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It’s the Gold Standard of Christmas movies and likely the oldest feature still broadcast on network TV during the holidays: Frank Capra’s sentimental favorite is his most human movie, the kind of show that convinced people that raising a family is a great idea. Although we’re now a full three generations removed from the world events that surround the story of George Bailey, his problems haven’t dated. Paramount’s anniversary disc gives us a new encoding from a 4K scan, a repressing of the older colorized version, a good making-of piece by Craig Barron and Ben Burtt, a reel of home movies from the film’s wrap picnic in the summer of ’46. . . and a set of ‘Bailey Family Recipe Cards.’

It’s a Wonderful Life 75th Anniversary

Blu-ray

Paramount

1946 / B&w + Colorized / 1:37 Academy / 130 min. / Street Date November 16, 2021 / Available from /

Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore,...

This amazing Busby Berkeley extravaganza is the best choice to impress newbies to pre-Code musical madness: it is absolutely irresistible. James Cagney’s nervy, terminally excitable stage producer makes the tale of Chester Kent accessible to viewers otherwise allergic to musicals — he’s as electric here as he is in his gangster movies. Remastered in HD, the fantastic, kaleidoscopic visuals will wow anybody — we really expect Porky Pig to pop up and stutter, “N-n-n-o CGI, Folks!”

Footlight Parade

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1933 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 104 min. / Street Date July 16, 2019 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Frank McHugh, Ruth Donnelly, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert.

Cinematography: George Barnes

Art Directors: Anton Grot, Jack Okey Film Editor: George Amy

Original Music: Sammy Fain, Irving Kahal Harry Warren, Al Dubin

Written by Manuel Seff, James Seymour

Produced by Robert Lord

Directed by Lloyd Bacon

Our...

Directed by: Josh Becker

Written by: Josh Becker, Scott Spiegel, Sheldon Lettich, Bruce Campbell

Starring: Brian Shulz, Sam Raimi, Robert Rickman, John Manfredi, Tim Quill

The cracked fever dream of a movie titled Thou Shalt Not Kill... Except is best known for its impressive Evil Dead pedigree, featuring several key players from that classic indie film both in front of and behind the camera.

Spearheaded by Josh Becker (who worked on The Evil Dead ’s second unit) and Scott Spiegel (co-writer of Evil Dead 2), this “Marines vs. the Manson family” saga from 1985 has built a solid cult of its own over the years. Much like The Evil Dead, it began as a short film made to raise funds for a feature-length production. The shot-on-8mm Stryker’s War (also the alternate title for the feature) starred Bruce Campbell as Sergeant Stryker and included much of the same plot and dialogue.

Bad news, Steven Frank fans! Steven was so busted up by last week's episode that he's locked himself in the bathroom and is still sobbing hysterically over the innocent bystander who got shot in the head and died shortly after his fiancee got to him.

You know, the usual happy, uplifting Southland episode.

But Steven is sensitive that way. He still gets misty when he thinks about Russell Edgington getting entombed in concrete on True Blood last season.

Fortunately, I'm made of much sterner stuff — I write the 90210 recaps after all — and will be stepping in for Steven this week. Alas, I can't hope to fill Steven's shoes, so all I ask is that you be as gentle with me as you know Officer Cuddlybear is with Rookieboy. Okay, strike that. Cuddlybear is actually tough on Rookieboy and I'm not up to that kind of feedback. Instead, I just want...

"American Idol" found some gems in the capital of country music when it took to Nashville, Tn. After a terrifyingly screechy high note that makes all three of our cats go bonkers, the strains of Carrie Underwood sing us into Nashville. She will turn out to be quite the foreshadowing bookend of the episode.

Speaking of terrifying, we have a girl from Palm Beach by way of Springfield, Mo who is like a "Saturday Night Live" character but real. So we're starting with this nonsense, are we? Why? Why do we waste time on this crap? Irritating.

Thankfully we move on to exes Rob Bolin and Chelsee Oaks (who live together) who are auditioning for "Idol" together. Sounds like they are destined for the Friend Zone, because Rob is in love with Chelsee, but Chelsee is not in love with Rob. They finally sing and they are both decent singers.