DVD Releases Include Indy Mentions

Indy.com Staff

October 12, 2008 by Indy.com Staff

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Indianapolis unexpectedly gets its moment in the sun on Disc 1 of a new four-volume DVD highlighting the third season of the Smothers Brothers TV show.

Dick Smothers attended the NHRA Nationals at Indianapolis Raceway Park during the summer of 1968, just before the start of the 1968-69 third season. His experiences are shared in "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour: The Best of Season 3" DVD (Time Life).

During one of the early episodes of that season, Smothers is shown in a Smothers Brothers Racing Team drag car. He zooms down the IRP track's quarter-mile stretch in his red vehicle at 109 mph, or 12.7 seconds.

He calls his ride one of "brutal power."

Even though the boxed set highlights full episodes from a season 40 years ago, it is actually timely. That's because it was an election year, and parallels of today are unavoidable.

A young Steve Martin, who was a writer for the show, makes brief appearances. Rob Reiner wrote as well.

Guests include Bob Newhart, Jonathan Winters, George Carlin, Dan Rowan, George Harrison, Harry Belafonte, Mama Cass Elliot, the First Edition (with Kenny Rogers), the Doors, Ray Charles, Joan Baez and many others.

The Smothers Brothers, by the way, visit the Warren Performing Arts Center on Nov. 15.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

Warner Home Video is making sure you get your fill of pigskin.

Current Indianapolis Colts Youth Football Director Mike Prior, who lives in Carmel and was a former Colts player as well, shines in the limelight of a Green Bay Packers Super Bowl victory in "NFL Greatest Games: Green Bay Packers." This boxed set contains 10 complete Packers games, including the Super Bowl in January 1997 over the New England Patriots, a game in which Prior had a key interception.

Other Greatest Games releases, which contain entire game broadcasts, that are being released this fall include the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Tennessee Titans.

And, if that weren't enough, Warner also has released "NFL History of the Cleveland Browns" and "NFL History of the Washington Redskins," as well as the hilarious "NFL's Funniest Players," hosted by Michael Strahan.

And, there's a Manning in a recent Warner release. Eli Manning leads the way in the boxed set "NFL New York Giants: Road to the Super Bowl."

A&E'S WIDE-RANGING SETS

As usual, A&E Home Video has a wide range of boxed sets that will fit the interest of almost anyone.

Hoosier native Don Mattingly hits a home run in "The Essential Games of Yankee Stadium," a six-disc set that contains six full New York Yankees baseball games. It was Mattingly's last game there before he retired. Plenty of bonus features accentuate the set.

"Horatio Hornblower: Collector's Edition" is shielded in sleek new packaging, which contains all eight original Hornblower films with bonus material as well. This is a treasure chest of naval drama.

How definitive is "Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Definitive Collection"? Try 19 hours, 39 minutes definitive. Handlebar mustached David Suchet stars as Poirot in a must-see.

"Ax Men: The Complete Season One" includes all 13 original episodes of the show that explores the rough-and-tumble logging industry of Oregon. Never-seen bonus footage is included.

"Gangland: The Complete Season One" features real stories behind America's deadliest gangs.

PAUL NEWMAN LIVES

Acting legend Paul Newman may have died recently, but thanks to Warner Home Video, he shall remain timeless.

Weeks before his recent death, Warner released a deluxe edition DVD of seminal Newman movie "Cool Hand Luke."

The newly remastered picture boasts a very entertaining, new making-of featurette.

The film was nominated for four Oscars, and won for best supporting actor (George Kennedy).

There was no "failure to communicate" with this film.

HERE AND THERE ...

Canadian's finest folk-pop singer, Jewel, has a new can't-miss boxed set, "Jewel: The Essential Live Songbook" (Koch Vision). The two-disc set contains SoundStage performances in historic theaters in Joliet, Ill., and Dallas. Some songs are accompanied by a chamber orchestra.

"The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show: Complete Series" (MVD Visual) brings all 16 zany Saturday morning TV episodes from the 1970s to life -- including the zany character Chucky Margolis. The DVD includes Brett, Mark and Bill singing the top 10 hit "So You Are a Star."

-- By Steve Slosarek

Forum: Movies

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