New on DVD

"The Brat Pack Movies & Music Collection"
Tucked within this collection's imaginative DVD case, a faux denim-wrapped three-ringed binder suitable for old-school tweens impervious to middle-school sniggers, are three DVDs--1984's "Sixteen Candles," 1985's "The Breakfast Club" and 1985's "Weird Science." If you remember those fondly, this might just be the throwback DVD for you. Sure, hardcore Brat Pack fans will bemoan the fact that "St. Elmo's Fire" isn’t among the offerings, thus cheating them of watching Demi Moore snort rails of cocaine when she was Ashton Kutcher's age. Still, as corny as the movies were and remain, they nevertheless got the vibe of high school in the 1980s right. For a time, it really was all about Molly Ringwald, her red curls and her impossible pout. Missing here is commentary from cast and crew (just imagine the awkward banter, the sidelong glances, the recognition of what they wrought in their youth), but included is a music CD with eight songs, from Simple Mind’s “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” to Spandau Ballet’s “True” to Oingo Boingo’s “Weird Science,” which pretty sums it up for how these kids stayed afloat for as long as they did. Grade: B-

"The Dick Cavett Show--Comic Legends"
From the Shout! Factory, a terrific collection, with Dick Cavett interviewing a who's who of popular throwbacks--Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx, Jack Benny, Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, Truman Capote, a host of others. The interviews can be heated one moment, funny the next; the key is Cavett's calculating mind, with Cavett's delivery reminding you of Bob Newhart. The Capote interview alone doesn't so much reveal much about the writer as it does about Groucho Marx, who bullies the camera for screen time, thus almost robbing Capote, of all people, of his own time on camera. Their barbed exchanges toward the end are priceless. The show is television at its best, with Cavett coolly and methodically getting to the heart of each personality. He's more than willing to shut up and listen, a trait nearly lost today. He's also happy to let his guests be themselves. Since many were his friends, what the interviews reveal are flashes of the real person beneath the celebrity. It's those moments that are invaluable. Grade: A

“Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 3”
As distinctly American as jazz. During its heyday in the 1940s-1950s, the noir movement dominated American pop culture, rivaling the outlaw toughness of the Western, the darkness of the Gothic. The films of the era were urban and racy--the dialogue snapped, sex underscored the sleaze, blood soaked the pavements. All boil together in this fine collection from Warner, which showcases five films--1949’s “Border Incident,” with Ricardo Montalban; 1951’s “His Kind of Woman,” with Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell and Vincent Price; 1946’s “Lady in the Lake,” with Robert Montgomery; 1952’s “On Dangerous Ground,” with Ida Lupino; and from 1951, “The Racket,” with Mitchum again and a commentary by film historian Eddie Mueller. The additional bonus disc includes the worthwhile documentary, “Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light,” as well as several shorts, the highlight of which is “Woman in Hiding.” Grade: A-

"The Glamour Collections"
From Universal, three women, three collections, 15 movies--"The Marlene Dietrich Glamour Collection," "The Mae West Glamour Collection," "The Carole Lombard Glamour Collection." Each is a must. In "Dietrich," some fine films are assembled, including "Morocco," "Blonde Venus," "The Devil is a Woman," "Flame of New Orleans" and "Golden Earrings." For West, look for "Go West Young Man," "Goin' to Town," 'I'm No Angel," "My Little Chickadee" and "Night After Night." In "Lombard," slapstick is key in the movies "Hands Across the Table," "Love Before Breakfast," "Man of the World," "The Princess Comes Across," "True Confessions" and "We're Not Dancing." Thing is, all three of these women were dancing, with some scenes in these collections proving so memorable, they've become iconic. In "Morocco," for example, Dietrich dons a tux with tails and bends to kiss a woman, which caused a sensation upon the film's 1930 release. In "Blonde Venus," she appears in a monkey suit to sing "Hot Voodoo," and strips to reveal the sort of glamour for which she was known (Madonna learned plenty from her). For West, all she has to do is put a hand on her hip, flash her eyes and screw up her face, and she gets a laugh. It's the surprise that comes out of her mouth, however, that sends you over the edge. Grade: A

“James Stewart Signature Collection”
If you’re going to call your collection of films a signature collection, it's probably best to give consumers a signature collection. Otherwise, just call it what it is--a collection--which is what Warner really has on their hands with their “James Stewart Signature Collection.” While the six movies collected here are fine--1953’s “The Naked Spur,” 1957’s “The Spirit of St. Louis,” 1959’s “The FBI Story,” 1970’s “The Cheyenne Social Club,” 1949’s “The Stratton Story” and 1968’s “Firecreek” all are featured--any Stewart fan is going to be curious as to how “Vertigo,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Rear Window,” “The Philadelphia Story,” “Rope” and especially “It’s a Wonderful Life” got left off the list. Short answer? With the exception of “Philadelphia,” other studios own the rights to those films, which, if collected, would have given us the significant signature this collection lacks. Grade: B-