A pair of Hollywood-singer biographies — both of which earned Susan Hayward Oscar nominations — and the movie that made William Holden a star are highlights of these vintage flicks on DVD for the first time.
• "With a Song in My Heart" (Fox, 1952, $19.98). This colorful biography of songbird Jane Froman — who was injured in a plane wreck and then made a remarkable comeback — is formula Hollywood sentiment. But it gets a tremendous lift from Hayward in the lead (with Froman dubbing her own singing voice). There is also able support from Thelma Ritter as her nurse and David Wayne and Rory Calhoun as her husbands — along with a very young Robert Wagner, who impresses as a shell-shocked G.I.
Extras: widescreen, featurettes, poster/photo gallery, trailers (home-video debut)
• "Golden Boy" (Columbia, 1939, b/w, $19.95). This much-spoofed story of a classical violinist who becomes a boxer offered a star-making role for William Holden, with Barbara Stanwyck matching him all the way. The film is dated, with a couple of over-the-top performances from supporting players, but the two stars are first rate. Stanwyck fans take note of one of the bonus features, her first dramatic-TV appearance.
Extras: full frame, cartoon, comedy short, featurette, TV episode "Ford Theater: 'Sudden Silence,"' trailer
• "Bloodhounds of Broadway" (Fox, 1952, $19.98). This comic Damon Runyon precursor to "Love Me or Leave Me" has racketeer Scott Brady making a star of a hillbilly singer, Mitzi Gaynor, which gives his girlfriend heartburn. Fairly enjoyable romp.
Extras: widescreen, featurettes, poster/photo gallery, interactive pressbook, trailer (home-video debut)
• "The Girl Next Door" (Fox, 1953, $19.98). Cartoonist Dan Dailey is a widower with a young son (Billy Carter, of TV's "Father Knows Best"), but the boy becomes jealous when dad falls for the new next-door neighbor, a stage star (June Haver). Song-and-dance comedy is helped along by comic supporting cast, primarily Dennis Day and Cara Williams, and cute animated sequences.
Extras: widescreen, featurettes, poster/photo gallery, trailers (home-video debut)
• "Leading Ladies Collection, Volume 2" (Warner, 1955-82, five discs, $49.92). This is a mixed bag, with each of these five films headlining a female star (or two) of its respective era.
The best of the lot are the two oldest titles, "I'll Cry Tomorrow" (1955, b/w), with Susan Hayward in top form as alcoholic singer Lillian Roth, and "A Big Hand for the Little Lady" (1966), with Joanne Woodward and Henry Fonda in a funny and highly entertaining poker-playing Western. And Sandy Dennis leads a good cast in "Up the Down Staircase" (1967), about troubled New York schools in the '60s.
Two R-rated glossy relationship dramas are the weak links here: "Shoot the Moon" (1982), about the failing marriage of Diane Keaton and Albert Finney, and "Rich and Famous" (1981), a remake of "Old Acquaintance," a precursor to "Beaches," about the stormy 20-year friendship of Candice Bergen and Jacqueline Bisset.
Extras: widescreen, audio commentary (on "Shoot the Moon"), featurettes, trailers (each film available individually, $19.97)
E-mail: hicks@desnews.com