‘Shoah’ to Sell in Five Cassettes for $299.95; : Switzerland’s ‘Dangerous Moves’ Due Out July 11

When “Shoah,” the 9 1/2-hour Holocaust documentary, was released to theaters last fall, many said they’d like to see it but were put off by the excessive length. French journalist Claude Lanzmann produced and directed the documentary, a series of interviews with Holocaust witnesses.

Last fall, some suggested that turning it into a PBS miniseries made more sense than putting it in theaters. Or better yet, release it on videocassette so people could watch it at their leisure. Anticipating a huge, untapped market for “Shoah,” Paramount Home Video purchased the rights and plans to release it July 16.

That’s the good news. The bad news is the price--$299.95. You can bet people won’t be storming video stores on July 16 eager to buy it. Since “Shoah” has been divided into five cassettes, it probably won’t even be that inexpensive to rent. Still, insiders slyly suggest this will be the most popular $300, five-cassette set rental in video history.

The other major announcement this week is the July 1 cassette debut of “The Jewel of the Nile” on CBS-Fox. The Saturday-matinee style sequel to “Romancing the Stone” follows the further adventures of a romance novelist (Kathleen Turner) and an adventurer (Michael Douglas). A popular holiday film, this could be the big video hit of the summer.

“King Solomon’s Mines”--the recent Richard Chamberlain version--will be out in June on MGM/UA. Though audiences seemed to like this movie, many critics complained that H. Rider Haggard’s adventure had been turned into a cartoon adventure.

On July 1, “The Best of Times,” starring Robin Williams and Kurt Russell, will be released by Embassy. The film, generally well received by critics, centers on the replay--14 years later--of a football game in which Williams’ character was the goat.

Next week’s releases: the action thriller “To Live and Die in L.A.”; “Cease Fire,” starring Don Johnson; the medical school comedy “Bad Medicine,” with Steve Guttenberg; “Eleni,” featuring Kate Nelligan and John Malkovich, and Round Three of Charles Bronson’s bout with vengeance--”Death Wish 3.”

Other May releases: “Back to the Future” on May 22; “Rocky IV” on May 27 and two Gene Hackman movies--”Twice in a Lifetime” and “Power” on May 28.

OLD MOVIES: Last year the number of high-quality foreign films debuting on cassette was embarrassingly small, but this year has been much better. One of the most important releases is “Dangerous Moves,” due July 11 from Karl-Lorimar at $59.95. This Swiss movie, the surprise winner of the 1984 Oscar for best foreign film, is about the life and loves of two chess masters (Michel Piccoli and Alexandre Arbatt) competing for the world championship. Liv Ullmann and Leslie Caron co-star.

“The Nightcomers” (1972), due June 11 (Charter Entertainment, $59.95), is regarded as the one of most literate S&M; movies ever made. It has acquired a cult following that relishes its kinkiness. The movie speculates on what might have happened to those two children before the beginning of Henry James’ great ghost story “Turn of the Screw.” Marlon Brando and Stephanie Beachman co-star.

Sam Peckinpah directed two of the Westerns that most Western film historians place in the all-time Top 10--”The Wild Bunch” and “Ride the High Country.” “The Wild Bunch” is already in release and “Ride the High Country” (1962) is due in June from MGM-UA. Venerable Western heroes Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea star as two ex-lawmen riding shotgun on a gold shipment. Peckinpah may have directed better action sequences but, film historians insist, he never directed better performances than these two.

ODDS ‘N’ ENDS: According to Video Week, an industry newsletter, MCA will not reach the 500,000-cassette mark with its initial shipment of “Back to the Future,” scheduled for May 22 release. That first shipment will apparently be closer to 400,000, still very impressive for a $79.95 cassette. So far no $79.95 tape has reached the 500,000 barrier--the closest has been “Rambo: First Blood, Part II” with 425,000.

“The Untouchables: The Scarface Mob” (1959), the 98-minute pilot for the violent TV series, is arguably its finest episode. Elliot Ness (Robert Stack) battles Al Capone in gangster-infested Chicago in the Prohibition era (Paramount, $39.95).

UNUSUAL VIDEOS: “Light on Your Feet” is an aerobics tape for chubby people, featuring chubby people. Rotund Rozella Canty-Letsome leads a group of heavyset women--all in leotards--through a series of exercises. This is for overweight people who can’t relate to those lean 20-year-olds who populate the average exercise cassette. Though those big, bouncing bodies seem comic at times, this is a well-conceived, well-done program. Marketing Unlimited, $39.95, (707-762-6800).

If you’re into racing car crashes, “Havoc IV” is faster paced and considerably more grisly than “Havoc V,” which was mentioned here two weeks ago. Though many people are repulsed and terrified by crashes, many are also fascinated by them. Powersports Video (818-708-9995), which releases both $39.95 tapes, capitalizes on that fact.

Even those who aren’t into ballooning may find “Ballooning in Europe” interesting. You learn all you ever wanted to know about ballooning. Lots of scenic footage. Radio commentator Michael Jackson narrates this $59.95 cassette (Goal Prod., (818) 797-7668).

CHARTS (Compiled by Billboard magazine) TOP VIDEOCASSETTES, RENTALS

1--”Witness” (Paramount).

2--”Commando” (CBS-Fox).

3--”Return of the Jedi” (CBS-Fox).

4--”Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Charter Entertainment).

5--”The Goonies” (Warner Video).

6--”Silverado” (RCA/Columbia).

7--”Prizzi’s Honor” (Vestron).

8--”Fright Night” (RCA/Columbia).

9--”Invasion U.S.A.” (MGM/UA).

10--”Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (Warner Video).

TOP VIDEOCASSETTES, SALES

1--”Jane Fonda’s New Workout” (Karl-Lorimar).

2--”The Sound of Music” (CBS-Fox).

3--”Witness” (Paramount).

4--”Return of the Jedi” (CBS-Fox).

5--”Jane Fonda’s Workout” (Karl-Lorimar).

6--”Casablanca” (CBS-Fox).

7--”Pinocchio” (Disney).

8--”Commando” (CBS-Fox).

9--”The King and I” (CBS-Fox).

10--”Rambo: First Blood, Part II” (Thorn/EMI/HBO).