TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : Excellent Good Fair Poor : VIDEOCASSETTES

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (colorized version). Hal Roach Studios. $29.95. For fans of Frank Capra’s classic 1948 film, this computer-tinted color version may go over like a visit from Old Man Potter himself. How dare they put flesh tones on the Baileys and lay a pastel wash over Bedford Falls? Blasphemers! Unfortunately, it is a reality in TV syndication that buyers want color, and that’s where this tinted (tainted?) edition is mainly headed. The good news is that the color is respectfully muted and generally unobtrusive. It may be faint praise, but this bold attempt to improve a perfect movie hasn’t destroyed it.