In The Balcony DVD Calendar

October 7

7th Voyage of Sinbad (50th Anniversary Edition) (Sony, $19.94) The original DVD release of this all-time Ray Harryhausen favorite looked like crap, so this one is much anticipated.

Johnny Cash Christmas Specials 1976-1979 (Shout! Factory, $49.98) Each year is also available separately ($14.98). The best part about these specials is that they were filmed before the song “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” was written.

Le Doulos (Criterion, $39.95) 1962 French crime classic starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, given the usual sterling Criterion treatment. Also available from Criterion, another French gangster picture from director Jean-Pierre Melville, Le Deuxième Souffle (also $39.95).

Alice Faye Collection, Vol. 2 (Fox, $49.98) Includes Rose of Washington Square, Hollywood Cavalcade, The Great American Broadcast, Hello, Frisco, Hello, and Four Jills in a Jeep. All are also available separately for $14.98 each.

Ghost Ship (Televista, $24.95) Hazel Court stars in this 1952 story about spooks at sea.

Ray Harryhausen Collection Blu-Ray (Sony, $107.95) Includes 20 Million Miles to Earth, Earth vs. Flying Saucers, It Came from Beneath the Sea, and 7th Voyage of Sinbad.

Alfred Hitchcock Universal Legacy Series (Universal, $26.98 each) New editions of several Hitchcock masterpieces, including Psycho, Vertigo, and Rear Window.

Mission Impossible: Five TV Season Pack (Paramount, $249) If you have $250 to spend on this, you have a better job than I have.

Moon Zero Two/When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (Warners, $19.98) Three sci-fi double features previously available only as Best Buy exclusives now available everywhere. Well, everywhere that stacks up movies like Moon Zero Two. The other titles are World Without End/Satellite in the Sky and Battle Beneath the Earth/The Ultimate Warrior.

The Picture of Dorian Gray (Warners, $19.97) Finally, the classic 1945 chiller – one of the most requested titles from Balconeers – comes to DVD.

Sleeping Beauty Blu-Ray (Disney, $34.99) and Platinum Edition DVD (Disney, $29.99) One of the most beautiful of the Disney animated classics has been restored ,and the discs are packed with bonus material.

The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 4: 1943-1945 (Sony, $24.96) 21 more chronological Stooges short subjects as we approach the end of the Curly era.

Touch Of Evil: 50th Anniversary Edition (Universal, $26.98) Multiple versions of the mangled Orson Welles classic.

Edgar Wallace Collection, Vol. 2 (Retromedia, $19.98) A pair of dubbed horrors, including Curse of the Yellow Snake and The Phantom of Soho.

Watership Down: Deluxe Edition (Warners, $19.98) The 1978 animated fable gets a Deluxe Edition. It’s about bunnies. That’s pretty much all I can tell you.

The Yankee Clipper (Televista, $19.95) 1927 silent rarity with William Boyd and Frank Coghlan, Jr.

Young Frankenstein Blu-ray (Fox, $39.98) Forty bucks? It’s not THAT funny.

October 14

Adventures of Robin Hood: Complete Second Season (Mill Creek, $14.98) The popular British series of the 1950s (imported stateside) remains a popular nostalgic attraction.

Arch of Triumph (Republic, $14.98) Lions Gate (holder of the Republic catalog) doesn’t much dip into the vaults, but here’s the 1948 film with Ingrid Bergman. Also available today: One Touch of Venus (also $14.98) with Ava Gardner.

Chaplin: 15th Anniversary Edition (Lions Gate, $19.98) Richard Attenborough’s bio of the quintessential screen comic was greeted tepidly, but grows in esteem every year. Robert Downey, Jr., and Geraldine Chaplin star.

Hermitage Hill Serials ($17.95 each, mainly) Vintage cliffhanger titles previously available through the Serial Squadron website (serialsquadron.com) are now available for ordering through amazon.com. Titles include The Jungle Princess (1927, a 4-chapter condensed version of a lost serial), The Rustlers of Red Dog with Johnny Mack Brown, and Undersea Kingdom with “Crash” Corrigan, which is $15.95. They thought they could sneak Mala: Secret Agent of the South Seas past us, but they can’t. This was the Serial Squadron’s attempt to take a lousy serial and make it worse by cutting out big swatches of footage, rainbowizing it, and chopping it from 14 chapters to 7. Congratulations, guys: for your ridiculous efforts, you’ve just picked up The Official In The Balcony Worst DVD of the Month Award for October.

Alfred Hitchcock Premiere Collection (MGM, $119.98) A collection of some of Hitchcock’s best films and some of his lesser titles. Includes Lifeboat, Spellbound, Notorious, The Paradine Case, Sabotage, Young and Innocent, Rebecca and The Lodger.

Icons of Horror: Hammer Films (Sony, $24.96) Four lesser Hammer titles, including The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, Scream of Fear, and The Gorgon. Unlike recent “Icons” releases from Sony, no vintage Columbia shorts, serial chapters, or cartoons are included, and they’re going to be missed.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Paramount) Available in a single edition, double edition, boxed edition, Blu-Ray, Purple Ray, whatever. You’ll find an edition for every budget. I didn’t like this movie very much, but since Joe Dante's Matinee isn’t coming out today, this’ll have to be the best retro-50s-sci-fi spoof in stores.

The Man In The Iron Mask and The Last of the Mohicans (Firecake Ent., $24.99 each) Postponed from last month.

March of the Wooden Soldiers (MGM, $14.98) What a delightful Christmas present! Released last year in a boxed set, now you can get it all by itself, the annual Laurel & Hardy masterpiece, beautifully restored. One of our favorites.

Notorious: Special Edition (MGM, $19.98) Frankly, I think it’s Hitchcock’s best film. Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman star.

The Partridge Family: The Complete Third Season (Sony, $29.94) C’mon, GET HAPPY already. Don’t make us come over there and slap you around until you get happy.

Ultraman Box Set (Navarre, $49.98) Is the cult favorite Japanese TV series of the 1960s being re-released more affordably? Hai!

October 21

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - The Complete Series (Warners, $199.92) If you haven’t seen this show in a while, you’re going to be shocked at how cheesy it is.

Looney Tunes: Golden Collection, Vol. 6 (Warners, $64.98) Hey, it’s time once again for the annual release of dozens of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons. Also available in a 2-disc Spotlight Collection ($26.98) but why buy that when you can buy this?

Missing (Criterion, $39.95) Vincent Canby of the N.Y. Times called this a “beautifully achieved political melodrama”, but I think he was confused and talking about Laredo with Neville Brand.

Kenji Mizoguchi's Fallen Women (Criterion/Eclipse) We love Mizoguchi’s classic Sansho the Bailiff, and here are four more films from the prolific director, including Osaka Elegy, Sisters of the Gion, Women of the Night, and Street of Shame.

Route 66: Complete Second Season (Roxbury, $49.98) For those of you who have not yet gotten your kicks.

Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. (VCI, $29.99) The fourth and final of the Republic Dick Tracy serials, and one of the best. Ralph Byrd and Ralph Morgan star, as well as some people not named Ralph.

Bond. James Bond. (MGM, various prices) The Bond films are re-released for what seems like the 7000th time, this time in new 2-disc standard and Blu-Ray editions, separately or in boxed sets. A new “40th Anniversary Edition” of the original Casino Royale ($19.98) is out too. Congratulations if you can make it all the way through THAT one.

Warner Gangsters Collection, Vol. 4 (Warners, $59.98) Another rich vein of tough-guy gold plus tons of cartoons and vintage shorts and trailers and newsreels and all good stuff like that. Includes the films The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse, Invisible Stripes, Kid Galahad, Larceny, Inc., and The Little Giant, plus a new documentary called Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film which will contain a lot of spoilers so watch the movies first.

October 28

10 Years of Rialto Pictures (Criterion, $149.95) A beautiful collection of outstanding films celebrating the 10th anniversary of Rialto Pictures, which brings film classics old and new back to genuine movie theatres. Includes Army of Shadows, Rififi, The Third Man, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Mafioso, Billy Liar, Au Hazard Balthazar, Band of Outsiders, Murderous Maids, and Touchez pas au Grisbi.

Abbott and Costello: The Complete Universal Pictures Collection (Universal, $119.98) The previous Universal A&C boxed sets were on junky DVDs that frequently froze up, so here they are presented better, and we should all be able to get our money back on the old one. Includes 28 Abbott & Costello pictures, including the three they made that were funny, Buck Privates, Hold That Ghost, and Abbott & Costello meet Frankenstein. Also includes It Ain’t Hay!, previously unavailable, and a book on the team.

Documentary Awards Collection: 10 Academy Award Winners and Nominees (New Video Group, $99.95) It’s nice to see things like this; for decades, shorts and documentaries would win Oscars and then disappear forever.

The Donna Reed Show: Complete First Season (Arts Alliance, $39.95) Well, you probably remember that it stars Donna Reed. Carl Betz played Mr. Reed, and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen – both of whom went on to record hit records – are the kids.

Fanex Files presents Arkoff: The Incredible Story of the Founder of American-International Pictures (Alpha, $9.98) Well, the title kind of says it all, so we’ll leave it at that. But say, where are I Was a Teenage Werewolf and It Conquered the World on DVD?

The Little Rascals: The Complete Collection (Genius, $89.95) Okay, first of all, a word of explanation: this box includes all 80 of the Our Gang short subjects produced by Hal Roach from 1929-1938. It includes a few bonus earlier Our Gang shorts from the silent era. It does not include any of the shorts produced after Roach sold Our Gang to MGM in 1938 (the ones with Froggy, Mickey, and Janet). So this is a complete chronological set of the Our Gang shorts retitled “The Little Rascals” for TV in the 1950s, including such stars as Spanky, Alfalfa, Jackie Cooper, Wheezer, Stymie, Darla, Porky, Buckhwheat, Farina, Butch, and all the rest. The shorts are all restored and unedited. In a great month for DVD releases, this rates our Official In The Balcony Best DVD of Month for October.

Michigan vs. Ohio State: The Rivalry (HBO, $19.98) War on the gridiron – the greatest rivalry in the history of sports.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory, $69.99) The Bad Brains guys were unhappy with the previous Rhino releases of this show, and have moved over to Shout! beginning with this release. Films skewered include First Spaceship on Venus (1960), Laserblast (1978), Werewolf (1996), and Future War (1997). In a tin box with lobby cards and a Crow T. Robot figurine. Watch out for snakes!

And those September Releases...

Fox Film Noir (Fox, ($14.98 each) A trio of dark films, including the previously postponed Boomerang (1947, directed by Elia Kazan) and two new Ida Lupino-starred additions to the Fox Film Noir collection, Road House (1948) and Moontide (1942).

Hillbillies on TV - The Ozark Jubilee (Stomper Time, $29.49) A collection of performances from a 1950s TV show hosted by Red Foley, with Brenda Lee, Rex Allen, Sonny James, and many others.

Honey West: The Complete Series (VCI, $39.99) Anne Francis stars in the short-lived but memorable TV detective series.

Old Time Comedy Classics, Vol. 5 (Televista, $19.95). This set includes The Bell Hop with Larry Semon, Danger Ahead with “Hairbreadth Harry”, Flirty Four-Flushers with Billy Bevan, His Day Out, The Wrong Mr. Fox.

Quark - The Complete Series (Sony, $19.94) Blink-and-ya-missed it TV series, a Star Trek parody with Richard Benjamin.

The Wolves ( Shussho Iwai ) (Animeigo $24.98) 1971 Japanese gangster film starring Noboru Ando.

Bees in Paradise (Televista, $24.95) 1944 British comedy from director Val Guest; stars popular Brit comic Arthur Askey.

Essential Art House, Vol. 1 (Janus/Criterion, $99.95) Now this is something for movie lovers to get excited about – a collection of the world’s greatest films in new, no-frills packaging at an affordable price. Perfect for completing – or starting – a classic film library. Each title is also available separately ($19.95 each). Titles in the first set include Jean Renoir’s Grand Illusion, Jean Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast, Lord of the Flies, Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, Roman Polanski’s Knife in the Water, and Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon.

Fox Horror Classics Collection, Vol. 2 (Fox, $19.98) Their status as horror films is arguable, but you get Dragonwyck (1946, with Gene Tierney and Vincent Price), Dr. Renault’s Secret (1942, with George Zucco), and Chandu the Magician (1932, with Bela Lugosi).

The Last of the Mohicans (Firecreek, $24.99) Randolph Scott is Hawkeye in the 1936 version of James Fennimore Cooper’s classic adventure tale. Released on DVD as part of the Moviology series; see our note for Man in the Iron Mask.

The Man In The Iron Mask (Firecreek, $24.99) Classic 1939 version, directed by James Whale. Firecreek is releasing this and Last of the Mohicans on dual-sided discs, each film in regular 1.33:1 format plus a new 16:9 anamorphic widescreen edition. We do not approve.

Rodan / War of the Gargantuas (Classic Media, $19.95) Terrific twosome of Japanese monster pictures, with Rodan (1956) and Gargantuas (1966) presented in both Japanese and dubbed American versions. For sheer Saturday matinee fun, our pick for In The Balcony DVD of the Month for September!

Hermitage Hill Classic Cliffhangers ($19.95 each, mainly) Previously available only through the Serial Squadron’s website, here’s a bunch of movie serials for ya. Titles include Gang Busters (1942), a terrific print of an outstanding serial; Adventures of Tarzan (1921), a reconstruction of a partially-lost serial, marred by an annoying “new age” soundtrack but otherwise admirable; and a pair we haven’t seen, The Mystery Squadron with Bob Steele and The Lost Serial Collection (clips from silent serials). For some reason, Mystery Squadron is two bucks cheaper than the other titles, by the way.

J'Accuse! (Flicker Alley, $39.95) Restored edition of the Abel Gance silent classic.

The Absent Minded Professor / Son of Flubber (Disney, $19.99) Disney is re-releasing a bunch of older films as double features, and this one looks pretty good – and doesn’t appear to be colorized.

Busby Berkeley Collection, Vol. 2 (Warners, $39.98) Includes Gold Diggers of 1937, Gold Diggers in Paris, Hollywood Hotel, and Varsity Show, plus the always appreciated shorts and cartoons. Titles are also available separately ($19.98).

Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 5 (Fox, $49.98) Includes Charlie Chan At The Wax Museum, Murder Over New York, Dead Men Tell, Charlie Chan In Rio, Charlie Chan In Panama, Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise, and Castle in the Desert. I believe this closed out the Fox Chan series. Sidney Toler stars.

La Ronde (Criterion, $39.95) Max Ophüls' 1950 classic starring Simone Signoret and Simone Simon. What are the odds?

Le Plaisir (Criterion $39.95) Max Ophüls' 1952 classic starring Jean Gabin and Jean Servais. What are the odds?

Earrings of Madame De... (Criterion $39.95) Max Ophüls' 1954 classic starring Charles Boyer.

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour: Season 3 (Time-Life, $49.98) Includes 11 episodes from the final season of the politically-charged CBS variety show. In case you're wondering, no, the first 2 seasons haven't been released on DVD.

An American in Paris: Special Edition (Warners, $20.98) This month, Warners re-releases two musical classics in new 2-disc editions.

Gigi: Special Edition (Warners, $20.98) This month, Warners re-releases two musical classics in new 2-disc editions.

Old Time Comedy Classics, Vol. 6 (Televista, $19.95). No idea what’s on this set.

The Man On The Eiffel Tower (Kino, $24.95) Charles Laughton is Insp. Maigret in this 1949 thriller. Laughton was so unhappy with the original director that co-star Burgess Meredith took over the direction. In Anscocolor!

Kings and Queens of Slapstick (Televista, $19.95) No idea what’s on this set.

Stranger On Horseback (VCI Entertainment, $14.99) Rare Jacques Tourneur western starring Joel McCrea. In Anscocolor!

Surrender - Hell! (VCI, $14.99) 1959 war thriller with Keith Andes and Susan Cabot.

Woman Times Seven (Lions Gate, $14.98) Episodic 1967 film from director Vittorio de Sica, with Shirley MacLaine, Lex Barker, and Peter Sellers.

Up the Creek (Televista, $24.95) Lightly regarded 1958 British comedy from director Val Guest.

Blood Sucking Cinema (Anchor Bay, $19.97) A new document on vampire movies, from Richard Roeper, the guy teamed with Roger Ebert these days. I read one of Roeper’s books; the guy is not only boring as hell and a poor writer, but he’s shockingly lazy, too. Hence this thing is getting our In The Balcony Worst DVD of the Month award. “Sucking” is right.

Aki Kaurismäki's Proletariat Trilogy (Criterion/Eclipse, $44.95) The 12th offering in the Eclipse Collection. Includes Shadows in Paradise, Ariel, and The Match Factory Girl.

Shadow (Polart, $29.95) 1956 Cold War thriller from Poland, where it was called Cien.

The Bill Douglas Trilogy (Facets, $39.95) Three early 1970s autobiographical films from Scottish filmmaker Stephen Archibald, including My Childhood, My Ain Folk, and My Way Home.

Martini Movies (Sony, $19.94 each) A new collection from Sony, but I have no idea what makes them “Martini Movies”. Titles include The New Centurions (1972, with George C. Scott), $ (Dollars) (1971, with Warren Beatty), The Anderson Tapes (1971, with Sean Connery), The Garment Jungle (1957, with Lee J. Cobb), and Affair in Trinidad (1952, with Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford).

Old Time Comedy Classics, Vol. 7 (Televista, $19.95) Don’t ask me what’s on it, I just work here.

Adam-12: Season 2 (Shout! Factory, $34.99) Martin Milner and Kent McCord return.

Band Waggon (Televista, $24.95) Arthur Askey stars in ths 1940 British musical-comedy.

Beach Boys and the Satan (Video Music, $19.95) A documentary about Dennis Wilson and his ill-advised friendship with Charles Manson.

Black Patch (Televista, $24.95) Rare 1957 thriller starring George Montgomery.

Cartoon Rarities of the 1930s (Alpha, $7.98) We’ve been disappointed too many times with Alpha releases to recommend many of this until we’ve seen ‘em, but don’t they have great covers?

Laredo: Season 2, Part 1 (Timeless Media, $34.98) If you remember this TV series, congratulations! You’re either better at remembering TV shows than I am, or you’re older than hell.

The Last Laugh: Restored Deluxe Edition (Kino, $29.95) Emil Jannings stars in one of the great films ever made.

The Mask (Cheezy Flicks, $12.95) 3D staged a brief comeback with this 1961 chiller. I think it’s probably in thrilling 2D here.

My Three Sons: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $39.98) The first 18 episodes starring Fred MacMurray and William Frawley.

OSS 117: Cairo, Nest Of Spies (Music Box Films, $24.98) Very amusing James Bond spoof from France starring Jean Dujardin.

August 2008 Releases

Back at the Barnyard When No One's Looking (Nickelodeon, $16.99) Oh, goody, a direct-to-video sequel of the worst damn children’s movie ever made, bar none; the one with the boy cows that looked as though it were animated by teenagers as part of a middle school computer training class. Allowing kids to watch this crap is video child abuse. If we gave out an If God Is Going To Destroy the Earth By Fire, This is the Reason Why award, this would be it. We don’t, so we’ll have to settle for the Official In The Balcony Worst DVD of the Month for August.

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song (Genius Products, $24.95) A new documentary on the folk music legend.

Timeless Media Group ($7.98 each) Here’s a new company releasing a bunch of western obscurities from the early ‘70s at a bottom-of-the-barrel price. Titles include The Brothers O'Toole (1973, with John Astin), Little Moon and Jud McGraw (1975, a/k/a Gone with the West, with James Caan), The Hanged Man (1974, with nobody), Cry Blood, Apache (1970, with Jody McCrea and his dad), and Yuma (1971, with Clint Walker). Personally, I’m underwhelmed, but stick around, there ARE good westerns coming this month.

Burbank Drive-In Collection: Between the Covers/Swinging Wives (Navarre, $19.98) The first in a new series of 1970s soft-core drive-in double features. Hey, at least they're not calling them "Grindhouse" any more.

DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures (Warners, $24.98) In the late ‘60s, CBS-TV had a Saturday morning cartoon show called The Superman-Aquaman Hour of Adventure, and it featured bonus cartoons with the Flash, Hawkman, Green Lantern, the Teen Titans, the Atom, and the Justice League. Well, here’s a collection of those bonus cartoons. Enjoy.

Drive-In Cult Classics 2 (Navarre, $12.98) For that low price, you get (better sit down for this) The Madmen of Mandoras, They Saved Hitler’s Brain, Terrified, Bloodlust!, The Creeping Terror, The Hearse, Land of the Minotaur, and The Devil's Hand. If you’ve never heard of any of these films, you’ve either never watched Mystery Science Theater 3000 or you’re lucky. Or both.

Larisa Shepitko: Eclipse Series 11 (Criterion, $29.95) The Criterion Eclipse DVDs have proven to be a wonderful introduction to obscure films or obscure filmmakers. This set includes two Russian films, Wings (1966) and The Ascent (1977).

That Girl: Season 4 (Shout Factory, $39.99) Who was it that I used to watch as a kid, but have no interest in seeing now? That girl!

Never Love a Stranger (Republic, $14.98) A weird would-be topical drama (1958) with Steve McQueen and John Drew Barrymore.

Perry Mason: Season 3, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $49.99) And the torts just keep on comin’.

The Small Back Room (Criterion, $39.95) World War II drama from Powell & Pressburger.

Twenty-Four Eyes (Criterion, $29.95) In this 1954 classic, a teacher struggles with her charges in pre-war Japan.

The Adventures of Robin Hood (Warners, $28.99) This blu-ray release of the 1937 Errol Flynn classic will probably be one of the first discs in that format any of us Balconeers will purchase.

Casper the Friendly Ghost (Classic Media, $9.95 each) A pair of “scarellections” of classic Casper theatrical cartoons from the 1950s. Titles are “Casper & Wendy Scare Up Some Fun” and “Trick or Treat”.

Color Honeymooners Collection, Vol. 4 (MPI, $39.98) Alice goes to the moon again in these late ‘60s sketches from Gleason’s variety series.

Errol Flynn Westerns Collection (Warners, $49.98) Includes Montana (1950), Rocky Mountain (1950), San Antonio (1945), and Virginia City (1940), plus selected short subjects.

The Legend of the Lone Ranger (Lions Gate, $14.98) Yes, at long last, the notorious 1981 misfire with Klinton Spilsbury comes to DVD.

Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom (Criterion, $39.95) Shocking 1975 sex/horror drama from Italy.

The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 3: 1940-1942 (Sony, $24.96) Sony has been doing a great job with these chronological Three Stooges releases, and this should be no exception. It’s a damn shame that the Laurel & Hardy films aren’t given the same respect by whoever holds them these days. The Official In The Balcony DVD of the Month for August.

The Untouchables: Season Two, Vol. 2 (Paramount, $39.98) I’m still watching Season One, Vol. 1. Well, that is, it’s still on my shelf.

Warner Home Video Western Classics Collection (Warners, $59.92) This unwieldy title includes the films Escape from Fort Bravo (1953, with William Holden), Many Rivers to Cross (1955, with Robert Taylor), Cimarron (1960 version, with Glenn Ford), The Law and Jake Wade (1958, with Richard Widmark), Saddle the Wind (1958, written by Rod Serling), and The Stalking Moon (1958, with Gregory Peck), plus selected short subjects.

And those July titles...

Batman: The Movie Special Edition (Fox, $9.99) This is the 1966 feature with Adam West and Burt Ward, and unless Lee Meriwether has been digitally replaced by Julie Newmar, it’s not special enough for me. Also available on Blu-Ray.

Legend films ($14.95) Those nitwit colorization assholes are releasing a bunch of licensed films from Paramount, and since they’re all in color they’re didn’t have to be Crayolaed. Titles include The Pied Piper with Donovan, Money from Home with Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, and Rhubarb, with a cat.

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (Criterion, $39.95) Paul Schrader’s 1985 classic about the life of Japanese author Yukio Mishima. On sale the same day from Criterion is Mishima’s 1966 short Yûkoku (Patriotism), $24.95.

The Streets of San Francisco: Season 2, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $39.98): “Book ‘em, Danno!” Well, okay, I think that was some OTHER TV detective show I never watched, either.

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet: Best of Ricky and Dave (Shout! Factory, $34.99) Apparently, this 4-disc set features the best of Ricky and Dave. Would we lie?

Batman: Gotham Knight (Warners, $20.99) That’s the price for the standard edition of this direct-to-DVD animated release; there’s a 2-disc Collector’s Edition that costs $29.98, because it includes… ummm…. some bat-stuff.

Cannon: Season One, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $36.98) William Conrad as a very fat private detective. The first season of his later series, Jake and the Fat Man, goes on sale today, some company, same price.

I Dream of Jeannie: Season Five (Columbia, $39.95) Sorry, Jeannie fans: this was the last season for this series. At least Larry Hagman finally married her.

Mon Oncle Antoine (Criterion, $39.95) This 1971 coming-of-age drama is considered by many people to be the best movie to ever come out of Canada, pretty impressive praise when you consider that the country Up North has given us such all-time favorites as… ummm….

The Mummy (Universal, $26.98) The 1932 classic with Boris Karloff gets a spiffy new restoration as part of the Universal Legacy Series.

Birds of Prey: The Complete Series (Warners, $39.98) A trio of beautiful bat-babes fight crime in Batman’s absence in Gotham City. Without question, one of the worst TV series it’s ever been my misfortunate to stumble across. Mind-numbingly dreadful.

No Substitute for Victory: From Vietnam to Iraq (Roan Group, $14.95) Hoo, boy. Check out this official product description from Roan:

Utilizing the DVD format to it’s [sic] fullest, viewers will enjoy a unique and educational experience by being able to switch between past and current interview footage with the touch of a single button. Hosted by John Wayne, the original No Substitute for Victory is an 80 min. documentary that was released when the threat of Communism was at an all time high and our military involvement in Vietnam was essential to the region. This American classic also features appearances by true American heroes including the late Gen. William C. Westmoreland, Lowell Thomas, Sgt. Barry Sadler, Gen. Mark Clark, Martha Raye, Sam Yorty, General Paul D. Harkins and more! 50% of all profits from this project will go to organizations that assist wounded service men and women as well as the families of those who have been killed during the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This list of “true American heroes” absolutely enthralls me. I sense a new Mt. Rushmore somewhere. Well, while I support the troops, organizations that assist wounded men and women, and the survivors who lost loved ones in conflicts overseas, I’m naming this the Official In The Balcony Worst DVD of the Month anyways.

The Fabulous Journey to the Center of the Earth ($14.95) As I recall, this turkey was originally released in the late ‘70s as Where Time Began. I think it’s dubbed. I also think I have a lack of enthusiasm for this; the new Journey to the Center of the Earth film is going to be a huge flop, and all of these faux-releases on DVD are going to look really stupid in a few weeks.

A Throw of Dice (Kino, $29.95) Royal intrigue in this silent 1929 film originally entitled Prapancha Pash.

Trafic (Criterion, $39.95) M. Hulot is back, and this time he’s driving across France in this Jacques Tati classic.

Swamp Thing: the Series Vol. 2 (Shout! Factory, $34.99) Frankly, I’ve never opened Vol. 1.

American Slapstick, Vol. 2 (Facets, $34.95) Another nice set of muggery, mainly from the silent days. Includes the Harold Lloyd films Bliss (1917), By the Sad Sea Waves (1917), Don't Shove (1919), Hey There! (1918), Luke Joins the Navy (1916); early Hal Roach films, including The Dippy Dentist (1920, with ‘Snub’ Pollard), Dodge Your Debts (1921, with Harold Lloyd’s brother Gaylord) Looking for Trouble (1919, with ‘Snub’ Pollard), Shiver and Shake (1922, with Charley Chase’s brother Paul Parrott), and Whirl o' the West (1921, with ‘Snub’ Pollard, or maybe his brother, ‘Skank’ Pollard), and At Your Service (1921, with Sidney Smith); several films from Educational Studios, including Breezing Along (1927, with Lloyd Hamilton), A Fresh Start (1920), Jonah Jones (1924), and Post No Bills (1923); some shorts starring Charlie Chaplin’s brother Sydney, including Caught in a Park (1915), Gussle’s Wayward Path (1915) and Charley’s Aunt (1925), plus various Chaplin imitators in Charley Out West (1919), The Hobo (1917, with Billy West and Oliver Hardy), and Oh! Shoot (1923). Other films in the set include Be Reasonable (1921, Billy Bevan), Call the Wagon (1923), Kid Speed (1924, Larry Semon & Oliver Hardy), Cinderella Cinders (1920), Faro Nell (1929), A Hash House Fraud (1915), Hold Still (1926), and a couple of talkies, Hollywood Runaround (1932, Monte Collins) and Playboy Number One (1937). Did I forget anything?

Blues in the Night (Warners, $19.97) A dark musical from director Anatole Litvak. Priscilla Lane, Betty Field, Lloyd Nolan, and Dead End Kid Billy Halop star.

High and Low (Criterion, $39.95) Criterion presents an improved version of one of their earlier releases (#24). This 1962 Akira Kurosawa crime drama was based on a novel by Ed McBain(!) and stars Toshiro Mifune.

Pete Kelly's Blues (Warners, $19.97) Jack Webb stars in and directs this period gangster-jazz piece with a great cast that includes Peggy Lee, Janet Leigh, Lee Marvin, and several people not named “Lee” or “Leigh”.

Vampyr (Criterion, $39.95) Dreyer’s 1932 film has been argued about for decades. Is it a horror film (William Everson thought so), a fantasy, or a fever dream? Is it slow-moving and boring or a masterpiece? Decide for yourselves, Balconeers, in this newly-restored version that we’re so curious about we’re making it our Official In The Balcony DVD of the Month.

Classic British Thrillers (MPI, $24.95) Includes a pair of Michael Powell mysteries from 1935, The Phantom Light and Red Ensign, plus The Upturned Glass (1947) with James Mason.

Dick Tracy's G-Men (VCI, $29.99) Prof. Zarnoff returns from the dead after his execution, and it will take all of Dick Tracy’s wiles (and about 15 weeks) to hunt him down again in this Republic serial favorite from 1939. Ralph Byrd stars, and Jennifer Jones (under her real name, Phyllis Isley) appears in her only serial.

Inglorious Bastards (Severin, $19.95) Well, THIS is fascinating: not only can you purchase the 1977 drive-in actioner with Bo Svenson and Fred “The Hammer” Williamson in a standard edition, but it’s also available in a 3-Disc Special Edition ($29.95), and what in the HELL did they find to put on three discs?!?

A Man There Was (Kino, $29.95) This is a seafaring drama from 1917; the disc includes the film Ingeborg Holm (1913).

Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection (Fox, $49.98) All you Tyrone Power fans out there will finally be able to purchase Cafe Metropole, Girls Dormitory, Johnny Apollo, Daytime Wife, Luck of the Irish, I’ll Never Forget You, That Wonderful Urge, Love Is News, This Above All, and Second Honeymoon. No, we’re not making this up.

Shine a Light (Paramount, $34.99) Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones star in Martin Scorsese’s concert film. (DVD - 2008)

Space Angel Collection 1 (VCI, $14.99) The faces are animated (but not very well) and the lips are real. Creepier than hell. There’s a rumor that the Rolling Stones concert film does the same thing, by the way.

June Releases

An Eye for an Eye (Lions Gate, $14.98) What th’ hell? Lions Gate could release Spy Smasher and instead they’re giving us this terrible 1966 western with Robert Lansing? Not only that, but if their press release is to be believed, it’s in pan&scan. Of course, you can’t believe their press release: they routinely check off “full screen” on DVDs that are actually in widescreen, as if they think their customer base doesn’t want “those black bars.” Jesus, how stupid ARE these people? Our Official Balcony Pick for Worst DVD of the Month.

Get Smart: The Complete Series (Fox, $19.95) In the 1990s, Fox revived the classic series with Don Adams and Barbara Feldon; it lasted less than 2 months, and those of you who blinked and missed it, here it is.

The Goose Woman (Televista, $19.95) Louise Dresser stars in this 1925 drama about the fall of a former opera diva who’s lost her voice.

Mannix: First Season (Paramount, $49.99) Michael “Touch” Connors’ classic TV detective comes to DVD.

No Kidding (Televista, $24.95) 1960 British comedy with some of the “Carry On” folks.

Paramount farm-outs ($14.95) Paramount Pictures has done a lousy job of opening their vaults to movie fans, and finally they simply licensed a bunch of vintage titles to Legend, the company of nitwits that made a name for themselves by claiming that Three Stooges films are funnier when they’re colorized. None of the titles are particularly choice, but some that may be of interest include Those Daring Young Men In Their Jaunty Jalopies, Villa Rides, Mandingo, Houdini, and The Skull. Or maybe not.

Slapstick Symposium DVDs (Kino) A trio of new DVDs from the grand ol’ days of silent comedy. First up is The Extra Girl ($24.95) starring Mabel Normand, a 1923 feature. Also included is the short The Gusher (1913) starring Miss Normand and the Keystone Kops. The second offering is a pair of Harry Langdon films ($24.95), and they’re two of the post-Frank Capra films that helped kill Langdon’s career: Three’s a Crowd (1927) and The Chaser (1928). Finally, we’ve got The Stan Laurel Collection Vol. 2 ($29.95) which includes 21 short subjects from Stan’s pre-Oliver Hardy days (1918-1926).

Spangles (Televista, $19.95) 1926 circus picture with Marian Nixon.

And This Is Free: The Life and Times of Maxwell Street (Shanachie, $29.99) Now this is interesting, so here’s the complete description: “This DVD and CD set includes the classic 1964 documentary And This is Free, an intimate slice of life portrait capturing all the characters and flavor of Maxwell Street. It also includes the film Maxwell Street - A Living Memory, a captivating look at the area’s early days at the start of the century. The bonus CD features Maxwell Street [Chicago] blues fixtures including greats like Robert Nighthawk, Baby Face Leroy, Floyd Jones, J.B. Hutton and many more. This set also includes a 20 page companion booklet featuring stories from various people who spent years on Maxwell Street as well as many beautiful pictures.

Curse of the Devil (Navarre, $14.98) One of two Paul Naschy horror classics (well, relatively speaking) to be released this week. This one’s from 1973. The other one is Werewolf Shadow (1971) and it’s actually pretty good.

Catherine Deneuve Collection (Lions Gate, $39.98) I’ll take her over Sofia Loren any day. Titles include Hôtel des Amériques (1981), Le Sauvage (1975), Manon 70 (1968), Le Choc (1982), and Fort Saganne (1984). How do we know these things? We just do.

The Fugitive: Season Two, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $39.98) It’s the one-armed man, I tells ya, the one-armed man.

Hawaii Five-O: Season Four (Paramount, $49.99) Y’know, I’ve never seen a single minute of a single episode of this show past the opening theme song.

High Noon: 2-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition (Lions Gate, $19.98) Gotta be better than the previous Lions Gate DVD release of this title, which looked as though they’d soaked the film in muddy water.

Icons of Adventure Collection (Sony, $24.96) A quartet of Hammer Films financed by Columbia and now the property of Sony. Includes The Pirates of Blood River (1962, with Christopher Lee and Oliver Reed), The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964, with Lee again), The Stranglers of Bombay (1960, with Guy Rolfe) and The Terror of the Tongs (1961, with that Lee chap again). Bonus shorts include a cartoon, an episode of the serial The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd, and an Andy Clyde short.

Sophia Loren 4-Film Collection (Lions Gate, $39.98) Includes the highly requested films (he said facetiously) Neapolitan Carousel (1954), Attila (1954), Madame Sans-Gêne (1962), and Sunflower (1970). Well, SOMEBODY requests these things.

The Odd Couple: Season Four (Paramount, $39.98) Hey, don't look at me: I’m still meandering through Season One.

Shark (Cheezy Flicks, $12.99) 1969 misfire directed by Samuel Fuller(!), who tried to have his name taken off it. He should've tried harder. Burt Reynolds stars.

Classe Tous Risques (Criterion, $29.95) 1960 Italian crime drama with Jean-Paul Belmondo.

The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show (Video Service, $29.98) I have fond memories of this Saturday morning kiddie variety show, mainly because Rod Hull and his nutty misbehaving emu were regulars.

The Carmen Miranda Collection (Fox, $49.98) Just let me say that if I had my way, this puppy would come with a big hat full of real fruit. Instead, it comes with the films The Gang's All Here, If I'm Lucky, Something for the Boys, Greenwich Village and Doll Face, all from the early 1940s.

Old Time Comedy Classics, Vol. 3 (Televista, $19.95) Somehow, I missed the first two volumes of silent comedies, and here’s a third one already. Well, here’s what’s in all three. Vol. 1: Injun Trouble (Raymond Griffith), Please Excuse Me (Charles King), The Tin Hoss (Hey Fellas), Daily Dozens (Jack Cooper), Bombs and Brides (Charles Murray). Vol. 2: Hard Boiled Yeggs (Billy West), Campus Romeos (Tons of Fun), Pardon Me (Eddie Lyons), Africa F.O.Bo (Monty Banks), and Dixie Madcaps (Jane & Catherine Lee). The new Vol. 3: Roars and Uproars, This is the Life (Jimmie Adams), A Home Spun Hero (Bobby Vernon), The 13th Alarm (Hey Fellas), Raisin-Trouble! (Jack Cooper).

Popeye the Sailor Vol. 2: 1938-1940 (Warners, $34.98) More classic Max Fleischer cartoons, beautifully restored and remastered.

The Real McCoys: Season 3 (Infinity, $39.98) Liked this show a lot as a kid. Not much interest in it at this point in my career.

The Sword in the Stone: Special Edition (Disney, $29.99) Arguably the finest source material of any Disney adaptation (T.H. White’s “The Once and Future King”) but only so-so Disney from 1963.

Before the Rain (Criterion, $39.95) 1994 war/romance classic from writer/director Milcho Manchevski.

Biography: Flash Gordon (A&E Home Video, $24.95) Well, here’s something you don’t see every day: the complete story of Alex Raymond’s immortal Chester “Flash” Gordon, conqueror of the universe.

Dick Tracy: RKO Classic Collection (VCI, $14.99) Four fun post-war films starring Chester Gould’s plainclothes cop, including Dick Tracy, Detective and Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (starring Morgan Conway) and Dick Tracy’s Dilemma and Dick Tracy meets Gruesome (starring Ralph Byrd, the latter with Boris Karloff). Includes intros by Max Allan Collins and the first episodes of the serials Dick Tracy Returns and Dick Tracy’s G-Men.

Dick Tracy Returns (VCI, $29.99) Speaking of Dick Tracy Returns, if the first episode whetted your appetite, here’s the full 15-episode Republic serial, matching Ralph Byrd against Pa Stark (Charles Middleton) and his trigger-happy sons. One of our all-time faves.

The Furies (Criterion, $39.95) Anthony Mann’s 1950 western stars Barbara Stanwyck and Walter Huston.

Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (Universal, $19.98) Cheap sci-fi thriller with Roy Thinnes and Ian Hendry.

Man of a Thousand Faces (Universal, $19.98) James Cagney stars in the highly fictitious but highly entertaining 1957 screen bio of Lon Chaney. Based on the fact that it stars one of our fave performers playing one of our fave performers, we’re making it our Official In The Balcony DVD of the Month.

Mondo Cane (Blue Underground, $14.95) Notorious documentary about sex, religion, and a world gone mad. We’re told it’s been “painstakingly restored… from original Italian vault materials untouched for over four decades.” Available separately are Mondo Cane 2 and Women of the World, from the same producers, and the equally notorious Goodbye, Uncle Tom (1971).

Persepolis (Sony, $29.95) Highly regarded French animated film about a young Iranian girl.

May Releases

Bewitched: Complete 6th Season (Sony, $39.95) This was the year that Samantha used her magic to change Dick York into Dick Sargent.

The Films of Morris Engel (Kino, $39.95) A boxed set of the three features directed by Mr. Engel, including Little Fugitive (1953), Lovers and Lollipops (1956), and Weddings and Babies (1958).

Grindhouse Occult Double Feature (After Hours, $29.99) Those of you clamoring for Sins of Reverend Star (1976) and Night of Submission (1976) on DVD, your prayers have been answered.

Hiya Kids! A 50's Saturday Morning Box (Shout! Factory, $34.99) Four discs full of Kukla, Fran & Ollie, Howdy Doody, Sky King, Pinky Lee, Paul Winchell, Winky Dink, and all stuff like that. Hula Hoop, Red Ryder gun, and Davy Crockett hat not included.

It Came from the Lake (Televista, $14.95) Jaw-droppingly awful 1979 dreck better known by its more creative and descriptive title Monster. Stars John Carradine, who didn’t want to die with Billy the Kid vs. Dracula as the worst film on his resume.

Macon County Line (Warners, $12.98) One of the most successful films of the ‘70s; seemed to be the second feature at the drive-in every week of the decade. And it was written by Max “Jethro Bodine” Baer, Jr.!

Movieology Shockfest 1960-1969 (Firecake, $29.99) This is the British company that gave us a pretty good Robert Donat Collection a couple of months ago. This time, we’ve got “widescreen” presentations of a lot of ubiquitous public domain horror films, including Dementia 13, The Last Man On Earth, Horror Hotel, Carnival Of Souls, A Bucket Of Blood, and Night Of The Living Dead.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (Universal, $19.98) Mike and his robot pals watch This Island Earth. Fairly dreadful, even if you're a fan of the TV show.

La Roue (Flicker Alley, $39.95) Restored 270-min. version of the French classic from Abel Gance (Napoleon).

All You Need Is Love (Zeit Media, $99.95) This is a new one on me. Apparently, it’s a 17-episode TV documentary from the late 1970s cataloging the history of American popular music.

Can I Do It... ’til I Need Glasses? (Code Red, $14.98) 1977 collection of skits that got theatrically re-released when Robin Williams, who’s in some of them, hit it big as Mork.

La Chinoise (Koch, $29.98) Maoist 1967 comedy from Jean-Luc Godard. See also Le Gai Savoir.

Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collection 1 & 2 (Universal, $59.98) Previously released in two volumes as Best Buy exclusives. Includes such seminal 1950s faves as Tarantula, Mole People, Incredible Shrinking Man, Monolith Monsters, Monster on the Campus, Dr. Cyclops, Cult of the Cobra, Land Unknown, Deadly Mantis, Leech Woman.

The Fire Within (Criterion, $29.95) 1963 classic from Louis Malle. See also The Lovers.

Fox Western Classics ($19.98) A triple feature of Rawhide (1951, with Tyrone Power), The Gunfighter (1950, with Gregory Peck) and Garden of Evil (1954, with Gary Cooper).

Le Gai Savoir (Koch, $26.98) Minimalist 1968 film from Jean-Luc Godard. See also La Chinoise.

Indiana Jones: The Adventure Collection (Paramount, $59.98) Special 2-disc editions of the three Indy films. Most fans seem to feel it’s simply cashing in on the new movie, with little here beyond what was in the previous DVD releases.

The Lovers (Criterion, $29.95) Notorious 1959 film with Jeanne Moreau, directed by Louis Malle. Do you know pornography when you see it? See also The Fire Within.

Magnificent Seven: Complete Series (MGM, $49.98) Goes along with all the MGM Westerns being released or re-released this week, I guess (see below).

The Magnificent Seven Collection (MGM, $29.98) A boxed set with four films. Four x seven = a magnificent 28, no?

MGM War/Military Movies ($14.98 each) D-Day must be coming. Titles include Carve Her Name With Pride (1958, with Virginia McKenna and Paul Scofield), Morning Departure (1950, with John Mills), The One That Got Away (1957), The Secret Invasion (1964, with Stewart Granger and Mickey Rooney, directed by Roger Corman), The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969, with Anthony Quinn, directed by Stanley Kramer), and The Day of the Outlaw (1959, with Robert Ryan, Burl Ives, and Tina Louise, directed by Andre de Toth).

MGM Westerns ($14.98 each) Titles, all separate, include The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959, with Joel McCrea and Julie Adams), Man of the West (1958, with Gary Cooper and Julie London, directed by Anthony Mann), Navajo Joe (1966, with Burt Reynolds), Man with the Gun (1955, with Robert Mitchum), The Westerner (1940, with Gary Cooper), and The Way West (1967, with Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Richard Widmark, and Sally Field).

Mission Impossible: Fourth Season (Paramount, $49.99) I wonder if Jim Phelps ever decided NOT to accept a mission?

Pez (Melee, $9.99) Okay, how’s THIS for cajones: a pair of cheesy animated cartoons starring Pez dispensers in cartoon form. Yeah, “animated”. Their necks open and candy pops out. A commercial for a candy dispenser, and they expect YOU to pay $10 for it. Unbelievable. Our May pick for Worst DVD of the Month.

The Rat Patrol: Complete Series (MGM, $49.98) Goes along with all the MGM war films being released or re-released this week, I guess (see below).

Saturday Night Live: Complete Third Season (Universal, $69.98) Past my bedtime.

Francis Albert Sinatra (Warners, various prices) Okay, it’s the 10th anniversary of the death of Ol’ Blue Eyes, and Warners is taking advantage of the hoopla (if there is any) with about 1,000 DVD releases and re-releases. We’re gonna try ‘n’ keep track of all of ‘em for ya; note that most or all of these films are also available individually.

The Golden Years Collection ($39.98) includes Some Came Running, The Man with the Golden Arm, The Tender Trap, None but the Brave, and Marriage on the Rocks.

The Rat Pack Ultimate Collectors Edition ($59.98) include new special editions Oceans 11, Robin and the 7 Hoods, 4 for Texas, and Sergeants 3. Maybe not the GREATEST movies ever made, but what th' heck... Frank, Dino, Sammy and the gang, with special guests (like Bing Crosby and the Three Stooges) make this our May choice for DVD of the Month.

The Early Years Collection ($39.98) includes It Happened in Brooklyn, Step Lively, The Kissing Bandit, Double Dynamite (with Groucho Marx) and Higher and Higher.

Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly Collection ($24.98) includes On the Town, Anchors Aweigh, and Take Me out to the Ball Game.

Sinatra ($19.98) 1992 TV miniseries with Philip Casnoff as Frankie and Olympia Dukakis as his mom.

Sitting Bull at the Spirit Lake Massacre (Televista, $19.95) Here’s something you don’t see every day. 1927 fact-based western with Bryant Washburn, Bob Steele, and Chief Yowlachie.

Tobor the Great (Lions Gate, $14.98) A kid and his robot pal battle commie spies in this 1954 sci-fi matinee opus.

Twelfth Night (Koch, $24.98) A cast of luminaries, including Alec Guinness, Ralph Richardson, and Tommy Steele, star in a 1969 British TV adaptation of the Shakespeare comedy.

John Wayne: Fox Westerns Collection ($29.98) New editions of The Big Trail (2-discs, with 1930 widescreen!), North to Alaska (1960), The Comancheros (1961), and The Undefeated (1969).

Louis Armstrong: Greatest Performances of the 30s, 40s, 50s, And 60s (Time-Life, $14.98) A myriad of performances from a plethora of sources.

Eclipse Series 9: The Delirious Fictions of William Klein (Criterion, $44.95) Includes the films Who Are You Polly Maggoo? (1966), Mr. Freedom (1969), and The Model Couple (1977).

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (United Artists, $19.98) One of three groovy 1960s with-it comedies being released this week, this one from 1969.
The Muppet Show: Complete Third Season (Disney, $39.99) More fun with Kermie, Piggy and the gang.

The New Maverick (Warners, $14.98) 1978 TV movie with Jim Garner and Jack Kelly reunited, plus Charles Frank as their nephew.

The Night They Raided Minsky's (United Artists, $19.98) One of three groovy 1960s with-it comedies being released this week, this one from 1968.

James Stewart: Columbia Screen Legends Collection (Sony, $39.95) Another set of reissues, this time with Anatomy of a Murder, Bell, Book and Candle, and The Man from Laramie.

James Stewart: Western Collection (Universal, $39.98) Reissue of six DVDs as a set, including Destry Rides Again, Winchester 73, Bend of the River, The Far Country, Night Passage, The Rare Breed.

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (United Artists, $19.98) One of three groovy 1960s with-it comedies being released this week, this one from 1966.

Dario Argento: Anchor Bay Collection ($49.98) Includes Do You Like Hitchcock?, Tenebre, Phenomena, Card Player, Trauma.

Gunsmoke: Second Season, Vol. 2 (Paramount, $36.98) This is the season that Dick Sargent replaced Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty. No, no, just kiddin’. Sheesh. 19 episodes.

Hawk of the Hills (Televista, $19.95) 1929 featurized version of the 1927 Pathe serial starring Allene Ray, Robert Chandler, Walter Miller, Paul Panzer, and Frank Lackteen.

Rawhide: Season Three, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $39.98) 15 episodes with Rowdy Yates and friends.

Super Heroes Vol. 1 (Navarre, $12.98) Episodes of the Flash Gordon and Defenders of the Earth TV series.

The Thief of Bagdad (Criterion, $39.95) The 1940 classic with Sabu and Conrad Veidt.

The Three Stooges Collection, Vol. 2: 1937-1939 (Sony, $24.96) Twenty-four fully restored and remastered 2-reelers from the best era in the "Curly Era", many directed by the great Charley Chase, including Violent is the Word for Curly, featuring the unforgettable song “Swingin’ the Alphabet”. Once again, we’ll be exclusively featuring the Official Unofficial Liner Notes here in the Balcony.

Trouble in Store (Televista, $24.95) 1953 British comedy with Norman Wisdom.

April Releases

The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 3 (Warners, $59.98) Includes The Old Maid (1939), All This, And Heaven Too (1940), The Great Lie (1941), John Huston’s In This Our Life (1942), Watch on the Rhine (1943), and Deception (1946). Includes wartime shorts, cartoons, film trailers, newsreels, and more.

Father Knows Best: Season One (Shout Factory, $34.99) Much-loved classic TV series with Robert Young as Jim Anderson.

Stunning Nudes of the 1950s (Secret Key, $29.98) A collection of “nudie cutie” loops of the Eisenhower era. Nice cover.

Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 3 (Warners, $69.98) Includes Hit the Deck (1955, with Jane Powell & Tony Martin), Deep in My Heart (1954, with Merle Oberon), Kismet (1955, with Howard Keel), Nancy Goes to Rio (1950, with Ann Sothern), Two Weeks with Love (1950, with Jane Powell), Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935, hosted by Jack Benny), Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937, with Robert Taylor), Born to Dance (1936, with James Stewart), and Lady Be Good (1940, with Eleanor Powell). Includes shorts, travelogues, cartoons, outtakes, and all good stuff like that.

Bette Davis Centenary Celebration Collection (Fox, $49.98) Newly restored editions of previously-released-on-DVD films plus some new to digital titles. Includes All About Eve (1950), Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), The Virgin Queen (1955), Phone Call from a Stranger (1952), and the Hammer horror The Nanny (1965).

Houdini: The Movie Star (Kino, $39.95) Includes all existing film starring the great escape artist/magician, including the complete serial The Master Mystery (1919), and the silent features Terror Island, The Man from Beyond, Haldane of the Secret Service, plus fragments, newsreels, etc.

Perry Mason 50th Anniversary Edition (Paramount, $49.99) While fans of the show impatiently wait for more season sets, here’s a compilation of 12 episodes from the run of the classic Raymond Burr series, chosen mainly for having later-famous guest stars, if you consider people like Adam West “famous”.

The Wife of General Ling (Jef Films, $14.95) 1937 British thriller about smugglers in China. Griffith Jones and Alan Napier star.

Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection: Vol. 2 (Universal, $39.98) Continuing the chronological adventures of the wacky Woody, plus assorted other Universal cartoons with Andy Panda and guys like that.

Before the Nickelodeon: The Early Cinema of Edwin S. Porter (Kino, $24.95) Documentary on the early Edison filmmaker; includes a wealth of his short subjects, including a version of Jack and the Beanstalk from 1902.

British Horror Quadruple Feature (Media Blasters, $22.99) Four Pete Walker films, including Frightmare (1974), House of Whipcord (1974), The Flesh & Blood Show (1972), Die Screaming Marianne (1971).

Cartoon Commercials! (Thunderbean, $12.95) Well, the title pretty much says it all. I’ll just add that I love these Thunderbean Animation cartoon DVDs.

A Date with Judy (Warners, $19.98) Jane Powell and an all-star cast in a musical based on the popular radio program. Includes a bonus musical short.

Death of a Cyclist (Criterion, $29.95) 1955 Spanish classic about an adulterous couple who kill a cyclist with their auto and try to hide their crime.

Kino First Ladies: Early Women Filmmakers ($19.95 each) Three separate discs; one with Hypocrites (1915) and Eleanor's Catch (1916), one with Ocean Waif (1916) and 49-17 (1917), and one with The Red Kimona (1925).

The Magic of Melies (Kino, $24.95) A collection of very early films (1904-1908) from the screen’s first master of special effects.

Merrill's Marauders (Warners, $19.98) Sam Fuller’s 1962 war film was Jeff Chandler’s screen swansong.

Road to the West (Polart, $29.95) 1960 Polish adventure film set in WWII, from director Bohdan Poreba.

The Traitors (Facets, $29.95) Director Raymundo Gleyzer’s only fictional film, a political thriller. He was later imprisoned, tortured and killed by Argentinean authorities.

Silent Ozu: Three Family Comedies (Criterion - Eclipse Series 10) Includes Tokyo Chorus (1931), I Was Born But... (1932), and Passing Fancy (1933).

Universal Cinema Classics (Universal, $14.98 each) Four vintage comedies this time, including She Done Him Wrong (1933, with Mae West and Cary Grant), Easy Living (1937, with Jean Arthur), Midnight (1939, with Claudette Colbert), and Billy Wilder’s The Major and the Minor (1942, with Ginger Rogers).

All Monsters Attack (a/k/a Godzilla's Revenge) (Classic Media, $16.93) They’re pretty much getting’ to the bottom of the Japanese barrel with these Godzilla releases, aren’t they? Includes the Japanese and American versions of this 1969 monster opus, for what that’s worth. I’d skip it and watch The Host again if I were you.

All My Good Countrymen (Facets, $29.95) Czech film from 1968, about the rise of the Communist Party in a small village.
Blast of Silence (Criterion, $29.95) Low-budget 1961 neo-noir about hitmen gets the usual outstanding Criterion treatment.

Burke's Law: Season 1, Vol. 1 (VCI, $29.99) Includes the first 16 episodes of the classic TV series (1963-66) starring Gene Barry as detective Amos Burke. Includes bonus material written by the latest N.Y. Times’ media darling, Your Balcony Webmaster.

The Fall Of The Roman Empire (Miriam Collection/Genius) The international epic from 1964 stars Sophia Loren, Alec Guinness and Christopher Plummer and is available in a boxed Limited Collector’s Edition ($39.92) or a 2-disc Deluxe Edition ($24.95).

Forgotten Noir Collector's Set 3 (VCI, $29.99) Three triple features, also available separately ($14.99 each). Vol. 7 has David Harding, Counterspy (1950), Danger Zone (1951, with Hugh Beaumont), and The Big Chase (1954, with Glenn “Colossal Man” Langan, Lon Chaney, Jr., and Adele Jergens). Vol. 8 has Mr. District Attorney (1947, with Dennis O’Keefe, Marguerite Chapman, and Adolphe Menjou), Ringside (1949, with Don “Red” Barry), and Hi-Jacked (1950). Vol. 9 includes Scotland Yard Inspector (a/k/a Lady in the Fog, 1952), Pier 23 (1951, with Hugh Beaumont), and Lambert Hillyer’s The Case of the Baby-Sitter (1947, with Tom Neal and Allen Jenkins).

Get Outta Town (Televista, $19.95) Doug Wilson, whoever the hell that is, is searching for the mobsters who killed his kid brudda in this forgotten 1960 crime drama.

I Spy: Seasons 1, 2, 3 (Image, $19.98 each) The first three seasons of the TV series, in new low-priced editions.

Johnny Legend Presents (Legend House, $19.95 each) Well, here’s the usual bizarre stuff from Johnny Legend, including Ultimate Sleazemania, Beat Mania! (featuring the classic The Beatniks, and do WE use the term ‘classics’ lightly), Rock Baby Rock It!, and Blonde Mania!

The Red Balloon (Janus/Criterion, $14.95) One of a trio of classic shorts for children being released this week by Janus/Criterion. The Red Balloon (1956) is the most famous and one of the most beloved films of all time; the other titles (same price) are White Mane (1953) and Paddle to the Sea (1966). In a tough month to choose from, I’m going with The Red Balloon as our Official In The Balcony DVD of the Month.

Robbery, Roman Style (Televista, $24.95) Dubbed Italian crime comedy from 1964.

Saludos Amigos / Three Caballeros (Disney, $19.99) A double feature of the two “South of the Border” live-action/animated short features done by the Disney studios during the war years.

Secrets (Televista, $19.95) Mary Pickford (in her final role) and Leslie Howard star in this 1933 drama.

Tailspin Tommy serials (VCI, $19.99 each) A pair of classic 12-episode cliffhangers; the first stars Maurice Murphy and Noah Beery, Jr. (1934) and the sequel, Tailspin Tommy in the Great Air Mystery, stars Clark Williams, Beery, and Jean Rogers (1935).

Terror of Mechagodzilla (Classic Media, $16.93) 1975 installment in the Godzilla saga; includes the Japanese and American versions, naturally.

The Viking (Televista, $19.95) Ever wonder what the first Canadian “talkie” was? Me, either. The answer, though, is this 1931 oddity starring Charles Starrett.

War Stories Iraq: Five Years in the Fight for Freedom (Fox, $19.95) Oh, boy. Fox News presents their take on the Iraq war, and presenting their fair and balanced coverage they needed somebody whose honesty and integrity are above reproach, so they hired Ollie North. You can’t make stuff like this up, folks. Let’s make this our Official In The Balcony Worst DVD of the Month, shall we?

March Releases

12 Angry Men: 50th Anniversary Edition (MGM, $19.98) What, there’re more than 12 now?

101 Dalmatians: Platinum Edition (Disney, $29.99) I love the scene where all the puppies are watching an old cowboy movie on TV.

Archie's Funhouse: Complete Series (Classic Media, $29.95) For everyone who wants to bang their shang-a-lang.

Cult Fiction series (Anchor Bay, $14.98 each) A new set of cult films; titles, most from the 1970s-80s, include The Wicker Man, The Man Who Fell to Earth, Class of 1984, The Quiet Earth, Return of the Killer Tomatoes, C.H.U.D., Night of the Living Dorks, Kidnapped, Road Games, Fitzcarraldo.

Everybody Needs Somebody (Snapper Music, $17.99) An authorized documentary on soul great Solomon Burke.

Pink Panther Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 6 (MGM, $14.98) A set of Inspector cartoons.

TCM Archives: Forbidden Hollywood Vol. 2 (Warner, $49.98) Great stuff with the early ‘30s potboilers The Divorcee, A Free Soul, Night Nurse, Three on a Match, and Female, with such stars as Norma Shearer, Lionel Barrymore, Clark Gable, and Bette Davis. Our co-selection for Official In The Balcony DVD Release of the Month for March.

Ultimate Sci-Fi Serial Classics Collection (St. Clair, $20.98) A cheap grouping of Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe, Radar Men from the Moon, The Phantom Empire, The Lost City, Undersea Kingdom, and The Phantom Creeps, but you get what you pay for: there are better editions of each out there.

Fox Film Noir (Fox, $14.98 each) At last! The series continues with three more titles, including The Black Widow, Daisy Kenyon, and Dangerous Crossing.

Love, American Style: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Paramount, $35.98) Truer than the red, white, and blue, as I recall.

The Mod Squad - Season 1, Vol. 2 (Paramount, $39.98) One black, one white, one… well, you remember.

Georges Melies: First Wizard of Cinema (Flicker Alley, $89.95) Mammoth collection of film shorts, 1896-1913.

Sergeant Preston of the Yukon: Season 3 (Critic’s Choice, $42.98) Ultra-cheap 1950s TV show.

Antonio Gaudi (Criterion, $39.95) Not so much a documentary as a “visual poem” on the works of the great architect, directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara.

Arrest and Trial, Season 1 (EDI, $29.98) The first half of each TV episode dealt with the arrest of a suspect; the second half with the trial. Hence, the title, y’see.

Best of Laredo: Season, 1 Part 2 (EDI, $29.98) Remember the mid-1960s TV series with Peter Brown and William Smith? Me, either.

Checkmate, Best of Season 2 (EDI, $29.98) TV detective series with Doug McClure and Sebastian Cabot, set in San Francisco.

Mafioso (Criterion, $29.95) 1962 Italian Cosa Nostra comedy.

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show: Complete Series (Turner, $26.98) There was a Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show? Really? Huh.

Shemp Cocktail: A Toast to the Original Stooge (Passport, $19.98) A collection of solo and public domain Stooges shorts starring the “bee-bee-beep!” Stooge.

Slapstick Festival (Mill Creek, $7.98) 35 silent and early sound shorts.

Steve Canyon, Special Edition (Tempe Video, $14.98) Select episodes from the rare 1958-59 TV series.

The Untouchables: Season Two, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $39.98) “Rico! Youngblood!”

The Wild Wild West: Season 4 (Paramount, $49.99) Jim and Artie return for more fun.

Zorro: The Masked Avenger (Mill Creek, $14.98) A cheap collection of Republic serials starring Zorro.

Best of the Price is Right (Navarre, $39.98) I have no idea what criteria were used in judging what constitutes the “Best” of this show, folks.

Blue Eyes of the Broken Doll (BCI, $19.98) Spanish horror legend Paul Naschy stars in this 1973 cult classic. Other Naschy horrors available this week are Human Beasts and The Dracula Saga.

Bonnie and Clyde: Ultimate Collector's Edition (Warners, $39.98) This is the big box edition of the film, which is also being released in a 2-disc remastered edition ($20.98) and on Blu-Ray.

Alain Delon: 5-Film Collection (Lionsgate, $39.98) Includes the films The Widow Couderc, Diabolically Yours, La Piscine, Le Gitan, Notre Histoire.

Mike Douglas - Moments & Memories (Kultur, $19.99) Clips with John and Yoko, the Rolling Stones, Alfred Hitchcock, Steve Martin, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others.

Eclipse Series 9: Delirious Fictions of William Klein (Criterion, $44.95) Includes the films Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?, Mr. Freedom, and The Model Couple.

Johnny Legend Presents Beat Mania! (Legend House, $19.95) A collection of stuff and the 1960 crime drama The Beatniks.

Jungle Queen (VCI, $19.99) Ruth Roman in her only starring serial.

Kings of the Sun (MGM, $19.98) MGM releases a trio of historical epics this week; besides this one, there’s also Solomon & Sheba (1959) and Taras Bulba (1962). All three star Yul Brynner.

Mad Dog Killer (a/k/a Beast With A Gun) (Blue Underground, $14.95) 1977 film with Helmut Berger and Marisa Mell.

Mr. Wong, Detective: The Complete Collection (VCI, $19.99) Six detective films with Mr. Wong, five of which star Boris Karloff.

NBA: Boston Celtics 1985-86 (Warner, $49.98) All six games, uncut, of the 1986 Rockets-Celtics NBA finals, plus a documentary. If ya want our opinion, which you probably don’t, the ’96 Celtics were the best NBA team of the last 40 years, edging the 1972 Lakers.

Del Tenney Triple Feature (MPI, $24.98) Includes Curse of the Living Corpse and Horror of Party Beach, previously available on a double-feature DVD, plus Violent Midnight (a/k/a Psychomania).

Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb (Alpha, $7.98) Stock footage from old Monogram and PRC horror films is intercut with new material.

Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism and Death Smiles on a Murderer (Legend House, $19.95) More horror fun from Johnny Legend and company.

Warner Gangsters Collections (Warners, various prices) Okay, pay attention. Warners has repackaged, retitled, and reissued their previous Gangsters and Tough Guy collections, and added a new Vol. 3.

Vol. 1 (The Public Enemy, White Heat, Angels with Dirty Faces, Little Caesar, The Petrified Forest, The Roaring Twenties) is $68.98.

Vol. 2 (Bullets or Ballots, City for Conquest, Each Dawn I Die, G Men, San Quentin, A Slight Case of Murder) is $59.98.

Vol. 3 is new, with six new-to-DVD classics for $59.98. Titles are Smart Money (1931, with Edward G. Robinson and Jimmy Cagney), Picture Snatcher (1933, with Cagney), The Mayor of Hell (1933, with Cagney), Lady Killer (1933, with Cagney, and wasn’t that a busy year for him), Black Legion (1937, with Bogart), and Brother Orchid (1940, with Bogart and Robinson). Our co-selection for Official In The Balcony DVD of the Month for March.

February Releases

The Apartment Collector’s Edition (MGM, $19.98) MGM continues to go back through its catalog; at least, unlike Lionsgate, it remasters and improves its previous releases.

The Aristocats Special Edition (Disney, $29.98) A special edition of a not-too-special Disney feature.

Jean-Luc Godard Collection (Lionsgate, $34.98) A boxed set with some of the director’s later and more obscure films, including Passion, First Name: Carmen, The Detective, and Oh Woe is Me.

Legion of Super-Heroes, Vol. 2 (Warner, $14.98) The super-teens from the far future back with more TV cartoon adventures.

The Films of Sergei Paradjanov (Kino, $79.95) Russian classics, including Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, The Color of Pomegranates, The Legend of Suram Fortress, Ashik Kerib.

Imitation Of Life (Universal, $26.98) Part of the Legacy Collection, so this one’s is more expensive than other multi-film sets you’re going to see this week. Plus, you get both versions, the one with Claudette Colbert and the one with Lana Turner.

Ironside Season 2, Vol. 1 (Shout Factory, $19.99) I think that, like Police Woman with Angie Dickinson, only little old ladies watched this show.

Junior G-Men of the Air (VCI, $19.99) Serial fun with the Dead End Kids & Little Tough Guys battling Japanese agent Lionel Atwill.

King Creole / G.I. Blues (Paramount, $14.98) A pair of Elvis Presley double features, and two of his better films. A lot of people consider King Creole, with Carolyn Jones and Walter Matthau, to be Presley's best movie. Also available today, for the same price: Blue Hawaii / Paradise, Hawaiian Style.

Bruce Lee: The Early Years 1953/1955 (Cinema Epoch, $24.98) Two films made by Lee when he was just a teen, The Guiding Light and An Orphan's Tragedy.

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection Vol. 10.2 (Rhino, $59.95) The previous release had to be recalled because Rhino didn’t have the rights to the Godzilla film they’d included on it. This volume replaces that film with The Giant Gila Monster. The other films in the box are Roger Corman’s Swamp Diamonds, plus Teenage Strangler and Giant Spider Invasion.

My Favorite Martian Complete Third Season (Rhino, $47.98) Hope there’s no Godzilla films in THIS collection.

The Phantom Creeps (VCI, $19.99) Serial fun with Bela Lugosi trying first to conquer the world, then destroy it. Whatever.

Portrait In Black / Madame X (Universal, $14.95) One of a series of Universal double-and triple-features being released this week. This one pairs a couple of Lana Turner films.

Psychotronica Collection 1 (VCI, $49.99) A collection of double-features of obscure movies. Also available separately for $19.99. Titles include Delinquent Schoolgirls, Dream No Evil, Mondo Keyhole, The Raw Ones, The Mermaids of Tiburon, Cry of the Bewitched.

Route 66: Season 1, Vol. 2 (Roxbury, $29.98) I haven’t opened Vol. 1 yet, frankly.

Tammy triple feature (Universal, $19.98) Well, for those of you who wanted Debbie Reynolds in more Tammy Frolics, here are Tammy and the Bachelor, Tammy Tell Me True, and Tammy And The Doctor.

Tootsie: 25th Anniversary Edition (Sony, $19.94) One of the better transvestite movies, not least of all because it’s got that cutie Teri Garr and it’s got Geena Davis in her underwear, too!

Bibleman: Tuning Out the Unholy Hero (Pamplin, $13.89) Bibleman is a superhero who stands for Truth, Justice, and the Fundamentalist Way. A bunch of “Bibleman” adventures (and his little brother, Bibleman Jr., for the wee tots) are being released today, all incredibly cheesy, and check out this description for this one: “Another day, another demented villain. Seems like there's a never-ending supply of evil-doers for Bibleman to eradicate thru the power of God's Word. In this latest episode, the new kids TV network is spotlighting "celebrities" who influence kids in a bad way. What's so unusual about that? Turns out this network-WBIG, which stands for What's-Bad-Is-Good-is run by a dreamy-lookin' anchor-dude whose chiseled countenance conceals his life's passion: blocking the gospel of Jesus Christ from reaching kids. Based on John 14:6, that's not a mission-statement Bibleman is comfortable with. And when Bibleman is uncomfortable, villains begin to tremble.” Well, we’re trembling, but we’re still naming this our Official In The Balcony Non-Secular Worst DVD of the Month.

Burn 'Em Up Barnes (Jef Films, $19.95) Well, here’s a rarity: the 1921 silent feature (later remade as a talkie serial).

The Charlie Chan Collection, Vol. 4 (Fox, $49.98) Titles in this one include Charlie Chan in Honolulu, in Reno, at Treasure Island, and in City in Darkness. Sidney Toler takes over as Chan.

The Joan Crawford Collection, Vol. 2 (Warners, $49.98) A collection of A Woman's Face, Flamingo Road, Sadie McKee, Strange Cargo, and Torch Song, plus a plethora of bonus shorts and cartoons. Titles will also be available separately.

The Robert Donat Collection (Firecake, $29.99) Never heard of this company, but the titles are The Count Of Monte Cristo, Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps, and The Ghost Goes West.

George of the Jungle: Complete Series (Classic Media, $19.95). I don’t think the “complete series” consisted of too many episodes.

The Stanley Kramer Film Collection (Sony, $59.95) A collection of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Ship of Fools, The Member of the Wedding, The Wild One, and The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

Eclipse Series 8: Lubitsch Musicals (Criterion, $59.95) In a month of terrific vintage film releases, this is the one to which I’m most looking forward. Includes The Love Parade., The Smiling Lieutenant, One Hour with You, and Monte Carlo, with such stars as Jeanette MacDonald, Maurice Chevalier, and Claudette Colbert. Our Official In The Balcony DVD of the Month.

Quo Vadis (Castaway, $12.98) What ho! Bring on the dancing girls! It’s the classic 1951 version with Robert Taylor and Deborah Kerr.

Route 66: Classic Episodes (Infinity, $26.99) A collection of a half-dozen of the “best” episodes, as chosen by… well, by somebody.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Academy Awards Animation Collection (Warner) Okay, pay attention. There’s a collection with 15 vintage animated Oscar winners for $19.98, and a bigger set with those 15 winners and 26 other nominees for $44.98.

The Wiz: 30th Anniversary Edition w/ Bonus CD (Universal, $19.98) Another case of Hollywood taking a terrific play and wrecking it.

Bugville (Legend, $14.95) Okay, this one has me puzzled. It’s actually the 1941 Max Fleischer feature Mr. Bug Goes To Town, badly retitled. What is Legend – those colorization dumb-asses – doing with it? Includes two bonus Fleischer cartoon shorts.

Chinese Film Classics Collection (Cinema Epoch) Includes Dream of the Red Chamber (1978) and Empress Wu Zetian (1963).

German Expressionism Collection (Kino, $69.95) Titles, also available separately ($29.95 each) include The Hands of Orlac, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Secrets of a Soul, and Warning Shadows.

Pierrot le Fou (Criterion, $39.95) 1965 Godard thriller.

Walker (Criterion, $39.95) Ed Harris stars in this 1987 adventure film set in 19th century Nicaragua.

Color Honeymooners Collection, Vol. 2 (MPI, $39.98) These are the shows I remember from my youth.

Dark Shadows: The Beginning No. 3 Episodes 71-105 (MPI, $59.98) More of the pre-Barnabus Collins episodes.

Family Affair Season 5 (MPI, $39.98) Yeah, that fat guy from Checkmate is back.

The Fugitive Season One, Vol. Two (Paramount, $36.98) Still lookin’ for the one-armed man.

Girl from Tobacco Row (Jef Films, $24.95) Okay, shouldn’t movies like this cost, oh, 99¢?

Invisible Man: The Complete Series (MPI, $39.98) Obscure 1950s TV show.

Justice League: The New Frontier (Warner) Available in a single disc edition ($19.98) or a 2-disc edition ($24.98), this is a new, animated retelling of the origin of the JLA.

The Last Emperor (Criterion, $59.95) Bernardo Bertolucci’s multi-Oscar winning epic, now in a huge Criterion set.

Johnny Legend Presents (Legend House, $19.95 each) Two new volumes, including Ultimate Sleazemania and Beat Mania!

Newhart: Complete First Season (Fox, $39.98) Bob’s second hit show, the one with him as the Vermont innkeeper. Unfortunately, the first season is the weakest, with no sign of spoiled maid Stephanie, yuppie TV director Michael, or Larry, Darryl, and Darryl.

Sign of the Wolf (Hermitage Hill, $15.95) Rex Lease stars in this early sound serial from the Serial Squadron.

January '08 releases

The All-New Superfriends Hour: Season One, Vol. 1 (Warners, $26.98) By “All-New” they mean, of course 30 years old. This is the late 1970s TV incarnation of the Justice League. I remember it as being scarcely more animated than a lawn gnome.

Cary Grant 4-Disc Collector's Set (Republic, $19.98) Includes Indiscreet, Operation Petticoat, The Grass Is Greener, and That Touch of Mink. This is a reissue of an older DVD set, and I’ll bet Lionsgate just reissues it without any remastering, which would be a shame, because by all reports the old DVD set looked like crap.

Gunsmoke: Season Two, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $36.99) Oddly enough, you can buy the entire first season but the second season is broken into two parts.

Skin in the Fifties (Secret Key, $29.98) A compilation of burlesque films from the Eisenhower decade.

The Waltons: Complete Sixth Season (Warners, $39.98) I never liked this show.

Warners Best Pictures ($19.98 each) Warners is reissuing all of their previous DVD Best Picture winners, but you probably own them all already, right? Well, maybe not Cimarron.

An Affair To Remember 50th Anniversary Edition (Fox, $19.98) Spiffy new transfer and bonus material for this Cary Grant – Deborah Kerr romance.

The Amazing 300 Classic Cartoon Collection (Mill Creek, $24.98) One of several amazing colossal Mill Creek compilations this week. This one has the usual public domain cartoons, including some Caspers, Popeyes, Three Stooges, and other lackluster cartoons. At 35½ hours’ worth on only six discs, they’re cramming a lot onto each disc.

Breaker Morant (Image, $19.98) A special edition of the 1980 Australian classic.

Best of The Cisco Kid (Mill Creek, $14.98) 35 episodes Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carillo, it says here.

In the Heat of the Night 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (UA, $19.98) Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger star in Norman Jewison’s multiple-Oscar winner.

Postwar Kurosawa – Eclipse Series 7 (Criterion, $69.95) Five Kurosawas from 1946-1955, including No Regrets for Our Youth, One Wonderful Sunday, Scandal, The Idiot, and I Live in Fear.

Legend of Rin Tin Tin (Mill Creek, $14.98) 48 Episodes of “America’s Favorite Four-Legged Hero”, it says here.

The Naked Prey (Criterion, $39.95) Cornel Wilde directed and starred in this 1966 safari thriller.

The Rockford Files: Season 5 (Universal, $39.98) I think they should record all new answering machine messages for these things.

4 by Agnès Varda (Criterion, $99.95) Includes La Pointe Courte, Cléo from 5 to 7, Le Bonheur, and Vagabond.

20th Century Fox Collections (Fox, $39.98 each) Three new Oscar-themed collections of previously released DVDs. First, the Best Actress Collection includes Anastasia, The Three Faces of Eve, Norma Rae, Boys Don't Cry, and Walk the Line. Second, the Best Actor set has In Old Arizona, The King and I, Patton, Harry and Tonto, and Wall Street. And finally, the Best Picture Collection includes How Green Was My Valley, Gentleman's Agreement, All About Eve, The Sound of Music, and The French Connection.

Banacek: Season 2 (Arts Alliance, $24.98) This George Peppard show I watched a couple of times, and thought it was stupid.

Barney Miller: Complete Season 2 (Sony, $29.95) I remember liking this show when I watched it, which was maybe once or twice a year.

Giants Midgets Heroes and Villains 2 (WPOE, $19.98) Yes, for those of you who can’t get enough of giants and midgets wrestling, here’s a second collection of classics. For the rest of us, it’s the Worst DVD of the Month.

Hawaii Five-O: Complete Season 3 (Paramount, $49.99) I still have to admit that I’ve never seen a single second of this show, beyond watching the opening credits from time to time to hear the theme.

Make Room for Daddy: Season 6 (S’more, $39.99) Now here’s a show I watched all the time; I was younger, watched more TV, and it was on quite frequently thanks to the miracle of syndicated reruns. Danny Thomas, of course, was the star.

Miss Julie (Criterion, $39.95) Jeepers, somebody at Criterion wants me in the Poor House. 1951 Swedish classic from Alf Sjöberg.

The Odd Couple: Season 3 (Paramount, $38.99) I didn’t watch this show much, either, but when I did I liked it a lot. I have the first two seasons on DVD, and don’t watch them much, but when I do I like them a lot.

Saved From The Flames - 54 Rare and Restored Films 1896 - 1944 (Flicker Alley, $49.95) I’ve been buying these collections from European DVDs, and they’re great, but there are more than 75 films on the six European discs, and this is considerably less on only three discs. The wonderful 1924 German serial Flight Around the World seems to be amongst the casualties here.

Because of the importance of this collection, here’s Flicker Alley’s detailed description in full:

1: NEW BEGINNINGS: Seven films including the early cinematic experiments of Lumière, Georges Mendel and others, featuring Cyrano De Bergerac from 1900, believed to be the first color and sound film. MAGICAL MOVIES: Five early fantasy and trick films, including a previously-unseen trick film by Georges Méliès, hand-colored films from Segundo de Chomon and Gaston Velle, and astonishing stop-motion animation from 1911. SEEING THE WORLD: Among the ten films in this section: A transatlantic crossing in a Zeppelin dirigible, a stencilcolored trek through the Belgian Congo in 1925, Parisian street kids in Montmartre during the first World War, a 1916 visit to Los Angeles, 1927 sound film of Charles Lindbergh embarking on his New York-Paris flight, an early 1930s portrait of New York s Coney Island, and a film promoting Josephine Baker s revue at the Folies-Bergère.

2: LAUGHING LIKE WE USED TO: Seven comedies, including four restored from turn of the century Italy and France, a recently-discovered nitrate negative of Chaplin's first appearance in his tramp attire, a frenetic Mack Sennett gag fest with tin lizzies galore, and The Pest, starring an early Stan Laurel (before Hardy). DRAWINGS AND MODELS: Six works of animation: Gaumont's Fantasmagorie (1908), three cartoons from the Fleischer Studios Cartoon Factory (1924), Ain't She Sweet (1932), and Play Safe (1936) Ub Iwerks' Balloonland (1935) featuring a new color restoration made from the original negatives, and a filmed performance by puppetry pioneer Tony Sarg. GRACE NOTES: Rare musical performances: Django Reinhardt with Stephane Grapelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France, Duke Ellington and the Cotton Club Orchestra, Louis Armstrong, and the Utica Jubilee Singers.

3: PERSUADE ME: Eleven films designed to influence, including vintage promotional films featuring Laurel & Hardy (dubbed in French), Michel Simon and Jacques Tati, puppet animation by George Pal, three WW-II era musical shorts, two political campaign films, and Master Hands, a paean to the 1936 Chevrolet, selected for the National Film Registry. TELL ME A STORY: Narratives from 1912-1913 by D.W. Griffith (For His Son), Lois Weber (Suspense), and Thomas Ince (The Heart of an Indian), all mastered from beautiful 35 mm film elements.

SAVED FROM THE FLAMES Booklet: An illustrated history and comments on each film in the collection, written by David Shepard and Serge Bromberg.

Saved from the Flames is our selection as the Official In The Balcony DVD of the Month for January 2008.

Swamp Thing: The Series (Shout Factory, $39.99) I had completely forgotten this TV series, which I used to occasionally watch on some obscure cable channel. I loved the comics, but remember thinking the show was lousy. Includes 22 episodes; was that all, I wonder?

This Sporting Life (Criterion, $39.95) Lindsay Anderson’s 1963 British drama stars Richard Harris.

42nd Street Forever Vol. 3: Exploitation Explosion (Synapse, $19.95) Another compilation of grindhouse trailers.

El Cid: 2-Disc Collector's Edition (Miriam Collection, $39.95) Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren star in Anthony Mann’s 1961 Italian epic. This version comes in a big box with commemorative reproductions of promotional materials, including lobby cards; you can get just the 2-disc DVD film for SRP $24.95.

The Val Lewton Collection (Warners, $59.98) A re-release of the previous boxed set; best films include The Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, and the three that star Boris Karloff. Also available, a separate documentary, Martin Scorsese Presents Val Lewton (SRP $19.98).

Jackie Gleason: Genius at Work (MPI, $19.98) A plethora of skits from the TV vaults, courtesy of the Gleason family.

Mamas & The Papas: Straight Shooter (Standing Room Only, $19.99) Documentary on the 1960s “California Dreaming” icons.

Edgar Wallace Collection (Infinity Resources, $19.98) This company has issued no press releases or a screener, so I have no idea what is included in this or the Steve Reeves Collection, being released on the same day at the same price.

December releases...

Battling with Buffalo Bill (VCI, $29.99) VCI has two new serials this month; this one is a 12-episode early sound chapterplay from 1931 starring Tom Tyler and William Desmond.

Ingmar Bergman: Four Masterworks (Criterion, $99.95) A repackaging of Smiles of a Summer Night, The Seventh Seal, Wild Strawberries, and The Virgin Spring.

Buster Keaton: Comedy Legend (Passport, $19.98) Another one of those cheap but serviceable 5-disc boxed sets from Passport with loads of public domain films.

Daniel Boone: Season 6 (Goldhil, $49.98) All I remember of this long-running Fess Parker TV series was that Dan’l Boone was a man, yes a big man.

Decades Collection (MGM $19.99) MGM (or what passes for it these days) continues to repackage and rerelease the films from their archives; this time, in “Decades” collections with bonus CDs. Beware: some of these (if not all) appear to be pan&scan, and who the hell wants to see West Side Story that way, with most of the Sharks & Jets missing? Titles include Guys and Dolls, Some Like it Hot,12 Angry Men, Fiddler on the Roof, Moonstruck and others.

Doctor in the House series (Jef Films, $24.95 each). Popular British comedy series, including Doctor at Sea, Doctor in Clover, Doctor in the House, Doctor in Trouble, Doctor in Distress, Doctor at Large, Doctor in Love.

Ford At Fox: The Collection (Fox, $299.98) America’s greatest filmmaker in a massive collection of two dozen films, plus documentaries, featurettes, a colossal book… Despite the hefty price tag, it’s our cherce for In The Balcony DVD of the Month for December 2007.

Some titles will be available individually ($19.99), and there are also boxed subsets ($49.98 each) of “Essential” Ford with the new documentary plus five other films, including Frontier Marshall and Grapes of Wrath; “American Comedies” with several Will Rogers films, Shirley Temple in When Willie Comes Marching Home, and two others; and “Silent Epics” with Just Pals, The Iron Horse, and others. You can also buy the “Becoming John Ford” documentary for $14.98.

Gene Autry: Last of the Pony Riders (Image, $19.99) Gene and Smiley Burnette ride again. Yeee-haw!

The Grindhouse Experience, Vol. 2 (Videoasia, $34.98) Hardly a week passes in which we don’t see yet another “grindhouse” set, eh? This time, no less than 20 movies we’ve never heard of, including Deadly Jaws and 3 Supermen against Godfather.

Bob Hope MGM Movie Legends Collection (MGM, $39.98) Not quite the best of Bob, with the films Alias Jesse James, Boy Did I Get the Wrong Number, The Facts of Life, I'll Take Sweden, The Princess and the Pirate, The Road to Hong Kong and They've Got Me Covered.

Johnny Legend's Teen Mania Box Set (Legend House, $49.95) Postponed from an earlier date. We already told you to buy it. Trust us!

The Last Man on Earth (MGM, $14.98) This Vinnie Price movie, in the public domain and available from virtually everybody – including MGM already – gets a new edition in anticipation of the remake, I Am Legend.

Lubitsch in Berlin (Kino, $79.95) Wow, another great collection. We all need second jobs! Titles in this one are The Doll, The Oyster Princess, I Don't Want to be a Man, Sumurun, Anna Boleyn, The Wildcat, plus a documentary.

That Certain Thing (Jef Films, $19.95) Rare silent film, directed by Frank Capra.

White Eagle (VCI, $29.99) Another new serial release, this one a 15-episode 1941 Columbia winner from director James W. Horne (The Spider’s Web, Captain Midnight) starring Buck Jones, James Craven, and Raymond Hatton.

Two-Lane Blacktop (Criterion, $39.95) Warren Oates stars with James Taylor and Dennis Wilson in this cult classic.

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Third Season (Paramount, $38.99) All I can say is “Golly!”

The Man Who Could Work Miracles (Cheezy Flicks, $12.95) Roland Young stars in this H.G. Wells-written 1936 fantasy about a man who can work miracles.

The Undertaker and His Pals (Cheezy Flicks, $9.95) 1966 cult film about cannibalism, as if we needed more of those.

Walt Disney Treasures (Disney, $32.99 each) Three more of those nifty 2-disc sets in the metal boxes. This year’s releases include Disneyland: Secrets, Stories & Magic; The Chronological Donald, Vol. 3 (1947-1950); and The Adventures of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Bikini Bloodbath (Video Music, $14.95) From the official description: “hilarity ensues and the blood bath begins!” Yeah, and Merry Christmas to you, too. Our Official ITB Worst DVD of the Month for December.

The Mod Squad: Season 1, Vol. 1 (Paramount, $38.99) One black, one white, one blond, as I recall.

Rawhide: Season 2, Vol. 2 (Paramount, $38.99) Head ‘em on, move ‘em out, etc.

Starlite Drive-In Collection: Cult Classics - A Dust ‘til Dawn Marathon (BCI, $24.98) Repackaging of four double-feature discs with grindhouse-type films.

Underdog: The Ultimate Collection (Classic Media, $27.95) “Ultimate Collection”, eh? Why do they DO that?!? It’s actually just a boxed set of the three disc previously released, a total of 18 episodes. “Ultimate!” Mphfh. They’re lucky I don’t make ‘em Worst DVD of the Month!

Lost and Found: The Harry Langdon Collection (Facets, $39.95) The great silent comic – at one time, a rival to Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd – gets a very nice 4-disc set from the Mack Sennett years. Here’s the complete list:

Disc 1: Picking Peaches, Smile Please, His New Mamma, The First 100 Years, The Luck o' the Foolish, The Hansom Cabman, and All Night Long.
Disc 2: Feet of Mud, The Sea Squawk, Boobs in the Wood, His Marriage Wow, Plain Clothes, Remember When, Lucky Stars, and There He Goes surviving footage.
Disc 3: Saturday Afternoon, Fiddlesticks, Soldier Man, and His First Flame. Plus Bonus extra: Catalina Here I Come, a sample of faux-Langdon starring Eddie Quillan and Madeline Hurlock.

Disc 4: Knight Duty, Hooks and Jabs, and Love, Honor and Obey (the Law). Plus bonus extra: Lost and Found, an original feature-length documentary on the life and films of Harry Langdon.
Special Features include audio commentaries, home movies, a collectible booklet, the 1942 short Beautiful Clothes Make Beautiful Girls, and the pressbook for Heart Trouble.

Those November Releases were...

Abbott & Costello: The "Shit On Bud & Lou" Collection (Legend, $9.99 each) Well, okay, they’re not actually calling it that, but that’s what these are: several public domain A&C routines and movie trailers and 1950s TV appearances, colorized for nitwits. Easily our November choice for Worst DVDs of the Month. What a waste of time, money, and effort.

Babes in Toyland (Jef Films, $19.95) Not Laurel. Not Hardy. Not Annette. No, this is a forgotten 1954 TV version with Wally Cox, Dave Garroway, and Dennis Day. Oooookay.

Beetle Bailey: The Complete Collection (BCI/Eclipse, $14.98) All I remember about this TV cartoon, which I did use to watch, was that the guy who played Beetle Bailey was the same guy who played Ernest T. Bass, the incredibly insane rock-throwing maniac on The Andy Griffith Show, and that his voice was NOTHING like I thought Beetle Bailey’s actual voice would sound like.

Casino Royale 40th Anniversary Edition (MGM, $19.98) Bond completist that I am, I don’t even have this huge-budget 1967 misfire in my collection, and I ain’t startin’ now.

The Day of the Triffids (BBC, $24.98) Just wanted to let everybody know that this is a British TV version, not the 1960s classic version. We’re still waiting for that on official DVD.

Dinosaurs vs. Apes (Cinema Epoch, $14.98) I have no idea what this is, beyond what they’re calling two documentaries about movies with apes and/or dinosaurs, and a running time of four hours. Somebody else watch this and get back to us, yes?

Dracula: 4 Film Favorites (Warners, $19.94) Warners is releasing a slew of repackaged film on fourpacks this week, and this one should be of interest to the post-Halloween crowd, as Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing star in the Hammer classics Horror of Dracula, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, Taste the Blood of Dracula, and Dracula A.D. 1972.

Help! (EMI, $35.98) The Beatles’ second film (in colour) at last is reissued on DVD in a couple of editions; this is the deluxe one, but there’s a somewhat-less-than-deluxe one, too ($29.98).

Helvetica (Plexifilm, $24.98) This recent documentary is arguably the finest film ever made about a font.

Bob Hope Ultimate Collection Special Edition (Respond 2, $29.99) Well, which is it, Ultimate or Special? Whatever. I thought it was the usual Passport PD compilations, but this one is supposedly sanctioned by the Hope estate and has hours of rare footage, or so they tell me, including early short subjects. Somehow, I’m skeptical, but I’m still in a bad mood over that colorized Abbott & Costello crap.

Laurel & Hardy - Alone & Together (Passport, $19.98) Boy, am I getting tired of endlessly listing “new” Laurel & Hardy DVDs that are the same ol’ public domain solo silent films that have Laurel or Hardy but not both in ‘em, plus Utopia and The Flying Deuces, while Americans can't walk into a video store and buy a decent copy of Pardon Us. Phooey.

Leading Ladies Collection, Vol. 2 (Warners, $49.98) Films include A Big Hand For The Little Lady, I'll Cry Tomorrow, Rich And Famous, Shoot The Moon, and Up The Down Staircase. They’re all available separately, too, for $19.98 each.

The Jack Nicholson Collection (Paramount, $24.99) A reissue of Chinatown and its sequel, The Two Jakes, also available separately for $14.99 each, but the bonus material doesn’t look all that special to us, frankly.

Ratatouille (Disney, $29.99) I’m not much of a fan of most of these new computer-generated cartoons, even the highly regarded Pixar ones. This film, however, is very good.

Weird Cinema: 15 Freaky Flicks (Passport, $19.98) A collection that includes Teenagers from Outer Space, Glen or Glenda?, and other psychotronic favorites.

Berlin Alexanderplatz (Criterion, $124.95) 15+ hour Fassbinder TV miniseries.

Bloodhounds of Broadway (Fox, $19.98) One of several Fox musicals being released this week. This one stars Mitzi Gaynor.

The Girl Next Door (Fox, $19.98) One of several Fox musicals being released this week. This one stars June Haver.

The Golden Boy (Sony, $19.94) Sony continues to release vintage films with much-hoped-for bonus material; this time, we’ve got a rare Shemp Howard solo short, Pleased to Mitt You, plus a cartoon. Thank you, Sony! Now give us some more serials! Quit hoarding The Iron Claw and Monster and the Ape!

Johnny Legend's Teen Mania Box Set (Legend House, $49.95) Includes a bunch of films/compilations I love, including Teenage Devil Dolls, Rock Baby Rock It, Naked Youth, Teen Mania, and Teenage Confidential. Buy this; trust me.

Johnny Legend’s TV Graffiti (Legend House, $19.95) A collection of early 1950s TV stuff.

Midnight Movies (Starz/Anchor Bay, $19.98) Documentary about cult movies.

Mountain Of The Cannibal God (Blue Underground, $14.95) 1979 cult classic, now in an “uncut” version. Hey, it stars Ursula Andress, and HER uncut I don’t mind seeing.

Showtime USA (VCI, $14.99 each) Four double-feature musicals from way back when. I doubt you’ve heard of any of ‘em, but they all look like fun. Vol. 1 has Everybody’s Dancing and Varieties on Parade; Vol. 2 has Yes Sir, Mr. Bones! And Square Dance Jubilee; Vol. 3 has Hollywood Varieties and Holiday Rhythm; and Vol. 4 has Kentucky Jubilee and Kid from Gower Gulch. You can get a Collector’s Pack with all four for only $39.99. These are from the Kit Parker collection, and if you like Spade Cooley, this is the set for you! (And who doesn't like Spade Cooley?!?!) Due to the previous unavailability of these films, and due to the fact that we love wacky obscurities like this, we're bestowing the honor of Official In The Balcony DVD of the Month for November to the boxed set. Enjoy.

Welcome to the Grindhouse (BCI/Eclipse, $12.98 each) Two more double features of cheesy 1970s era films, including Las Vegas Lady / Policewomen and Superchick / Hustler Squad.

Amy Winehouse: I Told You I Was Trouble – Live from London (Universal Republic, $19.98) Well, this is new, but we love Amy up here In The Balcony.

With a Song in My Heart (Fox, $19.98) One of several Fox musicals being released this week. This one stars Susan Hayward.

Gene Autry (Image, $19.99 each) This month’s r