'Inglorious Bastards' Director Celebrates 70th Birthday With DVD Release

30 Jul, 2008 By: Chris Tribbey

The Inglorious Bastards event.

LOS ANGELES — It was an excellent 70th birthday July 29 for Italian director Enzo G. Castellari.

For the first time, his 1977 war movie Inglorious Bastards is out on DVD (in a three-disc set from London-based Severin Films). To mark both occasions, friends of Castellari, movie stars and representatives from Severin and Ryko Distribution packed the Italian Cultural Institute, toasting Castellari with champagne and sharing a cake featuring the DVD cover.

“This is a very happy day for me. You are giving me something on my birthday I never expected,” Enzo said. “Quentin [Tarantino] is doing a remake of my movie … I'm so lucky. I'm so happy. I'm in L.A. I'm in Hollywood.”

Tarantino, whose remake is scheduled for a 2009 release, was unable to attend since he was flying to Berlin, representatives of Severin said. However, actors Fred Williamson, Lou Ferrigno and Bo Svenson, and director Joe Dante showed up.

“Our expectations [for the DVD] are very high,” said Severin CEO Carl Daft. “It's our biggest release ever, and with Tarantino's remake, the buzz for it should be good. We were astonished when we found nobody had picked it up yet for DVD distribution.

“If you're gonna make a war movie, you know Quentin Tarantino is going to do it well. Certainly, Brad [Pitt] and Leonardo [DiCaprio] will bring people to the theater.” Tarantino is reportedly seeking the two actors for lead roles in his film.

The DVD features a remastered transfer of the film, an interview with Tarantino and Castellari, trailers, a tour of shooting locations, a making-of documentary and a CD soundtrack.