's original theatrical trailer.

Warner Home Video worked with Lucasfilm to perform a complete digital restoration on THX 1138, and the DVD presentation will include widescreen format [16x9 2.4:1] and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

The Two-Disc DVD Collector's Edition bonus features will appear as follows:

DISC ONE:
§ Commentary by co-writer/director George Lucas and co-writer/sound designer Walter Murch
§ Theatre Of Noise - isolated sound-effects track
§ Master sessions with Walter Murch

DISC TWO:
§ A Legacy of Filmmakers: The Early Years of American Zoetrope -- New documentary
§ Artifact from the Future: The Making of THX 1138 -- New documentary
§ Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB - Lucas' student film that inspired the movie
§ Bald, classic production featurette
§ Original theatrical trailer

THX 1138 will also be available in a single-disc version that features the The George Lucas Director's Cut of the film and commentary by George Lucas and Walter Murch.

Synopsis
Starring Robert Duvall and Donald Pleasence, THX 1138 leads viewers into a 25th-century totalitarian state where citizens are stripped of individuality and become numbered drones, controlled by a government-enforced program of sedating drugs. THX 1138 (Duvall) is a factory worker whose life is irrevocably changed when his roommate, LUH 3417 (Maggie McOmie), causes them both to stop taking their drugs.

Their sexual feelings begin to awaken and lead to a forbidden love affair. The state discovers the illegal coupling and drug evasion and separates THX and LUH. But THX is determined to flee his wall-less prison and discover LUH's fate. To do so, he must avoid the robotic police force and unknown dangers of the outside world. Pleasence co-stars as SEN 5241, who makes the perilous journey with THX.

Follow this link to clips from the movie provided by Warner Bros for your viewing pleasure.