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Appreciating the classic roles, films

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Times Staff Writer

Though it’s a relative quiet week for new releases -- “Crash” and the first season of “Lost” are the big news -- there are so many vintage films coming out on DVD that the cineaste may go blurry-eyed with the treasure trove of horror classics, film noirs, dramas, comedies and even animated films to savor.

Universal’s Legacy Series ($27 each) features disc sets of three Academy Award-winners: “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962); “The Sting” (1973) and “The Deer Hunter” (1978).

“Mockingbird,” which stars Gregory Peck in his Oscar-winning role as the compassionate Southern lawyer Atticus Finch, features an artistic “making of” documentary; Peck’s Oscar and AFI Life Achievement Award acceptance speeches; “A Conversation With Gregory Peck,” an engaging documentary directed by his daughter Cecilia Peck and Barbara Kopple; and commentary with director Robert Mulligan and the late producer Alan J. Pakula.

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Highlighting the DVD release of “The Sting,” which won seven Oscars including best film and best director (George Roy Hill) and original screenplay (David S. Ward) is a comprehensive documentary on the movie’s genesis, production and legacy. Included are warm and funny interviews with stars Robert Redford and Paul Newman, as well as Ward.

The two-disc set of “The Deer Hunter,” Michael Cimino’s Vietnam War epic -- which won five Oscars including best film, director and supporting actor (Christopher Walken) -- is a mixed bag. The only extras on the second disc are several outtakes and extended scenes, which don’t add much to the viewing experience.

The edition does provide good commentary by cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond.

Also new from Universal is “The Bela Lugosi Collection” ($27), which features five horror films the “Dracula” star made between 1932 and 1940; all but one also stars the studio’s other big horror name, Boris Karloff.

In the silly, but visually impressive “Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1932), Lugosi tries to mix the blood of an ape with a woman; John Huston was one of the dialogue writers. In the surreal “Black Cat” (1934) Lugosi plays a doctor, newly released from prison, who seeks revenge upon a Satanist (Karloff). In “The Raven” (1935), Lugosi plays an Edgar Allan Poe-obsessed brain surgeon who falls for a judge’s daughter; Karloff is a criminal whom Lugosi disfigures.

Rounding out the collection are “The Invisible Ray” (1936) and “Black Friday” (1940).

“The House on 92nd Street,” “Somewhere in the Night” and “Whirlpool” comprise Fox’s latest installments in its Film Noir Collection ($15 each).

Made with the approval of J. Edgar Hoover, “92nd Street” (1945) told the story of the FBI’s successful destruction of a Nazi spy ring in New York that was stealing atomic secrets.

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The film, which was produced by Louis de Rochement of “The March of Time” newsreels, was shot on location and whenever possible used real FBI personnel. Extras include the original press book, a photo gallery and perceptive commentary from film noir historian Eddie Muller.

Muller also offers commentary on the delectable “Somewhere in the Night” (1946), starring John Hodiak as a World War II veteran suffering from amnesia who returns home to Los Angeles and finds himself embroiled in murder and intrigue. Written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

Gene Tierney became a superstar after playing the title role in Otto Preminger’s 1944 noir classic “Laura.”

Five years later the two reunited for “Qhirlpool,” a delicious noir thriller in which she plays the wife of a psychiatrist (Richard Conte) who becomes involved with a charlatan hypnotist (Jose Ferrer).

Also on tap from Fox is the 1974 Paul Mazursky comedy-drama “Harry & Tonto” ($15), starring Art Carney in his Oscar-winning turn as an elderly man who takes his marmalade feline Tonto on a cross country trip to live with one of his children after he is evicted from his New York apartment. Mazursky’s commentary is as heartfelt and touching as his haunting film.

From Paramount is Preston Sturges’ 1944 sidesplitting comedy, “The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek” ($15): The frenetic Betty Hutton stars as small-town girl Trudy Kockenlocker, who comes home with memories of getting married after a night on the town partying with soldiers heading off to war. Sturges favorite Eddie Bracken plays her nervous draft-reject boyfriend. Extras include a retrospective of the censorship problems Sturges encountered in making the comedy.

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The Pixar/Disney CGI-animated hit “Toy Story” (Disney, $30) arrives in a new two-disc DVD set that features a chat with four of the creative minds behind the film, including director John Lasseter and the late animator Joe Ranft; a new interactive game; and a peek at their latest film, “CARS.” The picture and sound have been remastered.

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Also new this week:

“Crash” (Lions Gate, $29): A decade ago “Million Dollar Baby” scribe Paul Haggis was the victim of a carjacking. That harrowing experience inspired him to co-write and direct this acclaimed ensemble drama dealing with racial intolerance and prejudice in Los Angeles.

The DVD includes a better-than-average “making of” documentary and thought-provoking commentary from Haggis, co-writer and producer Bobby Moresco and lead actor Don Cheadle, who is also a producer.

“Lost -- The Complete First Season” (Buena Vista, $60): The seven DVD set features all 24 episodes about a group of plane crash survivors on a mysterious island.

There are four commentary tracks -- including the two-hour pilot -- with producers and actors; a look at the making of the pilot, a mini-documentary on the casting call for the plane; audition tapes; star Matthew Fox’s photographs from the pilot production and Jimmy Kimmel’s visit to the set.

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What’s coming:

Sept. 13: “Fever Pitch,” “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” “Madison,” “Winter’s Solstice,” “Palindromes,” “Rock School” and “Nobody Knows”

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Sept. 20: “The Longest Yard,” “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl” in 3-D,” “Born Into Brothels,” “Inside Deep Throat” and “Mindhunters”

Sept. 27: “Robots,’ “Lords of Dogtown,” “Modigliani,” “Ladies in Lavender”

Oct. 4: “The Interpreter,” “The Amityville Horror,” “House of D” and “Mail Order Bride”

Oct. 11: “Kingdom of Heaven,” “Kicking and Screaming,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Unleashed,” “High Tension,” “Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession” and “Happily Ever After”

Oct. 18: “Batman Begins,” “Land of the Dead,” “Saving Face,” “Tell Them Who You Are,” “Mad Hot Ballroom” and “Ma Mere”

Oct 25: “Herbie: Fully Loaded,” “Bewitched,” “House of Wax,” “Melinda and Melinda,” “Rize,” “Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist,” “Last Days” and “Mysterious Skin”

Nov. 1: “Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith,” “The Perfect Man,” “Millions,” “Heights” and “Aliens of the Deep”

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