Warner Home Video has released and reissued a bevy of vintage titles this week, including the comedy that shot Andy Griffith to stardom and the Blu-ray debut of "Doctor Zhivago."
"No Time for Sergeants" (Warner, 1957, b/w, $19.98). Griffith is a hoot in his star-making role (which he also played on Broadway and TV) as a na?/i>ve but sweet-natured hillbilly who gets his first taste of civilization in the Army after being drafted.
The film is a brilliant satire, hilariously commenting on the absurdity of military life while exploring the nature of truth and integrity. Loopy dialogue to spare with Griffith in peak form, aided by Nick Adams as a nerdy recruit who befriends him and Myron McCormick (also from the stage version) as his apoplectic sergeant.
There's also a scene-stealing moment from Don Knotts testing Griffith's dexterity — Knotts is another veteran of the Broadway show, who, of course, would go on to team with Griffith for "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Matlock."
It's a shock to discover this one has never been on DVD, and, sadly, there are no bonus features. But the transfer is excellent and the movie alone is a real treat.
Extras: widescreen
"Doctor Zhivago" (Warner/Blu-ray, 1965, PG-13, three discs, $35.99). David Lean's grand epic maintains its sweep and enthralling visual impact (heightened by high definition) in support of the story of a tragic romance set against the Russian revolution.
Omar Sharif is perfect as the title character, with great support from Julie Christie, Rod Steiger and many more. Included here are all the bonus features of previous editions along with a new documentary, a CD of music from the soundtrack and a colorful booklet.
Extras: widescreen, introduction (by Sharif), audio commentary (by Sharif, Steiger and David Lean's widow Sandra), documentaries, featurettes, trailer, audio CD; 44-page booklet (also on DVD, $24.98)
"Island of Love" (Warner Archives, 1963, $19.95). Among Warner Archives' latest new-to-DVD releases (at www.wbshop.com) is this farce starring Robert Preston as a fast-talking con artist (made right after his success with "The Music Man").
Preston recruits screenwriter pal Tony Randall to help him take $2 million from lisping gangster Walter Matthau, who wants to see an epic Adam and Eve movie. But when Matthau sabotages the film by insisting his stripper fiancée star as Eve, Preston and Randall hide out on a Greek island — unaware the island is where Matthau calls home.
Cartoonishly played (especially by Matthau) and only intermittently amusing, but Preston and Randall work well together and there are a few good gags.
Extras: widescreen
"Tarzan Goes to India" (Warner Archives, 1962, $19.95)."Tarzan's Three Challenges" (Warner Archives, 1963, $19.95). Having played a villain in one of Gordon Scott's outings as Tarzan, Jock Mahoney took over the title role for "India" and then "Challenges."
And these two remained the best pictures of the next two decades, as lower-rent Tarzan flicks held sway through the rest of the 1960s and '70s. The plots here have the tree-swinger saving a herd of elephants in India and then helping an heir keep his throne in Thailand. These color films benefit from location shooting and well-staged fights — but Mahoney became ill during the latter film, and, sadly, it shows.
Still, they are great fun for Tarzan fans. (Follow-up '60s Tarzans starring Mike Henry as a sort of jungle James Bond are also now available at Warner Archives.)
Extras: widescreen, trailer (on "Tarzan's Three Challenges")
"TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: War" (Warner, 1938-65, color and b/w, two double-sided discs, $27.92)."TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Westerns" (Warner, 1962-73, G/R, two double-sided discs, $27.92). The latest wave of TCM/Warner's classic movie four-packs offer some of the best in World War II pictures, along with four Westerns of varying merit.
"War" has four bona fide classics, the epic, all-star "Battle of the Bulge"; Errol Flynn's "Dawn Patrol"; the rousing comic adventure "Gunga Din," which helped push Cary Grant to superstardom; and "Operation Pacific," a solid John Wayne action thriller.
"Westerns" is less sterling, although "Ride the High Country," a great early Sam Peckinpah effort, is worth the price all by itself, pitting iconic Western stars Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott (in his final film) against each other. Another winner is the tense thriller "The Stalking Moon," with Gregory Peck in peak form.
But "Chisum" is a lesser John Wayne effort, one of his few based on a true story, and "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" is Peckinpah by way of studio interference (this is the 2005 "special edition" edit). The latter is also the only R-rated movie here, with the offbeat casting of Kris Kristofferson as Billy and Bob Dylan in support.
Extras: full frame/widescreen, audio commentaries, featurettes, short films, cartoons, trailers
e-mail: hicks@desnews.com