Another turn in the ‘Labyrinth’

The Life After: Perhaps the most imaginative and magical import from Mexico last year was Guillermo del Toro’s gothic fairy tale, “Pan’s Labyrinth,” which weaves its spell on DVD starting Tuesday.

When the film premiered last May at Cannes, it received a 22-minute standing ovation. The accolades continued when it opened in the U.S. in late December to lavish praise.

Though it lost the best foreign-language film Oscar to Germany’s haunting “The Lives of Others,” “Pan’s” received three Academy Awards in February for achievements in cinematography, makeup and art direction.

Del Toro is about to start production on a sequel to his 2004 hit, “Hellboy.” And Doug Jones, the lanky actor who played Pan as well as the vicious Pale Man in the movie, will be reprising his role in “Hellboy” as Abe Sapien. He also will be seen as the Silver Surfer in the sequel to “The Fantastic Four,” opening next month.

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4077th’s send-off

The Long Goodbye: On Feb 28, 1983 -- long before the mega-channel cable universe scattered viewers -- CBS aired the finale of its long-running war-is-hell comedy series “MASH.”

The 2 1/2 -hour episode -- “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” -- was viewed by some 106 million Americans -- 77% of the TV viewership that Monday evening. Even 24 years later, it stands as the most-watched episode of any series in the annals of TV.

The episode was already released on the Season 11 set of “MASH” but arrives as a stand-alone three-disc set on Tuesday. Extras include documentaries, archival interviews, a look at the final day of production, an unproduced episode script and the retrospective “MASH: 30th Anniversary Reunion.”

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‘Becket’ is reborn

Acting Lions: One of Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton’s best films, 1964’s “Becket” had been unseen since its initial theatrical release due to rights and restoration problems. But the Academy Film Archive recently restored the historical epic to its original glory: “Becket” even enjoyed a short theatrical run earlier this year just as O’Toole was in contention for an Oscar for “Venus.”

Now it arrives on Tuesday on DVD with commentary from the always colorful O’Toole.

Based on the play, “Becket” revolves around the friendship between the melliferous-voiced, womanizing Henry II (O’Toole) of England and his equally baby-blued, sonorous-toned carousing buddy and personal advisor Thomas a Becket (Burton).

When the Catholic Church refuses to give Henry II money to fight his battle with France, the randy monarch makes Becket his chancellor of England. They lock horns -- with Becket eventually losing his life -- when Henry asks for Becket’s mistress as payment for a former favor.

Nominated for 12 Oscars including best picture, director (Peter Glenville), actor (O’Toole and Burton) and supporting actor (John Gielgud), “Becket” picked up an Academy Award for Edward Anhalt’s screenplay.

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You too can tango

Two-step: Len Goodman, the argumentative, acerbic British judge on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars,” tangos into the DVD market with his instruction video, “Dance With Len Goodman.”

The erudite Goodman offers lessons on eight dances, including the quick step, the cha-cha, the tango, the waltz, the samba, the foxtrot and jive. The disc also features eight bonus music tracks so the budding ballroom dancer can bust a move.

-- Susan King