Two of the 20th century’s most enduring icons — Humphrey Bogart and Frank Sinatra — headline DVD collections that top a list of DVD holiday gift ideas for this yuletide season.
“Humphrey Bogart: The Essential Collection” (Warner Brothers, $99.98): Any Bogie fan or lover of classic motion pictures would love to have this one. More than a half-century after his death, Bogart continues to captivate new generations.
This set includes 24 of Bogart’s finest Warner Brother films on 12 discs. The obvious ones are here such as “Casablanca” (1942), “The Maltese Falcon” (1941), “High Sierra” (1941), “To Have and Have Not” (1944), “The Big Sleep” (1946) and “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” (1948). But you’ll also find “The Petrified Forest” (1936) with Bogart in his memorable role of Duke Mantee. There is also “The Roaring Twenties” (1939), with Bogart squaring off against James Cagney.
Bonus material includes a 48-page Bogart book, set of one-sheet poster cards and the documentary “The Brothers Warner,” and each feature is accompanied by a lineup of Warner Night at the Movies short subjects.
The other movies include “Black Legion” (1937), “Marked Woman” (1937), “Kid Galahad” (1937), “San Quentin” (1937), “The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse” (1938), “Dark Victory” (1939), “Invisible Stripes” (1939), “Virginia City” (1940), “Brother Orchid” (1940), “They Drive By Night” (1940), “All Through the Night” (1941), “Across the Pacific” (1942), “Action in the North Atlantic” (1943), “Passage to Marseille” (1944), “Dark Passage” (1947) and “Key Largo” (1948).
“Frank Sinatra: Concert Collection” (Shout Factory, $79.98) includes seven discs spotlighting Ol’ Blue Eyes’ famous television specials, including “A Man and His Music” (1965) and “A Man and His Music Part II” (1966). The latter features an energetic appearance by daughter Nancy. There is also “A Man His Music with Ella Fitzgerald and Antonio Carlos Jobim” (1967).
Overall, there are 12 specials here, including the 1982 “Concert for the Americas,” released on DVD for the first time in the United States. Among the Sinatra classic songs to be heard are “I’ve Got you Under My Skin,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Come Fly With Me” and “My Way.” Of course, there are dozens more to be enjoyed.
Bonus material includes a 44-page booklet on Sinatra, other TV performances and the “Happy Holidays” TV special with Sinatra and Bing Crosby. “Concert for the Americas” is also available separately at $14.95.
The following is a checklist of other collections that will make dandy gifts to put under the Christmas tree. Those available on Blu-ray are so noted:
“Tonight: 4 Decades of the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson” (Carson Entertainment Group, $119.95): This 15-disc set includes extensive segments from 56 vintage Carson “Tonight” shows. The earliest is from Dec. 31, 1965, which features Woody Allen’s first appearance with Carson. The final entry is from April 6, 1990. Among the many featured guests are Robin Williams, Michael Landon, Billy Crystal, George Carlin, Bette Midler, Bill Clinton, Tina Turner and Bill Cosby. This set will remind you that Carson was such a class act.
“Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2” (Infinity Entertainment, $29.98): This three-disc set includes Crosby’s Christmas specials from 1961, 1962 and 1971. It also includes his final special in which he does a “Little Drummer Boy” duet with David Bowie. Still available is “The Television Specials Volume 1” (also $29.98).
“Shrek: The Whole Story Boxed Set” (DreamWorks, Blu-ray $76.99): It takes four films to tell the whole story and they include “Shrek” (2001), “Shrek 2” (2004), “Shrek the Third” (2007) and “Shrek Forever After” (2010). Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz are among those who lend their voices to the fun.
“The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Series” (Time Life/Universal, $239.95): This hit sci-fi adventure series from the 1970s finally makes it to DVD. All 100 episodes are included as well as three pilot movies and three sequel TV movies. Lee Majors stars as Col. Steve Austin, a NASA pilot whose body is smashed during a crash of an experimental space plane. The government decides he is the perfect candidate for a new experiment in bionic technology. (The series can be ordered by going to 6MDM.com.)
“The Pacific” (HBO, $79.98; Blu-ray $99.98): This 10-part miniseries explores the Asian theater of World War II through the eyes of three servicemen. From producers Tom Hanks, Steve Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, the team responsible for “Band of Brothers.”
“The World at War” (A&E, 1973, $99.95; Blu-ray $149.95): The critically acclaimed British series is now available on both standard DVD or a Blu-ray version. The series follows the unfolding of World War II from the streets of 1930s Berlin to the bloody battlefields of the 1940s. Sir Laurence Olivier narrates all 26 one-hour episodes.
“The Larry Sanders Show: The Complete Series” (Shout Factory, 1992-98, $149.99): Here are all 89 episodes in this 17-disc collection of HBO’s clever spoof of late-night talk shows and the egos that often inhabit them. Gary Shandling plays Sanders, with Rip Torn as his surly producer Artie and Jeffrey Tambor as sidekick Hank Kingsley. Among the extra are a 60-page book, a documentary on the show and deleted scenes.
“Peanuts Holiday Collection” (Warner Brothers, Blu-ray $42.98): Includes “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Also included is a standard DVD version of each special.
“Back to the Future: 25th Anniversary Trilogy” (Universal, 1985-89-90, $79.98) One of the great fun film experiences. Michael J. Fox plays Marty McFly, who gets hooked with Professor Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and his time travel machine. Together they travel from 1885 to 2015.
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