In The Balcony DVD Calendar

July 7

Callan: Set 1 (Acorn Media, $49.99) Anybody else not remember this show at all? I think it was British. Some sort of secret agent spy thing from the late ‘60s – early ‘70s, starring Edward Woodward. This set is actually culled from season 3 episodes, which were in color. Sorry, in "colour".

John Barrymore Collection (Kino, $59.95) Includes remastered editions of the silent films Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Beloved Rogue, The Tempest. All are also available separately ($24.95 each).

Get to Know Your Rabbit (Warner Archive series, $19.95) Tommy Smothers stars in this bizarre 1972 comedy from director Brian De Palma(!). The Warner Archive discs are available direct from Warners only.

Green Mansions (Warner Archive series, $19.95) Talk about your odd couple: can Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins find love in the Amazon? 1959 film directed by Mel Ferrar.

The Hard Way (Warner Archive series, $19.95) Ida Lupino and Jack Carson star in a 1943 soaper about two sisters trying to escape their small town for the glitter of show biz. I don’t think Jack plays the other sister, but I’m not sure.

How John Deere Makes Tractors (TM Books & Video, $14.95) Ummmm… WTF?!? Here’s the press release: “Our cameras were allowed in the John Deere Waterloo Works Tractor Cab and Assembly Operations in Waterloo, Iowa for an exclusive look at how John Deere makes their 7000, 8000, and 9000 series tractors. We follow the manufacturing process starting with pre-assembly, then the new, multi-million dollar robotic paint installation, cab assembly, final assembly and testing. We show the tread being installed on a track tractor plus tractors working in the field using the latest technology and pulling the newest implements.” Balconeers, I for one can scarcely conceal my enthusiasm for this project. I may go pull the newest implement myself. In any case, this is our selection for Worst DVD of the Month for July, although we reserve the right to change our minds if we watch it and discover that tractor construction is more interesting than we thought.

Juke Girl (Warner Archive series, $19.95) If you love Kings Row, well, here’s Ronnie Reagan and Ann Sheridan reunited. Reagan battles an evil land baron on behalf of poor farmers. *cough cough*

The Man I Love (Warner Archive series, $19.95) Ida Lupino stars in the 1947 Raoul Walsh musical.

The Moon is Blue (Warner Archive series, $19.95) Otto Preminger couldn’t get his stage hit past the censors, so he released this film in 1953 without the Code’s approval. David Niven and William Holden star.

Mr. Rock N Roll: The Alan Freed Story (Vivendi, $14.99) Made-for-TV movie with Judd Nelson as the legendary deejay who coined the term “Rock & Roll” and staged the first rock concerts. Oh, if only we could get a release of American Hot Wax…

Matlock: Season 3 (Paramount, $49.99) Andy Griffith solves more crimes without the aid of a nervous and incompetent deputy.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: XV (Shout! Factory, $59.99) Joel, Mike, and those smart-ass robots are back to watch Robot vs. the Aztec Mummy (1959, with the first chapter of Radar Men from the Moon), The Girl in Lover’s Lane (1959), Zombie Nightmare (1986, starring Adam West), and Racket Girls (1951, with the short Are You Ready for Marriage?).

Nora Prentiss (Warner Archive series, $19.95) Kent Smith has the hots for Ann Sheridan in this 1947 oddity, but then, who wouldn’t?

Peanuts: 1960's Collection (Warners, $29.98) Includes the first six TV specials, including A Charlie Brown Christmas; Charlie Brown's All-Stars; It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; You're in Love, Charlie Brown; He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown; and It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown. I created a macro to type “Charlie Brown” for me so don’t worry about me starring in “It’s Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Charlie Brown”.

Universal Backlot Series ($19.98) Universal can’t seem to decide what to call their vintage film DVD releases; it seems to change from year to year. Anyway, this batch includes Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936, with Henry Fonda), Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (1943, with Maria Montez & Jon Hall), Lonely are the Brave (1962, with Kirk Douglas), and Beau Geste (1939, with Gary Cooper). Beau was previously available in a Cooper boxed set.

Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (Warner Archive series, $19.95) Cult favorite from 1978 with Robert Morley as a culinary expert whose doctors order him to stop eating rich food; pretty soon, his favorite chefs start ending up dead.

July 14

1,001 Classic Commercial Collection (Mill Creek, $14.98) Hmmm… That’s roughly how many commercials are in a typical one-hour TV show these days, right?

Fulci Frenzy (Severin, $29.98) Includes The Psychic and Perversion Story. Somebody out there in Balconyland is going, “YES! YES! YES!” which scares me, a little.

Bardelys The Magnificent (Flicker Alley, $39.95) Our buds at Flicker Alley presents another “must-have” collection of silents; this time, John Gilbert is in the spotlight. Besides the 1926 classic, also includes Monte Cristo (1922) and the usual impressive array of bonus materials.

Batmania: From Comics to Screen (Film Chest, $9.95) Hey, I remember this documentary from the early days of VHS. It’s a not-bad-at-all retrospective of the various incarnations of the Caped Crusader.

Bewitched: The Complete Eighth & Final Season (Sony, $39.95) By this time, Paul Lynde was off the show, the snoopy Kravitzes were gone, guest stars were brought in to try ‘n’ prop up the sagging ratings, and Elizabeth Montgomery had dumped her husband, William Asher, for one of the show’s directors. NBC finally said screw it and dumped the show against All in the Family.

Don't Touch the White Woman! (Koch Lorber, $19.98) Okay, THIS is different: a 1974 Italian spoof on American politics, filmed in Paris, re-enacting the battle of Little Big Horn and starring Catherine Denueve and Marcello Mastroianni. Hey, I just report this stuff, not make it up. English subtitles.

For All Mankind (Criterion, $39.98 blu-ray, $29.95 DVD) Celebrated documentary on the 1960s U.S. efforts to reach the moon.

Peyton Place: Part 2 (Shout! Factory, $39.99) 33 more episodes of the popular TV primetime soap.

Rock Around the Hits (Charly, $19.95) No less than 48 performances from TV, movies, whatever from early rock ‘n’ rollers, plus a bonus CD. Also available, if you want even older stuff, Swingtime Collection: Half Past Jump Time (also $19.95).

Red Skelton, America’s Crown Prince (Timeless Media, $59.98) 30 episodes; I have to admit, I do not have fond memories of this show, mainly because my grandma used to love it (ditto Lawrence Welk) and she was one nasty, thumb-tack-chewin’ humorless ol’ cuss.

Sleepy Eyes of Death: Collector's Set, Vol. 1 (Animeigo, $79.98) Early ‘60s samurai films. Don’t ask me, I just work here.

Tales of Wells Fargo (Timeless Media, $62.99) Dale Robertson stars in the classic TV Western; 46 episodes on 6 discs.

July 21

The Donna Reed Show: The Complete Second Season (Virgil, $39.95) 38 more episodes with Dr. and Mrs. Stone and their cute kids, one of whom would sing “My Dad” and the other of whom would sing “Johnny Angel”.

The Lucy Show: The Official First Season (Paramount, $39.98) Lucy and her sidekick, Vivian Vance, returned for a new show in 1962, with Desi Arnaz as producer. The first season was 30 episodes. I remember kind of liking this show. Kind of.

Made in U.S.A. (Criterion, $29.95) Jean-Luc Godard directed this 1966 contemporary classic.

Route 66: Season 3 Vol. 1 (Infinity, $29.98) Martin Milner and George Maharis hit the road again.

Two or Three Things I Know About Her (Criterion, $29.95) Jean-Luc Godard directed this 1966 contemporary classic. Wow, ever get the feeling of déjà vu?

July 28

The 10th Victim (Blue Underground, $14.95) Cult fave from 1965 with Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress.

Becoming Charley Chase (VCI, $39.99) Charley had a long and successful career prior to his death in 1940, but sadly for many years he was unappreciated and his films were difficult to see. Here’s a collection of more than 40 silent comedies starring and/or directed by Chase, plus a wealth of bonus material. Includes several very early Chase shorts from 1915, the Jimmy Jump series with Hal Roach, later Roach-era 2-reel silents, a documentary on Chase, interview with his daughter, and much more. Our selection for Best DVD of the Month for July. What a darb!

Eagles Over London (Severin, Blu-ray $34.95, DVD $29.95) Van Johnson stars in this 1969 WWII film from Italy.

The Judy Garland Show, Vol. 1 (Classic World, $19.98) Only an hour and a half long?

The Green Hornet and The Green Hornet Strikes Again (VCI, $29.99 each). Two classic cliffhanger serials, the former from 1940 with Gordon Jones as the Hornet and Keye Luke as Kato (13 episodes), and the latter (with Warren Hull replacing Jones) from 1941 (15 episodes). Your humble but adorable Balcony webmaster contributed bonus material to the discs.

Green Lantern: First Flight (Warners, various prices) New direct-to-disc animated feature retells the origin of DC Comics’ Emerald Warrior; includes a standard edition ($19.98), 2-disc Special Edition ($24.98), and blu-ray ($29.98).

Liberace: Greatest Songs (MPI, $24.98) A 2-disc set with more than 5 hours worth of Liberace songs? That’ll hold even the most adamant of fans, no?

Repulsion (Criterion, $39.95 Blu-ray or DVD) Catherine Deneuve stars in Roman Polanki’s horror masterpiece.

Torso (Blue Underground, $14.95) This 1973 horror film seemed to be the third feature at the drive-in every weekend of my high school years.