The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 13

-jftiioniia TELEVISION AND VIDEO NEWS AND REVIEWS You can relive TV's Golden Age on video By VINCE STATEN Video Writer If you love old TV, the place to be today in Louisville is the Reflections of the '50s and '60s TV-and movie-trivia collectors' convention. It's going on from 10 a.m. to 6 hNT I lit'1. STATEN 6 J1 New releases "Eight Men Out" (Orion, $89.98) documents the 1919 Chicago 'Black Sox" scandal, when eight players conspired with organized criminals to throw the World Series. Charlie Sheen, John Cusack and Christopher Lloyd star, and John Sayles directs.

Release: Thursday. "Things Change" (RCAColumbia, $89.95) is a comedy about a shoeshine man who is mistaken for an underworld chieftain while visiting Las Vegas. David Mamet wrote and directed; Don Ameche and Joe Mantegna star. Release: Thursday. "Dominick and Eugene" (Orion, $89.98) stars Ray Liotta as a man whose devotion to his twin brother, retarded because of a childhood accident, is challenged when he falls in love with a medical student.

His brother, Dominick, played by Tom Hulce, faces a crisis of his own when his dog is killed. Jamie Lee Curtis co-stars. Release: Thursday. "Sweet Hearts Dance" (RCA-Columbia, $89.95) is about a man who must rethink his ideas about love when his marriage fails and his best friend falls in love. Starring Don Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Jeff Daniels and Elizabeth Perkins.

Release: Thursday. "Clara's Heart" (Warner, $89.95) stars Whoopi Goldberg as a Jamaican housekeeper who is hired by a couple on the verge of divorce and befriends the couple's disillusioned 13-year-old son. Michael Ontkean, Spaulding Gray and Kathleen Quinlan co-star. Release: Wednesday. "Fresh Horses" (RCAColumbia, $89.95) stars Andrew McCarthy as a rich young bachelor who falls for a poor country girl, played by Molly Ringwald.

The film, which reunites the two stars of "Pretty in Pink," was shot in Northern Kentucky. Release: Thursday. "Amsterdamned" (Vestron, $89.98) is a thriller about a series of mysterious and brutal killings in Amsterdam. Monique Van de Vena and Huub Stapel star. Release: Now available.

i -ill i Ed Wynn, left, and Jack Palance starred in the 1956 production of "Requiem for a Heavyweight, the most acclaimed drama of the Golden Age of Television. p.m. at the Days Inn Downtown, 101 E. Jefferson St. Where else would you be able to buy a "Six Million Dollar Man" lunch box, a Zorro Halloween costume or an Elvis clock? You can even touch the hem of the garment James Dean wore in "Rebel Without a Cause," his celebrated red silk jacket.

"Rebel Without a Cause" (Warner, $19.98) is on home video, as are Dean's other two films, "East of Eden" (Warner, $19.98) and "Giant" (Warner, There are three other home videos about Dean: "James Dean" (New World, a 1976- made-for-TV movie with Stephen McHattie as Dean; "The James Dean Story" (PAC, a 1957 documentary co-directed by Robert Altman; and "James Dean: The First American Teenager" (VidAmerica, a documentary that includes interviews with Elizabeth Taylor, Natalie Wood and Rock Hudson. Pretty amazing, when you consider he left a legacy of only three films. Or did he? Actually, there is at least one other James Dean performance on home video, a very early role on "Westinghouse Studio One." In the production of "Abraham Lincoln" (Video Yesteryear, which was broadcast live on May 26, 1952, Dean played a Union soldier sentenced to be shot for sleeping on duty. Dean was 21 at the time and had been in New York only a few months. He went on to play a number of early TV dramas, including "Summer Studio One: Sentence of Death," August 1953; "TV Soundstage: Life Sentence," October 1953; "Danger: Padlocks," May 1954; "Philco Television Playhouse: Run Like a Thief," September 1954; "Schlitz Playhouse of Stars: The Unlighted Road," May 1955 (his last TV appearance).

None of these are on home video, and that's surprising because many dramas from TV's Golden Age, the 1950s, are available. If you want to recall TV's Golden Age, or check it out for the first time, here are some recommended tapes. Most are available only through mail order: "Westinghouse Studio One: Abraham Lincoln" (Video Yesteryear, $24.95) Robert Pastene portrays Lincoln from the time he accepted the Republican presidential nomination until his death. "Goodyear TV Playhouse: Marty" (MGMUA, $24.95) This bittersweet 1953 drama starred Rod Steiger as a lonely butcher who found the girl of his dreams (Nancy Marchand, who would achieve TV fame as Mrs. Pynchon, the owner of "Lou Grant's" newspaper).

On the same tape is a "Playhouse 90" pro- Anne Archer's parents: Mel Archer and Marjorie Lord. "Westinghouse Studio One: The Remarkable Incident at Carson Corners" (Video Yesteryear, $24.95) This remarkable 1953 teleplay by Reginald Rose was about an elementary school play that turned into a murder trial run by the students. "Westinghouse Studio One: Colonel Judas" (Video Yesteryear, $24.95) A 1951 Cold War drama about a Czech ballet star blackmailed by the Russians into turning in a British secret agent. "Playhouse 90: Requiem for a Heavyweight" (Video Yesteryear, $24.95) This is the most acclaimed drama of the Golden Age of Television. Rod Serling wrote the teleplay about a gentle boxer caught in a web of deceit.

Jack Palance, Keenan Wynn and Ed Wynn starred in the 1956 production. It was also turned into a movie in '62 with Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney and Muhammad Ali. "Omnibus: La Boheme" (Movies Unlimited, $24.95) This is a 1953 Metropolitan Opera performance of the well-known opera with Nadine Connor and Brian Sullivan in the featured roles. This is notable as the only time an opera was sponsored by a bowling company. Ordering information: The number to call for Video Yesteryear tapes is (800) 243-0987.

The Movies Unlimited phone number is (800) 523-0823. It also stocks the Video Yesteryear tapes. 1 The number to call for Shokus Video tapes Is (818) 704-0400. Vince Staten, formerly a Courier-Journal entertainment writer, now reports weekly on the video scene as a free-lance writer. duction of "A Wind From the South" with Julie Harris.

Writer Paddy Chayefsky later adapted "Marty" for the screen, and Ernest Borg-nine played the title role. It won the 1955 Oscar for best picture. That version is also on home video. "Playhouse 90: The Comedian" (Video Yesteryear, $29.95) Mickey Rooney played a comedian who destroyed everyone in his way in this 1957 drama. "Climax: Dr.

Jekyil and Mr. Hyde" (Movies Unlimited, $29.95) This 1955 drama featured Michael Rennie as the man with the dual personality. Sir Cedric Hardwicke co-starred. "Best of Broadway: The Philadelphia Story" (Video Yesteryear, $24.95) Dorothy McGuire, John Payne and Mary Astor starred in this 1958 production of the well-known story about the society girl who yearns for down-to-earth romance. "Playhouse 90: The Days of Wine and Roses" (Video Yesteryear, $24.95) Cliff Robertson and Piper Laurie played the alcoholic couple in this 1958 adaptation of the J.P.

Miller play. "Playhouse 90: Bomber's Moon" (Shokus, $24.95) Robert Cummings was a World War II Air Force colonel who wouldn't allow cowardice in the ranks in this 1958 production of a Rod Serling teleplay. This tape also includes a bonus, the live show "This is Your Life: Laurel and Hardy." "Magnavox Theater: The Three Musketeers" (Video Yesteryear, $24.95) This 1950 production is said by some to be the first made-for-TV movie (even though it runs only 53 minutes). It starred Robert Clarke, John Hubbard and Top video rentals Here are the top videocassettes in rentals for the week ending today, as reported by Billboard. 1.

"A Fish Called Wanda" 2. "Die Hard" 3. "Crocodile Dundee II" 4. "Midnight Run" 5. "Big Business" 6.

"Big" 7. "Married to the Mob" 8. "Bull Durham" 9. "Punchline" 10. "Clean and Sober" April' 22 1989 'SCENE Page 11.