HOME ENTERTAINMENT : Wolfe’s Niche: Female-Oriented Videos

Mention female-oriented videos and some people get the wrong idea.

“They think of Triple X-rated movies, featuring lesbians,” said Maria Lynn, vice president of distribution for Wolfe Video, which markets female-oriented tapes. “But we don’t even have any adult films in our catalogue.”

What Wolfe, a small company based in New Almaden, Calif., does have is comedies, documentaries and feature films--mostly, but not exclusively, for lesbians.

“What this company markets is videos that offer positive images about the gay culture and women in general,” she said. “We may offer some women-oriented erotic videos in the future but they would be tasteful, not pornographic.”

This is a one-of-a-kind video company. Not only is it the only one devoted exclusively to female-oriented tapes, it’s also the only one owned and operated by women.

Founded in 1985, Wolfe initially sold most of its tapes through gay bookstores and mail order. But in the ‘90s, as gay issues have crept into the mainstream, the company has steadily increased its profile. Two years ago, Wolfe put out an extensive catalogue. Last year it added the five-set Lily Tomlin comedy video collection, which is available exclusively through Wolfe.

“The Tomlin videos gave us credibility in the mainstream and helped launch a new era of the company,” Lynn said.

Sales tripled last year, she reported, and this year Wolfe is well on its way to doubling last year’s figures. The company’s profile is high enough now that even Tower and some Blockbuster stores stock its videos. But, like most special-interest titles, you may have to search a little to find them.

Some of Wolfe’s titles include “Salmonberries,” a drama featuring k.d. lang; the lesbian soap opera “Two in Twenty” and the Canadian film “Forbidden Love.” There also are documentaries about author Toni Morrison, artist Georgia O’Keeffe and singer Alberta Hunter, plus assorted kidvids and music videos.

The next release is due Sept. 21, “Stonewall 25: Global Voices of Pride and Protest,” a 90-minute, $25 documentary focusing on events in New York in June surrounding the Gay Games and the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall incident that triggered the wave of gay activism.

Special Interest Videos

If you like blood and broken bones, you’ll get a kick out of the gory, martial-arts exhibition highlighted in Vidmark’s rental-priced “The Ultimate Fighting Championship II.” It’s strangely riveting, like a bad traffic accident.

Barney may not be quite as hot as he used to be, but many kids still like the lovable dinosaur. His Radio City Music Hall concert, with Barney and posse singing peppy favorites, should delight the target audience. The Lyons Group’s “Barney . . . Live in New York City” is $20.

According to fitness experts, “Step Reebok: Circuit Challenge,” led by Gin Miller, is an exceptional circuit workout tape for those already at intermediate and advanced conditioning levels. From PolyGram at $20.

“Hillary Rodham Clinton: Changing the Rules” is an informative, 50-minute documentary offering good insight into the First Lady. From A&E; at $20. (800) 423-1212. . . . Another exceptional documentary from A&E; is the “The Blue Angels,” about the Navy group that puts on those dazzling air shows. The 100-minute documentary, priced at $30, has interviews with pilots and great footage of them in action.

What’s New on Video

“Like Water for Chocolate” (Miramax). Director Alfonso Arau’s Spanish film is one of the most popular foreign-language movies ever to play in the United States. Set in Mexico early in the century, it’s about frustrated lovers (Lumi Cavazos and Marco Leonardi) living in the same house, quietly lusting after each other. She’s controlled by a domineering mother, and he’s married to her sister. All that simmering sexual tension explodes in other ways--like through cooking and eating. Robust, amusing, highly entertaining movie.

“Greedy” (MCA/Universal). A salty, rich old rogue (Kirk Douglas) threatens to leave his fortune to his sexy young nurse, panicking greedy relatives who can’t wait to get their hands on his money. Michael J. Fox and Phil Hartman play two of the anxious potential heirs.

“Serial Mom” (HBO). Mess with anyone in the family of this Baltimore housewife, marvelously played by Kathleen Turner, and you’ll wind up dead. When not murdering people, she’s the sunny wife of a dentist (Sam Waterston) and a loving mother of two children. John Waters’ black comedy asks you to find humor in murder--too big a stretch for many folks.

“8 Seconds” (New Line). The problem with this biographical drama about the late rodeo champ Lane Frost is that he’s played by Luke Perry of TV’s “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Perry is a one-dimensional actor who doesn’t have the range to flesh out this character.

“PCU” (FoxVideo). Set at Port Chester University (PCU), this irreverent comedy snidely satirizes political correctness excesses. The campus’s head party-animal (Jeremy Piven) pokes fun at those dedicated to groups and causes, advocating laziness and beer drinking.