Notable Films by Malle Available on Video

French director Louis Malle, who died on Thanksgiving at age 63 from complications of lymphoma, was one of the masters of modern cinema. Thankfully, several of his notable films--both in French and English--are available on home video.

Malle found his first international success with the then-controversial 1958 drama “The Lovers” (Facets Multimedia). Jeanne Moreau stars as a bored, provincial married woman whose shallow life changes when she has affairs with a young man (Jean-Marc Bory) and a house guest of her husband (Alain Cuny). Winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 1958 Venice Film Festival.

“Zazi dans le Metro” (New Yorker Films) is a rollicking 1959 comedy about a precocious 12-year-old girl (Catherine Demonget) who visits her drag queen uncle in Paris (Philippe Noiret) and wants to ride the subway.

The sensitive, subtle and delightful 1971 drama “Murmur of the Heart” (Orion Home Video) stars Benoit Ferreux as a 14-year-old wrestling with his sexual longings for his beautiful mother (Lea Massari).

Malle received a best director Oscar nomination for “Atlantic City” (Paramount Home Video), a splendid 1981 character study penned by John Guare. Burt Lancaster gives one of his finest performances as an aging, small-time hood living in the New Jersey shore town. Susan Sarandon is also impressive as Lancaster’s young, beautiful neighbor.

That same year saw the release of Malle’s “My Dinner With Andre” (Pacific Arts Video). The acclaimed offbeat comedy stars Wallace Shawn as an unemployed actor and Andre Gregory as an avant-garde theater director who meet for dinner and discuss their lives and the meaning of life.

Malle received an Oscar nomination for his original screenplay for “Au Revoir Les Enfants” (Orion Home Video), a haunting, heartbreaking 1987 drama. Based on an incident from Malle’s childhood during World War II, the film deals with the headmaster of a Catholic boarding school who gives refuge to three Jewish boys. Nominated for the Academy Award for best foreign film, “Au Revoir” won top honors at the 1987 Venice Film Festival.

Malle’s controversial 1992 erotic drama “Damage” (Columbia TriStar) stars Jeremy Irons as a married, emotionally controlled British politician who enters into a wildly obsessive affair with his son’s beautiful fiancee (Juliette Binoche). Miranda Richardson received a best supporting Oscar nomination as Irons’ wife. Available in the R-rated and unrated versions.

His final film was 1994’s acclaimed “Vanya on 42nd Street” (Columbia TriStar). Wallace Shawn, Andre Gregory and Julianne Moore head the cast of this innovative drama, which focuses on a group of actors who arrive at a crumbling Manhattan theater to rehearse David Mamet’s translation of Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya.” Simple and beautifully acted.

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Brosnan. Pierce Brosnan: Talk about timing. Just as Pierce Brosnan’s star is rising thanks to the hit “GoldenEye,” two of his pre-James Bond TV projects are making their video debut. Brosnan plays the suave Phileas Fogg in “Around the World in 80 Days” (Best Film & Video Corp., $60), a 1989 NBC miniseries based on the Jules Verne novel. In 1995’s USA movie “Detonator II: Nightwatch” (New Line), Brosnan’s a shaggy-haired, cynical United Nations spy searching for a stolen Rembrandt painting. It’s strictly a by-the-numbers action flick.

Arts and Crafts: “Holidays Ornaments I” (Ribbonry Videos, $25) is a 100-minute instructional tape on how to make ornate Christmas tree ornaments out of ribbons. Host ribbon historian and designer Camela Nitschke certainly knows a heck of a lot about ribbons, but seems a mite uncomfortable in front of a camera. To order, call (419) 872-0073.

Only in Hollywood: First, she got her own billboard. Now, she’s the subject of her own tongue-in-cheek documentary. “Angelyne” (World Artists Home Video, $25) asks the burning question: Who is the woman behind the billboard? Featured are interviews with her financial backer, fan club president, lingerie consultant and a European fan.

Sports: Turner Home Entertainment’s “Atlanta Braves 1995: Braves Win . . . It All!” ($20) pays homage to the World Series champs’ season.

“College Basketball’s Greatest Games” (ABC Video and ESPN Home Video, $15) looks at 10 of the most memorable college games ever played as chosen by a panel of 300 experts. New This Week: Ginger Rogers, George Montgomery and Adolphe Menjou star in “Roxie Hart” (FoxVideo, $20), a wildly uneven 1942 farce about the media circus surrounding a murder trial. Ben Kingsley, Forest Whitaker and Natasha Henstridge star in the thriller “Species” (MGM/UA).

John Sayles directed the acclaimed Irish fantasy “The Secret of Roan Inish” (Columbia TriStar).

Also new: “Amateur” (Columbia TriStar), “Redwood Curtain” (Republic Home Video) and “Body Language” (HBO Video).