An Intimate Bergman Gem

Rarely does cinema transform into something poetic. But that is the case with Ingmar Bergman’s “Wild Strawberries” (1957), one of his masterpieces.

This haunting, lyrical drama arrives on DVD ($40) in a lovely new disc from Criterion that won’t disappoint the admirers of the Swedish director.

Victor Sjostrom, who directed several silent films including “The Wind” with Lillian Gish, stars in the intimate film as an elderly college professor beset with nightmares of death and images from his past. Scheduled to receive an honorary degree from a university, he decides to drive to the ceremony in his car instead of taking a plane. Joining him on the excursion is his troubled daughter-in-law (Ingrid Thulin). Bibi Andersson also stars in a dual role: as the love of his life in flashbacks and as a young hitchhiker in the present.

The DVD features a beautiful, new digital transfer of the exquisite black-and-white film, a new and improved subtitle translation and informative commentary from film scholar Peter Cowie, who discusses the genesis of the project. Bergman was at an emotional crossroads in his life at this time, suffered from the same nightmares as Sjostrom’s Isak Borg and had difficulties working with Sjostrom, who was 79 and didn’t like someone else being in charge.

Rounding out the DVD are several behind-the-scenes stills and “Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work,” a 90-minute documentary by filmmaker and author Jorn Donner that aired on Swedish TV in 1998.

“Wild Strawberries” is a movie to savor like a fine wine, one that becomes richer and more rewarding on subsequent viewings.

The same can’t be said of “Don’t Say a Word,” a fitfully entertaining but ultimately forgettable suspense thriller starring Michael Douglas as a successful shrink who must get a mental patient (Brittany Murphy) to disclose a series of numbers. At stake: the life of his daughter, who has been kidnapped.

The digital edition ($28) includes the wide-screen version of the film, trailers, a so-so “making of” featurette, several deleted scenes, a tour of the sets, a featurette on the score, storyboard-to-film comparison, screening room dailies and Murphy’s evocative screen test.

Director Gary Fleder offers commentary, but much more entertaining are the scene-specific commentaries by Douglas, Murphy and co-stars Famke Janssen, Sean Bean and Oliver Platt. The thespians seemed to have put a lot of thought into their characters and offer up some intelligent insights into the production.

Tim Blake Nelson, who played the dimwitted convict in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” directed “O,” the controversial updating of Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello,” set in the arena of high school basketball. Mekhi Phifer plays Odin James, a star basketball player; Julia Stiles is his girlfriend Desi; and Josh Hartnett is the conniving Hugo.

Lions Gate is releasing “O” ($25) in a special two-disc DVD set that includes low-key commentary from Nelson and cinematographer Russell Lee Fine, a breakdown of the staging of the basketball sequences, passable interviews with Stiles, Phifer, Hartnett and Nelson, several deleted scenes, trailers and the superior 1922 silent German version of “Othello,” starring Emil Jannings.

In 1974, independent filmmaker H.B. “Toby” Halicki starred in, wrote, directed and produced the action flick “Gone in 60 Seconds,” which featured incredible car stunts. The low-budget film went on to make $40 million.

Two years ago, Disney produced a big-budget remake with Nicolas Cage. Halicki died in a freak accident on the set of “Gone in 60 Seconds II” in 1989.

This week the Navarre Corp. has released Halicki’s 1982 action film “The Junkman” ($25 for DVD; $15 for VHS). As with “Gone in 60 Seconds,” the movie suffers from a poor script and listless acting. But Halicki knew how to stage stunts--he performed most of the stunt driving in the film. There are some amazing scenes, including a car jumping over an airplane.

The DVD features a restored, digitally remastered version of the film; an introduction by Halicki’s widow, Denise; a 25-minute featurette, “The Making of the Junkman,” hosted by Toby Halicki; original trailers; 300 photographs; and interviews with the film’s editor, Warner E. Leighton, assistant editor P.G. Webbs, custom car designer George Barris and director of photography Tony Syslo.

Syslo and production manager Jack Vacek provide the pleasant audio commentary. The VHS includes the film, the intro and the trailer.

New from Facets Video is the exceptional drama “Close-Up” (DVD and VHS, $30) from Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami (“Taste of Cherry”). Based on fact, this simple story deals with a young, unemployed Iranian man who loves the films of director Mohsen Makhmalbaf (“Kandahar”). While traveling on a bus one day, he represents himself as the director to a woman passenger. He ingratiates himself into her family and promises to make his latest movie with them. The DVD features filmographies and an interview with Kiarostami.

The Autry Museum of Western Heritage and Gene Autry Entertainment are releasing the movies of the legendary singing movie cowboy Gene Autry on VHS. Seven titles are currently available for $10 each or $60 for the set. Beautifully restored and uncut, the entertaining musical westerns featured in the collection are: “Heart of Rio Grande,” “Home on the Range,” “Robin Hood of Texas,” “Rovin’ Tumbleweeds,” “Shooting High,” “South of the Border” and “Under Fiesta Stars.” The films are available at the Autry Museum’s store; (888) 41-AUTRY and www.autry-museum.org