There are few things in life as joyful as sitting down to watch a beloved film. This week’s new DVD and Blu-ray releases offer up plenty of those, packed with Hollywood legends past and present, talents whose works on screen will last forever. We think you’ll enjoy the star-packed offerings included below…just don’t blame us if you don’t have time to watch all of the great titles that are now available!
Bruce Lee: His Greatest Hits (Criterion Collection)
Seven-disc set includes The Big Boss (Fists of Fury) (1971), Fist of Fury (The Chinese Connection) (1972), Way of the Dragon (Return of the Dragon) (1972), Enter the Dragon (1973), and Game of Death (1978).
A Day at the Races (1937)
Anyone for a tootsi-fruitsi ice cream? Side-splitting Marx Brothers comedy has horse doctor Hugo Z. Hackenbush (Groucho) trying to keep Judy Standish’s (Maureen O’Sullivan) sanitarium from foreclosure while dealing with her hypochondriac–and only paying–client (Margaret Dumont). When the boys decide to enter an also-run nag in a race with a big payoff, will they save the day or just wind up horsing around? With Chico Marx, Harpo Marx, Allan Jones.
Room Service (1938)
Broadway producer Gordon Miller (Groucho Marx) and his cohorts (Chico Marx, Harpo Marx) had a great play in hand. They also had no cash, no backer in sight, and a cast and crew racking up an enormous hotel bill. Their zany efforts to keep the creditors at arm’s length through opening night fuel this adaptation of the hit stage farce. The Marxes’ sole RKO effort–and only screen vehicle not expressly written for them–also stars Lucille Ball, Ann Miller, Frank Albertson, Donald MacBride.
At the Circus (1939)
When struggling circus promoter Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker) is about to have his tent folded by underhanded creditors, carnies Tony (Chico Marx) and Punchy (Harpo Marx)recruit shyster attorney J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho Marx) for the bailout–including some sweet talk for Wilson’s loaded, disowning aunt (Margaret Dumont). Marx madness marked by Groucho’s rendition of “Lydia the Tattooed Lady” also stars Florence Rice, Eve Arden, Nat Pendleton, Jerry Maren.
My Favorite Wife (1940)
Hilarious screwball turnaround of Tennyson’s poem “Enoch Arden” stars Cary Grant as Nick Arden, a lawyer who has his wife Ellen (Irene Dunne) declared legally dead seven years after she was lost at sea. Nick marries the lovely Bianca (Gail Patrick) but gets the surprise of his life when Ellen–who had been shipwrecked with the handsome Stephen (Randolph Scott)–shows up on his honeymoon, forcing him to choose between two wives. With Ann Shoemaker, Scotty Beckett.
The Lady Eve (Criterion Collection)(1941)
Preston Sturges’ engaging and vivacious romantic comedy stars Barbara Stanwyck as Jean Harrington, a con artist who falls in love with her latest mark, gullible millionaire Charles Pike (Henry Fonda). But when her gold-digging ways are exposed and she’s kicked to the curb, Jean masquerades as the upscale Lady Eve Sidwich and returns to make Pike’s life miserable. William Demarest, Charles Coburn, and Eugene Pallette provide fine support.
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941)
For his final starring vehicle, W.C. Fields slipped the studio reins and portrayed a fictionalized version of himself, as he delivers a bizarre screenplay pitch to his less than amused producer (Franklin Pangborn). Can his rising star soprano niece (Gloria Jean) bail him out before the career damage is permanent? Surreal hodgepodge of sight gags, situation farce, and industry sniping in the Fieldsian manner also stars Margaret Dumont, Leon Errol, Anne Nagel.
The Paleface (1948)
Bob Hope is “Painless” Potter, a daffy dentist and a shaky gun. Jane Russell is gorgeous gunslinger Calamity Jane, who marries Potter while she works undercover to find out who’s been selling guns to the Indians. When Jane gives him credit for her sharpshooting during a dangerous showdown, the inept Potter finds himself hailed as an unlikely–and reluctant–hero. Robert Armstrong, Iris Adrian also star. Features the Oscar-winning song “Buttons and Bows.”
Pride and Prejudice (1940)
Lavish M-G-M filming of the Jane Austen classic depicts the trials of the matriarch of the wealthy Bennet family as she tries to find suitable husbands for her five daughters in 18th-century England. The biggest challenge comes from iron-willed Elizabeth (Greer Garson), who must fight off her attraction to the well-to-do yet unrefined Mr. Darcy (Laurence Olivier). Mary Boland, Edna Mae Oliver, Maureen O’Sullivan, Edmund Gwenn also star.
LEGO DC Shazam! Magic and Monsters (2020)
What kid wouldn’t want to be a member of the Justice League? Ten-year-old Billy Batson gets that chance (well, at least his adult superhero alter ego does) when he’s recruited to join the likes of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and has to fight such supervillains as Mister Mind and Black Adam. Billy will learn some valuable lessons about trust along the way as he’ll have to reveal his secret identity to his new teammates. Action-packed Lego DC adventure features the voices of Sean Astin, Troy Baker, Grey Griffin.
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands (1948)
Fleeing through the London streets after a fatal bar fight, short-fused American vet Bill Saunders (Burt Lancaster) invades the flat of war widow nurse Jane Wharton (Joan Fontaine). The hostage ultimately has her sympathies won by the troubled soldier, and her willing shelter ultimately blossoms into something more…but will his temper–and his past–wind up compromising any chance they have at happiness? Noirish drama co-stars Robert Newton, Jay Novello, Lewis L. Russell.
Straight Shooting (1917)
John Ford’s first feature directing credit came with this silent western starring Harry Carey as Cheyenne Harry, a hired gun paid by a corrupt rancher (Duke Lee) to help run off a farm family, but who has a change of heart when he comes to know the clan’s lovely daughter (Molly Malone). When the black hats’ campaign of intimidation turns deadly, Harry takes his firearms over to the side of justice. George Berrell, Hoot Gibson also star.
Split Second (1992)
This action-packed sci-fi thriller stars Rutger Hauer as Harley Stone, a tough cop working in a futuristic (well, 2008) London that’s been flooded due to melting polar ice caps. Stone will have to bring out the big guns when he embarks on a personal mission to stop the deadly alien creature that killed his partner and kidnapped his girlfriend (Kim Cattrall). Alastair Duncan, Michael J. Pollard, Pete Postlethwaite also star.
Calcutta (1946)
In Calcutta, American cargo pilots Neale Gordon (Alan Ladd) and Pedro Blake (William Bendix) are informed that friend and fellow flyer Bill Cunningham is dead, having been violently strangled. As the two airmen try to find the killer, Gordon begins to fall for Cunningham’s beautiful fiancée (Gail Russell), even though he suspects she may be involved in his buddy’s murder. June Duprez, Lowell Gilmore also star in this taut noirish drama.
To End All Wars (Director’s Cut)(2001)
Riveting World War II drama, based on actual events, centers on a British regiment that is captured by the Japanese and used as slave labor to build a railroad through the Burmese jungle. As the days wear on, the troops become divided when some agree to help a determined major (Robert Carlyle) plan an escape while others follow a religious captain (Ciarán McMenamin) in his quest for spiritual enlightenment. Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Strong, Sakae Kimura also star.
12 Monkeys: The Complete Series
Based on the hit film, this dark and gritty 2015-2018 Syfy series follows James Cole (Aaron Stanford) as he travels back in time from the year 2043. In the present, he must prevent a future where a mysterious organization called “The Army of the Twelve Monkeys” releases a deadly virus that wipes out over 90% of the world’s population. Helping James in his life-or-death mission are virologist Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull) and math whiz Jennifer Goines (Emily Hampshire). With Kirk Acevedo, Noah Bean. All 47 episodes of the series are featured in this eight-disc set.
The Magicians: The Complete Series
Debuting on SyFy in 2015, this exciting fantasy series is based on the popular novel by Lev Grossman. When Quentin Coldwater (Jason Ralph) is accepted at Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, he finds himself thrust into a wondrous and dangerous world he believed only existed in the pages of the books he read as a child. While Quentin trains in the ways of magic, his friend Julia Wicker (Stella Maeve) studies with a strange secret society after being rejected by Brakebills. With Olivia Taylor Dudley, Arjun Gupta, Hale Appleman, Summer Bishil. All 65 episodes of the series are featured in this 15-disc set.
Day of the Warrior (1996)
When information regarding the secret L.E.T.H.A.L. agency leaks out, commander Willow Black (Julie Strain) and assistant Tiger (Shae Marks) attempt to retrieve the agents out in the field who are on the trail of a former CIA operative/pro wrestler/international smuggler named Warrior (Marcus Bagwell). Classic “BBB” sizzler from director Andy Sidaris includes all the bosoms and bloodshed fans are accustomed to. Co-stars Julie K. Smith, Cristian Letelier.
Return to Savage Beach (1998)
Andy Sidaris scores again with a sex-and-shoot saga in which agent Willow Black (Penthouse Pet Julie Strain) leads the L.E.T.H.A.L. force of curvaceous colleagues in a mission to find a coveted computer disk containing secrets pertaining to the location of a hidden treasure trove. Final Sidaris Triple-B co-stars Julie K. Smith, Cristian Letelier, Shae Marks, Carrie Westcott, and Marcus Bagwell as Warrior.
Love in the Sun (2019)
Returning to her Florida hometown for the first time since her mother died five years earlier, dating app creator Alana (Emeraude Toubia) learns that her father plans to sell the family inn. While trying to change her dad’s mind, Alana begins to reconnect with high school boyfriend Kai (Tom Maden)…which could pose a problem when fiancé Evan (John William Wright) shows up in town. What’s a girl to do? Sweet Hallmark original co-stars Shawn Christian, Betsy Grave.
For a complete run down of all of this week’s new Blu-rays and DVDs, click here.