‘Forsyte’ family ages gracefully on disc

Many vintage American and British TV series and miniseries have recently made their DVD debuts, including the queen mother of the prime-time serialized drama, “The Forsyte Saga.”

Based on John Galsworthy’s delicious saga of a wealthy British family that spans the late 1870s through the 1920s, “The Forsyte Saga” (BBC, $150) was an enormous hit in England when the 26-part series first aired in 1967. Two years later, PBS brought the show to America, where it also became a must-see among discerning Anglophiles. Although it lost the best dramatic series Emmy to “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” the phenomenal success of “The Forsyte Saga” in the U.S. paved the way for the long-running PBS dramatic anthology series “Masterpiece Theatre,” as well as such popular prime-time soaps as “Dallas,” “Dynasty,” “Falcon Crest” and “Melrose Place.” Last year, “Masterpiece Theatre” aired the critically acclaimed remake of “The Forsyte Saga.”

For anybody who watched the black-and-white original when it was shown in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s on PBS -- it hasn’t repeated on PBS since 1977 -- this lovely new DVD edition is akin to being reunited with a favorite blankie or stuffed toy from childhood. Though it may be a bit creaky -- technically the show is quite dated -- it’s still tremendously charming and comforting. And it’s wonderful to see that the show’s splendid stars -- Kenneth More, Eric Porter, Nyree Dawn Porter, Michael York, Nicholas Pennell, Susan Hampshire (who won the best actress Emmy for her performance as the impulsive Fleur Forsyte) and Martin Jarvis -- are just as dazzling as they were more than 30 years ago

The digital version includes several excerpts from various 1967 British TV programs, which feature interviews with the cast and a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals, a look at the fans’ reaction to the coldhearted Soames and his elusive wife, Irene, and an examination of the “Forsyte Phenomenon.” There are also numerous and often humorous outtakes, and several deleted and alternate scenes culled from the BBC archives. Additionally, there are extensive biographies of the cast.

“Tales of the City,” one of the best and last installments of PBS’ award-winning “American Playhouse” anthology series, is the superb, 1993 adaptation of Armistead Maupin’s novel of ‘70s San Francisco, which in turn was based on his serialized column in the San Francisco Chronicle. Acorn Media is offering a three-disc set ($60) of the compelling comedy-drama about a young Midwestern girl (Laura Linney, in her first major role) who goes into culture shock when she moves to the freethinking, sexually open city by the bay. Included are production notes, rare location and rehearsal footage, a Maupin biography and book list, and informative and often funny commentary with Maupin, director Alastair Reid, and performers Olympia Dukakis, Linney and Barbara Garrick in episodes 1, 3 and 6.

There are 8 million stories in “The Naked City,” and Image Entertainment is presenting eight of them from the 1960-61 season of the respected ABC detective series on DVD ($15 each). Each of the two discs features four beautifully restored episodes from the series, which was based on the semi-documentary-style 1947 feature film. Surprisingly gritty for its time, the “Naked City” features cinema verite-style black-and-white cinematography that captures the Big Apple four decades ago. The series attracted such well-known and up-and-coming guest stars as Eli Wallach, Dennis Hopper, Walter Matthau and Robert Duvall. Arthur Hiller was among the directors. Star Paul Burke is effective as a young, handsome detective, though Horace McMahon overacts outrageously as his gruff boss.

New from Paramount is the first season of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” ($130), the 1993-99 syndicated series that was the third and darkest entry in the “Star Trek” universe. This show, which premiered two years after the death of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry, takes place on a space station on the edge of the galaxy. Avery Brooks stars as the widowed star fleet commander Benjamin Sisko, who has been assigned to manage the station by the Federation.

The six-disc box set won’t disappoint fans of the compelling series. Besides all 20 episodes from the first season, the set includes numerous extras including a documentary on the creation of the series that features interviews; behind-the-scenes footage of shooting the pilot; a look at the station model; interviews with several cast members; an interview with Michael Westmore, who created the alien makeup; a glimpse of the bizarre props that were used in Quark’s Bar, and an explanation of the props by prop master Joe Longo.

The 1988 British sci-fi sitcom “Red Dwarf” (BBC, $35) is definitely a cult series. And in the case of most cult shows, you’ll either get the joke or you’ll watch this with stoned-faced boredom

The two-disc DVD contains commentary from the stars, an episode dubbed into Japanese, outtakes, production stills, production photos, excerpts from the audiotapes of the novel version and a lengthy documentary on the genesis of the series. And if you think “Red Dwarf” is the bee’s knees, BBC is also offering the second year on DVD ($35).

“Fireball XL5” is the 1962-63 black-and-white sci-fi puppet series from producer Gerry Anderson of “The Thunderbirds” and “Space 1999” fame. Like “Thunderbirds,” this enjoyably goofy series was produced in what Anderson described as Supermarionation. The five-disc box set (A&E;, $100) includes all 39 episodes, about 17 hours, of this series about lantern-jawed space hero Steve Zodiac, who patrols “sector 25” of the solar system with his crew, protecting the area from alien invaders. The special effects and the marionette puppetry are pretty crude, but that just adds to the fun. The digital edition includes a featurette, commentary with director Alan Patillo on the “Space City Special” episode and voice artist David Graham on “The Doomed Planet” installment.

Also new and noteworthy: “Queer as Folk: The Complete Second Season” (Showtime, $120), which features all 20 episodes of the second year of the cable series about a group of gay friends, plus a slew of extras; and “Wodehouse Playhouse: Series One” (Acorn, $40), a fitfully funny 1975 British comedy series starring Pauline Collins and her husband, John Alderton, and based on the eccentrically comic stories of P.G. Wodehouse.