SIX EMBASSY FOREIGN FILMS OUT IN JANUARY

While 60% of the videocassettes available in this country are movies, only a minuscule portion of this collection--no actual figures are available--is foreign films, according to a recent report by the National Video Clearinghouse.

Foreign films play such a small role in the marketplace that most video stores don’t even bother to carry them, which causes problems for buffs. Even when a foreign film is a hit, it usually doesn’t show up on cassette until a year or two after its theatrical release.

So, foreign film fans wait patiently for the titles to trickle out. In January, they’ll be rejoicing. A veritable flood--six movies--is being released by Embassy, one of the few companies with a major interest in foreign films.

The releases are Federico Fellini’s “La Strada,” Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashomon,” Luis Bunuel’s “That Obscure Object of Desire,” Fritz Lang’s “M,” Marleen Gorris’ “A Question of Silence” and Claude Lelouch’s “Happy New Year.”

There are two plusses: All are subtitled, though some are available in dubbed versions; all are priced at $29.95.

Embassy has the famed Janus Collection, which includes most of the foreign classics, and has slowly been releasing titles since last year. Now, the company plans to release four to six titles every other month, starting next year. Among the films to be released next year are “Ashes and Diamonds,” “Ugetsu,” “Mon Oncle” and “Triumph of the Will.”

OLD MOVIES: Of all the Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn movies, “State of the Union” (1948) was probably their most high-voltage pairing. This satirical drama is one of their least-known movies. Tracy plays a presidential candidate and Hepburn his shrewd, smart-alecky wife. MCA is releasing it in January, along with “Charade,” Stanley Donen’s amusing 1964 comedy thriller co-starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Both movies are $39.95.

The 1971 camp horror classic, “Willard” (Prism, $59.95) will be out on Nov. 26. This is the unintentionally hilarious story about boy and his rats. Bruce Davison plays the weird young man with the supernatural ability to communicate with rodents. It was so popular that there was a sequel, “Ben,” that just as amusingly awful (Remember Michael Jackson’s hit single of the title song--the only Top 10 song about a rodent?). Prism has “Ben” too but hasn’t released it yet.

“The Girl Can’t Help it” (Key Video, $59.98), the 1956 rock ‘n’ roll movie with Jayne Mansfield and Little Richard, will be in the stores next week. From MGM/UA, at $24.95: “Rose Marie” (1936), with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, famed for the their duet of “Indian Love Call,” and the comedy/mystery “The Thin Man” (1934), with William Powell and Myrna Loy as the sophisticated detectives, Nick and Nora Charles.

“White Christmas,” with Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, is now available, on Paramount at $24.95. Memorable for Crosby singing the title song, which he originally performed in “Holiday Inn” in 1942.

ODDS ‘N’ ENDS: Two cassettes recently released are brimming with information for wine enthusiasts: “Hugh Johnson’s How to Enjoy Wine” (Simon & Schuster, $29.95), which deals with everything from choosing the right wine for various occasions to coping with restaurant wine lists; the elegantly produced “The Wine Advisor” is a fine crash course in European and California wines for the beginner. For those who like hard liquor, there’s “Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide” (Karl, $14.95), which teaches you how to mix drinks.

A story misreported recently by various news sources that a syndication deal had been made for “Mary Poppins” indicated that the movie, starring Julie Andrews, would show up on TV soon. Actually, a Disney spokesman indicates that the 1964 movie won’t be telecast until 1991.

The movie was just re-released as a videocassette at the reduced price of $29.95. Some retailers obviously stocked up on “Mary Poppins.” Those who heard the initial report were furious at Disney. They asked, “Why would customers buy or rent ‘Mary Poppins’ if they could see it soon on TV?” Disney staffers spent a lot of time on the phone soothing angry retailers.

“Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour” (Warner Music, $29.98), shot in Detroit last spring, is out this week. The 50-minute cassette features 10 songs, including “Like a Virgin” and “Material Girl,” but neither “Borderline” nor “Angel.” Her other cassette “Madonna: Like a Virgin” has been a big seller.

KIDVID: Joan Ganz Cooney of the Children’s Television Workshop--the producer of “Sesame Street”--recently announced that parts of various shows will be organized according to topics, such as reading or math skills, and released on videocassette. But this does not mean that CTW will do what many parents and kids have been waiting for--putting out a cassette starring those lovable puppet pals, Bert and Ernie.

In two weeks, the irresistible “Meet Your Animal Friends,” narrated by Lynn Redgrave, is due. It’s nearly an hour’s worth of footage of some cuddly and intriguing animals. From Children’s Video Library at $29.95.

Two “Care Bears” cassettes, from the TV series, were released this week (Karl, $24.95). Vols. 1 and 2 each contain three 11-minute episodes telecast as recently as 4-6 weeks ago. CBS-Fox has added three titles to its remarkable Faerie Tale Theater series, which features major stars in productions aimed at older children. “Rip Van Winkle,” with Harry Dean Stanton and Talia Shire, is the best of the new batch, which also includes “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” written and directed by Nick Meyer, and “Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp,” with an all-star cast headed by James Earl Jones and Valerie Bertinelli.

TOP CHILDREN’S VIDEOS

1--”Pinocchio” (Disney).

2--”The Care Bears Movie” (Vestron).

3--”He-Man & She-Ra, Secret of the Sword” (Magic Window).

4--”Robin Hood” (Disney).

5--”Rainbow Brite--Monstromurk Menace” (Children’s Video Library).

6--”World of Strawberry Shortcake” (Family Home Entertainment).

7--”The Transformers, Vol. 4” (Family Home Entertainment).

8--”The Transformers, Vol. 3” (Family Home Entertainment).

9--”The Transformers, Vol. 2” (Family Home Entertainment).

10--”The Transformers, Vol. 1” (Family Home Entertainment).

NEW AND COMING MOVIES: The list of this week’s releases includes “The Emerald Forest” (Embassy) and “Stop Making Sense” (RCA/Columbia), which features the Talking Heads in concert. Two movies due out from Warner Video are “Vision Quest,” starring Matthew Mondine, and the Albert Brooks comedy, “Lost in America.” Each sells for $79.95. “Perfect,” featuring John Travolta,” and the Chuck Norris epic, “Code of Silence,” will be in the stores next week. The Warner Video blockbuster, “Gremlins,” is due Nov. 25.

Disney’s “Return to Oz,” which did poorly at the box office, has been announced for a Dec. 10 release. Also scheduled for December: “Fletch,” “A View to a Kill,” “Pale Rider” and “The Last Dragon,” the Berry Gordy production starring Vanity.

TOP VIDEOCASSETTE RENTALS

1--”Ghostbusters” (RCA/Columbia).

2--”The Breakfast Club” (MCA).

3--”Amadeus” (Thorn/EMI/HBO).

4--”Beverly Hills Cop” (Paramount).

5--”Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment” (Warner Video).

6--”The Killing Fields” (Warner Video).

7--”Missing in Action 2: The Beginning” (MGM/UA).

8--”Desperately Seeking Susan” (Thorn/EMI/HBO).

9--”Ladyhawke” (Warner Video).

10--”Gotcha!” (MCA).

TOP VIDEOCASSETTE SALES

1--”Beverly Hills Cop” (Paramount).

2--”Ghostbusters” (RCA/Columbia).

3--”Jane Fonda’s New Workout” (Karl).

5--”Pinocchio” (Disney).

6--”Amadeus” (Thorn/EMI/HBO).

7--”We Are the World: The Video Event” (MusicVision).

8--”Prince and the Revolution Live” (Warner Bros.).

9--”Prime Time” (Karl).

10--”Wrestlemania” (Coliseum).