Following the success of Dick Cavett's DVDs compiling interviews from his old talk shows, here comes Merv Griffin with a collection due in stores on Tuesday. Also here are several new-to-DVD documentaries.
"The Merv Griffin Show: 40 of the Most Interesting People of Our Time" (Alpha, 1962-86, not rated, $29.98, three discs). Griffin has compiled dozens of excerpts from his various programs, with brief voice-over introductions.
He's not as erudite as Cavett, and he's not as compelling an interviewer. And there are no full shows here, as with Cavett's DVDs.
Griffin's approach is more down-home, sitting-and-chatting-with-a-friend. And sometimes he misspeaks; his new voice-over introduction says Walter Cronkite has been referred to as "the father of our country." That would be George Washington. Cronkite was called "the most trusted man in America."
The clips provide a veritable who's who of show-biz and political celebrities, most just 10 to 15 minutes in length. But some run longer, including a pair of highlights — Jack Benny telling hilarious stories about his movie days, and a string of interviews with John Wayne.
The first disc is "Greatest Hollywood Legends," with Wayne, Ingrid Bergman, Richard Burton, Sophia Loren, Orson Welles (who is witty and funny, just hours before his death, according to Griffin), Sammy Davis Jr., Lee Marvin, Christopher Reeve, and very early in their careers, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among others.
Disc 2 is "Greatest Comedians," with interviews and/or stand-up routines featuring Benny, Carl Reiner, Jay Leno, George Carlin (in his pre-hippie, button-down days), Clarence Nash (the voice of Donald Duck), George Burns, Don Rickles, Richard Pryor, Jerry Seinfeld and others.
Disc 3 is "Extraordinary Guests," featuring Cronkite, Martin Luther King and Harry Belafonte, Rose Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon and Barbara Walters.
If nothing else, all of these are quite nostalgic, but some are better than that. More due to the guest than Griffin.
Extras: Full frame, chapters.
"Empires: Great Religions: People and Passions That Changed the World" (PBS/Paramount, 2001-05, not rated, $89.99, five discs). These are PBS documentaries on various religions and some of the historical figures connected with religion.
— "Martin Luther" (2002) tells of Luther's attack on the Catholic Church, of course, but also looks at his life as an obscure German monk; narrated by Liam Neeson.
— "Holy Warriors" (2005) looks at Richard the Lionheart and Saladin in a clash for control of Jerusalem, then the film challenges popular views.
— "Islam" (2000) is narrated by Ben Kingsley, a three-hour look at the grand sweep of Islamic power and faith during its first 1,000 years, beginning with the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
— "Peter & Paul" (2002) are the lives primarily explored in this look at Christianity after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
— "Kingdom of David" (2003) looks at Abraham, Moses and David from the point of view of the creation of the first monotheistic religion.
Extras: Widescreen, audio commentaries, featurettes, interviews, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures" (PBS/Paramount, 2005, not rated, $24.99). Jean-Michel continues his father Jacques' legacy of underwater exploration for this two-part, two-hour look at sea life in little-seen northwest islands in the Hawaiian Islands chain. Narrated by Pierce Brosnan.
Extras: Widescreen, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Hawaii's Last Queen" (WGBH, 1997, not rated, $19.95). The title royalty is Queen Lili'uokalani, born in 1838 and taught western ways by missionaries. She became well-traveled and composed more than 165 songs, including the popular "Aloha Oe." The film also explores Hawaii's relations with America, as the queen tried to wrestle control back to native Hawaiians.
Extras: Full frame, printable materials, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Deep Blue" (Miramax, 2003. G, $29.99). This British theatrical documentary has remarkable undersea footage of penguins, sharks, whales, polar bears, seals and many more creatures of the deep. Despite the G rating, however, parents might not want to let little ones watch, as some of the footage of predators is rather graphic.
Extras: Widescreen, making-of featurette, optional Spanish subtitles, chapters.
"Around the World in 72 Days" (WGBH, 1997, not rated, $19.95). This is the story of Nellie Bly, who, at the age of 25, became world famous by circling the globe in 72 days. The film also touches on her experiences as an investigative reporter for Joseph Pulitzer during an era when women were discouraged from such things. Narrated by David Ogden Stiers.
Extras: Full frame, printable materials, optional English subtitles. (If you can't find WGBH titles in a local store, order by phone at 800-949-8670, or on the Web at shop.wgbh.org.)
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com