Say, These New Films Sound a Bit Familiar

It’s deja vu time at the movies this Christmas. Several of the top holiday features are remakes of films that are available on video.

Arthur Miller’s highly touted version of his 1953 Salem witch trial play “The Crucible,” starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder, opens today in Los Angeles. Back in 1957, Yves Montand and his wife, Simone Signoret, played John and Elizabeth Proctor in the French version, “The Witches of Salem” (Hen’s Tooth, $40). Jean-Paul Sartre penned the adaptation.

Also opening today: “The Preacher’s Wife,” a Yuletide fantasy with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. In 1947, Cary Grant and Loretta Young starred in the endearing original, “The Bishop’s Wife” (HBO, $15). Grant oozes charm as an angel named Dudley who comes to Earth to help a troubled bishop (David Niven), his wife (Young) and his parishioners during the Christmas season. The ice skating scene is a classic. This movie was nominated for the best picture Oscar.

On Christmas Day, Kenneth Branagh will unveil his four-hour version of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Laurence Olivier’s version from 1948 (Paramount, $20) won the best picture Oscar and Olivier took home the best actor Academy Award. Directed by Olivier, this classic also stars Jean Simmons as Ophelia.

Nicol Williamson wonders “to be or not to be” in Tony Richardson’s “Hamlet” from 1969 (Columbia TriStar, $20), which also stars a young Anthony Hopkins and Anjelica Huston, and rocker Marianne Faithfull as Ophelia.

Despite a terrible haircut, Mel Gibson proved to be a pretty impressive Melancholy Dane in Franco Zeffirelli’s rendition from 1990 (Warner, $20), which was shot in Northern Scotland. Glenn Close, Alan Bates, Paul Scofield and Helena Bonham Carter also star.

(Branagh, by the way, has gone the “Hamlet” route before: He wrote and directed “A Midwinter’s Tale” [Columbia TriStar], a comedy released earlier this year about a group of actors putting on a production of “Hamlet” during the Christmas season. Joan Collins stars.)

Nicole Kidman and John Malkovich star in Jane Campion’s version of Henry James’ novel “Portrait of a Lady,” which opens in Los Angeles Dec. 24. Available on video is the BBC-TV version from 1967 starring Richard Chamberlain, Suzanne Neve and Edward Fox. From the Video Catalog, (800) 733-6656, and Video Collectibles/BFS Video, (800) 387-5758, $35.

Disney’s live-action version of “101 Dalmatians” may be raking in millions at the box office but it doesn’t hold a candle to his animated version from 1961 (Walt Disney Home Video). This delightful comedy looks at the world through the dogs’ eyes and features a wonderful vocal performance by Betty Lou Gerson as Cruella DeVil. The video currently is on a sales moratorium but should be available for rental.

Trainspotting: New on Goldhil Video is “Great Britain’s Express Steam Locomotives,” a five-volume set ($20 each; $60 for the set) chronicling the speed, power and variety of the old passenger trains.

“Steam Trains Still Running” (Tapeworm Distributors, $15), which originally aired on PBS, looks at miniature train clubs’ enthusiasm. To order: (800) 367-8437.

Foreign Affairs: A&E;’s “China Rising” ($50), a three-part exploration of how modern China was developed, is the first such history filmed behind “the Bamboo Curtain.” To order: (800) 708-1776.

Special Interest: “Photography 101,” a four-part series for budding shutterbugs (Panacea Learning Systems, $15 each; $40 for the set), takes a nontechnical, easy-to-understand approach to such subjects as composition, framing, color, lighting and expression. Photographer Wayne Sproul hosts. To order: (800) 811-2179.

Killer B: Billy Wirth, Edward Albert, James Shigeta and Meg Foster in “Space Marines” (Republic), a low-budget sci-fi adventure that runs out of gas after the first reel.

Coming Next Week: Kevin Costner, Rene Russo and Don Johnson in Ron Shelton’s romantic comedy “Tin Cup” (Warner). . . . Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and Mara Wilson in the comedy “Mathilda” (Columbia TriStar, $16), based on Roald Dahl’s children’s novel. . . . Jerry O’Connell in the low-rent comedy “Joe’s Apartment” (Warner). . . . The black comedy-ghost thriller “The Frighteners” (MCA/Universal), directed by Peter Jackson and starring Michael J. Fox. . . . Keanu Reeves and Morgan Freeman in the chase thriller “Chain Reaction” (Fox). . . . PBS’ sexy “Mobil Masterpiece Theatre” adaptation of “Moll Flanders” (Anchor Bay, $30) with Alex Kingston as Daniel Defoe’s headstrong heroine. . . . Patty Duke in the “Hallmark Hall of Fame” drama “Harvest of Fire” (Hallmark). . . . “Loaded” (Miramax), a thriller directed by Jane Campion’s sister, Anna, and starring Catherine McCormack. . . . “Captives” (Miramax), with Julia Ormond as a prison dentist who falls for a charming inmate (Tim Roth). . . . “I Can’t Sleep” (New Yorker), a French murder mystery with Beatrice Dalle.