Santa Fills Shelves With Vintage Films : THIS WEEK’S MOVIES

Christmas came early for renters, who will find their video store stacked with fresh goodies this weekend. It’s an especially rewarding time for fans of vintage-Hollywood films, Shakespeare, Richard Widmark and Lucille Ball.

Shakespeare: His 1989 version of “Henry V” (CBS/Fox, $89.98, PG) earned critical hurrahs fordirector-star Kenneth Branagh. This interpretation of the historical play is quite different from Olivier’s, and more fiery, but one still wishes that moviemakers would produce pictures of the Bard’s works that haven’t already been filmed well.

Lucy: The Lucille Ball movie having the most in common with “I Love Lucy” gets its overdue video debut. Ball and husband Desi Arnaz made “The Long, Long Trailer” (MGM/UA, $19.95) in 1954, and even though they’re not the Ricardos by name, they are a similar couple who get into several hilarious scrapes (especially one involving some rocks) while vacationing in the title vehicle. The unlikely but nicely adjusting director was Vincente Minnelli.

‘40s classics: “Kiss of Death” (CBS/Fox, $39.98) is the delightfully grim 1947 film with a famous scene involving Richard Widmark, a woman in a wheelchair, and a stairway. Joan Crawford fans will celebrate the release of “Humoresque” (MGM/UA, $19.98), a 1946 romantic drama with deliciously overboard lines, performances (Crawford, John Garfield, Oscar Levant) and music (violin by Isaac Stern). “The Clock” (MGM/UA, $19.98, 1945) ticks off a sweeter romance between Judy Garland and Robert Walker, directed by Minnelli.

More oldies: “The Road to Hong Kong” (MGM/UA, $19.98, 1962) was the last of the Hope-Crosby “Road” pictures, and even though a lot stiffer in the joints than the others, well worth watching--especially for Peter Sellers’ wacky scene. “Bombshell” (MGM/UA, $19.98, 1933) is one of the least-known great Hollywood satires on itself, tailor-made for star Jean Harlow and director Victor Fleming. “Panic in the Streets” (CBS/Fox, $39.98, 1950), starring Richard Widmark and directed by Elia Kazan, tensely follows the hunt for a man carrying bubonic plague through the streets of New Orleans.

And even more oldies: “The Children’s Hour” (MGM/UA, $19.98) was William Wyler’s second (1961) movie version of Lillian Hellman’s drama, keeping the lesbian-accusation element, but still not as effective as the bowdlerized 1936 filming (titled “These Three”). “House of Strangers” (CBS/Fox, $39.98, 1949), directed--but not written--by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, pits father (Edward G. Robinson) against sons. One of Grace Kelly’s last two films, “The Swan” (MGM/UA, $19.98, 1956) is a mild-mannered comedy of manners about (sound familiar?) the love affair between a prince and a beautiful lady.

Fresher fare: If decades-old movies aren’t your thing, choose from these 1990 releases: “Last Exit to Brooklyn” (RCA/Columbia, $89.95, R), Bill Cosby’s “Ghost Dad” (MCA/Universal, priced for rental, PG), or, from 1989, Henry Jaglom’s “New Year’s Day” (Paramount, priced for rental, R).

OTHER NEW VIDEOS

You’re better off watching any of the old films above rather than wasting 45 minutes on “Memories of Hollywood” (Paramount, $19.95).

The producers of this made-for-video documentary had a smart idea--set clips from classic movies (and a few fleeting behind-the-scenes shots) to excerpts from classic film scores, totally minus narration. However, what starts off nicely too soon becomes annoying thanks to too many uninspired edits, public-domain sources, and segments involving abuse to animals.