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ONVIDEO E-MAIL NEWS
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6/14/05 V9.24

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ONVIDEO'S WEEKLY GUIDE TO HOME VIDEO RELEASES
FOR TUESDAY, June 14 -- MONDAY, June 20

DIRTY SHAME, A
From the wondrously fertile mind of writer-director John Waters
comes America's first carnal concussion comedy. Set in the
Harford Road area of Waters' native Baltimore, "A Dirty Shame"
tells what happens when a horde of "sex addicts" invade a blue-
collar neighborhood, to the shock and dismay of the "neuter"
neighbors. Lust is in the air on Harford Road and Sylvia Stickles
(Tracey Ullman), a grumpy, repressed middle-aged Baltimorean,
doesn't like it. Though Sylvia's handsome husband Vaughn (Chris
Isaak) still has marital urges, Sylvia couldn't be less
interested -- she has work to do. She has to run the family's
"Pinewood Park and Pay" convenience store, and prepare proper
meals for their exhibitionist daughter Caprice (Selma Blair), a
go-go dancer known to her adoring fans as Ursula Udders. Caprice
and her stupendously enlarged breasts have been sentenced to home
detention after several "nude and disorderly" violations. But
Sylvia's world is turned upside down one day after suffering a
concussion in a freak accident. Sexy tow-truck driver Ray-Ray
Perkins (Johnny Knoxville) rushes to her aid and Sylvia realizes
he's no ordinary service man; he's a sexual healer who brings her
flaming cauldron of hidden lust to the boiling point. Vaughn is
happily surprised by his wife's resurgent libido, but when he
sees her do a raunchy "hootchie-cootchie" dance during a routine
visit to a nursing home, he realizes something isn't right.
Sylvia's mother, Big Ethel (Suzanne Shepherd), already up in arms
about the libertines in their midst, decides it is time to fight
back. Supported by her sex-hating neighbors like Marge the Neuter
(Mink Stole), Big Ethel leads the battle for "Neuter normality"
against Ray-Ray and his "sex addict" disciples. Sylvia, torn
between her responsibilities as a wife and mother and her
suddenly unbridled thirst for all things carnal, finds herself at
the center of an overheated battle for a throbbing Harford Road.
What follows is rude, joyous and full of sexual anarchy. A movie
with a generous heart and a dirty mind. Director: John Waters.
Stars: Tracey Ullman, Johnny Knoxville, Selma Blair, Chris Isaak,
Suzanne Shepherd, Mink Stole, Patricia Hearst. 2005, CC, MPAA
rating: R, 89 min., Black comedy, Box office gross: $1.339
million, New Line, No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

HITCH
Romantic comedy stars Will Smith as Alex "Hitch" Hitchens, a
legendary -- and deliberately anonymous -- New York City "date
doctor" who, for a fee, has helped countless men woo the women of
their dreams. As a tactical adviser who specializes in first
impressions -- he customizes and orchestrates a client's first
three dates -- Hitch has been secretly responsible for hundreds
of New York City weddings. While coaching Albert (Kevin James), a
meek accountant who is smitten with a glamorous celebrity,
Allegra Cole (Amber Valletta), Hitch finally meets his match in
the person of the gorgeous, whip-smart Sara Melas (Eva Mendes), a
gossip columnist who follows Allegra's every move. The ultimate
professional bachelor, Hitch suddenly finds himself falling
deliriously in love with Sara, whose biggest scoop could very
well be the unmasking of Manhattan's most famous date doctor.
Director: Andy Tennant. Stars: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin
James, Amber Valletta, Julie Ann Emery, Robinne Lee, Nathan Lee
Graham, Adam Arkin, Michael Rapaport. 2005, CC, MPAA rating: PG-
13, 115 min., Comedy, Box office gross: $173.678 million, Sony,
No VHS SRP, Priced for rental.

For more release info, check out our calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar.htm>


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NEWS

COMING SOON:
Due August 23 from DreamWorks is "The Ring 2," directed by Hideo
Nakata and starring Naomi Watts, Simon Baker, David Dorfman,
Elizabeth Perkins, Gary Cole and Sissy Spacek, on $19.95 VHS and
DVD. The DVD will be available in rated and unrated versions, the
later which contains 10 minutes of additional footage ... Also on
that day MGM will release comedy "Beauty Shop," starring Queen
Latifah, on DVD and VHS ... On August 30 Paramount will release
action-adventure film "Sahara," starring Matthew McConaughey,
Penelope Cruz, Steve Zahn and William H. Macy; on VHS and DVD ...
And on September 20 Fox will release the animated hit "Robots,"
on DVD and VHS.

DVD COLLECTIBLES:
It's Bette vs. Joan as Warner releases two fabulous boxed sets
this week. The five-disc "Bette Davis: The Signature Collection"
features the new-to-DVD "Mr. Skeffington" and "The Star," a new
edition of the Davis classic "Dark Victory," which has been
restored from the original camera negative and remastered for
optimum picture quality, and the previously released "Now
Voyager" and "The Letter"; $49.92 or $14.95 each ... "Joan
Crawford: The Signature Collection" is also a five-disc set, but
with three new-to-DVD releases: "The Damned Don't Cry,"
"Humoresque" and "Possessed," along with previously released
"Mildred Pierce" and "The Women"; $49.92 or $14.95 each.

Another fabulous boxed set this week is "Very Crudely Yours, John
Waters," featuring seven John Waters films plus a bonus disc,
"John Waters DVD Scrapbook": "Hairspray," "Pecker," "Pink
Flamingos," "Female Trouble," "Desperate Living," "Polyester" and
"A Dirty Shame" (NC-17); $102.98, from New Line. From The
Criterion Collection comes Ernst Lubitsch's classic "Heaven Can
Wait" (1943), starring Gene Tierney, Don Ameche, Charles Coburn
and Marjorie Main. Lubitsch's trademark blend of wit, urbanity
and grace comes to the fore in this story of newly deceased
playboy Henry Van Cleve (Ameche) who presents himself to the
outer offices of Hades, where he asks a bemused Satan for
permission to enter the gates of Hell. Although the Devil doubts
that Henry's sins will qualify him for eternal damnation, Henry
proceeds to recount a life of wooing and pursuing women ... also
from Criterion is Robert Bresson's "Au Hasard Balthazar" (1966),
a moving religious parable of purity and transcendence that
follows a much abused donkey, Balthazar, a beast of burden
suffering the sins of man.

FROM TV TO VIDEO:
Due this week: "The Gun," a three-disc set with six episodes of
Robert Altman's dramatic series, $39.98 from Tango Entertainment
... "The King of Queens: The Fourth Season," a three-disc set
with 25 episodes, $39.95 from Sony ... "Macross Plus -- The
Collection," a two-disc set with four episodes of the anime
series; $39.98 from Manga Entertainment ... "Northern Exposure:
The Complete Third Season," a three-disc set with 23 episodes,
$39.98 from Universal ... "Reno 911! -- The Complete Second
Season -- Uncensored!" a three-disc set with 16 episodes, around
$30 from Paramount ... "Rosemary & Thyme: Series One," a three-
disc set of the U.K. series combining mystery and gardening,
$49.99 from Acorn Media ... "Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars.
Vol. 2: Altered Perceptions" contains episodes 6-10 of the anime
series set in the year 2070, $29.95 DVD from The Right Stuff
International ... "Tilt," a three-disc set, $49.99 from Buena
Vista ... "Two's Company: Complete Series Three," with eight
episodes of the British comedy about a cross cultural odd-couple
(American Elaine Stritch and Brit Donald Sinden) on one disc,
$24.99 from Acorn Media ... "Walker, Texas Ranger -- The Final
Season," a six-disc set with 22 episodes, around $35 from
Paramount.

BUZZIN' THE 'B's:
"Danger: Diabolik" is Mario Bava's 1968 kitch actioner about a
psychedelic-era thief (John Phillip Law), based on Europe's
popular Diabolik comics, from Paramount on DVD ... "Kenny &
Company" is Don Coscarelli's ("The Beastmaster") tale of a young
boy's escapades with beauties and bullies leading up to one
Halloween night to remember, from Anchor Bay on DVD ... Two
thrillers arrive from First Look Home Entertainment: "Trauma"
(2004), starring Colin Firth, Naomie Harris and Mena Suvari,
about a man waking up from a coma somehow involved in the murder
of an English pop star; and "Cold & Dark" (2005), about a police
detective who is transformed into a bestial vigilante, starring
Luke Goss and Kevin Howarth.

ON THE INDIE FRONT:
"Brother to Brother" (2004) features the unrated version of the
PBS drama about Perry, a modern gay black artist, and the
inspiring legacy of the Harlem Renaissance, on $24.95 DVD from
Wolfe Video.

FOR THE KIDS:
"The Fairly Oddparents: School's Out" features three episodes
from the Nick animated series, $16.99 from Paramount ... "What's
New Scooby Doo? -- Vol. 5: Sports Spooktacular" contains four
Scooby sports adventures, $14.95 from Warner ... "Kirby: Fright
to the Finish -- The Movie" is a feature-length adventure
starring Nintendo's Kirby, who must fight off mysterious
spaceships that attack Dream Land, on $9.98 VHS and $14.98 DVD
from 4Kids Entertainment.

SPECIAL INTEREST:
"The First Amendment Project" is an anthology of short films on
the First Amendment, commissioned by the Sundance Channel and
Court TV, featuring "Fox v. Franken," directed by Chris Hegedus
and Nick Doob; "Poetic License," directed by Mario Van Peebles;
and "Some Assembly Required," directed by John Walter; on $26.95
DVD from Docurama/Sundance Channel Home Entertainment ... "The
Nomi Song" (2004), a documentary on German-born singer Klaus
Nomi, one of the most profoundly bizarre characters of the late
70s/early 80s New Wave underground scene; $19.98 from Palm
Pictures ... "Paul McCartney in Red Square" is a DVD of
McCartney's May 24, 2003 concert from Red Square in Moscow
featuring 30 classic hits; in Dolby and DTS surround, $24.95 from
A&E Home Video ... "H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds -- The Real
Story" is a two-disc set that chronicles the various incarnations
of Wells' famous tale (including the notorious Orson Welles radio
program that panicked the nation in 1939, a look behind the
scenes at Steven Spielberg's new film) and explores the Red
Planet with Mars rovers Opportunity and Spirit, more, on $9.98
from Goldhil Entertainment ... "Cathouse" is an America
Undercover documentary on Nevada's Moonlite Bunny Ranch, a legal
brothel where a credit card fulfills one's fantasies, on $14.97
DVD from New Line ... American history comes to the fore in
"American Anthem," the story of how "The Star Spangled Banner"
has weaved its way through the tapestry of U.S. history. and
"America Home of the Brave," which uses film and TV clips, news
footage, interviews and reenactments to profile American heroes,
from civil rights activist Roy Innes and jet pilot Chuck Yeager
to football legend Bob Chandler and combat pilot Arestes Lorenzo,
who rescued his family from Cuba, among others; each $14.98 DVD
from Westlake Entertainment.


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THIS WEEK'S DVD RELEASES:

Weekly listings of DVD releases can now be viewed on mobile
devices at www.tagtag.com/onvideo

** Adam at 6 A.M. (1970) Michael Douglas, Lee Purcell.
(Paramount).
** Au Hasard Balthazar (1966 -- France) Dir.: Robert Bresson;
Anne Wiazemsky, Francois Lafarge, Philippe Asselin, Nathalie
Joyaut. Extras: Video interview with film scholar Donald Richie,
a 1966 French TV program about the film featuring Bresson, Louis
Malle, Jean-Luc Godard, and others, and the original trailer.
(The Criterion Collection).
** Bette Davis: The Signature Collection. Five-disc set: New-to-
DVD "Mr. Skeffington" and "The Star," a new edition of the Davis
classic "Dark Victory," which has been restored from the original
camera negative and remastered for optimum picture quality, and
the previously released "Now Voyager" and "The Letter"; $49.92 or
$14.95 each. (Warner).
-- Mr. Skeffington (1944) Bette Davis, Claude Rains. Extras:
Commentary by director Vincent Sherman, new featurette "Mr.
Skeffington: A Picture of Strength."
-- The Star (1952) Bette Davis, Sterling Hayden, Natalie Wood,
Sterling Hayden. Extras: New featurette "How Real Is the Star?"
-- Dark Victory (1939) Bette Davis, George Brent, Humphrey
Bogart, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ronald Reagan, Henry Travers.
Extras: New digital transfer from restored picture and audio
elements, commentary by film historian James Ursini and CNN film
critic Paul Clinton, new featurette "1939: Tough Competition for
Dark Victory."
-- The Letter (1940) Dir.: William Wyler; Bette Davis, Herbert
Marshall, James Stephenson, Frieda Inescort, Gale Sondergaard.
Extras: New digital transfer from restored picture and audio
elements, Lux Radio Theater broadcast featuring performances by
Davis and Marshall, alternate ending.
-- Now Voyager (1942) Bette Davis, Gladys Cooper, Paul Henreid,
Claude Rains. Extras: Max Steiner scoring session music cues,
cast career highlights.
** Brother to Brother (2004) Anthony Mackie, Roger Robinson,
Daniel Sunjata, Aunjanue Ellis. Unrated version of the PBS drama
of a modern black artist and the inspiring legacy of the Harlem
Renaissance. Extras: Eight deleted scenes, commentary, an
interview with writer-director Rodney Evans on conceiving the
film and recreating the Harlem Renaissance on a limited budget,
more. (Wolfe Video).
** Carried Away (1996) Dennis Hopper, Amy Irving, Amy Locane,
Julie Harris, Gary Busey, Hal Holbrook. (New Line).
** Casino 10th Anniversary Edition (1995) Dir.: Martin Scorsese;
Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don
Rickles, Alan King, Kevin Pollak, L.Q. Jones, Dick Smothers.
Extras: Deleted scenes, "Casino: The Story," "Casino: Cast and
Characters," "Casino: The Look," "Casino: After the Filming,"
"Moments With Martin Scorsese, Sharon Stone, Nicholas Pileggi,"
"Vegas and the Mob" featurette, "History Alive: True Crime
Authors: Casino With Nicholas Pileggi." (Universal).
** Cold & Dark (2005) Luke Goss, Kevin Howarth. (First Look Home
Entertainment).
** Danger: Diabolik (1968) John Phillip Law, Marisa Mell, Michael
Piccoli, Adolfo Celi. Extras: Commentary by Law, "Danger Diabolik
-- From Fumetti to Film" featurette, "Body Movin'" music video by
the Beastie Boys. (Paramount).
** A Dirty Shame (2004) Dir.: John Waters; Tracey Ullman, Johnny
Knoxville, Selma Blair, Chris Isaak, Suzanne Shepherd, Mink
Stole, Patricia Hearst. In R and NC-17 editions. NC-17 Extras:
Commentary by Waters, "All the Dirt on A Dirty Shame" featurette.
(New Line).
** The Fairly Oddparents: School's Out (2005) Three episodes from
the Nick animated series. Extras: Featurette: "The Birth of
Fairly OddParents: Oh Yeah Shorts." $16.99. (Paramount).
** The First Amendment Project. Anthology of short films on the
First Amendment, commissioned by the Sundance Channel and Court
TV: "Fox v. Franken," directed by Chris Hegedus and Nick Doob;
"Poetic License," directed by Mario Van Peebles; and "Some
Assembly Required," directed by John Walter. (Docurama/Sundance
Channel Home Entertainment).
** For Roseanna (1997) Jean Reno, Mercedes Ruehl, Polly Walker,
Mark Frankel. (New Line).
** The Gun. Three-disc set with six episodes of Robert Altman's
dramatic series, $39.98. (Tango Entertainment).
** Heaven Can Wait (1943) Dir.: Ernst Lubitsch; Gene Tierney, Don
Ameche, Charles Coburn, Marjorie Main. Extras: Video conversation
between film critics Molly Haskell and Andrew Sarris; a televised
Bill Moyers portrait of screenwriter Samson Raphaelson; an audio
seminar from 1977 with Raphaelson and film critic Richard
Corliss; the trailer; Lubitsch home piano Recordings; more. (The
Criterion Collection).
** Hitch (2005) Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Amber
Valletta, Julie Ann Emery, Robinne Lee, Nathan Lee Graham, Adam
Arkin, Michael Rapaport. Extras: Alternate opening sequence,
deleted scenes, bloopers, five behind-the-scenes featurettes.
(Sony).
** Jaws 30th Anniversary Edition (1975) Dir.: Steven Spielberg;
Roy Scheider. Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary,
Murray Hamilton, Carl Gottlieb, Jeffrey Kramer. Two-disc set.
Dolby and DTS surround. Extras: "From the Set" featurette with an
interview with Spielberg, "The Making of Jaws" two-hour
documentary with cast and crew, deleted scenes, outtakes, "Jaws
Archives" of storyboards, production photos, marketing materials,
more. $22.98. (Universal).
** Joan Crawford: The Signature Collection. Five-disc set: Three
new-to-DVD releases: "The Damned Don't Cry," "Humoresque" and
"Possessed," along with previously released "Mildred Pierce" and
"The Women"; $49.92 or $14.95 each. (Warner).
-- Humoresque (1946) Dir.: Jean Negulesco; Joan Crawford, John
Garfield, Oscar Levant, J. Carrol Naish. Extras: New featurette
"The Music of Humoresque."
-- Possessed (1947) Joan Crawford, Van Heflin, Raymond Massey,
Geraldine Brooks. Extras: Commentary by film historian Drew
Casper, new featurette "Possessed: The Quintessential Film Noir."
-- The Damned Don't Cry (1950) Joan Crawford, David Brian, Steve
Cochran. Extras: Commentary by director Vincent Sherman, new
featurette "The Crawford Formula: Real and Reel."
-- The Women (1939) Dir.: George Cukor; Joan Crawford, Rosalind
Russell, Joan Fontaine, Mary Boland, Paulette Goddard, Norma
Shearer. Extras: Two vintage "Another Romance of Celluloid"
documentaries: "From the Ends of the Earth," "Hollywood: Style
Center of the World"; alternate black and white fashion show
sequence with different footage; scoring session music cues;
theatrical trailers of "The Women" and musical remake "The
Opposite Sex."
-- Mildred Pierce (1945) Dir.: Michael Curtiz; Joan Crawford,
Jack Carson, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, Ann Blyth. Extras: Feature
length documentary: "Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star,"
Crawford trailer gallery.
** Kenny & Company (1976) Dir.: Don Coscarelli; A. Michael
Baldwin, Reggie Bannister, Dan McCann, Jeff Roth. (Anchor Bay).
** The King of Queens: The Fourth Season. Three-disc set with 25
episodes, $39.95. (Sony).
** Land of Silence and Darkness (1971 -- German) Dir.: Werner
Herzog. Documentary. (New Yorker).
** The Lightship (1985) Tom Bower, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Robert
Costanzo, Badja Djola, Robert Duvall. (Paramount).
** Macross Plus -- The Collection. Two-disc set with four
episodes of the Manga series; $39.98. (Manga Entertainment).
** The Nomi Song (2004) Dir.: Andrew Horn. Documentary on German-
born singer Klaus Nomi, one of the most profoundly bizarre
characters of the late 70s/early 80s New Wave underground scene.
Extras: Commentary by director Andrew Horn; selected
scenes/interviews; full musical performances: "The Cold Song,"
"After the Fall"; Special Edition Audio Remixes from Ana
Matronic, Richard Barone, Man Parrish and The Moog Cookbook; New
York theatrical film premiere and party featurette hosted by
Richard Barone; New Wave music featurette with Andy Schwartz,
former editor of The NY Rocker; "he East Village in Pictures"
featurette; "The Klaus Nomi Key Lime Tart "recipe. (Palm
Pictures).
** Northern Exposure: The Complete Third Season. Three-disc set
with 23 episodes, $39.98. Extras: Deleted and/or extended scenes,
unexposed scenes, lost storylines. (Universal).
** Paul McCartney in Red Square. May 24, 2003 concert from Red
Square in Moscow featuring 30 classic hits. In Dolby and DTS
surround. Extras: Twenty minutes of never-before-aired footage,
10-minute featurette from the History Channel, song selection,
interactive guide, photo gallery, 50-minute bonus concert from
McCartney's concert in St. Petersburg, eight-page booklet;
$24.95. (A&E Home Video).
** Prime Cut (1972) Lee Marvin, Gene Hackman, Angel Tompkins,
Gregory Walcott, Sissy Spacek. (Paramount).
** Reno 911! -- The Complete Second Season -- Uncensored! Three-
disc set with 16 episodes, around $30. Extras: Deleted scenes and
outtakes, commentary by the cast on selected episodes, Aspen
Comedy Festival featurette. (Paramount).
** The Reivers (1969) Steve McQueen, Rupert Crosse, Mitch Vogel,
Sharon Farrell, Angela Lansbury. (Paramount).
** Rory O'Shea Was Here (aka Inside I'm Dancing) (2004) James
McAvoy, Steven Robertson, Romola Garai, Gerard McSorley. Extras:
Deleted scenes, extended party sequence. (Universal).
** Rosemary & Thyme: Series One. Three-disc set of the U.K.
series combining mystery and gardening, $49.99. (Acorn Media).
** Signs of Life (1968) Dir.: Werner Herzog; Peter Brogle,
Wolfgang Reichmann, Athina Zacharopoulou. Extras: Commentary by
Herzog and Norman Hill. (New Yorker).
** Target (1985) Gene Hackman, Brad Williams, Matt Dillon.
(Paramount).
** Tarzan II (2005) Direct to video sequel. Extras: Games,
making-of, ape language pop-ups, more. (Disney).
** Tilt. Three-disc set, $49.99. Extras: Alternate ending,
deleted scenes, outtakes, actor auditions, "On the Set With Mike
and Mike" featurette, 1998 World Series of Poker Final Table.
(Buena Vista).
** Trauma (2004) Colin Firth, Naomie Harris, Mena Suvari. (First
Look Home Entertainment).
** Two's Company: Complete Series Three. Eight episodes of the
British comedy about a cross cultural odd-couple (American Elaine
Stritch and Brit Donald Sinden) on one disc, $24.99. (Acorn
Media).
** Very Crudely Yours, John Waters (Gift Set). Seven John Waters
films plus a bonus disc, "John Waters DVD Scrapbook":
"Hairspray," "Pecker," "Pink Flamingos," "Female Trouble,"
"Desperate Living," "Polyester" and "A Dirty Shame" (NC-17);
$102.98. (New Line).
** Walker, Texas Ranger -- The Final Season. Six-disc set with 22
episodes, around $35. (Paramount).
** What's New Scooby Doo? -- Vol. 5: Sports Spooktacular. Four
sports adventures, $14.95. Extras: Two featurettes starring Major
League Baseball legend Hank Aaron: "Scooby-Doo All-Stars Meet
Home Run King" and "Scooby-Doo All-Stars Baseball Tips."
(Warner).
** The Wool Cap (2004 -- TV) William H. Macy, Ned Beatty, Don
Rickles, Catherine O'Hara. (Paramount).

For more DVD info, check out our DVD calendar pages at
<http://www.onvideo.org/calendar/cal_dvd.htm>


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ISSN 1094-3676

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