Private School Blu-ray - Betsy Russell

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Noel Black
USA 1983

Welcome to Cherryvale Academy!

Phoebe Cates (Fast Times At Ridgemont High), Matthew Modine (Birdy), and Betsy Russell (Tomboy) star in the outrageous romantic comedy that could only happen in the '80s: Private School! Cherryvale student Christine Ramsay (Cates) and Jim Green (Modine) from the nearby Freemount Academy are experiencing the joys and pains of first love. But when Christine's rival Jordan (Russell) sets her sights on Jim, and Jim's party animal pal Bubba (Michael Zorek) attempts to make his move on Jordan, it sets off a cavalcade of raucous hijinks that turn both the schools – and Chris and Jim's lives – upside-down.

Featuring Kathleen Wilhoite, Ray Walston, Martin Mull, Sylvia Kristel, and a soundtrack of hits from The Stray Cats, Vanity 6, Rick Springfield, and more, Private School on Blu-ray will take you back to the glorious era of watching scrambled late-night cable channels (but without the eye strain).

***

Three of the hallmarks of education in America -- nudity, teenage sex, and big, destructive gags -- are on plentiful display in this teen comedy. Christine (Phoebe Cates), a student at an exclusive all-girls private school, is in love with Jim (Matthew Modine), who attends an academy for boys nearby. Christine's archrival Jordan (Betsy Russell) also has her eye on Jim, and she is willing to do whatever she can to steal him away. Jim's über-slob buddy Bubba (Michael Zorek) is going with Betsy (Kathleen Wilhoite), Christine's cynical friend, though he would probably be unfaithful if any other woman were willing to get near him. Bubba and his pals sneak into the girls' school dressed in drag in hopes of reaching the Promised Land (better known as the women's shower room), while Christine and Jim run away together for the weekend, though their escapade isn't as romantic as they had hoped. Among the adults observing the chaos are Ray Walston, Fran Ryan, Martin Mull, and Sylvia Kristel; one of the sexy students on display is future scream queen Brinke Stevens..

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 22nd, 1983

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Review: Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Shout! Factory - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:28:48.906
Video	1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 44,210,523,449 bytes Feature: 25,671,450,624 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.48 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1637 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1637 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentaries: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Shout! Factory 1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 44,210,523,449 bytes Feature: 25,671,450,624 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.48 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • NEW Interview With Actor Matthew Modine (28:17) • NEW Interview With Actress Betsy Russell (17:07) • NEW Audio Commentary With Actor Michael Zorek • NEW Audio Commentary With Teen Movie Hell Author Mike McPadden And Television Writer/Producer Aaron Lee VHS Version of Private School (4:3, Standard Definition - 1:28:34) • Trailers (2:12) • Radio Spots (8:04) • Image Gallery (8:08) Blu-ray Release Date: October 29th, 2019 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Shout! Factory Blu-ray (October 2019): Shout! Factory have transferred the 80's sex-comedy Private School to Blu-ray. It's on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It looks pretty consistent, clean, with bright colors and detail that is probably reaching its zenith in this 1080P format.

On their Blu-ray, Shout! Factory use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (24-bit) in the original English language. There is no official score but pop music sampled throughout by The Stray Cats, Vanity 6, Rick Springfield and others. Shout! Factory offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Shout! Factory Blu-ray has a bunch of new extras starting with a couple of fun commentaries; first with actor Michael Zorek and a second, group-effort, with Teen Movie Hell: A Crucible of Coming-of-Age Comedies from Animal House to Zapped! author Mike McPadden And Television Writer/Producer Aaron Lee. I have yet to fully listen to either. There are also new interviews with likeable actor Matthew Modine - running almost 1/2 hour and with, still sexy (although not recognizable as the same 19-year old ultra-nubile from Private School) Betsy Russell for 17-minutes. Shout! also include the 4:3, 'Standard Definition' 4:3 VHS version of Private School for some reason, plus there are trailers, radio spots and an image gallery.

There is pretty much only nostalgia-value here for the film, but the commentaries and extras may prove a solid bonus to purchasers who are seeking more than a clumsy, ham-fisted teen sex-comedy. Being grouchy - we also don't see anywhere near enough of Sylvia Kristel (take that anyway you want.) I had forgotten, however, why I had such a crush on Betsy Russell - now I remember why. It's not even much of a cute film but the Shout! Factory Blu-ray have done the best they could with this title.