From a Gary Cooper favorite to iconic Hanna-Barbera cartoons, this week’s new releases have it all. We think you’ll really enjoy the great titles that are ready and waiting to become a part of your home viewing library!
Sergeant York (1941)
In his Academy Award-winning role, Gary Cooper portrays Alvin York, the real-life unassuming Tennessee farmer who, after first filing as a conscientious objector, went on to become one of the most decorated American soldiers of World War I. Single-handedly securing a German position during the Battle of the Argonne Forest, and taking 132 prisoners, York would go on to win the Medal of Honor and become a national hero. Also stars Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, Joan Leslie; Howard Hawks directs.
The Flintstones: The Complete Series
Prime-time television’s first animated sitcom, which took the basic structure of “The Honeymooners” and planted it in prehistoric times, follows the adventures of “modern Stone Age family” Fred and Wilma Flintstone and neighbors Barney and Betty Rubble. This mammoth hit from Hanna-Barbera aired on ABC from 1960 to 1966, and featured the voices of Alan Reed, Mel Blanc, Jean Vander Pyl, Bea Benaderet, and Don Messick. 166 episodes and the feature films “The Man Called Flintstone” (1966), “The Flintstones And WWE: Stone Age Smackdown!” (2015) are featured on 10 discs.
The Jetsons: The Complete Series
After “The Flintstones,” Hanna-Barbera’s next animated look at family life took audiences into a 21st century of flying cars, food pills, and other futuristic wonders, as seen through the eyes of harried space sprockets worker George Jetson (voiced by George O’Hanlon); his boy Elroy (Daws Butler); daughter Judy (Janet Waldo); Jane (Penny Singleton), his wife; family dog, Astro (Don Messick); and Rosey (Jean Vander Pyl) the robot maid. Originally airing from 1962-63, the series returned in a slightly revamped version from 1985-87. All 75 episodes and the feature film “The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones” (1987) are included in this eight-disc collection.
Claudine (Criterion Collection)(1974)
Single Harlem mother Claudine Price (Diahann Carroll) was struggling to provide for her six children when she found herself reciprocating the romantic attentions of amiable garbageman Roop Marshall (James Earl Jones). Between the resentments of her kids and their respective financial hardships, will they be able to make it work? Funny and touching comedy-drama marked by a Curtis Mayfield-written, Gladys Knight-performed score co-stars Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Tamu, Yvette Curtis, Adam Wade.
Picnic (1955)
Superb adaptation of William Inge’s play stars William Holden as handsome but aimless drifter Hal Carter, who makes a Labor Day weekend stop in the small Kansas town of rich college buddy Alan Benson (Cliff Robertson). Once there, he becomes involved with Alan’s gorgeous fiancée Madge, (Kim Novak) while his presence stirs up passions within Madge’s mother (Betty Field), insecure bookworm sister (Susan Strasberg), and repressed schoolteacher boarder (Rosalind Russell).
El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)
Set after the events of the hit TV series, this follow-up film focuses on meth cooker Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and his attempts to put his criminal past in the rear view mirror. That proves to be easier said than done, however, as Jesse’s efforts to come up with the cash he needs to procure a new identity are intercut with revealing flashbacks to what set him on this path. With Jesse Plemons, Krysten Ritter, Robert Forster, Jonathan Banks, Charles Baker, Matt Jones, and Bryan Cranston.
Grant (2020)
Airing on History, this gripping three-part docuseries focuses on Civil War hero and U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. Grant (Justin Salinger) distinguishes himself as a capable general, becoming President Lincoln’s (Carel Nel) most trusted officer on Grant’s road to victory in the War Between the States, and, eventually, the White House. Also features historical analysis and breathtaking archival photos. With Francis Chouler, Gabriel Harry Meltz.
Navajo (1952)
Unusual documentary-like film, shot on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona with a predominately Native American cast, tells the story of embittered seven-year-old Son of the Hunter (Francis Kee Teller), left alone after his family perished and resentfully attending government school. Caught playing hooky by two of his instructors, he makes a fateful flight into the canyons. Hall Bartlett, Billy Draper co-star; Sammy Ogg narrates.
Reversal of Fortune (1990)
Jeremy Irons won a Best Actor Oscar for his icy portrayal of Claus von Bulow, the Danish-born social-climbing playboy convicted of the attempted murder of his American heiress wife, Sunny, with an overdose of insulin, which put her in a coma. Glenn Close is the drug-addicted spouse, and Ron Silver is von Bulow’s appellate attorney, Alan Dershowitz, in this fascinating drama laced with acid humor and moral ambiguity. Barbet Schroeder directs this adaptation of Dershowitz’s book.
Hollywood Vice Squad (1986)
The seamy underbelly of L.A. after dark is the setting for director Penelope Spheeris’ gritty police drama. A mother’s (Trish Van Devere) search for her runaway teenage daughter (Robin Wright, in her film debut) leads her to a sleazy “escort” service, a rookie cop (Carrie Fisher) tries to bust up an underage pornography operation, and the other members of the vice squad battle illegal gambling and prostitution. With Ronny Cox, Frank Gorshin, Leon Isaac Kennedy.
Van der Valk (Masterpiece)(2020)
Airing in 2020 on ITV as three feature-length mysteries, this gripping remake of the ‘70s/’90s British crime series features Marc Warren taking over the role of Dutch police detective Piet van der Valk. First, van der Valk investigates two apparently unrelated killings, in “Love in Amsterdam.” A case that could occur “Only in Amsterdam” involves erotica, nuns, and a drug clinic. And, “Death in Amsterdam” finds van der Valk looking into a fashion vlogger’s murder after it’s shown live online. Maimie McCoy, Luke Allen-Gale, Elliot Barnes-Worrell co-star.
Batmam: Death in the Family (2020)
Based on the popular 1988 four-issue comic series–which allowed readers to vote on whether Jason Todd’s Robin would live or die–this interactive animated adventure follows suit, featuring three possible endings for the viewer to choose from. Will Robin be savagely murdered by the Joker, will he survive, or will he be rescued by Batman? You decide! Follow-up to “Batman: Under the Red Hood” features the voices of Bruce Greenwood, Gary Cole, John DiMaggio, Vincent Martella.
The Doorman (2020)
A former Marine officer (Ruby Rose) thought she’d be leaving the trauma of her combat service behind when she took the porter’s position at a historic Manhattan apartment building. However, she’ll have a lot more on her plate than hailing taxis, after a ruthless thief (Jean Reno)–looking for art treasures said to hidden in the premises’ walls–has a pack of armed mercenaries storm the gates. Crackling thriller also stars Rupert Evans, Louis Mandylor, Aksel Hennie, David Sakurai.
Panther Squad (1984)
An environmental terrorist group known as Clean Space wants to end all forms of space exploration, and they’ll stop at nothing to see that their goals are realized. Now, it’s up to the Panther Squad–a team of beautiful, shapely, scantily-clad commandos led by the gorgeous Ilona (Sybil Danning)–to stand up against these nefarious villains. Jack Taylor, Karin Schubert, Jean-René Gossart co-star in this French/Belgian/Spanish actioner.
The Unfamiliar (2020)
Returned home from her field service in Afghanistan, British army doctor Izzy Cormack (Jemima West) couldn’t shake the sensation that the behavior of her cultural researcher husband (Christopher Dane) and teenage stepkids (Rebecca Hanssen, Harry McMillan-Hunt) was somehow off. Are her ever-more disturbing perceptions the result of PTSD–or is there something unholy at work? Effective shocker co-stars Rachel Lin, Tori Butler-Hart.
New Blood (1999)
In this offbeat crime drama, a botched kidnapping scheme leaves petty crook Danny White (Nick Moran) mortally wounded. With no one else to turn to, he visits estranged father Alan (John Hurt) and makes a bizarre bargain: in exchange for Danny donating his heart to save his terminally ill sister, Alan will pose as the abducted businessman Danny and his pals accidentally killed. Carrie-Anne Moss, Shawn Wayans, Joe Pantoliano also star.
Terror in the Aisles (1984)
Spend 84 horrifying minutes with the scariest moments in screen history. This compilation includes clips from “Halloween,” “Poltergeist,” “When a Stranger Calls,” “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” “Friday the 13th,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Alien,” “The Howling,” “The Omen,” Hitchcock favorites, and more! Donald Pleasence and Nancy Allen host the shocking array of gore, scares, and screams.
Golda’s Balcony (2007)
Valerie Harper delivers a stunning one-woman effort as Golda Meir and dozens of peripheral roles in this captured performance of the William Gibson stage play, chronicling the Israeli Prime Minister’s storied life. Centering on the 1973 Yom Kippur War and set at “Golda’s Balcony,” the viewing station within the nuclear testing facility at Dimona, the brinkmanship that drove the U.S. and U.N to broker a cease-fire is remarkably dramatized. Jeremy Kagan directs.
Cresendo (2019)
World-renowned conductor Eduard Sporck (Peter Simonischek) wasn’t one to back down from a challenge–even one as daunting as forming and training a combined Israeli-Palestinian youth orchestra. Will leaning on his skills and own complicated history be enough to overcome the ingrained and bitter mutual resentments of his charges and have them find harmony? Fact-inspired effort also stars Bibiana Beglau, Daniel Donskoy, Sabrina Amali, Mehdi Meskar.
Dr. Jekyll vs. the Werewolf (1972)
Paul Naschy returns as Count Waldemar Daninsky, marked with the sign of the wolf and desperate for a cure. Dr. Henry Jekyll (Jack Taylor), a descendant of the infamous doc, offers Waldemar one, but he winds up swapping his feral alter ego for one only slightly less hirsute and just as inhuman–the cruel Mr. Hyde. Spanish shocker co-stars Shirley Corrigan, Mirta Miller, José Marco.
Warning from Space (1956)
Great special effects highlight this Japanese sci-fi film about friendly, starfish-shaped aliens who visit Earth to prevent a collision with a fiery renegade planet. With humanity too paralyzed by fear to heed the warnings, one of the extraterrestrials attempts to convey the cautionary message by taking on the appearance of a female pop star. Keizo Kawasaki, Toyomi Karita star. AKA: “The Mysterious Satellite.”
A Christmas Duet (2019)
After their pop-singing partnership crested with a yuletide hit, Averie Davis (Chaley Rose) and Jessie Collins (Rome Flynn) had a bitter professional and personal split. She hung it up to run a Vermont country inn, while he took to the road as a less successful solo. As she struggles to juggle the seasonal rush, he unexpectedly checks in—bearing, maybe, the gift of harmonious reunion. Tuneful Hallmark treasure co-stars Chiara Zanni, Lane Edwards, Brenda Crichlow, Teryl Rothery.
Double Holiday (2019)
Promotion-craving cubicle mates Rebecca Hoffman (Carly Pope) and Chris Coulter (Kristoffer Polaha) were jointly tasked with salvaging the upcoming office holiday party–and each was bringing a different cultural perspective to the table. As Chris gives a surprising assist for Rebecca’s family Chanukah prep, will the competitive co-workers start seeing each other in a new–and possibly romantic–light? Festive Hallmark effort co-stars Barbara Eve Harris, Chad Connell, Paulino Nunes.
Space Ghost & Dino Boy: The Complete Series
Hanna-Barbera’s first superhero cartoon featured the interplanetary exploits of the mysterious “Space Ghost” (voiced by Gary Owens), who used his power bands to battle evildoers with help from young sidekicks Jan (Ginny Tyler) and Jace (Tim Matheson) and their pet monkey Blip. “Dino Boy in the Lost Valley” follows a youngster’s (John David Carson) exploits in a primeval world where he’s befriended by Ugh the caveman and pet brontosaurus Bronty. Other voices include Don Messick, Ted Cassidy, Keye Luke. All 20 episodes from the show are featured in this two-disc set.
Click here for a complete overview of all of this week’s new releases!