It’s a Fit Night Out for Fans of Keaton, W.C. Fields

Kino on Video follows up its enormously successful 1995 “The Art of Buster Keaton” collection with a charming short film that the legendary screen clown made when he was 69.

The 1965 Canadian comedy “The Railrodder” ($30)--Keaton’s 87th film--finds him decked out in his familiar flat hat as he travels across the Canadian landscape in a railway handcar.

After Keaton was wasted in such films as “Beach Blanket Bingo” and “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,” this award-winning short was the perfect vehicle for his masterful comedic timing. Included on the video is the engaging “Buster Keaton Rides Again,” a behind-the-scenes documentary about the making of “Railrodder.” To order call (800) 562-3330.

W.C. Fields fans will be in heaven with Home Vision’s “W.C. Fields: 6 Short Films” ($20). The tape features Field’s first short--1915’s “Pool Sharks,” in which he re-creates his famous pool game routine--and his first talkie, the riotous 1930 “The Golf Specialist.” Also included are four two-reelers he made for Mack Sennett: 1932’s “The Dentist,” which has restored two rather saucy scenes; 1933’s hysterical “The Fatal Glass of Beer,” in which he utters, “It ain’t a fit night out for man or beast”; 1933’s “The Pharmacist”; and “The Barber Shop.” The pristine prints were culled from the laser disc.

Van Peebles: Xenon Entertainment has just released “The Melvin Van Peebles Collection,” featuring three of the influential black director’s films.

Peebles’ first feature, 1967’s “Story of a 3-Day Pass” ($20), was based on his French novel “La Permission.” Produced in France, the drama deals with an African American G.I. (Harry Baird) stationed in Europe who spends his holiday weekend with a white French woman (Nicole Berger).

Also included is the restored director’s cut of Van Peebles’ controversial X-rated 1971 hit film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song” ($20), which kicked off the era of black exploitation movies. Van Peebles also stars.

For the first time available anywhere is Van Peebles’ “Don’t Play Us Cheap” ($80). The 1973 musical comedy, which was never released theatrically, is based on his Broadway hit about two bats from hell sent to break up a Harlem party. Esther Rolle stars.

Christmas Goodies: If you miss Perry Como’s mellow Yuletide TV specials, Haber Video’s offering the “Perry Como’s Christmas Classics” gift set ($15 each, $25 for the set). The set features two relaxed, low-keyed vintage specials: “Perry Como’s Early American Christmas,” which was taped in colonial Williamsburg, Va., and stars John Wayne; and “Perry Como’s Christmas in the Holy Land.” Richard Chamberlain is Como’s guest. To order call (800) 450-0045.

“Home for the Holidays” (MVP Home Entertainment, $10) consists of a seemingly endless array of ornately decorated holiday homes set to Christmas standards. To order call (800) 637-3555.

Huh-huh-huh-ho! MTV’s two munch-brains, Beavis and Butt-head, host their first Christmas video, “Beavis and Butt-Head Do Christmas” (Sony Music Video, $15), which features sicko renditions of “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Not for the squeamish.

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Physician Heal Thyself: Dr. Andrew Weil, a leader in the field of integrative medicine, offers a lecture on the human body’s innate ability to heal itself in “Spontaneous Healing” (Mystic Fire, $20).

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See the U.S.A.: “Our Country: A Musical Tribute to America’s Parks and Monuments” (Panorama International Productions, $15) is a patriotic travelogue of our national parks and historical monuments set to new renditions of traditional songs. To order call (800) 800-9712.

Foreign Affairs: Arriving Tuesday is Pedro Almodovar’s Spanish comedy “The Flower of My Scent” (Columbia TriStar).

Raf Vallone and Alain Cuny star in Curzio Malaparte’s 1950 Italian drama “The Forbidden Christ” (Hen’s Tooth, $25).

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Documentary: “Something to Sing About” (First Run, $30) is a heartfelt, award-winning documentary on the 100-member Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir of Australia.

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Oldies but Goodies: On Tuesday, Warner Bros. Classics reissues the legendary 1955 James Dean film “East of Eden” ($20), replete with such goodies as the original roadshow overture, theatrical trailer, screen tests and outtakes.

The latest from Fox’s Studio Classics is the 1969 drama “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” ($20), starring Maggie Smith in her Oscar-winning role as a sexually liberated Scottish girls’ schoolteacher.

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Coming Next Week: Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick star in director Ben Stiller’s dark comedy “The Cable Guy” (Columbia TriStar).

Vincent Perez takes over for the late Brandon Lee in the thriller “The Crow: City of Angels” (Miramax). . . . Also new: “Ruby Jean and Joe” (Republic) and “Girlfriends” (First Run, $30).