Nazis, detectives and ‘Cosby’ too

The cinephile has a lot to choose from this week.

Notable among the selections are “Downfall” (Sony, $30) and a collection of Claude Chabrol movies.

“Downfall,” the 2004 German drama that was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign-language film, manages to be simultaneously horrifying and mesmerizing as it painstakingly depicts the last days of Adolf Hitler hiding out in the claustrophobic bunker in Berlin. Bruno Ganz, best known as the romantic angel in Wim Wenders’ “Wings of Desire,” gives one of his most complex performances as Der Fuehrer, who in the waning days of the Third Reich refused to believe that Berlin was about to fall to the Russians and was given to hysterical outbursts. Alexandra Maria Lara also stars as Hilter’s secretary, Traudl Junge, who managed to escape from the bunker and the clutches of the Russian troops.

The digital edition includes a making-of-documentary that unfortunately doesn’t identify any of the participants, compelling interviews with the cast and crew and illuminating commentary in English from director Oliver Hirschbiegel.

Kino on Video is offering five films ($25 each) from legendary director Claude Chabrol who, like Alfred Hitchcock, is best known for his suspense thrillers. Included in the group are two delectable detective films featuring a wry Jean Poiret as an acerbic detective: 1984’s “Cop au vin,” in which Inspector Lavardine arrives in a small town to investigate a series of gruesome murders that are connected to an embittered, wheelchair-bound invalid (Stephane Audran) and her teenage son (Lucas Belvaux), and 1986’s “Inspector Lavardine,” which finds the wily policeman rekindling old relationships when he investigates the brutal death of a religious writer. Each film includes the original trailer and a presentation by film scholar Joel Magny.

“L’Enfer,” “Betty” and “The Color of Lies” round out the Chabrol offerings.

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Also new this week

“The Cosby Show: Season 1” (UrbanWorks Entertainment, $50): NBC had been losing in the ratings in the early ‘80s on Thursday evenings to CBS’ powerhouse of “Magnum, P.I.,” “Simon & Simon” and “Knots Landing.” But that all changed in the fall of 1984 with the premiere of Bill Cosby’s humanistic sitcom about a large, upper-class African American family living in Brooklyn. The award-winning comedy series single-handedly resurrected the sitcom genre, and before long Thursdays became “Must See TV” on NBC. Extras include the 2003 NBC reunion special.

“Candid Camera: 5 Decades of Smiles” (Rhino, $100): Sort of the great granddaddy of reality shows, “Candid Camera” -- which began on radio in the 1940s as “Candid Microphone” -- featured people “caught in the act of being themselves.” The 10-disc collection features episodes and specials from the 1960s through today with introductions by current host Peter Funt, the son of the creator and original host, Allen Funt. The best of the lot are “The Greatest Moments,” which feature some wonderful bits with Buster Keaton and even Woody Allen (who was a frequent contributor during the early ‘60s) and “Best of the ‘60s, Vols. 1 and 2.”

“Alexander -- Director’s Cut” (Warner Home Video, $30): Warner Bros. is releasing Oliver Stone’s epic on the famed conqueror in its widely panned theatrical version, as well as Stone’s re-edited one, in which the Oscar-winning director excised eight minutes and rearranged other scenes. Is it any better? Well, at least it’s shorter, and Stone makes a fascinating guide in his commentary track. The two-disc DVD also features his son Sean’s comprehensive, candid “making of” documentary and a rather lackluster featurette on composer Vangelis.

“Guess Who” (Sony, $29): Remake of the 1967 classic “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?,” with an African American executive (Bernie Mac) going into shock when his only daughter brings home her white boyfriend (Ashton Kutcher). The digital edition is by-the-numbers -- a slick “making of” featurette, a gag reel, deleted scenes and passable commentary with director Kevin Rodney Sullivan (“Barbershop 2”).

“Elvis Has Left the Building” (Lions Gate, $27): Kim Basinger and John Corbett try but ultimately fail to breathe some life in this wafer-thin 2004 comedy directed by Joel Zwick of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” fame. Zwick supplies the lively commentary.