Performing Arts

Bye Bye Birdie (DVD)

This entertaining musical, based on the Broadway hit inspired by the hysteria surrounding Elvis Presley's induction into the army, traces the shock waves a drafted rock& roll star, Conrad Birdie (Jesse Pearson), creates when he comes to a small town to kiss adoring fan Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) good-bye on national TV. A fiesty secretary, Rosie DeLeon (Janet Leigh), has put the whole plan in motion, hoping that Birdie will sing a song composed by her beau, Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke), enabling Rosie's boyfriend to finally break free of his domineering mother (Maureen Stapleton) and marry her. Meanwhile, Kim's new steady, Hugo (Bobby Rydell), is less than pleased about the spotlighted embrace, as are her parents (Paul Lynde and Mary LaRoche)--at least until they get in on the action too. Ed Sullivan appears as himself, Ann-Margret is her usual perky, gyrating self, Van Dyke amply displays his wealth of talents, and Lynde and Stapleton nearly steal the whole production with their hilarious supporting roles. Director George Sidney, who would soon collaborate with the real King in the Presley tour de force VIVA LAS VEGAS, tightens the Broadway original without losing any of its verve and charm to create a rollicking uptempo joyride through a candy-colored early 1960s pop-culture landscape.DVD Features:Region 1 EncodingKeep CaseTalent and FilmographiesScene SelectionsTheatrical TrailerProduction Notes

Related Products to Bye Bye Birdie (DVD):

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (DVD) » Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (DVD)

SPIRIT: STALLION OF THE CIMARRON is a refreshingly old-fashioned and gentle tale of a mustang stallion struggling to remain free in the old West. The film is a seamless blend of traditional hand-drawn and computer-generated animation. Opening with an impressive bird's eye pan of the Grand Canyon, from the viewpoint of an eagle, SPIRIT captures the unspoiled beauty of the land. The animals in this particular animated film do not talk, and Matt Damon provides effective, sparse narration from the perspective of Spirit, an adventurous young stallion who is captured by the U.S. Army. But Spirit will not let the soldiers saddle and ride him. An authoritarian colonel (voiced by James Cromwell) is determined to break Spirit, at one point starving the horse to weaken him. A Lakota prisoner, Little Creek (voiced by Daniel Studi) is impressed with the horse, and helps him to escape. Little Creek can't break the horse either. But the two learn to respect each other, and Spirit meets Rain, Little Creek's horse, and falls in love. The score was written by Hans Zimmer, and Bryan Adams wrote and performed the sweet, simple songs on the soundtrack. SPIRIT is a great-looking and lovingly crafted children's film.DVD Features:Region 1Keep CaseAnamorphic Widescreen - 2.35Audio: Dolby Surround - English Dolby Surround - French Dolby Surround - SpanishAdditional Release Material: Audio Commentary - 1. Lorna Cook and Kelly Asbury - Directors Bonus Short - 1. Learn to Draw Spirit with James Baxter Featurette - 1. Film Music with Bryan Adams

2. Tech Featurette Film-to-Storyboard ComparisonInteractive Features: Scene Access Interactive Game - 1. Set-Top Games

2. Make-A-Movie Studio

3. DWK - This Way to Play Interactive MenusDVD-ROM Features: DVD-ROM Game