‘Golden Boy’
William Holden portrays a promising violinist who jeopardizes his career by moonlighting as a prize-fighter. To complicate matters, he is urged on to pursue his rising pugilistic skills by an attractive, charismatic, and hard-driving woman (Barbara Stanwyck). Based on the acclaimed Broadway play by Clifford Odets (“The Sweet Smell of Success”), “Golden Boy” is directed by Rouben Mamoulian (“Blood and Sand”) and also features Lee J Cobb who recreates his role from the play as the disheartened father who wants his son to be a musician. Special features include vintage cartoons including an animated spoof of the film, a comedy short, vignettes of movie stars away from the film set, and Stanwyck’s first dramatic television appearance in “Sudden Silence.” (Sony) ‘License to Wed’
On the road to eternal bliss to be sealed at the altar, newly engaged Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) and Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) go through hell when they are put through the patented and foolproof marriage-prep course by the outrageous Reverend Frank (Robin Williams). It consists of homework assignments and involves outright invasion of privacy. Among the extras is a feature: “Ask the Choir Boy,” which is an interactive element where consumers get to choose which relationship/marriage questions the Choir Boy answers on his late night talk radio show. (Warner Bros) ‘The Princess Bride - 20th Anniversary’
This classic fairy tale involving an evil prince, giants, and swordplay, written by William Goldman (“Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”) and directed by Rob Reiner (“This Is Spinal Tap”), won a Saturn Award as the Best Fantasy Film when it debuted in 1987. Starring Cary Elwes and Robin Wright, special features include: “True Love and High Adventure,” The Official Princess Bride DVD game, The Art of Fencing, a Fairy Tales and Folklore segment, and a reversible storybook with two versions of “The Princess Bride Story.” (MGM) ‘The Burt Lancaster Signature Collection’
This five-disc offering represents the diverse talents and interests of the late Oscar-winning actor. Lancaster portrays a fiery marine (”South Sea Woman”), a sea-faring scalawag (”His Majesty O’Keefe”), a gifted native-American athlete facing poverty and prejudice (”Jim Thorpe-All American”), a Robin Hood-esque swashbuckler (”The Flame and the Glory”), and star of a JFK conspiracy thriller (”Executive Action”). Among the co-stars working alongside this former circus acrobat are Virginia Mayo, Robert Ryan, and Charles Bickford. Vintage comedy shorts and classic cartoons are included. (Warner Bros.) ‘Shark- Season One’
James Woods, primarily a film actor, brings a lot of big screen presence as the cutthroat defense attorney Sebastian Stark to this fast-moving legal drama. Leading a promising yet green group of young prosecutors, Stark, a single father with a teen daughter, works in the Los Angeles District Attorney’s high-profile crime unit. A smart-aleck Perry Mason, Woods is in his element here. Bonus material includes deleted scenes, a gag reel, a behind-the-scenes look at creating the show and assorted audio commentary. (Fox) RANDY WILLIAMS
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 16, 2007. Read the original PDF.