DVD PLAYHOUSE--FEBRUARY 2009

By Allen Gardner

TWO FROM CASSAVETES On the 20th anniversary of his passing, Criterion releases two of John Cassavetes’ landmark independent films, Shadows, his 1959 filmmaking debut that examines an interracial relationship in New York City; and Faces, his searing masterpiece about the dissolution in the marriage between an upper middle class couple (John Marley and Lynn Carlin), with Gena Rowlands and Seymour Cassel as their ill-fated extramarital tryst partners. Both are unforgettable experiences, bolstered by Cassavetes’ signature fly-on-the-wall realism and masterful performances by actors at the peak of their powers. Bonuses on 2 disc set of Faces: 17-minute alternate opening; Episode of the French TV series “Filmmakers of Our Time” devoted to Cassavetes; Two documentaries. Widescreen. Shadows: Interviews with actress Leila Goldoni and associate producer Seymour Cassel; 16mm footage of Cassavetes’ and Burt Lane’s acting workshop; Photo gallery; Trailer. Full screen. Both are Dolby 1.0 mono.
W. (Lions Gate) Oliver Stone’s “unbiased” portrait of President George W. Bush suffers most because of its dominate adjective: it refuses to take a stance on anything. Josh Brolin, Richard Dreyfuss and James Cromwell head a fine cast that does its best with a film that, at 129 minutes, feels like a very long “SNL” sketch played for real, instead of laughs. A few of those wouldn’t have hurt, either! A real let-down from the man who used to be our most consistently provocative filmmaker. Bonuses: Commentary by Stone; Featurette; DVD-ROM features. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED (Magnolia) Smart, trenchant Hollywood satire adapted for the screen by producer Art Linson from his own memoir. Robert De Niro plays a harried Hollywood producer who tries to juggle two ex-wives, several children, one soon-to-be ex (Robin Wright Penn, terrific) and two out-of-control movie productions, one of which is being led by an egomaniacal star (Bruce Willis, in a ballsy turn playing himself, literally!). Terrific supporting cast includes John Turturro as one of the most repellent characters ever to grace a movie screen, Sean Penn, Stanley Tucci and Catherine Keener. Fine return to form for helmer Barry Levinson. Bonuses: Commentary by Levinson and Linson; Deleted scenes; Four featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
ONE DAY LIKE RAIN (Cinetic) Director Paul Todisco's film festival hit tells the story of an Orange County high school girl who looks like your prototypical cheerleader but who may be a visitor from another galaxy with a secret plan to either save the world, or destroy it. Reminiscent of the more non-linear works of David Lynch, Donnie Darko, and The Man Who Fell to Earth, One Day Like Rain is a highly original twist on both the sci-fi and high school genres. Well worth a look for those looking to expand their minds with a little tale of the apocalypse as told through the eyes of a girl who would otherwise be a great prom date. Co-stars Jesse Eisenberg of The Squid and the Whale, as well as the upcoming Adventureland. DVD also includes a making-of short doc by Stas Tagios. Cinetic has released the film through Amazon On-Demand as well, so you can download it directly to your computer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
HOBSON’S CHOICE (Criterion) David Lean’s classic from 1954 stars Charles Laughton as a caustic bootsmith in 19th century Northern England who finds himself at odds with his strong-willed daughter (Brenda De Banzie) who not only wants to forge her own path professionally, but threatens to marry and take her father’s prized apprentice (John Mills, in one of his best turns) as her husband. Rich mixture of fine acting, characterization, and innovative camerawork. Bonuses: Commentary by Lean scholars; BBC documentary on Laughton; Trailer. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION (Criterion) Classic from Douglas Sirk stars Rock Hudson, in his breakthrough role, as a reckless playboy who vows to mend his ways when his selfishness causes two tragedies in a woman (Jane Wyman)’s life. Over-the-top melodrama is near brilliant in its Technicolor sudsiness and histrionics, and became a watermark for an entire genre of ‘50s films. 2 disc set bonuses: Commentary by film scholar Thomas Doherty; Interviews with filmmakers who pay tribute to Sirk; Trailer; 1935 version of the film; Documentary on Sirk. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
THE NATALIE WOOD COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) Six classics featuring Natalie Wood: BOMBERS B-52 has Natalie in love with bomber pilot Ephram Zimbalist, Jr.; CASH MCCALL features Natalie as the daughter of a corporate magnate who finds herself wooed by corporate raider James Garner. SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS, the best film in the set, is Elia Kazan’s masterful adaptation of William Inge’s story of love and repression in Depression-era Kansas. Warren Beatty makes his film debut as Wood’s sensitive, troubled beau. GYPSY features a game, but miscast Wood as legendary stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, in the musical story of her, and her mother (Rosalind Russell, in her signature role)’s journey to the top. SEX AND THE SINGLE GIRL, based on Helen Gurley Brown’s best-seller, stars Wood as a best-selling author on the ways of love, who finds her own love life in chaos. Finally, INSIDE DAISY CLOVER features Wood as a child movie star who makes an awkward transition into adulthood. Great early turn by Robert Redford in support. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
ASHES OF TIME REDUX (Sony Pictures Classics) Filmmaker Wong Kar Wai’s restored, re-edited version of his early martial arts epic about a broken man (Leslie Cheung), acting as a broker for professional assassins. As he narrates the tale of his life, Cheung realizes that he must search for redemption, even if it means his life. Beautiful to look at, if a bit short on plot and coherency. Bonuses: Featurette; Interview with Wong. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
EL NORTE (Criterion) Gregory Nava’s bleak drama of two Guatemalan peasants who risk their lives to illegally cross the border into the U.S. Star realism blends with dreamlike imagery, in a film many have compared to a latter-day Grapes of Wrath. Two disc set bonuses: Commentary by Nava; Trailer; Documentary on the film’s production; Nava’s award-winning student film; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
CHANGELING (Universal) Angelina Jolie delivers a tour-de-force performance in the true story of a single mother in 1928 Los Angeles whose son mysteriously vanishes one day. When the LAPD claim to have found her son safe and sound, she insists that the boy they deliver to her is not her child, leading to a domino-like series of cover-ups, incriminations, and finally, the truth. Clint Eastwood directs the proceedings with his master’s hand. Powerful, disturbing, and heartbreaking drama. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Two featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
FROZEN RIVER (Sony Pictures Classics) Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, this powerful story of Ray, a single mother (Melissa Leo, in a career-making performance) struggling to make ends meet by turning to human smuggling is one of last year’s most powerful, honest films. Misty Upham co-stars as the Native American girl with whom Ray reluctantly joins forces. Fine support from Michael O’Keefe, Charlie McDermott. Writing and directing debut for Courtney Hunt, a real talent. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Hunt and producer Heather Rae. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE TAKING OF POWER BY LOUIS XIV (Criterion) Roberto Rossellini’s neo-realist take on France’s “Sun King,” who built Versailles, and reinvented France’s image on the world stage. One of the director’s last films, released in 1966 and shot in color, it retains Rossellini’s signature humanistic portrayal of royalty and peasants alike. A little-seen, but very worthy entry in the canon of a master. Bonuses: Multi-media essay, Taking Power, by Tad Gallagher; Interviews with surviving crew members, and Rossellini’s son, Renzo. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
IRONWEED (Lions Gate) Dark, depressing, but faithful adaptation of William Kennedy’s dark, depressing novel of Depression-era drifters (Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep) who struggle to survive during the brutal winter of 1938 in Albany, NY. Director Hector Babenco has a keen eye for detail, and the film is bolstered by a fine supporting cast, including Fred Gwyne, Tom Waits, and Carroll Baker. Bonuses: Photo gallery. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
FRIDAY THE 13th TRILOGY Paramount re-releases the original hack-and-slay franchise’s first three installments, in celebration, no doubt, of the remake about to splatter across screens everywhere. Tale of Camp Crystal Lake and its haunting by the homicidal ghost of deceased camper (and hockey fan) Jason Voorhees is basically told the same way in all three chapters: comely camp counselors strip, fornicate, and get killed in increasingly inventive and disgusting ways by our favorite NHL-masked psycho killer. Very little skill, imagination or even real scares exist in these films, which actually seem a bit, ahem, campy by today’s standards. Part 1 is the uncut version, originally rated X by the MPAA for excessive gore. Yup. Look fast for Kevin Bacon in part 1 as one of Jason’s first victims. Bonuses: Commentary by director Sean S. Cunningham, cast and crew; Featurettes; Trailer. 3-D glasses with part 3. All are widescreen, Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE WARNER BROS. ROMANCE COLLECTION Four ‘60s-era titles starring heartthrob Troy Donahue: PALM SPRINGS WEEKEND is campy fluff about guys (Donahue, Robert Conrad) and gals (Connie Stevens, Stefanie Powers) finding romance in the desert during Spring Break; PARRISH stars Donahue as a young man confronting corruption in the tobacco business. ROME ADVENTURE stars Troy in Rome, where he finds lovely Suzanne Pleshette, as well as comely Angie Dickinson! SUSAN SLADE pairs Stevens and Donahue again, in a tragic romance about a girl with a dark secret in her past. All are widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
INSIDE MOVES (Lions Gate) Mostly-successful low key character study from, believe it or not, director Richard Donner, known for action epics like the Lethal Weapon series (although this film does feature a stunning opening that’s almost identical to Lethal Weapon I). John Savage (in his best performance) plays Roary, a handicapped suicide survivor who joins forces with other societal misfits at a local bar. There he forges a bond with bartender Jerry (David Morse), a former high school basketball star whose crippling injury ended his prospects. When Jerry is offered redemption in the form of a life-changing operation on his leg, the result effects his old crew in unexpected ways. Harold Russell, Oscar-winner from The Best Years of Our Lives, shines in his first film role in 35 years, as does Oscar nominee Diana Scarwid, as the fragile barmaid both Jerry and Roary fall for. Screenplay adapted by Barry Levinson and Valerie Curtin from Todd Walton’s novel. Bonuses: Commentary by Donner and screenwriter Brian Helgeland; Featurette; Interviews with Donner and Walton; Donner’s shooting script. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
CLINT EASTWOOD: THE AMERICAN ICON COLLECTION (Universal) A collection of four Clint classics: Play Misty For Me was his 1971 directing debut, in which he stars as a Carmel DJ stalked by an obsessive fan (Jessica Walter). Crackerjack thriller. Eastwood’s mentor, the great Don Siegel, helmed both Coogan’s Bluff , which features Clint as a fish-out-of-water Arizona Sheriff who chases a fugitive to the mean streets of NYC, and The Beguiled, a Civil War-era psychological thriller with Clint as a Yankee solider taken in by a repressed headmistress (Geraldine Page, excellent) and her sexually-starved students in a deep-South girls’ school. One of Eastwood and Siegel’s best. Finally, The Eiger Sanction is a fun, albeit lackluster thriller with Clint as a pro assassin coaxed out of retirement to avenge a friend’s murder in the Swiss Alps. Not one of his best, but still worth watching. Bonuses: Featurettes; Trailers. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
ASIAN ACTION The Weinstein Co./Genius products releases two new titles on their Dragon Dynasty label: PROTÉGÉ, starring Hong Kong action legend Andy Lau, tells the true story of a young cop infiltrating a powerful drug ring, and the repercussions it has on his life. Terrific story twists and action set pieces galore. Jet Li stars in the HK classic THE ENFORCER, as an undercover cop who embeds himself in the city’s most ruthless gang in order to take them down. One of the genre’s all-time classics. Bonuses: Commentary by HK cinema scholar Bey Logan; Featurettes; Interviews with cast and crew. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE ROMANCE OF ASTREA AND CELADON (Koch Lorber) Eric Rohmer’s magical tale of star-crossed lovers in 5th century France kept apart by their feuding families, the lovers are both aided, and abetted, by nymphs, fairies, and a few Earth-bound creatures to keep their romance alive. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
TAXI BLUES (Koch Lorber) Russian classic was filmed and released right before the fall of the Iron Curtain. An anti-Semitic taxi driver flips out when a Jewish passenger, stiffs him on a fare. After tracking the freeloader down, the driver makes the man work off his debt, and the two men soon find themselves forming an unlikely friendship. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
YENTL SPECIAL EDITION (MGM/Fox) Barbara Streisand directs, produces, co-writes and stars in this melodrama about a young Jewish woman at the turn of the century who must masquerade as a man in order to get an education at the prestigious Yeshiva. There she not only falls in love with a young man (Mandy Patinkin, excellent) who views her only as a male buddy, but also finds herself drawing the unwanted advances of a comely girl (Amy Irving) who falls for her make-over hook, line and sinker. Beautifully made, with some great performances (Patinkin and Irving, especially) but equally overwrought and excessively noble, as well. Streisand fans rejoice. Others…your call. Extended cut features bonus footage not seen in the original 1983 release. Bonuses: Commentary by Streisand and co-producer Rusty Lemorande; Deleted scenes; Featurettes; Deleted scenes; Streisands’s 8mm concept film; Photo galleries. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
THE MOON & THE STARS (Lightyear) WW II drama set in Rome where a rich Jewish film producer (Alfred Molina) is trying to make a major epic on the eve of war breaking out in Europe. When the two leads in the film (Catherine McCormack and Jonathan Pryce) fall in love, and the Fascist police are looking for a reason to arrest him, Molina must find a way to finish his film, save his life, and escape Italy before it's too late. Good drama, terrific cast. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.
I SERVED THE KING OF ENGLAND (Sony) With dreams of a life of riches, a diminutive, homely, but ambitious Czech peasant works his way up in a posh, pre-war luxury spa, where he soon finds his dream-come-true by winning the hand of a rich Nazi-sympathizer. Intriguing social satire raises as many questions as it does laughs. Some very sexy scenes. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
LAKE CITY (Screen Media Films) Solid indie drama about a 30-something loser (Troy Garity) who finds himself in trouble with local drug dealers, and runs for solace back to his home town in the deep South, where his mother (Sissy Spacek) and he try to mend fences. Good drama and some truly brutal mayhem is bolstered by a fine supporting cast, including Keith Carradine, Drea De Matteo, musician Dave Matthews (who's quite good), and Rebecca Romijn. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO (Weinstein Co./Genius Products) Kevin Smith’s comedy stars Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Bank as two financially-challenged roommates who decide to pay their bills by making an “indie” adult film. Hit-and-miss gags abound in this mixed bag of big laughs and humor that very few people under 15 will find funny. Worth a rental, providing there’s a few beers nearby. Two disc set. Bonuses: Deleted scenes; Two featurettes; Webisodes; Outttaks, ad-libs and bloopers. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround.
TWO FROM BUNUEL (Criterion) Luis Bunuel was the undisputed master of surrealist satire in cinema. SIMON OF THE DESERT (1965) tells the story of an early Christian ascetic, modeled after Saint Simon Stylites, who has lived atop a pillar surrounded only by barren landscape for six years, six months and six days to prove his love of God. When the Devil appears, in the form of a beautiful woman, to tempt him down, questions of faith mix with feelings of lust. 45 minute extended short is regarded as one of Bunuel’s best. THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL (1962) is Bunuel’s greatest satire, in which a group of high-society friends attend a dinner party, but find themselves inexplicably unable to leave. 2 disc set. Bonuses on both: Documentaries on Bunuel; Interviews with cast and crew members. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.
I LOVE THE ’80S COLLECTION Paramount releases some of its biggest hits from the big hair decade: CHEECH & CHONG: STILL SMOKIN’ finds everyone’s favorite stoners in a wacky series of pot-fueled adventures and gags. Dolby 2.0 mono. THE NAKED GUN is the first, and funniest of the Zucker brothers’ TV cop show satires starring Leslie Nielsen as inept detective Frank Drebin. Bonuses: Commentary by the Zuckers. FLASHDANCE made stars of Jennifer Beals, torn sweatshirts and legwarmers in this story of a blue collar babe who welds by day, and dances by night. COMING TO AMERICA features Eddie Murphy as an African prince who sheds his royal privilege and journeys to New York to find a bride. TOP SECRET! is more zany satire from the brothers Zucker, this time spoofing spy flicks, with a young Val Kilmer as a secret agent/rock star who must travel behind Commie lines to diffuse the ultimate super weapon. Bonuses: Commentary by the Zuckers; 4 alternate scenes; Storyboards. Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. All feature bonus CDs of ‘80s hits.
GREAT DATE MOVIES With Valentine’s Day arriving this month, Warner Bros. releases some of its great love stories: CANNERY ROW is David S. Ward’s sly adaptation of the John Steinbeck novel, starring Nick Nolte and Debra Winger as a bickering, and very in-love, couple in the Central CA. hamlet of Monterey. Narrated wonderfully by John Huston. Bonuses: Trailer. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, from Thomas Hardy’s classic novel (adapted by Frederic Raphael) about a headstrong girl (Julie Christie) who finds herself pursued by three disparate suitors (Terence Stamp, Alan Bates, Peter Finch). Brilliant direction by John Schlesinger, cinematography by Nicolas Roeg. An unheralded great film. Bonuses: European cut, featuring 3 extra minutes of footage; Trailer. THE YELLOW ROLLS-ROYCE is a silly, but entertaining farce that follows the eponymous luxury car as it changes owners, and love stories. All-star cast features Shirley MacLaine, Ingrid Bergman, George C. Scott, Rex Harrison, and Omar Sharif. Bonuses: Trailer. WATERLOO BRIDGE tells the WW II-era romance of soldier Robert Taylor and British lass Viven Leigh, who meet under Waterloo Bridge during an air raid. Terrific melodrama, sure to draw a tear or two. Bonuses: Trailer. Full screen. The rest are widescreen, Dolby 2.0 mono.
BLU-RAY TITLES Universal leads the pack this month with the release of Peter Jackson’s astounding remake of KING KONG, with Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody and Jack Black as the trio that tangles with a lovesick gorilla. Features both theatrical and extended versions of the film. Bonuses: Picture-in-picture features; Art galleries; BD Live; Commentary with Jackson, co-writer/producer Philippa Boyens. Widescreen. DTS 5.1 surround. MGM/Fox releases Blake Edwards' original classic THE PINK PANTHER, the debut of Peter Sellers' wonderfully inept French police inspector Jacques Clouseau. Holds up beautifully, over 40 years later. Bonuses: Commentary by Edwards; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. 20th Century Fox releases THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, starring Dakota Fanning in a poignant coming-of-age tale about a girl who flees an abusive home to live with a family of bee-keepers South Carolina. Bonuses: Theatrical and extended versions. Commentary by cast and crew; Deleted scenes; Six featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. NAPOLEON DYNAMITE is the sleeper indie hit about a small town nebbish (Jon Heder) who finds redemption and glory in the unlikeliest of friendships. Bonuses: Outtakes and deleted scenes; Cast and crew commentary; Original short film; Five featurettes; Photo gallery. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. OFFICE SPACE is Mike Judge’s near-brilliant satire of mid-level corporate life, with Ron Livingston as an average Joe who decides to chuck it all and beat the system at its own game. Bonuses: Trivia track; Games; Documentary; 8 deleted scenes; Trailer. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. UNFAITHFUL tells the sizzling story of philandering wife Diane Lane, and how her affair with a younger man has tragic consequences for her family, particularly her husband (Richard Gere). Terrific thriller/drama. Bonuses: Commentary by director Adrian Lyne; 11 deleted scenes; Interviews with cast and crew; Featurettes. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. DRUMLINE is the inspirational story of a student who scores a top position in the marching band of a Southern university. Bonuses: Featurettes; 4 deleted scenes; Commentary by director Charles Stone III. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. ANTWONE FISHER marked Denzel Washington’s directing debut, starring Derek Luke in the true story of a troubled Navy man, who finds solace in the counsel of psychiatrist Washington. Fine drama. Bonuses: Three featurettes; Commentary by Washington, producer Todd Black. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. SIDEWAYS is co-writer/director Alexander Payne’s full-bodied romantic comedy about two very different pals (Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church) who find romance with two very different gals (Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh) during a wine tasting trip in Santa Ynez. Bonuses: Commentary by Giamatti and Church; 7 deleted scenes; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE is a barbed dysfunctional family comedy about the misadventures that befall a clan while driving their daughter to a children’s talent and beauty pageant. Bonuses: Four featurettes; Commentary by directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, screenwriter Michael Arndt; Music video. Widescreen. Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
DOCUMENTARY TITLES Black History Month brings us several titles about the African-American experience: two films on our new President, Paramount’s OBAMA: ALL ACESS features two years of “60 Minutes” coverage of Barack Obama and his historic campaign, and New Video’s BARACK OBAMA, from The Biography Channel, traces Obama’s humble beginnings to his road to the White House. Both are full screen, Dolby 2.0. MGM/Fox releases AKA CASSIUS CLAY, a look at the remarkable life of boxer and humanitarian extraordinaire Muhammad Ali; KING, a fine TV docudrama starring Paul Winfield as Dr. Martin Luther King, and Cicely Tyson as Coretta Scott King. Bonuses: Two documentaries; Featurette; Interview with Tony Bennett and writer/director Abby Mann. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson does a fairly good job playing himself in THE JACKIE ROBINSON STORY, about the first black baseball player to make it to the major leagues. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. 20th Century Fox releases CHISOLM ’72, documenting the political career of trailblazer Shirley Chisolm, the first black woman to run for President. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Other documentary titles: Comedian Bill Maher takes a barbed look at the world’s religions with his scathing doc RELIGULOUS. At turns hilarious and offensive. Bonuses: Commentary by Maher and director Larry Charles; Deleted scenes; Maher’s monologues. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Image and Thinkfilm release ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED a warts-and-all look at the director’s statutory rape trial in the ‘70s and his exile in France. Bonuses: Commentary by director Marina Zenovich and editor Joe Bini; Deleted scenes; Bonus interviews. Widescreen. Dolby 5.1 surround. Koch Lorber’s IMAGINARY WITNESS: HOLLYWOOD AND THE HOLOCAUST examines Hollywood and popular culture’s reaction to the greatest of human atrocities. Narrated by Gene Hackman. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. New Video releases The History Channel’s THE FOUNDING OF AMERICA, a handsome 14 disc box set featuring nine different documentaries and two mini-series about the forging of the United States. Bonuses: Featurettes; Timeline; Anecdotes; Quotes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. Finally, Mill Creek Entertainment releases SAM KINISON UNLEASHED, comprised of the late comic’s two HBO specials from 1987 and 1991. Profane, hilarious and honest-to-a-fault, Kinison was a manic social commentator. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono.
DON’T TOUCH THAT DIAL! More of TV’s greatest hits arrive on DVD. Paramount releases RETURN OF THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., which reunites '60s TV spies Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Ilya Kurayakin (David McCallum) to battle an old nemesis (Anthony Zerbe). Great fun, with a cheeky cameo by a former James Bond. Bonuses: Trailer. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. CHEERS THE FINAL SEASON, a 4 disc set in which Sam Malone and the gang say their farewells to everyone’s favorite neighborhood watering hole. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. THE INVADERS: THE SECOND SEASON features the further adventures of Roy Thinnes’ battle against invading alien forces. Bonuses: Intros by Thinnes; Interview with Thinnes; Commentary on “The Peacemaker” by Alan Armer. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. BECKER: THE SECOND SEASON features Ted Danson as a caustic Bronx physician who offends all who cross his path. 3 disc set features 24 episodes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. MELROSE PLACE: THE FIFTH SEASON, VOL. 1 features 19 episodes on 4 discs, and more steamy plotting and sub-plotting from the beautiful denizens of MP. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. OUT AT THE WEDDING is a smart, funny comedy about a woman who shows up at a family wedding solo. When rumors that she’s gay start spreading, she goes along, afraid to tell her family that her fiancée is really a Jewish black man. Bonuses: Commentary by director Lee Friedlander. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES: SEASON 3 features 34 episodes on 5 discs, and more down-home shenanigans from the ultimate fishes-out-of-water, the Clampett family. Bonuses: Featurette; Original opening and closing credits; Photo gallery. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE FIRST SEASON features thrills and chills from the 1980s horror anthology show, 24 episodes. Bonuses: Commentary by exec producer George A. Romero. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Acorn Media releases terrific titles from the UK: TRIAL & RETRIBUTION, from the creator of Prime Suspect, is sort of a British Law & Order, bolstered by fine acting and writing. Bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; Featurette. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. EAST OF EDEN is the miniseries version of John Steinbeck’s classic novel, starring Jane Seymour, Bruce Boxleitner and Lloyd Bridges. More faithful in terms of adapting the entire, sprawling novel, but can’t hold a candle to Kazan’s 1954 film that made a star of James Dean. Bonuses: Interview with Seymour; Steinbeck bio. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. PAINTED LADY is a hit-and-miss thriller with Helen Mirren as a washed up ‘60s pop star who finds herself immersed in the world of high art fraud after her closest friend is murdered. Fine acting and great moments and undone by some not-so-great moments. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER is a rollicking adaptation of the 18th century Oliver Goldsmith play about a high-born girl who passes herself off as a peasant barmaid to win the heart of her stuffy suitor. Bonuses: Documentary on Goldsmith. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. CRACKER: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION features all 11 TV films starring Robbie Coltrane as Britain’s most brash and brilliant forensic psychologist. 10 disc set. Bonuses: Featurette. Full and widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo. ENEMY AT THE DOOR: SERIES 1 is a 1978 series about the Germans’ occupation of the British Channel Islands during WW II and the uneasy coexistence between the two tribes. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Shout Factory releases SIMON & SIMON: SEASON TWO, continuing the adventures of sibling private eyes, good ol’ boy Rick and preppy A.J. Simon. Features a “crossover” episode with Magnum PI. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Koch Lorber releases DENNIS POTTER: 3 TO REMEMBER, featuring three of the brilliant author’s classic British television dramas: Blade on the Feather, Rain on the Roof, Cream in My Coffee, all wholly original, thrilling dramas mixing intrigue, sex and surrealism. Bonuses: Potter’s final interview before his death. Full screen. Dolby 2.0 mono. WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN? is the only filmed version of Budd Schulberg’s classic Hollywood novel, produced by NBC in 1959, starring John Forsythe, Larry Blyden, Barbara Rush and Dina Merrill. Bonuses: Commentary by Merrill and Rush; Interview with Schulberg; Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. HBO releases CHRIS ROCK: KILL THE MESSENGER, the comic’s HBO special featuring highlights from concerts in South Africa, London and Harlem’s Apollo Theater. Rock is as gifted a social commentator as Lenny Bruce and George Carlin. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 mono. Finally, New Video releases two mammoth boxed sets: THE SPY COLLECTION features 14 discs of classic episodes from the ‘60s and early ‘70s British series The Prisoner, The Persuaders, The Champions, and The Protectors. Great fun, with many of the episodes far outshining anything currently on the airwaves. Bonuses: Audio commentary; Broadcast trailers; Featurettes; Trivia; Photo galleries. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono. THE ‘60S is a 14 disc set featuring eight different History Channel programs on the nation’s most tumultuous decade: King, 1968 with Tom Brokaw, The Vietnam War, History Presents: The Race to the Moon, Voices of Civil Rights, JFK: A Presidency Revealed, The 1960’s, Days of Rage and Wonder. Bonuses: Interviews with Tom Brokaw, and other participants; Featurettes; Bonus episodes of Biography Full screen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.