—The Bette Davis Collection (April 15) : Legendary actress Bette Davis—who was nominated for 11 Oscars and won two—is immortalized in this five-DVD collection that includes All About Eve, Phone Call from a Stranger, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, The Virgin Queen and The Nanny. Extras include gallery, restoration comparisons and various featurettes. (Features vary with each film.) The movies individually are $19.98; together, they’re $49.98.
—The Big Gay Sketch Show: The Complete Unrated Second Season (April 29) : The eight episodes of season two of Logo’s show feature celebrity guests such as stage legends Elaine Stritch and Christine Ebersole as well as comedian Kate Clinton, Chastity Bono and Rosie O’Donnell, who also serves as one of the show’s executive producers. The two-disc set will retail for $26.99.
—The Billy Wilder Film Collection (already out) : Journey behind the lens of Billy Wilder and experience Hollywood’s favorite silver-screen stars—such as Marilyn Monroe, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis—in one film compilation in The Billy Wilder Film Collection. The acclaimed movies include The Apartment (special edition), The Fortune Cookie, Kiss Me Stupid! and Some Like It Hot, Collector’s Edition. The set retails for $39.98.
—Lars and the Real Girl (pictured) (April 15) : When a misguided young man thinks he has found true love—with a life-sized doll—the people in his town must learn to love her in this charming (although some would say, creepy) film that stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer and Patricia Clarkson. Extras include two featurettes; the DVD will retail for $27.95.
—Midnight Express, 30th Anniversary Edition (already out) : Based on a true story and winner of two Academy Awards and six Golden Globes, this gritty R-rated film follows the story of Billy Hayes (the late Brad Davis), a young U.S. resident caught at the Turkish border trying to smuggle hashish; stuck in prison, he thinks that a ‘midnight express’ (escaping under the cover of night) might be his only option. The film, which retails for $19.94, also stars Randy Quaid, John Hurt and Bo Hopkins.
—Socket (March 25) : This TLA release ($19.99) is a gay sci-fi fantasy about finding the ultimate release—it’s like an electrical version of Crash (the David Cronenberg auto fetish film, not the 2006 Oscar-winning movie). After being struck by lightning, Dr. Bill Matthews receives extra special care from mysterious, sexy hospital intern Craig. Having survived the same natural accident, Craig introduces his new recruit to an underground group that uses electricity to reach ecstasy. Look for Chicagoan trans legend Alexandra Billings as Dr. Emily Andersen. See www.TLAReleasing.com.
—Andrew Davis