To Live and Die in L.A. (United Artists photo)
July 9, 2023
The 1985 neo-noir crime thriller To Live and Die in L.A. will make its 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray debut on July 18, courtesy of Kino Lorber.
It’s the latest Hollywood blockbuster to make its first appearance on the format not by the original studio, but, rather, by an independent film distributor.
Also on July 18, Kino Lorber will release the film on regular Blu-ray Disc.
To Live and Die in L.A. was directed and co-written by William Friedkin and is based on the 1984 novel by former Secret Service agent Gerald Petievich, who co-wrote the screenplay with Friedkin. The film stars William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, John Turturro, Darlanne Fluegel, Debra Feuer, Dwier Brown, John Pankow, Dean Stockwell, Steve James, Michael Greene, and Robert Downey Sr., among others.
In the film, federal agent Richard Chance (Petersen) has a score to settle, and he’s through playing by the rules. Whether that means blackmailing a beautiful parolee, disobeying direct orders or hurtling the wrong way down a crowded freeway, he vows to take down a murderous counterfeiter (Dafoe) by any means necessary.
The 4K Ultra HD edition was made from a new HDR/Dolby Vision master from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, and features 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Lossless Audio. Bonus features include an audio commentary with Friedkin.
The package also includes a regular Blu-ray Disc, which also is available separately. The Blu-ray Disc edition was made from a new HD master and in addition to the audio commentary with Friedkin includes interviews with actors Petersen, Feuer and Brown; composers Wang Chung; and stunt coordinator Buddy Joe Hooker. There’s also a making-of documentary, a deleted scene, and an alternate ending.