Three Oscar Winners Offer Treats for Fans

Three Oscar winners and a controversial remake of a classic thriller have made their DVD debuts with well-crafted collectors’ editions.

Director Bill Condon received the Oscar for adapted screenplay for his acclaimed “Gods and Monsters” (Universal, $30), a fictional look at the last year in the life of James Whale, the openly gay director of such horror classics as “Frankenstein.”

“Gods and Monsters” was made in just 24 days on a budget of $3 million. Ian McKellen, who plays Whale, received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Lynn Redgrave, as his Teutonic housekeeper, picked up the Golden Globe. Brendan Fraser also stars as Whale’s hunky groundskeeper.

The DVD edition includes a documentary, trailer, production notes and cast bios.

Condon’s commentary takes a while to get used to because he keeps switching from the tale of how the film got made to what is going on in the scene. But once you get accustomed to this style, Condon has a lot to offer. McKellen, for example, was reluctant at first to play the sixtysomething Whale, having just played a septuagenarian in “Apt Pupil”; he didn’t want audiences to presume he is an old man. But once he saw a picture of the real Whale, Condon recounts, the openly gay actor thought he looked “dishy” and took the part.

Redgrave’s prudish housekeeper was actually based on actress Una O’Connor, who played comedic, hysterical characters in Whale movies. In fact, in one fantasy scene that was cut, Redgrave actually was dressed as O’Connor. Condon also points out that scenes in Whale’s study included Whale’s own paintings--including a prominent male nude--which the production bought at a sale.

PolyGram gives the royal treatment to “Elizabeth” ($35), which was nominated for seven Oscars and won for best makeup. The classy disc has a terrific “making of” feature that includes clips from the movie and interviews with stars Cate Blanchett, Joseph Fiennes and Geoffrey Rush, as well as Indian-born director Shekhur Kapur, whom one of the producers admits likes to work in a world of chaos. Other goodies include another featurette, trailers, teaser, cast and crew bios and production information.

Kapur’s commentary is absolutely fascinating. But after listening to him, one would be a bit wary of working with him. For example, to get an extra hysterical for the opening sequence in which her head is shaved and she’s burned at the stake, he actually had the actress stand and chant for more than three hours. Good stuff.

Winner of the special visual effects Oscar, “What Dreams May Come” (PolyGram, $35) is really only enjoyable for those who wept buckets over this extremely sappy, relentlessly weepy afterlife fantasy starring Robin Williams.

The DVD includes a dreadful alternate ending, a “making of” featurette, cast and crew bios and trailer. Interviews with the visual effects supervisor and art director are informative but way too short. Also included is director Vincent Ward’s florid commentary. Listen at your own risk.

Gus Van Sant’s scene-by-scene remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic “Psycho” ($35) didn’t exactly burn up the box office, but the DVD is a scream--especially the clever animated menu. The disc includes a breezy documentary, production notes, trailers and cast bios.

The audio commentary not only includes Van Sant but also Anne Heche, who plays Janet Leigh’s part, and Vince Vaughn, who inherits the role of ultimate momma’s boy Norman Bates from the late Anthony Perkins.

Vaughn acknowledges how nervous he was the first day of shooting, and the chatty Heche admits she never saw the original until the night before she met Van Sant. Van Sant discusses his reasons for doing the remake and how, before shooting a scene, everyone would watch it in the original. Another interesting tidbit: The buttons on Heche’s dress match the infamous shower curtain at the Bates Motel.