Videos Put 100-Year-Old Sunshine Boy in Spotlight

George Burns turns 100 Saturday, and what better way to celebrate than by checking out his films and TV work available on video?

Burns and his beloved wife and partner, Gracie Allen, made several films together in the 1930s, including “International House” (MCA/Universal, $15), a wild and wacky 1933 comedy that also features W.C. Fields, Rudy Vallee, Baby Rose Marie and Bela Lugosi.

In “We’re Not Dressing” (MCA/Universal, $15), Paramount’s 1934 musical adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s “The Admirable Crichton,” Burns and Allen play botanists researching the fauna on a South Sea island. Bing Crosby, Carole Lombard and Ray Milland also star.

Burns and Allen perform the Oscar-winning “Fun House” dance number with Fred Astaire in the charming 1937 musical comedy “Damsel in Distress” (Turner Home Entertainment, $15). The George and Ira Gershwin score includes the standards “A Foggy Day in London Town” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

Burns and Allen return to school in the happy-go-lucky 1938 musical comedy “College Swing” (MCA/Universal, $15). Bob Hope, Martha Raye and Betty Grable also are featured.

The couple provide the comic relief in the serviceable 1939 Eleanor Powell musical comedy “Honolulu” (MGM/UA, $20). Robert Young also stars.

Burns and Allen brought their comedy routines to TV in 1950 as stars of the long-running CBS sitcom “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.” Six volumes of episodes of the series are available through Movies Unlimited ($20-$30). To order, call (800) 523-0823.

Burns returned to the big screen in Neil Simon’s 1975 comedy “The Sunshine Boys” (MGM/UA, $15) and received a best supporting actor Oscar for his funny and touching performance as an old vaudevillian. Walter Matthau also is on target as his comedy partner. Burns’ great friend, Jack Benny, was originally slated to play Burns’ part, but died of cancer before production began.

He’s perfectly cast in “Oh, God!” (Warner, $20), the hit 1977 comedy in which God returns to Earth to save the world. Carl Reiner directed. Burns also played the Almighty in two minor sequels: 1980’s “Oh, God! Book 2” (Warner, $20) and 1984’s “Oh, God! You Devil” (Warner, $20).

Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg are terrific in 1979’s heartwarming comedy-drama “Going in Style” (Warner, $20), as three bored elderly friends who stick up a bank.

In his last starring role, Burns plays an 81-year-old who changes places with his 18-year-old grandson (Charlie Schlatter) after he gets a bump on his head in the so-so 1988 comedy “18 Again!” (New World, $20).

Burns waxes comedic on sex, doctors and exercise in the 1989 TV special “George Burns: His Wit & Wisdom” (VidAmerica, $30). Red Buttons and Carol Channing also are featured.

*

Documentary: “Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” (Live, $20) is a critically acclaimed portrait of the troubled life of the creative force behind the Beach Boys.

A&E; Video’s “Biography” series looks at country music legends Loretta Lynn, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry ($20 each). A&E; also has added three new releases ($20 each) to its popular “Ancient Mystery” series. Archeologists, scientists and historians discuss the truth about the legendary wonders of “Camelot,” “Pompei: Buried Alive” and “The Hidden City of Petra.”

Golden Oldie: Betty Grable and June Haver plays two sisters who become vaudeville sensations in the tuneful 1945 musical-comedy “The Dolly Sisters” (FoxVideo, $20).

*

Killer Bs: C. Thomas Howell turns auteur as star, director and co-writer of the muddled erotic thriller “Hourglass” (Live). Howell plays a shaggy-haired fashion maverick who has it all until he meets a beautiful but mysterious woman (Sofia Shinas).

Howell fares a bit better in “Suspect Device” (New Horizons), a far-fetched but fast-paced Roger Corman-produced thriller about a seemingly normal guy who finds his world crumbling around him when he accidentally opens a secret computer file at work.

*

New This Week: Glub! Glub! Kevin Costner stars in the production-plagued epic “Waterworld” (MCA/Universal). Dennis Hopper co-stars as Costner’s nemesis.

David Caruso, Linda Fiorentino and Chazz Palminteri star in Joe Eszterhas’ critical and box-office disappointment “Jade.”

Linda Hamilton received the CableAce Award for her moving performance in “A Mother’s Prayer” (MCA/Universal) as a woman dying of AIDS who tries to find parents for her young son before she dies. Originally aired on the USA cable network.

Also new: “Love and Human Remains” (Columbia TriStar); “The Man in the Attic” (Paramount).