‘Misery’ and ‘Once Around’ Are the Best of the Week : RECENT MOVIES

“Misery” (Nelson, no list price, R) has Kathy Bates’ Oscar-winning performance as a fan of a best-selling novelist (James Caan) who “rescues” him after he’s injured in an auto accident. The tense drama is based on a Stephen King novel.

“Once Around” (MCA/Universal, no list price, R). If you enjoyed seeing Richard Dreyfuss’ family life turned upside down in the hilarious current theatrical feature “What About Bob?” then you might like to see him in an opposite role here, as an obnoxious salesman who disrupts a family after one member (Holly Hunter) falls in love with him. The comedy’s excellent cast also includes Gena Rowlands and Danny Aiello.

VINTAGE VIDEO

“Artists and Models” (Paramount, $14.95) was one of the more enjoyably silly Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis pictures, with a wild plot involving not only artists and models but telepathic nightmares! The 1956 comedy also stars Eva Gabor, Anita Ekberg, Dorothy Malone and, in what was only her second Hollywood role, Shirley MacLaine.

“It Started in Naples” (Paramount, $14.95) turned out to be--with “The Misfits”--one of Clark Gable’s last two films. He’s teamed with Sophia Loren in this mild romantic comedy from 1960.

NON-MOVIE CASSETTES

For kids: “The Robert McCloskey Library” (CC Studios, $19.95) combines five of the author’s stories (an animated “Burt Dow: Deep Water Man” and iconographically illustrated “Make Way for Ducklings,” “Lentil,” “Blueberries for Sal” and “Time of Wonder”) plus a short interview in one 58-minute tape. Information: (800) KIDS-VID.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Next week: “L.A. Story,” “The Russia House,” “Shipwrecked” and John Huston’s “Across the Pacific.”

Future features (rental-priced unless otherwise noted): The Mel Gibson “Hamlet” (July 24), “Sleeping With the Enemy” and “Alice” (July 25), “Teenage Mutant Turtles II” (July 31, $22.98), “Awakenings” (Aug. 7), “King Ralph,” “He Said, She Said” (Aug. 8), “New Jack City” (Aug. 22), “Home Alone” (Aug. 22, $24.98), “Dances With Wolves” (Aug. 28), “La Femme Nikita” (Sept. 4), “The Rescuers Down Under” (Sept. 20, $24.99), “The Five Heartbeats” (Sept. 24), “The Doors” (Sept. 26).