New collections feature the Duke and the diva

Two of Hollywood’s best-loved movie stars -- Bette Davis and John Wayne -- are the subjects of special collection editions this week.

“The Bette Davis Collection, Vol. 2” (Warner, $60) includes three new to video -- “Marked Woman” (1937), “The Man Who Came to Dinner” (1941) and “Old Acquaintance” (1943) and spiffed up versions of previously released “Jezebel” (1938) and “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” (1962). Rounding out the disc is the documentary “Stardust: The Bette Davis Story.”

“Marked Woman” is a hard-hitting melodrama loosely based on the life of gangster Lucky Luciano, who was imprisoned after prostitutes who worked in one of his brothels informed on him. Humphrey Bogart also stars. The DVD includes a documentary and two vintage cartoons.

Davis won her second best-actress Oscar for the drama, “Jezebel” (her first was for “Dangerous”). Warner Bros. bought the property for Davis -- it originally was a short-lived Broadway play -- and it was tailored to her extraordinary talents. She plays a bright, flirtatious and willful Southern belle in the antebellum South. Although the film was compared to “Gone With the Wind,” the handsomely produced drama directed by William Wyler more than stands on its own merits. Fay Bainter (supporting-actress Oscar) and Henry Fonda also star. This edition features a new digital transfer from restored picture and audio elements, a retrospective, a musical short with Jimmy Dorsey, a cartoon and astute commentary form historian Jeannine Basinger.

In the rollicking comedy “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Davis fits nicely as a member of the ensemble of the hit based on the Broadway smash by George Kaufman and Moss Hart. Monty Woolley repeats his stage triumph as an obnoxious critic who turns a Midwestern family’s life upside down when a leg injury forces him to stay at their house. Davis plays his efficient assistant. Ann Sheridan and Jimmy Durante also star. Extras include a vintage Joe McDoakes comedy short and a cartoon.

Davis teamed up with her “The Old Maid” co-star -- and rival -- Miriam Hopkins for the slick “Old Acquaintance.” The DVD features a look at the Warner Bros. “women’s pictures”; a vintage short, “Stars on Horseback”; and a cartoon. The film’s director, the now 99-year-old Vincent Sherman, and author Boze Hadleigh supply commentary.

One of the most entertaining of the extras on the two-disc set of the delicious diva horror film, “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?,” is a short clip from a 1962 episode of “The Andy Williams Show,” which features Davis singing a rock song called “What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?” Bonuses also feature a delightfully catty new retrospective on stars Davis and Joan Crawford, a vintage featurette and funny commentary from transvestite performers Charles Busch and John “Lypsinka” Epperson.

Universal’s “John Wayne -- An American Icon Collection” ($27) pales in comparison to Warner Home Video’s upcoming “John Wayne-John Ford Film Collection,” but at least it features two of the Duke’s camp classics produced by Howard Hughes: “The Conqueror” (1956) and “Jet Pilot” (1957). Rounding out the two-disc set is the good-natured 1940 comedy “Seven Sinners” with Marlene Dietrich, 1941’s underwhelming “The Shepherd of the Hills,” which was Wayne’s first film in Technicolor, and the 1942 potboiler “Pittsburgh,” which also stars Dietrich and Randolph Scott.

Also new this week

“Winter Soldier” (New Yorker, $25): Emotionally overwhelming 1972 documentary that chronicled what happened when the Vietnam Veterans Against the War -- which included John Kerry -- met in a Detroit hotel on Jan. 31, 1971, to document the war crimes they either witnessed or participated in. Extras include a reunion of the filmmakers, and two 1971 shorts that also deal with the Winter Soldier investigation.

“Date Movie -- Unrated Version” (Fox, $30): Poorly reviewed spoof of such films as “Meet the Fockers” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Alyson Hannigan and Adam Campbell star. The DVD is overstuffed with extras including audition tapes; an optional laugh track; deleted, extended and alternate scenes; a Fox Movie Channel featurette; and “The Quickie,” which offers a six-minute version of the film. The three commentary tracks include one with several of the performers, who are far funnier than the movie, and an “anti-commentary” track with critics Scott Foundas, who hated the film, and Bob Strauss, who gave it a thumbs up

“Numbers -- The Complete First Season” (Paramount, $55): CBS’ popular detective series stars Rob Morrow as a special agent for the FBI who collaborates with his younger brother (David Krumholtz), a mathematical genius, to help him solve crimes. Extras include excerpts from the unaired first pilot, audition reels, an interview with the series’ Caltech math advisor, a blooper reel, a behind-the-scenes documentary and commentary on several episodes including the pilot with co-creators and co-executive producers Cheryl Heuton and Nicholas Falacci, and Morrow and Krumholtz.

“The Doris Day Special” (MPI, $15): A nostalgic 1971 CBS music-variety show that aired as “The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special.” Day sings a variety of her hits as well as songs such as the Beatles’ “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da.” Perry Como is her guest, and her frequent movie co-star, Rock Hudson, pops up in a cameo. Extras include an interview with the producer and extended scenes and outtakes.

“Oh! Calcutta”! (New Video, $27): The X-rated 1972 movie version of the long-running -- and scandalous -- erotic Broadway musical revue that featured a cast in various stages of undress. “Calcutta” has not withstood the test of time. Bill Macy, who was best known as the husband in “Maude,” stars.

“Smokey and the Bandit -- Special Edition” (Universal, $20): “Star Wars” was the No. 1 film at the box office in 1977. No. 2 was this good-old-boy action-comedy starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field and Jackie Gleason. The extras edition aren’t so special -- a passable retrospective documentary and a tutorial on Citizens Band radio.

“Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party” (www.stbpmovie.com, $25): Pleasurable 90-minute film which follows the veteran character actor -- best known as Ned Ryerson in “Groundhog Day” -- and delightful raconteur as he prepares for his birthday party.

And: “Freedomland” (Sony, $29), “Will & Grace -- Series Finale” (Lionsgate, $10) and “Night Stalker -- The Complete Series” (Buena Vista, $30).

What’s coming

June 6: “Glory Road,” “Firewall,” “Underworld: Evolution,” “The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada,” “Preaching to the Choir,” “Jesus Is Magic” and “Running Scared.”

June 13: “The Pink Panther,” “16 Blocks,” “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” “The World’s Fastest Indian,” “Aquamarine,” “Green Street Hooligans,” “A Good Woman,” “The Sisters,” “End of the Spear” and “Neil Young: Heart of Gold.”