LASER BIN : Fellini’s Classic ‘La Strada’--Watch It Dubbed or With Subtitles

“La Strada.” Criterion, Extended Play CLV, 94 minutes, $39.95.

Federico Fellini’s classic film, starring Anthony Quinn and Giulietta Masina, has been reproduced on videotape for many years. But this laser disc edition reproduces the film experience like no other medium: the black-and-white picture is sharp and true and there are two clear audio tracks. The first offers the movie in its original Italian; the second offers the English-dubbed version. Subtitles are included as well. This way “La Strada,” one of the great Italian classics, can be viewed as originally intended by the director in its original language or, for convenience, in its dubbed version. It’s the way foreign films should be presented to the English-speaking public.

“Wings” (Paramount-Laser-Vision, Extended Play CLV, 139 minutes, $39.95.

Silent films were never meant to be seen in silence. During the silent-film era, every theater had an orchestra, an organ or a piano to add dramatic music to the images on the screen. This laser disc version of the first Academy Award winner for best picture comes complete with a digitally recorded score written, composed and performed by Gaylord Carter at the Wurlitzer pipe organ.

William Wellman’s story of two pals who go to war and the girl they leave behind holds up better than expected. Both sound and picture are superior to the duplicate videotape version. These black-and-white images, crystal-clear and filled with a power many sound films never achieved, are persuasive proof that the silents were a sophisticated art form.

Clara Bow, Buddy Rogers and Richard Arlen mug effectively; there’s a brief appearance by a very young Gary Cooper and aerial battle sequences that are among the most riveting ever put on film.