A Guide to the Oscar Winners’ Other Films : Want to see more by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Holly Hunter and Tommy Lee Jones? Here are some aces, as well as a few duds.

Video retailers love the post-Oscar period. They can get some mileage out of earlier movies on which this year’s winners worked--movies that have been gathering dust in the back of shelves.

In showcase spots at your local video store in the next few weeks you’ll see the movies of winners Tom Hanks, Holly Hunter, Tommy Lee Jones and Steven Spielberg. Here’s a guide to what to rent and what to avoid:

Tom Hanks: Because he won for the grim “Philadelphia,” fans may be geared to his dramas. But there’s not much to choose from. If you run across a copy of “Nothing in Common” (1986), however, grab it. Hanks bounces back and forth between humor and pathos in this comedy-drama about a care-free executive who’s forced to deal with his aging, ill father, played by Jackie Gleason. Hanks shows an acting range that he’s never displayed in any movie, easily topping his work in “Philadelphia.”

He’s also good in “Punchline,” a 1988 drama about stand-up comics, and in the 1992 baseball yarn “A League of Their Own,” in which he plays a drunken manager. You can’t go wrong with his romantic comedies: “Splash” (1984), “Big” (1988) and, of course, his current rental hit, “Sleepless in Seattle.” He also has some great bits in “Dragnet,” the spoof of the old TV series.

Hanks movies to skip: “Joe vs. the Volcano,” “Bonfire of the Vanities,” “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” “The Money Pit” and “Volunteers.”

Steven Spielberg: The problem with “Schindler’s List” being the big winner is that people may be prompted to rediscover his serious dramas--those that have nothing to do with aliens, sharks, dinosaurs or Indiana Jones. But these dramas were always his least interesting movies.

For instance, “The Color Purple,” his sprawling saga about Southern blacks early in the century, has some strong dramatic moments but they’re undercut by sugar-coating and Spielberg’s trademark schmaltz. It does feature first-rate performances by Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover--and is worth a look. But skip his 1987 “Empire of the Sun,” about a young boy struggling to survive in Japanese-occupied China early in World War II. It’s arguably the worst job he’s ever done of making you connect with a leading character.

If you’ve never seen “Duel,” Spielberg’s first film, it’s a must. This suspenseful 1971 TV movie stars Dennis Weaver as a traveler mysteriously under attack by a truck driver.

One movie that’s bound to be hyped by retailers is “Always,” directed by Spielberg and starring Holly Hunter--Oscar winner for “The Piano.” But this 1989 remake of “A Guy Named Joe” is a soppy, cutesy entertainment that may be his worst movie, down there with the hokey “Hook” and reckless comedy “1941.”

Holly Hunter: Until “The Piano,” her best performances were in two TV movies, “Roe vs. Wade” (1989) and the outstanding “The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom.” But she’s also good in the 1987 romantic comedy “Broadcast News”--which earned her a best actress nomination--and in the Coen brothers’ wildly offbeat “Raising Arizona” (1987) and the obscure “Miss Firecracker” (1989). All these are worth renting.

Tommy Lee Jones: Some of his best work is also in TV movies--”The Executioner’s Song” (1982) and “Lonesome Dove.” He’s also excellent as Clay Shaw in “JFK,” and as the villain in 1992’s action movie “Under Siege,” he overshadows Steven Seagal the way he dwarfs Harrison Ford in “The Fugitive.” Rent any of these, as well as “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (1980). Avoid last year’s “House of Cards,” co-starring Kathleen Turner.

More on Oscars: Two other movies stand to benefit from the Oscar hype. One is New Line’s “Short Cuts,” for which director Robert Altman received an Oscar nomination. Due on home video June 1, this movie didn’t gross much at the box office--$5.8 million--but should do better as a rental. More movie fans know about it and are curious about it because of Altman’s nomination and the associated publicity. One problem in theaters was its running time--three hours and nine minutes. On video, on two cassettes, it has a similar problem of intimidating length. But that seems to be less of a hassle for renters, who can watch it over a period of time.

MCA/Universal’s “A Dangerous Woman,” coming May 18, will get a post-Oscar boost too. It stars Debra Winger, a best actress nominee for “Shadowlands.” Hardly anybody saw “Dangerous Woman,” which was in limited release. But for the first time in the ‘90s, Winger has a relatively high profile--thanks to the nomination. “Dangerous Woman” isn’t likely to be a video hit, partly because Winger’s unglamorous character isn’t too appealing, but more fans will probably rent it now.

Due dates of movies featuring major nominees and winners: “Fearless,” starring nominee Rosie Perez, is due April 6; “The Remains of the Day” (May 4); “The Piano” (May 25). The release dates for “In the Name of the Father,” “Schindler’s List,” “Philadelphia,” “Shadowlands,” “Six Degrees of Separation” and “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?” haven’t been announced.

What’s New on Video:

“What’s Love Got to Do With It” (Touchstone). Two terrific performances, by Oscar nominees Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett as the husband-and-wife soul-singing team Ike and Tina Turner, energize what’s essentially a TV movie. We know the story by now: Tina, battered and abused by husband Ike, eventually musters the courage to leave him and later becomes a solo star. It’s the performances, particularly by Fishburne, that make this one worth seeing.

“The Ballad of Little Jo” (New Line). An educated Eastern woman (Suzy Amis) goes West in the late 1800s, an outcast after having an illegitimate child. Settling in a pioneer town, where women are severely pigeonholed, she decides to live her life disguised as a man. Based on a true story, this fascinating, low-key drama was totally ignored in theaters. Directed by Maggie Greenwald, it’s not a feminist diatribe but an intriguing tale of an independent woman. “Bopha!” (Paramount). In tumultuous South Africa in 1980, the family of a police sergeant (Danny Glover) suffers through its own turmoil, as father and son (Maynard Eziashi) clash politically. Co-starring Alfre Woodard, it’s predictable but still intense and very well-acted. An impressive directorial debut by actor Morgan Freeman.

“Undercover Blues” (MGM/UA). Strives to be a witty comedy-mystery, something like the “Thin Man” movies of the ‘30s and ‘40s, but misses badly. Dennis Quaid and Kathleen Turner play CIA agents vacationing in New Orleans. Rarely amusing and cringingly awful in spots.

“Fatal Instinct” (MGM/UA). Director Carl Reiner’s scatter-gun spoof of thrillers like “Basic Instinct,” “Fatal Attraction” and “Double Indemnity.” A few decent jokes but overall not very funny. Armand Assante, as the bumbling detective, and Sean Young co-star.

“Mr. Wonderful” (Warner). A bland, uninvolving romantic comedy about a divorced couple (Matt Dillon and Annabella Sciorra) stumbling through other relationships as they fall back in love. This happens while he’s trying to find a husband for her because he’s tired of paying alimony. William Hurt and Mary Louise-Parker co-star.