We have just received the latest release announcements from Buena Vista Home Video for the month of August, and the list includes a number of very exciting titles.

The Academy-Award winning The Cider House Rules, starring Michael Caine, is the first on the list, scheduled for release as a special edition on August 15. Set in a Maine orphanage in the 1940’s the story centers on Homer Wells, a young man who grows up in an orphanage run by Dr. Wilbur Larch, who takes the boy under his wing as his protégé. Against Dr. Larch’s wishes, he decides to strike out on his own and hitches a ride with a young couple, Wally and Candy to their family apple cider house. Homer’s experiences teach him lessons about life and love and how far he needs to travel to find where he truly belongs.

The DVD will contain an anamorphic widescreen transfer of the movie and a 5.0 Dolby Digital audio track, as well as a 5.1 track in French. The release will contain an audio commentary, documentaries and deleted scenes, as well as the movie’s theatrical trailer.

Holy Smoke is the next film on the list, scheduled for August 8. Starring Harvey Keitel and Kate Winslet, “Holy Smoke” is the story of a young Australian woman who travels to India and ends up joining a “cult.” When her working-class family hires a professional cult specialist to coax her out of her delusions in a remote desert hideaway, the deduction and electricity ensue.

The disc will contain an anamorphic widescreen transfer and a 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track. The only extra on the disc will be a trailer.

Then there is The Grandfather, also on August 8, the story of the old Count of Albrit, now penniless and almost blind, who returns from America where he has lost his large fortune. While he is pleased to meet his charming granddaughters, he is burdened by a terrible secret that surrounds them – one that will ultimately put family loyalties to the test of their lives!

The disc will also contain a widescreen presentation of the film in a 16×9 enhanced transfer and feature a Spanish Dolby Surround audio track with English subtitles. The only extra on the disc will once again be a trailer.

Jerry And Tom is also part of the release line-up on August 8, featuring a 16×9 enhanced widescreen transfer and a fullframe presentation with a 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track. It is the humorous story of a veteran mob hit man, played by Joe Montegna, who has to show the ropes to a rookie, Jerry. Jerry acquires such a taste for his new profession that it scares those around him who scare people for a living.

Then there is John Frankenheimer’s Reindeer Games, starring Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise and Charlize Theron. It is the week before Christmas and only two days to go before Rudy and Nick are released from prison. Nick is looking forward to spending a life with his pen pal Ashley and Rudy to some pecan pie with his family. When Nick is tabbed to death, Rudy assumes the role of Nick with the beautiful Ashley. The action and deception starts when Rudy realizes that Ashley has actually double crossed Nick and made him part of an armed casino robbery with her brother.

The DVD, also scheduled for August 8, comes with a 16×9 enhanced widescreen transfer and a fullframe presentation and a 5.1 Dolby Digital audio track. Extras include an audio commentary by John Frankenheimer and deleted scenes.

All titles carry a suggested retail price of $29.99 with the exception of “The Cider House Rules,” which will retail at $32.98, and interestingly all discs will boast new 16×9 enhanced widescreen transfers. It appears as if finally, Buena Vista is fully committing to the increased resolution!