As Christmas approaches — sorry, folks, but like it or not, it's approaching — we're seeing more and more holiday and faith-related DVDs among the usual mix of TV programs released each week.
These new releases are led by a set of vintage Bing Crosby holiday specials and some of Bill Moyers' biblical discussions.
"Bing Crosby: The Television Specials, Volume Two: The Christmas Specials" (Infinity, 1961-77, b/w, two discs, $29.98). Crosby fans will love this collection of hourlong TV specials starring Der Bingle. All are highly entertaining and feature a wide array of songs – including "White Christmas" performed during each program.
The first show is also Crosby's initial holiday foray (1961), though it is minimally about Christmas. Guests include an array of British character actors, highlighted by Terry-Thomas and Ron Moody, along with a cameo in drag by Bob Hope. The second episode is Crosby's first color special, with Mary Martin and Andre Previn, though only the second half is devoted to the holidays.
The last two are full-blown Christmas episodes, both with Crosby's wife Kathryn and their four sons. The 1971 show features Robert Goulet and Mary Costa, while the 1977 program was Crosby's last, filmed just six weeks before his death. In the latter, the Crosby clan heads to England, where Ron Moody and Stanley Baxter play multiple characters, and Crosby sings duets with Twiggy and David Bowie.
There are a few campy moments here and there — "Doin' the Bing" in the 1962 show and Bowie's "Heroes" music video in the 1977 show — but each program really is a musical treat.
The best of the bonus features is a "Frank Sinatra Show," with Sinatra and Crosby singing holiday songs for a half-hour.
Extras: full frame, four episodes, TV episode: "The Frank Sinatra Show: Happy Holidays With Bing and Frank," short films ("Toys for Tots" PSA, "Bing's Britain" travel promotion), outtakes; six-page booklet
"Bill Moyers: Genesis: A Living Conversation" (Athena, 1996, four discs, $79.99).
"Bill Moyers On Faith & Reason" (Athena, 2006, three discs, $59.99). Respected newsman Moyers hosts intellectual, academic conversations on matters of faith and the Bible in these hourlong episodes.
"Genesis" features Christians, Jews and Muslims talking with Moyers about their views of the first book of the Bible, including Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah and the ark, Abraham, and Joseph and his coat of many colors, among others. Bible readings are provided by Mandy Patinkin and Alfre Woodard.
Salman Rushdie, Mary Gordon and Margaret Atwood are among the panelists for "Faith & Reason," discussions of religion and politics, reason opposing faith, modern martyrs, science vs. faith and much more.
Exchange of opinions is the order of the day here; not necessarily faith-promoting, but always intellectually stimulating.
Extras: full frame, 10 episodes ("Genesis"), seven episodes ("Faith"); each set features a 12-page booklet
"Circus" (PBS, 2010, three discs, $34.99). This documentary miniseries, which aired last week on PBS, is an engrossing in-depth look at circus life, with all the interpersonal drama of a reality show.
In addition to performers, we see behind-the-scenes talent — tent-makers, costumers, choreographers, etc. — all helping to paint a picture of the pleasures and pain of life on the road with 150 people from a variety of nationalities and belief systems.
Extras: widescreen, six episodes, bonus footage, performer profiles, featurettes
"Trapped in an Elevator" (PBS, 2010, $24.99). Everything you ever wanted to know about those boxes that take us up and down two-story buildings and high-rises is revealed in this probing "NOVA" episode. Narrated by John Lithgow.
Extras: widescreen
"Dogs Decoded" (PBS, 2010, $24.99). This "NOVA" program looks at the domestication of canines and their relationships with humans.
Extras: widescreen
"Cuba: The Accidental Eden" (PBS, 2010, $24.99). If you think of Cuba as strictly jungles filled with guerrilla fighters, here's another view as this "Nature" episode explores the island's tropical foliage, wetlands and a variety of creatures, ranging from surprisingly beautiful snails to jumping crocodiles.
Extras: widescreen
"Car Bomb" (Disinformation, 2008, $19.98). This documentary suggests the weapon of the 21st century is a beat-up auto filled with homemade explosives.
Extras: widescreen
"Scooby-Doo Where Are You! Complete Series" (Warner, 1969-72, eight discs, $79.95). This is the first, best series of the seminal cartoon favorite, arguably the most popular daytime-TV cartoon series ever.
The plot, of course, has a huge, talking (sort of) Great Dane and four teens — Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and Freddie — travel around in their flower-power van, solving mysteries, most of them spooky in nature.
This gift set features every episode of the first series, along with a bevy of featurettes ranging from an overview of Hanna-Barbera cartoons to several on the origins of the "Scooby-Doo" franchise. And the box is a replica of the gang's Mystery Machine, with Scooby and Shaggy in the front seat.
Extras: full frame, 41 episodes, featurettes, trailers
"The Super Hero Squad Show: Quest for the Infinity Sword, Volume 2" (Shout! Kids, 2009, $14.93). More episodes from Season 1 of this animated children's program, as Iron Man, Wolverine, Silver Surfer and other Marvel Comics superheroes team up to battle bad guys.
Extras: full frame, six episodes, featurettes, art gallery
e-mail: hicks@desnews.com