We’d like to share the following news release with you, which we just received from one of the marketing groups behind this very special DVD. (Marvelous cast: John Voight, Cary Elwes, Christopher Lee, James Cromwell…we’re looking forward to doing a full review very soon!) Also, there’s some very cool behind-the-scenes footage on streaming video here.
Academy Award Winner* Jon Voight
delivers an incredible performance in
POPE JOHN PAUL II
Based on the Powerful True Story
Available on DVD March 13, 2007
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA (January XX, 2007) – Vivendi Visual Entertainment and Ignatius Press present the feature-length film on the life of Pope John Paul II available on DVD March 13, 2007, just in time for the Easter holiday. The popular pontiff who passed away two years ago on Easter Sunday, is in the process of being canonized a saint. Academy Award winner Jon Voight delivers a powerful performance that captures the beloved pope’s “mix of majesty and humility, humor and steel” (USA Today). Co-starring Cary Elwes (Glory, The Princess Bride) as the young Karol Wojtyla. Ben Gazzara (The Spanish Prisoner, Big Lebowski), James Cromwell (The Queen, Babe), and Christopher Lee (Lord of the Rings Trilogy) round out the all-star cast. The film was made in cooperation with the Vatican, working closely with Vatican historians and features exclusive footage shot in St. Peter’s Square, the Sistine Chapel and surrounding areas in Rome as well as on location in Poland. The film had its theatrical premiere in Santa Clara, CA on November 11, 2006. This film also received a theatrical screening at the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI in attendance.
This special DVD contains collectable spiritual foil packaging. The DVD will be available for the SRP of $19.99 and has a pre-order date of February 13, 2007.
Synopsis:
In this feature-length film, Academy Award Winner* Jon Voight delivers an incredibly inspirational portrayal of the spiritual life journey of Pope John Paul II. This epic film follows the remarkable life of Pope John Paul II from his youth in Poland to his international crusade to advocate for the poor and oppressed, to his final days at the Vatican. Cary Elwes and an all-star supporting cast give equally inspiring performances. Shot on location in Rome and Poland with the cooperation of the Vatican, this moving film takes an intimate look at the man who touched millions and changed the face of the Church and the world.
*Academy Award for Best Actor in Coming Home
Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes
- Special Cast Interviews
- The Making of the Movie
- Memories of the Pope
- Footage of the World Premiere Screening at the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI
- Collector’s Digital Booklet
DVD Basics
Not Rated
Running Time: 180 minutes
Price: $19.99 SRP
Widescreen
Language: English
Audio: Stereo 2.0
CAT#: IP0015DVD
UPC: 883476000152
Pre-order Date: February 13, 2007
Street Date: March 13, 2007
About Vivendi Visual Entertainment
Vivendi Visual Entertainment (V V E), a division of Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD), has become a leading force in home entertainment and a favorite choice among independent producers of films and top independent studios. The company’s goal is to provide the highest quality of marketing, sales and distribution services. V V E’s select product line features family, comedy, foreign, Latin, urban, fitness and theatrical releases. Studio partners include Bauer Martinez Distribution, Bodywisdom Media, Code Black, Film Mates, First Independent Pictures, Freestyle Home Entertainment, Lightning Home Entertainment, Melee Entertainment, New Light Entertainment, Palm Pictures, Rising Entertainment, RuffNation Films, Salient Media, Uwe Boll Productions, Voy Pictures, Walter Mercado and Xenon Pictures. V V E benefits from UMGD’s award winning team and customer-centric culture. UMGD’s recent awards include American Business Awards, three consecutive NARM awards for Distribution Company of the Year and numerous retail awards. V V E’s website can be found at www.vivendivisualentertainment.com.
About Ignatius Press
Ignatius Press, founded in 1978, is one of the world’s largest Catholic publishers and distributors of inspirational films and books. The primary publisher of the writings of Pope Benedict XVI, Ignatius has over 1600 books and films in print on a wide variety of spiritual, literary and social topics for all ages. Among the leading feature films from Ignatius are THE JEWELLERS SHOP (Burt Lancaster, Olivia Hussey), BERNADETTE (Sydney Penny), SAINT FRANCIS (Raoul Bova), PADRE PIO: MIRACLE MAN (Sergio Castellitto), and SAINT ANTHONY (Daniele Liotti), as well as many fine documentaries including THE DA VINCI HOAX, SAINT THERESE, THE STORY OF THE NATIVITY, and the acclaimed award-winning 10-part film series on salvation history, THE FOOTPRINTS OF GOD.