Disney Home Entertainment announced yesterday that its next wave of Disney Treasures (slated for Nov. 11 release date) will feature special collector’s edition DVDs of Destino, Chronological Donald, Volume 4 and Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow. All three new two-disc sets of will make up the eighth installment of the popular series Walt Disney Treasures, which features rarely seen footage presented with updated color and sound.
Nominated for an Oscar, Destino began in 1946 as a collaboration between Walt Disney and the famed surrealist painter Salvador Dali, In 2003 it was rediscovered by Walt’s nephew, Roy E. Disney, who took on the challenge of bringing the creation of these two great artists to fruition. In addition to the completed Destino, this DVD also includes an all-new feature-length documentary that examines the surprising partnership between Dali and Disney plus two new featurettes; The Disney That Almost Was, an examination of the studio’s unfinished projects; and Encounters with Walt, about the surprisingly diverse group of celebrities and artists who were attracted to Walt Disney’s early work.
Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow, which first aired as three separate episodes on Disney’s weekly TV show under the title The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, was edited for theatrical releases in England and the U.S. This DVD set includes all three of the original TV episodes plus the theatrical version of the film that was released in England.
Also a big feather in Disney’s 2008 cap is the Chronological Donald, Volume 4, which includes 31 classic shorts starring Donald Duck. Each of these meticulously animated adventures was created between 1951 and 1961 and has rarely been seen. All of Donald’s CinemaScope shorts will be presented in their original widescreen aspect ratio for the first time.
Fortunately, all three sets are hosted by everyone’s favorite film historian, author and critic Leonard Maltin. Each limited edition, individually numbered volume includes an authenticity certificate, exclusive lithograph and comes in a unique, collectible tin. Guess we all now know what to put on our wish list for the holiday season’hey, it’s only nine months away!
