A warning to readers: The first Christmas DVD of the year came out last week (September wasn't even over yet!) and is included in this collection of reviews. Sorry about that. But we'll begin with Disney's "Cinderella," which might take the edge off.
"Cinderella" (Disney, 1950, G, $29.99, two discs). Some movies never seem to lose their charm, and that's certainly true of Disney's greatest animated classics — "Pinocchio," "Dumbo," "Bambi," "Fantasia," "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" . . . and, of course, "Cinderella."
This wonderfully textured retelling of the frequently filmed fairy tale is every bit as enchanting as it was 55 years ago. The basic story is fleshed-out with Disney's knack for creating humorous animal sidekicks, in this case the helpful mice.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurettes, deleted scenes, deleted songs, storyboards, TV excerpt (with Perry Como), vintage radio-show excerpts, art galleries, trailers, interactive games, "Cinderella Stories" (ESPN sports stories hosted by Joe Namath: 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, North Carolina State's 1983 NCAA victory, Venus and Serena Williams, Kirk Gibson's 1988 World Series Home Run, Villanova's 1985 NCAA victory, Lance Armstrong), language options (English, French, Spanish); DVD-ROM applications.
"Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites, Volume 8: Holiday Celebration With Mickey & Pals" (Disney, 1932-51, not rated, $14.99).
"Walt Disney's Classic Cartoon Favorites, Volume 9: Classic Holiday Stories" (Disney, 1952-83, not rated, $14.99). Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Chip 'n' Dale, Minnie, Daisy, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Pluto and all the gang are on hand in a bevy of holiday-themed classic short cartoons on these two discs.
The "Holiday Celebration" includes the shorts "Mickey's Good Deed" (1932), "Peculiar Penguins" (1934), "Lend a Paw" (1941), "The Clock Watcher" (1945), "Rescue Dog" (1947), "Toy Tinkers" (1949) and "Corn Chips" (1951).
The "Classic Holiday" disc has the short "Pluto's Christmas Tree" (1952), and the featurettes (roughly 30 minutes each) "The Small One" (1978), about the donkey that will eventually carry Mary into Bethlehem, and "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983), the Disney version of Charles Dickens' classic tale.
Extras: Full frame, 10 episodes (seven on "8" and three on "9"), trailers, language options (English, French), chapters.
"The Parent Trap"/"The Parent Trap II" (Disney, 1961/1986, G/not rated, $19.98, two discs). "The Parent Trap" has been on DVD before, in a double-disc set with loads of bonus features. Some of those extras are here, too, and the film remains a charming comedy about identical twins (both played wonderfully by Hayley Mills) who switch places to reunite their divorced parents (Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith).
"The Parent Trap II" is a TV sequel, with Mills now playing the twins as adults. One of them is a single mother with a daughter who recruits her aunt to help play matchmaker. (Mills also starred in two subsequent TV sequels.)
Extras: Making-of featurettes, music video, photo galleries, audio archives, trailers, TV spots, subtitle options (English, Spanish, French) chapters. (Plus audio-soundtrack CD in a DVD box.)
"Oliver! DVD/CD Gift Set" (Sony, 1968, G, $19.94, double-sided DVD disc plus audio disc). This DVD reissue of the classic musical version of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist" — which comes out in time to coincide with the more serious Roman Polanski film that just opened in theaters — is a bit overblown but remains a delightful romp. Parents should be advised, however, that, despite the G rating, the film gets quite dark in places. (The audio CD comes in a separate DVD-size box.)
Extras: Widescreen, making-of featurette, photo gallery, language and subtitle options (English, French), chapters.
"Warren Miller's Impact" (Shout ! 2004, not rated, $19.98).
"Warren Miller's Fifty" (Shout! 1999, not rated, $19.98).
"Warren Miller's Riders Collection" (Shout! 1996-98, not rated, $34.98, three discs). More Warren Miller ski films (and bloopers), some of which are new to DVD — and, of course, some of the ski and snowboarding scenes were filmed here in Utah.
"Impact" was Miller's theatrical offering last winter, "Fifty" is a compendium of some of Miller's best footage from the past half-century, and the "Riders Collection" box set contains three discs: "Freeriders — Hang On," "Snowriders" and "Snowriders 2," all with emphasis on wild stunts.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurettes, deleted scenes (on "Impact"), video fireplace (on "Impact"), trailer (on "Fifty"), chapters.
"Danny the Dinosaur . . . and more friendly 'monster' stories." (Scholastic, 2005, not rated, $14.95).
"Bear Snores On . . . and more stories to celebrate the seasons." (Scholastic, 2005, not rated, $14.95). "Danny the Dinosaur" features the title story, plus "The Island of the Skog," "The Beast of Monsieur Racine," "Here Comes the Cat!" and "Stanley and the Dinosaurs." "Bear Snores On" includes the title story, as well as "Waiting for Wings," "Come On, Rain!" "Snow Cat" and "Time of Wonder."
Extras: Full frame, 10 episodes (five on each disc), read-along, chapters.
"The Shushybye Dream Band Live on Tour" (WGBH, 2005, not rated, $14.95). This 50-minute live concert for preschoolers features 17 original songs performed by a seven-piece band, with onstage computer-animated appearances by the Shushies characters.
Extras: Full frame, chapters. (If you can't find this title in a local store, it can be ordered by phone at 800-949-8670, or on the Web at shop.wgbh.org.)
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com