Doctor Zhivago Makes an Urgent House Call in May

Director David Lean’s 1965 historical epic Doctor Zhivago stars Omar Sharif in the title role as a married surgeon in love with a nurse (Julie Christie) during the Russian Bolshevik Revolution. The sweeping romance was nominated for 10 Oscars and won five back in a time when the Academy seemed to seriously consider the merits of each nominee instead of letting a monkey draw them from a hat.

Warner Bros. has always given its catalog classics the royal treatment and Doctor Zhivago is no exception. On May 4, the studio will release restored DVD and Blu-ray editions to celebrate the film’s 45^th anniversary. "We're very excited about this meticulous new restoration and how incredible Doctor Zhivago will look on Blu-ray," said George Feltenstein, WHV's Senior Vice President, Theatrical Catalog Marketing. "The qualities that have kept the film so vital and popular all these years — the sweeping love story, the gorgeous vistas and unforgettable imagery — are all dramatically enhanced through the unprecedented technical capabilities of Blu-ray. The result is not only breathtakingly beautiful to look at but also provides a magnificent aural experience."

Both versions will contain a new documentary about the enduring legacy of the film as well as new commentaries and 11 vintage featurettes. The Blu-ray is the Doctor you want to marry to your collection, however. It comes packaged with a 44-page booklet featuring essays, cast photos, historical facts and even a CD with eight selections from the Oscar-winning soundtrack that featured “Lara’s Theme.”