Some new DVDs aren’t the whole show

By Rich Heldenfels, of The Akron Beacon Journal - 10/27/2007

Q: Networks and other programmers usually delete scenes from movies to use the time for commercials. However, I suspect the same is done with DVDs without telling us. From long ago, I seem to remember a scene in ‘‘The Great Escape’’ where the ashes of the 50 who were executed were delivered to the camp, but it was not in the DVD. I expected to see the entire movie on DVD. Am I wrong?

A: I have seen ‘‘The Great Escape’’ a war-movie gem with James Garner, Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson many times and do not remember the scene you describe. Nor did I find it when I went back to my VHS copy of the movie, nor was it mentioned in several synopses I read of the film. So your memory might be playing tricks.

At the same time, you raise a valid issue about productions going to DVD, one that I have ranted about before and will do so again.

Things are not always in the form people originally saw them. Some television shows on DVD include the shorter, syndicated versions of episodes instead of their original network cuts. (There are occasionally warnings in the fine print on the box.) Music might also be substituted. And some productions make changes to fit the mood of the times or the filmmakers. Disney’s Pecos Bill had his cigarette edited out on video, for example, George Lucas has tweaked various ‘‘Star Wars’’ elements, and Steven Spielberg turned guns in ‘‘E.T.’’ into walkie-talkies for a reissue of that movie.

In every case, I think the production should have remained in its original form. Changing them just encourages the idea that they’re not so much pieces of art as endlessly malleable product.

Q: This summer a new channel called Sleuth came on. I really enjoy it. One of the shows was called ‘‘Turks,’’ about a family of policemen. All of a sudden it wasn’t on anymore. Can you tell me if it will be coming back?

A: According to the listings for Sleuth, an NBC Universal channel devoted to cop shows and mysteries, ‘‘Turks’’ is now airing on Sundays at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Eastern time. You should be aware there are not many episodes of the show; it originally aired on CBS for a few months in 1999.

Q: Can you can tell me if William Shatner was in the first season of ‘‘Boston Legal,’’ or did he enter the series in the second season?

A: Shatner has been in the ABC series from the beginning. But his history of playing Denny Crane did not begin on ‘‘Boston Legal.’’ He first played the character on ‘‘The Practice,’’ where James Spader’s ‘‘Boston Legal’’ character was also introduced, before they moved on to the newer show. In fact, Shatner won an Emmy playing Denny on ‘‘The Practice’’ before doing likewise on ‘‘Boston Legal.’’

Q: Do you have any information about ‘‘Once Upon a Mattress,’’ the early one with Carol Burnett as the princess?

A: The 1959 Broadway hit inspired by ‘‘The Princess and the Pea’’ was first adapted for television in 1964, then again in 1972, both times with Burnett as the princess. (She played the queen in the 2005 TV production.) The 2005 version is available on DVD, but I could not find authorized commercial releases of the earlier versions on video. There is a CD of the original Broadway cast.