HOME ENTERTAINMENT : The End of the Line for Republic Serials?

The cliffhanger about the Republic cliffhanger serials has been resolved--and it’s not good news for film buffs.

The company’s vaults, which once seemed bottomless, are virtually empty.

For those who may not recall them, the serials are action-packed, good vs. evil adventures that used to be screened, in the ‘30s through the early ‘50s, as part of Saturday matinees. Each episode would end with the hero or heroes in some life-threatening situation. You’d have to come back next week to find out what happened. Republic, which made the best serials by far and had the largest library, put them on video, with all 12-15 chapters of a title in one double-cassette package, priced at $20.

The company, the only one in the business that’s been regularly releasing serials, has been putting out a handful a year since the ‘80s. Four are out this week: “Dangers of the Canadian Mounted,” “Hawk of the Wilderness,” “King of the Carnival” and “Man With the Steel Whip.” This not only brings the total on the market to 52, but, said Charlie Weinryt, Republic’s vice president of marketing, it also empties the vaults.

But buffs know that more unreleased Republic serials exist. The problem is that what’s remaining is incomplete.

Explained Weinryt: “Unfortunately, some people in some studio administrations throughout the years didn’t take care of the serials. So episodes were missed and footage was missed.”

But there’s an outside chance, he added, that two titles, “Daredevils of the West” and “Ghost of Zorro,” may eventually come out.

“There’s some things missing that we need to gather before we can release them,” he said. “We release the serials complete and in the best possible condition. We’re not going to change that.”

If you’re new to serials and want to sample one or two, the best--featuring the most entertaining plots and the most skillfully choreographed action sequences--are “The Adventures of Captain Marvel” (the bestseller of the line), “The Masked Marvel,” “Spy Smasher,” “King of the Rocket Men” and “Radar Men From the Moon.”

The four that just came out are far from the best but should still be popular among serials-starved buffs.

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Special Interest: “Cosmopolitan Men: The Making of the World’s Sexiest Calendar” offers behind-the-scenes footage mainly for women who like soft-core porn videos. There’s a lot of sociological and psychological chatter about the Cosmo man. But most people couldn’t care less. They’re watching this 45-minute tape to leer at the scantily clad hunks. From WarnerVision at $15.

If you have to dress up for the office and you have fashion questions, they’re likely to be answered in the 40-minute tape “Men’s Style: A No-Nonsense Video Handbook on Dressing for the Workplace,” which explains styles and how to select shirts, ties, etc. Even if you don’t have to dress for the office and you’re just looking for an informative tape about men’s fashions, you can’t go wrong with this one. From Regional Marketing Corp., (800) 555-4940, at $20.

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What’s New on Video: “Star Trek Generations” (Paramount). The first “Trek” movie to be based on the TV series “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” with a crew headed by Capt. Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). To smooth the transition, Capt. Kirk (William Shatner) of the original “Trek” crew shows up to help battle a villain (Malcolm McDowell) aiming to destroy a heavily populated planet. Fast-paced fun if you’re a fan of the “Next Generation” series but just a mild entertainment if you’re devoted to Kirk and the old Enterprise crew.

“Boys on the Side” (Warner). In this comedy/drama, which echoes “Thelma & Louise,” a wisecracking gay singer (Whoopi Goldberg) and a conservative real estate agent (Mary-Louise Parker) hook up with a flirtatious young beauty (Drew Barrymore) and drive west, eventually settling in Tucson. This seemingly incompatible trio bonds in the face of many crises--including a murder rap, a pregnancy and a lethal disease. Entertaining, well-acted, ultra-manipulative tear-jerker.

“The Walking Dead” (HBO/Savoy). In Vietnam in 1972, black Marines on a mission in the enemy jungle reflect on how they got into the war. Not a good movie, with some phony-looking battle sequences and a limp ending. Co-starring Joe Morton, Allen Payne and Eddie Griffin.

“Before Sunrise” (Columbia TriStar). A casual American (Ethan Hawke) and a sophisticated French student (Julie Delpy) meet on a train and decide to spend a night exploring Vienna. In this plotless movie, they do more talking--about everything under the sun--than romancing. Sometimes it’s charming, but sometimes it’s just a boring chatfest.

B-Movies: “Darkman II: The Return of Durant” (MCA/Universal), the direct-to-video sequel to the 1990 hit, is loaded with action. Arnold Vosloo replaces Liam Neeson as the disfigured hero and the villain Durant (Larry Drake), who was blown up in the original, somehow returns. The dialogue is usually dumb but it’s worth a look for the well-done action sequences.

You’ve undoubtedly never heard of LIVE’s “Boulevard,” but it’s one of the best violent, low-budget thrillers of year. Set in Toronto, it’s full of sleazy characters, including a literate hooker (Rae Dawn Chong) who befriends a hooker-to-be (Kari Wuhrer). Lou Diamond Phillips co-stars as the evil pimp.

Orion’s action flick “The Dangerous,” about the New Orleans underworld, is a chaotic mess, but the curious will rent it to see O.J. Simpson’s girlfriend Paula Barbieri.

Don’t waste your time: WarnerVision’s “Kleptomania,” a buddy movie about kleptomaniacs starring Amy Irving; Vidmark’s comedy “Wild West,” with Sarita Choudhury, about the adventures of a sexy singer in a country band.