Susan Granger’s dvd update for week of Friday, Nov. 28th:
With Thanksgiving leftovers still in the refrigerator, ‘tis the Christmas season on dvd.
Warners’ “Classic Holiday Collection, Vol. 2” features festive favorites: “All Mine to Give” about six orphaned pioneer children struggling to spend Christmas together; “Holiday Affair,” starring Janet Leigh and Robert Mitchum; and “It Happened on 5th Avenue,” a screwball comedy about a hobo and his pals moving into a mansion, plus “Blossoms in the Dust” with Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. You can buy it alone or with Vol. 1 (“Boys Town,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Christmas in Connecticut”).
Aimed at an African-American audience, “This Christmas” has Loretta Devine, Delroy Lindo and others enduring an angst-filled, three-day gathering in Los Angeles. And “Fred Claus” stars Vince Vaughn as the sainted Nicholas’ resentful big brother.
The engaging new kids’ series, “How’d They Build That?” revs up curiosity and knowledge about how big rigs, like “Fire Truck” and “Big Truck,” are created in assembly plants. For pre-schoolers, there’s also “Snow Days” with Barney, Thomas & Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder and Pingu. And “Winky’s Horse” follows a young girl’s Christmas plea to Santa.
For horror fans, the notorious cult-classic, “Black Christmas” with Margot Kidder, Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea and John Saxon, is on Blu-Ray disc.
PICK OF THE WEEK: Set in the Jones household on Christmas Eve, “Jim Henson’s The Christmas Toy” finds all the toys in the playroom magically coming to life, anticipating the arrival of new toys. Balthazar, the wise old bear, gives his annual Yuletide speech, stressing the importance of welcoming newcomers, while Rugby the tiger will have none of it. This glimpse into the secret life of toys shows youngsters how friendship, love and helping others are the most important gift of all.