Scrooge & Marley - DVD

Scrooge was designed as a follow-up to 1968's Oliver, the Oscar-winning musicalization of Charles Dickens' OLIVER TWIST. The umpteenth musical version of Dickens' 1843 novelette a CHRISTMAS CAROL, SCROOGE is blessed with several sprightly Leslie Bricusse songs, including the bonafide hit "Thank You Very Much". Once more buried under mounds of latex, Albert Finney is perfection itself as Ebeneezer Scrooge, proving as effective as a young (un-made up) man as the old skinflint we've grown to love. The Three Ghosts who turn the miserly Scrooge's life around on Christmas Eve are portrayed by Edith Evans (Past), Kenneth More (Present) and Paddy Stone (Yet to Come). Our favorite among the huge, predominantly British supporting cast is Sir Alec Guinness as a fussy, slightly effeminate Marley's Ghost. Best of all, Finney performs his many songs live and not lip-synched to a pre-recording. Though it is overproduced to the hilt, and it's Technicolor photography tends to induce eyestrain, SCROOGE is more than satisfactory Yuletide entertainment.

Two-disc set includes The Valachi Papers (1972)Based on the Peter Maas bestseller, this controversial crime drama stars Charles Bronson as real-life mob soldier Joseph Valachi. While detailing his illicit activities from 1929 to 1961 to an FBI agent, Valachi becomes the first wiseguy to violate the Mafia's code of silence, and betrays his associates and "Capo of Capos" Vito Genovese. With Lino Ventura, Jill Ireland, Walter Chiari. 125 min. C/Rtg PG The Stone Killer (1973)Charles Bronson is a cop on the trail of crime kingpin Martin Balsam and his vicious assassination bureau. Think Harry Callahan plays dirty? Wait until you see how Bronson (just one year away from "Death Wish") gets the job done, racing against time to uncover a mob plot involving Vietnam veterans. It's cross-country mayhem and nonstop action! Jack Colvin, Norman Fell, and Stuart Margolin co-star. 115 min. C/Rtg R Hard Times (1975)A drifter (Charles Bronson) blows into Depression-era New Orleans, and impresses a sleazy promoter (James Coburn) into backing him in the underground bare-knuckle fight circuit. He demolishes the local competition, but can he deal with the big money's imported talent? Gritty and bruising directorial bow for Walter Hill co-stars Jill Ireland, Strother Martin. 94 min. C/Rtg PG Breakout (1975)Charles Bronson is at his daring best in this lighthearted actioner, portraying Nick Colton, a reckless Texas bush pilot hired by a woman (Jill Ireland) to land a chopper in a South American prison complex to rescue her wrongfully imprisoned husband (Robert Duvall). Loosely based on an actual 1971 incident, the film co-stars John Huston, Randy Quaid, Sheree North, Alejandro Rey; directed by Tom Gries ("Helter Skelter"). 97 min. C/Rtg PG Widescreen; Soundtrack English.

It is Christmas Eve 1933, and the townspeople of Concord, NH are trying to hold onto their holiday spirit in the face of the Great Depression. But old Mr. Benedict Slade (Henry Winkler) is ruining what hope they have left by mercilessly repossessing their prized goods. Alone in his apartment, Slade is visited by three ghosts-Christmas Past, Present and Future-who take him on a fantastic journey through time that will show him the tragic consequences of his actions if he doesn't mend his ways forever.