Vintage and Recent Charmers Open Year

Box-office hits, classic Charlie Chaplin shorts, vintage films noir and British and American television series are among the video offerings for early 1999.

The release year kicks off Tuesday with the funny crime caper flick “Out of Sight” (Universal), starring a charming George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez. Also due that day is the re-release of the 1977 Disney animated family film “The Rescuers.” The next day, Fox debuts the popular romance “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” starring Angela Bassett and Whoopi Goldberg.

Peter Weir’s acclaimed “The Truman Show” (Paramount), starring Jim Carrey, arrives Jan. 12. Also scheduled for that day is “54,” Miramax’s dreadful look at the disco era, and the romantic dance drama “Dance With Me” (Columbia TriStar). For art-house fans, Columbia TriStar counters with “Wilde,” starring Golden Globe nominee Stephen Fry as playwright Oscar Wilde, and Hal Hartley’s ambitious “Henry Fool.”

“Smoke Signals” (Miramax), the acclaimed comedy drama about contemporary Native American life, hits stores Jan. 19, as does the offbeat “Love and Death on Long Island” (Universal), starring John Hurt and Jason Priestley.

The surprise fall hit “Rush Hour” (New Line), starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, arrives Jan. 26.

The outrageous box-office hit comedy “There’s Something About Mary” (Fox), starring Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller and Matt Dillon, makes its bow on Feb. 2, as does Disney’s animated blockbuster “Mulan.”

DreamWorks’ first animated film, “Antz,” arrives the next week, along with the Miramax drama “Rounders,” starring Matt Damon.

Brian De Palma’s political thriller “Snake Eyes” (Paramount), with Nicolas Cage, slithers into stores on Feb. 16. Also set for that week is the Sandra Bullock-Nicole Kidman comedy “Practical Magic” (Warner); the teen thriller “Urban Legend” (Columbia TriStar); and “The Governess” (Columbia TriStar), a romantic period drama starring Minnie Driver.

“Ronin” (MGM), John Frankenheimer’s thriller starring Robert De Niro, is scheduled for Feb. 23. “Ever After” (Fox), the Drew Barrymore version of the “Cinderella” legend, is set for March 2, and Warren Beatty’s political satire “Bulworth” (Fox) is to arrive March 16.

Film buffs might want to check out Kino on Video’s “Chaplin Remastered” (Jan. 12), a three-volume set featuring all of Chaplin’s Mutual shorts. On Jan. 19, Universal adds three more films to its popular Deanna Durbin collection: “The Amazing Mrs. Holiday,” “Because of Him” and “I’ll Be Yours.” Also due that day is Werner Herzog’s 1979 vampire thriller “Nosferatu” (Anchor Bay).

On Feb. 2, Kino will release three delicious vintage films noir: “Brute Force,” “The Naked City” and “Blue Gardenia.” Also scheduled for Feb. 2 is Columbia TriStar’s “Curly Classics,” vintage Three Stooges shorts starring Curly. Bob Hope fans will enjoy Universal’s latest installments in its Bob Hope collection, due Feb. 23: “Thanks for the Memory,” “Rhythm Romance,” “Nothing but the Truth” and “Variety Girl.”

For couch potatoes, there’s “Our Mutual Friend” (BBC), a six-hour miniseries based on Charles Dickens’ novel, which arrives on video Jan. 12, just a week after it airs on PBS’ “Masterpiece Theatre.” Following on Jan. 19 is “Invasion Earth” (BBC), a six-hour British science-fiction series that recently aired on the Sci-Fi Channel.

On Jan. 26, Hallmark bows several recent “Hallmark Hall of Fame” presentations: “What the Deaf Man Heard,” “Love Letter” and “Saint Maybe.” Also scheduled for Jan. 26 is the release of several volumes of the cult Fox comedy series “Get a Life” (Rhino), which stars Chris Elliott.