Home Entertainment : An Invasion of WWII Videos on Tap

Look for the interest in old World War II movies to skyrocket in the next few weeks.

The inspiration is the celebration of the 50th anniversary of D-day, the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. Home-video retailers will be showcasing classic war movies to capitalize both on the media attention and the Father’s Day’s gift potential.

The tape that’s getting the most attention is FoxVideo’s “The Longest Day,” which just came out for the first time in a colorized version--priced at $25 and featuring some Movietone newsreel footage of the invasion. This 1962 movie, probably the most elaborate war epic ever filmed, actually works better in color--adding grandeur that’s missing from the black-and-white version. It includes nearly every male star of that era--from John Wayne and Robert Mitchum to Sal Mineo.

FoxVideo also repackaged two other movies. One is another first-rate but less heralded film about the Normandy invasion, “D-Day The Sixth of June,” made in 1956 and starring Robert Taylor. Priced at $15, it also includes newsreel footage. The other is 1970’s “Patton,” featuring George C. Scott’s Oscar-winning performance in the title role, at $30.

The hidden gem in this repackaged collection is “Twelve O’Clock High,” about American pilots in England during World War II. War-movie buffs love this 1949 film, which has been hard to find in recent years. It stars Gregory Peck.

Jackie Tapes

As you might expect, there are some Jackie Onassis videos on the way. Turner Home Entertainment, which markets CNN footage, is first out of the box with a video homage to the late First Lady--”Jackie: A Life of Dignity” (Turner, $20). You can order by mail, (800) 799-7676, or wait until it shows up in stores in about a month. Turner is an old hand at rush-releasing tapes. A few weeks ago, it marketed “Richard Nixon: A Retrospective” just after he died, for $20, but through mail order only--that same 800 number.

Onassis’ death spurred New Horizons Video to change the release date of “A Woman Named Jackie,” the 1992 ABC miniseries starring Roma Downey in the title role. Originally scheduled for July 20, it’s now coming out June 15. Surprisingly, this three-tape set isn’t bargain-priced for the sales market but will be available as a rental only.

ABC Video, which rushed out a tape about Nixon, has no plans to do the same with Onassis.

Father’s Day Tapes

Sports videos on the market for Father’s Day: A hot one for golfing dads is Monarch’s “Highlights of the 1994 Masters,” due June 8 at $13, including exclusive footage and interviews. . . . Though he’s no longer with the team, Dallas Cowboys’ fans will appreciate the glowing portrait of the notorious ex-coach in “The Jimmy Johnson Story,” focusing on his five years with Super Bowl champs. Out on June 7, $20 from PolyGram. . . . For the tennis fan who’s also into sports-blooper bits, “Tennis’ Greatest Volleys and Follies” features some good John McEnroe footage. For $20 from LIVE.

Special Interest

Roger Moore narrates the excellent biography “Audrey Hepburn Remembered,” originally aired last fall on PBS. For $20 from MPI, (800) 323-0442, it came out Wednesday. . . . Fascinating four-volume set, “Lost Civilizations,” from National Geographic for $70. Included are tapes about Egypt and Italy’s Mt. Vesuvius, but the best of the lot is “Lost Kingdoms of the Maya.” . . . Great swing drummer Gene Krupa is profiled in “Jazz Legend Gene Krupa,” narrated by Steve Allen. Includes some interesting old clips of Krupa in action. For $40 from DCI, (800) 628-1528.

What’s New

“The Piano” (LIVE). In one of last year’s most acclaimed movies, a Scottish mute (Holly Hunter) journeys to New Zealand in the 1800s with her young daughter (Anna Paquin) to marry a kindly man (Sam Neill). She loves playing the piano and creates a strange romantic triangle when she teaches a lustful peasant (Harvey Keitel) how to play. Tense, slowly paced, well-acted drama, directed by Jane Campion. Hunter and Paquin won well-deserved Oscars.

“Rudy” (Columbia TriStar). Sean Astin plays a scrappy young man who’s not really Notre Dame football material but is determined to make the team anyway.