DVD News Roundup

Lots of good DVD news in the last few days! Here are some highlights:

The 10-film Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Collection was released on July 24th. The set was reviewed by the New York Times, L.A. Times and The Deseret News.

Carrie Liz of Classic Ramblings has reviewed one of the movies in the set, LOVE IS NEWS. It sounds like a lot of fun. This may be the No. 1 set of the year for me; I love having such a large number of Power films released at once -- many of the titles are "little" films I never would have expected to see on DVD. The Amazon box containing the set was waiting for me when we arrived home this weekend, but between unpacking, a new puppy, and work already piled up waiting for me, I haven't been able to watch anything yet.

Over at The Shelf, J.C. reviewed THE BIG TRAIL and Fox Western Classics in the last few days. I've loved what I've seen of the extras in both sets thus far, and I was quite taken with RAWHIDE when I saw it last year. (My RAWHIDE review is one of my most heavily viewed posts, which is intriguing.) I was fortunate to see the Grandeur version of THE BIG TRAIL at the Los Angeles County Art Museum many years ago, and I highly recommend checking out the DVD.

BLUES IN THE NIGHT has recently been released; here's a wonderful review from DVD Times. My own review of the film, after seeing it via Turner Classic Movies, can be found here, with further comments on the DVD release here. I'm looking forward to seeing this one again on DVD.

Another great new release is the miniseries CENTENNIAL, reviewed at DVD Talk.

MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY comes to DVD on August 19th, and the DVD has already been reviewed at DVD Talk. My review of the theatrical release was posted in March.

INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, reviewed by me here, comes to DVD on November 11, 2008. It will be a two-disc set. No word yet on extras.

On the subject of INDY, fans may want to check out this column on the phrase "nuked the fridge."

Fans of classic TV can look forward to upcoming releases of THE DONNA REED SHOW (Season 1 will be released on October 28th), THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY (Season 3 will be released October 14th), and ADAM-12 (Season 2 will be released September 30th). It's been a long wait for new volumes of ADAM-12 and THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY. My kids especially love ADAM-12. I've never seen THE DONNA REED SHOW and will be checking it out.

Happy viewing!

Tuesday Update: More great retro TV news came my way today thanks to a note from J.C. Loophole of The Shelf: Ultimate Disney has announced a new addition to this year's Disney Treasures sets, ANNETTE.

ANNETTE was a Mickey Mouse Club serial which stars Annette Funicello (of course) and other Disney actors of the era, including Roberta Shore. I remember seeing reruns of ANNETTE as a child and will love having the opportunity to see it again.

I had previously read that DESTINO, originally scheduled for this year's "wave" of Disney Treasures releases, has been pushed back and may possibly be a single-title release in 2009.

My husband has been anxiously awaiting Disney's DR. SYN: ALIAS THE SCARECROW, which is another of the new batch of Disney Treasures titles. This year's third Disney Treasures release is the fourth volume of THE CHRONOLOGICAL DONALD.

The Disney Treasures will be released on November 11, 2008.