Amid renewed enthusiasm for military films (undoubtedly spurred by the critical and box office success of the Oscar-winning ”Platoon” and the record-smashing ”Top Gun”), Warner Home Video pays tribute to the U.S. Marine Corps with two recently released titles: ”Heartbreak Ridge” ($89.95) and ”The D.I.” ($59.95). ”Heartbreak Ridge” stars Clint Eastwood as a Marine sergeant whipping misfit recruits into fighting shape. ”The D.I.,” a forerunner of films such as ”Heartbreak Ridge” and ”An Officer and a Gentleman,” features Jack (”Dragnet”) Webb as a tough drill instructor with a spotless record who is challenged by an obstinate recruit.
Vestron Video was scheduled to release ”Platoon” in midsummer, but a legal dispute over the film`s video rights has pushed the date back indefinitely.
Nostalgia lovers ought to check out ”Steve Allen`s Golden Age of Comedy” ($59.95), recently released by Media Home Entertainment. Allen hosts a roundup of frantic footage from his `50s and `60s TV shows. Guest stars include Johnny Carson, Mel Brooks, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Don Knotts, Louis Nye and the Muppets. (Younger viewers probably won`t get most of the jokes, which we found pretty dated. Guess you had to be there to appreciate this program!) Also new from Media Home Entertainment: ”Otello” ($79.95), Franco Zeffirelli`s screen adaptation of Verdi`s opera. It stars Placido Domingo.
KID VID
Highlighting the children`s video market of recent weeks are four new titles from Playhouse Video: ”Dennis the Menace Movie Exclusives: Memory Mayhem” ($59.98), ”Mister Rogers` Home Video: What About Love?” ($19.98),
”Mr. Wizard`s World: Air and Water Wizardry” ($19.98) and ”Draw and Color with Uncle Fred: Far Out Pets” ($14.98).
The first in a series of Dennis the Menace videos, ”Memory Mayhem”
shows what happens when Dennis accidentally knocks Mr. Wilson over with his bike and Mr. Wilson develops amnesia. Through a series of flashbacks (stories relayed by Dennis and his friend, Margaret), Mr. Wilson eventually regains his memory–and remembers why he always seems to be mad at Dennis.
The Mister Rogers ”What About Love?” video is the third in a series of programs featuring the kindly man next door from PBS-TV`s long-running
”Mister Rogers` Neighborhood.” Utilizing characters from his TV show, Rogers teaches lessons about the value of love and explains the other feelings that go along with it.
Also a television favorite, Mr. Wizard (science teacher Don Herbert)
hosts an astounding and informative tour through the worlds of air and water in ”Air and Water Wizardry.” With help from young assistants, he
demonstrates fascinating experiments with bubbles, bags and balloons. He makes water boil with his finger; creates and walks through a man-made cloud; and builds a tabletop volcano. His demonstrations use common household objects and can be attempted by budding scientists at home.
Uncle Fred (Fred Laswell), creator of the comic strip ”Barney Google and Smuffy Smith” is also appearing in his third Playhouse Video. ”Far Out Pets” shows kids how to make simple lines, squiggles and shapes into fun characters like a happy turtle.
Toddlers can enjoy their own music videos with the release of ”More Babysongs” (Hi-Tops Video, $14.95). The tape contains 10 original songs by award-winning composers Hap and Martha Palmer. Each song touches on everyday emotions and activities that are exciting and miraculous when seen through the eyes of a child. Selections include ”Walking,” a look back at a child`s first steps when he or she ”was just a baby”; and ”My Baby,” a song welcoming a new brother or sister into the family.
Never to be outdone, Walt Disney Home Video is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first fully animated Disney feature, ”Snow White” with a series of gala events throughout this spring and summer. ”Snow White” will be re-released in theaters worldwide July 17. Video fans can get primed for
”Snow White” mania with the recently released ”Disney`s Sing Along Songs: Heigh Ho” ($14.95), ”Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore” ($14.95) and a new line-up of cartoons and musical compilations called ”Classic Disney . . . At a Goofy Price!” ($14.95 each). At the center of this low-priced promotion are ”Here`s Mickey!,” ”Here`s Donald!,” ”Here`s Pluto!,”
”Here`s Goofy!” and ”Silly Symphonies!” (Sorry, no ”Here`s Johnny!”)
These titles feature Disney footage never before seen on video.
