One of the best comedies of all time, enhanced

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Anybody remember the wonderful comedy “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World?” On January 20 a brand spanking new edition of the film in both DVD and Blu-Ray was released. It’s huge: a five-disk set which contains the following:

  • Restored 4K digital film transfer of the general release version of the film, with 5.1 surround Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • New high-definition digital transfer of a 197-minute extended version of the film, reconstructed and restored by Robert A. Harris using visual and audio material from the longer original road-show version—including some scenes that have been returned to the film here for the first time—with 5.1 surround Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • New audio commentary featuring It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World aficionados Mark Evanier, Michael Schlesinger, and Paul Scrabo
  • New documentary on the film’s visual and sound effects, featuring rare behind-the-scenes footage of the crew at work and interviews with visual-effects specialist Craig Barron and sound designer Ben Burtt
  • Talk show from 1974 hosted by director Stanley Kramer and featuring Mad World actors Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, and Jonathan Winters
  • Press interview from 1963 featuring Kramer and members of the film’s cast
  • Interviews recorded for the 2000 AFI program 100 Years…100 Laughs, featuring comedians and actors discussing the influence of the film
  • Two-part 1963 episode of the CBC television program Telescope that follows the film’s press junket and premiere
  • The Last 70mm Film Festival, a program from 2012 featuring cast and crew members from Mad World at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, hosted by Billy Crystal
  • Selection of humorist and voice-over artist Stan Freberg’s original TV and radio advertisements for the film, with a new introduction by Freberg
  • Original and rerelease trailers, and rerelease radio spots
  • Two Blu-rays and three DVDs, with all content available in both formats
  • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Lou Lumenick

You can get a copy at Amazon for $29.99, which has to be one of the greatest bargains in the history of home video.