After hitting it big in "The Shining," Shelley Duvall parlayed her success into producing a series of witty adaptations of folklore and fairy tales for a couple of mid-1980s series on the Showtime cable channel.
Now, some episodes of the second series, "Tall Tales & Legends," are on DVD for the first time, along with several other family-friendly shows.
"Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales & Legends: Johnny Appleseed" (Koch, 1987, not rated, $14.98).
"Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales & Legends: Darlin' Clementine" (Koch, 1987, not rated, $14.98).
"Shelley Duvall's Tall Tales & Legends: John Henry" (Koch, 1987, not rated, $14.98).
Duvall's first series was "Faerie Tale Theatre," which ran for five years, then she came up with "Tall Tales & Legends," following a similar format — an all-star cast in hourlong comic adaptations of familiar folk tales that would appeal to children, but which parents could also enjoy.
This series isn't quite up to the supreme wit of "Faerie Tale Theatre," but it's still fun, and these three episodes are fine examples (Duvall introduces each show, while others narrate the proceedings).
— Martin Short stars as the offbeat "Johnny Appleseed," a goofball wanderer who wears a cooking pot on his head and travels the country planting apple orchards. To flesh out the story, there's also a conflict with evil Rob Reiner and romance with his niece, played by Molly Ringwald. Favorite moment: Indian scouts trying to figure out what the crazy white man with the pot on his head is doing.
— "Darlin' Clementine" stars Duvall, who is delightful in the title role, a ghostly figure whose story is told in flashback. She's the only woman in a mining camp, where her father (Edward Asner) and others (including Gordon Jump, and a pre-"Seinfeld" Michael Richards) are panning for gold. Levi Strauss (David Dukes) romances her, but Clementine's father promises her to a burly mountain man. Randy Newman sings the familiar title song and narrates the proceedings.
— Danny Glover is also excellent as "John Henry," of railroad-spike-driving fame. To flesh out the story, John is a slave and his best friend is an Irish indentured servant (Tom Hulce). Upon their release, they get work together on the rail line, and John falls for another spike-driver's girl (Lynn Whitfield). This one has more poignancy and romance than the others, but it also mixes in plenty of funny business.
These are theatrical in tone, with a mix of outdoor locations and obvious sets, and a wry sense of humor. And while they are aimed at youngsters, there's enough smart humor to keep the attention of older siblings and parents.
Extras: Full frame, chapters.
"Full House: The Complete First Season" (Warner, 1987-88, not rated, $29.98, four discs). Corny sitcom about a widower (Bob Saget) whose brother (John Stamos) and best friend (Dave Coulier) move in to help him raise the kids — who include a baby played by both Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen! Fans of this '80s series will be in heaven, of course, and for others it's OK in short bursts. The most interesting element here is the original pilot, virtually the same as the first episode that aired, but with another actor in the Sagat role!
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes, unaired pilot, audio commentary (on two episodes by creator Jeff Franklin), text commentary (on one episode), trivia, optional subtitles (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
"Punky Brewster: Season 2" (Shout, 1985-86, not rated, $34.98, four discs). Soleil Moon Frye returns for a second season as "Punky Brewster," in this strictly-for-kids second season of the popular show, a sort of "Annie" (as in "Little Orphan"), an optimistic, wisecracking orphan, who, with her golden-lab pup, is taken in by a grumpy photographer (George Gaynes).
Extras: Full frame, 23 episodes, new interview with George Gaynes, 16 episodes of animated "It's Punky Brewster," stickers, chapters.
"Drake & Josh: Suddenly Brothers" (Nick/Paramount, 2005, not rated, $16.99). Two 15-year-old school chums, who are complete opposites, provide the humor for this Nickelodeon TV show. Episodes include the pilot, "Dune Buggy," "Two Idiots & a Baby" and "First Crush."
Extras: Full frame, four episodes (including the pilot), outtakes, chapters.
"Aloha Scooby-Doo" (Warner, 2005, not rated, $24.98). Scooby-Doo and the gang head to Hawaii for a surfing contest, only to find that a monster is lurking about. New made-for-video feature-length cartoon.
Extras: Full frame, making-of featurette, featurette about Hawaii and surfing, interactive game, interviews, DVD-ROM applications, language and subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com