For New Holiday DVD Releases 10/20/09

PEANUTS: 1970'S COLLECTION, VOL. 1 (IT'S A MYSTERY CHARLIE BROWN / PLAY IT AGAIN / A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING / IT'S THE EASTER BEAGLE / THERE'S NO TIME FOR LOVE / YOU'RE NOT ELECTED)

Since 1950, Charles Schulz' Peanuts has remained a popular and enduring franchise celebrating the life and times of Charlie Brown and company. This lovable loser, always clad in his trademark yellow and black shirt, has been the centerpiece of a long-running comic strip and appeared in countless animated full-length films and shorter TV specials. For the most part, these animated specials were based on original Peanuts comic strips, which were fleshed out to create 25-minute adventures. Featuring simple yet charming animation, a cast of child voice actors and music by Vince Guaraldi (until his death in 1976, though his music was often used posthumously), Peanuts animated specials have become a staple of American television for decades. Peanuts: The 1970s Collection, Volume 1 continues the trend set by Warner Bros.' first volume, pairing six vintage specials with remastered technical presentations.


PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES (THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS EDITION)

Neal Page is an advertising executive who just wants to fly home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family. But all Neal Page gets is misery. Misery named Del Griffith - a loud mouthed, but nevertheless loveable, salesman who leads Neal on a cross-country, wild goose chase that keeps Neal from tasting his turkey. Steve Martin (Neal) and John Candy (Del) are absolutely wonderful as two guys with a knack for making the worst of a bad situation. If it's painful, funny, or just plain crazy, it happens to Neal and Del in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Every traveler's nightmare in a comedy-come-true!


WOW! WOW! WUBBZY!: WUBBZY'S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE

The holidays are coming, and everyone in Wuzzleburg is getting ready for Winter Wonder Wubb Club fun! In this all-new Wubbzy collection, everyone's favorite bendy-tailed buddy pitches in to decorate The Figgity-Fig Tree, fix Walden's snow sculpture and even solve the mystery of the Snow Shoo-Shoo! There s plenty of singing, dancing, hoopty-horns and slippery-sledding too, all in the DVD that celebrates the ultimate Wow! Wow! season of caring, sharing and friendship!


THE JUDY GARLAND HOLIDAY SHOW

In this 1963 holiday episode of The Judy Garland Show, a large crop of guest stars, including Judy Garland's three children, joins the singer for a bevy of classic and contemporary songs, most of them Christmas-themed. Opening with one of her signature tunes, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Meet Me in St. Louis, Garland makes her way through "Consider Yourself" (from Oliver), "Little Drops of Rain" (from Gay Purr-ee), and, of course, "Over the Rainbow" (from The Wizard of Oz). Jazz singers Jack Jones and Mel Torme also turn up; Jones solos on "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "Lollipops and Roses", while Torme duets with Garland on one of his own classics, "The Christmas Song" (also known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire").


THE SECRET OF THE NUTCRACKER

Adapted from E.T.A. Hoffman's classic novel, The Secret of the Nutcracker features the talents of Brian Cox (The Escapist, The Water Horse) as Drosselmeyer and introduces Janelle Jorde as Clara in a charming union of fantasy and reality that captures the true essence of Christmas. This delightful holiday tale follows 12-year-old Clara's mystical journey on Christmas Eve to find her father, who is captive in a World War II Prisoner of War camp. Worried and longing to see her father, she receives unexpected help from the mysterious Drosselmeyer, who befriends Clara and brings her the gift of magic and hope when she needs it most. The Secret of the Nutcracker features the soaring music of Tchaikovsky performed by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Four exquisite dance spectacles by the world-renowned Alberta Ballet are woven throughout to create Clara's wondrous dream world.

BLACK ADDER V: THE SPECIALS

Back and Forth Many great dynasties, strong and brave, have played a part in shaping Britain's heritage. The Blackadders are not one of them. From cowards to cads and back again, the Blackadders have managed to seriously lower the integrity of every era through which they have wended their serpentine way. The Blackadder cast returns after a ten-year absence for this special. The new 21st century Lord Blackadder and his scabby, but loyal, servant Baldrick wreak havoc as they tumble through the past in a time machine -- with disastrous consequences. Blackadder's Christmas Carol Christmas Eve, 1850. In the reign of good Queen Vic, there stood, in Dumpling Lane in old London town, the Moustache Shoppe of one Ebenezer Blackadder - the kindest and loveliest man in all England. That is until the Spirit of Christmas shows up and introduces him to the ways of his loathsome ancestors...


UNLIKELY ANGEL

Dolly Parton plays Ruby Diamond in this touching Christmas story. Ruby meets an untimely death, and before entering heaven wants to become an angel. She is sent back to earth on a mission, and if she succeeds she will get her wings. She has to complete a mission before midnight on Christmas Eve. Ruby is now a nanny for a dysfunctional family who is trying to cope after the death of the mother in the family. The family is disconnected, the father a workaholic and the two children feeling distanced. Ruby helps the family realize they need each other, and need to stick together. Overall it is a wonderful holiday movie that will warm your heart. Dolly sings some wonderful songs too. Overall a well written movie, and Dolly is excellent in it. Add this one to your collection, it will brighten any Christmas.


CLASSIC SKI FILMS

Winter Magic Around the World (1946-1970) by John Jay is part global travelogue and part thrilling ski spectacle while The Best of John Jay (1946-1970) is a greatest hits compilation covering Vail to Zermatt. The Basic Principles of Skiing (1941) by Otto Lang was used to train United States mountain troops. Ski Flight (1938), the first theatrical ski film, demonstrated the Arlberg System, and Skifully Yours (1939) focused on the star-studded Sun Valley ski scene in the late 30s. Dick Barrymore s The Performers (1971) ushered in the freestyle revolution and The Last of the Ski Bums (1967) follows the European exploits of three footloose American skiers.


IN SEARCH OF SANTA CLAUS

Documentary This program chronicles the history of Santa Claus, from a holy man to a Christmas icon.