An A&E cable series with Mike Wallace leads these TV shows and concert videos that are new to DVD.
"20th Century With Mike Wallace: Politics and Presidents" (Athena, 1996-2000, three discs, color and b/w, $49.99). Wallace hosted this cable show that looked back on history-making events and how they were reported, covering everything from space travel to serial killers.
But this collection focuses on political stories, including the McCarthy-era communist hunt of the 1950s, the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy, President Clinton's impeachment hearings, a look at First Ladies from Eleanor Franklin to Hillary Clinton, etc.
Vivid and engrossing, each episode runs about 50 minutes without commercials.
Extras: full frame, 10 episodes, featurette; 16-page booklet
"A Mind to Kill" (Athena, 1995-96, four discs, $69.99). Philip Madoc stars as Welsh police detective Noel Bain, a decent human being trying to keep himself above the grimy crimes he must solve in this gritty series. Be advised that it gets graphic, and there is some nudity.
Extras: full frame, seven episodes, clip from the Welsh version of the show, text filmographies
"America's Music Legacy: Gospel" (MVD, 1985, color and b/w, $16.95)."America's Music Legacy: Country & Western" (MVD, 1985, color and b/w, $16.95)."America's Music Legacy: Rhythm & Blues" (MVD, 1985, color and b/w, $16.95)."America's Music Legacy: Rock 'n' Roll" (MVD, 1985, color and b/w, $16.95). These four documentaries are primarily concert films with celebrity hosts and heavyweight performances from each genre's stars.
"Gospel," hosted by LeVar Burton, features Mahalia Jackson, Mel Carter, Linda Hopkins and the Chambers Family, among others; "Country" is hosted by Gene Weed and has Patti Page, Moe Bandy, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ricky Skaggs, etc.; "Rhythm" boasts Billy Eckstine as host and showcases Sam Moore, Brook Benton, Mary Wells, etc.; and "Rock" is hosted by Fabian, with The Coasters, Chubby Checker, Bo Diddley, Little Anthony, etc.
Extras: full frame, 30-something songs performed on each disc
"Leonard Cohen's Lonesome Heroes" (MVD, 2010, color and b/w, $19.95). This new documentary on Cohen has a few musical snippets but the emphasis is on his origins, told through the comments of others. This is an unauthorized biography, the box explains, but you'll find a number of prominent Cohen-philes onboard, most prominently Judy Collins (who is also prominent in a featurette).
Extras: full frame, featurette, text biographies
"Video Games Live: Level 2" (Shout! 2010, $19.93). This PBS broadcast is a razzle-dazzle concert film featuring musical performances of the soundtrack music from "classic" video games, including "Super Mario Bros.," "The Legend of Zelda," "Sonic the Hedgehog," "Halo" and many more, along with three hours of bonus material.
Extras: widescreen, audio commentary, featurettes, game trailers
"The Michael Schenker Group: The 30th Anniversary Concert Live in Tokyo" (inakustik, 2010, $19.95). A founding member of the Scorpions and formerly a guitarist in UFO, German rocker Schenker gathered together most of the original lineup of his self-named '80s band for this tour. (Also on double-disc CD, $19.95)
Extras: widescreen, featurettes
"Madeline's Christmas & Other Wintery Tales" (Shout! 2010, $12.99). Madeline and friends in five holiday/winter-themed cartoons.
Extras: full frame, five episodes
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