On August 30th, Criterion will release Blu-ray and DVD editions of Orson Welles’ The Immortal Story. This 1968 work was Welles’ first color picture and would also prove to be the last fiction film he completed, as well as his shortest feature at 58 minutes. It was originally produced for French television and ran at just 48 minutes, though the English-language version, which hit U.S. theatres in 1969, is ten minutes longer.

Criterion has produced a newly restored, 4K digital transfer of the English-language cut, but the French-language TV version will be included, as well. Criterion is also readying the restored version of Chimes at Midnight, Orson’s 1966 film, which has recently been making the rounds in art house theatres. Both films star Welles and actress Jeanne Moreau.
 

 

Stills of Welles and Moreau in ‘The Immortal Story.’

The Criterion releases will mark the first time either picture has been made available on home video in the U.S. Pre-order both through Criterion’s website. Amazon has listings for The Immortal Story and Chimes at Midnight, though they can’t be pre-ordered just yet.

Here’s a restored clip from The Immortal Story:
 

 
H/T: Wellesnet