A Couple of Originals: Bilko and Paladin
Home video has become a veritable paradise for couch potatoes. Since TV fare has become big business in the video industry, more and more small screen product is being released on tape. This month, several television titles, ranging from classic sitcoms to PBS documentaries, are making their debuts.
Columbia House Video Library’s latest exclusive offerings are two legendary series from the 1950s: “Have Gun Will Travel” and “The Phil Silvers Show.”
“Have Gun Will Travel: The Collector’s Edition” features four episodes per volume of the 1957-63 western series starring Richard Boone as Paladin, the cultured gun for hire. All episodes are uncut, unedited and remastered from the original CBS negatives. And here’s a bit of trivia: The show’s head writer was Gene Roddenberry of “Star Trek.” The first volume, which includes the pilot, is $5; each subsequent volume is $20.
“The Phil Silvers Show: The Collector’s Edition” also features four episodes per volume of the sidesplitting 1955-59 CBS sitcom starring Silvers as the fast-talking Sgt. Bilko, who is always flaunting authority and coming up with get-rich-quick schemes. The collection is far superior to this year’s lame feature version starring Steve Martin as Bilko. The price is $5 for the first volume and $20 for subsequent volumes. To order either collection, call (800) 638-2922.
The irreverent Canadian comedy troupe “Kids in the Hall” makes its video debut Tuesday (Rhino, $10 each). The first volume features two “best of” compilations from the Kids’ third TV season, and the second tape features “best of” compilations from the fourth and final season. A third volume ($20) includes all four episodes.
What’s the story, Wishbone? This Tuesday, PBS’ adorable literary pooch Wishbone stars in two doggone delightful new versions of classic novels ($13 each, Polygram). “Salty Dog” is a retelling of “Treasure Island,” and “Terrified Terrier” is Wishbone’s rendition of “Red Badge of Courage.”
If you love duct tape, you’ll probably enjoy “The Best of Red Green” (Acorn, $20), a compilation of moments from the Canadian comedy series currently shown on KOCE-TV in Orange County that gently mocks the male of the species.
Moseying into stores Tuesday is the CBS miniseries “Streets of Laredo” (Cabin Fever, $20 in EP and $40 on SP), the terrific final chapter in Larry McMurtry’s “Lonesome Dove” saga. James Garner gives one of his best performances as retired Texas Ranger Woodrow Call. Sam Shepard, Sissy Spacek, Sonia Braga and George Carlin are fine in support.
Anchor Bay Entertainment is offering the three “Prime Suspect” thrillers that aired this season on PBS’ “Masterpiece Theatre”: “The Scent of Darkness,” “The Lost Child” and “Inner Circles.”
Several recent episodes of PBS’ “Nova” series are available on video: “B-29 Frozen in Time,” “Terror in the Mine Fields,” “Flood!,” “The Bombing of America” and “Warriors of the Amazon” (WGBH Video, $20 each).
On Tuesday, Paramount Home Video releases episodes 87 through 90 of its popular syndicated series “Star Trek: The Next Generation” ($15 each).
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Oldies but Goodies: No one can play a cocky jerk better than Mickey Rooney, and he’s at his obnoxious best as an out-of-control roller derby champ who learns the errors of his ways in the engrossing 1950 melodrama “The Fireball” (Warner Home Video, $20). A young Marilyn Monroe shines in a small but telling supporting role.
The truly bizarre, low-budget 1954 baseball fantasy “Roogie’s Bump” (Warner, $20) is a must for die-hard baseball fans. The movie is pretty awful, but it’s a great opportunity to see several Brooklyn Dodgers--Roy Campanella, Carl Erskine, Billy Loes and Russ Meyer--strut their stuff.
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Killer Bs: Don “the Dragon” Wilson must fulfill his destiny by killing off the last remaining vampires on Earth in the bloodless thriller “Night Hunter” (New Horizon).
Jennifer Grey and Costas Mandylor star in “Portraits of a Killer” (Live), a half-baked “Jagged Edge” rip-off.
The corpses pile up at an alarming rate in “Body Count” (A-Pix), a mindless gore fest starring Brigitte Nielsen, Sonny Chiba and Robert Davi.
Coming Next Week: Supersuave Pierce Brosnan is the latest 007 in the hit “GoldenEye” (MGM/UA). MGM also is releasing “The James Bond Collection, Vol. 2” ($15 each, $120 for the set), featuring six Roger Moore adventures and both Timothy Dalton Bond flicks.
Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci star in Martin Scorsese’s latest mob epic “Casino” (MCA/Universal). Not for the squeamish.
The 16-hour “Heimat” (Facets), the longest film ever made, chronicles the life of one German family from 1919 to 1982.
Johnny Depp goes the action route in the thriller “Nick of Time” (Paramount).
Jean-Paul Belmondo stars in Claude Lelouche’s ambitious version of “Les Miserables” (Warner).
Leonardo DiCaprio and David Thewlis star in the drama “Total Eclipse” (New Line). Also new: “Woman Undone” (Republic); “Kim” (Public Media); “Frankie Starlight” (New Line).
