VIDEO . . . WHAT’S NEW

It sometimes seems like every classic American movie has been released on videocassette, but this week’s arrival of “Bringing Up Baby” (Turner, $19.98) shows that some of Hollywood’s most treasured oldies have long been unavailable.

Considered by many to be the ultimate screwball comedy, the 1938 film hilariously threw together Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, a leopard (“Baby”), a dog and some dinosaur bones. Howard Hawks directed. And somehow this inspiration for Peter Bogdanovich’s “What’s Up, Doc?” escaped colorization in Turner’s hands. So far.

* Film actor/director John Cassavetes, who died Feb. 3, is the subject of a Michael Ventura-made documentary, “I’m Almost Not Crazy,” which Cannon Video will release June 28 for $29.95.

* On the video magazine front, one consumer publication has folded while another trade publication is celebrating its sixth anniversary. “V” magazine’s May issue is apparently its last; it had 110,000 subscribers but not enough advertisers. However, Video Insider, the sixth-birthday celebrant, has established itself as the bible of video trade publications under editor Steven Apple. Subscription information: (215) 687-5543.

* If you’re a fan of “Entertainment Tonight” co-host Mary Hart and you’ve heard she has her own fitness video, but your local video store doesn’t know what you’re talking about, here’s the solution: “Shape Up with Mary Hart” is available only through Avon dealers for $19.95.

MOVIES

Director Martin Scorcese’s controversial “The Last Temptation of Christ” is due June 29, priced at $89.95, but MCA says it will go unpromoted and unadvertised. This week, meanwhile, Cannon Video is releasing “The Passover Plot” ($59.95, PG)--a little-known 1976 film version of another controversial book about Jesus.

This week’s other new movies-on-video include the rape-trial drama for which Jodie Foster won her Oscar, “The Accused” (Paramount, no suggested retail price, R, 1988), plus “Full Moon in Blue Water” (Media, $89.95, R, 1988), “Through Naked Eyes” (Media, $79.95, R, 1988), “The Primrose Path” (Turner, $19.98, 1940), “The Velvet Touch” (Turner, $19.98, 1948), “Miles from Home” (Warner, $89.95, R, 1988) and “Retribution” (Virgin, $89.95, R, 1988).

OTHER VIDEOS

It’s a good week for the kids. On Tuesday, Walt Disney Home Video will offer seven animated titles new to videocassette ($14.95 each): “Mickey and the Gang,” “Nuts About Chip ‘n’ Dale,” “Fun With Music,” “Ben and Me,” “Bongo” and two “DuckTales” tapes containing two episodes each.

Also for the small fry out now: “Ovide and the Gang” (Just For Kids, $39.95) contains 10 episodes about a duck and friends and how they get ideas from watching TV (!). Media/Fisher Price has repriced the first four titles of its “Storybook Series With Hayley Mills” at $9.95 each and offers two new animated, half-hour versions of “The Frog Prince” and “Snow White and Red Rose” ($14.95 each). And there are three new health-oriented entries in Prism’s “Tell Me Why” educational series ($14.95 each).