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page updated: 7/2/12



Barrie Maxwell
October 23rd, 1947 - July 10th, 2012

Click here for our tribute.



Classic Coming Attractions by Barrie Maxwell

click here for High-Definition Matters
click here for The British Beat
click here for Classic Hollywood MOD

The Digital Bits is pleased to present you with Classic Coming Attractions, a new regular column by Barrie Maxwell. Barrie's a free-lance writer living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada who, like the rest of us here at The Bits, has had a lifelong love affair with the movies.

In Classic Coming Attractions, Barrie is going to keep you up to date on the effort to bring much-loved classic films to DVD. He'll tell you what's coming, from titles that have been announced to those that are in the works. He'll address some of the issues involved in bringing classic films to our favorite format. And he'll generally share with all of you his love of the Golden Age of cinema. The idea is to give you a single, reliable source that you can turn to for news on classic films on DVD. That's Classic Coming Attractions.

So we hope you'll all join us in welcoming him aboard. And with that... simply select from the list of his columns below and enjoy!


Available Databases (zipped Word.doc format)

Blu-ray Release Schedule 6/11 (dated 5/22)
Classic Coming Attractions Database 5/23 (dated 5/18)
Non-Region 1 Classic Titles Database 11/25 (dated 11/21)
Coming Westerns Database 6/23 (dated 6/19)
Film Noir Listing

Available Columns

5/23/12 - Classic Coming Attractions #107 NEW
3/22/12 - Classic Coming Attractions #106
2/23/12 - Classic Coming Attractions #105
12/21/11 - Classic Coming Attractions #104
11/22/11 - Classic Coming Attractions #103
10/10/11 - Classic Coming Attractions #102 - DVD and BD Edition #1
8/1/11 - A New Classic Coming Attractions!
6/23/11 - The 100th Column: Roy Rogers, Reviews and New Announcements
5/10/11 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #69 & New Announcements
3/14/11 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #68 & New Announcements
2/4/11 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #67 & New Announcements
12/22/10 - The Christmas Column - Classic Reviews Round-Up #66 & New Announcements
11/23/10 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #65 and New Announcements
9/22/10 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #64 and New Announcements
8/6/10 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #63 and New Announcements
7/6/10 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #62 and New Announcements
5/17/10 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #61 and New Announcements
3/31/10 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #60 and New Announcements
3/1/10 - The Latest Classic DVD & Blu-ray Announcements
2/2/10 - The Classic Outlook for 2010 and Reviews
12/23/09 - The Christmas Column 2009
11/25/09 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #59 and New Announcements
10/28/09 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #58 and New Announcements
10/5/09 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #57 and New Announcements
9/8/09 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #56 and New Announcements
7/22/09 - Errol Flynn, Reviews Round-Up #55 and New Announcements
7/1/09 - Classic News, Reviews Round-Up #54 & New Announcements
5/4/09 - Classic News, Reviews Round-Up #53 & New Announcements
3/26/09 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #52 & New Announcements
2/3/09 - The 2009 Outlook, Classic Reviews Round-Up #51 & New Announcements
12/23/08 - The Christmas Column 2008
12/5/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #50 & New Announcements
10/28/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #49 & New Announcements
9/24/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #48 & New Announcements
9/8/08 - New Classic Release Announcements
8/14/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #47 & New Announcements
7/3/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #46 & New Announcements
6/3/08 - Western Round-Up & New Announcements
5/12/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #45, Western News & New Announcements
3/31/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #44, Western News & New Announcements
2/18/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #43, Western News & New Announcements
1/23/08 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #42 and New Announcements
12/24/07 - The Christmas Column 2007 and New Announcements
12/6/07 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #41 and New Announcements
10/29/07 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #40 and New Announcements
10/8/07 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #39 and New Announcements
8/21/07 - New Classic Release Announcements
6/26/07 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #38 and New Announcements
6/12/07 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #37 and New Announcements
5/22/07 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #36 and New Announcements
4/13/07 - Classic Release Announcement Update
3/19/07 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #35 (19 DVD reviews)
3/2/07 - Classic Release Announcement Update
1/25/07 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #34 - Best of 2006 (25 DVD reviews)
12/21/06 - The Christmas Column & High Definition Classics (6 reviews)
12/12/06 - Classic Reviews Round-Up #33 (15 DVD reviews)
11/1/06 - Bogart Revisited, Hallowe'en Pleasures & News (8 DVD reviews)
10/5/06 - Classic Reviews Roundup #32 (15 DVD reviews)
9/5/06 - Classic Reviews Roundup #31 (7 DVD reviews)
8/4/06 - Classic Reviews Roundup #30 (7 DVD reviews)
7/5/06 - Classic Reviews Roundup #29 (16 DVD reviews)
6/12/06 - Classic Reviews Roundup #28 (17 DVD reviews)
5/17/06 - Classic Reviews Roundup #27 (13 DVD reviews)
4/17/06 - Recent British Items on DVD & New Announcements (8 DVD reviews)
4/4/06 - Classic Reviews Roundup #26 (14 DVD reviews)
3/20/06 - Best Picture Winners, Reviews & New Announcements (16 DVD reviews)
2/15/06 - Classic Reviews Roundup #25 (15 DVD reviews)
1/25/06 - A New Year, Some Reviews & New Announcements (11 DVD reviews)
12/22/05 - The Christmas Column & New Announcements (54 DVD reviews)
12/1/05 - Merian C. Cooper & New Announcements (5 DVD reviews)
11/14/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #24 (22 DVD reviews)
11/3/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #23 (13 DVD reviews, plus announcements)
10/24/05 - Randolph Scott on DVD & New Announcements (12 DVD reviews)
10/17/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #22 (3 DVD reviews)
10/4/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #21 (30 DVD reviews, plus announcements)
9/22/05 - Reviews of As Time Goes By: 8&9 and BBC History of World War II
9/8/05 - The Latest Classic Release Announcements
8/4/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #20 (14 DVD reviews, plus announcements)
6/30/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #19 (16 DVD reviews, plus announcements)
6/2/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #18 (20+ Classic DVDs reviewed)
5/16/05 - The Latest Classic Release Announcements
4/28/05 - Western Roundup #1 - April 2005 (19 Classic DVDs reviewed)
4/18/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #17 (17 Classic DVDs reviewed)
4/4/05 - The Latest Classic Release Announcements
3/15/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #16 (14 Classic DVDs reviewed)
3/1/05 - A Few Reviews & Classic Release Announcements (10 DVDs reviewed)
2/15/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #15 (14 Classic DVDs reviewed)
1/19/05 - The Best of 2004, Reviews and the Latest Classic Announcements
1/10/05 - Classic Reviews Roundup #14 (27 Classic DVDs reviewed)
12/22/04 - Christmas Classics, New Announcements, and Christmas Greetings
12/9/04 - The Films of Producer David O. Selznick & New Announcements
11/29/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #13 (5 TV classics reviewed)
11/16/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #12 (3 Warner DVDs reviewed)
11/3/04 - The Latest Classic Release Announcements
10/27/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #11 (15 Classic DVDs reviewed)
10/4/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #10 (22 Westerns reviewed on DVD)
9/14/04 - Film Noir and the Latest New Announcements
8/23/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #9 (6 films reviewed on DVD)
8/2/04 - The Latest Classic Release Announcements
7/12/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #8 (25 films reviewed in 5 DVD collections)
7/6/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #7 (14 classic war films on DVD reviewed)
6/15/04 - John Ford & John Wayne Together, plus Coming Classic Releases
6/4/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #6 (Marx Bros on DVD reviewed)
5/26/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #5 (10 DVDs reviewed)
5/10/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #4 (15 DVDs reviewed)
5/7/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #3 (A trio of 2-disc SE DVDs reviewed)
4/26/04 - The Westerns of Warner Bros. and the Coming Releases
4/12/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #2 (8 DVDs reviewed)
3/29/04 - A Little Disney, a Detective Update, and the Coming Releases
3/29/04 - Interview with Ted Thomas, Director of 1995's Frank and Ollie
3/3/04 - Classic Reviews Roundup #1 (21 DVDs reviewed)
2/17/04 - Sherlock Holmes and Other Detectives
1/23/04 - Cary Grant, New Reviews, and the Latest Classic Release Update
12/23/03 - Christmas Classics and a Few Reviews
11/28/03 - November Review of Current Classic Releases
10/31/03 - A Few Hallowe'en Reviews
10/27/03 - Hollywood's Golden Year - 1939
9/26/03 - September Survey of Current Classic Releases
8/28/03 - Musicals (I) and the Usual New Announcements Update
7/28/03 - July Survey of Current Classic Releases
7/18/03 - A Couple of Lesser-Known Discs of Interest
6/2/03 - Paramount Westerns & More Upcoming Classics
4/30/03 - Columbia Classics on DVD & More Upcoming News
4/17/03 - Artisan's Recent Releases, New Database & More Upcoming Classics
3/21/03 - Forty Years of Past Academy Awards & More Upcoming Classics
3/3/03 - William Wyler, Buster Keaton & More Upcoming Classics
1/31/03 - Douglas Sirk in America and More Upcoming Classic Releases
1/10/03 - Humphrey Bogart on DVD and More New Announcements
12/18/02 - 2003: The Year of the Classics on DVD?


High Definition Matters by Barrie Maxwell

click here for Classic Coming Attractions
click here for The British Beat
click here for Classic Hollywood MOD

The high-definition revolution is here... and so is THE new format for watching movies in high-definition: Blu-ray Disc! Not only are great new and recent films being released on Blu-ray, select classic films are being restored for 1080p as well. So our own Barrie Maxwell has expanded his regular column to review them. We hope you'll enjoy his thoughts (the columns are listed below). And don't forget to check out the Blu-ray Release Schedule as well!

Available Columns

6/11/12 - High-Definition Matters #24 (14 BD reviews) NEW
1/23/12 - High-Definition Matters #23 (9 BD reviews)
9/1/11 - High-Definition Matters #22 (15 BD reviews)
6/1/11 - High-Definition Matters #21 (10 BD reviews)
4/6/11 - High-Definition Matters #20 (17 BD reviews)
2/9/11 - High-Definition Matters #19 (12 BD reviews)
12/13/10 - High-Definition Matters #18 (11 BD reviews)
10/26/10 - High-Definition Matters #17 (16 BD reviews)
8/31/10 - High-Definition Matters #16 (14 BD reviews)
7/20/10 - High-Definition Matters #15 (8 BD reviews)
6/16/10 - High-Definition Matters #14 (11 BD reviews)
4/20/10 - High-Definition Matters #13 (8 BD reviews)
3/11/10 - High-Definition Matters #12 (17 BD reviews)
1/26/10 - High-Definition Matters #11
9/2/09 - High-Definition Matters #10
5/28/09 - High-Definition Matters #9
3/31/09 - High-Definition Matters #8
3/2/09 - High-Definition Matters #7
12/23/08 - The Christmas Column 2008
11/17/08 - High-Definition Matters #6
9/22/08 - High-Definition Matters #5
7/30/08 - High-Definition Matters #4
4/29/08 - High-Definition Matters #3
3/5/08 - High-Definition Matters #2
2/5/08 - High-Definition Matters #1
12/24/07 - The Christmas Column 2007 and New Announcements
8/13/07 - Summer 2007 Reviews HD-DVD & Blu-ray Discs (10 reviews)
4/18/07 - Winter/Early Spring 2007 HD-DVD & Blu-ray Discs (8 reviews)
2/13/07 - Best HD-DVDs of 2006, Reviews & New Announcements (10 reviews)
12/21/06 - The Christmas Column & High Definition Classics (6 reviews)
11/13/06 - HDC - High-Definition Classics and Beyond (11 reviews)


We see more and more British titles - both feature films and TV series - coming to both DVD and Blu-ray these days. Whether comedy or drama, virtually all have a uniquely British style, so it seems only fitting that we have a column specifically devoted to them. It's The British Beat from Barrie Maxwell, who has always had a soft spot for such fare. We hope you'll enjoy his blend of reviews and release news. (And "Go, Spurs, Go" even if Barrie was Birmingham-born!)

Available Columns

4/28/11 - The British Beat - 11 DVD/BD reviews! NEW
1/24/11 - The British Beat - 9 DVD/BD reviews!
10/5/10 - Welcome to The British Beat - Première Column!


With so many studios now offering new and classic film and TV titles on Manufactured on Demand (MOD) DVD-Rs via online retailers, our own Barrie Maxwell felt it was time to start a new weekly column dedicated to the subject to help keep you all up to date on the latest offerings on DVD-R. So that's the purpose of Classic Hollywood MOD. You'll find new columns here every Friday, so do check back regularly. We hope you enjoy it!

Available Columns

7/2/12 - Classic Hollywood MOD #5 (June 25th - 29th, 2012) NEW
6/22/12 - Classic Hollywood MOD #4 (June 18th - 22nd, 2012) NEW
6/15/12 - Classic Hollywood MOD #3 (June 11th - 15th, 2012) NEW
6/8/12 - Classic Hollywood MOD #2
6/1/12 - Introducing Classic Hollywood MOD! (May 28thth - June 1st, 2012)


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