New DVDs – June 2015

New Feature-Length Films, Foreign Films, and Classics

Adventures of Priscilla, queen of the desert
American graffiti
Carlito’s way
Chappie
Clerks
Duff
Earth girls are easy
Focus
Forger
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
I love you to death
If there be thorns
Jupiter ascending
Kingsman, the secret service
Lazarus effect
McFarland, USA
Memento
Moulin Rouge
Of human bondage
Old fashioned
Project almanac
Relatos salvajes
Reservoir dogs
Run all night
Serena
SpongeBob movie, sponge out of water
Survivor
The French connection
Timbuktu
Unfinished business
Velvet goldmine
Wait until dark
Welcome to Me

New Television Series

Falling skies. Season 4
Graceland. The complete season 2
Justified. The complete final season (season 6)
The newsroom. The complete third season
Parks and recreation. Season seven
Pretty little liars. The complete fifth season
Ripper Street. Season three
Rizzoli & Isles. The complete fifth season
Teen wolf. Season 4
Transporter: the complete second season.
Two and a half men. The complete eleventh season
Two and a half men: the complete twelfth and final season
Workaholics. Season five.

New Non-Fiction DVDs

A midsummer night’s dream
Concerto inaugrale
Die Fledermaus
How Jesus became God
King Arthur: history and legend
Raising emotionally and socially healthy kids
Red army
The science of mindfulness: a research-based path to well-being
The skeptic’s guide to American history
The Wrecking Crew!
Through the wormhole. Season 5
Tosca
What remains

New DVDs January & February 2013

Alex Cross – A homicide detective is pushed to the brink of his moral and physical limits as he tangles with a ferociously skilled serial killer who specializes in torture and pain. Tyler Perry, Matthew Fox (PG-13, 101min) Release 2/5/13

Anna Karenina – Set in late-19th-century Russia high-society, the aristocrat Anna Karenina enters into a life-changing affair with the affluent Count Vronsky. Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson (R, 129min) Release 2/19/13

Argo – A dramatization of the 1980 joint CIA-Canadian secret operation to extract six fugitive American diplomatic personnel out of revolutionary Iran. Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman (R, 120min) Release 2/19/13

The Awakening – Hoax exposer Florence Cathcart visits a boarding school to explain sightings of a child ghost. Everything she believes unravels as the ‘missing’ begin to show themselves. Rebecca Hall, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton (R, 107min) 1/29/13

Chasing Mavericks – When young Jay Moriarity discovers that the mythic Mavericks surf break, one of the biggest waves on Earth, exists just miles from his Santa Cruz home, he enlists the help of local legend Frosty Hesson to train him to survive it. Jonny Weston, Gerard Butler, Elisabeth Shue (PG, 116min) Release 2/26/13

Cosmopolis – Riding across Manhattan in a stretch limo in order to get a haircut, a 28-year-old billionaire asset manager’s day devolves into an odyssey with a cast of characters that start to tear his world apart. Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche (R, 109min) Release 1/1/13

Downton Abbey Season 3 – Beginning in the years leading up to World War I, the drama centers on the Crawley family and their servants. Hugh Bonneville, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern Release 1/29/13

End of Watch – Shot documentary-style, this film follows the daily grind of two young police officers in LA who are partners and friends, and what happens when they meet criminal forces greater than themselves. Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña (R, 109min) Release 1/22/13

Flight – An airline pilot saves almost all his passengers on his malfunctioning airliner which eventually crashed, but an investigation into the accident reveals something troubling. Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle (R, 138min) Release 2/5/13

Game of Thrones Season 2 – Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Maisie Williams (TVMA) Release 2/19/13

Here Comes the Boom – A high school biology teacher looks to become a successful mixed-martial arts fighter in an effort to raise money to prevent extra-curricular activities from being axed at his cash-strapped school. Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Henry Winkler (PG, 105min) Release 2/5/13

Hotel Transylvania – Dracula, who operates a high-end resort away from the human world, goes into overprotective mode when a boy discovers the resort and falls for the count’s teen-aged daughter. Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg (PG, 91min) Release 1/29/13

House at the End of the Street – A mother and daughter move to a new town and find themselves living next door to a house where a young girl murdered her parents. When the daughter befriends the surviving son, she learns the story is far from over. Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue (PG-13, 101min) Release 1/8/13

The Master – A Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future – until he is tantalized by The Cause and its charismatic leader. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams (R, 144min) Release 2/26/13

The Paperboy – A reporter returns to his Florida hometown to investigate a case involving a death row inmate. Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack (R, 107min) Release 1/22/13

Paranormal Activity 4 – It has been five years since the disappearance of Katie and Hunter, and a suburban family witness strange events in their neighborhood when a woman and a mysterious child move in. Stephen Dunham, Matt Shively (R, 88min) Release 1/29/13

The Perks of Being a Wallflower – An introvert freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him to the real world. Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller (PG-13, 102min) Release 2/12/13

Robot & Frank – Set in the near future, an ex-jewel thief receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team. Peter Sarsgaard, Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon (PG-13, 89min) Release 2/12/13

Searching for Sugar Man – Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock ‘n’ roller, Rodriguez. Rodriguez, Stephen ‘Sugar’ Segerman, Dennis Coffey (PG-13, 86min) Release 1/22/13

The Sessions – A man in an iron lung who wishes to lose his virginity contacts a professional sex surrogate with the help of his therapist and priest. John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy (R, 95min) Release 2/12/13

Seven Psychopaths – A struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld after his oddball friends kidnap a gangster’s beloved Shih Tzu. Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell (R, 110min) Release 1/29/13

Skyfall – Bond’s loyalty to M is tested when her past comes back to haunt her. Whilst MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris (PG-13, 143min) Release 2/12/13

Taken 2 – In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter. Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace (PG-13, 92min) Release 1/15/13

Television Series New to the Collection – Winter 2012

Some of these may not be “new”
but they are to our collection!

Doctor Who – (From Wikipedia) – a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord, a time-travelling, humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior appears as a blue police box from 1963 London, when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, he faces a variety of foes while working to save civilisations, help people, and right wrongs.

Season 1 (2005)

Season 2 (2006)

Season 3 (2007)

Season 4 (2008)

Season 5 (2010)

Season 6 (2011)

Justified – (From Wikipedia) – an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard’s novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story “Fire in the Hole”. Its main character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky and the hill country of eastern Kentucky, specifically in and around Harlan.

Season 1

Season 2

Merlin  – (From Wikipedia) – a British fantasy-adventure television programme by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps. It began broadcasting on BBC One on 20 September 2008. The show is based on the Arthurian legends of the wizard Merlin and his relationship with Prince Arthur but differs from traditional versions of the legend in many ways.

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Star Trek The Next Generation – (From Wikipedia) – an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production. The show was created 21 years after the original Star Trek show and set in the 24th century from the year 2364 through 2370 (about 100 years after the original series timeframe). The program features a new crew and a new starship Enterprise.

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Season 4

Season 5

Season 6

Season 7

 

New DVDs – Winter 2012

New Releases (in order of release date, most recent first)

Muppets – March 20, 2012
Movies attempting to retrieve cherished nuggets of pop culture often stumble, either by appealing solely to the die-hard minutia enthusiasts or clunking up the batter with unnecessary additions to the base material. (Enough with the human love triangles, get to the giant robots fighting.) Thankfully, this revival of Jim Henson’s beloved characters gets the formula delightfully right, providing a googly-eyed nostalgia trip for adults while also retaining the original’s sense of bright (and mildly subversive) wonder.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – March 20, 2012
High-ranking intelligence officer George Smiley (Gary Oldman) was forced out of service when a mission in Hungary went very wrong, but rumors of a Soviet mole hidden within the agency bring him back into play. If the theory of the former head, Control (John Hurt), is to be believed, the mole is at the very top, one of four senior officers, played by Toby Jones, Ciarán Hinds, Colin Firth, and David Dencik (of the Swedish Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). With the help of a lower-ranking agent with a few secrets of his own (Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock) and a field agent who may be a source of disinformation (Tom Hardy, Inception), Smiley slowly draws out the clues he needs to lay a trap for the mole.

Footloose – March 6, 2012
The struggle between innocence and rigid morality is revisited when city-boy Ren finds himself in an uptight town where dancing has been banned. Filled with contemporary music and iconic classics from the original, this fresh look on youth culture is sure to win fans of young and old.

Game of Thrones – March 6, 2012
Set in a world where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. From the scheming south and the savage eastern lands, to the frozen north and ancient Wall that protects the realm from the mysterious darkness beyond, the powerful families of the Seven Kingdoms are locked in a battle for the Iron Throne. This is a story of duplicity and treachery, nobility and honor, conquest, and triumph. In the Game of Thrones, you either win or you die.

Like Crazy – March 6, 2012
Like Crazy beautifully illustrates how your first real love is as thrilling and blissful as it is devastating. When a British college student (Felicity Jones) falls for her American classmate (Anton Yelchin), they embark on a passionate and life-changing journey only to be separated when she violates the terms of her visa. Like Crazy explores how a couple faces the real challenges of being together and of being apart. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for best Actress for Felicity Jones, Like Crazy depicts both the hopefulness and the heartbreak of love.

Tower Heist – February 21, 2012
Queens native Josh Kovacs has managed one of the most luxurious and well-secured residences in New York City for more than a decade. Under his watchful eye, nothing goes undetected. In the swankiest unit atop Josh’s building, Wall Street titan Arthur Shaw is under house arrest after being caught stealing two billion from his investors. The hardest hit among those he defrauded? The tower staffers whose pensions he was entrusted to manage.

The Way – February 21, 2012
“The Way” is a powerful and inspirational story about family, friends, and the challenges we face while navigating this ever-changing and complicated world. Martin Sheen plays Tom, who comes to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect the remains of his adult son , killed in the Pyrenees in a storm while walking the Camino de Santiago,. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son’s desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn’t plan on is the profound impact the journey will have on him. From the unexpected and, oftentimes, amusing experiences along “The Way,” Tom begins to learn what it means to be a citizen of the world again. Through his unresolved relationship with his son, he discovers the difference between “the life we live and the life we choose.”

Paranormal Activity 3 – February 14, 2012
Paranormal Activity 3 takes you back to where it all began and the activity is more intense than ever. The cameras are on and recording the chilling moments when evil begins to terrorize young sisters Katie and Kristi for the first time. Brace yourself for the horror phenomenon that delivers “heart-exploding scares”* so frightening that “the last 15 minutes will mess you up for life.”

Breaking Dawn Part 1 – February 11, 2012
In the highly anticipated fourth installment of the Twilight Saga, a marriage, a honeymoon, and the birth of a child bring unforeseen and shocking developments for Bella and Edward and those they love, including new complications with young werewolf Jacob Black.

The Double – January 31, 2012
When a United States Senator is brutally murdered, the evidence points to a Soviet assassin code-named Cassius, who was long-thought to be dead. Two men who know Cassius best are thrown together to catch him. Paul Shepherdson is a retired CIA operative who spent his career tracking Cassius around the globe. Ben Geary is a hotshot young FBI Agent and family man who has studied the killer’s every move. Ben thinks he knows Cassius, but Paul knows he is dead wrong.

Abduction – January 17, 2012
Taylor Lautner explodes on-screen as a young man whose secret past is set to collide with a dangerous reality. After uncovering a deadly lie, Nathan (Lautner) is propelled on a lethal, no-holds barred mission to learn the truth. Aided by a devoted family friend, Nathan’s hunt for the facts pits him against ruthless assassins and questionable allies.

Bucky Larson Born to be a Star – January 17, 2012
A small-town grocery bagger discovers that his conservative parents were once adult film stars and heads out to Los Angeles, hoping to follow in their footsteps.

The Ides of March – January 17, 2012
During the frantic last days before a heavily contested Ohio presidential primary, an up-and-coming campaign press secretary finds himself involved in a political scandal that threatens to upend his candidate’s shot at the presidency.

Boardwalk Empire. Season 1 – January 10, 2012
A lavish period drama set in Atlantic City, following the life and times of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed political and criminal mastermind whose grip on power and control of the city’s liquor supply is under constant threat.

Don’t be Afraid of the Dark – January 3, 3012
Sally Hurst is going to Rhode Island to live with her father Alex and his new girlfriend Kim in the nineteenth-century mansion they are restoring. While exploring the estate, Sally finds a hidden basement and accidentally lets loose a race of ancient, dark-dwelling creatures who conspire to drag her down into the mysterious house’s bottomless depths. Before the evil lurking in the dark consumes them all, Sally must convince Alex and Kim that it’s not a fantasy.

I Don’t Know How She Does It – January 3, 2012
The tale of Kate, a finance executive who is the breadwinner for her husband and two kids. When Kate gets handed a major new account that will require frequent trips to New York, her husband also wins the new job he’s been hoping, spreading them both even thinner. Complicating matters is Kate’s charming new business associate, a handsome executive who proves to be an unexpected source of temptation.

Mildred Pierce – January 3, 2012
The tale of an independent woman who finds herself newly divorced during the Depression. As a struggling single mother, she is determined to fulfill the demands of her eldest daughter, surpassing societal expectation and the betrayal of lovers along the way.

 

New DVDs – Fall 2011

Midnight in Paris – December 20, 2011
Owen Wilson (Actor), Kurt Fuller (Actor) Rated: PG-13
“A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better”–IMDB.com

The Debt  – December 6, 2011
Sam Worthington (Actor), Helen Mirren (Actor) Rated: R
The story begins in 1997, as shocking news reaches retired Mossad secret agents Rachel and Stephan about their former colleague David. All three have been venerated for decades by Israel because of the secret mission that they embarked on for their country back in 1965-1966, when the trio tracked down Nazi war criminal Dieter Vogel, the feared Surgeon of Birkenau, in East Berlin. At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team’s mission was accomplished – or was it?

The Help  – December 6, 2011
Emma Stone (Actor), Bryce Dallas Howard (Actor) Rated: PG-13
Mississippi during the 1960s: Skeeter, a southern society girl, returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives, and a small Mississippi town, upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen, Skeeter’s best friend’s housekeeper, is the first to open up, to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community.

Sarah’s Key – November 22, 2011
Kristin Scott Thomas (Actor), Niels Arestrup (Actor), Gilles Paquet-Brenner (Director) Rated: PG-13
In modern-day Paris, a journalist finds her life becoming entwined with a young girl whose family was torn apart during the notorious Vel d’Hiv round up, which took place in Paris, in 1942. She stumbles upon a family secret which will link her forever to the destiny of a young Jewish girl, Sarah.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 – November 11, 2011
Daniel Radcliffe (Actor), Rupert Grint (Actor), David Yates (Director) Rated: PG-13
In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here.

Californication: The Fourth Season – November 1, 2011
Evan Handler (Actor), David Duchovny (Actor) Rated: Unrated
Novelist Hank Moody’s home life is in ruins, but the scandal surrounding his latest book has turned him into a hot commodity, in more ways than one. Find out if Hank can navigate the mess he’s made of his life and still come out on top.

Crazy, Stupid, Love – November 1, 2011
Steve Carell (Actor), Julianne Moore (Actor) Rated: PG-13
A father’s life unravels while he deals with a marital crisis and tries to manage his relationship with his children.

The Last Mountain – November 1, 2011
Robert Kennedy Jr. (Actor), Bill Haney (Director) | Rated: PG
The fight for the last great mountain in America’s Appalachian heartland pits the mining giant that wants to explode it to extract the coal within against the community fighting to preserve the mountain and build a wind farm on its ridges instead. Robert Kennedy Jr. joins the fight to preserve the mountain.

Pearl Jam Twenty – October 24, 2011
Cameron Crowe (Director) Rated: NR
In honor of Pearl Jam’s twentieth anniversary, Academy Award-winning director and music journalist Cameron Crowe created a definitive portrait of the seminal band: part concert film, part intimate insider-hang, part testimonial to the power of music and uncompromising artists.

Page One: Inside The New York Times – October 18, 2011
David Carr (Actor), Bruce Headlam (Actor), Andrew Rossi (Director) Rated: R
During the most tumultuous time for media in generations, filmmaker Andrew Rossi gains unprecedented access to the newsroom at The New York times, chronicling a year in the life of the journalists who work at the newpaper’s Media Desk, a department created to cover the transformation of the media industry. Reporters Brian Stelter, Tim Arango, David Carr, and others track print journalism’s metamorphosis even as their own paper struggles to stay vital and solvent.

Horrible Bosses – October 11, 2011
Jason Bateman (Actor), Jennifer Aniston (Actor), Seth Gordon (Director) Rated: R
For Nick, Kurt and Dale, the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con, the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers, permanently. There’s only one problem: even the best laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them.

New DVDs – Summer 2011

Bad Teacher – October 18, 2011
Fast Five – October 4, 2011
Scream 4 – October 4, 2011
Bridesmaids
– September 20, 2011
Thor – September 13, 2011
Everything Must Go – September 6, 2011
Hanna – September 6, 2011
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family – August 30, 2011
The Beaver – August 29, 2011
Gossip Girl, Season 4 – August 23, 2011
Win Win – August 23, 2011
The Conspirator – August 16, 2011
Dexter, Season 5 – August 16, 2011
Jane Eyre – August 16, 2011
Priest – August 16, 2011
Something Borrowed – August 16, 2011
Mars Needs Moms – August 9, 2011
Paul – August 9, 2011
Super – August 9, 2011
Your Highness – August 9, 2011
Stake Land – August 2, 2011
Zen: Vendetta Cabal Ratking – August 2, 2011
Limitless – July 19, 2011
Entourage Season 7 – July 12, 2011
The Lincoln Lawyer – July 12, 2011
13 Assassins – July 5, 2011
The Other Woman – May 17, 2011
Blue Valentine – May 10, 2011
From Prada to Nada – May 3, 2011
The Green Hornet – May 3, 2011

New DVD Releases – Jan-April 2011

(Click on the Titles to Place an Order)

In Order by Release Date, from Newest to Oldest

Just Go With It – June 7, 2011
True Blood Season 3 – May 31, 2011
The Mechanic – May 17, 2011
The Rite – May 17, 2011
No Strings Attached – May 10, 2011
The Dilemma – May 3, 2011
The Green Hornet
– May 3, 2011
Human Planet – April 26, 2011
The Way Back – April 22, 2011
Glee Encore – April 19, 2011
Gulliver’s Travels – April 19, 2011
The King’s Speech – April 19, 2011
Rabbit Hole – April 19, 2011
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 – April 15, 2011
Country Strong
– April 12, 2011
Summer in Genoa – April 12, 2011
The Third Reich: Rise and Fall – April 12, 2011
Little Fockers – April 5, 2011
Tron Legacy – April 5, 2011
Black Swan
– March 29, 2011
Fair Game – March 29, 2011
Mad Men Season 4 – March 29, 2011
Tangled – March 29, 2011
Inside Job – March 8, 2011
127 Hours – March 1, 2011
Burlesque – March 1, 2011
Faster – March 1, 2011
Love & Other Drugs – March 1, 2011
Due Date – February 22, 2011
Waiting for Superman – February 15, 2011
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger – February 15, 2011
For Colored Girls – February 8, 2011
Samantha Brown’s Asia – February 8, 2011
At the Edge of the World – January 25, 2011
Gasland – December 14, 2010
IP Man – July 27, 2010

New DVDs: TV Series, Nonfiction and Feature Length Films – October 2010

The Big Bang Theory: Season Three

The third season of this hit comedy follows the further adventures of pals Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Emmy winner Jim Parsons), brilliant young physicists and hopeless dweebs, as they try to attract members of the fairer sex, especially their sizzling hot neighbor, Penny (Kaley Cuoco). As Penny and Leonard flirt with an actual relationship, fellow geeks Howard (Simon Helberg) and Rajesh (Kunal Nayyar) contend with their own hang-ups about women.

Bones: The Complete Fifth Season

After a provocative Season 4 finale, a new dynamic heats up between our heroes — brilliant forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance “Bones” Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and FBI Agent Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) — in the latest installment of the slyly comic Fox mystery series. Together they team up on a new slate of cases in which Bones employs her trademark methods of digging up clues from victims’ skeletal remains.

Brothers and Sisters: The Complete Fourth Season

Tireless matriarch Nora Walker (played by Sally Field, who won an Emmy for the role) leads her affluent progeny through more triumphs, tragedies and surprises in the fourth season of this classy ABC soap opera. A whole new round of professional and personal dramas unfold for Justin (Dave Annable), Kitty (Calista Flockhart), Tommy (Balthazar Getty), Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), Julia (Sarah Jane Morris), Rebecca (Emily VanCamp) and Saul (Ron Rifkin).

Clash of the Titans

This epic mythological adventure stars Harry Hamlin as Perseus, son of Zeus (Laurence Olivier), who embarks on a series of perilous quests in the hopes of rescuing Princess Andromeda (Judi Bowker) and winning the keys to the kingdom of Joppa. With winged horse Pegasus as his steed, Perseus must answer vexing riddles, capture the head of Medusa and slay a ravenous sea monster. Burgess Meredith and Ursula Andress co-star in this classic tale.  (1981) Rated PG

Clatterford: The Complete Season Three

Provincial eccentrics crowd the life of nurse Sal Vine (Sue Johnston) in the third and final season of the BBC comedy created by Jennifer Saunders (“Absolutely Fabulous”). Sal’s daughter Tash (Sally Phillips) leaves home, but just barely, moving into a van parked outside the house. Meanwhile, the Clatterford Women’s Guild works itself into a maelstrom of excitement when a rumor spreads that a famous actor plans to take up residence. Not rated

Criminal Minds: Season Five

Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) leads the Behavioral Analysis Unit — a crack team of FBI profilers who examine the country’s most inscrutable criminal minds and determine when and how these villains will strike again. The fifth season of the CBS crime drama also stars Joe Mantegna as veteran agent David Rossi; Paget Brewster as high-powered diplomat daughter Emily Prentiss; and Shemar Moore as obsession expert Derek Morgan. Not Rated

Dalziel & Pascoe: Season Two

Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan star in this BBC crime-solving series as polar-opposite Yorkshire detectives Andy Dalziel and Peter Pascoe, a seemingly oddball duo whose vastly different styles make them the perfect match. Among other cases, the second season finds the detectives searching for a connection between three so-called “accidental” deaths. The catch, of course, is that the first one occurred 30 years earlier. (1997) Not rated

Glee: Season One, Volume  Two

A musical comedy that follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to transform the Glee Club and inspire a group of outcasts to make it to Nationals. Includes the episodes from the second half of season one and bonus features.

The Good Wife: The First Season

Art imitates life in this television drama starring Golden Globe winner Julianna Margulies as Alicia, a politician’s wife who’s forced to return to the workforce after a sex and corruption scandal lands her husband in jail. Resuming her career as a defense attorney after more than a decade away from the legal profession, Alicia slowly recaptures her identity in this series co-starring Chris Noth, Christine Baranski and Emmy winner Archie Panjabi.

Grey’s Anatomy: Complete Sixth Season

With the fates of Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) and George O’Malley (T.R. Knight) hanging in the balance as the series’ fifth year came to a close, the new season brings more drama into the lives of the young doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital. Returning for another round of hope and heartbreak are Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh and Patrick Dempsey. Rated TV-14

House, M.D.: Season Six

Two-time Golden Globe Award winner Hugh Laurie returns for a sixth season of this Emmy-winning drama series as Dr. Greg House, the brilliant yet incorrigible MD who heads up the team of infectious disease specialists at Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital. Omar Epps, Robert Sean Leonard, Lisa Edelstein, Jennifer Morrison and Jesse Spencer also return as the irascible House’s team of skilled diagnosticians.

The Mentalist: The  Complete Second Season

Simon Baker returns for another season as Patrick Jane, a phony psychic who turned over a new leaf and now uses his extraordinary powers of observation to help California law enforcement solve high-profile crimes. But as Jane helps bring dangerous criminals to justice, he must also contend with fallout from his past, including the sinister presence of Red John, the at-large serial killer who murdered Jane’s wife and child.

Midsomer Murders: Set 16

The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary British television mysteries. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, modern master of the English village mystery, the series stars John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, with Jason Hughes as his earnest, efficient protégé, Detective Sergeant Ben Jones. Guest stars include Tim Pigott-Smith, Ronald Pickup, Pooky Quesnel, Simon Williams, Anton Lesser, Tom Goodman-Hill, Niamh Cusack, and Judy Parfitt.

Moonshot

From their incredible lunar landing to their safe return back to Earth, shadow the intrepid astronauts of Apollo 11, Neil Armstrong (Daniel Lapaine), Buzz Aldrin (James Marsters) and Michael Collins (Andrew Lincoln), as they explore outer space and take “one giant leap for mankind.” Blending convincing reenactments with original NASA footage, this Emmy-nominated docudrama offers viewers an insider’s perspective of one of modern history’s most important events. Not rated

Paulie

Wise parrot Paulie (voiced by Jay Mohr) can ask for more than crackers, as Misha (Tony Shalhoub), the janitor at an animal-research lab, discovers. Paulie reveals via flashbacks how he ended up at the facility after being separated from his original owner, 5-year-old Marie (Hallie Kate Eisenberg), then embarked on a decades-long search to reunite with her. Upon hearing Paulie’s tale, Misha decides to help the loquacious bird realize his dream. (1997) Rated PG

Pie in the Sky: Series Three

This whimsical crime drama stars Richard Griffiths as Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe, an outstanding police officer who longs to quit the force for good and indulge his other passion: cooking in the restaurant he owns with his wife (Maggie Steed). But every time Crabbe’s stubborn boss on the force (Malcolm Sinclair) faces a tough case, he drags Crabbe back from the brink of retirement to help solve the crime. (1996) Not Rated

The Prisoner

Ian McKellen and James Caviezel star in this miniseries remake of the British cult classic about Number Six, a government agent exiled to a mysterious town called the Village that’s run by an enigmatic leader known as Number Two. With no memory of his former life or why he’s a captive in this strange prison, Number Six (Caviezel) begins the daring task of plotting his escape. (2009) Not Rated

Private Practice: The Complete Third Season

Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) continues to adjust to her new life at a fancy Los Angeles medical practice in the third season of this hit Grey’s Anatomy spin-off. While working alongside old friends from medical school, divorced couple Naomi (Audra McDonald) and Sam (Taye Diggs), the renowned surgeon finds herself handling complicated health problems and juggling potentially knotty romantic issues. Rated TV-14

Rick Steves’ Austria & the Alps

All 7 half-hour shows on Austria and the Alps, filmed entirely on location.  Originally broadcast as episodes from the public television series Rick Steves’ Europe in 2000-2009.

Stories of a Third Generation Independent Oil Producer, As Told by Bill Huber

Independent oil producer Bill Huber discusses oil production in Pennsylvania from the birth of the industry in the mid-nineteenth century to the present day, sharing his insights into the trade and relating stories passed down to him from his grandfather and father.

Supernatural: The Complete 5th Season

Regrouping after a tumultuous year, brothers Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles) continue their quest to rid the world of demons. Has darkness gone underground for good, or will the brothers require more help from beyond to keep evil at bay?

Temple Grandin

From HBO, Emmy winner Claire Danes stars as Temple Grandin, a brilliant young woman coping with the stigma of autism at a time when it was misunderstood. With the support of her loving family, Temple dedicates herself to learning and becomes a famed animal behaviorist. Her passion for animals gives her a unique ability to understand them, and she fulfills her love of education by teaching about autism and the most humane ways to treat both livestock and pets. Not Rated

The Valley that Changed the World

Documentary on the birth of the oil industry in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Film was produced to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Edwin Drake’s discovery of oil on August 27, 1859.

You Don’t Know Jack: The Life and Deaths of Jack Kavorkian

Al Pacino stars in this enthralling, Emmy-winning HBO biopic that focuses on the life of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the controversial physician who boldly advocated the legalization of euthanasia and personally helped over 100 terminally ill patients commit suicide. Directed by Hollywood veteran Barry Levinson, this drama co-stars Susan Sarandon as vocal activist Janet Good and John Goodman as Kevorkian’s trusted friend and supporter Neal Nicol. Rated TV-14

New DVDs: TV Series, Nonfiction and Feature Length Films – August and September 2010

The Agatha Christie Hour: Set 1

Tales of romance and danger in the glittering 1920s and ’30s.  In these stories, lesser-known Christie heroes and heroines solve crimes of the heart as well as puzzling cases of larceny and murder. With just the right mix of danger and deception, romance and revenge, innocence and intrigue, these classic adaptations are Christie at her best, now on DVD for the first time. Not Rated

All About Eve

Writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s story about New York City theater life, with Bette Davis playing an aging Broadway diva who employs a starstruck fan (Anne Baxter) as her assistant, only to learn the woman is a conniving upstart. The classic film won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director (Mankiewicz), Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (George Sanders). (1950) Not Rated

Le Amiche

A female fashion designer (Eleonora Rossi Drago) who’s looking for a change of pace trades her apartment in Rome for a hotel in northern Italy, where she starts a new life as an employee in a Turin boutique. But will her fresh start be tainted by tragedy? Michelangelo Antonioni directs this classic melodrama based on an article by Cesare Pavese about the changing roles of Italian women. Italian dialogue, English subtitles. (1955) Not Rated

Botswana: In the Footsteps of the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency with Alexander McCall Smith

Join the author as he travels to the heart of Botswana, inspiration and location for his mystery series.

Breaking Bad: The Complete First Season

Diagnosed with cancer and given only two years left to live, high school chemistry teacher Walter (Bryan Cranston) attempts to secure his family’s financial future by teaming up with his former student, Jesse (Aaron Paul), to produce and distribute the illegal drug meth. As Walter slowly builds his empire, his wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), grows suspicious of his erratic behavior, and the DEA starts searching for the area’s new drug kingpin. Not Rated

Breaking Bad: The Complete Second Season

Chemistry teacher-turned-meth dealer Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and his partner, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), climb higher in the drug game, which draws dangerous attention from competing cartels and imperils Walter’s DEA brother-in-law, Hank (Dean Norris). The sophomore season of this addictive drama also welcomes Bob Odenkirk to the cast as the unexpectedly sharp consigliere Saul Goodman. Not Rated

Brothers and Sisters: The Complete Third Season

Tireless matriarch Nora Walker (Sally Field) leads her affluent progeny through more triumphs, tragedies and surprises in this classy ABC soap opera. A whole new round of professional and personal dramas unfold for Justin (Dave Annable), Kitty (Calista Flockhart), Tommy (Balthazar Getty), Sarah (Rachel Griffiths), Julia (Sarah Jane Morris), Rebecca (Emily VanCamp) and Saul (Ron Rifkin). Not Rated

The Closer: The Complete Fourth Season

The Closer: The Complete Fifth Season

Georgia detective Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) transfers to the Los Angeles Police Department to head up the Major Crimes Division, where her Southern charm and well-honed interrogation skills help her elicit confessions from even the toughest criminals.

The Crucifer of Blood

Adapted from the Arthur Conan Doyle story The Sign of the Four. It depicts the character Irene St. Claire (Susannah Harker) hiring the detective Sherlock Holmes (Charleton Heston) to investigate the travails that her father and his three compatriots suffered over a pact made over a cursed treasure chest in colonial India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. (1991) Not Rated

Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Seventh Season

The popular HBO sitcom returns for another round of neurotic fun in Season 7. Co-starring Jeff Garlin as Larry’s long-suffering friend and manager Jeff, the series follows the fictionalized adventures of the Seinfeld co-creator, who manages to screw up absolutely every situation he encounters. Rated TV-MA

Dexter: The Fourth Season

Miami forensics specialist Dexter Morgan (Golden Globe winner Michael C. Hall) has been so successful at keeping his secret life as a serial killer under wraps that no one — not even his newly minted wife, Rita (Julie Benz) — knows about his extracurricular activities. Dexter continues to count on the fact that nobody suspects him of murder. And then he commits it with reckless abandon. John Lithgow joins the fourth season in a Golden Globe-winning role. Not Rated

Doc Martin: Series Four

Harried and uncouth as ever, Dr. Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) continues to practice his personal brand of medicine on the eccentric residents of Portwenn, England, in Season 4 of the popular BBC comedy-drama series. After breaking his engagement to the village headmistress (Caroline Catz), the doctor hopes to trade the countryside for London, but multiple obstacles stand in his way — including some dire news from his ex-fiancée. Not Rated

Entourage: The Complete Fourth Season

Having fired his hard-charging agent (Jeremy Piven), it’s anyone’s guess what career choices up-and-coming actor Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) will make on the advice of his three buddies in the fourth season of this popular HBO comedy. Surrounded by his posse — Eric (Kevin Connolly), Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) and half-brother Johnny (Kevin Dillon) — Vince continues to navigate the shark-infested waters of Tinseltown. (2007)

Entourage: The Complete Fifth Season

HBO’s hit comedy is back for a fifth season, with movie star Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) steering his considerable posse through Tinseltown — a group that includes his brother, his friends from back home, his representatives and a cadre of beautiful women. (2008)

Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season

After a disastrous year capped off by the Smoke Jumpers debacle, Vince (Adrian Grenier) is poised to make a comeback — beginning with a starring role in Martin Scorsese’s next picture. Meanwhile, Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) might finally be getting lucky in love. Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jeremy Piven co-star in the sixth season of this Golden Globe-winning comedy series about the unpredictability of the entertainment industry.

Everwood: The Complete Third Season

This season, love is in the clear mountain air of Everwood. Back from a troubled summer at Juilliard, Ephram commits himself to his music and to Amy. Andy wanted Everwood to be his family’s home. Now it may be just another place they used to live.(2004)

Gentleman’s Agreement

Enterprising reporter Phil Green (Gregory Peck), eager to blow the lid off anti-Semitism, accepts an assignment to pen a series of frank exposés for a progressive magazine. Looking for a new angle, Green poses as a Jew and soon endures the full spectrum of bigotry — from being denied a job and use of public facilities to his son suffering a beating. Little by little, the journalist comes to understand the cruel effects of prejudice. (1947)

George Gently: Series One

George Gently: Series Two

After the hit-and-run murder of his wife, London police officer George (Martin Shaw) moves to England’s North Country to find the killer. Feared by criminals and corrupt cops, George works closely with his partner, John (Lee Ingleby), to stop lawbreakers of all types. Set in 1960s Britain, this drama is based on Alan Hunter’s novels and features guest stars such as Richard Armitage, Phillip Davis and John Kavanagh.

Georgia O’Keeffe

Joan Allen stars as 20th-century painter Georgia O’Keeffe in this Golden Globe-nominated biopic that follows the artist’s tempestuous relationship with her lover and eventual husband, Alfred Steiglitz (Jeremy Irons), a New York photographer and art promoter. Though their marriage weathers long absences and extramarital affairs, O’Keeffe prefers solitude in New Mexico, where she creates her greatest work. Bob Balaban directs. Not Rated

Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise

Emmy Award winner Tom Selleck returns to the role of Jesse Stone, the troubled police chief of Paradise, Mass., in this third chapter of the crime-mystery series based on Robert B. Parker’s best-selling novels. As Stone obsesses on solving the murder of a teenage girl found floating in a local lake, he also works a deadly domestic violence case and faces a run-in with Boston mobsters that may lead to grave consequences. (2006) Not Rated

Jesse Stone: Night Passage

After being cut loose from the LAPD for heavy drinking, Jesse Stone (Tom Selleck) is hired as police chief of Paradise, Mass., an idyllic seaside town. But it doesn’t take long for Stone to uncover the dark side of Paradise. After launching an investigation into a routine domestic abuse complaint, Stone unearths the town’s disturbing and violent secrets. This made-for-television movie is based on the writings of Robert B. Parker. (2006) Not Rated

Jesse Stone: No Remorse

Tom Selleck takes a sixth turn as small-town Massachusetts police chief Jesse Stone, who combats crime as well as personal issues in the movie series based on the best-selling novels by Robert B. Parker. After he’s suspended from his job, Stone travels to Boston at the request of his friend Capt. Healey (Stephen McHattie) — the state homicide commander — to help solve a string of murders plaguing the city. Not Rated

Jesse Stone: Sea Change

Tom Selleck returns in an Emmy-nominated performance as Jesse Stone, a recovering alcoholic and chief of police in sleepy Paradise, Mass. In this installment, Stone’s investigation into a years-old rape case is stonewalled as the town tries to keep the incident quiet to minimize the effect on tourism. Mika Boorem, Kathy Baker, William Devane and William Sadler co-star in this adaptation of the novel by Robert B. Parker. (2007 Not Rated

Jesse Stone: Stone Cold

Adapted from a novel by Robert B. Parker, this made-for-TV drama stars Tom Selleck as Jesse Stone, a jaded Los Angeles detective who takes a job as the police chief of a quiet coastal town in Massachusetts. The hard-drinking Stone maintains a low profile, but when a corpse washes ashore and multiple assailants rape a high school student, the former big-city cop goes into action. Among the supporting cast are Mimi Rogers, Viola Davis and Stephen McHattie. (2005) Rated R

Jesse Stone: Thin Ice

Tom Selleck returns as Jesse Stone, police chief of sleepy Paradise, Mass., who lands in hot water with the town council when he gets tangled up in a shootout in Boston, during which a state police commander takes a bullet. Stone continues to push the council’s buttons — and risks his job — by firing a favored Paradise city employee and taking on a controversial missing-persons case. Kathy Baker and Camryn Manheim co-star. (2009) Not Rated

The Jewel in the Crown

The passionate, turbulent and controversial love affair between a British-raised Indian man and an Englishwoman during the waning years of the British Raj is portrayed in this Masterpiece Theatre miniseries based on Paul Scott’s novel The Raj Quartet. Spanning 14 episodes shot in exotic locales in India and England, this exquisite human epic received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series and a Golden Globe for Best Miniseries. (1984)

The Last Enemy

When his brother Michael dies, researcher Stephen Ezard (Benedict Cumberbatch) returns to England after years abroad. Searching for answers about Michael’s death, Ezard realizes that his homeland has transformed into a surveillance state. To complicate matters, Stephen falls for Michael’s enigmatic widow, Yasmin (Anamaria Marinca). Robert Carlyle co-stars in this gripping British miniseries set in the near future. Not rated (2008)

Lost: The Complete Sixth Season

The final season of this drama brings the series to a smashing climax that reveals the fate of the survivors of Oceanic’s flight 815, including Jack (Matthew Fox, in his first Emmy-nominated role) and the others who escaped the island once, only to return. But as Kate (Evangeline Lilly), Sawyer (Josh Holloway), Locke (Terry O’Quinn), Ben (Michael Emerson) and the rest play out their destinies, the island may yet refuse to yield all of its secrets. Rated TV-14

Maggie Smith at the BBC

This three-disc set celebrates four of Dame Maggie Smith’s leading roles for the BBC. The collection begins with two 1972 Plays of the Month, The Merchant of Venice and The Millionairess. . In Alan Bennett’s quietly devastating Bed Among the Lentils,  Smith portrays Susan, a deeply disillusioned vicar’s wife, and in Sir Richard Eyre’s intimate 1993 adaptation of Tennessee Williams’s Suddenly, Last Summer, she takes on Mrs. Venable, a grief-stricken mother. Rob Lowe, Richard E. Grant, and especially Natasha Richardson, as Venable’s niece Catherine, contribute strong work to this Great Performances production.

Marple: Series 5

Julia McKenzie returns for another season as Miss Marple, author Agatha Christie’s beloved amateur detective whose advanced age belies the cunning powers of observation and deduction that help her identify even the wiliest killers. This season, Miss Marple investigates the poisoning of a woman at a Hollywood party; the shooting of an Austrian nobleman at a posh English estate; and the curious case of a woman frightened to death by her wallpaper. Not Rated

McLeod’s Daughters: The Complete Eighth Season

The eighth and final season of this popular Australian television drama finds the daughters McLeod struggling to keep the family homestead afloat at Drovers Run amid an ever-changing climate of tragedy and uncertainty. As the action unfolds, Riley (Dustin Clare) is still missing in the aftermath of the Christmas accident, although Grace (Abi Tucker), Patrick (Luke Jacobz) and Tayler (Gillian Alexy) have miraculously survived.

Misery

Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) rescues her idol, romance novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan), after he crashes his car during a fierce blizzard. But when she finds out he plans to kill off the heroine in his next volume, Annie morphs from nurturing caregiver to sadistic jailer. In this tightly wound, suspenseful adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, Bates earns her Best Actress Oscar as a woman come undone in a claustrophobia-inducing house of horrors. Rated R (1990)

The Moonlight Mile

Susan Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman co-star as the grieving mother and father of a recently deceased girl who take in their daughter’s fiancé (Jake Gyllenhaal) because he’s the only living connection they have to their only child. Problems arise when the young man falls in love with a woman (Ellen Pompeo) whose boyfriend has gone missing, prompting his former in-laws-to-be to come to grips with the new relationship. (2002) Rated PG-13

The Murdoch Mysteries: Season 2

Progressive inspector William Murdoch (Yannick Bisson) investigates unusual crimes in Victorian-era Toronto in the second season of this suspenseful series. Accompanied by his stalwart partner (Jonny Harris), Murdoch uses new scientific tools to solve mysteries. Also aided by talented pathologist Dr. Ogden (Helene Joy), Murdoch works cases involving Buffalo Bill Cody, a possible Jack the Ripper suspect, Harry Houdini, werewolves and a dinosaur.

Project Runway: The Complete Seventh Season

The design competition is fierce — and uncommonly fashionable — as the seventh season of this hit reality series unfolds, bringing the action back to New York City after a season away in sunny Los Angeles. The first challenge asks the designers to craft a look that truly represents them as a designer. Later on, they design their own printed fabric and create haute couture for the hottest, young models: children.

Raffles: The Complete Collection

A dashing aristocrat turns criminal in this classic British drama. Meet A.J. Raffles (Anthony Valentine), a gentleman of leisure and a first-class cricketer. But when he’s not dining at his club or taking wickets for England, he’s often engaged in his other favorite activity–relieving the wealthy of their riches. A master of accents and disguise, Raffles is assisted by his old school chum “Bunny” Manders (Christopher Strauli). Always eager but often bewildered, Bunny follows his friend into the most complex of predicaments and deadliest of situations, likely as not pursued by the dogged Inspector Mackenzie (Victor Carin) of Scotland Yard.  In each episode, the roguish Raffles and his intrepid companion set out to plunder the wealth of the aristocracy, stay out of the reach of the law, and revel in the thrill of the game.(1977) Not Rated

Rough Crossings

Tells the story of the struggle for freedom by thousands of African-American ex-slaves who fled Southern plantations to fight behind British lines in the American War of Independence. Follows their dream of a journey to freedom in bone-chilling Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone. Features the stories of Englishman John Clarkson, a passionate advocate of the abolition of slavery, and two African men, Thomas Peters and David George, who escaped slavery in a quest for freedom. Cast: Joseph Marcell, Stephen Campbell Moore, Leo Wringer. Not Rated (2007)

St. John in Exile

Dean Jones is mesmerizing in his portrayal of the apostle John at a pivotal point in history. It’s 96 A.D., and scores of Christians have been massacred all over the Roman Empire. John is the last living disciple of Jesus, but he’s an 86-year-old man who’s been forced to spend his remaining days imprisoned in a cave on Patmos. Despite this fact, he refuses to give up and subsequently changes the future path of humankind. (1988) Not Rated

Shall We Dance?

During his daily commute, likable but dejected Tokyo office worker Shohei (Koji Yakusho) sees a stunning woman in a dance studio. Taken with her, he enrolls in ballroom dance lessons at the studio, even though he risks losing face by taking part in what his society considers an improper activity for a man. Shohei quickly realizes, however, that he has a gift for dance and loves participating in it, much to the alarm of his wife and daughter.  Japanese dialogue, English Subtitles.  Rated PG (1995)

Shout

Set against the backdrop of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, Shout stars John Travolta (Saturday Night Fever) in this coming-of-age musical. Jesse Tucker’s (James Walters) rebellious ways eventually land him in the Benedict Home for Boys in a sleepy Texas town in the ’50s. But when Jack Cabe (Travolta) breezes in as the new music teacher, he introduces Jesse and the boys to the fresh and dangerous new sounds of rock ‘n’ roll. Cabe encourages Jesse to redirect his emotions into music, and to trust his love for Sara (Heather Graham), the beautiful young daughter of the repressive headmaster (Richard Jordan).

Small Island

When Hortense (Naomie Harris) leaves her native island of Jamaica and lands in 1948 London, she dreams of making a better life for herself and expanding her social opportunities. Instead, she’s confronted with racism and life’s harsh realities. One of the harshest is her marriage of convenience to a man (David Oyelowo) she doesn’t love. John Alexander directs this Masterpeice Theatre televised adaptation of Andrea Levy’s award-winning novel. Not Rated (2009)

Spring 1941

After Germany invades Poland and the Nazis order the confinement of all local Jews in the ghetto, medical doctor Artur Planck (Joseph Fiennes) manages to flee with his family, seeking refuge at the farm of Emilia (Kelly Harrison), their former grocer. With the Planck family hiding in her attic, Emilia finds her feelings for the physician growing stronger than she wants, or can control — despite the dangers of the situation. Rated R

Sunrise

A tender story of betrayal and redemption when a farmer intends to drown his wife, so he can be with a seductive city woman. Cast: George O’Brien, Janet Gaynor, Margaret Livingston. (1927) Not Rated

Surviving Picasso

Academy Awardwinner Anthony Hopkins gives a full-throttle performance as the acclaimed artist in this masterful movie told from the viewpoint of Picasso’s longtime mistress (Natascha McElhone) and mother of his children Claude and Paloma.  Rated R

That Darn Cat!

After a bank teller is kidnapped during a robbery, she manages to slip her wristwatch around a stray cat’s neck, hoping that the enterprising feline will lead rescuers to her location in this Disney family classic. Fortunately, the cat wanders into the home of Patti Randall (Hayley Mills), who recognizes the watch’s significance and pushes the FBI — headed by an allergic agent (Dean Jones) — into action. Rated G (1965)

Ugly Betty: The Complete Third Season

America Ferrera stars as Betty Suarez, a humble, plain but very determined 20-something whose quick wit and fearless attitude have helped her rise through the ranks of influential high-fashion rag Mode. In the fourth and final season of this Emmy-winning sitcom, Betty dives back into the treacherous waters of interoffice politics and fashion-world backstabbing, guided by her conviction that virtue can prevail over vanity. Not rated

Victor Borge: 100 Years of Music and Laughter

This unparalleled collection of Victor Borge’s funniest and most memorable skits contains such classic comedy bits as the timeless “Phonetic Punctuation,” “Inflationary Language,” “Autumn Leaves” with Robert Merrill, “The Opera Singer” with Marylyn Mulvey and more. Rare archival footage from the Borge family vault enhances this memorable retrospective. Rita Rudner narrates.

When You’re Strange: A Film about the Doors

Composed entirely of original footage from 1966-71, Tom DiCillo’s documentary about the Doors filters truth from myth, reveals new insight into Jim Morrison and his bandmates, and captures the essence of the iconic rock group and the era. DiCillo’s film pays tribute to the Doors and their music and to a generation’s struggle for individuality and authenticity during an unstable and transformative epoch in America. (2009) Rated R

Wind at My Back: The Complete First Season

Kevin Sullivan and Trudy Grant — creators of the acclaimed television miniseries “Anne of Green Gables” — deliver another family-centered period drama, this time set in the 1930s. In the show’s 13-episode first season, Honey Bailey (Cynthia Belliveau) struggles to keep her family together during the Great Depression, and her two sons (Dylan Provencher and Tyrone Savage) use their creativity to get her a birthday gift. (1996)

Wycliffe: Series Three

Along England’s picturesque Cornish coast, perceptive Det. Supt. Charles Wycliffe (Jack Shepherd) continues to collaborate with his trusted colleagues Kersey (Jimmy Yuill) and Lane (Helen Masters) in order to solve the surrounding region’s mysterious murder cases. Series 3 of this British police program finds Wycliffe’s team investigating treasure hunters, insurance swindlers and other clever criminals. Not Rated

New DVDs: TV Series, Nonfiction and Feature Length Films – June 2010

Affairs of the Heart: Series 2

Rakishness and romance are in the air in this second anthology of stories inspired by the timeless works of American-born British novelist Henry James, a writer who knew the power of a good plot twist fueled by character-driven drama. Eileen Atkins, Derek Jacobi, Sinéad Cusack and other recognizable names co-star in this selection of six hourlong episodes based on Daisy Miller, An International Episode and some of James’s lesser-known tales. (1974) Not Rated

The Big Bang Theory: Season 2

Two socially inept physicists realize how little they know about the real world when a beautiful woman moves into the apartment next door. Sheldon (Jim Parsons, in his first Emmy-nominated role) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) try their best to impress Penny (Kaley Cuoco), who helps teach them about life outside their lab. In the second season of this witty sitcom, the geniuses and their equally awkward pals continue their education about the non-geek population.

The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith

Tolerance, compassion and faith are the keynotes of this moving Christian drama that illustrates the biblical story of Ruth. After being widowed, Ruth (Sherry Morris) travels to Israel, a land in turmoil, and struggles to create a new life for herself. She marries Boaz (Carman), of the Royal House of Judah, and he leads her to a greater understanding of God’s love. Their son Obed will become King David’s grandfather and a herald for the Messiah. (2009) Not Rated

Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker

In film clips, photos, and interviews, the life of virtuoso saxophonist Charlie Parker is traced from Kansas City to the New York jazz scene of the 1950s.

The Cinder Path

From Masterpiece Theatre, Englishman Charlie McFell (Lloyd Owen) wrestles with his demons — including a coldhearted wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones), economic hardship, the horror of the world’s first Great War and a painful secret he’d rather forget. But Charlie eventually comes out on top in this emotional, made-for-television miniseries based on Catherine Cookson’s best-selling novel. (1995) Not Rated

Collision

In the wake of a six-car crash that leaves two people dead, Detective Inspector John Tolin (Douglas Henshall) and Senior Investigating Officer Ann Stallwood (Kate Ashfield) launch an investigation that unearths dark personal secrets, corporate crime and even murder. Meanwhile, Tolin and Stallwood must deal with their own relationship and come to terms with their past in this Masterpiece Theatre program. Not Rated (2009)

The Commander: Set One

Follow the adventures of Scotland Yard’s Serious and Organised Crime Group Commander, Clare Blake (Amanda Burton), as she starts an affair with a recently released murderer (Hugh Bonneville), cares for her cancer-stricken sister and searches for London’s most dangerous killers. Always taking risks in her personal and professional lives, the unconventional Blake continually battles the attacks of her resentful co-worker, DCI Hedges. (2003) Not Rated

The Couple

Martin Landau heads the cast as Joseph Krauzenberg, an affluent Jewish industrialist who agrees to surrender all of his vast material wealth to the Nazis in return for his family’s safe passage out of German-occupied Hungary. But Krauzenberg’s decision puts his most loyal servants, the Vassmans (Kenny Doughty and Caroline Carver), in jeopardy. Judy Parfitt plays Landau’s stately wife in this somber World War II drama directed by John Daly. (2004) Not Rated

Crooked

When a call girl witnesses a gangland hit, she becomes the mob’s next target, and the only people who can save her are mismatched cops Danny Tyler (Don  Wilson) and Phil Yordan (Olivier Gruner). The pair quickly become targets as well, and all three are soon on the run. But is one of them secretly tipping off their pursuers?  (2005) Rated R

Dalziel And Pascoe: Season One

Unusual methods aside, detectives Andy Dalziel (Warren Clarke) and Peter Pascoe (Colin Buchanan) have nothing in common — Dalziel is the loudmouthed copper to Pascoe’s genteel inspector — but together they crack Yorkshire’s most obstinate murder cases. The opening season of this BBC drama finds the pair investigating the death of a rugby player’s wife and the reappearance of a school principal’s body — and even taking a shine to each other. (1996) Not Rated

A Day in October

This compelling suspense drama follows the underground war-time evacuation of the Jews from Nazi-occupied Denmark to neutral Sweden. The Jewish Kublitz family lives quietly and comfortably in Copenhagen until a wounded Gentile resistance fighter, Niels (D.B. Sweeney) is saved from death by young Sarah Kublitz (Kelly Wolf) who gives him shelter in the Kublitz home. Sarah and Niels fall in love as the Resistance learns of the Nazis plan to arrest Jews. Sarah’s father, who works as a bookkeeper in a Nazi arms factory, must face some tough moral choices. (1991) Rated PG-13

The Deal

The head of Britain’s Labour Party has suddenly died. The two possible successors, political rivals Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) and Gordon Brown (David Morrissey), meet at a fateful 1994 dinner to debate the fate of the country, while flashbacks recount the story of their friendship. This absorbing political drama was meticulously adapted from real events by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Frears — the same team behind The Queen. Not Rated (2003)

The Diary of Anne Frank

From Masterpiece Theatre, teenager Anne Frank (Ellie Kendrick) and her Jewish family hide from the Nazis during World War II in this outstanding BBC production of the classic book. As time drags on, they deal with both the terrifying fear of their situation and normal family life. But the cramped quarters and tense situation sometimes cause tempers to flair. Presented in five half-hour episodes, the series intertwines some of Frank’s actual words within the action. (2009) Not Rated

Doc Martin: Series Three

Irascible and uptight as always, the good doctor Martin Ellingham (Martin Clunes) takes on challenges both medical and human in the third season of this British TV series set in the Cornish fishing village of Portwenn. The healer’s relationship with Louisa (Caroline Catz) is as dicey as ever, and he can’t seem to keep his foot out of his mouth. Meanwhile, the doc has acquired an aggressive new suitor in the form of hotel owner Carrie Wilson. (2007) Not Rated

An Englishman in New York

John Hurt plays celebrated, iconic gay author-artist Quentin Crisp (the subject of Sting’s song, “Englishman in New York”) in this pseudo biopic that chronicles Crisp’s high-profile move from London to New York’s Bowery in the 1980s. Cynthia Nixon, Swoosie Kurtz, Denis O’Hare and Jonathan Tucker also star in this long-anticipated sequel to the groundbreaking, made-for-television adaptation of “The Naked Civil Servant.” (2008) Not Rated

Everwood: The Complete Second Season

Just as Andy (Treat Williams) and his two kids, Ephram (Gregory Smith) and Delia (Vivien Cardone), begin to settle into their new home in Everwood, the widower doctor finds himself mired in turmoil when the town’s residents blame him for the death of Colin Hart (Mike Erwin). But things begin to look up for the family when Ephram finds love with a college student (Sarah Lancaster), and Andy begins to fall for Dr. Linda Abbott (Marcia Cross). (2003) Not Rated

Foyle’s War: Set 6

At the end of World War II, amid still turbulent times, Det. Chief Inspector Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) solves the crimes that dog the British coastal town of Hastings, mysteries that have pulled him from retirement. In this three-episode set, a Russian POW’s escape leads to murder; racial tensions boil as African American soldiers await their departure home; and Foyle investigates an accused traitor too willing to meet his fate. Not Rated

Freud

David Suchet offers up an award-winning performance with his portrayal of Dr. Sigmund Freud in this 1984 BBC miniseries tracing the life and career of the founder of psychoanalysis, from his early professional days until his death. The production also features Michael Pennington as Freud’s nemesis, Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung; Helen Bourne as his wife, Martha Bernays; Suzanne Bertish as his sister-in-law; and Alison Key as his daughter, Anna. (1984) Not Rated

Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday

This sparkling documentary features rare TV and movie clips, along with commentary by a stellar group of jazz instrumentalists and singers who knew her well.

Mad Men: Season 3

The martini-sipping, chain-smoking execs of New York ad agency Sterling Cooper — led by the dashing and mysterious creative director Don Draper (Jon Hamm) — wade deeper into the turbulence of the 1960s in the third season of this Emmy-winning series. The acclaimed ensemble cast features Elisabeth Moss as rising star Peggy Olson, John Slattery as slick senior partner Roger Sterling, and January Jones as Don’s beautiful but unhappy wife, Betty. (2009) Not Rated

MI-5: Season 7

Richard Armitage joins the cast of this award-winning British spy series as Lucas North, a former MI-5 agent who’s back on the job after spending eight years in a Russian prison — which makes him a perfect fit for Section D’s priority of the moment. But the question is, can he be trusted? His old friend Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) would like to think so but has his doubts. Alex Lanipekun, Hugh Simon and Gemma Jones co-star. (2008) Not Rated

Midsomer Murders: Set 15

The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary British television mysteries. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, modern master of the English village mystery, the series stars John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, with Jason Hughes as his earnest, efficient protégé, Detective Sergeant Ben Jones.

Murphy’s Law: Series One

Murphy’s Law: Series Two

After the IRA murders his daughter, hard-boiled Detective Tommy Murphy (James Nesbitt) escapes to London. Guilt-ridden over her death, Murphy brings a bad attitude to his work as an undercover officer for the Metropolitan Police in this acclaimed British cop series. But with nothing left to lose, he throws himself into the job, diving deep into the city’s underbelly and taking on the most treacherous assignments. (2001) Not Rated

My Neighbors The Yamadas

This animated film follows the adventures of the quirky Yamada family, drawn with digital technology to resemble the watercolor look of the popular “Nono-chan” comic strips. Jim Belushi and Molly Shannon lend their voices to father-and-mother team Takashi and Matsuko, who do their best to handle two children (Liliana Mumy and Daryl Sabara), a live-in grandmother (Tress MacNeille) and Pochi, the family dog. (1999) Rated PG

New Tricks: Season One

Following her mishandling of a recent hostage crisis, Det. Superintendent Sandra Pullman is reassigned as the new head of the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad, a team of investigators charged with reexamining cold cases. Determined to not allow the reassignment derail her, Pullman sets out to make the UCOS a top-notch unit with the help of semi-retired detectives Jack Halford (James Bolam) and Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman). (2003) Not Rated

New Tricks: Season 2

Retired detectives Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman), Jack Halford (James Bolam) and Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong) are as creaky as the cases they’ve been called in to revive. The leads are bone cold, and their methods verge on eccentric, but their desire for justice hasn’t gone out of style. Season 2 of the BBC sleeper-hit series has the odd combo tracking down a missing greyhound and poking around a fishing pit, among other seriocomic pursuits. (2005) Not Rated

Nine Queens

Two small-time grifters (Ricardo Darin and Gastón Pauls) endure a series of tense negotiations when they attempt to sell a sheet of counterfeit stamps for a hefty sum, but the process is made more stressful when one of the con men’s estranged sister (Leticia Bredice) becomes involved. Fans of American writer David Mamet will appreciate the twists in this Argentinean caper from writer-director Fabián Bielinsky. Spanish dialogue, English subtitles. (2000) Rated R

Pie in The Sky: Series Two

Semi-retired cop Henry Crabbe (Richard Griffiths) pursues his lifelong dream of opening a restaurant, much to the chagrin of his boss (Malcolm Sinclair), who needs Crabbe on the force, and his accountant wife (Maggie Steed), who worries about the financial risks of Crabbe’s new business. Griffiths shines as the brainy, culinary-minded policeman in this deliciously quirky British crime drama from the 1990s. (1995) Not Rated

Place of Execution

Journalist Catherine Heathcote (Juliet Stevenson) solicits the help of investigator George Bennett (Lee Ingleby) for her documentary about the 1963 disappearance of a 13-year-old girl. But when Bennett abruptly stops cooperating, Heathcote begins to unravel some surprising truths. Now Heathcote may have to reevaluate her deep-rooted beliefs about justice. Based on the book by Val McDermid, this “Masterpiece” special co-stars Greg Wise.  (2009) Not Rated

Project Runway: The Complete Sixth Season

Sixteen new designers compete in Los Angeles, finding inspiration everywhere from Malibu’s beaches to the Getty Museum. Features all-new challenges, projects that should never have been made, and celebrity appearances, including Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria Parker, and Lindsay Lohan. Rated TV-14

Rick Steves’ Italian Countryside

Includes all 6 half-hour Rick Steves’ Europe TV shows on Italy’s countryside, produced from 2000 to 2009: Cinque Terre (Italy’s Hidden Riviera), Siena and Assisi (Italy’s Grand Hill Towns), Tuscany’s Dolce Vita, Italy’s Amalfi Coast, and  The Best of Sicily.

Rick Steves’ Scandinavia

Includes all 4 half-hour episodes on Scandinavia from the Rick Steves’ Europe television program, produced from 2000 to 2009.  Copenhagen — Denmark Beyond Copenhagen — Oslo, Bergen and the Fjords — Stockholm and Helsinki.

Sharpe’s Challenge

Sean Bean reprises his role as Richard Sharpe eight years after his last go-around as the swashbuckling hero. Word that a local maharaja is threatening British interests sends Sharpe on his most dangerous mission yet. When the Indian warlord kidnaps the daughter of a general, Sharpe has not only her fate in his hands but that of an entire empire. Shot in India, and based on the popular adventure novels by Bernard Cornwell. (2006) Not Rated

Sharpe’s Peril

Sean Bean reprises his role as Lt. Col. Richard Sharpe in this made-for-TV adventure set in 1818, when Sharpe and Sgt. Maj. Patrick Harper (Daragh O’Malley) run afoul of a bandit leader while traveling with a disparate group of soldiers and traders to Madras. Desperate to defeat the wily outlaw, Sharpe trains his new, reluctant militia to fight as they traverse the hostile terrain, but discovers that the bandits aren’t their most dangerous enemy. (2008) Not Rated

Second Look: Adults with Autism

Third Look: Supports for Adults with Autism

Produced by the PA Department of Public Welfare, these DVDs look at social supports for adults with autism. Support professionals discuss the importance of assisting autistic adults in the development of social and life skills. Profiles a number of Pennsylvania residents with autism.

The 39 Steps

Richard Hannay (Rupert Penry-Jones) has his holiday interrupted when secret agent Scudder (Eddie Marsan) bursts into his apartment, staying alive just long enough to deposit a notebook. Pegged with murder, Hannay must decode the book and nab the culprits — before they find him first. In this nimble BBC update of John Buchan’s novel, German spies and British police give chase as Hannay races to deliver the coveted code and avert a world war. (2008) Not Rated

True Blood: Season Two

Telepathic waitress Sookie (Anna Paquin) attempts to solve a recent murder and sort out several issues with her vampire boyfriend, Bill (Stephen Moyer), including how to deal with his annoying teenage houseguest, Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll). Season two of this critically acclaimed vampire series features new characters, including Iraq war veteran Terry (Todd Lowe) and mysterious social worker Maryann (Michelle Forbes).

The United States of Tara: Season One

Steven Spielberg created this wry cable series that follows Tara (Toni Collette, in a Golden Globe-winning role), a wife and mother suffering from a dissociative identity disorder. As she wrestles with multiple personalities, Tara works to keep her dysfunctional family from falling apart. John Corbett co-stars as Tara’s husband, who finds ways of coping with his wife’s mutability. Keir Gilchrist and Brie Larson play the couple’s children. Not Rated

Wind at my Back: The Complete Second Season

Honey Bailey (Cynthia Belliveau) may have found love and security with teacher Max Sutton (James Carroll), but she still has her share of troubles in this dramatic series from the creators of “Anne of Green Gables.” In the show’s sophomore season, Honey’s sister-in-law Grace (Kathryn Greenwood) launches a radio advice program and becomes a local celebrity, and a ghost seems to be haunting New Bedford’s best hotel. (1997) Not Rated

Wind at My Back: The Complete Third Season

In the third season of this saga set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, life doesn’t get any less complicated for Honey, her children, their controlling grandmother or anyone else in the Bailey brood. As the season opens, the failure of the Silver Dome Mine is having far-reaching effects on the city of New Bedford, and May is more determined than ever to wrest back control of the mine and her town’s fortunes. (1999) Not Rated

Wind at My Back: The Complete Fourth Season

In 1930s Ontario, in the depths of the Great Depression, widow Honey Bailey continues to live with the terrible choice thrust upon her by her wealthy, controlling mother-in-law, trying her best to provide a life for the children she left behind. In the fourth season of this frequently heartbreaking melodrama, Honey has taken gravely ill and is consigned to a sanitarium, while the rest of the family deals with their own issues. (2000) Not Rated

Wind at my Back: The Complete Fifth Season

The popular series from the creators of “Anne of Green Gables” returns for a fifth and final season, continuing to chronicle the trials and tribulations endured by the ever-resilient Bailey family during the Great Depression. Following her stint in a sanatorium, Honey (Laura Bruneau) returns to New Bedford to find her family in flux. Max (James Carroll) considers a career in politics and Hub (Dylan Provencher) contemplates priesthood. (2000)