The Western that introduced us to Clint Eastwood is the highlight of these adult TV series, new to DVD on Tuesday.
"Rawhide: The Complete First Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1959-60, not rated, b/w, $49.99, seven discs). This cowpoke series is an excellent Western, from the familiar Frankie Laine title song to the weekly stories about a group of cattle drovers encountering troubled folk along the trail.
Trail boss Gil Favor (Eric Fleming) is no-nonsense, and his second-in-command, a man of conviction, is the younger Rowdy Yates (Eastwood). Eastwood is quite genial in this first year, though the character would later become more of a tough guy. And he stayed with the show through its entire 6 1/2-year run.
Guests this first season include Troy Donahue, Dan Duryea, Lon Chaney Jr., Margaret O'Brien, Martha Hyer, Jack Lord, Leslie Nielsen and Utah's own Marie Windsor, among others.
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes, episode from Season 2, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"JAG: Judge Advocate General: The Complete First Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1995-96, not rated, $64.99, six discs). This long-running series is a police procedural, military-style, about flyer Harm Rabb (James Elliott) and his team of investigators/prosecutors investigating, prosecuting and defending cases here and abroad. Tracey Needham co-stars in this first season.
Extras: Full frame, audio commentary on the pilot (creator/writer/director Donald P. Bellisario), featurettes, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man: The Original Series: Season Two" (Dark Sky, 1959, not rated, b/w, $29.98, two discs). The second season of this British spy series about a secret agent/scientist aided by the fact that he can't be seen. Fun for vintage sci-fi fans.
Extras: Full frame, 13 episodes, language options (English, Spanish, French), chapters.
"Three's Company: Season Seven" (Anchor Bay, 1982-83, not rated, $29.98, four discs). In the seventh season, John Ritter is still funny, a talented slapstick comic, and Don Knotts is a funny foil for him, Joyce DeWitt and Priscilla Barnes in this amusing but sometimes raunchy show.
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes, audio commentary, featurettes, optional English subtitles, chapters.
"Tales From the Crypt: The Complete Fourth Season" (Warner, 1992, not rated, $39.98, three discs). Tom Hanks guest-directed one of these episodes and makes a cameo appearance. Other stars include Brad Pitt, Treat Williams, Christopher Reeve, Mimi Rogers, Buck Henry, Margot Kidder, Beverly D'Angelo, Timothy Dalton, Twiggy, Joe Pesci, Blythe Danner and Donald O'Connor. So-so horror anthology with R-rated violence, sex, nudity and language.
Extras: Full frame, 14 episodes, audio commentary, montage, subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com