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sssi^SS*- %£03(2£$2* S&tS* April 1985 Contents Volume IX, Number 1

Features Program Guide Columns

The Greatest Stories Ever Told News & Views Channel One Our critic makes a selective By Ken Winslow.43 The Digital Class.6 survey of ‘the epic, ’ the film Top 10 Fast Forward genre in which too much is enough. Tape & Disc Sales & Rentals.45 Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Sony.8 By Tom Soter.66 Reviews Feedback What's New Film & Video Clips/Quick Takes.46 Who’s the Sucker?.10 We’ll tell you what’s new. Super New Products Beta! Korean VCRs! Camcorders! Directory NEC’s Quadruplets: 2 Beta, 2 VHS.. 14 And accessories are multiplying What’s New on Tape & Disc.57 like Rabbits (which is the name Fine Tuning of one of ’em). Yes, we have seen The Proper Dub the future of video—or at least Videotests By Roderick Woodcock.26 this year’s version of it. Videogram Sansui SV-R9900HF VHS Hi-Fi VCR By Richard Jaccoma.70 Flying Blind? Canon VR-E10 Portable 8mm VCR By William Wolfe.30 Found Sound Canon VC-200A 8mm Color Camera Those who take the trouble can Bib VHS Video Alarm TV Den find free multichannel riches By Berger-Braithwaite Labs.92 Resolution Resolved buried in movie soundtracks. By Roderick Woodcock.32 By Tim Onosko.77 Random Access Heard Any Good Movies Lately? Screen Protection It’s coming. It’s on the horizon. Ditlea/KunkellMcMullen.36 It’s creeping closer. It’s almost here. It’s digital movie sound. New Channels By Martin Porter.80 Low-Power Lowdown By William A. Marsano.38 The Art of the Chip One pixel is worth a thousand Dateline Tokyo words—so for a change, we’ve laid Warm & Softies out five pages of computer art— By Ichiro Kakehashi.142 a pictorial exploration of the Video Bookshelf artistic power of the microchip. LARRY, The Stooge in the Middle By Various Artists.83 By George L. George.144 Through the Lens, Lightly People The new generation of ultralight Judd Hirsch on the Boardwalk video cameras provides for new By Lorenzo Carcaterra.146 techniques in picture shooting. Off the Air By John Bishop.88 Technoturkeys By Bob B rewin. 148

Channel One The Digital Class

There is little argument here that one of the wonderful perquisites of working at a magazine like VIDEO is a life of indentured servitude to the world of “digital.” Things could be worse. The snob appeal of digital is straight-up evident in every walk of middle-class (and up) life. We are talking digital sound, digital disc, digital dashboards, digital computers, digital TV (soon), and just plain old digital readout. If you’re living in an analog household, you just cannot cut it anymore—not with the Joneses down the block, and certainly not with us. Take plain old readout. Liquid crystals and light-emitting diodes are ridiculously ubiquitous, from the cabbie’s taximeter to the airline pilot’s instrument display to VCRs (even low-rent ones) to wristwatches. There is something strangely gratifying in manag¬ ing one’s life in numerical flashes, with the exception of the out-and-out bummer of seeing a 7 a.m. readout on your alarm dark after an evening’s excess. An editor, affectionately known as the young curmudgeon, recently visited a friend who is an upscale orthopedist by day and an audio/videophile by night. After being shown around the bone man’s competently equipped media room, the young curmudgeon was overheard muttering to his wife: “Dammitall. He’s got more digital readouts than we do. ” The doc’s autodialer handset (with digital readout phone number, naturally) was the coup de grace. It was a sweet anecdote for us. No longer do people compete with conventional status symbols—prep schools, BMWs, country homes, men’s clubs. Why, the stakes are much higher. One thing you should immediately know about digital: what you hear is not necessarily what you get. As Marty Porter explains in his piece “Heard Any Good Movies Lately?, ” digital doesn’t necessarily mean “pure” digital. Most of what we hear in cinema—high- quality sound though it sometimes is—is some kind of second-generation audio mastered from analog and transferred to digital. Hollywood knows this, and Hollywood knows that folks like us know this. So producers are now planning to digitize movie soundtracks from top to bottom. And videophiles will eventually benefit when the Hi-Fi (albeit analog) tapes come out. The digital age has also brought certain aesthetic wonders, and this month we offer a five-page display of computer art. It’s one of our infrequent forays into the offspring of research and development, a satisfying merger of science and beauty. That computer art isn’t yet considered fine art doesn’t bother us a whit. Soon, as you’ll see in our portfolio, critics will be debating its merits. Is it art? Write and tell us what you think.

In recent months we’ve been rather closemouthed about giving you previews of what’s coming in future issues. There are two reasons for this. One, we don’t like our competi¬ tion to know our plans. Two, we often change our minds. This month, however, we’d like to break silence and give you a preview of the May issue. We’re planning a special number, dubbed the “software special” in interoffice memos. In it is an exciting lineup of stories. For starters, we’re publishing the toughest video trivia quiz you’ll ever take. There are 100 questions designed to keep you up all night with your VCR. After you’ve taken the test, we offer our editors’ and critics’ choices of their “Hot 100” prerecorded titles. We have a tough, critical look at how exercise tapes sometimes can be harmful to your health; and an in-depth report about violence in rock video. And that’s not all. We also have an interview with a Hollywood giant. Don’t miss it.

6 Video QWhy are TDK Hi-Fi video Reference tape. With audio fre¬ cassettes the best choice quency response of 20-20,000 Hz, for Hi-Fi VCRs? plus output uniformity within 0.3% at 7 kHz, it all adds up to clean, TDK Hi-Fi video cassettes A crisp, life-like color reproduction achieve a new level of audio and crystal clear sound. You’ve AFTER and video recording quality. got to hear and see new TDK Hi-Fi They’re designed to meet the criti¬ on your VHS or Beta Hi-Fi VCR to cal demands of today’s sophisti¬ believe it. SPENDING cated VHS and Beta Hi-Fi VCRs like no other cassette. QWhy does TDK Hi-Fi look TDK Hi-Fi offers virtual freedom and sound better? MEGABUCKS from dropouts and jitters, while de¬ livering unparalleled uniformity A Our unique HDD (high den¬ and stability in picture and sound sity/durability) binder sys¬ quality. What’s more, TDK Hi-Fi is tem facilitates optimum particle encased in our unerringly precise dispersion and delivers the lowest SQ cassette shell mechanism with dropout rate, which is critical to six control torqued screws which the performance of these sophisti¬ increases the rigidity of flatness of cated VCRs. Additionally, TDK’s the cassette's lower half ensuring ultra-smooth/flat film base and more perfect tape positioning. high conductivity back coating, combined with our SQ (super pre¬ QWhat enables TDK Hi-Fi to cision) cassette shell mechanism deliver such fantastic per¬ (built to tolerances 2.5 times the formance? industry standards), deliver vir¬ tually the smoothest running per¬ By developing new ultra-re- A formance of any video cassette fined Super Avilyn magnetic designed for Hi-Fi VCRs. particles that are smaller, thinner and more uniform than others cur¬ QWhy is TDK Hi-Fi the best rently available, we’re able to pack for PCM digital recording? the particles more densely; With TDK Hi-Fi, PCM re¬ YOU SHOULD achieving a BET value of 35ma/g. A cordings can achieve their That translates into unsurpassed full potential, in a medium where signal-to-noise ratios in both uniformity is of paramount impor¬ GET chrominance and luminance for improved audio/video clarity and tance, TDK Hi-Fi ensures that resolution play after play. signals will maintain their vital MEGASOUND. integrity. And because it delivers QHow does that translate the lowest dropout rate in its class, technically? TDK Hi-Fi is particularly beneficial to reproducing digitally encoded TDK Hi-Fi features lumi¬ A music. It also yields a higher nance and chrominance RF output, further reducing the signal-to-noise ratios of + 4.5 dB probability of erroneous readings and + 5.5 dB, respectively; plus a of digital signals. 1 dB improvement in audio sen¬ sitivity, compared to our Standard Q What’s next from TDK?

g\ More videophiles are learn- #■% ing that TDK is where great entertainment begins. With 50 years of magnetic media techno¬ logy behind us, we always look toward the future. As the world leader and innovator in home video tape, we know it is our respon¬ sibility to continually develop the highest standards of performance with the quality that has become synonymous with our name. And it will be for mega-years to come. &TDK Fast Forward Late-Breaking News

mission has concluded Dr.Jekyll& Mr. Sony guaranteed to anger Hol¬ vide stereo sound— at lywood is the unit’s abil¬ least for now. The FCC that local, state, and feder¬ International compa¬ ity to dub from one tape to has been threatening to al laws are now all that nies use different strokes the other. That ability enforce “must carry” are needed to stop these for different consumers. may make tape piracy a rules which insist that and other abuses. Here in the U.S., the hig little too convenient. So cable systems transmit Sony news is high-res Su¬ despite the Supreme the entirety of all broad¬ The Kindest Cuts per Beta (see “What’s Court’s Betamax de¬ cast signals, including New,” in this issue). But cision, which basically MTS when it’s present. There’s another re¬ back in Japan, Sony re¬ states that using video But the commissioners cord-breaking low in pre¬ cently devoted equal fan¬ copying equipment in the have remained divided on recorded cassette prices. fare to its parallel home isn’t illegal per se, the specifics of the issue, VCI Home Video of Tulsa, announcement of the the twin-deck unit—and and so have decided to Oklahoma is offering its Video 8 camcorder. others like it—will prob¬ table the matter for direct-mail customers 10 Video 8 weighs less ably be kept away from the next full yean. film titles for $5.95 each. than 5.1 lbs. with battery U.S. shores for some time. Nine of the films are in and tape and lists for How High Hi-Fi color, and none are pub¬ $1100. It uses a CCD Turn Off lic-domain titles— imager equivalent to the The numbers are in on although none are Oscar one in the newest CCD Television is not what VHS Hi-Fi, and what winners either. Dick Tra¬ Betamovie. In addition, it the doctor ordered. Now, looks gloomy for manu¬ cy Meets Gruesome offers an electronic view¬ there’s another report facturers may mean (1950), Attack from Out¬ finder, a playback system about its harmful effects golden opportunities for er Space (1981), and with search and freeze on children, this time careful shoppers. Some White Comanche (1967) frame, and comes with a from the American Hi-Fi models, plagued by are among the offerings. tuner/timer. In short, Academy of Pediatrics. initial quality problems How does VCI do it? On Video 8 seems to offer The report says that TV and an early lack of pre¬ customers’ cassettes, ,many consumer-friendly makes kids violent, over¬ recorded programming, that’s how. The company features not even found weight, and encourages reportedly haven’t been asks them to send in a in Betamovie, and may use of drugs, alcohol, and selling very briskly. The Beta or VHS blank, and become a very interest¬ tobacco. TV’s “unrealis¬ discounting on older for the above price (plus ing 8mm offering. tic” portrayal of sexual decks should begin soon $2.95 for shipping and Sony execs won’t be relationships may even —and newer Hi-Fi mod¬ handling) returns it more specific, but say contribute to the rate of els may be lower in price filled with the movie they will “definitely” be teenage pregnancy. right from the start, put¬ of choice. selling Video 8 in the U.S. The study suggests ting them more nearly in some time this year. some antidotes to TV’s line with their Beta coun¬ Video-X Rollback ills: parents should push terparts. Double Trouble alternative activities like America has been good reading and sports, limit FCC You Later to its X-rated tape A double-deck VCR^- the time kids spend glued dealers. Video lovers similar in concept to to the tube, and try to The FCC has decided to bought about $100 mil¬ twin-deck audio re¬ avoid the many -violent toss away some of its own lion worth of their prod¬ corders—has been shows which permeate powers to regulate TV ucts last year, though announced by Sharp. So the waves and cables. and radio. Recently, it hardcore cassettes now far, the one-speed VHS voted to eliminate a long¬ represent only about 14 unit is built only for PAL Stereo Summer standing broadcast poli¬ percent of all cassette and SECAM use and is cy statement. Among the sales. At least one major being sold in the Mideast NBC promises some practices it will no longer adult tape company has for $935. daily broadcast stereo by try to control: “Scare decided to show its appre¬ It has a single tuner/ June. Johnny Carson and announcements” of the ciation. Video-X-Pix is timer and 2 decks side- Friday Night Videos will War of the Worlds type, cutting all its title prices by-side in a 17.7-inch¬ be first, followed by David and annoyance contests to $39.95—well below wide frame. The decks Letterman and Saturday which cause public in¬ the adult tape average of function either separate¬ Night Live. NBC will send convenience. The FCC $69 to $89. “Consumers ly (for instance, for off- its MTS signal -via satel¬ had originally formu¬ have been overpaying for air recording while play¬ lite, and it will be avail¬ lated contest policy in quite a long time,” says ing back) or together. In able to all local affiliates. reaction to broadcast VXP exec Howie Farber. either recording or play¬ contests such as one His company just wants back mode, one tape will Never Mind which asked listeners to “to follow what Para¬ start up when the other pick names at random mount is doing” in terms tape finishes. The pressure is off for from the phone book, and of price cuts to cus¬ But a fact which seems cable operators to pro¬ call them up. The com¬ tomers. Q

Video High adventure, thrills and romance with the queen of the jungle^

AVAILABLE ON VIDEOCASSETTE to K AND €El> VIDEODISC P.^1 Feedback Readers Air Their Views

Who's the Sucker? else, and always returned my cheaply as possible. Unless Don't Be Cruel Imagine my shock when calls promptly. He made me more of the public demands Your review of Videotrivia Thomas E. Hilton’s letter feel that, as a Pioneer cus¬ better sound reproduction, [“Quick Takes/Video,” Janu¬ assaulted me from your pages tomer, I was important. My stereo and quality audio will ary 1985] referred to trivia [“Feedback,” February problem was solved and my be a low-priority item in their fans as “illiterates.” This is an 1985] as a “sucker.” He children are now quite busy budgets. insult to the millions who en¬ lashes out at the VHS-owning watching our 50 LaserDiscs. Michael Kiley joy these games. According majority of the VCR public, My brother just bought a Crestwood, Ill. to Webster’s, “trivia” con¬ yet where is all the Beta Pioneer audio system, and I sists of “small unimportant splendor he sees in a jungle of will look at one today. I am The Wronged facts or matters,” and that’s fuzzy VHS? All I’ve found is also going to buy a VCR, and 'Heartbeat' what is in Videotrivia. Our uniform mediocrity in picture will wait until Pioneer comes I wish to put in my two cents’ tape is a social experience, quality. If Sony does produce out with its Beta machine. worth about Wayne King’s not a test of knowledge. the rumored 400-line VCR, I Your technology is superb review of the Cars’ Heartbeat Moreover, the interplay be¬ will gratefully buy one. In the and so are your people. City [“Quick Takes/Video,” tween players and their meantime Sony continues to Robert J. Wolter January 1985]. It’s obvious humorous answers often push an unpopular format Milwaukee, Wis. Mr. King does not like the make the game even more without success, a format Cars at all, and so it is unfair enjoyable. Videotrivia is now that could have swept the Now Hear This to give the video such a nega¬ available in six editions: market if Sony had listened to I concur with your dissatisfac¬ tive review—unfair to those Books & Literature, The Ex¬ reason and made the cassette tion with the cable industry’s who like the Cars because it pert Edition (caution: it may shell big enough. Instead apathy about stereo TV gives them a biased impres¬ be hazardous to your ego), Sony succumbed to ego, and sound [“Paying the Cable sion of the video. The com¬ General Knowledge, Movies eventually Beta will fail. Aha! Bill,” “Channel One,” January ment about the Cars treating & Television, Worldwide I understand the anger now. 1985]. However, most TVs women as objects made my Sports, and for children ages Jose R. Suarez in use have only a cheap four- blood boil. There is a differ¬ eight and up, Junior Trivia— Cincinnati, Ohio inch or smaller speaker. Fif¬ ence between treating all priced at $29.95 suggested teen years ago I upgraded the women as objects and having retail. LV Response sound of my color TV by dis¬ women in your videos be¬ Roy B. Winnick Excerpts from a letter to abling the internal speaker cause you are trying to depict President Pioneer. and feeding the output of the a love story or a story about Best Film & Video Corp. I am writing to tell you set’s FM sound demodulator men and women. After read¬ Great Neck, N.Y. what a fine company you into a 10-watt amp/eight-inch ing this remark, and after have. When I had problems speaker/ported enclosure calming down considerably, I U.S. Blues with my Pioneer LaserDisc system which stands by the again watched one of my two I take issue with Murray Slo- player, my first contact with TV. Though I still use it, few copies of Heartbeat City (I’ve vick’s “Bands Across the your corporation was with a if any other people are im¬ worn one out) just to make Water” [December 1984]. In secretary named Cam, who pressed by the greatly im¬ sure my loyalty and admira¬ Tokyo, I recently bought calmed me down and said she proved sound. In fact, many tion for the Cars was not Hitachi’s CMT2090 multisys¬ would find someone who say they can’t distinguish be¬ clouding my objective tem TV ($400), VT-39EM would help. She got back to tween the added system and opinion about the video—and VCR ($665), and VT-P10 me in less than an hour and the original four-by-six-inch it wasn’t. Isn’t it great the videocassette player ($425; put me in touch with Larry speaker. Sadly, most of the Cars put most of their videos now discontinued). The TV, Tinkler, your National Ser¬ American public has a tin ear on one tape so fans won’t used with the VCR, provides vice Manager. He was never and has little interest in audio have to watch MTV for days outstanding results in NTSC too busy to talk with me, nev¬ quality better than on a clock/ on end to catch them? Isn’t it or PAL and the system can er passed the buck to anyone radio. The cable industry, like great that Warner packaged most of the video industry, such a fine video at a great aims to satisfy most of the price? Isn’t it great that the people most of the time, as consumer still has the final say about what is the best video, group, or insensitive critic? Barb McVay San Carlos, Calif. Radio Shack Beta-Hi-Fi VCR Slashed $150

Sale! Get First-Class Video and Audio with wireless Remote Control for Only $449.95

The Realistic® Model 20 is our feature- You get all this plus: Cable-ready tuner packed VCR that connects to your stereo so with 12 station presets. Full-function wireless you can enjoy the spectacular realism of Beta remote with up/down channel tuning. Comple¬ Hi-Fi movies and music videos. Television has tely automatic playback speed selection, even never looked or sounded so good! if you’ve recorded programs at different speeds on the same tape. Special-feature In addition to the superb picture quality playback that lets you rapidly search the tape that Beta is famous for, you get ruler-flat audio in either direction and “freeze” the picture. response from 20 to 20,000 Hz. With inaudible wow and flutter. Plus dynamic range which Come in today for a demonstration of this rivals that of digital audio disc. incredibly versatile VCR. Regularly $599.95, it’s sale-priced now through April 22nd, and But it’s more than great “specs” that we offer a variety of time-payment plans at make Model 20 the entertainment buy of the most of our locations. With Radio Shack/ year. Simply flip a switch and it becomes a CitiLine credit you can enjoy first-class home long-play audio-only recorder that outperforms entertainment for as low as $21 per month. cassette and open reel decks. And Model 20 lets you record TV/FM simulcasts in stereo when it’s connected to your audio system. No Radio /hack complicated hookups. The only “extra” you’ll A DIVISION OF TANDY CORPORATION need is an ordinary audio patchcord. Price applies at participating Radio Shack stores and dealers. Feedback

duplicate tapes using the player and re¬ widely in North America and Europe. plied by recalling that these widescreen corder. I have had carry cases made for One other point: our telephone number formats were originally introduced to the TV and VCR and use them as a porta¬ was not listed in the story. The number is compete with a certain invention that ble unit to display foreign-made tapes at 303-355-1010. Steven J. Hering was keeping more and more people parties. I don’t own any stock in Hitachi, President, Videophonic Ent. home from movie theaters—television. but it does appear you did not investigate Denver, Colo. Les Leist these units. I am also informed through Alexandria, Va. Sony of Hawaii that a Beta multisystem Open Wide unit is available for $985. Re Jeffrey T. Dick’s “Pictures Framed” Working Together Stuart M. Cowan [November 1984]: Every time I read In your December 1984 issue Bruce Honolulu, Hawaii articles or reader letters addressing the Apar’s “Off the Air” reports on video¬ problem of widescreen films transferred cassette players and their potential. I’ve Recent issues have discussed the prob¬ to video, one solution is always over¬ wondered for some time why someone lems surrounding the different video sys¬ looked: direct Cinemascope transfers. In hasn’t combined a VCP and monitor in tems used around the world. A recent ad other words, transfers that, when played one unit. Today it is hard to find a profes¬ in the Japan Times, an English-language back on unaltered TVs or monitors, will sional office, medical center, corporate Tokyo newspaper, told of Hitachi’s 10- look horizontally compressed—but when office, or classroom that does not use system TV and 10-system VCR. Both the vertical-size or “height” control is videotapes for educational purposes. In systems are sold in Japan: the TV for adjusted, will present a real widescreen every case you will find a large unattrac¬ about $600 and the VCR for about $920. display. tive metal rack holding a TV and VCR. In These units look like the answer for peo¬ While the mathematics of this most of these installations the recording ple who travel around the world and want approach might indicate equal or reduced feature of the VCR is never used—nor is to record and watch TV programs. resolution compared to “masking” the TV tuner. Wouldn’t a single unit on a Dr. Ronald J. Hrebenar (beam-spot size remains the same), I nice stand be more attractive, consume Salt Lake City, Utah have tried this method using a three- less space, and be more practical? It quarter-inch U-Matic player and an seems to me there should be a large Yes indeed. The problem is, as an Amer¬ Aquastar IIIB projector (eight by ten feet market for a combination monitor and ican-based magazine, we cover only pro¬ reduced to about six by ten) and the re¬ VCP. Arthur Schalick Jr. ducts available to our readers in the sults have been excellent, offering sub¬ Vineland, N.J. U.S. When something new appears on jectively increased resolution. Therefore the horizon elsewhere in the world, we I propose a “Videophile” series of Laser- As Roderick Woodcock reminded us in like to make note of it—especially in Ichiro Vision disc releases, just as there are “Playback: A History of the VCR” Kakehashi’s "Dateline Tokyo” column, “audiophile” virgin-vinyl record (August 1984), the first consumer video but we would disserve our readers by serv¬ releases. recorder (but not player), the Sony LV- ing up detailed news about products most The system would have to be limited 1901, housed a Beta I VCR with a Trini¬ of them can’t get. to LV disc at this point because that is the tron TV. However, consumers soon only system with “videophile” visual showed their preference for separate VCRs Beta Meets VHS quality. With Pioneer’s announcement and the component approach. Whether the Bruce Apar’s excellent piece on that it intends to use the spare spectrum VCP will bring back this all-in-one con¬ videocassette players (“VCRn’t, “Off the space on the NTSC LV disc (unavailable cept remains to be seen. Air,” December 1984] overlooks one of on PAL or SECAM), to provide digital the greatest advantages of owning a audio, the LV videophile format would Plugged Holes VCP. Many people use their VCRs stretch even studio or broadcast audio George L. George listed several video mostly for time shifting and only occa¬ and video monitors to their limits. While books in a recent “Video Bookshelf’ col¬ sionally rent tapes. When we do rent, this system is not for everyone, it should umn. However, I think he missed several however, we are locked into our own satisfy the hardcore video/movie afi¬ important video-editing books. There VCR formats. I dearly love my Sanyo cionado with no changes in equipment are three other excellent books on this Beta, but about three-quarters of all ren¬ and should finally put to rest the pan¬ subject: Computerized Video Editing tals in my area are stocked in VHS. scan/masking controversy. (Diana Weynand, illustrated, Weynand Would I spend $150 for a VHS player? Arby Schuman and Associates, 6727 Callicott Ave., You bet I would. Another advantage is Megazap Telemetry Systems Woodland Hills, Calif. 91367, $20), Video the ability to borrow friends’ tapes. Brooklyn, N.Y. Editing (Michael D. Schetter, 152 pp., Martin Kalaydjian illustrated, Swidereski Electronics, 1200 Eden, N.C. It was encouraging to find, in the Decem¬ Greenleaf Ave., Elk Grove, Ill. 60007, ber 1984 issue, no less than three refer¬ $29.95), and The Video Tape Post Pro¬ Numerical Suggestion ences to the frustration of not seeing duction Primer (Steven E. Browne, 218 We appreciate your including Video- widescreen in their original proportions pp., illustrated, $25, Wilton Place Com¬ phonic Enterprises in Reina Meredith’s —in a “Feedback” letter, a “Fine munications, Box 20g0, Burbank, Calif. “Subliminal Suggestions” in the January Tuning” letter, and in the interview with 91507, $25). All three are currently used 1985 issue. We are proud of our sublimi¬ John Frankenheimer. This subject in professional and other editing classes. nal-suggestion tape because, unlike most should be harped on as often as possible Steven E. Browne others, it was initially sold to clinical pro¬ and kept prominent in the minds of pro¬ Author/publisher fessionals before we took it to the gener¬ gram distributors. I suspect, however, Wilton Place Communications al public. In the past 10 years Dr. Bud- that not much can be done with current Burbank, Cal. zynski, a pioneer in biofeedback research formats and hardware; it’s hard to im¬ VIDEO welcomes your comments and questions. and application, has developed and re¬ agine a CRT in the 1.35:1 aspect ratio. Due to the volume of mail we receive, however, it is fined the subliminal process to apply it in Probably only the next generation of not possible to send personal replies; please do not the clinical setting. He has authored equipment, such as flat-screen and digital include self-addressed envelopes with letters. All more than 40 papers and chapters on TVs, will finally let us sit at home and letters published may be edited for clarity and space. Address correspondence to Feedback, VIDEO biofeedback, stress management, and watch the Mother Ship in all its glory. Magazine, 460 West 34th Street, New York, subliminal therapy and has lectured Perhaps the proper incentive can be sup¬ N.Y. 10001. PERFORMANCE TOUCAN TRUST FROM THE NAMETOU KNOW IN VIDEO.

Today, there are hun¬ RCA accessories will dreds of video products, enhance your enjoyment tapes and accessories to and your equipment’s choose from. All from dif¬ capability. Your RCA dealer ferent manufacturers with has everything you need. different quality standards. From start-up kits, batteries, But there’s still one cables, cords and head clean¬ way to get the best ers, to cases for VCRs and combination of value cameras, lenses, wireless and performance. Go with the name you know Our blank video tape, for and trust. The name example, is designed to the same with one of the biggest types of high-level performance video lineups in the standards as our V' industry: RCA. available in most popular le We have proven in VHS and Beta, Pfemium our quality rep¬ utation year after year in every phase of video.

mikes and tripods. And much more. All from RCA. Why trust the performance of your video system to any¬ thing less than the name you know best? See your RCA Quality and Super High Grade. dealer today. Our video accessories put on an equally impressive perfor¬ mance. Whether you’re a first- nnjB Video year rookie or a video veteran, IllVfl Accessories

or additional information, circl New Products

4 New NEC VCRs Debut: at seven times normal speed in forward has only one-event/seven-day program¬ and reverse, auto rewind, and multifunc¬ ming capability, but also has picture 2 Are Beta, 2 Are VHS tion wireless remote. The main differ¬ search at nine times normal speed and NEC, which took the lead in offering ences between the two—apart from receives 82 channels. both Beta and VHS VCRs to the public, price—are that the N911EU has elec¬ Prices: VT-225T, $499; VT-210T, has a new pair of machines in each for¬ tronic counter memory, a unique NEC $399. mat. The Betas are Hi-Fi, while the VHS three-head system for noise-free special units are mono. effects such as “field still, ’’ and 4-event/ The Betas both include such functions 21-day programmability. The N901EU Unitech VHS VCRs Offer as skip search (which runs through 30 has 2-event/21-day programmability and seconds of playback at a time), simple- still-frame function that is not noiseless. Basic Features, Low Price to-operate programmable timers, full- Prices: VC-N70EN, $999; VC- Unitech is not a household VCR name, function wireless remote, picture N60EN, $799; N911EU, $599; but its three VHS models offer basic fea¬ search, noiseless pause, and 12-LED N901EU, $499. tures at attractive prices. peak meters. The units can record simul¬ For additional information, circle No. 146 on Reader Service Card. casts and come with an MPX terminal for use with stereo-TV broadcast adapters. Samsung VHS VCRs Neither of the VHS units are Hi-Fi or stereo, but both do have NEC’s new re¬ Include 4-Head Model designed tuner/timer. The 105-channel Samsung offers a four-head VHS VCR tuner has 16 station presets, and the as well as a lower model, both in a com¬ timer offers serial recording at the same pact design. The VT-225T has, in addi¬ time each day and segment recording for tion to four heads, a 4-event/14-day tim¬ Unitech SSV-1000 up to five hours of one-touch recording in er and picture search at two speeds. The 30-minute increments. Other features four heads help deliver crisp pictures in The top-of-the-line SSV-2000, at a list include picture-search segment location all special-effects modes. The VT-210T price of less than $500, offers four heads for noiseless reproduction in special- effects modes and optimum image quality in general. It also comes with slow-speed advance, 105-channel tuner, 14-day/2- event timer, and a 9-key/ll-function wireless remote control. One notch down is the SSV-1500, with the same tuner/timer and a 9-function remote. A 6-key/9-function wired remote comes with the bottom-of-the-line SSV-1000, which also has a 7-day/l-event timer, 82-channel tuner, and features that do not invariably show up at the bottom of the line such as visual search, stop action, and frame-by-frame advance. Prices: SSV-2000, $499; SSV-1500, $449; SSV-1000, $369. For additional information. Sony introduces the audio receiver made for videos. Rock videos are the most center" for all your audio com¬ other virtues. Like the option of exciting thing to hit television ponents and your video compo¬ Sony's Remote Commander®unit since the legends of rock 'n' roll nents, as well. Which is why you'll which allows you to control all first gyrated across the stage. grow into it, rather than out of it. your Sony audio components with But you shouldn't have to lis¬ As impressive as all this out even a remote pos¬ ten to them or some rock opera sounds, ife nowhere near as sibility of ever having on a speaker designed for a impressive as the quality of the to get out of your chair. soap opera. receiver itself. One of the features And thanks to Sony you don't Our new Audio Signal you'll find most impres¬ have to. In fact, our new receiv¬ Processor, for instance, generates sive, however, is the ers are the only ones that allow exceedingly low levels of noise price. Which is extraor¬ you to enjoy MTV HBO and distortion. And dinary when you stop and other cable simulcast our feather-touch to consider thereis programming on some¬ pushbutton controls nothing else like them thing built for great are also part of at any price. music. Your stereo the most flexible tuning So go to your Sony dealer and system. system ever built listen to our new STR-AV fThese into a receiver. Direct receivers. Once you do, rock . & j remarkable Access™ Quartz videos will start to sound as v/ § -J j receivers Synthesis Tuning. colorful as they look. f tenable It eliminates the need THE ONE AND ONLY SOUND OF SONY. / * theFMsimul- for fine tuning. It also ♦Check your local cable company fot service availability and any additional requirements. Model shown is : f cast portion of your eliminates the need for some¬ STR-AV560, 60 waits per channel (continuous RMS, both channels driven, 8 ohms, 20 Hb—20kHz, 008% THD). S cable to be directly thing else: wasting time. (It can © 1985 Sony Corporation of America. Sony and Remote Commander are registered trademarks of Sony Corpora¬ hooked into your pick up preset stations faster tion. Direct Access and The One and Only Sound of Sony system.* In a are trademarks of Sony Corporation of America. than a radar detector picks up TV picture simulated. : sense, it police cars.) serves as a kind of “nerve Our new receivers also have SONY o. 8 or, Reader Service SONY * - umm mmm mmu

— aa a u _| |n| 1 uuaa ^ ■ - New Products_ Teknika's First Yank VCRs Include 1 Hi-Fi Model Teknika, which has had VCRs in Japan for some time, brings its recorder line to the U.S. with four models—all VHS, in¬ cluding one Hi-Fi. The top-of-the-line model 587 is a Hi- Fi unit, albeit a two-head one. It has cable-ready 107-channel tuning, 4- event/14-day programmability, and direct-access remote control. Down one notch, the 584 has the same tuner/timer and a 17-function wireless remote, but is not a Hi-Fi machine. It does, however, have four heads for noiseless special- effects performance. Model 583 is a two- head VCR with a similar tuner/timer and 15-function wireless remote. The leader model is number 571, a two-head front loader that comes with a wired remote with five functions and 82-channel THE NEW RECOTON V614 MINIATURE MASTER CONTROL CENTER PERMITS tuning. The timer can record 2 events INSTANT PROGRAM SELECTION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! The V614's 4 input to 2 over two weeks. output design allows selection of 4 video sources (i.e., VCR, Cable TV, Antenna, Prices: Model 587, $799.95; 584, Videogame/Computer) to either or both of two outputs (such as 2 - TV's or TV and VCR). You can even record Cable TV while watching regular TV. $549; 583, $449; 571, $399.95. For the best possible picture insist on Recoton "Gold Connection" circle No. 149 on Reader Service Card. high performance Video Hookup Cables. Recoton....Setting New Standards of Technical Excellence in Video, Audio Computer, Telephone, and Stereo Headphone Accessories. nrEccrran* F.C.C. & U.L. Approved Recoton Corporation, 46-23 Crane Street, Long Island City, N ■k 11101, 718-392-6442

ENGINEERED Teknika Model 587 Sylvania Introduces ^ ^ for VIDEO New LV, VHS Units New from Sylvania: one addition each NEW VIDEO ENSIGN TRIPOD to its LV and VHS lines. with Built-in MONOPOD The VP7400SL LaserVision player is significantly quieter in operation than Versatile tripod designed especially for video cameras previous models, according to the manu¬ and featuring stronger square channel legs to support weight of larger cameras. Includes Spring Head to facturer. It has been redesigned as a counter-balance camera weight forward or back; friction front loader with the right dimensions to control on elevator to prevent camera descending too fit into a rack, though it may also be used fast; 3-way panhead for versatility; 3-sec legs for as a freestanding unit. In addition to full- compactness; leg braces for sturdiness; fast lever leg locks. Special feature is the elevator column which dis¬ function remote and front-mounted LED mounts from tripod into 3-sec telescoping Monopod with panhead. Use Tripod indoors... Use Monopod outdoors... VIDEO KADDYKART Moves VCR and acces¬ sories on roller base while camera mounts on telescoping rod and panhead. Dismounts for use as Monopod for camera alone.

SEND FOR Illustrated Tripod brochure showing complete line of heavy-duty video tripods and accessories.

ACME-LITE MANUFACTURING CO. Sylvania VP7400SL (top); VC2232SL o. 10 on Reader Service Card. WALT DISNEY HOME VIDEO

■L&, Walt Disney Home Video brings ■Kt families to their feet with Mousercise, Jjgp|L the new exercise tape that [i ■HEgtgj* makes fitness fun. A/ vvk TBPvTI' Mousercise is an upbeat exercise program -'ugB •*yjr developed especially for ■ jF children like yours, with special appearances by their |H favorite Disney characters. Led by Kellyn, the popular instructor who makes kids jump for joy, Mousercisers develop coordination, stamina and rhythm while moving to great music. And Mousercise includes a special pre-teen segment, in which Kellyn demonstrates step-by-step exercises working specific muscle groups . % It’s never too early to build % strong bodies. So get frnm your kids moving with Mousercise. It’s positively habit ___ forming. gB New Products_

indicators, its roster of features includes forward and reverse scan, nine-step variable speed in forward and reverse (from frame-by-frame to triple-speed without video noise), and still-step for frame-by-frame freeze (all in CAV mode only). Fourteen-function remote control is one feature of the new Sylvania VHS, model VC2232SL—unusual for a leader model. The list of features for this model also includes 14-day/2-event timer, 107- channel tuner with 12 presets, slow motion, one-touch recording (240 minutes), and search in forward and reverse. Price: VP7400SL LV player, $750; VC2232SL VHS, to be announced. For additional information,

RECOTON GOLD CONNECTION® VIDEO CABLES HAVE BECOME THE INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE VIDEO RECORDING AND HOOKUP BECAUSE ■ Gold is the most conductive of all metals and, therefore, eliminates interference and improves picture and sound quality. ■ Recoton offers specially designed cables for video, audio and RF application to insure optimum performance. For the best possible picture insist on Recoton Gold Connection® high performance video hookup cables. Recoton....Setting New Standards of Technical Excellence in Video, Audio, Computer, Telephone and Stereo Headphone Accessories. For more information, contact: nreccrrarr

Proton Monitor/Receiver Is No Bigger than Monitor The compact design of the new Proton 19-inch monitor/receiver, 619S, makes it no larger than Proton’s well-regarded 600M monitor (sans tuner). With horizontal resolution of more than 370 lines, overscan of no more than 5 percent, and geometric accuracy of 99.3 percent, the unit also offers some unusual features. A switchable trap helps reduce “chroma beat,” caused by video- game interference, and a sleep timer turns off the unit after one hour. The tuner has 16 programmable presets and dual-directional channel search, and an MPX output can take on the Proton 690 broadcast stereo decoder. Though the unit has an internal speaker, a rear-panel switch and a 2.5-watt amp can accommo¬ date external speakers. Audio frequency response is 20-20,000Hz + /-3dB. Connections provided are a front RF video input, two rear composite-video inputs, two sets of audio outputs, and two sets of video inputs. The unit mea¬ sures 21-1/4 by 19-3/4 by 19-3/4 inches. Projected retail price: $699. Sometimes, in the darkest times, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY THINGS HAPPEN

Robcn Lewis Stevenson’s

//// ^ Black Arrow tells the story of war as it has never been told before. Filmed in the lush European countryside, it features two superstars you’ll want to see. Britain’s Oliver Reed, co-star of Oliver! and veteran of over 50 motion pictures. And Spain’s foremost film actor, Fernando Rey, known worldwide for his role in the Oscar-winning French Connection. This rare 15th century tale of love, adventure and intrigue has never been seen before in theatres or on network TV. To see Black Arrow, head straight to your video dealer! New Products Sansui Monitor/Receiver Magnavox B&W Mini-TVs Has 400-Line Resolution Are Flat-Display Models The Sansui SV-M25 is a 400-line 25- Magnavox has introduced three black inch monitor/receiver. The resolution & white ultraportables. stems partly from its use of a comb filter. The Escort 2—model BF3900—is a Other items on this Sansui-designed de¬ two-inch black & white portable TV. It vice are a 140-channel tuner, sleep has a flat display tube with the electron timer, 23-function numerical-keypad re¬ gun positioned beneath and at an mote, and a “flashback” feature that angle to the screen. The unit can run for three hours on four AA batteries (included) or for up to ten with an optional rechargeable battery pack. The optional AC adapter and car cord provide for con¬ GoldStar RCV-0617 tinuous use. The screen is tilted for easy viewing and recessed for reduced glare, ends simultaneously with the introduc¬ and a flip-out stand props the thing up. A tions of two new models. The CMT-2515 carry case and handstrap are included. is the company’s first 25-inch color TV; And a video mini-plug adapts the Escort 2 the RCV-0615, at the other end of the to VCR use. scale, is its first 5-inch. Add AM/FM stereo radio and light¬ The 2515 comes with auto fleshtone weight stereo headphones and you’ve correction, contrast, color control, and got model BF3901, which is otherwise in brightness; plus 10-channel tuning, digi¬ all respects similar to the 3900, above. tal channel-number display, and full-func¬ Moving up to a four-inch black & white tion wireless remote control. The small¬ picture brings us to Escort model brings back the channel previously er 0615 comes with AM/FM radio, not to BF3904. Here the tuning dials are viewed. The audio amplifier is rated for mention four-way power, audio/video in¬ mounted on the front for convenience, five watts per channel, and the unit pro¬ puts and outputs, and a sunshade. It though the flat display tube and recessed vides stereo audio as well as direct video weighs 11 pounds. tilted screen remain. An audio/video uni¬ jacks. Two magnetically shielded speak¬ Prices: CMT-2515, $649.95; RCV- connector converts the unit for use as an ers (SV-25S) come with the monitor and 0615, $279.95. on-location monitor with the addition of can be attached to the top (as pictured) or an optional connector adapter. sides. And the SV-M25 has a circuit that circle No. 153 on Reader Service Card. Prices: BF3900, $160; BF3901, $220; can synthesize stereo-like results from a FB3904, $220. mono signal; it also enhances the separa¬ tion and dynamics of a stereo signal “to theater-like proportions,” according to the maker. Though this unit does not come with a built-in stereo-broadcast de¬ coder, it does come with an MPX jack that provides for the necessary connec¬ tion to an adapter for same. Price: $1000. For additional information, circle No. 152 on Reader Service Card.

GoldStar Turns Its Eye To Big & Small Screen Sizes Hitachi 45-Inch Projection Having brought prices down in the most popular screen-size categories, TV Has MTS Stereo Decoder GoldStar is expanding at the high and low New from Hitachi: a 45-inch color pro¬ jection set with provision for Multichan¬ nel TV sound (MTS). Model CT-4546 comes with 133-channel tuning, infrared remote, liquid-cooled lens system, sepa¬ rate audio and video inputs, audio out¬ puts for external speakers, comb filter, auto color adjustment, and random-ac¬ cess electronic tuning—all this in a wal¬ nut-grain cabinet that takes up no more floor space than a single-sided conven¬ tional 25-inch console TV, according to the manufacturer. And the unit is cov¬ ered by a “10/2/1” warranty: 10 years on transistors, two on the picture tube, and one-year free carry-in labor. Price: $3295. Magnavox BF-3900 GoldStar CMT-2515 o. 154 on Reader Service Card. IN THIS COUNTRY, WHEN THE LAND IS YOUR LIFE.. .YOU FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE

&f immense integrity and ;.. ‘Country’ makes the ?e. You’ll be rooting for

. l'' ’ “ Rex Retd, Net) York Post yw on Video I

TOl'ClSrat a F.4g WEST PRODramNS fROOOCIKK JESSOiM Ml® HW WlM Me bv CHARLES GROSS Pta^tDAlM M>) TOMD WITFi^E and JESSIQ LIN’GE Drected by RICHARD PEARCE Sto--1 O'MCMLXXXIV Bucto Vista Distribute Co.. inc. TOUCHSTONE SSMSaaS Touchstone Home Video distributed by WDTNT Co., Burbank. Ca 91521. HOME VIDEO New Products

too low to mask it), a straight Hiss Filter, Stereo Synth circuit, and Mono/Stereo switch. Sliders can make easy alterations in level for Mic, Line, or Source—and two more are furnished to do fades for either audio or video. Knobs provide adjustment of image Detail and Sharp¬ ness, and 10 pushbuttons control the in¬ puts/outputs for two VCRs and inputs for three more sources. One full set of VCR jacks is on the front panel for added convenience; the remainder are on the back. Price: $579.95. For additional information, circle No. 158 on Reader Service Card. MFJ-1452 (top); MFJ-1502 Viditek Cable Converter MFJ-1452 Is Versatile direct video output (for monitor use), and Has 'Daily Memory' Signal Processor n RF output. In addition, the unit pro¬ The Viditek STV600 frequency- MFJ’s MFJ-1452 Advance Video Pro¬ vides a couple of useful audio circuits: synthesizer converter converts cable cessor combines a three-output distribu¬ Dynamic Noise Reduction (DNR), which channels between 2 and 60 to a fixed- tion amplifier (to accommodate up to selectively suppresses tape hiss when output Channel 3. The remote-control¬ three VCRs) with a versatile range of the volume is too low to mask it, and lable unit has a “daily memory” that signal-altering circuitry. Knobs adjust Simulated Stereo. The VS-60 measures stores up to six channel numbers includ¬ Tint, Color Intensity, Brightness, Black 2-3/8 by 16-9/16 by 8-4/9 inches. Pedestal (level), White Level, Split Price: $149.95. Screen, Noise Cancel, and Enhance. In For additional information. addition to Power and Input, there are also buttons that control Video Process¬ AudioSource AV-ONE ing (On/Off), White (Compress/Expand), Chroma (Invert/Normal), Lumin (Invert/ Contains 10-Band EQ & DNR Normal), Sync Boost (On/Normal), and The AV-ONE is a 19-inch rack-mount¬ Stabilizer (On/Off). The unit also in¬ able audio/video selector/processor from cludes a needle indicator to show Lumi¬ AudioSource. nance Level. On the audio side, the unit provides a ing fine-tuning adjustments. The tuner Another, simpler new device from 10-band graphic equalizer, Dynamic automatically goes into standby mode if MFJ is the MFJ-1502 Video Sound Pro¬ Noise Reduction (DNR) filter (to selec¬ the AC dries up and then recovers. The cessor, designed to enhance low-fidelity tively cut hiss when the volume level is unit comes with 75-ohm cable and F-con- video soundtracks (for those with large libraries of mono or VHS Dolby stereo tapes). One circuit turns mono signals to simulated (“pseudo”) stereo. Prices: Video Processor, $299.95; Sound Processor, $59.95. For additional information, circle No. 156 on Reader Service Card. Pioneer VS-60 Integrates Video & Audio Components The VS-60 video selector is Pioneer’s way of integrating video and audio com¬ ponents. It offers four direct video inputs and outputs, three RF inputs, one AudioSource AV-ONE Introducing Canovision 8, the new 8mm video system from Canon, Discover what Star Pitcher Tommy John has discovered— Canovision 8™ The new 8mm Home Video System that lets you get close to life. How? With an amazing new camera and recorder system that is so small, so lightweight, it sets you free to capture all the action. The VC-200A color camera weighs a mere 3 lbs. 5 oz., and comes with Canon's exclusive auto-focus system that ensures sharp, clear pictures every time. A f/1.2 6X power zoom lens that incorporates Canon’s legendary optics technology. Plus a newly developed 1/2" high-band Saticon® tube for superior resolution, even in low light. Canon’s new four-head VR-E10 portable recorder weighs just 3.2 lbs. because it uses an 8mm tape cassette that’s about the size of an ordinary audio cassette. You’ll be amazed at the quality of the picture and the sound from a system this small. Hook the recorder up to Canon’s new VT-E10 tuner/timer and you can record up to four TV programs as much as two weeks in advance. Canon’s new Canovision 8. It’s the system of the future that lets you get close to life — now. _ _ Canon See it at your Canon Video Dealer today! MBtffft? WBE¥Wf Hf CdnOVisiOD 8 Get close to life. New Products

nectors. It is not designed for use with a hours of use, the unit includes an AC stereo-ready TV or VCR. adapter to recharge the battery over¬ Price: open list. night. Also included is a carry case with a For additional information, handy shoulder strap. The unit is good circle No. 159 on Reader Service Card. for VCRs, cameras, and other 12-volt equipment. The RC-1212 is a NICAD (SAFT reg¬ SAFT America Unveils istered trademark) battery developed for New Battery Products portable VHS VCRs. This 1.2-amp/hour The first of a round of new products battery furnishes playing time of at least from SAFT America is a 12-volt, 10- 5 hours and can be recharged up to 1000 amp/hour, lead-acid battery, the PP12- times. 100. Good for at least 150 charges and 5 While this may not seem like a video

SAFT RC-1212 product right off, any gadget freak would EXTERMINATION appreciate the SAFT CC-1P desk charger. The system consists of the is the reward charger itself plus seven NICAD bat¬ teries: two AA, C, and D cells plus one for the World’s richest prize. nine-volt battery. An adapter is available to charge AAA cells. The charger can charge up to four NICADs at once. Prices: PP12-100, $99.95; RC-1212, $49; CC-1P, $49. For additional information, circle No. 160 on Reader Service Card.

Sonar Radio Corp. Makes Erasers for Tapes & Floppies According to Sonar Radio Corpora¬ tion, erasing magnetic media can make for cleaner recordings on videotape, floppy disks, and so on. To that end the company makes the VX-1601 Videoraser, to erase Beta or VHS videotapes, and the VX-1401 Dataras- er, for floppy disks and data cartridges. Not having to record several seconds of black after a program on a re-recorded tape might save minor wear on video heads, but convenience is the main advantage. Prices: VX-1601, $65; VX-1401, $52. For additional information, circle No. 161 on Reader Service Card. a

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H Ss mmancing ««-' THE STONE

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Your Video Questions Answered

the other. Your friend’s A There are a couple of A Read the reply to the let¬ by Roderick method takes the signal possibilities. An old TV ter from the reader with Woodcock through a more complicated set—with slow horizontal the Panasonic PV-1000A. I route, converting both audio scanning circuits—could be suspect his problem was due and video into a radio frequen¬ producing the tell-tale “flag¬ to the age of the VCR. Since The Proper Dub cy (RF) signal that can be ging” or hooking effect at the your SL-2300 is relatively QA friend and I recently broadcast through the VCR’s top of your TV screen. This new, it’s too soon for this kind had a heated discussion built-in RF modulator. When could also be the problem of tape tension problem to about dubbing tapes. I’ve al¬ received by the tuner on the with your friends’ tapes. Old¬ appear—unless, of course, ways used audioivideo cables recording VCR, it has to be er TVs just don’t have the you’ve been running it day to connect the playing VCR to reprocessed into separate fast-acting electronics of and night for the last year. the recording VCR. My friend audio and video signals again newer sets, making their per¬ Once you’re completely insisted that it was not neces¬ before being recorded on formance with VCRs substan¬ satisfied that the problem sary to hook up the VCRs this tape—sort of like walking dard. isn’t inherent in your TV set, way, and that the same result around the block to visit your Your PV-1000A could also take the VCR to an autho¬ could be obtained just by hook¬ next door neighbor. be causing the problem. It is rized service depot and have ing up a 75-ohm coaxial cable The RF method has other really old, circa 1977 to be it checked. You can almost al¬ from the VHF output on the qualitative problems, includ¬ exact. It’s the first VHS VCR ways expect to make some player to the VHF input on the ing impedance loss (from us¬ that Panasonic ever sold, and tracking adjustments when recorder. I’ve never heard of ing a cable that’s too long) and I’ll bet that your machine has playing back tapes made on this. If tape copying can be the risk of the tuner on the a lot of hours on it. Are you other VCRs, but if you’ve done this simply why are all the recording VCR being improp¬ the original owner? If so, how eliminated that possibility, it’s extra audioivideo jacks re¬ erly tuned. One more thing: much use do you give it, and time to look elsewhere. I’m quired? Is it simpler than it’s not possible to make a what kind of service has it assuming the “hooking” prob¬ hooking the coaxial jumper stereo copy of a stereo tape had? The flagging problem lem you’re describing has cable to the antenna connec¬ from one stereo VCR to can be caused by misaligned shown up with a variety of tions, or is there another another using the RF tape tension controls inside tapes (prerecorded or other¬ reason? method, since the tuners on your VCR. Assuming you’ve wise) from a variety of Howard R. Houseman all currently-available been renting tapes for a few sources. If you’ve tested Citrus Heights, Calif. machines are not stereo¬ years and have only recently only tapes from a friend’s Be- ready. For proper stereo begun to notice this problem, tamax, it’s possible that his A Your friend is correct— dubbing, use three patch it sounds like your machine machine is out of whack. you can copy a videotape cords—one each for the left has worn to the point where Check this by playing some of using the “RF” method he de¬ and right audio channels, and it’s no longer “within spec, ” your tapes back on his scribes. In some situations, it the third for the video signal. as the servicemen like to say. system. may be simpler than the I’d say it’s time for you to trot direct audio/video method Waving the Flag it into the shop for some Breathless you’re using, since it requires QI recently bought a prere¬ adjustment and preventive Q These days, everyone is only a short and readily-avail- corded VHS cassette. maintenance. talking about stereo and able length of coaxial cable When I tried to watch it, there Hi-Fi VCRs—which is (which is provided with every was an annoying flutter at the The Hook understandable since the au¬ VCR sold). But while your top of the picture. When I tried I have a Sony SL-2300 dio quality of standard VHS method requires slightly the tape on a friend’s system, and am quite happy with machines is somewhat muddy, more expensive audio/video the flutter did not appear. I the machine. However, with - especially when heard through patch cords—now provided have noticed similar problems some tapes recorded on other / the one- or two-inch speakers with most stereo VCRs—it on tapes that I’ve rented before, machines, I get a strange prob¬ found on most TV sets. To les¬ will deliver consistently bet¬ but not this bad. Furthermore, lem: the picture bends at the sen this problem, I connected ter results. my friends have noticed the top of the screen. This isn’t a my mono VCR’s audio output With the “direct” method, same thing on movies they’ve tracking problem—I’ve jack to the auxiliary input you’re using patch cords to go rented. If the problem is in my checked that out. directly from one machine to VCR (a Panasonic PV- Marvin Channing 1000A), wouldn’t I notice the Forest Hills, N.Y. problem on all tapes? What causes it and how can I correct it? David Mund Sioux. Falls, S.D. Official sponsor World Cup Skiing. BASF Chrome Video brightens your sights and sounds. 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jacks on my audio receiver (splitting the require an adapter for playback in regular Newer tapes may not be aligning them¬ mono signal for input into each channel). VHS VCRs. It does, however, offer au¬ selves well with the control track head While this works, 1 want to know if this dio and video outputs, making it a suit¬ inside the VCR, producing the instability. could damage my VCR (I own a JVC able playback unit for editing if another This would be a good theory if it weren’t HR-7100). Scott Kreisler VCR is used as the “editing” recorder. for the fact that you report that rental Seymour, Conn. VHS camcorders using full-size cassettes tapes play back fine. Some rental tapes will be available soon. (See this issue’s see a lot of use, but I doubt if it would add A Not unless you amplify the audio “What’s New” for details.) up to as many passes as your venerable coming from your VCR enough to The only editing/controller on the soap tape. blow out your speakers. Actually, market is manufactured by Matsushita Before lugging the thing into the shop, there’s little chance of that—if you turn and sold by Canon, Quasar, Panasonic, try one test. See how tapes you make on up the audio too much, vou’]| discover etc. You can use it only with selected your VCR play back on another VCR. how bad mono VCR audio really is. Before VCRs made by the same company (Mat¬ Use new tape. If they too have the the advent of Beta and VHS Hi-Fi VCRs, sushita) and that have the appropriate shakes, it would point to a defective con¬ the audio track was confined to a narrow interface jack. I’ve tested the Quasar trol track head on your machine—a de¬ strip along the top edge of the tape. With version, and while it does integrate con¬ fect that’s more pronounced in the re¬ linear tape speeds ranging anywhere trol of both the playback and recording cord mode, where the VCR places con¬ f, om 3.335 to 1.11 cm/sec, the resulting VCR into one unit, the results are not trol track pulses on the tape, rather than audio was none too breathtaking. Split significantly different from those in playback, where all it has to do is read track Dolby stereo tapes improved the obtained using a conventional editing them correctly. situation considerably, but even they setup consisting of patch cords and moni¬ pale in comparison to Hi-Fi audio. tors. For help in editing between two Switch Switch We recommended the hookup you’re dissimilar decks (or even different for¬ QMany VCRs on the market come with describing in an earlier issue (see “The mats), take a look at “Electronic Cut & an AC socket on their back panels for Sound of Stereo, ” January 1983). As you Paste, ” which appeared in our Septem¬ plugging in other appliances. Almost all state, it’s necessary to split the single ber 1983 issue. the ones I’ve seen are “unswitched, ” mono audio output channel into two sepa¬ meaning that the power is available at this rate lines for the left and right speakers. Out of Control outlet even when the VCR is switched off. The necessary “Y adapter” is inexpen¬ Q I purchased a GE 1VCR2002 VCR I’d like to purchase a VCR with a sive and readily available (Radio Shack just before Christmas in 1981. I “switched” outlet—one where the power at #422-435). timeshift a daily one-hour soap opera us¬ the outlet goes on and off when I turn the ing the same T-120 cassette on slow speed VCR on and off. Do you know of any Cut & Paste each week. After using the same tape for model that offers this capability? If not, do QI have an RCA VKP900 and am about 1-1/2 years (about 80 times), I de¬ you think it’s feasible to have an un¬ looking for a second VCR to edit cided to retire it and start a new one. The switched outlet modified to make it tapes. 1 shoot only at the SP speed (I picture recorded on the new tape jumps switched? have show dogs) and am wondering if so much that it is totally unwatchable, Paul Mathews there is an older SP-only model which though sound and color are fine. I’ve been Los Angeles, Calif. would suit my purposes. Also, is there any told that the problem is in the vertical hold editor-controller available to use with my control on my TV, but how can this be A All VCRs I’ve seen featuring this VKP900 and a second VCR? when the TV picture “off air” is perfect? supplementary AC convenience A second question in regard to the JVC Rented tapes also play back without jump¬ outlet have been “unswitched. ” You can VHSC camcorder. Can this unit be used ing, but several brand new tapes—TDK, plug another appliance into it (a lamp, as a playback unitin an editing function? Sony, Maxell; regular and high grade— cable TV converter, or your TV set, but Jeffrey A. Bottrell all produce the jumping picture, regard¬ be careful not to exceed the maximum Santa Maria, Calif. less of whether I record at SP or EP. Some wattage indicated on the back of the of my older tapes jump a little, but most do VCR) to tidy up the wiring behind your A Glad to see that you’re doing your not. The strangest thing of all is that if I equipment bay. camera taping at the SP speed. use my old soap opera tape, it still records I can’t see the point of having a That’s the speed where the audio and and plays back clear and steady. It's the “switched” outlet since anything you video quality is best, an important consid¬ only tape that works. How can this be? plug into it would only come on when you eration if you intend to copy or edit your C. Babcock turned on your VCR. Perhaps you want a original tapes later on. In looking for a Elmont, N.Y. lamp to come on over the VCR when it’s second VCR, stay with one that offers recording or playing back. I suppose that wide-gap recording heads at the SP A A curious problem indeed. You a competent repairman could modify the speed. If you’re considering a portable, didn’t tell me the brand of that time- outlet to make the conversion. look for a JVC HR-2200 (SP only) or honored soap opera tape. It might not be HR-2650 (SP and EP, but with four video significant, but every fact can help point Beg, Borrow or... heads). Both models are discontinued, the wav to a solution. In this case, I’m QMy VCR doesn’t have an audio dub so you’ll have to look around to find them. nearly at a loss to diagnose your prob¬ control. Is there any way that I can The current JVC HR-S10U also offers lem. The symptoms you describe could put music on videocassette? wide-gap video heads. And don’t over¬ be the result of the tape feeding through Andrew Denaro look the prospect of adding another RCA your VCR irregularly—especially at the Flushing, N. Y. to your system. The new VKP950 adds bottom, where the control track is—pro¬ Hi-Fi audio to the excellent machine you ducing the jitter effect you’re seeing. It’s A The only way to replace the existing already own. RCA also uses super wide possible that your older tapes don’t have audio track with a new one is to use a video heads for SP recording, ensuring a this problem because they’ve VCR with a separate audio dub control. If full 58-micron video track pitch on the passed through your VCR so many you don’t own one with that feature and tape. JVC’s GRC-1 VideoMovie is times: they’ve become comfortable with don’t plan to buy one in the near future, another good choice, though it uses spe¬ the placement of the internal guides and try to borrow a friend’s machine or rent a cial twenty-minute videocassettes that rollers that control tape movement. VCR from a dealer. Q 28 Video

'S> leastthisSeptember.“Our ^ goalistodevelopaninnova- Illustrations by Carg sign,”saysWilliamW.Walls, | fivelow-workloadcockpitde- future.” we’ll bebuilding inthe the keytohelicopters BV’s LHXprogrammanager. is scheduledtolastuntilat “Advanced cockpitdesignis began inDecember1983and pilot, whoactsasa“safety sensitive controls.Testing display plusvoiceandtouch- is alsotryingoutadigitalmap run—or fly—intotrouble.BV monitor” shouldthetestpilot nose sectionforasecond cockpit ontherightof and setupacompletemini¬ the windowsandwindshield vehicle. Engineerscovered helicopter asitsARTItest Helicopter (LHX)programs. vanced RotocraftTechnology ment fortheArmy’sAd¬ part ofresearchanddevelop¬ BV modifiedanAgustaA-109 Integration (ARTI)andLight io. ”Thisriskybusinessis load inasingle-pilotscenar¬ designed tolightenthework¬ view andarepartofasystem provide a126-degreefieldof experimental bird’snose. mitted bycamerasonthe as itsounds.Thepilotfliesby for thenewArmy,Boeing explains that“themonitors “real time”picturestrans¬ video monitorswhichreceive way offourwide-anglecolor one withoutwindowsorwind¬ craft manufacturer—made Vertol—test armoftheair¬ proposition: facedwiththe shield. Theideaisn’tascrazy task ofdesigningahelicopter Wolfe by William Flying Blind? Innovative, sure—but will BV’s RobertTorgerson It’s definitelyaCatch-22 Visage, makers ofinteractive donations ofequipment from video unitismade possibleby ence Quiz.Theinteractive learn from,theNOVASci¬ kids havecometoplay,and mers toysaleoranautograph ence. No,it’snotaTransfor¬ the BostonMuseumofSci¬ been cloggingupacorridorin high-school studentshave session forVanHalen—the parachutes willremain. Super NOVA windshields maygo,the though thewindowsand Boeing cockpit:‘low-workloaddesign,failsafebackups.' cided yet.” knows? Nothing’sbeende¬ but addsareassuring:“Who have tobeawholeseriesof The ElectronicIntelligencer and otherfailsafebackups,” cameras mountedallover, are damaged?Torgerson what happensifthecameras suggests that“therewould exactly thefriendlyskies—so and combatmissions—not these ’copterstoflyscouting initial testshavebeenfavor¬ able. ButtheArmywants they’re rightonschedule,and tech 'coptersbytheearly Army needsabout445high- they fly?Torgersonsaysthe Videogrqm 1990s. Asfarashecantell, Elementary- andjunior You canbesurethat, Then answersappear,each appropriate picturesbehind. appears on-screenwith each mini-quiz,aquestion on scienceandhistory.For three-question mini-quizzes MicroTouch screencircuitry, Visage-modified IBMPC, LV player,theexhibitposes Sony monitor,andPioneer Housed inakioskthatholds by PBSstationsnationwide.) WGBH/Boston andcarried dren’s show,isproducedby Fall ’84NOVAshowcalled teractive touchscreens. and MicroTouch,makerofin¬ video componentsystems, {NOVA, aneducationalchil¬ “The NationalScienceTest.” The Quizoriginatedfroma acter willpopupandsay, but thenaprogrammedchar¬ water foraswimminghole,’ the playermustcontend.For system maysay,‘I’llusethat example, someoneusingthe appear secondslater—are¬ for eachdecisiontheinteract- game—the usesof kind ofawaterresources tion. Thesubjectiswater; sulting scenariowithwhich er makes,theconsequences making policydecisions.And branching treesofinforma¬ roam around,withlotsof program. There’sroomto it’s amore“multi-dimensional the works,andSmithfeels teractive exhibitofitsownin action inanovelway.” you. Butitdidprovideinstant ty, thetouchability,Ican’ttell tor’.” Themuseum’sDoug was thecontentornovel¬ well-received. Whetherit the unitswork,anditwas1 Smith agrees.“Wenowknow appeal and‘enjoymentfac¬ adds toexhibitswithitsvisual right attheexhibits.Andit cause itprovidesinformation dent PhilipV.W.Dodds,“be¬ a natural,”saysVisagePresi¬ ified success.Thedisplay“is touch hischoice. taking thequizneedonly with itsownpicture.To select ananswer,thechild The museumhasanin¬ The Quizwasanunqual¬ ‘Hey, that’s my bathwater’.” stead of featuring a perform¬ The kids can’t wait to see er, we feature fashion.” Vidbits that one. Is there an end in sight? The bad news is that a where.” Paul McCartney Probably not. All advertisers burglary occurs every 13 and U2’s Bono Vox (Paul Designer Video (in this case, fashion design¬ seconds, according to the Hewson) are talking about It didn’t take long for rock ers) have to do is drum up FBI. And because of their The Tube, the popular Brit¬ bands to discover that com¬ some minor beach or back- portability and popularity, ish rock show broadcast bining attractive models, de¬ alley plotting, add a rock hit, VCRs are true “collect¬ live on independent U.K. signer clothes, and stylish and voilal—an instant MTV- ibles.” The good news is channel ITV 4. The big antiseptic pop music on video style video. Switch to a Love that NCI now offers its Vid- news is that Tube is now would lead to fun and profit in Boat-cruise set and Julio Igle- eolok VCR alarm (“Vidbits,” shown on MTV the first album and home-video sales. sias and you’ve got another “Videogram,” February ’85) Sunday of each month this It took a little longer for audience by the tail. No need in the Beta format. year, at 11 p.m. EST. Each fashion designers. Realizing to stop at fashion, either. It's great, fab. . .but show offers interviews, ar¬ that their wares are a basic There’s always cars and beer you know you’re the best chival footage, and tunes ingredient in the winning for¬ and—you name it, the time anyway.” “What you’ve got by four live bands. Get out mula, designers are dolling up will come when someone will is the best program any¬ that Hi-Fi videotape. their own models to make make it into a music video. music videos—and profits— others use two—which mats and 3/4-U-Matic is ac¬ for themselves. Inter-Activity makes the system “easier to cepted. Heading the panel of Shoppers in Macy’s, A shopper enters a J.C. use than an automated tell¬ judges will be Hiroshi Minami,- Bloomingdales, and Nieman- Penney department store and er.” And InteracTV has two president of the Japan Society Marcus can’t help but notice wanders into the furniture de¬ audio channels. Discs can be of Image Arts and Sciences. the video monitors dangling partment. He approaches a programmed with bilingual Last year’s festival over Calvin Klein denims or beige NCR Information Cen¬ and stereo soundtracks, or attracted 1330 entries from peering out over racks of ter kiosk and, following the with two separate texts—one 27 countries. That’s up from a Perry Ellis overcoats. That’s instructions printed on the at an introductory level and grand total of 257 entries in just the beginning. One de¬ full-color screen, commences the other more advanced. 1978, the festival’s first year. signer produced and starred to take a video tour through Yates predicts that interac¬ Winners in the 1984 competi¬ in a 3-1/2-minute video pro¬ loveseats and sofa beds— tive systems like InteracTV tion include Japan’s Yukikazu moting his sportswear line, without taking a step. The will first become the standard Watanabe, who took the and had it put in “rotation” on same shopper has just re¬ in training new employees Video Grand Prize for MTV—he even used the ceived a raise, goes to his and retraining established Dosanku no Uta (The Horse song he wrote for the video to bank, and uses an Information employees at work, but adds from Hokkaido: A Driver and land a recording contract with Center to run through the that the most exciting applica¬ His Beast). The half-inch col¬ Epic Records. And ever-ea- bank’s IRAs, CDs, and tions will be the kind you’ll or video ran 19 minutes, 57 ger Ted Turner and his TBS Keoughs—while other cus¬ bump into on Saturday morn¬ seconds, and told of “the inti¬ “superstation” have aired a tomers are waiting in line. ings when running errands. mate relationship between a one-hour special called Im¬ Across town, the new library Penney has tested InteracTV horse driver and his half-wild ages, a show devoted entirely in four stores, and is busy Dosanko horse.” American to fashion videos. A TBS tabulating user reactions. But Bruce Yonemoto won a tro¬ spokesperson says, “We’ll air the field is crowded with com¬ phy for Vault, a 12-minute the show three or four times, petitors scurrying to get their 3/4-inch color video and if it does well, we’ll air product seen (see “Cathode documenting a couple’s emo¬ more. ” That’d be just fine Catalogue,” “Videogram,” tional shifts. Yugoslavian with Richmel Entertainment, February 1985). One indus¬ Martinis won one of three producer of Images, which try exec summed it up: “The Open Theme trophies for his “anticipates” making 13 more volume of new equipment is 20-minute 3/4-inch Image Is half-hour segments. incredible, staggering, be¬ Virus, which reflected the au¬ You might expect a lot of cause everyone thinks they thor’s opinion that “the flood¬ well-tanned boisterous bim¬ can get rich.” ing of images and words via bos, half-dressed hunks, and Don’t expect to find the the TV medium is causing the soap-opera romance—and boxy kiosks sprouting up deterioration of man’s ability you’d probably be right—but overnight, though. “Interac¬ to think creatively. ” The JVC Images at least opts for the is using an Information Cen¬ tive video is still in its infan¬ President’s Award went to star approach. Dynasty’s Lin¬ ter in place of a card cata¬ cy,” says Yates. “But it’s Chieko and Hitoshi Ishii for da Evans and John Forsythe, logue, complete with pictures clear there’s great potential. Futari de Karutetto (Two¬ Morgan Fairchild, and Billy of the front cover and con¬ This is a year of development some Quartet), a lighthearted Dee Williams are among the tents page of each book. and absorption. ’’ Time will look at musical experimenta¬ big names who make cameo These services and more tell who gets developed and tion. As you can see, videos appearances and model may soon be available with who gets absorbed. presenting a variety of sub¬ fashions by designers Chris¬ NCR “InteracTV, ” an in¬ jects, tones, and moods made tian Dior and Willi Smith— teractive information system Festival! it to the, winner’s circle. “about 40 or 50 in all, ” says based on the linkup of a Video buffs worldwide are The festival committee will Richmel’s Richard Melcombe. LaserVision player and NCR invited to enter the 8th annual begin accepting entries for The tunes are by Cindy personal computer. Tokyo Video Festival. Spon¬ the 1985 festival on April 1, Lauper, Culture Club (with Vernon Yates, Vice Presi¬ sored by the Victor Company but all entries must be accom¬ Mr. Trend himself, Boy dent of NCR’s Personal Com¬ of Japan GVC), the world’s panied by an entry form. To George), and Chubby Check¬ puter Division, is quick to largest international video receive a form, write Terry er. Melcombe says that Im¬ point out that InteracTV is competition is open to both Kikuchi at JVC Company of ages videos are a lot like the the first such system to use a amateurs and professionals, America (41 Slater Dr., average rock video, but “in- single 12-inch screen—the and tape in both 1/2-inch for¬ I Elmwood Park, N.J. 07407). D Video 31 TV Pen Techniques and Technology

Last month I examined the series of dots, black and "buffer” space so that adja¬ Resolution contentious subject of verti¬ white successively. If a con¬ cent channels don’t interfere cal resolution—this business stant frequency is maintained with each other. Resolved of lines which create the pic¬ long enough for a complete The 4.2 MHz bandwidth tures we see on the screen. TV frame to be scanned, the available for broadcast televi¬ A brief recap: In the NTSC horizontally spaced black and sion therefore yields a practi¬ by Roderick television system we use i white dots take on the cal horizontal resolution of North America, 525 appearance of horizontally about 336 lines (80 times Woodcock horizontal scanning spaced vertical lines. The 4.2). But many inexpensive lines paint a zigzag question of horizontal resolu¬ sets, and almost all current pattern across the tion, therefore, rests on how VCRs, cannot attain that phosphorescent in¬ many of these lines can be theoretical level of broadcast ner surface of the arrayed in the picture. The picture quality. Since we’re screen in two more vertical lines, the great¬ talking about color TV, “field” passes con¬ er the detail in the picure and there’s got to be room some¬ sisting of 262-1/2 the higher its horizontal res¬ where in the bandwidth for lines. Since each olution. Occasionally, after a the color subcarrier that car¬ 525-line video TV station has signed off for ries the chrominance infor¬ “frame” last only 1/ the night, you can see these mation. The NTSC system 30th of a second, line charts in the test patterns places the color subcarrier at there are 15,750 that show up on the screen. A 3.58 MHz. The practical ceil¬ .(30 times 525) good rule of thumb is that 1 ing for video bandwidth is It looks confusing, but—the electronic scanning lines in MHz of video bandwidth thus usually a meager 3 MHz, spot which traces your video picture fol¬ one second. It fol¬ yields about 80 lines of res¬ yielding an effective horizon¬ lows this path in a typical 2-pass se¬ lows that the olution. tal resolution of only 240 quence. (For the sake of clarity, only ti o amount of time it Horizontal resolution is lines—give or take a few the 525 scan lines are shown here.) takes for only one therefore directly related to lines, depending on specific line to be scanned is the frequency range, or set designs and sample-to- 1/15,750 of a second or “bandwidth, ” of the signal sample variations. about 63.5 microseconds. that’s being either trans¬ One more expensive sig¬ However, since the elec¬ mitted or displayed on the TV nal-processing solution used tron spot isn’t lit when it’s re¬ or monitor. And this is where on most of the newer re¬ positioning itself on the things can become confusing, ceiver/monitors or dedicated screen in preparation for its since the quality of the picture monitors is the “comb filter." next scanning pass (about 11 you see is dependent on This is an electronic circuit microseconds), it’s really got the bandwidth capabilities of that separates or “combs” an “active line time” of 52.5 the signal being fed into the the color information from the microseconds. And that’s the set, and by the signal-proces¬ composite video signal to re¬ figure that must be kept in sing capabilities of the receiv¬ cover as much of the lumi¬ mind when delving into the er itself. nance signal (where the de¬ next and, in terms of picture An increasing number of tailed picture information re¬ quality, the more important receiver/monitors far exceed sides) rather than just cutting subject of horizontal resolu¬ the quality of the signals being off the signal at a picture-de¬ tion. The pertinent question fed into them. So let's consid¬ grading lower level, before becomes: how much picture er the limits of a broadcast TV any interference with color in¬ information can be crammed signal. By law, the FCC par¬ formation can occur. But into that 52.5-microsecond cels out space for each chan¬ even applying these sorts of time frame? nel in 6 MHz chunks. Of that, sophisticated signal proces¬ Given an input signal of 1 only 4.2 MHz is available for sing techniques cannot MHz, for example, there picture information. The rest change the immutable param¬ would be 52.5 cycles is used for transmitting other eters of our current broad¬ (changes between black and equally important information cast TV system. And given white) in one line. Arranged (the audio subcarrier is at 4.5 the arithmetic of the NTSC along this horizontal scan line, MHz) and to allow a sufficient system and FCC regulation, these alternating changes in the theoretical maximum for frequency are displayed as a broadcast horizontal resolu¬ tion is 336 lines.

32 Video Not stereotype TV.

With almost 50% of U.S. TV stations planning to broadcast stereo this year, naturally many manufacturers are jumping on the stereo TV bandwagon. That's why NEC wants to remind you of something before you buy any TV stereo or otherwise. The TV itself. NEC Stereo Receiver/Monitors incorporate decades of the Company's industrial and professional video experience. In fact, the 20" CT-2020A and 25" CT-2505A offer all the features that make NEC a favorite among serious video users. Besides receiving stereo or Second Audio Program (SAP) Multiplex Broadcasts directly and playing them back through built-in stereo amps and speakers, the CT-2020A/2505As feature CATV-ready tuners with full function wireless remote control and Skip Memory; and a complete assortment of antenna, video and audio connection facilities. These stereo NEC Receiver/Monitors also incorporate comb filters, auto flesh control, black stripe matrix picture tubes and smokeduncu yia:oglass aianti-glare uryiaic shieldsiiciuo for the utmost in picture sharpness, contrast and resolution. j No matter how good the idea of stereo TV may sound, combining stereo with an NEC Receiver/Monitor sounds even better. SEC

For additional information, circle No. 21 on Reader Service Card.

m TV Den_ Fortunately, it’s a different story for many non-broadcast situations. Here the latest advances in signal-processing elec¬ tronics found in most modem TVs, re¬ ceivers, and monitors can be called into play to yield horizontal-resolution speci¬ Don't risk missing an issue of VIDEO. If you're planning on changing your address, please give us 8 weeks notice. Simply write in your new address below and mail this coupon—ALONG WITH fications well in excess of 400 lines. With YOUR SUBSCRIPTION MAILING LABEL—to: video Magazine. Subscriber Services some computer monitors, for example, (please print) P.O. Box 1116. Dover, NJ 07801 the bandpass capabilities can extend out to 10 MHz, or 800 lines of horizontal resolution. If you’re in the market for a newer TV or monitor and are impressed by claims of higher-resolution pictures, remember that those numbers apply only if you’ve got a superior signal to feed the set. For ordinary broadcast pictures, or images generated by a home VCR, the resolution isn’t going to be all that great, and never in excess of what the NTSC broadcast system permits. Bad outdoor antennas, “rabbit ears, ” or substandard cable service contribute to signal loss. Videophiles living in crowded urban areas can suffer from other image-im¬ pairing deficiencies as well. Every new electrical appliance seems to bring a cor¬ responding increase in the amount of spurious Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) in the environment. That can show up in the form of everything from squig¬ gly diagonal lines crisscrossing across your picture to white horizontal pulses NOBODY BEATS OUR PRICES flitting across the screen whenever your ON V.C.R.’S/ MONITORS upstairs neighbor decides to dry her hair or vacuum the carpet. Occasionally, you can see the evi¬ NAME BRANDS/HONESTY dence of horizontal scanning lines in the pictures that appear on your TV. If the frequency of these lines in the subject or object being photographed comes close to the frequency of the scanning system, 1-800-247-4663 an effect known as “moire”—a sort of source-generated interference—results. FIND A BETTER DEAL ANYWHERE, CALL US Experienced TV directors, tech¬ AND WE WILL MAKE OURS BETTER! nicians, set designers, and wardrobe people usually go out of their way to RULES FOR BUYING MAIL ORDER... avoid situations where the moire effect can occur. But occasionally it happens 1. Always compare the delivered price, (with 6. We ship Collect On Delivery (C.0D.). Others anyway. If you watch Johnny Carson’s insurance & double boxing) want money first! Tonight show, you’ve probably seen that 2. Factory Fresh Merchandise with U.S. Warranties 7. We are a Public Showroom, No P.O. Box or Johnny sometimes wears a jacket that Warehouse. Come Visit! 3. Service after the Sale! How do the others appears to shimmy and shake on the' handle defectives? 8. Courteous! Call first, second or last, we’re glad screen. This is the moire effect, and it 4. Advice from trained professionals! you called! occurs because the suit has a pattern of 9. WE STOCK...ALL NAME BRANDS! 5. Merchandise shipped within 46 hours, (usually fine horizontal lines that are difficult for 24 hours!) 10. If you find a better price...tell us, we ll lower ours. the TV system to scan. ACCESSORIES Despite these problems picture quali¬ ty is improving. Experiments with High Definition Television (HDTV) have gone beyond the laboratory stage and have resulted in viable systems that offer 1050-line systems—double that of our present standard. This image quality is spectacular, though still not quite the equal of large-format motion-picture film. But we’re getting there. And assuming enough bandwidth can be found in our already-crowded frequen¬ VISIT OUR SHOWROOM in Michigan call cy spectrum for such a system, someday 31800 PLYMOUTH RD. LIVONIA, MICH. 48150 (313)261-8004 we might even enjoy high-definition TV pictures of this caliber in our homes. D o. 52 on Reader Sen

Random Access Personal Computers, News, and Games

Screen Protection whistle-blower Hartmann. How dangerous are the “The farther away from the low-level radiation and glare screen, the less radiation coming from your computer you’re subjected to. Most screen? The jury is still out people don’t watch television on this one as the federal or video monitors as close-up government’s National In¬ as they do with computer stitute for Occupational terminals.” Safety and Health (NIOSH) —Steve Ditlea begins the first large-scale statistical study of computer- A Baseball related health hazards. Scat¬ Simulation tered reports have been Micro League/A tari, Apple frightening—like the United computersl48K disk Airlines survey showing mis¬ The wonder isn’t carriage rates as high as 50 that this program— percent among female which may become one of computer-terminal workers. the more successful products “Longterm exposure to in entertainment software low levels of radiation has not history—was produced by a been proven dangerous, nor previously unknown company has it been proven safe, ” like Micro League; it isn’t says Thomas Hartmann, even the admirably high qual¬ president of Langley-St. Clair ity of the production. What’s Instrumentation Systems. truly interesting about Micro “All we’re saying is that if League Baseball is that it there is a risk, you can do wasn’t done sooner. something to protect your¬ Epyx looked like it was go¬ self. ” His was the first com¬ ing to produce the first high- pany to offer lead- res stat-replay sports con¬ impregnated plastic screen test. But The World’s Greatest shields to block out radiation Baseball Game is still a hy¬ and glare from computer dis¬ brid: half-action, half-stat- play screens. Using a special replay. MLB goes all the acrylic formula that can be way, disdaining arcade trap¬ manufactured only under pings entirely to make use of strict environmental stan¬ its precious statistics (picked dards in Japan, the shields claims, a survey of purchas¬ a Venetian blind, letting up in a deal with Major ($129, available from ers indicated overwhelming through the light while cut¬ League Baseball) and recre¬ Langley-St. Clair, 132 W. 24 satisfaction with the ting down on glare,” Hart¬ ate the managing experience St., N.Y.C. 10011) come in product—including 65 per¬ mann explains), sometimes as close as possible to the three sizes, attaching with cent of the sampling indicat¬ with metalized or carbonized real thing. MLB offers play¬ Velcro fasteners to the face ing improvement with eye- filaments to neutralize posi¬ ers a level of statistical sim¬ of any monitor. fatigue problems. “Now com¬ tive ions. Prices vary from ulation unseen since Comput¬ “We know there are three panies like ACCO, the $15 to $80. Polaroid takes a er Baseball (SSI), and welds kinds of radiation emitted by business-supply firm, are different tack with its Con¬ it to realistic graphics as cathode-ray tubes: X-ray, selling leaded plastic shields. trast Enhancement Filters good as those in Star League microwave, and ultraviolet Our competition is helping to (“like polarizing sunglasses, ” Baseball (Gamestar). light, plus positive ion, establish the credibility of our says Hartmann), made out of After selecting the teams generated at the screen’s product. ” plastic (Model CP-50, $40) or from the game disk (more surface. Ultraviolet is what Screen glare is the most laminated glass (CP-70, team disks will follow from causes your eyes to common complaint from com¬ $100-$150). Micro League on a regular tear and hurt after a long puter users. A half-dozen Since most computer dis¬ basis) and determining which session at a computer ter¬ firms have begun to offer plays are either TVs or TV- (if either) will be managed by minal,” adds Hartmann. De¬ their own solutions to the like monitors, shouldn’t the computer, coaches vote spite being under investiga¬ problem. The simplest is a videophiles also consider aye or nay on the DH and tion by the Federal Trade nylon mesh stretched in front screen shields? “Not neces¬ begin. The manager on Commission for its beneficial of the screen (“it works like sarily,” says radiation offense has a nice command Illustration by Tim Grajek fact thattheseteamsare in managingteams,butthe comments inbaseballjargon. no boxscore)withtimely Election C? President al account oftheaction(alas, ter fieldkeepsarunning while thedefensivecoach sac bunts,andhitrun— dictating bunts,swingaway, of theon-screenaction— set. Thescoreboardincen¬ selects pitchesandinfield ror theyearJanuary1-December31,1984,othertaxbeginning J.K. Lasse/sYourIncome parer fromHowardSoftand compatibles (including128K available ontheIBM-PCand some reservations. Both arebeneficial,with worked withtwo,TaxPre¬ Tax fromSimon&Schuster. errors. Recentlywehave help eliminatesomeofthe we lookforanypossible task’s associatedtediumand tion. Anumberofprograms task ofincome-taxprepara¬ assistance intheonerous Computer Tax Programs The thrillhereisnotonly 1040 u The HowardSoftdisk, As April15thapproaches Present homeaddress(Numberandstreet,including*- t nameandinitial(ifjointreturn,alsogivespouse's• LS. IndividualIncomeTaxReturn the program’selectronicfiles. related toyourreturnwithin trail andcontainseverything gives youacompleteaudit prepare supportinglistsor your 1040.Thisprocedure der ofthescheduleandonto carried throughtheremain¬ of thesameschedule,and portant ground. in theworkswithother head withthe’61Yankees. matchups ofthepastorenjoy Schedule A,addedtoline18 lated andpostedtoline15of this listisautomaticallycalcu¬ recipients. Thetotalfrom contributions, enumeratingall any formorschedule.For schedules. Theusermay League hasbrokensomeim¬ sports tofollow.Micro the thrillofseeing,say, the user.Replaygreat whose exploitsareknownto comprised ofrealplayers supporting listofcharitable example, youcanpreparea documentation foranylineof ’55 Dodgersgoinghead-to- 20 supportingformsand It producesForm1040and improved witheachversion. Apple II,theprogramhas developed in1979forthe series, issuperior.Originally PCjr) andtheAppleII A footballgameisalready —BiU Kunkel job ofpreparingyour1040 charitable contributions(the must separatelyaddup dividual supportitems.You does not,however,doin¬ and otherfederalforms.It to useanddoesanadequate with thepackage.Itiseasy well-known manualofthe year), itsupplementsthe been announcedfornext same name,whichisincluded and Commodore64have Apple II,Macintosh, compatibles (versionsfor able onlyfortheIBM-PCand prehensive, isLasser.Avail¬ $79.95, butalotlesscom¬ $295 (IBM)and$250 schedules andforms.Priceis and explainsthevarious documentation isextensive (Apple). dividuals. Program tains recordsformanyin¬ and professionals.Itmain¬ is aimedatbothindividuals . ESTSELLERS/RECREAnON . ESTSELLERSIHOME Far lessexpensiveat The TaxPreparerprogram ©1985 Softsel®Computer Products,Inc. 9. Millionaire.MAC,AP,C64,IBM, AT.BluechipSoftware. 8. UltimaIII.AP,AT,IBM,C64.OriginSystems. 7. Wizardry.IBM,AP.Sir-TechSoftware. 6. LodeRunner.AT,C64,IBM,AP,MAC.Broderbund. 5. SargonIII.AP,C64,IBM,MAC.HaydenSoftware. 4. ZorkI.CP/M,AP,DEC,IBM,AT,MAC,TIP.Infocom. 9. PaperclipWordProcessor.C64.BatteriesIncluded. 8. YourPersonalNetWorth.AT,AP,IBM,C64.Scarborough. 4. Homeword.C64,AP,AT,IBM.SierraOn-Line. VTR=Victor 9000,WNG=WangPersonalComputer, ZEN=Zenith100. 64, COM=CommodorePet/CBM,CP/M514” and8”formats,DEC=Rainbow, LEGEND: AP=Apple,APcApplelie,APe Apple lie,AT=Atari,C64Commodore 3. Hitchhiker'sGuidetotheGalaxy.C64,IBM,AP,MAC, 2. FlightSimulatorII.AT,C64,AP.Sublogic. 7. MactheKnifeII.MAC.MilesComputing. 6. MicroCookbook.APc,APe,IBM,AP.VirtualCombinatics. 5. MusicWorks.MAC.HaydenSoftware. 3. ManagingYourMoney.IBM.MECA. EPS =EpsonQX-10,IBMIBM-PC.MAC Apple Macintosh,PCjr=IBMPCjr,RIP 2. BankStreetWriter.AP,APc,IBM,C64,AT.Broderbund. 10. TriviaFever.MAC,C64,AP, IBM.ProfessionalSoftware. 10. BankStreetSpeller.AP.Broderbund. 1. FlightSimulator.IBM.Microsoft. 1. Dollars&Sense.TIP,MAC,APc,IBM,AP.Monogram. =Texas InstrumentsProfessional,TRS=TRS-80, VIC=CommodoreVic-20, AT. Infocom. analysis. book doeshelpperform however, thoughLasser’s that anaccountantdoes, replace theanalyticalwork vices perform.Theywon’t clerical workthattheseser¬ will eliminatemuchofthe prep service,theseprograms the programs. not theprimarypurposeof features areusefulbut ongoing taxliability.These choices thatwillreduceyour at helpingyoumakebusiness math errors. “tax planning”modulesaimed eliminates allpossibilityof don’t haveacomplexreturn. is wellworththecostifyou individuals only.Still,Lasser It simplifiespreparationand records. Thesystemisfor tained withinthecomputer supporting dataarenotmain¬ also meansthattheraw culations areautomatic.This line 15.Fromthatpointcal¬ ter thetotalonScheduleA, mode), forexample,anden¬ program hasacalculator If youuseanaccountantor Both programsalsoinclude John F.McMullen —Barbara E.and Video 37 New Channels Covering Cable, Pay-Per-View, STY and DBS

Low-power television, or stations don’t cover church Real LPTV is local, indepen¬ Low Power LPTV as it is fondly known, is socials, town meetings, and dent, and self-supporting. a medium that has come a other threads in the fabric of Got it? Lowdown short way in a long time. One small-town life. And that’s So when—if—LPTV of its problems is that it is also what LPTV was created to comes to your burg, what will low-profile TV: few people do: cover the locals with a it show you? That depends on by William A. know about it, and not many dime-size station just big a lot of things. Let’s look at more seem to care. Still, it’s enough to serve a small area. three examples. Marsano an interesting idea—a video Think of it as neighborhood John Boler’s TV26 in Be- TV. midji, Minnesota broke the Charles Ferris, then Fed¬ medium’s maidenhead in eral Communications Com¬ 1981, becoming LPTV’s first mission (FCC) Chairman, on-air station late in that year. pushed for it in the late Boler spent a lot of money 70s and the FCC blazed in¬ putting together a first-class to action, setting up the studio for local originations rules in June ’82 (only and, all in all, creating an an elephant takes as long to LPTV showcase. But he have a baby as the FCC). By couldn’t make it pay. A well- that time a year’s backlog of equipped LPTV station of 100 applications was stacked up in watts VHF or 1000 watts the mail room, and that has UHF can cost between been one of LPTV’s crippling $250,000 and $350,000 for problems. If LPTV is to be a hardware alone—LP doesn’t communications revolution, necessarily stand for low some shots must be fired. So price. Bemidji is a resort far the FCC has an estimated town that livens up in summer version of Power to the Peo¬ 25,000-40,000 applications when anglers hunt killer ple. Especially all those peo¬ on file. And how many LPTV perch in Lake Wabatawan- ple who have fallen through stations are there? Good gang and other waters. Local the cracks of mass-audience question. businesses aren’t exactly broadcasting. There are 134 operating gigantic, and neither are their America is still in love with stations, and “operating” is ad budgets. LPTV may well the myths and traditions of its the operative word: it means be beyond the economic pow¬ small-town past. Never mind the switch is on. It also means er of the very towns it was that 90 percent of the popula¬ they could be showing any¬ created to serve. tion lives in urban environs; thing from honest-to-God Bill Sanford, who calls him¬ the very term “small town” programming 24 hours a day self “the engineering staff, ” has a Norman Rockwell magic or putting on nothing more says TV26 soon started car¬ to it, and its misty glow fuels than a test pattern to keep the rying STV (subscription TV, the LPTV vision. People in license warm. Construction a pay service that sends a small towns don’t always get permits have been granted scrambled signal over the air all the TV services the city for 333 more stations, which to rented decoder boxes) in slickers do. Network affili¬ have up to one year to get prime time. That didn’t do it. ates and powerful indepen¬ themselves on the air or for¬ The station went to STV dent stations are usually out feit—or sell—their rights. only—no local programming of town, and even their sig¬ The FCC likes to swell its to¬ —in April ’83. “Now we’re nals may not penetrate the tal by saying there are 198 surviving,” says Sanford, bosky dells. Video’s own more LPTV stations in Alas¬ “but it’s not much fun doing blessed sacrament—cable— ka, but they don’t count. It’s STV only. There’s a dogsled x ignores anyone who costs interesting to know that Alas¬ race on now that we’d have ■5 more than $4 to wire up. ka has the most TV stations covered in the past.” Trouble s Even when small towns re¬ per capita, but those LPTVs is, if TV26 had kept on cover- 's ceive such services, they are were built during pipeline Q seldom served by them. TV days and are now a state-sup¬ ported educational network serving a statewide audience. r«/ %0 fyfiSA New Channels

HOME VIDEO ing that stuff, it would be off the air. So we really are community television. ” the best LPTV can give to this small But even determined TV7 must cover PRODUCTIONS town—despite a sincere effort backed by with a lot of non-local programming. “We JUST GOT EASIER a sizable investment—is pay-TV. At get SPN, the all-night movies from mid¬ least it does so without cable. night to 4 a.m., then the pop-music There is also local LPTV-type videos until 8 a.m.,” Morgan says. “We programming in Lake Havasu city, Ari¬ also use CMTV [cablemeister Ted Tur¬ zona, where Lee Shoblom has estab¬ ner’s country-music hee-haw to MTV]. lished TV45. The station isn’t mak¬ TV7 has a staff of “about eight, all ing money, but it isn’t sinking—partly part-time, and two salesmen.” It also has because Shoblom owns the local AM and a small nut to crack—a low investment. FM stations, which gives him cash flow, “Tower and transmitter cost about and also because his radio news staff con¬ $30,000,” says Morgan, “other equip¬ tributes mightily to TV45’s reporting ment about $20,000; so about $50,000 all efforts. told, ” not counting offices and real TV45 is the big TV deal in Lake Hava¬ estate. How come so low, compared to su City: it is available to all 5000 homes. the average previously quoted? “Well, The local cable op has only 1200 hookups we’re using half-inch. This is home-video with, says Shoblom, no plans to expand equipment. ” his dynamic world of hard-wired com¬ The availability of satellite networks is munications opportunities. What’s more, a boon to LPTV. At first, according to TV45 doesn’t resort to STV. But like any Lee Shoblom, “the ad-supported cable LPTV station it needs a continuing sup¬ services wanted to stay strictly on ca¬ ply of programming. Naturally, much of it ble. ” But then—as doom-sayers, per¬ is non-local. verts, and cynics began to have the wee- Shoblom wants TV45 to get even big¬ tiniest suspicions that cable is not all that ger, be more successful. “I’m sure glad I it says it is—they began to look else¬ have the radio stations, because this where. And why not? In Lake Havasu pioneering is expensive, ” he says. And City SPN could reach 1200 homes on he sees TV45’s future as being that of “a cable. On TV45 it reaches all 5000. The real local station—very much cable ops—or apes, as they are also watched, very much in demand, very known—don’t like it, but never mind. high dollar volume advertising. ” He Cable is an industry that can be thrown wants to affiliate with other LPTVs in into an oscillating blend of white-faced what visionaries would call a support terror and fulminating rage by the mere group and realists would recognize as a utterance of the word “competition. ” If network. How all that can be reconciled LPTV can survive, it may help pump with the founding vision of LPTV is a big financial blood into the shaky ad-sup- pecial effects. (TTL) question. ported networks. Closest to your correspondent’s hard¬ But LPTV’s survival is going to be ened heart is an LPTV in Bruce, Missis¬ hard. Too many licenses are in the hands sippi in the heart of Calhoun County. of people who find construction costs too Davey Doss, Ronald Pollan, and William high; others are in the hands of those Morgan have an electronics business in who want to do horse-trading—people Bruce and that led to their becoming who’ve no desire to become broadcast¬ partners in TV7—what the hell, they had ers but want, instead, to sell high what done everything else with the hardware they got for free, a license to operate a but broadcast with it. TV station. Too many of the operating Now in its third year, TV7 is just about stations are showing only test patterns, 1 PLEASE SEND ME: breaking even, and its load of local pro¬ possibly because they can’t get the oper¬ 1 _CBC @ $12.00 _ -Set of 4 @ $39.95 | gramming is impressive. “My wife Ann ating funds together; possibly, again, out and Ronald’s wife Rita, ” says Morgan in of a desire to establish the franchise and 1 _SLT@ $12.00 __Subtotal his rich regional accent, “they do a 30- then unload it at a quick profit. Too many minute community news show every applications are still at the FCC in a huge 1 _TTL @ $12.00 _6% CA Tax | day, Monday through Friday. They do pile that is mildewed on the top and gan¬ church announcements, swap shop, ev¬ grenous on the bottom. 1 _RSL @ $12.00 _ ery sort of announcement like that. Its spiritual fate will remain a question That’s live at noon and repeated at 5 p.m. even if LPTV survives as a fact. The 1 NAME Then we do school sports at least once a survival of that naive but sincere ideal— week. We’re right into basketball now, holding up LPTV as a mirror to the lives 1 ADDRESS which we tape and show on Saturday of small-town people—depends on an morning so as not to hurt ticket sales. almost un-American idea. To survive and | CITY ST ZIP 1 Twice monthly we have a country-Gos- remain small-town-oriented, an LPTV pel music show, three hours long. That’s station has to be moderately successful— CHECK ! live. We have a studio here that seats no more, no less. Small, not big. A profit- j CARD NO. EXP. DATE_ J about 75 people. We get all the local maker, but not an obscene windfall. Too talent to perform. So we feel like we little success means go to STV or go to 2 HOLLY STREET . really are—can you hold on a minute? I’m black. And even a little too much will | line! alt! 1 RESEARCH LABORATORIES (714) 391-2053 | doing a production, and I’ve got to fade a mean goodbye, church socials—we’re camera out [brief pause]—so we feel like headed for high volume advertising. O NO OTHER HI-FI VCR CAN GIVE YOU THIS KIND OF MENU

tures. In addition to incredible hi-fi sound and remote input capability, you get the flexibility of programming directly through the machine. Four heads provide picture-perfect record, playback and special effects. A cable- ready, 139-channel tuner provides 28-day/8 event programmability; a lighted tape area allows tape usage monitoring. And if there’s a power outage during the night, the VS-603 is one VCR you won’t have to reprogram in the morning. Because instead of the normal one hour back-up memory, there’s 7-day back-up power. So if you’re looking for the best in VHS hi-fi VCR’s, look no further. AKAI’s new VS-603 is really going to open some ears. And eyes.

AKAI’s new Hi-Fi VS-603 may of 8 programs. All at one time. well make ordinary VCR program¬ So there’s no waiting for that ming seem obsolete. missed portion to reappear Because now, the combination on the display. And no more AKAI of convenient full-function wire¬ missed shows due to program¬ less remote programming and an ming accidents. Hi-FiAEHl interactive monitor system What’s more, the new AKAI allows you to see the full menu VS-603 comes jam-packed with plenty of other impressive fea- For additional information, circle No. 30 on Reader Sen/ice Card. I NG

The Mailbox Is Open And the Hunt Is On

Your letters—with their comments, questions, and complaints—are carefully read and greatly appreciated. They keep me pointed in the right direction. I can’t promise individual answers. I will, howev¬ er, respond in this space. With so much now available on video, many of your letters increasingly ask how to find out if a favorite film is available on cassette. Begin your search at local cata¬ logue stores, meaning stores specializ¬ ing in the sale and rental of video programs. These are different from the many other * outlets that only skim the top 40 or handle a special genre. My advice is to become a regular customer at a catalogue store that will get to know you, value your repeated business, and therefore become more like¬ ly to respond to your search requests. Try as they might, while catalogue stores are the best place to start your hunt for a favorite title, they can’t carry or know about everything available. Catalogue stores get their programs from middleman and can supply you. If he doesn’t, go direct. program companies and their distributors. distributors who try to handle as much as In your search, it is necessary to distin¬ But catalogue stores love ’em, as you can possible. Distributors publish lists of the guish between present and past. If a title is imagine, and regularly do business with programs they handle. While most of these not currently being shipped by a program them. distributor lists are designed for use by company under some label for sale through The point of all this is that video- retailers, some of the more progressive distributors and retailers, the question be¬ released titles never die. They live forever distributors turn out descriptive cata¬ comes whether or not it was ever issued as in the hands of brokers. It’s because of this logues to be sold to you and me. The best is a home video at some time in the past. At that you still see titles under the now de¬ published several times a year by Art Ad this point you enter the murky world of funct Allied Artists Video, Magnetic Video, House (available through Metro Video program inventory brokers. Since day one, and Video Tape Network labels (to name Dist., 430 W. 54 St., N.Y.C. 10019; 212- whenever a catalogue store has wanted to but a few) on catalogue store shelves. Be¬ 582-6405). It has a cover price of $5.95. If get rid of slow-moving titles, expand, open cause brokers deal in bulk and occupy a your catalogue store buys from Metro Dis¬ up a new location, or chuck it all and move kind of behind-the-scenes position, there is tributing, he knows about this catalogue to Florida, the broker has materialized—to no direct way you can find a specific out-of¬ make it all possible for a discounted price distribution title they might have except per title. Brokers buy and sell in bulk and through your retailer. By Ken Winslow are generally looked down upon by the There is no one single reference point to Video 43 which you can refer to see if a film was ever ly visible, each separated by a guard distance, it has shrunk from 10 to 5 screen issued in home video. This would require space—no matter how big the final picture. widths. I have at long last gotten a much saving every video catalogue and an¬ When you enlarge the scanning lines, you bigger picture—but strictly on my own nouncement ever issued, and bringing all enlarge the space between them. Get too qualitative terms. this information together in a single, easily close and the blank spaces and other im¬ accessible file. Because of my association perfections become obvious to the point of Home Film Festival with video since the days when two-inch annoyance. The basic rule of thumb: it is Champions the Little Guy was the only format and my practice of best to be between two and ten scanning saving everything to do with home-video widths (not diagonals) from the screen. As the program business gets bigger, programming, between my computer data¬ Seven or eight widths are optimum for a smaller but still first-rate Hollywood pro¬ base and filing cabinets, my collected in¬ normally sighted person. Within this op¬ ductions, foreign and performance films, formation is better than anyone else’s I timum viewing distance, the visual com¬ independent features, documentaries, and know of. But it takes time to organize it for munication of the scanning-line information other titles get squeezed off your video a search. will be at maximum while the effect of the store’s shelves. In smaller communities, And while neither is complete by any blanks will be at minimum. Calculate what chances are you’ll never even have the means, two independent publications try to viewing position-to-screen distance you opportunity to find out that such titles ex¬ keep up with the flood of home-video re¬ are dealing with and convert that to the ist. leases: the weekly Videolog, published by most suitable screen size—not the biggest To remedy this, Home Film Festival has Trade Service Publications (10996 Tor- screen a salesman says you can afford. been organized as a mail-order Beta/VHS reyana Rd., San Diego, Calif. 92121; Now let’s turn to qualitative evaluation. rental club by documentary filmmakers 619-457-5920), at $108 a year, and the In general, the better the technical ability Mark and Dan Jury {For All People, For All yearly Video Tape & Disc Guide to Home of the scanning lines to present picture Time) to make certain such titles as The Entertainment, published by the National information, the shorter you can make the Grand Illusion, Diva, ElNorte, The Atom¬ Video Clearinghouse (100 Lafayette true viewing distance between you and the ic Cafe, Gate of Hell, Small Change, Long Dr., Syosset, N.Y. 11791), at $12.95. screen—and the larger the relative accept¬ Day’s Journey into Night, La Strada, Viri- diana, The Return of Martin Guerre, Who’ll Stop the Rain, Wild Strawberries, and Horowitz in London remain available by mail when no longer easily found at program stores. At the same time HFF has dug out of relative obscurity such titles as The Duke Is Tops, Lena Home’s first film, released in 1938; The Emperor Jones, with Paul Robeson; The Lodger, Alfred Hitch¬ cock’s 1926 silent; Rock, Rock, Rock, star¬ ring 13-year-old Tuesday Weld in her film debut along with performances by Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon, and others; Ride in the Whirlwind, with Jack Nicholson; and others. The first HFF Program Guide and Supplement lists some 100 titles. Unlike most video clubs, which are orga¬ nized (ostensibly) to help you save money, the major purpose of HFF is to help you enjoy these special programs. For a $50 annual membership fee you receive Pro¬ gram Guide mailings, which carry un¬ usually extensive descriptions of listed ti¬ tles plus reviews and awards. An in¬ When Is 'Bigger' Better? able width. VIDEO’S equipment reviewers troductory 45-minute Inside Cinema tape Read Between the Lines evaluate various technical measures of containing previews and interviews is horizontal scanning quality. I leave you in loaned. Rentals for three-day periods are I like a big TV picture as much as any¬ their good hands, with but one point for $6 for one title, $11 for two titles, plus one. But bigger is not always better when emphasis. postage averaging between $2 and $3. All it comes to TV viewing unless you can pop After recognizing some years ago that offered rental titles may be purchased at 15 $50,000 and up for a commercial-grade big can be pretty bad, I settled on the percent off list. A free information kit is Light Valve or similar direct-modulation routine use of a 12-inch monitor/receiver yours from Home Film Festival (305 Lin¬ projector, which can sometimes show you positioned 10 screen widths away. Until den Street, Scranton, Pa. 18503; 800-258- more fine detail than you care to see. As for recently I saw nothing outside of very ex¬ 3456). what’s offered for home viewing these pensive broadcast video monitors to days, with anything over 19 or 20 inches— change my decision. But monitor/receiver Embassy Cuts Prices unless you choose carefully—you are likely manufacturers who have been supplying to lose much more to a poor picture than computer data-grade sets in 12- and 13-inch The 25-title “Best of Embassy $39.95 you will gain in size. Today’s typical 30- to sizes are now starting to offer them in 19- Winter Sale” is officially over on the first 50-inch diagonal rear-projection sets are and 20-inch sizes, with rated horizontal day of this month. This issue, coming to fine for background viewing in bars, but scanning line pitches of under 0.5mm (the you in mid-March, should still give you a they are awful for the serious home vertical distance from the center of one chance to take advantage of these large viewer. horizontal line to the next), which is signifi¬ $30 to $40 price cuts. Although nowhere Keep in mind the unavoidable reality that cantly better than that typically offered by near as low as the pre-Christmas $24.95 our 40-plus-year-old NTSC television sys¬ 19-inch and larger sets. I have installed a Paramount sale, the dollar savings offered tem contains only 525 horizontal scanning 0.4mm-rated pitch, 20-inch FST monitor/ by Embassy are equal or better because of lines, of which only 400 or less are general- receiver. Without changing my seat-to-set its generally higher list prices. Some retail- 44 Video ers handling these titles might even price them at $35.95 if all the discounts are passed along. The basis of this sale—the price Embassy charges to its distributors, who in turn sell to retailers—ends on Top io programs March 31 when all revert to their higher normal levels. Blade Runner, which has 10. Star Trek II: The been $39.95 all along, will jump to $79.95. 'assett^ajes^ Peter Ustinov, Terry- In case you missed any: Blade Runner, Jj Wrath of Khan (8). Color. Thomas, Phil Silvers. 83 Amityville II: The Possession, Eddie & the 1982. William Shatner, min. LV. $34.95. CED. 1. Purple Rain (1)*. Leonard Nimoy, DeForest $29.95. The Classics. Cruisers, Summer Lovers, The Night Port¬ Color. 1984. Prince, Morris Kelley. 113 min. (PG) Beta. er, Magic, Escape from New York, The Day, Apollonia Kotero. 113 VHS (stereo). $39.95. Para¬ 10. Police Academy (-). Exterminator, The Onion Field, The Howl¬ min. (R) Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi mount. Color. 1984. Steve Gutten- ing, Scanners, Mausoleum, Hopscotch, stereo, dosed captions). berg, Kim Cattrall, G.W. Carbon Copy, Zapped!, 1984 Winter Olym¬ $29.98. Warner. Bailey. 96 min. (R) LV. pics, Vice Squad, Paradise, Breaker!, /Wdeodis^ajesJj $34.98. Warner. Breaker!, Enigma, Pride and Passion: 2. Jane Fonda's Workout Best of the NBA 1984, TheVisitor, TheSol- (3). Color. 1982. Jane Fon¬ da assisted by 7 instructors. 1. Purple Rain (-)*. As dier, Losin’ It, and Macon County Line. 90 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. above, “Cassette Sales.” / Cassette Rentals f Karl. LV (stereo, CX, closed cap¬ Get on the 'Coaster tions). $29.98. Warner. 1. Police Academy (-)*. 3. The Empire Strikes As above, “Videodisc Coaster—The Adventure of the John F. Back (2). Color. 1980. 2. The Empire Strikes Sales,” Beta, VHS (closed Leavitt is a stunning example of the kinds of Mark Hamill, Harrison Back (1). As above, “Cass. captions). $79.95. Warner. award-winning but limited-distribution Ford, Carrie Fisher. 124 Sales. ” LV (stereo). films that are starting to find their way onto min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi $29.98. CBS/Fox. 2. The Natural (-). As stereo, dosed captions). home video. This 1981 91-minute film has above, “Cassette Sales. ” $79.98. CBS/Fox. 3. Greystoke: The only had limited theatrical play on the East $79.95. RCA/Columbia. Legend of Tarzan, Lord and West Coasts, but now can be seen by 4. Raiders of the Lost of the Apes (5). Color. 3. Purple Rain (3). As anyone, anywhere courtesy of Beta/VHS Ark (4). Color. 1981. Har¬ 1984. Christopher Lambert, above, “Cass. Sales.” (see the “Directory”). Coaster is the real- rison Ford, Karen Allen, Ralph Richardson, Ian $29.98. Warner. life adventure story of former English Wolf Kahler. 115 min. Beta Holm. 130 min. (PG) LV teacher and dairy farmer Ned Ackerman, (Hi-Fi stereo, closed cap¬ (stereo, CX, Dolby MP 4. The Empire Strikes whose dream was to build and sail a 97-foot tions). VHS (stereo, cl. matrix, closed captions). Back (1). As above, “Cass. cargo-carrying schooner of the windpow- cap.). $39.95. Paramount. $39.98. Warner. Sales.” $79.98. CBS/Fox. ered type widely used during the 1800s. 5. An Officer and a 4. Romancing the Stone After four years of construction at a Thom- 5. Romancing the Stone Gentleman (-). Color. (2). Color. 1984. Michael (2). As above, “Disc Sales. ” aston, Maine shipyard, the schooner 1982. Richard Gere, Debra Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, closed John F. Leavitt was launched in September Winger, Louis Gossett Jr. Danny DeVito. 106 min. captions). $79.98. CBS/ 1979 and prepared for its first working 126 min. (R) Beta (Hi-Fi). (PG) LV. $34.98. CED Fox. voyage to Haiti. After a series of delays, VHS. $39.95. Paramount. (closed captions). $19.98. the Leavitt set sail in late December—but CBS/Fox. 6. The Last Starfighter ran into an unexpectedly fierce storm 260 6. Jane Fonda's Prime Time Workout (6). Color. 5. The Natural (-). As (7). Color. 1984. Lance miles East of Long Island, where it was Guest, Robert Preston, Dan swamped and abandoned by Ackerman and 1984. Less strenuous above, “Cass. Sales.” LV, routines. 50 min. Beta, CED. $29.95. RCA/ O’Herlihy. 100 min. (PG) his crew of nine. Through filmmaker Craig VHS (closed captions). Columbia. Beta (Hi-Fi stereo, sur¬ Cloutier’s sympathetic camera eye you live $39.95. Karl. round sound). VHS (Dolby the four painstaking years of construction, 6. Splash (3). Color. 1984. B stereo, surr. sound). the joy and exhilaration of launching, 7. Star Wars (5). Color. Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, $79.95. MCA. agonize through each setback, to at last 1977. Mark Hamill, Harri¬ John Candy. 109 min. LV reach Ackerman’s awful moment of deci¬ son Ford, Carrie Fisher. (stereo). $34.95. CED 7. Dreamscape (-). Color. sion to abandon his ship to the raging sea. 121 min. Beta. VHS (Dolby (stereo). $29.95. Touch- 1983. Dennis Quaid, Max von Sydow, Kate Capshaw. Reality, in the hands of this skilled filmmak¬ stereo). $39.98 (reissue). CBS/Fox. 99 min. (PG-13) Beta, er, becomes the greatest of all human 7. Sixteen Candles (6). VHS. $79.95. Thorn EMI. adventures. 8. The Natural (-). Color. Color. 1984. Molly Ring- 1984. Robert Redford, wald, Paul Dooley, Carlin 8. The Neverending Robert Duvall, Glenn Close. Glynn. 93 min. (PG) LV, Story (-). Color. 1984. 134 min. (PG) Beta (Hi-Fi CED. $29.98. MCA. Barret Oliver, Noah Hath¬ stereo, closed captions). away, Tami Stronach, 94 VHS (Dolby Hi-Fi stereo, 8. Yentl (7). Color. 1983. min. (PG) Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi cl. cap.). $79.95. RCA/ Barbra Streisand, Mandy stereo). VHS (stereo). Columbia. Patinkin, Amy Irving. 134 $79.95. Touchstone. min. (PG) LV (stereo). 9. Trading Places (10). $39.98. CED (stereo, 10. Greystoke: The Color. 1983. Dan Aykroyd, closed captions). $34.98. Legend of Tarzan, Lord Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee CBS/Fox. of the Apes (5). As above, Curtis. 106 min. (R) Beta, “Disc Sales." Beta, VHS VHS (closed captions). 9. Robin Hood (-). Color. (Hi-Fi stereo, closed cap¬ $39.95. Paramount. 1973. Animated. Voices of tions). $79.95. Warner.

"Number in parentheses indicates position last month; (-) indicates program is new listing. Copyright 1985 by Billboard Publications Inc. Reprinted by permission. R E VJJ, W S

HLM CUPS Produced for Theaters

It Happened at the World's Fair Color. 1963. Elvis Presley, Joan O’Brien; dir. Norman Taurog. 105 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. MGM/UA. Reproduction: B + Speedway Color. 1968. Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra, Bill Bixby; dir. Norman Taurog. 94 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. MGM/UA. Reproduc¬ tion: B + Do you realize that an entire generation of kids grew up with the notion that Elvis Presley was not a rock & roll outlaw but, in fact, a cinematic alternative to Son ofFlub- beri Once tamed by the Army, Elvis for¬ sook rocking the jailhouse for a sensibility that often made Walt Disney look like Sam Peckinpah. And this he did with alarming frequency. But, shoot, kids didn’t care if Elvis remade the same movie 29 times. He was dependable. The typical Elvis plot usually revolved around him trying to get some piece of heavy machinery out of hock so that he and his screwy partner could eam/win enough money to buy said piece of machinery, get married to the right girl, and/or support a herd of orphaned children—all the while singing song after sappy song. True family fare. To celebrate Elvis’ 50th birthday in Jan¬ uary, MGM reissued a couple of Elvis flicks guaranteed to fling you back into the front row of a Bijou matinee. First up is It historians may note that the boy Elvis MGM planned to reinstate a scene in which Happened at the World’s Fair. What hap¬ pays to kick him in the shins (why?—so he Elvis pays an older and more mercenary pened? you may ask. Well, hell, lots of can go back to the infirmary, silly) is Kurt Kurt Russell to shoot him in the foot is things. Like, Elvis’screwy partner loses all Russell, who went on to star in the TV apparently unfounded, and Elvis does final¬ their money in a poker game and their bio-pic of the King nearly 20 years later. ly manage to win over Miss Sinatra without plane gets attacked and they get stuck with Now, is that ironic or what? resorting to self-mutilation. a seven-year-old Chinese girl whose uncle Speedway is better, mainly because the Now, in my book, Nancy Sinatra and five disappears leaving Elvis to shepherd the music has to reflect a late-’60s sensibility. pauper-tots beat a wet dream by the Seat¬ little darling around that eighth wonder of In this formula the machine is a racing car, tle Chamber of Commerce hands down. the world we now know as the Seattle the money problem involves a gigantic debt But though Speedway has the edge in World’s Fair. The love interest occurs to the IRS (thanks to another one of Elvis’ musical grit, small children may enjoy both when little Su Ling gets nauseous and Elvis screwy partners), Elvis has five female tots the Mono-Rail and Su Ling’s gastronomic gets all drooly over the nurse who and their impoverished pappy to feed, and distress in World’s Fair. Will the man who administers the Alka-Seltzer. Objectively he falls in love with an undercover agent for made a career out of epic rock videos cap¬ speaking, this is not one of Elvis’ more the IRS, portrayed by Nancy “With the ture the hearts of the video generation? intriguing run-ins with the cinema, though Laughing Face” Sinatra. The rumor that You never know. But if a lot of orphans start turning up on MTV, we’ll know Elvis Carr’s bland, mediocre cast can’t hold a truly connected across the board. candle to the down-to-earth quality Do¬ The VHS transfers are respectable. lores Hart brought to the original, or to the Though viewers may be momentarily put sexy comedy of Prentiss and Hutton. off by the comparatively low fidelity of the Where the Boys Are (1960) may not tell us music, this stems more from the low quali¬ much about where they are today and what ty of the original movie soundtrack than they’re doing, but it’s still the best of its from the transfer. —John Walker weakening breed. On video, the original Boys looks as Where the Boys Are smooth and dreamy as its title song Color. 1960. Dolores Hart, George Hamil¬ sounds, though the audio level was in¬ ton, Connie Francis, Paula Prentiss; dir. consistent, with an eventual hum. The new Henry Levin. 99 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. version lacks the earlier one’s visual gloss MGMIUA. Reproduction: A- but is excellently transferred, and Losin’ It Where the Boys Are looks as good on laser as it possibly could Color. 1984. Loma Luft, Lisa Hartman, look, which isn’t saying much. Lynn Holly Johnson; dir. Hy Averbach. 95 —Harvey Elliott min. Beta, VHS. $79.98. Key. Reproduc¬ tion: A The World of Henry Orient Losin' It Color. 1964. Peter Sellers, Paula Prentiss, Color. 1982. Tom Cruise, Shelley Long, Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley, Merry Jackie Earle Haley; dir. Curtis Hanson. has grown up to be a particularly lizard-like Spaeth, Tippy Walker; dir. George Roy Hill. 104 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. ILV. adolescent—plays the most desperate of 106 min. Beta, VHS. $59.98. Key. $34.95. Embassy. Reproduction: B + the group with no charm whatever, and Reproduction: B- Rite-of-passage movies go as far back as Losin’ It ultimately sinks under the weight Down Among the 'Z' Men Clara Bow, who was said to have had It. of its own jaded opportunism, the sweet B&W. 1952. Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe, Nowadays it’s not so much a question of Cruise/Long interlude notwithstanding. Michael Bertine, Spike Milligan, Carol who has It but where you can go to get It. Where the Boys Are is probably the puri¬ Carr; dir. MacLean Rogers. 82 min. Beta, Or lose It. The best place is on vacation, tan ancestor of Losin’ It, though that’s VHS. $59.95. Pacific Arts. Reproduction: where normal rules don’t apply and where rather like comparing Janet Gaynor to Pia B you can guiltlessly do things you wouldn’t Zadora. Released in 1960, it officially Here’s a pair of Peter Sellers movies— think of doing at home. (Blame it on Rio.) marked the end of 1950s repression— except they’re not. The first is a growing- There’s no safer place to sow wild oats even if, finally, only Yvette Mimieux lost It up story about two teenage girls, one of than in some faraway garden. while her girlfriends just had been hoping whom has an obsessive crush on a peacock The horny teenagers in these three to. A bunch of college girls drive to Fort pianist (Sellers, who is on-screen about tourist trips make no bones about their Lauderdale, Florida to spend Easter vaca¬ one-quarter of the time). The other fea¬ intentions. They want to get laid. (In the tion, and all the way their minds are reeling tures Sellers as part of the Goons, the original Where the Boys Are—the best of with unknown pleasures lying before them. British comedy troupe that preceded Mon¬ the lot, perhaps because it’s the most Dolores Hart isn’t sure about It, Paula ty Python and created radio comedy whose innocent—they also want to get married, Prentiss hopes her height won’t scare It cult status reigns eternal. The cassette but chalk that up to 1960.) Jumping in the away, and Connie Francis is happy just to package bills Sellers first, but the movie car and heading south leads them all to a sing about It. Mimieux, though, is ready credits list him fifth out of five. There are holiday of sex and sun where, to varying for It, and jumps in feet first, even before several good reasons to see each of these degrees, they make It, lose It, regret It, or they hit the beach. She gets punished (or see them again), but Sellers isn’t the learn to appreciate It. too—twice: first she’s raped, then she’s hit main one in either case. These things are only as entertaining as by a car on a crowded Florida highway. The real stars of Henry Orient are the characters—and only as attractive as That’ll teach her. blonde, doll-like Merry Spaeth (“Gil”) and the casts. Losin’It has the winning Shelley What makes Where the Boys Are more minked brunette Tippy Walker (Val), Long (doing more or less what she does on fun than most such movies is its expert cast who—vintage '50s first names Cheers) joining a carload of hopped-up Cali¬ and witty screenplay. Sure, it’s dated, but notwithstanding—make for a charming fornia teenagers who are driving to Tia- beneath that Production Code moral¬ pair of 14-year-olds to torment Henry juana because they’ve heard the whores ity are sly winks at those natural human Orient (Sellers), who ought to spend more are great down there. Shelley has run away urges that even the Code couldn’t dampen. time practicing scales but runs around New from her husband, who she thinks doesn’t As Paula Prentiss remarks after she’s York City womanizing instead. What prom¬ love her anymore, and accompanies Tom postponed intimacy yet again with Jim Hut¬ ises at first to be a Sellers-dominated Cruise and his motley friends on their ton (but doesn’t want him to give up the farce turns out to be a tale about broken mission—though after they get there she fight), “He keeps knocking on the door. It’s homes, the sustaining power of friendship has little to do but walk around and brush just a question of how long I can keep it and family, and the pathos of teenage away the beggars. locked.” romantic fantasies—all, centering on This sleazy tale gets even worse: The The fact that, but for Mimieux, Where talented, headstrong Val (the obsessed boys find the whores all right and get the Boys Are keeps the door locked makes one) and Gil (from a materially poorer but ripped off, one searches for an animal it a comedy of lust and resistance. Where emotionally richer home). act, and a corrupt policeman makes their there’s no resistance, there’s no plot. Allan Sadly, George Roy Hill’s vivid direction day by throwing them in a jail right out of Carr’s 1984 remake starts out with college depends heavily on two-person medium Midnight Express and continues to torment girls humping away in their dormitory shots that just can’t be scanned discreet¬ them all the way to the border. Cruise, the rooms; why are they even bothering to go ly. I don’t agree with all of the VHS sensitive clean-cut hero who is disgusted to Fort Lauderdale in the first place? Of transfer’s panning choices, but in most by the whole place once he gets there, is course once they get there, they find cases there just is no right decision— unable to lose It with the prostitute and romantic entanglements and dis¬ except to deliver the full Panavision image ultimately loses It with Shelley Long, who appointments they didn’t envision, but I with bands at the top and bottom. The then realizes she loves her husband. Jackie didn’t detect any moral dilemmas con¬ image is slightly soft-focused and the Earle Haley—the ugliest child in films, who fronted; nor did anyone get hit by a car. I color, though rich, occasionally be- trays early signs of color-fade syn¬ minor and major, an offscreen newscaster to be scary; we see the murders through drome. However, the transfer was care¬ with a litany of catastrophes. The mayhem Mark’s 16mm camera, which forces us to fully done from more than one source, spills over to ludicrousness when the share his scientific detachment. including two magnetic soundtracks. weirdos’ skeletal “granpaw” tries to The problem is one of perspective. Meanwhile, the real star of Down stun the hysterical heroine but can’t We’re left cold, with no solid vantage point Among the “Z" Men is Harry Secombe as hold the hammer. and no one to identify with. We don’t get Harry Jones, a harried shop clerk who Today’s viewers will find Massacre close enough to Mark or to his victims. labors to deliver the secret tears-and- hopelessly chaste. Tight economics and Early audiences objected to the dispassion laughter gas formula of a crazed professor the puritan ethics of its time (1974) mean of the killer, but the true flaw is the (Michael Bertine) into the hands of the the film is low on splatter effects we’ve bloodlessness of the film. military, foiling some pretty sneaky spies. come to expect of quality entertainment. I don’t know whether 1960 was a good Spike Milligan is also hilarious as the loony This relative restraint forces Hooper to year for crops, but the VHS cassette sure halfwitted promotion-seeking private who employ an arcane but effective element: showed plenty of grain. Colors were aids him, and Sellers (the Colonel) and the suspense. And it’s fun to be scared. washed out, and everything took on a rud¬ lovely Carol Carr (an MI5 agent) acquit Media’s transfer, from a clean print, dy tint. The soundtrack was difficult to themselves well in minor roles. With their seems faithful to the film’s low-budget follow. —John Leland infectious and well-oiled ensemble playing, color. The image is sharp, with hardly the Goons were England’s answer to the noticeable bleeding of reds, though con¬ Another Country Marx Brothers, and this one—despite trasty dark areas lack definition, and night Color. 1984. Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, poor sound—is not just for cultists only. scenes show up grain. Michael ]enn; dir. Marek Kanievska. 93 —Mark Fleischmann —Scott Isler min. Beta, VHS. $79.95. Embassy. Reproduction: A- How very British. Marek Kanievska’s attack on high British snobbery and class structure, set in that very bastion of priv¬ ilege, the prestigious public school, has all the snob appeal of its subject. The dec¬ orous ’30s period outfits and almost pornographic location shots of the pastoral campus and its oaken interiors invite us on yet another stylish visit to Brideshead. The perspective is exclusively uppercrust. Which diminishes its impact not a whit. Another County is a portrait of senseless brutality in which the public school func¬ tions not as a cloister from society but as a microcosm of it. Upperclassmen terrorize their juniors, everyone pretends to uphold impossible standards of perfection, and anyone who plays ball graduates to a cushy future as an Old Boy. The corollary is that anyone who doesn’t play ball suffers all the degradation and cruelty for nothing. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Peeping Tom Guy Bennett and Tommy Judd find Color. 1974. Marilyn Bums, Paul Par- Color. 1960. Carl Boehm; dir. Michael themselves at odds with the institution. tain, Edwin Neal; dir. Tobe Hooper. 87 Powell. 104 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. Judd, played with impenetrable stoicism by min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. Media. Repro¬ Admit One (311 Adelaide St. E., Ontario, Colin Firth, becomes the school joke be¬ duction: B + Canada M5A1N2; 416-863-9316). Repro¬ cause of his Marxist beliefs. As well he “A riveting study of homicidal madness duction: B should, for throughout he remains an im¬ and psychological terror”? Haw haw haw\ Michael Powell’s Oedipal drama about a potent ideologue who self-righteously criti¬ You can believe the blurb on its box if you young man who films women as he kills cizes the system from within its halls of want, but most of all The Texas Chain Saw them, released the same year as Hitch¬ power. More interesting is Judd’s friend Massacre is funny'. It’s funny to watch a cock’s Psycho, drew furious brickbats from Guy Bennett, a somewhat childish bunch of snooping, obnoxious youths get offended English critics and audiences. homosexual (played with radiant romanti¬ picked off by equally two-dimensional weir¬ The cineastes who gobbled up the bathos cism by the hopelessly gorgeous Rupert dos. It’s funny to pretend all the carnage of Powell’s 1948 The Red Shoes wanted no Everett) who wants to reap the rewards of stems from malicious astrological activity. part of Peeping Tom’s psychopathic killer. the school without conforming to its sexual (People who believe their lives are pre¬ While Psycho enjoyed enormous success mores. When his “indiscretions” dash his ordained generally deserve what they get.) over here, the Brits gave Peeping Tom a long-held aspirations of climbing the in¬ It’s funny when the mute “Leatherface” swift and unceremonious burial. stitution’s social ladder, Bennett becomes (Gunnar Hansen)—flailing his smoking, Like Norman Bates, Peeping Tom’s bitter and acknowledges the hypocrisy of buzzing chain saw—pursues the literally Mark Lewis chooses his victims without the public school. inexhaustible Sally (Marilyn Bums) like a motive. His are not crimes of passion. He In this indictment of hypocrisy, the two grounded biplane run amok. kills to satisfy a scientific interest, and to protagonists are both hypocrites: Judd be¬ But mostly it’s fun to concede director/ carry on his late psychologist father’s stud¬ cause he embraces one ideological system cowriter Tobe Hooper his tongue-in-cheek ies on the nature of fear. while enjoying the inequitable advantages premise—carnivores end up as meat Never mind that the psychological prem¬ of another, and Bennett because he ac¬ themselves—and go along on the ise is hokey. After all, this was the early cepts the status culture which rejects his rollercoaster ride. From its opening shots, '60s. And Norman Bates’ Oedipal complex sexuality. Fortunately, Everett’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a con¬ didn’t hold much water either. But Hitch¬ characterization is sophisticated and touch¬ stant barrage of audiovisual hints of disas¬ cock at least scared the pants off us before ing enough to allow identification even with ter to come: grotesque images, grossouts introducing Freud. Powell’s film is too aloof his contradictions. mathematics, information theory, physics, and metaphysics into a sweeping world view. His ideas included Spaceship Earth, synergy, and pattern integrity while absorbing other concepts like mind/brain dichotomy; they have been embraced by establishment and rebel alike. Which makes The World of Buckminster Fuller an important document. Despite fuzzy picture and mediocre sound (badges of honor in documentaries) this 1972 film presents an impressive tour of Fuller’s thought through interviews and lecture clips from places like New Dehli, St. Louis, and Montreal. The result is interesting, if confusing. Director Snyder gives Fuller full leeway, but the energetic and always slightly breathless Fuller rambles from topic to topic with such speed and ferocity—with an encyclopedic mind and a compulsion to convince—that it’s easy to lose sight of his points. Regardless, Fuller projects a charismatic, almost hypnotic presence and he’s a natural storyteller. The preponderance of ideas is perhaps a lives of Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean, killing them (in China, where a S flaw; we get no glimpses of Fuller the man who defected to Russia in the 1950s. Poli¬ holiday was used to assemble homosexuals except for the momentary mention of his tics in the film, drawn as shallowly as Judd’s and club them to death) to imprisonment daughter’s death early in his career. The textbook rhetoric, are a distracting loose (in Bulgaria, whose prison system was impact is glossed over, but such insights end. Judd might as easily have been a used as a model for Cuba’s notorious are necessary for a well-rounded picture of Buddhist, and Bennett undergoes his UMAP political jails). If anything, Improper a great man. ideological metamorphosis entirely off- Conduct could be faulted—as a film, not a The physical products of Fuller’s thought camera. political statement—for devoting so much have largely faded from sight. Who Despite its weaknesses, Another Coun¬ of its time to this single issue. remembers the dymaxion house, or the try is visually stunning and often moving. This is not a movie about the difficulty of bulletshaped three-wheeled dymaxion car Everett is a delight. The VHS cassette’s being a homosexual in Cuba, however, as of the ’50s? The geodesic dome still reproduction was admirable in all respects: so many reviews imply. The human-rights stands in Montreal’s Expo park, but domes sound and image were clear and colors violations run the gamut from imprison¬ are no longer a cause celebre. But Fuller’s were rich. —John Leland ment of political dissidents and intellectuals urging against intellectual complacency and to jailing of innocent children. The latter is his desire that the human spirit keep pace Improper Conduct best described by Cuban author Armando with human knowledge are more relevant (Mauvaise Conduite) Valladares, himself a political prisoner for than ever today—and his ideas will contin¬ Color. 1984. Documentary, dir. Nestor 19 years, who tells the story of a 12-year- ue to speak to the future. That’s what this Almendros & Orlando Jimenez Leal. 115 old boy sent to an adult jail for playing with a video is really all about. min. Beta, VHS. $79.95. New Video (90 handgun. The tale of the boy’s progress in —Steven Grant University PL, N.Y.C. 10003). the prison system is a tragic one. Typical of It is easy to understand why Improper totalitarian doublespeak, the Cuban pris¬ Conduct stirred so much controversy up¬ ons bear uncharacteristically cheery on its release. It is nothing short of an names such as “New Dawn,” “Rainbow,” indictment of Fidel Castro’s human-rights and “New Life”—the last two of which ai record. It is also a curious mix of ideolo¬ children’s jails. gies. All this, of course, could be construed as The most serious challenge the film fuel for the “New Right” as well. No doubt makes is to Marxists and the left, who have many conservatives who will use this film traditionally used Cuba as an example of a as a rallying cry have not shown much modem socialist state that “works. ” Im¬ sensitivity to the condition of intellectuals, proper Conduct paints the Castro regime as much less gays, in their own nation. Yet anti-intellectual and anti-gay. There is little they will loudly decry the injustices de¬ reason to doubt the validity of the film’s picted. Still, Improper Conduct is emo¬ content. This is not the kind of rabid anti¬ tionally difficult to watch, but considerably communist film that right-wing groups worth investing the time. crank out by the mile: the accusations —Tim Onosko come from the core of expatriate Cuban authors and scholars, as well as young peo¬ The World of Buckminster Fuller ple and gay refugees. Color. 1972. Dir. Robert Snyder. 85 Much of the film concerns the repres¬ Beta, VHS. $79. Masters and Masten sion of Cuban homosexuals by a machismo (15313 Whitfield Ave., Pacific Palis government. We’re told that in the early Calif. 90272; 213-454-3836). Repr 1960s, shortly after the Cuban revolution, tion: B Raul Castro (Fidel’s brother) toured the Buckminster Fuller was one of the communist-bloc nations inquiring as to how intellects of our age. Starting a other governments treated their homosex¬ architect, he intermingled his training in QUICKTAKES/FILM

Country Music on Broadway camera enhancing movement. Two im¬ Color. 1966. George Jones, Buck Owens, pressive performances are given by Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner, Lester Plisetskaya as Anna and Yuri Vladimirov as Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Stonewall Jackson, the Station Master. He appears to Anna Ferlin Husky, Hank Snow, Wilma Lee & repeatedly as if in a dream, prophesying Stoney Cooper, Skeeter Davis, RoyDrusky, her eventual suicide. VAI has preserved Merle Kilgore, Hank Williams, Hank Wil¬ the original CinemaScope aspect ratio. The liams Jr., Audrey Williams, Bobby Smith, black border at top and bottom is prefer¬ Ralph Emery, Anita Kerr Singers, Stoney able to dancers dancing off the screen, but Mountain Cloggers; dir. Victor Duncan. 96 the smaller image reduces the three- min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. H. Butrum En¬ dimensional sensation of filmed dance. terprises (44 Music Square E., Nashville, —Julia Lisella Tenn. 37203; 615-242-0377). Reproduc¬ tion: B Scandalous Country Music on Broadway is a Color. 1984. Robert Hays, John Gielgud, goldmine for anyone with even a passing Pamela Stephenson. 93 min. Beta, VHS. interest in the look and sound of country $79.95. Vestron. Reproduction: B music in the ’60s. The encyclopedic range Scandalous would like to be an update of of performers provides a thorough sam¬ those spoofy ’60s comedies of intrigue in pling of the genre, although a contrived which Cary Grant used to flourish. Un¬ setting and frequent lip-syncing undermine fortunately, Robert Hays is no Cary the music’s essential honesty. Moments of Grant and wanders through Scandalous glory like the Wilburn Brothers’ gorgeous like a victim of terminal jet lag. Viewers duet of “Down in the Valley” make the Romeo and Juliet beware: the feeling is contagious. At the halfhearted lip-syncing of George Jones Color. 1954. Galina Ulanova & the Bolshoi core of the plot is the body of Hays’ semi- and others all the more unsatisfying. Ballet Co.; chor. Leonid Lavrosky; dir. L. estranged wife. Who did her in? Who However, the inclusion of the only known Amstam & Lavrosky. 95 min. Beta, VHS. cares? Not Hays, who shows little sorrow footage of Hank Williams performing— $64.95 + $2.25 s&h, $1.75 add’l tapes. at her demise. And if he doesn’t, then available on no other video—renders all Video Arts Infl (Box 153, Ansonia Sta., why should you?.lOnly Pamela Stephen¬ flaws forgivable. Color is somewhat N.Y.C. 10023:212-799-7798). Reproduc¬ son (as a shady love-interest) shows any milky. —Andrew Roblin tion: B spark. John Gielgud trots through his role Choreographers owe a lot to Lavrosky’s as a blackmailer with 1000 faces, but not Music City U.S.A. Romeo and Juliet, which brought this nar¬ even the sight of him disguised in punk Color. 1965. T. Tommy Cutrer, Loretta rative ballet to the screen. If nothing else, regalia can improve this silly contrivance. Lynn, Webb Pierce, Dave Dudley, Jean She¬ it is a testament to ballet’s earlier bouts The VHS transfer is fair, though reds flare pard, Osborne Brothers, Jimmy C. New¬ with the camera: there are too many open and sound is often muddy. man, Hillous Butrum, Wilburn Brothers, mouths and not enough dancing, too many —John Walker Charlie Louvin, Justin Tubb, Lorene crowd scenes and not enough detailed in¬ Mann, Shot Jackson, Bashful Brother terpretation through movement. Isolated The Osterman Weekend Oswald; dir. Preston Collins & Jim Den- treasures include the coquettish scene be¬ Color. 1983. Rutger Hauer, John Hurt, net. Beta, VHS. $39.95. H. Butrum En¬ tween Juliet and her nurse, and Romeo and Burt Lancaster; dir. Sam Peckinpah. 102 terprises (44 Music Square E., Nashville, Juliet’s solemn wedding scene. But these min. Beta, VHS. $79.95. Thom EMI. Tenn. 37203; 615-242-0377). Reproduc¬ glimpses of real ballet are scarred by the Reproduction: B- tion: B camera walking interminably through vast Peckinpah, the man who made sex and Step right up, ladies and gentlemen. architecture that obscures, rather than violence respectable, pits his directorial Confound your senses with a trip in time. frames, the dancing. You may take plea¬ abilities against a Robert Ludlum potboiler. Tour Nashville as it was two decades ago sure in the lavish reds and golds, but ex¬ The result is, not surprisingly, a film that during the annual music-industry shindig/ pect to miss a few leaps and lunges. boasts little more than a bloated red her¬ drunk known as D.J. Week. See daring —Julia Lisella ring served up on a salad of (you guessed!) singer Webb Pierce defy credulity by lip¬ sex and violence. Hauer stars as a TV syncing a song from the backseat of a con¬ Anna Karenina political muckraker playing weekend host vertible bouncing over potholes. Meet Color. 1974. Maya Plisetskaya, Alexander to some upscale and unsavory friends Bashful Brother Oswald at Roy Acuffs Godunov, Bolshoi Ballet Company; chor. who, according to mysterious agent Hurt, musical museum and learn the secret of Maya Plisetskaya; comp. Rodion Shched¬ are up to no good on a grand scale (read: Jefferson Davis’ fiddle. Hear classic songs rin. 81 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95 + $2.25 KGB). Hurt moves in and the ensuing ten¬ from Loretta Lynn (“Wine, Women and s&h, $1.75 add’l tapes. Video Arts Inti. sion and paranoia created by his state-of- Song”), Dave Dudley (“Six Days on the Reproduction: B + the-art surveillance heat things up to a Road”), and more. You’ll marvel at the A good ballet should show us, not tell us. quick boil which spills over into a sticky Cajun humor of Jimmy C. Newman; you’ll Maya Plisetskaya’s psychological portrait mess by the film’s end. Though the gim¬ laugh at the recording techniques used in of Anna Karenina, based on Tolstoy’s mick of two-way TV as a spying device is the Columbia studio; you’ll rub your eyes in novel, does just that—avoiding the tempta¬ effective on the small screen and justifies wonder at the simulated telephone love tion to narrate through props, cinematic the often-grainy footage and muffled sound affair of Justin Tubb and Lorene Mann. tricks, or elaborate scenery. Although she in context, the general quality of the trans¬ Skinny ties, shiny suits, and flat-top occasionally uses slow-mo in later scenes fer is only fair. Color is harsh, with a blue haircuts abound in this campy slice of (cheating in my book), the dancers and tinge, and sound is dull. country culture. —Andrew Roblin score do the bulk of the work, with the —John Walker Video NI0OO Has a Great Deal to Offer THE DEAL: News of the latest video products. The best video equipment. The most current prerecorded programs. 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Elvis: most accounts, did some serious dieting to Duran Duran: Sing Blue Silver The 1968 Comeback Special slim down for worldwide exposure. Thus Color. 1984. Dir. Michael Collins. 85 min. Color. 1968. Dir. Marty Pasetta. 76 min. ragged, and his overall sound diluted by too Beta, VHS. $29.95. Thom EMI. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Media. many cooks, his performance lacks an Word associations: Dog? Cat. Pencil? Elvis: Aloha from -Hawaii edge, though he still possesses an instinc¬ Pen. Duran Duran? MTV. Color. 1973. Dir. Marty Pasetta. Beta, tive brilliance that carries on even as the No other group is so closely identified VHS. $29.95. Media. old flesh aches. A vocal vamp here and a with rock video as is Duran Duran, and not When first aired in 1968 it was called The microphone thump there prove that Elvis only on MTV—the group stars in four titles Singer Special, as in sewing machines. But had performing smarts that all the sun and and shows up in a few more. Small wonder the instant Elvis Presley hit the screen, surf in the world couldn’t wash away. critics accuse the synthfop quintet of being dressed in black, snarling “If you’re looking The exuberance is muted by the sta¬ a superficial “video band. ” So how does the for trouble, you came to the right place!,” dium-size venue and by an emphasis on group try to dispel this image? It releases a he blew away 10 years of wimpy limbo and torchy material that Elvis surely was video documentary—quasi-documentary, re-staked his claim to the monarchy of rock crooning straight into the living room of his actually. & roll. So awe-inspiring was this return beloved ex-, Priscilla. Still, if you’ve got to Thanks to the “quasi” part, this may not that the event, then and now, has been have sorrowful ballads, Elvis beats the be a bad idea. Presidents and terrorists use called “The Comeback.” competition. And though the direction television to change their image, and This is Elvis in his absolute prime, be¬ (both times by Marty Pasetta) is a little Duran Duran seems to have taken lessons having as if his heart and soul had continued soggy, the vision of Elvis live is still from Rapmaster Ronnie himself. Between to mature while his body mechanically riveting. verite looks at the band’s early-’84 tour and cranked out Blue Hawaii after Blue Production values for both shows are some quite cinematic concert sequences, Hawaii. If Elvis wasn’t keeping both eyes network-slick, though audiophiles should the group pleads its case with world-weary on the music scene, producer Steve Binder be warned that neither soundtrack is par¬ sincerity. Insists lead singer Simon LeBon, was, and went straight for the jugular by ticularly hi in the fi. But with a focal point as “We’re not the kind of band created by a slipping Elvis into a black leather suit that vivid as Elvis Presley, the essence comes management company.” made Jim Morrison look like an ad for Dr. through loud and clear. Perhaps not, but as bloodhound director Dentons. And he had Elvis sing rock. Hard —John Walker Michael Collins sniffs out, Duran Duran rock. doesn’t seem the kind of band created by a Despite a couple of borderline-fey pro¬ love of music either. Whether getting duction numbers (including, though, a rein¬ snapped by Scavullo or taped for Italian stated bordello sequence that the censor TV, whether screening call-in questions had snipped when the show aired), the that don’t help the image or kissing cheek program hits back again and again as Elvis’ with tour-sponsor Coke, Duran Duran charisma cuts through the fog of network seems every bit the product critics say it television like a searchlight. The gravy of is. Ironically, but not too surprisingly, Col¬ the show is an “informal” jam featuring a lins shows the band members getting more laid-back Elvis flanked by a combo that than a little annoyed at getting a little more includes Sun stalwarts Scotty Moore and than they bargained for. D.J. Fontana. With Fontana laying the Part of the reason is that Collins, a rock- brushes in his lap and Moore plucking at video newcomer, has a devilish eye for the guitar, Elvis can do no wrong. And detail. His documentary portions, done though the King’s self-deprecating ad-libs with widescreen masking, capture both the (“Wait a minute—there’s something silliness of Duranmania and the grimness of wrong with my lip”) are probably re¬ crowd-crushed kids getting carted away on hearsed down to the last snicker, The ’68 stretchers, with lots of those local cops Comeback Special has peak energy. If you someone must rent to stand around and love music, you will surely love this look disgusted. For all Collins’ bluntness, program. though, there’s scarcely a hint (a la the Aloha from Hawaii might be called “The Stones’ Video Rewind) of rock & roll’s sex Comedown Special,” but succeeds on its and drugs. own merits. Unlike the '68 special, which Director Russell Mulcahy’s intermittent was pieced together from hours of footage, concert footage, filmed in squarish TV Aloha is fairly verbatim transcript of a live compositions, neither adds to nor sub¬ show broadcast to a single audience of over tracts from this businesslike image. As if to one billion, surely a nerve-wracking figure. belie the standard mannequin charges, the Aloha is Elvis five years down the road, band moves a lot better on stage than it did five years of exploiting the boost of the on earlier tours; its songs are still as hooky Comeback on Vegas turf. The musical and hummable as jingles. Judging from the arrangements are overblown and Elvis, by soundtrack, though, the audio seems to have been sweetened considerably after erawork, and fat sound to rank as a classic radio personality Chuck Niles, his behind- i the fact. blues document. And though the audience the-scenes narrations were heavyhanded j This’d be misleading if Sing Blue Silver is a little sparse and overwhelmingly white, and he talked down too much to the were a real documentary, but from what these points were addressed in the inter¬ viewer. He was trying to explain the work¬ Collins shows us, it’s also predictable. view segments. (One black fan, asked ings of the recording studjo to the unini¬ Duran Duran is a video band, he seems to what gave her the blues, said it was the tiated, but even they would have been be saying, and video allows retakes. To the scarcity of blacks in the audience.) better served if events were allowed to ! director’s credit, even this view is sharp¬ Unfortunately, it has one major flaw: the speak for themselves. Fortunately, more ly double-edged. So if you like the idea of producers superimpose interviews over often than not, that’s exactly what hap¬ a band whose strong suit is video, you’ll the music. This can be nervewracking. pened—and eloquently too. This tape, j appreciate this well-crafted portrait as How many times do you want to hear a with its digitally originated soundtrack and : much as any critic. musician or fan make a point (no matter glimpses into the music business, says —Frank Lpvece how good) when you could be listening to something most jazz fans will want to hear. some smoking blues? This becomes a se¬ —Ben Sidran I Weather Report: rious problem when the editing covers up a Evolutionary Spiral piece of great material, such as the final David Bowie: Color. 1984. 15 min. Beta, VHS. $16.95. moments of Clifton Chenier’s “Calinda” or Jazzin' for Blue Jean Sony. the Ice Man’s solo during Robert Cray’s Color. 1984. Dir. Julien Temple. 20 min. The Mel Torme Special set. Beta, VHS. $19.95. Sony. Color. The Mel Lewis Band. 1983. 53 min. The most significant of these four videos Bryan Adams: Reckless Beta, VHS. $29.95. Sony. turns out to be the document of a direct-to- Color. 1984. Dir. Steve Barron. 25 min. San Francisco Blues Festival digital recording session, Freddie Hub¬ Beta, VHS. $19.95. A&M. Color. 1983. 60 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. bard: Studiolive. Knowing how moody Although David Bowie and Bryan Adams ; Sony. Hubbard can be, and how touchy a live are hardly leaguemates—the former is one Freddie Hubbard: Studiolive recording session always is, this might of rock’s most creative demigods, the lat¬ Color. 1981. 59 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. have been a disaster. But fortunately for all ter an above-average journeyman with a Sony. concerned, even the moments of conflict few Top 10 hits—they stand together in j In the Evolutionary Spiral Video 45, —as when Hubbard gets fed up with the the forefront of a critical development in j writer/director Larry Lachman takes on cameras and turns to the producer to ask, rock-video retailing. Both of these new 1 the task of “animating” the history of the “Am I getting paid for this?”—work tapes were released almost at once with universe and choreographing these cosmic together with the moments of artistry. corresponding records—and that marks a events to three previously recorded songs You actually get to sit through the re¬ turning point for the video industry, which by Weather Report. To be fair, it is a thank¬ hearsals, recording sessions, and play¬ has adopted a conservative position (“is less task, but this production doesn’t even backs, and you’re never bored (as you the record a hit?”) that runs counter to the match up to most of the concept videos on surely would be in real life). And Freddie, urgency and transience of the music. If this Night Flight. The editing is jumpy, sound decked out in the blue velour jogging suit trend continues, music video may emerge quality inferior (did they really dub the that he favors while catting around L.A., from its redundancy (“you’ve bought the music off the albums, rather than go back plays beautifully. So does the band, be¬ album, bought the singles, seen the con- j to the master tapes, or does it just sound cause in a direct-to-digital session they cert, bought the book, seen all the that way?), and the special effects are have no choice but to give everything videos—now buy the clip compilation”) j generally neither. they’ve got on each take. I loved watching into a more prominent role that surpasses The Mel Torme Special illuminates jazz at bass player Abe LaBorielle and drummer its current, merely promotional nature. the other end of the scale. Upscale, that is. Billy Maxwell effortlessly push the music Always the risk-taker, David Bowie j The heart of this video is a 1982 concert at forward. draws on his extensive acting experience Louise Davis Hall in San Francisco featur¬ However, this tape comes with a caveat in Jazzin’ for Blue Jean, a 20-minute film ing vocalist Torme and the Mel Lewis as well: much as I like the voice and taste of not unlike Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Band. It was a black-tie affair, and produc¬ tion values are equally formal. Camera¬ work is good, but tends to be static (fixed, or lock-offs, and not many hand-helds). Likewise, sound quality is fine but the mix tends to be inflexible (where was the sax¬ ophone section during the first number?). There’s no disputing that Mel Torme is one hell of a vocalist. He’s also one hell of a musician (if you have any doubts, check out his command of the vocabulary while re¬ hearsing with George Shearing). But here he comes off as more of a showman with great vocal technique than the consum¬ mate artist he can be. Maybe these mo¬ ments appear exaggerated because of the formality of the setting. In any case, this tape is long on tuxedo and short on soul. On to the 10th annual San Francisco Blues Festival. This video captures some great performances by Clifton Chenier, Robert Cray (if you’re a blues fan and you haven’t caught him, you’ve got a real treat in store), and the Charles Ford band, featuring Robin Ford. This tape has enough good music, action-packed cam-

54 Video (MTV’s demonstrated willingness to play attempts to cover all of those points as well such a lengthy clip by a megastar must as give you the basics of how video cam¬ have a lot to do with its creation.) In both, a eras and VCRs work. story leads up to a musical performance, Although not much time is devoted to expanding the simple idea of a promo video any one subject, this mini-course succeeds into a mini-film complete with dialogue, because you may repeat any segment end¬ scene changes, score, and a loose plot. lessly until you get the information down Think of it as the first 20 minutes of a rock pat. It is divided into six topics and a shoot¬ movie that rolls the credits as soon as the ing checklist. Each topic section has a bill¬ band’s played its first big number. board that tells you the major subjects it Here Bowie plays the dual roles of Vic, a will cover and a wrapup at the end to rein¬ nebbishy everyman who lusts after the force the subjects covered. The booklet is beautiful girl and uses more bluff than compact enough to travel in your camera sincerity to impress her, and Screaming bag. Sound and picture are good, and illus¬ Lord Byron, a distant and fragile rock star trative of what you can expect if you pay who ultimately sings the song “Blue Jean” attention to detail. (Some of the effects in a plot-integrated concert setting. used will not be available to most home Directed by the talented Julien Temple, tapers.) Viewing the tape on a VCR with this classy little film gives nothing away in still frame helps in the section on composi¬ production values or acting skill. However, tion, but frame advance is not a necessity. the plot is sketchy and seems more like a As mini-courses go, this one offers the series of blackouts than an involving dra¬ basics and enough else to help you produce ma. Bowie’s musical performance (and interesting tapes that don’t break the great makeup) could be shown as a straight rules. If the video equipment you’ll be car¬ music video. The humor is clever, with rying plays as well as records, you can Bowie and Temple’s concluding offscreen of in civilized society. But they were never always take the tape along for questions in argument removing any trace of self-im¬ too particular about how they slandered a the field. portance. As ever, David Bowie has cre¬ songwriter or composer’s reputation, as —Lancelot Braithwaite ated something of real quality (if not sub¬ long as they got laughs. stance). The Best ofSpike Jones is a long-overdue The World's Greatest Bryan Adams’ Reckless presents six look at the father of music-video mayhem. Photography Course mildly connected clips (all smoothly The previously uncirculated material (from Color. 1983. Leif Erickson. 88 min. Beta, directed by Steve Barron) that don’t quite surprisingly clean kinescopes) comes from VHS. $59.95. VidAmerica. add up to the package billing: “a drama with two network-television series Jones Whether you’ve never used a camera or its own story to tell. ” (But then the box’s . hosted in 1952 and ’54. The band’s virtuos¬ you’re a seasoned photographer, you can “approximately 30 minutes” turns out to be ity on chaotic charts of “Cocktails for Two” benefit from this tape because it is loaded scarcely 25, including credits; the songs or Suppe’s Poet and Peasant overture is with accurate information. It offers the are also listed out of sequence.) Using the even more impressive given the three-ring rules of photography in an easy-to- same characters (onetime girlfriend and circus atmosphere in which they worked. understand way. And as it points out con¬ her jealous boyfriend) and tying some of Featured musicians are trumpeter George sistently, good photographs come from the closing shots to the next clip’s opening Rock, rubber-faced banjo player Freddie practicing those rules and learning when helps connect the dots, but the ultimate Morgan, and Sir Frederick Gas (Earl Ben¬ you can break them for a creative effect. stick figure is not dramatic. The songs are nett), who plays tree branches. That’s The program is divided into three major all melodic rock & roll not far removed right, tree branches. Beginning to get the sections: “Learning to See,” “Equipment from the meat-and-potatoes music of John idea? and How to Use it, ” and “Shooting Situa¬ Cougar Mellencamp, and the clips are A sequence with the band in drag and a tions.” Your first impression will be that pleasant enough in the same vein—but midget Liberace exuding “I’m in the Mood each section is too short, but the beauty of nothing elevates Reckless from the usual for Love” are not only tasteless—they’re video is that you can repeat each one to watch-once-then-discard clip compilation hilarious. There could only be one Spike extract more of the fine points each we all know and, ah, love. Jones, and we all should be grateful. This time. Using a VCR with both still frame and —Ira Robbins mail-order-only videotape is bound to pro¬ frame advance will let you study the ex¬ voke extreme reactions of one sort or amples at your own pace. In many ways the The Best of Spike Jones: another. The cassette case warns that it’s tape practices what it preaches, but not The Craziest Video on Earth volume one. Duck! —Scott Isler every frame is a masterpiece. Don’t be B&W. 1952-54. Spike Jones & His City surprised if you find some frames that Slickers. 51 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95 + Home Video: Shoot Like a Pro you’d photograph differently. The program $2.50 s&h. The Best of Spike Jones Video Color. 1984. Nadine Bridget, Terry Moore. recommends that you take frequent (1040 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 44 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Sony/ breaks. You should; it contains a lot of 90019; 213-461-9416). Vidatron. lessons in a short period. If the name Spike Jones doesn’t ring any There is some overlap between shoot¬ Picture and sound quality are good, but cowbells, you have a serious—or maybe ing with a film camera and shooting video. remember that your still photographs will humorous—gap in your knowledge of Composing the picture, lighting the scene always show greater detail. A LaserVision 20th-century music. The late Spike not correctly, and adjusting the camera for cor¬ version would be desirable because of LV’s only played a tuned set of cowbells, he rect exposure follow similar rules in both sharper picture. masterminded a comically effective sabo¬ media. However, in video you must be The most significant benefit you’ll get tage of musical mores. Jones and his City constantly aware of differences between from the lessons is that you’ll learn what to Slickers flourished in the 1940s and early still-camera and video equipment, the ac¬ look for in your pictures. Being a good ’50s with a blend of dixieland jazz, musique tion of the subject, the ways light will affect critic of your own work is the biggest hur¬ concrete, and cartoon-slapstick sensibility. your subject as it moves, sound, continuity dle you’ll have to overcome in getting to be They took satiric aim at trite pop songs and in the scenes you choose to tell your story, a better photographer. This course shows punctured concert-hall pretensions with and the effects of moving the camera or you how. arrangements and sound effects undreamt zoom lens. In 44 minutes this Sony tape —Lancelot Braithwaite QUICK TAKES/VIDEO

The Ernest Tubb Show, parts: himself (present), himself again Volume One (past), and an anonymous lounge lizard. Color. 1965. Ernest Tubb, Willie Nelson, Lou Reed’s “I Love You, Suzanne” digni¬ Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Cal Smith, fies the song’s amused-man-of-the-world Wade Ray, Bun Wilson, Lois Johnson, stance with dry wit and airbrushed ele¬ Johnson Sisters, Grandpa Jones. 60 min. gance; good job, Tim Newman. And hand Beta, VHS. $39.95. H. Butrum Enter¬ Rick Springfield the honorable mention for prises (44 Music Square E., Nashville, enlivening a stagebound lip-sync with a Tenn. 37203; 615-242-0377). final self-directed twist (he ends the angry Compiled from several of the late Ernest “I’ve Done Everything for You” by Tubb’s TV programs of 20 years ago, this sledgehammering an RCA Victor 78). Its video shows that era’s C&W at its best. MTV award notwithstanding, the Eu¬ Tubb delivers raspy delights like “You’ve rythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” visualization is Got to Walk that Lonesome Valley” and his pretty routine, and the Starship’s “No Way band—one of the music’s best—plays with Out”—despite Father Guido Sarducci’s a swing-inflected feel that will stun those cameo—is bewilderingly megastupid. apt to dismiss their style as simpleminded. —Mark Fleischmann The supporting performers shine as well. Tubb’s drummer, Jack Greene, who later The Ultimate Swan Lake became a major country star in his own are the remainder by Mick Haggerty/C. D. Color. 1984. Natalia Bessmertnova, Boris right, sings his best-known hit, “There Taylor and Jay Dubin, especially Dubin’s Akimov, Bolshoi Ballet Company; chor. Goes My Everything.” For those who “Private Eyes” (rock rags to trenchcoats in Yuri Gregorovich. 120 min. Beta, VHS. have only come to appreciate Willie Nelson a rhythmic snap), Haggerty/Taylor’s $79.95. Kultur (1340 Ocean Ave., Sea in recent years, he delivers unexpected “Family Man” (the boys in a living-room full Bright, N.J. 07760; 201-842-6693). gems, singing “Hello, Walls” and “My Win¬ of kids, with witty animated embellish¬ This is classic ballet at its best. And who dow Faces the South” with the same ments), and Haggerty/Taylor’s “One on better to narrate the love story of Prince behind-the-beat vocal style he uses One” (a moody Hall rambles through the Siegfried and his Swan Queen but an origi¬ today—but in the ’60s Nelson favored a New York streets in pastel-tinted B&W). nally trained ballet dancer and the hero of turtleneck sweater and pompadour haircut It’s reasonable rock-video wallpaper for many a love story in dance—Gene Kelly. over his later outlaw image. Great playing, adults. —Mark Fleischmann He is inspired as he provides background great viewing, great fun. on the Bolshoi, introduces the charac¬ —Andrew Roblin Danspak II ters, and lends an interpretive comment Color. Compiled 1984. Jim Carroll Band, here and there—and all without being A Tribute to Bob Wills Lenny Kaye Connection, Strange Party, intrusive. Though any ballet lover or Color. 1984.120 min. Beta, VHS. $49.95. Michael Musto & the Must, Go Ohgami, Tchaikovsky fan would appreciate this pro¬ Delta Records (Box 225, Nacodoches, Tex. Jason Harvey; dir. Merrill Aldighieri & Joe duction, Kelly’s enthusiasm and knowl¬ 75963; 404-564-2509). Tripician. 30 min. Beta, VHS. $16.95. edge makes the video a good one for the The surviving members of Bob Wills’ Sony. rookie ballet watcher. The ballet was Texas Playboys deserve a standing ovation Yes, you can actually see our own filmed on the Moscow stage in May 1984, for still having the vigor to get onstage and Michael Musto at the typewriter in “Jim¬ and though it is not ideally reproduced, the perform, but the memory of their great¬ mie, Gimme Your Love”—and that’s scenes are well-filmed. You won’t miss a ness is ill-served by this amateurish con¬ where he does his best work. (See “I Made leap or teardrop—and with performances cert video. The Playboys still swing a Rock Video,” March 1984, for proof.) by Bessmernova and Akimov, you through “Steel Guitar Rag” and “San An¬ Ditto Lenny Kaye and “I’ve Got a Right, ” wouldn’t want to either. tonio Rose” with the flair they became fa¬ though his heart seems to be in the politi¬ —Julia Lisella mous for more than 40 years ago. Un¬ cally correct place. The best clips among fortunately, video and audio quality are this selective video survey of NYC R&R Dangermouse abysmal. Neither the cameras nor the rely on cameos for their authenticity: Lou Color. Animated. 60 min. Beta, VHS. lights succeed in keeping track of the var¬ Reed and family anoint Jim Carroll’s $29.95. Thom EMI. ious soloists. Instruments are clear for the “Sweet Jane” cover with their presence, Along with Dr. Who, Dangermouse is a most part, though lead vocals labor under a and Go Ohgami’s winningly infectious British kid series with a cult following. It fuzzy layer of distortion. We’re lucky to “Kids on the Street” features several of must be an acquired taste. This hour-long have any memento of these western-swing ’em—and everyone seems to be having a introduction offers no interesting charac¬ pioneers, but they deserve better than great time. —Mark Fleischmann ters or witty action. Dangermouse is a this. —Andrew Roblin monotonous know-it-all, sort of Bullwin- Hot Rock Videos, Volume 1 kle’s Mr. Peabody with Dudley Moore’s Hall & Oates: 7 Big Ones Color. Compiled 1984. Eurythmics, the voice. When a space monster says “I’ll Color. Compiled 1984.30 min. Beta, VHS. Kinks, Alan Parsons Project, Jefferson render you armless, ” he jollies back with “I $19.95. RCAIColumbia. Starship, Rick Springfield, Lou Reed, Icicle don’t fancy that—they keep my shoulders Like their R&B-inflected chart gems, Works. 28 min. Beta, VHS. $19.95. RCA/ from fraying ’round the ends.” This sci-fi the blue-eyed soul brothers’ videos are Columbia. superhero cartoon, with dashes of imita¬ restrained, evanescent, and always in styl¬ The best of these seven videos are by tion Monty Python (one episode has a cus¬ ish good taste. The flamboyant exception elder statesmen. The Kinks’ “Come Danc¬ tard engulf the world till a custard-eating is the Tim Pope-directed “Adult ing” (directed by Julien Temple) shows space creature arrives), is standard, at Education”—sort of like Hall & Oates in that Ray Davies is still mining poignant times wordy, but at least its aim is toward the Temple of Doom. Mucho preferable memories to a calypso lilt, as he plays three humor and nonviolence. —Ron Smith D I R y^O R Y

New Releases on Tape and Disc

No, it’s not a typo! For some strange reason, three different (Beta, VHS, or otherwise). If the Woman in Green doesn’t suit video companies got it into their heads to release three differ¬ your video-viewing color scheme, try the contemporary ent versions of Prince and the Pauper, all at the same time: Woman in Red. Key Video’s 1937, Disney’s ’62, and Media’s ’77. (Too bad Notable foreign titles include Le Magnifique, Return of the Mark Twain isn’t getting royalties.) Each comes from a differ¬ Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe (in search of the other?), ent era of moviemaking—from Errol Flynn to Oliver Reed— and Nudo Di Donna (Portrait of a Woman, Nude). Hats off to and makes for a nice comparison. Paramount for its release of the 1927 silent classic Wings, with There are a lot of Warner titles popping up this month. Richard Arlen and Buddy Rogers as two men who go off to fight Under “Crime and Punishment” there’s the Eastwood father/ WWI as beaus of the same girl back home—Clara Bow, that is. daughter Tightrope, two versions of Once Upon a Time in Key Video offers a batch of cult titles, including Shock Treat¬ America, and the classic Martin Scorcese Mean Streets. Also ment, Helter Skelter, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, and flying Warner colors are two more Hitchcocks—I Confess and for an absolutely unbeatable evening of fantastic frivolity, The Stage Fright, to which we add MCA’s The Trouble with Harry. Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (courtesy of an unexpected Warner rounds it out with Reflections in a Golden Eye, The encounter with aliens) and What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, and the all-time zapper, A Street¬ (courtesy of Candid Camera’s Allen Funt, doing what he does car Named Desire. so well). We hereby declare April to be alternate choice month. If you For this month’s Video Collector, we showcase Walter think you’ll suffer from Stage Fright, try taking the Stage to Pidgeon. Some titles are no longer current, but they’re out Chino. Instead of Terror By Night, consider Terror on Tape there in videoland if you look hard enough.

B&W. 1937. Errol Flynn. Two identical boys: the son of a miser¬ able thief and a royal prince. 117 min. Beta, VHS (closed captions). ADVENTURE $59.95. Key. The Prince and the Pauper. Bamboo Saucer. Color. 1967. Color. 1962. Sean Scully, Guy Wil¬ Dan Duryea, John Erickson. liams, Laurence Naismith, Donald Groups race to find alien spacecraft Houston. Prince leaves castle, in Red China. 103 min. Beta, VHS. trades places with poor child. 93 $39.95. NTA. min. Beta, VHS. $69.95. Disney. The Chain Reaction. Color. Ride in the Whirlwind. Color. 1980. Anna-Maria Winchester, Jack Nicholson, Cameron Mitchell, Steve Bisley, Ross Thompson. Tom Filer, Millie Perkins, Kather¬ Scientist exposed to radiation must ine Squire, George Mitchell, warn the public. 87 min. (R) Beta, Rupert Crosse, Dean Stanton. VHS. $59.95./LV. $34.95. Three cowboys, mistaken for out¬ Embassy. laws, are chased by sheriffs pos¬ Daggers 8. Color. Kung fu. se. 82 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. karate, and secret daggers. Beta, The Foreigner. B&W. Eric Pacific Inferno. Color. Jim Continental. VHS. $39.95. TWE. Mitchell, Patti Astor, Deborah Brown, Richard Jaeckel, Tim Stage to Chino/Don Amigo. The Day of the Cobra. Color. Harry. Secret agent in the maze of Brown, Wilma Reading. Japanese B&W. "Stage”: George O’Brien Franco Nero, Sybil Danning, New York City. By Amos Poe. 90 discover sunken treasure, force saves a stage line from sabotage. Mario Maranzana, Licinia Lentini. min. Beta, VHS. $75. New. U.S. POW’s to recover it. 90 min. "Amigo”: Leo Carillo, Duncan Re- Ex-cop hired to track down heroin Gone with the West. Color. Beta, VHS. $59.95. VCL. naldo. Beta, VHS. $34.95. RKO. kingpin. 95 min. Beta, VHS. James Caan, Stefanie Powers, The Prince and the Pauper. Tigers in Lipstick. Color. Ursula $49.95. Media. Sammy Davis Jr., Aldo Ray. The Color. 1977. Oliver Reed, Raquel Andress, Sylvia Kristel, Monica Five Mile Creek—Volume 4. vengeance of Little Moon and Jud Welch, Mark Lester, Ernest Borg- Vitti, Laura Antonelli. Adventures Color. Louise Caire Clark, Jay McGraw. 92 min. Beta, VHS. nine, Rex Harrison, David Hem- in the battle of the sexes. 88 min. Kerr. “God Fever”: Maggie $49.95. Unicom. mings, Charlton Heston, George Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS (stereo). Scott’s long search for her husband Mysterious Desperado/Rider C. Scott. Spoiled English prince, $59.95. Monterey. ends at remote stagecoach station. from Tucson. B&W. Tim Holt, wistful English pauper trade Tightrope. Color. 1984. Clint “Annie”: a traveler goes into labor Richard Martin. How the West places. 122 min. Beta, VHS. Eastwood, Genevieve Bujold, Dan just as she arrives at the outpost. was tamed. Beta, VHS. $34.95. $59.95. Media. Hedaya, Alison Eastwood, Jennif¬ Beta, VHS. $49.95. Disney. RKO. The Prince and the Pauper. I er Beck. New Orleans cop chases I Wonder Who's Killing Her where everything revolves around Now? Color. Joanna Barnes, Bob the world of television. 95 min. i Dishy, Bill Dana, Harvey Jason. (PG) Beta, VHS. $59.95. Key. Neurotic husband hatches plot to Surf II. Color. 1981. Eddie Dee- kill wife, collect insurance. 87 min. zen, Linda Kerridge, Cleavon Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS (stereo). Little, Moran Pauli, Ruth Buzzi, $59.95. U.S.A. Lyle Waggoner. Irreverent surf- Imposters. Ellen McElduff, side antics. 96 min. Beta, VHS. Charles Ludlam, Lina Todd, Peter $59.95. Media. Evans. Relationship between self- Takin' It OH. Color. 1984. Kitten indulgent man, independent Natividad. Exotic dancer yeams to woman. By Mark Rappaport. 110 become serious actress. 90 min. min. Beta, VHS. $75. New. Beta, VHS. $69.95. Vestron. The Kid with the 200 IQ. Color. The Trouble with Harry. Color. Gary Coleman, Robert Guillaume, 1966. John Forsythe, Shirley Mac- Dean Butler, Kari Michaelsen. Laine, Edmund Gwenn, Jerry College professor becomes young¬ Mathers, Royal Dano. Man hears ster’s mentor. 96 min. Beta (Hi- gunshots, stumbles upon body of a Fi). VHS (stereo). $49.95. U.S.A. dead man. By Alfred Hitchcock. 90 murderous sex fiend. 115 min. (R) Columbia. Marathon. Color. Herb Edel- min. (PG) Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS (Dol¬ Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, closed cap¬ Electric Dreams. Color. 1984. man, Leigh Taylor-Young, Dick by B). $59.95. MCA. tions). $79.95./LV (CX, cl. cap.). Lenny Von Dohlen, Bud Cort, Vir¬ Gautier, Anita Gillette, John Hill- What Do You Say to a Naked $34.98. Warner. ginia Madsen. Miles and his user- erman. An accountant’s passion for Lady? Color. People react to a Vegas. Color. 1978. June Ally- friendly computer, with original running. 96 min. Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS naked woman who appears before son, Robert Urich, Jack Kelly, songs by Giorgio Moroder, Jeff (stereo). $59.95. U.S.A. them in a variety of circumstances. Tony Curtis, Red Buttons. Private Lynne, Phil Oakley, Heaven 17, Meatballs Part II. Color. By Candid Camera’s Allen Funt. eye based in LaaVegas finds miss¬ Culture Club. 96 min. (PG) Beta, Richard Mulligan, Kim Richards, 85 min. (R) Beta, VHS. $59.95. ing teenage girl, breaks up slot VHS (Hi-Fi stereo, videophonic). John Mengatti, Misty Rowe, Joan¬ Key. machine con game. Beta, VHS. $79.95. MGM/UA. na King. Crazy Camp Sasquatch. The Woman in Red. Color. $49.95. Prism. The Errand Boy. B&W. Jerry 87 min. (PG) Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, 1984. Gene Wilder, Joseph Bolog¬ Wings. B&W. 1927. Richard Lewis, Brian Donlevy, Dick Wes¬ closed captions). $79.95. RCA/ na, Charles Grodin, Gilda Radner, J Arlen, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, son, Howard MacNear. A Holly¬ Columbia. Judith Ivey, Kelly Le Brock. Boy Clara Bow, Gary Cooper. Men go wood movie studio turned inside- Offnight. After 15 years on the chases girl behind wife’s back. 87 off to fight in World War I, leave out by the mail room boy. 93 min. night shift, man is put on day shift min. (PG-13) Beta, VHS. $79.95. girl behind. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, si¬ Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS (stereo). and his life turns to chaos. By Vestron. lent with music). $49.95./LV $59.95. U.S.A. George Bayer. 47 min. Beta, (stereo). $39.95. Paramount. Foolin' Around. Color. 1980. VHS. $69. New. Gary Busey, Annette O’Toole, A Pain in the A—. Color. Lino Eddie Albert, Tony Randall, Cloris Ventura, Jacques Brel. Hired killer Leachman. Farm boy falls in love crosses paths with suicidal shirt- with worldly psychology major. salesman. 90 min. (PG) Beta (Hi- COMEDY 101 min. (PG) Beta, VHS. $59.95. Fi, closed captions). VHS (cl. Embassy. cap.). $59.95. RCA/Columbia. A Girl, a Boy and a Gob. B&W. George Burns in Concert. Col¬ The Patsy. Color. Jerry Lewis, 1941. Lucille Ball, George Mur¬ or. Bums in Hamilton, Ontario per¬ Phil Harris, Peter Lorre, Everett phy, Edmond O’Brien. Romantic formance covers early vaudeville, Sloan, John Carradine, Keenan triangle. 90 min. Beta, VHS. marriage to Gracie Allen, playing Wynn, Ina Balin. Hollywood execs $34.95. RKO. “God,” his Country-Western create comedy star out of daffy All of Me. Color. 1984. Steve song, “I Wish I Was 18 Again. ” 60 bellhop. 103 min. Beta (Hi-Fi). Martin, Lily Tomlin. Dying spin¬ min. Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS (stereo). VHS (stereo). $59.95. U.S.A. ster’s soul is transported into the $39.95. U.S.A. The Personals. Color. 1983. Bill body of a jazz musician/lawyer. 93 Hollywood Hot Tubs. Color. Schoppert, Karen Landry. Young min. (PG) Beta, VHS. $79.95. 1984. A hot-tub plumber for Holly¬ man takes out newspaper ad after Thom EMI. wood’s rich and famous. 103 min. his wife leaves him. 90 min. (PG) The Wrong Box. Color. John Best Defense. Color. 1984. Dud¬ (R) Beta, VHS. $79.95. Vestron. Beta, VHS. $59.95. Embassy. Mills, Ralph Richardson, Michael ley Moore, Eddie Murphy. An Homebodies. Color. 1974. Pe¬ The Private Life of Sherlock Caine, Peter Cook, Dudley attempt to build the ultimate super ter Brocco, Frances Fuller, Wil¬ Holmes. Color. Robert Stephens, Moore, Peter Sellers. Inheritance weapon. Beta, VHS. $79.95./LV, liam Hansen, Ruth McDevitt, Colin Blakely. The legendary ignites murderous family feud be¬ CED. $29.95. Paramount. Paula Trueman, Ian Wolfe. Senior sleuth’s personal life. 125 min. tween brothers. 105 min. Beta The Bride Walks Out. B&W. citizens, about to be evicted, be¬ (PG) Beta, VHS. $59.95. Key. (Hi-Fi, closed captions). VHS (cl. 1936. Barbara Stanwyck, Gene come lovable hit men. 96 min. (PG) Shock Treatment. Color. Jessica cap.). $59.95. RCA/Columbia. Raymond, Robert Young. Can a Beta, VHS. $59.95. Embassy. Harper, Cliff DeYoung. A town rich young wife find happiness with franks and beans? Beta, VHS. $34.95. RKO. The Campus Corpse. Color. DRAMA 1977. Fraternity hijinks. 92 min. (PG) Beta, VHS. $69.95. Vestron. The AHair. Color. Natalie Wood, Catch a Rising Star's 10th Robert Wagner, Bruce Davison, Anniversary. Color. Richard Jamie Smith-Jackson. Relationship Belzer, Pat Benatar, David Bren¬ of crippled woman and attorney. 74 ner, Billy Crystal, Gabe Kaplan, nun. Beta, VHS. $39.95. Con¬ Andy Kaufman, Joe Piscopo, Robin tinental. Williams. Reunion of comedy tal¬ American Dream. Color. ent assembles in New York com¬ Stephen Macht, Karen Carlson, edy club, Catch a Rising Star. 66 John Mclntire, Hans Conried. min. Beta (Hi-Fi, closed captions). Trying to make the American VHS (cl. cap). $39.95. RCA/ Dream come true. 90 min. Beta, 58 Video VHS. $49.95. Unicom. murderer. Beta, VHS. $49.95. And Nothing But the Truth. Color. 1984. Glenda Jackson, Jon Dressed to Kill. B&W. 1946. Finch, Kenneth Colley, James Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce. Scot¬ Donnelly. Journalist’s efforts un¬ land Yard is baffled by a series of cover corruption and scandal. 90 “Finger Murders.” 72 min. min. Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS (stereo). Beta, VHS. $19.95. Spotlite. $59.95. Monterey. Empty Suitcases. Woman com¬ Another Country. Color. 1984. mutes between lover and her job. Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, By Bette Gordon. 55 min. Beta, Michael Jenn, Robert Addie. Life VHS. $60. New. in the 1930s English public school The Evil that Men Do. Color. that spawned the post-war spy Charles Bronson, Jose Ferrer, scandals. 90 min. (PG) Beta, VHS. Theresa Saldana. Professional $79.95. Embassy. killer is forced out of retirement to The Best of Upstairs Down¬ break a Central American gov¬ stairs, Volume 5. Color. 1971. ernment’s political torture ring. 90 The Bellamy family and their staff min. (R) Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, closed in England during the early part of captions). $79.95. RCA/Columbia. the 20th century. Produced by The Far Pavilions. Color. 1983. waere, Jeanne Moreau. Professor Meg Laurel. Color. Lindsay Wag¬ London Weekend Television. 50 Ben Cross, Amy Irving, Omar abandons everything in blind pas¬ ner, Jane Wyman, Dorothy min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Thom Sharif, Christopher Lee. English sion for a woman he barely knows. McGuire, James Woods, Gary EMI. officer loves Imperial Indian prin¬ 90 min. (R) Beta (Hi-Fi, closed Lockwood. Doctor leaves her The Best of Upstairs Down¬ cess. 108 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. captions). VHS (cl. cap.). $59.95. family in Boston to help the people stairs, Volume 6. Color. 1971. Thom EMI. RCA/Columbia. of Appalachia. 143 min. Beta (Hi- The Bellamy saga continues. Pro¬ Gone with the Wind. Color. Heidi. Color. 1979. Jennifer Fi, closed captions). VHS (cl. duced by London Weekend Tele¬ 1939. Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Edwards, Michael Redgrave, cap.). $59.95. RCA/Columbia. vision. 50 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Olivia de Havilland, Leslie How¬ Maximillian Schell. Young orphan Lady Caroline Lamb. Color. Thom EMI. ard, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie Heidi finds new life and happiness 1972. Sarah Miles, Richard Cham¬ The Best of Upstairs Down¬ McDaniel, Ona Munson, Ann with her grandfather. 105 min. berlain, Laurence Olivier, John stairs, Volume 7. Color. 1971. Rutherford, Evelyn Keyes, But¬ Beta, VHS. $69.95. Vestron. Mills, Ralph Richardson, Jon The Bellamy saga continues. Pro¬ terfly McQueen. The battle of Helter Skelter. Color. 1976. Finch, Margaret Leighton. The duced by London Weekend Tele¬ Atlanta, the effects on the South of George DiCenzo, Steve Railsback, fabled sex scandal that rocked vision. 50 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. the Civil War. 231 min. Beta, VHS Nancy Wolfe, Marilyn Burns, 19th-century Great Britain. Beta, Thom EMI. (stereo, digitally enhanced). Christina Hart, Cathey Paine, Alan VHS. $59.95. Prism. The Best of Upstairs Down¬ $89.95./LV, CED. MGM/UA. Oppenheimer. The Sharon Tate Lady Grey. Color. 1982. Ginger stairs, Volume 8. Color. 1971. The Group. Color. Candice Ber¬ murders. 119 min. Beta, VHS Alden. Girl’s country music The Bellamy saga continues. Pro¬ gen, Joan Hackett, Elizabeth Hart¬ (closed captions). $59.95. Key. catches the attention of touring duced by London Weekend Tele¬ man, Shirley Knight, Joanna Pet- I Confess. B&W. 1952. Mont¬ band manager. 11 min. Beta, VHS. vision. 50 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. tet, Mary-Robin Redd, Jessica gomery Clift, Anne Baxter, Karl $59.95. Thom EMI. Thom EMI. Walter, Kathleen Widdoes, Hal Malden, Brian Aheme, O.E. Has- The Last Game. Color. 1980. Big Mo. Color. 1973. Bernie Holbrook, Richard Mulligan, se, Roger Dann, Dolly Hass. Student supports his blind and ill Casey, Bo Svenson. True story of James Broderick. The lives and Priest hears confidential confes¬ father. 107 min. Beta, VHS. the will and determination of bas¬ loves of women who’ve remained sion to a crime of which he is $59.95. Thom EMI. ketball great Maurice Stokes. 110 friends since their college days. accused. By Alfred Hitchcock. 95 The Legend of Alfred Packer. min. Beta, VHS. $69.95. Vestron. 149 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. Key. min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi). $59.95. Color. Patrick Dray, Ron Haines, The Brighton Strangler/Be¬ Heat of Desire (Plein Sud). Col¬ Jim Dratfield, Bob Damon. Men fore Dawn. B&W. “Strangler”: or. Clio Goldsmith, Patrick De- The Incredible Journey of Dr. caught in fierce Rocky Mountain John Loder. Actor continues his blizzard. 95 min. (PG) Beta (Hi- murderous stage role in real life. Fi). VHS (stereo). $59.95. “Before Dawn”: Warner Oland. Monterey. Devious physician ends up as a Lepke. Color. 1974. Tony Curtis, crimebuster. Beta, VHS. $34.95. Anjanette Comer, Michael Callan, RKO. Warren Berlinger, Gianni Russo, The Candy Tangerine Man. Vic Tayback, Milton Berle, Mary Color. John Daniels, Tom Hanker- Wilcox, Vaughn Meader. Gangster son, Eli Haines, Marva Farmer. Louis “Lepke” Buchalter, head of Respectable businessman leads a Murder Inc. during the ’30s. 110 double life. 88 min. Beta, VHS. min. (R) Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi). $49.95. Unicom. $59.95. Warner. Cloak and Dagger. Color. Love Spell. Color. 1982. Richard 1984. Henry Thomas, Dabney Burton, Kate Mulgrew, Nicholas Coleman. Bright youngster wit¬ Clay. Lovers bound together for¬ nesses murder of FBI man. 101 ever by Druid potion. 90 min. min. (PG) Beta (Hi-Fi stereo, sur¬ Beta, VHS. $39.95. Continental. round sound, closed captions). Mean Streets. Color. 1973. VHS (Dolby B stereo, sum. sound, Robert DeNiro, Harvey Keitel, cl. cap.). $79.95. MCA. David Proval, Amy Robinson, Confessions of a Police Cap¬ Richard Romanus, Caesare Dano- tain. Color. 1972. Martin Balsam, va. Young Mafia hood comes of age Franco Nero. Dedicated police in New York’s Little Italy. 112 min. captain tries to stop corruption. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, closed cap¬ 104 min. (PG) Beta, VHS. $59.95. tions). $59.95. Warner. Embassy. Mike's Murder. Color. 1984. Death Kiss. Color. 1977. Larry Debra Winger, Mark Keyloun, Daniels, Dorothy Moore, Leslie Darrell Larson, Brooke Alderson, Bowan, Angela Cilento. Greedy Paul Winfield. Brutal death of husband strikes bargain with mad woman’s lover opens door to a Video sinister world. 110 rain. (R) Beta, Nathalie Baye. Man who myste¬ The Student Body/Jailbait is reason for murder. 68 min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi). $79.95. Warner. riously disappeared as a young Babysitter. Color. “Student VHS. $19.95. Spotlite. My Neighborhood. Mitchell husband returns nine years later to Body”: Warren Stevens. New Kriegman. Debonair bar-owner is resume his marriage. Ill min. drug controls hostile behavior with a psychopath. By Mitchell Krieg¬ Beta, VHS (English subtitles). unintended side-effects. “Babysit¬ man. 35 min. Beta, VHS. $45. $79.95. Embassy. ter”: 17-year-old discovers the The Roman Spring of Mrs. fringe benefits of babysitting. 75 bwasy Newsfronf. Color. 1978. Bill Stone. Color. 1961. Vivien Leigh, min./75 min. (R/R) Beta, VHS. Hunter, Wendy Hughes, Gerard Warren Beaty, Lotte Lenya, Jill St. $49.95. Continental. Kennedy, John Ewart, Chris John, Bessie Love, Emest Thes- Terror By Night. B&W. 1946. and SCI-FI Hayward. Brothers film the news inger, Coral Browne, Jeremy Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce. for competing companies. HOmin. Spenser. Gigolo preys on vulner¬ Holmes and Watson take a valuable The Adventures of Huck¬ (PG) LV. $34.95. Embassy. able, middle-aged actress. 104 diamond back to Edinburgh. 60 leberry Finn. Color. 1984. Ani¬ The Night the Lights Went Out min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi). $59.95. min. Beta, VHS. $19.95. Spotlite. mated. Huck, Becky Thatcher, in Georgia. Color. Kristy Warner. Underground U.S.A. Patti Tom Sawyer, and friends. 48 min. McNichol, Dennis Quaid, Mark Sherlock Holmes and the Se¬ Astor, Eric Mitchell. Neurotic Beta, VHS. $29.95. Embassy. Hamill. Aspiring country singer cret Weapon. B&W. 1942. Basil has-been star meets street Beany & Cecil, Volume VI. Col¬ tries to make it to Nashville. 112 Rathbone, Nigel Bruce. Nazi hustler. An homage to Sam Fuller or. Animated. Beany & Cecil, their min. (PG) Beta, VHS. $69.95. agents and Professor Moriarty kid¬ and Andy Warhol; by Eric Mitchell. friends in “Sleeping Beauty and the TWE. Beast," “Never Eat Quack- Nudo Di Donna (Portrait of a ers in Bed,” “Dishonest Woman, Nude). Color. Nino Man- John Meets Cowboy Starr,” fredi, Eleonora Giorgi, Jean Pierre “Beany’s Beany Cap Copter,” Cassel, George Wilson, Carlo “The Indiscreet Squeet,” and Bagno. Man searches for woman in “The Phantom of the Horse a nude portrait. 112 min. Beta, Opera.” 60 min. Beta (Hi-Fi, VHS (Italian, English subtitles). closed captions). VHS (cl. cap.). $59.95. Pacific. $24.95. RCA/Columbia. Once Upon a Time in America. Danger Mouse, Cassette #2. Color. 1983. Robert DeNiro, Color. 1983. Animated. Intrepid James Woods, Elizabeth mouse, his trusty sidekick. 60 min. McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Beta, VHS. $29.95. Thom EMI. Young, Tuesday Weld, Treat Wil¬ Exterminators of the Year liams. The loves, loyalties, and 3000. Color. 1983. Earth has be¬ ambitions of boyhood friends who come a wasteland ruled by biker grow up to forge a ruthless criminal fiends. 101 min. (R) Beta, VHS. empire. 143 min. (theatrical ver¬ $69.95. Thom EMI. sion) (R) Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, closed Invasion of the Body Snatch¬ captions). $79,95./225 min. (orig¬ ers. B&W. 1956. Kevin McCar¬ inal version) Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, cl. thy, Dana Wynter. Aliens take cap.). $89.95./LV (CX, cl. cap.). over peoples’ bodies while they $39.98. Warner. sleep. 80 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. Once Upon a Time in the West. NT A. 1969. Henry Fonda, Jason Island of the Lost. Color. 1968. Robards, Charles Bronson, Richard Greene, Luke Halpin. Sea Claudia Cardinale, Keenan Wynn, voyage to find group of uncharted Lionel Stander, Jack Elam, Woody islands. 92 min. Beta, VHS. Strode. Murderous psychopath $39.95. NTA. annihilates family. Beta, VHS. nap Swiss scientist and his newly It's Your First Kiss, Charlie $69.95./LV. $39.95. Paramount. developed bombsight. 68 min. Brown/Someday You'll Find One Night Stand. Color. Beta, VHS. $19.95. Spotlite. Her, Charlie Brown. Color. Chapelle Jaffe, Brent Carver. Slipstream. Color. Julie Askew, 1977. Animated. Charlie Brown Chance encounter in singles bar Patti Oatman, Eli Rill. Rock DJ dis¬ faces his moment of truth with the turns to terror and death. 90 min. covered. 93 min. Beta, VHS. red-haired girl. 52 min. Beta, Beta, VHS. $49.95. TWE. $49.95. TWE. VHS. $29.95. Snoopy’s. Penitentiary II. Color. 1982. Stage Fright. B&W. 1949. Jane The New 3 Stooges Volume V. Leon Isaac Kennedy, Ernie Hud¬ Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Animated. Antics of Larry, Moe, son, Glynn Turman, Mr. T, Archie Michael Wilding, Richard Todd, and Curly Joe in “Through Rain, Moore. Ex-con fights for welter¬ Alastair Sim, Dame Sybil Thorn¬ Sleet, and Snow, ” “Goldriggers of weight crown and his life. 108 min. dike, Kay Walsh, Joyce Grenfell. 85 min. Beta, VHS. $75. New. ’49,” “Ready, Jet Set, Go,” “Be¬ (R) Beta, VHS. $69.95. MGM/ Overeager drama student tries to The Violent Ones. Color. 1968. hind the Eightball Express.” 30 UA. clear fugitive friend charged with Fernando Lamas, David Carra- min. Beta, VHS. $24.95. Permanent Vacation. John murder. By Alfred Hitchcock. 110 dine. Young girl is raped and Embassy. Lurie, Chris Parker. The disen- min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi). $59.95. beaten, sheriff arrests three sus¬ The New Zoo Revue Volume chantments of New York City, an Warner. pects. 96 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. #1. Color. 1972-74. Animated. escape to Europe. By Jim Jar¬ A Streetcar Named Desire. Spotlite. Charlie the Owl, Freddie the Frog, musch. 80 min. Beta, VHS. $75. B&W. 1951. Vivien Leigh, Marlon Weekend of Shadows. Color. Henrietta the Hippopotomas, their New. Brando, Kim Hunter, Karl Mal¬ 1977. John Waters, Melissa Jaffer, human pals Doug and Emmy Jo; Reflections in a Golden Eye. den. Sexual duel of wits between Graeme Blundell. Blood-thirsty important lessons about drugs, ex¬ Color. 1967. Elizabeth Taylor, fragile Southern belle, her brutish search for killer. 94 min. Beta, ercise, losing weight, telling the Marlon Brando, Brian Keith, Julie brother-in-law. 122 min. (PG) VHS. $49.95. Embassy. truth, respecting rights to peace Harris, Robert Forster, Zorro Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi, closed cap¬ When Angels Fly. Color. Jennif¬ and quiet. 60 min. Beta, VHS. David. Twisted passions of career tions). $59.95. Warner. er Dale, Robin Ward. Revenge $29.95. Family. army officer, his nymphomaniacal Strong Medicine. Kate Man- may destroy woman’s life. 120 The Pink Panther Cartoon wife, a young private. 108 min. (M) heim, David Warrilow, Raul Julia, min. Beta, VHS. $49.95. Unicom. Festival: Pink at First Sight. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi). $59.95. Wally Shawn, Carol Kane. Sur¬ The Woman in Green. B&W. Color. 1966-81. Animated. The realistic adventures and misadven¬ Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce. Pink Panther in “Psychedelic Pink” The Return of Martin Guerre. tures. By Richard Foreman. 84 Sherlock Holmes discovers myste¬ (’67), “Super Pink” (’66), “The Color. 1982. Gerard Depardieu, min. Beta, VHS. $75. New. rious melody of a stolen music box Hand Is Pinker Than the Eye” 60 Video Mechanical man is created to ex¬ Buckley, James Chase. Modeling Blonde Cobra/The Doctor's plore deep space. 77 min. Beta, assignment becomes terrifying. Dream. B&W. By Ken Jacobs. 57 VHS. $39.95. NTA. Beta, VHS. $59.95. Prism. min. Beta, VHS. $60. New. The Wizard of Mars. Color. You Are Not I. B&W. Suzanne Burden of Dreams. 1982. 1974. John Carradine, Roger Gen¬ Fletcher. Woman escapes from Documentary about the struggles try. Astronauts crash-land on psychiatric confinement. By Sara of German film director Werner Mars. 81 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. Driver. 50 min. Beta, VHS. $60. Herzog to make Fitzcarraldo in the NTA. Amazon basin of Peru. By Les Blank. 94 min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. New. Casals Master Class. 1960. Spanish cellist, Pablo Casals, in a teaching and performance master HORROR class at the University of Califor¬ nia, Berkeley; includes “Brahms The Daughter of Dr. Jekyll. Sonata No. 1 for Cello and Piano.” B&W. 1958. Gloria Talbot. Quiet 45 min. Beta, VHS. $69.50. Ex¬ woman learns her father was Dr. clusives. Jekyll. 73 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. Coaster—The Adventure of Key. the John F. Leavitt. Color. 1981. Day of Judgement. Color. The loss of the wooden sailing car¬ 1981. Cloaked figure visits towns¬ go schooner John F. Leavitt. 91 people who have abandoned the min. Beta, VHS. Atlantic. Ten Commandments. 101 min. Computers in Diagnostic First Sight” (’81). 49 min. Beta, Beta, VHS. $69.95. Thom EMI. Medicine. 1984. Includes CAT VHS. $39.95. MGM/UA. Death at Love House. Color. INFORMATION scans, EKG angiography, nuclear Robinson Crusoe. Color. 1975. 1975. Robert Wagner, Kate Jack- medicine, and ECG. 30 min. Beta, Animated. Adventures on a desert son, Joan Blondell, Dorothy Always for Pleasure. 1978. VHS. $29.95. Increase. island. 86 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. Lamour, John Carradine, Sylvia New Orleans street parades turn Edouard Manet: Painter of Family. Sidney, Bill Macy. Supernatural into street parties. By Les Blank. Modern Life. Color. The Manet Rubik, The Amazing Cube, force occupies a deserted man¬ 58 min. Beta, VHS. $49.95. New. exhibition at the New York City Vol. I. Color. Animated. Rubik and sion. Beta, VHS. $59.95. Prism. Animal Quiz #7. Color. Includes Metropolitan Museum, with narra¬ friends in "Rubik, The Amazing Fiend without a Face. B&W. “Jungle Jaguar,” “Brotfrn Bears of tion by Museum Director Philippe Cube, ’’ “Rubik and the Mysterious 1968. Marshall Thompson. People Alaska,” and “Wayleggo,' de Montebello.. 27 min. Beta, Man. ” 45 min. Beta (Hi-Fi, closed die when strange creatures attack Wayleggo”; with question and VHS. $49.95. Metropolitan. captions). VHS (cl. cap.). $24.95. them. 75 min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. answer segments. 83 min. Beta, Garlic Is as Good as Ten RCA/Columbia. NTA. VHS. $39.95. Disney. Mothers. 1980. The glories of Sherlock Holmes and the Sign Fleshburn. Color. Steve Kanaly, of Four. Color. Animated. Peter Karen Carlson, Macon McCal- O’Toole as the voice of Sherlock mam, Robert Chimento, Sonny Holmes. 48 min. Beta, VHS. Landham. Vietnam-vet escapes $59.95. Pacific. from asylum to wreak vengeance A Special Valentine with the on psychiatrists who committed Family Circus. Color. 1960-85. him. 91 min. Beta, VHS. $69.95. Animated. Dolly, Jeffy, Billy, PJ try to make the perfect Valentine; Girl in Room 2A. Color. 1976. also includes Daffy Duck cartoons Raf Vallone, Daniela Giordano. In¬ “The Impatient Patient,” “To nocent people trapped. Beta, Duck or Not to Duck,” “Daffy VHS. $59.95. Prism. < Duck and the Dinosaur,” “Yankee Phantasm. Color. 1979. Michael Doodle Daffy!” 60 min. Beta, Baldwin, Bill Thombury, Reggie VHS. $29.95. Family. Bannister, Kathy Lester. Broth¬ Tabor the Great. B&W. 1954. ers uncover secret of the living Charles Drake, Karin Booth. dead. 90 min. (R) Beta, VHS. $59.95 (reissue). Embassy. The Plumber. Color. Judy Mor¬ ris, Ivar Kants, Robert Coleby, Candy Raymond. Repairman in¬ Animal Quiz #8. Color. Includes garlic include garlic lovers at a fes¬ vades the home of an intellectual “Green World of the Yagua,” tival, German film director Werner housewife. 76 min. Beta, VHS. “Samburu,” “Appaloosa”; with Herzog cooking his shoe in garlic $59.95. Media. question and answer segments. 83 and eating it on a bet. By Les The Slayer/Scalps. Color. min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. Disney. Blank. 51 min. Beta, VHS. $49.95. “Slayer”: nightmares unleashed in Animal Quiz #9. Color. Includes the real world. “Scalps”: ancient “Elephants of Thailand,” “Pink Godunov: The World to Dance terror rises from the grave. 75 Treasure of Baharini,” “Seals of In. Color. 1983. Portrait of ballet min./75 min. (R/R) Beta, VHS. Priblof’; with question and answer star Alexander Godunov, including $49.95. Continental. segments. 83 min. Beta, VHS. duets with Maya Plisetskaya and Terror on Tape. Color. Nastas¬ $39.95. Disney. Cynthia Gregory, his relationship sja Kinski, Richard Widmark, with actress Jacqueline Bisset, Christopher Lee, James Earl Artist Call Against Interven¬ background in the U.S.S.R. 60 Jones, Jose Ferrer, Marianne tion in Central America. Orga¬ min. Beta, VHS. $59.95. Kultur. Faithfull, John Carradine, Mel nized by Bill Brand. Beta, VHS. In the King of Prussia. An act of Ferrer; hosted by Cameron Mitch¬ $95. New. disarmament on Sept. 9,1980 with ell. Scary moments from over 20 Basic English for Hispanics By Dan and Phil Berrigan, Sister Ann horror films. 90 min. (R) Beta, Video. Color. Read, write, and Montgomery, Molly Rush, others. VHS. $29.95. Continental. speak a 1000 word/phrase vocab¬ 92 min. Beta, VHS. $75. New. The Virgin Witch. Color. 1975. ulary using everyday situations. Jazz and Exercise. 1984. De¬ Vicki Michelle, Ann Michelle, Pat¬ 90 min. Beta, VHS. $74.95. Mas- velop and strengthen all major ricia Haines, Neil Hallett, Keith terVision. muscle groups. 30 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Increase. II. Color. Feathered and four-leg¬ Jesse Jackson: Our Time Has ged friends take on hilarious human Come. Color. 1984. Jackson’s personalities. 60 min. Beta (Hi-Fi). speech to the 1984 Democratic VHS (stereo). $29.95. U.S.A. Convention. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Terrorism: The Russian Con¬ MCA nection. Color. The Canadian Journeys from Berlin/1971. Broadcasting Company’s 125 min. Beta, VHS. $75. New. documentary on the recruitment, Love Skills. Color. 1984. Intro¬ training, techniques of the P.L.O. duced by Joshua Golden M.D., and other terrorist groups, their Director of UCLA’s Human Sex¬ Russian connection. 60 min. Beta, uality Program. Five couples ex¬ VHS. $74.95. MasterVision. plore aspects of sexuality. 56 min. Which Computer Is for Me? (Adult) Beta (Hi-Fi stereo). VHS 1984. Explanations and definitions (Dolby B stereo). $39.95. MCA. help the viewer relate computer The Making of 2:00 A.M.— functions to his needs. 30 min. Paradise Cafe. Color. Barry Beta, VHS. $29.95. Increase. Manilow, Gerry Mulligan, Sarah Vaughn, Mel Torme, Mundell Woodworking. 1984. Basics of Lowe, Shelly Manne, George cabinet construction, from raw materials to the proper tools with Duvivier, Billy Maus. Behind the Mezentseva, Konstantin Zaklin- an emphasis on safety. 30 min. scenes during the making of the sky, Gennady Selyutsky, Tatyzna Beta, VHS. $29.95. Increase. album2:00 A.M.—Paradise Cafe. Terekhova; performed by the 55 min. Beta (Hi-Fi stereo). VHS You and Me, Kid—Volume 2. Leningrad State Kirov. Peasant (Dolby Hi-Fi stereo). $29.95. Color. 1983. Host Sonny Melen- MUSIC girl driven from joy to madness and RCA/Columbia. drez, Morey Amsterdam, Greg death. 135 min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi Meeting of Minds, Volume 1 & Mullavey, Julie Parrish, Ruby The Blues Accordin' to Light- stereo). $39.95. Thom EMI. 2. Color. 1974. Keye Luke, Jayne nin' Hopkins. 1967. Hopkins’ in¬ Keeler. Play-along/act-along/sing- The Great Space Coaster Race Meadows Allen, Alfred Ryder, spiration for the blues: boogie at a along episodes with activities for Supershow. Color. 1981. Teens Bernard Behrens. Fictional con¬ children and parents to share in¬ barbeque, a black rodeo, a home¬ frontations between major figures coming to Centerville, Tex. By Roy, Danny, Francine with puppet clude “Let’s Go,” “Musical characters Baxter, Goriddle, of world history, featuring Sun Les Blank. 31 min. Beta, VHS. Motions,” “It Takes Two,” “Fa¬ Knock-Knock, Gary Gnu, plus Yat-Sen, Elizabeth Barrett Brown¬ $44.95. New. mous and a-Half,” “Mime Your guests Mark Hamill and Valerie ing, Niccolo Machiavelli, Aristotle. The Butterfly Ball. Color. Twig¬ Own Business,” “You and Me Harper in a variety of songs, stor¬ Beta, VHS. $69.95. Vista. Theatre.” Ill min. Beta, VHS. gy, David Coverdale, Ian Gillan, ies, cartoons. 59 min. Beta, VHS. Mein Kampf. B&W. 1960. The $49.95. Disney. others; narrated by Vincent Price. $29.95. MGM/UA. rise and fall of German fascism, the A selection of music, live action, worldwide destruction that fol¬ and animation. Recorded at the Hot Pepper. 1973. Accordionist lowed in its wake. 117 min. Beta, Albert Hall and Roman ruins of Clifton Chenier, “KingofZydeco.” VHS. $59.95./LV. $34.95. Windsor Great Park. 85 min. Beta, Life and music of French-speaking Embassy. VHS. $39.95. VCL. musicians in the southwest Cajun Millhouse: A White Comedy. MISC. Die Fledermaus. Color. 1984. country of Louisiana. By Les By Emile de Antonio. 93 min. Kiri Te Kanawa. The traditional Blank. 54 min. Beta, VHS. $49.95. Beta, VHS. $75. New. The Girls of Penthouse. Color. Viennese comic opera, conducted Modems and Data Banks. 1984. Centerfolds come to life. 60 by Placido Domingo. 90 min. LV Howard Jones: Like to Get to 1984. Explanation of modems and min. Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS (Hi-Fi (stereo). $49.95. Pioneer. Know You Well. Color. 1984. data banks: what they are, how to stereo). $59.95. Vestron. Giselle. Color. 1983. Galina Concert sequences recorded at set them up, their many functions. 30 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Increase. On Any Sunday. Color. Mal¬ colm Smith, Mert Lawwill. Com¬ petitions, from closed circuit rac¬ ing at Daytona to the American Motorcycle championship races to European endurance trials. 89 min. (G) Beta (Hi-Fi). VHS (stereo). $59.95. Monterey. Painters' Painting. By Emile de Antonio. 116 min. Beta, VHS. $75. New. Reminiscences of a Journey to Lithuania. First trip by Jonas Mekas back to his native Lithuania in 25 years. By Jonas Mekas. 102 min. Beta, VHS. $75. New. Sid Caesar's Shape Up. Color. Sid Caesar parodies excessive lifestyles followed by a positive pep talk and workout that can be done in the home or when traveling. 58 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Media. Solar Energy: Hope for the Future. 1984. The sun’s history, possible political and environmen¬ tal ramifications of solar energy. 30 min. Beta, VHS. $29.95. Increase. Speaking of Animals, Volume others. Pavel Kogen conducts the Verdi's Rigoletto at Verona. Moscow Symphony. 90 min. Beta, Color. The tragic tale of court jes¬ VHS (Hi-Fi). $74.95 (reissue). ter Rigoletto, his daughter Gilda. MasterVision. 128 min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi). 38 Special—Wild Eyed and $74.95 (reissue). MasterVision. Live. Color. Concert during 1984 A Well Spent Life. 1970. The life tour features “Rockin’ into the and work of guitarist/Texas share- Night, ” “Caught Up in You, ” “Hold crop farmer, Mance Lipscomb. By on Loosely,” “If I’d Been the Les Blank. 44 min. Beta, VHS. One.” 75 min. Beta (Hi-Fi stereo). $49.95. New. VHS (Dolby Hi-Fi stereo). $29.95. You Were Never Lovelier. RCA/Columbia. B&W. 1942. Fred Astaire, Rita Un Ballo in Maschera. Color. Hayworth, Adolphe Menjou, Les¬ 1980. Luciano Pavarotti stars in a lie Brooks, Adele Mara, Xavier Metropolitan Opera production of Cugat. Boy chases girl, dances Verdi’s tragic opera, conducted by when he catches her. 98 min. Beta Guiseppe Patane. LV (stereo). (Hi-Fi, closed captions). VHS (cl. $49.95. Pioneer. cap.). $59.95. RCA/Columbia.

Sharif, Walter Pidgeon; “Funny Lady” (’75)—Barbra Streisand, Omar Sharif, James Caan; “King WALTER Creole” (’59)—Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones; “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (’42)—James Cagney, PIDGEON Joan Leslie, Irene Manning, Fran¬ cis Langford; “Footlight Parade” High Sycombe Town Hall, Dec. Tomorrow, ” “The Look of Love, ” (’33) & “Gold Diggers of 1935” i 22, 1983, music video clips, origi- others. LV (stereo, 8-inch). COLLECTOR (’35)—James Cagney, Dick | nal segments include “Hunt the $19.95. Pioneer Karaoke. Powell, Joan Blondell, Ruby Shelf, ” “What Is Love?, ” “Pearl in Madame Butterfly. Color. Big Red. Color. 1962. Walter Keeler; “The Maltese Falcon” the Shell,” "Hide and Seek,” 1983. Raina Kabaivanska, Pidgeon, Gilles Payant, Emile (’41)—Humphrey Bogart, Sidney “Equality,” "Like to Get to Know Nazareno Antinori, Eleonora Jank- Genest, Janette Bertrand. Back- Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Mary You Well,” “Conditioning,” ovic, Lorenze Saccomani. Love woods orphan boy hired to care for Astor; “The Treasure of Sierra “Bounce Right Back,” "New and heartbreak of a Japanese girl. dog. 89 min. Beta, VHS. $69.95. Madre” (’47)—Humphrey Bogart, Song.” 58 min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi Composed by Giacomo Puccini; Disney. Walter Huston, Tim Holt. 31 min. stereo). $29.98. Warner. conducted by Maurizio Arena at Calling Bulldog Drummond. Beta. $29.95. VHS. $31.95. Yes¬ The Huberman Festival, Part the Arena di Verona. 135 min. B&W. 1951. Walter Pidgeon, Mar¬ teryear. II. Color. 1982. Itzhak Perlman Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi stereo). $39.95. garet Leighton, Robert Dark Command. B&W. 1940. and Pinchas Zukerman perform Thom EMI. Beatty, David Tomlinson. 80 min. John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Wal¬ Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante in Menudo...La Pelicula. Color. Beta, VHS. $39.95 plus s&h. ter Pidgeon, Roy Rogers, George E Flat Major for Violin, Viola, and The original Menudo group: Rene, Lyric. “Gabby” Hayes, Marjorie Main. Orchestra,” “Passacaglia.” With Johnny, Xavier, Miguel, Ricky. 84 Coming Attractions #1—The Raiders terroize small town. 94 the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra min. Beta, VHS (Spanish only). Super Stars. Color, B&W. 1930- min. Beta, VHS. $39.95. NTA. directed by Maestro Zubin Mehta. $49.95. Unicom. 75. Theatrical trailers include Forbidden Planet. Color. 1956. 48 min. Beta, VHS (Hi-Fi). Out of Hand/You the Better. “Presenting Lily Mars” (’42)— Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, $39.95. Pacific. Two narratives incorporating Judy Garland, Tommy Dorsey Leslie Nielson. 98 min. (G) Beta, In Heaven There Is No Beer. rhythm, color, props, movements, Orche-stra, Bob Crosby, Van VHS. $59.95./LV (CLV, stereo). > 1983. Polka regalia, dancing, the drawings, special effects as a vi¬ Heflin; “The Singing Kid” (’36)— $25.95. CED. $24.95. MGM/UA. music and its enthusiasts. By Les sion of American society. By A1 Jolson, Edward Everett Horton, Funny Girl. Color. 1968. Barbra Blank. 51 min. Beta, VHS. $49.95. Ericka Beckman. 58 min. Beta, Cab Calloway Orchestra; Streisand, Omar Sharif, Anne VHS. $60. New. “Mammy” (’30)—A1 Jolson, Marie Francis, Kay Medford, Walter Karaoke #1. Color. 1984. Sing- Sing Blue Silver. Color. 1984. Dressier; “Go Into Your Dance” Pidgeon, Lee Allen, Gerald Mohr. along selections with lyrics appear¬ Behind-the-scenes music video (’35)—A1 Jolson; “Funny Girl” 155 min. (G) Beta. VHS (stereo). ing on the bottom of the screen documentary of Duran Duran’s (’68)—Barbra Streisand, Omar $79.95./LV. $39.95. RCA/Co- [ include “Strangers in the Night, ” 1984 tour. Songs include “Girls on “Calendar Girl,” “Dream Lover,” Film,” “Union of the Snake,” others. LV (stereo, 8-inch). “Save a Prayer,” “The Reflex,” $19.95. Pioneer Karaoke. "Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Rio,” Karaoke #2. Color. 1984. Sing- “Tiger Tiger,” “Is There Anyone along selections with lyrics appear¬ Out There. ” 85 min. Beta, VHS. ing on the bottom of the screen $29.95. Thom EMI. j include “The Way We Were, ” "Up Sprout Wings and Fly. 1983. on the Roof, ” “I Believe in Music, ” Tribute to Appalachian old-time ! others. LV (stereo, 8-inch). style fiddler/storyteller Tommy | $19.95. Pioneer Karaoke. Jarrell. By Les Blank. 30 min. Karaoke #3. Color. 1984. Sing- Beta, VHS. $44.95. New. along selections with lyrics appear¬ Step Lively. B&W. 1949. George ing on the bottom of the screen Murphy, Gloria DeHaven, include “Soul and Inspiration,” Adolphe Menjou, Anne Jeffreys, “Venus in Blue Jeans,” “Natural Frank Sinatra. Fast-talking Woman,” others. LV (stereo, 8- producer tries to open a musical inch). $19.95. Pioneer Karaoke. revue. 86 min. Beta-, VHS. Karaoke #4. Color. 1984. Sing- $34.95. RKO. along selections with lyrics appear¬ Tchaikovsky Competition: ing on the bottom of the screen Violin and Piano. Color. Per¬ include “I Want to Hold Your formances of Viktoria Mullova | Hand,” “Will You Still Love Me (violin), Peter Donahoe (piano), lumbia./CED (stereo). $39.98. O’Brien, Lee Marvin. 102 min. RCA. Beta, VHS. $39.95 plus s&h. The House Across the Bay. Lyric. B&W. 1940. George Raft, Joan Voyage to the Bottom of the Bennett, Walter Pidgeon, Lloyd Sea. Color. 1961. Frankie Avalon, Nolan. Jailbird discovers his wife Walter Pidgeon, Joan Fontaine, was having an affair. 88 min. Beta, Barbara Eden, Peter Lorre, VHS. $39.95. Monterey. Michael Ansara, Robert Sterling. How Green Was My Valley. Atomic-powered submarine called B&W. 1941. Walter Pidgeon, upon to save Earth. 105 min. Beta, Maureen O’Hara, Donald Crisp, VHS. $59.95. CBS/Fox. Anna Lee, Roddy McDowall, John Sextette. Comedy. Color. 1978. Loder, Sara Allgood, Barry Fitz¬ Mae West, Ringo Starr, George gerald. 118 min. Beta, VHS. Hamilton, Dom DeLuise, Tony $54.95. Blackhawk (drop 5/80). Curtis, Alice Cooper, George The Rack. B&W. 1956. Paul Raft, Rona Barrett, Timothy Dal¬ Newman, Wendell Corey, Walter ton, Walter Pidgeon. 91 min. Beta, Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Edmond VHS. $19.95 (reissue). Media.

SOURCES

Atlantic Film Group I, Box 102 Lyric Distribution, 162B Cabot 22-770, Carm.el, Calif. 93922 (408- Calif. 90066-0930 (213-306-4040). Harbour Rd., Kittery Point, Me. St., West Babylon, N.Y. 11704 624-4704). Thorn EMI Home Video, 1370 03905 (207-439-3739). (516-420-1044). Paramount Home Video, 5451 Sixth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10019 Blackhawk Films, One Old MasterVision, 969 Park Ave., Marathon St., Hollywood, Calif. (212-977-8990). Eagle Brewery, Box 3990, Daven¬ New York, N.Y. 10028 (212-879- 90038 (213-468-5000). Trans World Entertainment, 6430 port, Iowa 52808 (319-323-9736). 0448). Pioneer Artists, c/o Pioneer Sunset Blvd. #501, Hollywood, Calif. 90028 (213-461-0467, 800- CBS/Fox Video, 1211 Sixth Ave., MCA Home Video, 70 Universal Video, 200 W. Grand Ave., Mont- 521-0467). 2nd floor, New York, N.Y. 10036 City Plaza, Universal City, Calif. vale, N.J. 07645 (201-573-1122). (212-819-3200). 91608 (818-508-4315). Pioneer Karaoke 8”, c/o U.S.A. Home Video, 7920 Alaba¬ Continental Home Video, 2320 Pioneer Video, 200 W. Grand ma Ave., Canoga Park, Calif. Media Home Entertainment, Cotner, Los Angeles, Calif. 90064 Ave., Montvale, N.J. 07645 (201- 91304 (800-423-7455). 5730 Buckingham Pkwy., Culver (213-477-8055). 573-1122). City, Calif. 90230 (800-421-4509; Unicorn Video, 18309 Sherman Walt Disney Home Video, 500 S. 213-216-7900). Prism Entertainment Corpor¬ Way, Reseda, Calif. 91335 (213- Buena Vista St., Burbank, Calif. ation, 1875 Century Park E. 343-2992). 91521 (818-840-1859). Metropolitan Museum of Art, #1010, Los Angeles, Calif. 90067 Special Services Office, Middle Vil¬ VCL Communications, c/o Media Embassy Home Entertainment, (213-277-3270). lage, N.Y. 10381 (telephone n.a.). Home Entertainment, 5730 Buck¬ 1901 Ave. of the Stars, Los RCAVideoDiscs, 1133 Sixth Ave., ingham Pkwy., Culver City, Calif. Angeles, Calif. 90067 (213-553- MGM/UA Home Video, 1350 New York, N.Y. 10036 (212-930- 90230 (800-421-4509; 213-216- 3600). Sixth Ave., New York, N.Y. 10019 4700). 7900). (212-408-0600). Homevideo Exclusives, 2105 RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Vestron Video, 1011 High Ridge Lakeland Ave., Lakeland, N.Y. Monterey Home Video, 7920 Video, 2901 W. Alameda Ave., Rd., Box 4000, Stamford, Conn. 11779 (telephone n.a.). Alabama Ave., CanogaPark, Calif. Burbank, Calif. 91505 (818-954- 06907 (203-968-0000). Increase Video, 8265 Sunset 91304 (800-423-7455). 4950). Buena Vista Home Video, 500 S. Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90046 New Video Independent Film & RKO Home Video, 15840 Ventura Buena Vista St., Burbank, Calif. (213-654-8808). Video Series, 90 University PI., Blvd. #303, Encino, Calif. 91436 91521 (818-840-1859). Key Video, 1298 Prospect Ave., New York, N.Y. 10003 (212-243- (818-906-1722). Warner Home Video, 4000 War¬ La Jolla, Calif. 92037 (619-459- 0400). Snoopy's Home Video Library, ner Blvd., Burbank, Calif. 91522 0500). NTA Home Entertainment, 12636 5730 Buckingham Pkwy., Culver (818-954-6000). Kultur, c/o Coastal Video Ser¬ Beatrice St., Box 66930, Los City, Calif. 90230; 800-421-4509; vices, 1340 Ocean Ave. #12B, Angeles, Calif. 90066 (213-306- 213-216-7900). Video Yesteryear, Box C, Sandy Sea Bright, N.J. 07760 (201-842- 4040). Spotlite Video, 12636 Beatrice Hook, Conn. 06482 (800-243- 6693). Pacific Arts Video Records, Box St., Box 66930, Los Angeles, 0987). a (ADVERTISEMENT) Consumer Information Series _JBUSi

(Jr8* ■

Vide o Soundtra cks. New paths toward realism, by William P. Schreiber Manager of Home Products Engineering

As you know, the path the sense of three-dimensional realism we sound with spacious realism that can actu¬ toward perfect reproduc¬ get at a Dolby Stereo movie. ally make the listening room seem larger. tion quality is never with¬ Within its two standard soundtracks, the If you watch video movies very often, out obstacles. And if film has surround-signal information which chances are that many of the tapes you you’re like most serious is recovered by a Dolby* cinema proces¬ use are Dolby encoded with surround- hi-fi music lovers and videocassette movie sor. The end result lies with our perception. sound signals. To take advantage of this watchers, you’re always searching for On-screen sound is localized as it should potential, you’ll need to get a surround ways to improve decoder, a second your home enter¬ pair of speakers tainment system. and an amp to drive Your goal is to re¬ them. create the exciting We invite you realism of the origi¬ to audition Bose nal performance. speakers at any Today’s technol- of our authorized t ogy makes it easier dealers. Choose to reach the goal. from a selection of Fidelity is not only five Bose models. higher, it’s also Each is ideal for more accessible. surround-sound For example, hi-fi applications, where J VCRs and prere¬ evenly distributed corded videocas¬ sound is essential. settes make it For more infor¬ possible to “go to the movies” at home. be. And we perceive surround effects not mation on Bose products, and a list of Big Theater Entertainment as distinct sound, but as an off-screen, authorized dealers, please write: Bose But what is it about being in a theater background ambience. Corporation, Dept. VM, 10 Speen Street, that can seem to bring a film to life? What is Surround-Sound Realism at Home Framingham, MA 01701. |l it that makes you feel as if you’re in the How can you achieve the same type of midst of the dramatic action taking place sonic ambience at home? Start by select¬ | on screen? Movie soundtracks and the¬ ing the best speakers, because they are ater acoustics are a big part of the answer. the biggest determinant of fidelity. In a state-of-the-art theater with a Dolby At Bose® we’ve invested 20 years of Stereo* capability, balanced sound research to create unique Direct/ reaches everyone in the audience. The use Reflecting® speakers. Based on the same of three speakers behind the screen and principles that govern sound dispersion in many along the sides and back of the the¬ a large theater or concert hall, Bose sys¬ ater provides uniform sound distribution. tems maintain uniform stereo sound However, it is not speaker placement, but throughout the room. Thus when you, your subtle “surround-sound” effects, projected family, and even a group of friends want to by the side and rear speakers, that explain watch a video movie, Bose speakers will let you enjoy balanced sound from every Covered by patent rights issued and/or pending. © Copyright 1984 Bose Corporation. All rights res seat in the room. And, they will reproduce For additio

The Greatest jStories Q^TjoId Sword Sc Sandal Spies ortQassette ByTomjSoter

n the beginning there was ences away from the theaters, Hollywood The Robe. And The Robe mounted a series of brightly costumed was without shape or stars. adventures, shot in exotic locales in full But Hollywood said, “Let it color and widescreen (The Robe was the have Spectacle and Ro¬ first major Cinemascope production). mans. And let it have These epics usually had a high moral tone, Cinemascope.” And it was which the most successful exploited to the so. And the public said that it fullest, allowing the viewer to experience was good. And lo, Holly¬ sex and adventure vicariously while feeling wood said, “Let there be The Ten Com¬ it was all for a good cause. “You talk about mandments.” And The Ten Com¬ the wages of sin, so you must show sin, ” mandments begat Ben-Hur. And Ben-Hur Jesse Lasky Jr., one of Cecil B. DeMille’s begat El Cid. And Hollywood never screenwriters, once explained. Indeed, rested. For the epics were not always the best epics appealed to morality—but good, but they were extremely profitable. were also good action films in which a vir¬ The Robe was really not the first epic— tuous hero, reluctantly joining a battle, silent films and movies in the ’30s and ’40s overcomes tremendous odds to achieve featured Romans, knights, and assorted some quest-like goal, often involving a swashbucklers—but it was the first of its romance. This was the pattern that most kind, setting a trend that would continue followed, and The Robe set the trend. for a decade. Why did the epic come about? And more important—what is it? A number The Rise and Fall of the Epic of epics are now on tape, offering a good (1) The Robe (1953). Based on a book by opportunity (in this selective and informal doctor-turned-writer Lloyd C. Douglas survey) to answer those questions and (author of Magnificent Obsession), the another one: how well do these wide¬ story delineates the adventures of the Ro¬ screen extravaganzas hold up on tape? man centurion Marcellus (Richard Burton) The epic arose because of television. To who, through Christ’s teachings, changes retaliate against TV’s studio-bound black & from a drunken playboy to a freedom-fight¬ white dramas, which were drawing audi¬ ing Christian. Marcellus romances Diana Myths and legends (clockwise from right): Talos, the bronze golem, in ‘Jason and the Argo¬ nauts’; Taylor and Burton in ‘Cleopatra’; Charlton Heston as ‘Ben Hur ; Heston as Moses in ‘The Ten Commandments’; the Python gang in ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail. ’

Qean Simmons) and has a couple of sword beginning to lose their definition: the reds fortune-cookie factory (“Have the days of fights, but most of the movie deals with are vibrant, the blues are beginning to turn darkness not made you see the light?”), or smiling Christians (who resemble modern- purple, and much of the movie looks (unin¬ the ridiculously arch performances, led by day “moonies”) talking about “His” tentionally) like an El Greco painting. The Charlton Heston as Moses. DeMille had teachings. scanning and panning are equally poor. At seen the actor in Dark City and reportedly Burton scowls throughout most of the one point Burton addresses a soldier off¬ liked the way he waved. Heston does his story, and no wonder: it is heavy on irony screen; a pan begins, but before it is com¬ best, but the weight of the character ulti¬ and predictable soapy music. It is the sort plete a whole exchange has taken place and mately brings him down. His Moses—ini¬ of tale that introduces an eloquent Judas we have seen neither party. Because tially an interesting character tom by love, mournfully talking about how he betrayed director Henry Koster employed many ambition, and duty—finally becomes so Jesus, and offers a nervous Pontius Pilate wide shots to take advantage of Cinema¬ clear-seeing and virtuous as God’s prophet constantly mumbling about how he must scope, there’s also a cropping problem in that he is a prig and a bore, uninterested in wash his hands. Burton and Simmons get many sequences. And Tape I ends abruptly anything but communing with God. And no to walk off into the clouds in the end in a in the middle of a sentence. wonder: Heston did God’s voice too. kind of wonderful martyrdom; the rest of (2) The Ten Commandments (1956). The movie’s fun lies in the first half, a us aren’t so lucky. The Robe was a huge The success of The Robe let loose a torrent sort ofZ>fi//«s-in-Egypt, with the scheming success (it was followed by a sequel, De¬ of Biblical movies and inspired Cecil B. pharaoh’s son (Yul Brynner), sultry sexpot metrius and the Gladiators)—but the Cine¬ DeMille to remake his silent film, The Ten (Anne Baxter), evil overseer (Vincent mascope, costumes, and religious tone Commandments, a huge success showing Price), and traitorous Jew (Edward G. probably had more to do with that than the how Moses freed the Jews. Robinson). For romantic interest, John banal story and dreadful acting. It’s hard to decide what’s funnier in this Derek (later Bo’s husband) plays Joshua, a The transfer does justice to the quality camp classic: the inane dialogue, which headstrong slave in love with Lilia (Debra of the movie. The print is poor, with colors often sounds as if it had been created in a Paget), who is handy with his fists but pretty bad when it comes to delivering the most popular movie of all time. “DeMille’s decreasing steadily until God’s voice lines. movies are barnstormers,” wrote critic sounds like a whisper. There is also dust on The second half of the movie, the ex¬ David Thompson in 1975, “rooted in Victo¬ the print. Luckily, there is little problem odus, is action, action, action. DeMille rian prestige, shamelessly stereotyped with image ratio since DeMille shot in Vis¬ knows his audience: when Moses becomes and sentimental, but eagerly courting 20th ta-Vision, vyhich is closer to the TV- a virtuous party-poop, the special-effects century permissiveness, if only solemnly screen aspect ratio than Cinemascope. boys take over. And Part II never lets up: to condemn it. The movies are simple (3) Ben Hur (1959). The success of The there is the pillar of fire, the plague of ...but...the energy of his imagination sel¬ Ten Commandments led to this film, the death, the burning bush, the staff that dom flags.”. epitome of the epic form, which won 11 turns into a snake, the Nile running red, Nor does his attention to imagery—and Oscars and has been called the “thinking and the famous parting of the Red Sea The Ten Commandments has some strik¬ man’s epic. ” It’s not hard to see why. A (which won the film an Oscar). There is ing visuals. Unfortunately, they suffer remake of a silent film based on a book by also a racy orgy which takes place while tremendously in this transfer. Colors vary Lew Wallace, Ben-Hur is the story of Moses is on Sinai watching God write out friendship betrayed, of revenge sought and the Ten Commandments with a pretty nifty won. It is the story of Judah Ben-Hur finger of flame. (Charlton Heston) and his boyhood friend The Ten Commandments is a wild Messala (Stephen Boyd) who feud over the vaudevillian’s movie with a little bit of ev¬ Romans’ treatment of the Jews and even¬ erything except real characters, and it was tually fight it out to the death in a justly wildly successful, becoming the second continued on page 122 — ■-;—-|—

What's Available

Ben Hur Monty Python and the Holy Grail Edward G. Robinson. 220 min. Beta, VHS. Color. 1959. Charlton Heston. Jack Haw¬ Color. 1975. Eric Idle, Michael Palin, John S84.95./LV (stereo, CX, surround sound). kins. Stephen Boyd. 217 min. Beta. VHS. Cleese. 90 min. Beta. VHS. $59.95..LV. $39.95. Paramount.'219 min. (G) CED. $89.95. 211 min. LV (stereo, CX, surround $29.95. RCACohrmbia. $34.98. RCA. sound). CED. $39.95. MGMUA. Monty Python's Life of Brian The Bible Color. 1979. Eric Idle, Michael Palin, John SOURCES Color. 1966. Michael Parks, Richard Harris. Cleese. 90 min. (R) Beta, VHS. $39.98. CBS/Fox Video, 1211 Sixth Ave.. 2nd floor, Peter O'Toole. 155 min. Beta. VHS. Wamer CED. RCA. New York, N.Y. 10036 (212-819-3200). $79.98. CBS/Fox. The Fall of the Roman Empire MGM/UA Home Video, 1350 Sixth Ave., Camelot Color. 1964. Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd. New York. N.Y. 10019 (212-408-0600). Color. 1967. Richard Harris. Vanessa Red¬ Alec Guinness. 152 min. Beta, VHS. $69.95 grave. David Hemmings. 150 min. Beta. (reissue). VCI. Paramount Home Video, 5451 Marathon VHS. S89.95./LV (stereo, CX). $39.95. Jason and the Argonauts St., Hollywood, Calif. 90038 (213-468- Warner. Color. 1963. Todd Armstrong. Nancy Cleopatra Kovak, Garv Ravmond. 104 min. (G) Beta, RCA VideoDiscs, 1133 Sixth Ave., New Color. 1963. Elizabeth Taylor. Richard VHS. $59.95.,LV. $29.95. RCAColumbia. York, N.Y. 10036 (212-930-4700). Burton. Rex Harrison. 184 min. Beta. VHS CED. $24.98. RCA. RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video, (stereo). $79.98. CED (stereo). $34.98. The Robe 2901 W: Alameda Ave., Burbank, Calif. CBS/Fox. Color. 1953. Richard Burton, Jean Sim¬ 91505 (818-954-4950). El Cid mons. Victor Mature. 133 min. Beta, VHS. VCI Video Communications Home Video. Color. 1961. Charlton Heston. Sophia $79.98. CBS/Fox. 6555E. SkellvDr., Tulsa, Okla. 74145(918- Loren, Raf Vallone. 180 min. Beta, VHS. Samson and Delilah 622-6460). $79.95. VCILV. $39.95. Vestron. Color. 1951. Victor Mature. Hedy Lamarr, Vestron Video, 1011 High Ridge Rd., Box Excalibur George Sanders. 128 min. Beta, VHS. 4000, Stamford. Conn. 06907 (203-968- Color. 1981. Nicol Williamson. Nigel Terry, $49.95 (reissue)., LV. $35.95. Paramount. 0000). Helen Mirren. 140 mm. (R) Beta, VHS. The Ten Commandments Warner Home Video, 4000 Warner Blvd., $59.95. Warner.. CED. RCA Color. 1956. Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Burbank, Calif. 91522 (818-954-6000).

WHAT’S NEW

merica’s videophiles are spoiled rotten— and proud of it. We already have VCRs and disc players and cameras. Some of us OUR m have even sprung for camcorders. And a m few brave souls have taken the plunge SEMIANNUAL into the uncharted waters of 8mm. What’s more, we like our toys. We’re not about to junk them, and if the SURVEY manufacturers want to entice us with some new video trinket—it had better be pretty close to wonderful. OF NEW But look at it from their angle. Dealers don’t stay rich on what they sold us last year. They live by what we buy TRENDS AND today—and in the months to come. And so the perennial game goes on. Tempt us with the new, the improved, the slightly-to-very-much-better version of what we already PRODUCTS have. The great American video dream is always changing. After all, we are spoiled. The video manufacturers have to Teknika, and Toshiba all announced keep dancing as fast as they can if they want us to stay and/or displayed suspiciously similar-look¬ interested. Here’s our review of their very newest num¬ ing prototypical Super Beta decks at about bers—and of what they hope we’ll be dying to take home in the same time. And yes, in every demon¬ stration we saw the picture was remark¬ the months ahead. ably crisp and clear. Unfortunately, avail¬ Look! Up in the Sky! ability information wasn’t. If you’re plan¬ It’s Super Beta, and it’s the most im¬ ning to camp in front of a video store until portant video news of the year. So far. Super Beta arrives, be sure to pack a Sony has proudly announced its latest lunch—in fact, lots of lunches. It was Beta advance—a new improved recording/ “please—no photos” and “sometime in playback method. Super Beta will shift the mid-’85” to all questions of “when, video carrier frequency 800kHz higher, for already?” Price? Something other than a cleaner signal with more usable informa¬ cheap. tion. The result, according to Sony, is a 20 Originally, the video rumor mill gave Su¬ percent gain in picture clarity—300 lines of per Beta an LV-conquering 400 lines of horizontal resolution instead of the 250 resolution. That sharpness level was and is range common to current-generation attainable—but only by sacrificing compati¬ VCRs. Sony engineers also have installed a bility with current Beta decks. Sony made new noise-reduction system and improved the honorable choice by opting for compati¬ emphasis circuitry. Altogether, Super bility—and took some of the wind out of its Beta promises clean video edits with mini¬ own sails in the process. But Super Beta is mal loss of color or detail even at the fourth still a marvel; such an advance that techni¬ generation. cal editor Lance Braithwaite calls it “a for¬ BY RICHARD In recent demonstrations Super Beta did mat enhancement so great that it redefines more than promise—it delivered. Beta the capabilities of half-inch consumer JACCOMA brands Aiwa, NEC, Pioneer, Sanyo, VCRs.” range from 240 to 250). Add the VC-200 ka, and Toshiba will all be selling their camera with Saticon tube (3.3 pounds) and own versions of Betamovie the Third. you have a system in which weight is both But the newest VHS camcorders will light and sensibly distributed. It’s small give son-of-son-of-Betamovie stiff com¬ too—the VR-E10 is only 6-5/16 by 7-3/8 by petition. No more VHSC cassettes—20- 2-3/8 inches. Which leads to the question of minute recording is a thing of the past. whether you’d rather hold four-plus pounds Several VHS companies have announced on your shoulder (as in a camcorder) or they’ll sell the latest Matsushita-built cam¬ divvy up the weight between shoulder and corder: Panasonic (Omnimovie), GE hip, as with the Canon system. Until now, (1CVM6060); Magnavox (VR8290), only Beta and VHS owners could make that and Quasar. The GE version has a low- decision of camcorder versus separates. light (20 lux minimum) Newvicon tube, Choice is what home video is all about, and auto white balance, power zoom with mac¬ 8mm’s recognition of that simple truth au¬ ro focus, auto focus, auto iris, date-time gurs well for its continued life. Maybe— character generator, and electronic view¬ just maybe—8mm will find its niche. (Can¬ finder. Playback is either through the EVF, ovision 8 has a suggested retail price of or directly through a TV without need for $1200 for the recorder-tuner/timer; $1000 any interfacing device. The camcorder for the camera.) weighs just over 7 pounds with battery and Sanyo has introduced its own system of promises 270 lines of resolution. Newest 8mm separates too, the VCR88 recorder/ and best of all, the camcorder uses a full- player. The VCR88 operates on battery size VHS cassette for 2 hours of recording pack, AC, or 12V car battery. It features (with a T-120). 7X forward and reverse scan, still frame, a Whether the new VHS camcorders win Polaroid’s 8mm system ($1650) has a built-in battery recharger, and a 140- any video popularity contests remains to 4.5-1. b. camcorder with CCD image sensor. channel cable-ready tuner. But most im¬ be seen. But win or lose, they score high portant is the fact that it’s a two-speed on plain old common sense, and prove that The rumor mill is still churning—and machine—offering up to three hours of re¬ the VHS pack can analyze the weaknesses credits the VHS camp with either being cording and playing time on an MP-90 of a prior design, junk what works poorly, close or not so close to announcing super cassette. and come up with a better solution. Good decks of its own. The one thing no one says for them. is that the VHS folks aren’t interested in Camcorder Conflict super decks. Finally, duty compels us to Regardless of 8mm’s future, it’s hardly a TVs Great and Small mention (with no assertions as to its credi¬ threat in the present. The camcorder bat¬ Mitsubishi recently unveiled—hauled bility, of course) the particularly paranoid tle still rages primarily between Beta and the tarpaulin off, actually—the largest- rumor that Super Beta is something of a VHS. Now, the Sony empire strikes back tube TV to become available to home ruse—that Sony really plans to transfer its with its “third-generation Betamov- buyers. The 35-inch (diagonal) direct- high-res technology to 8mm, when and if ie.” The BMC-550K uses a CCD solid- view color set is a record-breaker Sony 8mm lands on our shores. state pickup to avoid bum and lag. This in more than tube size—the weight of CCD actually delivers slightly better low its CRT is considerable too—in the 8mm-mmm! light performance too (25 lux min.). The neighborhood of 200 pounds. It won’t There’s lots of activity in the camp of the low power consumption of the CCD chip be available here until next fall. littlest format, and its ranks are swelling— allows for longer field recording—90 min¬ The set provides 80 percent more viewing despite reports that Kodak’s first try is utes on one battery. The BMC-550K also area than a 25-inch set; and the square- less than a resounding success among features infrared autofocus and a reversi¬ comer tube engineered by Mitsubishi de¬ videophiles. ble optical viewfinder which can adjust for livers 170 footlamberts of screen bright¬ Polaroid’s 8mm system and GE’s Uni- either left- or right-eye focusing. It records ness, up to 400 lines of horizontal resolu¬ Cam both retain the camcorder formula¬ up to 200 minutes on one L-830 cassette. tion with a direct video signal, and 330 lines tion. Polaroid’s light weight camcorder Aiwa, NEC, Pioneer, Sanyo, Tekni- from broadcast. At a recent demonstration (4.5 lbs.) uses a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor to overcome bum and lag, problems associated with tubes. Audio uses an FM recording technique which de¬ livers a 30Hz-15kHz frequency response (-3dB). The recorder plugs into a cradle for playback. Suggested retail for the Polaroid system is $1650. Polaroid is offering its own metal-particle (MP) 8mm cassettes. And TDK has developed a new high-densi¬ ty MP tape, too, Super Finavinx P6- 90MP, especially formulated to help squeeze higher performance out of 8mm systems. But the big news for the little format is that manufacturers are trying new com¬ binations. Canon’s Canovision 8 system looks like three-piece half-inch portable systems—only more portable. The VR- E10 recorder weighs in at 3.2 pounds, and the VT-E10 tuner/timer at 4.2 pounds. Recorder horizontal resolution is listed as more than 230 lines (half-inch formats 72 Video the picture was marvelously clear and bright—certainly superior to many projec¬ tion TVs of comparable size. But Lord—if a picture tube of that size got tossed out of the window at a rowdy party, we wouldn’t want to be strolling in the neighborhood of the implosion. Suggested retail price will be $3000 to $3500. Plain decent-quality low-cost TVs have been flooding stores for some time now, and manufacturers seem to assume we have all the no-frills color sets we want. The major new TVs are bigger, or smaller, or loaded with bells and whistles. High im¬ age resolution and built-in stereo/SAP readiness are the names of the game. Toshiba’s CZ-2685 is an FST (flat¬ test, squarest tube) TV, newest and big¬ gest in the Video Logic Series. It has built-in stereo/SAP capability, direct com¬ puter input, COMPUT-R-TUNE 139- features a cable-ready tuner, stereo/SAP be used as a video monitor. channel tuner, a 180-minute switch-off decoder, separate inputs for regular and Some people will buy most anything—a timer, and on-screen time and channel dis¬ premium cable channels, (with remote statue of Venus DeMilo with a clock in her play. The set is designed to integrate with control for the former), and a comb filter. belly, for example. It should therefore This set looks like a real winner, and it’s come as no surprise if Quasar’s AP been a long time coming. Watch these 1495YH becomes a big hit. Being touted pages for more about it—much more. as a “five in one, ” this model is a combina¬ Sony’s KV-20XBR and 25XBR in¬ tion telephone, B&W TV, and AM/FM corporate an improved microblack Trini¬ clock radio—all of which can be made to tron tube, which provides higher resolution add up to five. It’s the perfect answer to and contrast. Both sets have built in stereo your most boring phone calls—the TV to decoders and cable tuner, and both come distract you, the clock/radio to wake you with detachable speakers. Suggested retail when they’re over. (Suggested list price prices are $899.95 and $1199.95. for the AP1495YH is $179.95.) Sony also has been demonstrating TVs of the further future—multi-scan monitors Of VCRs and VCPs using a special outboard digital scan con¬ As we said above, the major VCR news verter to effectively double NTSC scan¬ —Super Beta—is actually a high-tech de¬ ning lines—from 525 to 1050—by digitally velopment announced, but still relatively calculating the lines between existing far from our homes. It is also a develop¬ ones. The resulting apparent high-res ment that undoubtedly will mean still gives a bright flicker-free picture. Sanyo’s AVM260 25-inch monitor-re¬ Sony’s KV-20XBR ($899, TV only) ceiver has a 400-line picture and a stereo has built-in stereo decoding. amp capable of decoding MTS/SAP audio. It also features “solar tune” circuitry, which automatically adjusts brightness and contrast levels as room light changes. Price is $849.95. Down at the other end of the telescope, Casio has a number of new products for those who don’t believe bigger is better. Its TV-1000 is a 2.6-inch color LCD TV Sony’s KV-25XBR ($1199.95) has a mi¬ measuring 6-3/8 by 3-1/4 by 1-3/4 inches. croblack tube and detachable speakers. It’s perfect for traffic jams, crowded buses, required math classes—the mind boggles Toshiba’s A/V System—itself another en¬ at all the potential modem applications for try in the super-system game also being this pocketable color set. Price is $299.95, played by such manufacturers as Jensen, and picture quality is neither better nor JVC, Fisher, Mitsubishi, Proton, and worse than you’d expect from a set this Sansui—and of course by RCA. size. Casio has also displayed a 6-inch flat- (Dimensia is still far and away the leader screen color set—a prototype for a 12-inch of the pack in full system integration, and wall-hanging model it promises to bring out probably will be until someone designs a by the end of the year. way around all the system-integration pro¬ Magnavox has its own tinyvision too. cess patents RCA owns). The heart of the Its Escort models all have flat-display pic¬ Toshiba system is an A/V controller that ture tubes. Two are 2-inch B&W TVs that permits much mix-and-match switching work on AC, batteries, or battery packs between components. Suggested list price (BF 3900—$160; BF 3901—$220). The for the 2685 is $1399. 3901 also has an AM/FM stereo decoder NAD’s MR20 monitor/receiver is a built in. A 4-inch Escort (BF3904) has a high-performance high-resolution TV. It tilted screen and an A/V connector so it can Sanyo’s VCR 88 8mm system has 140-channel tuning capability and offers 3-hour recording. another round of format warfare and rival Overheard at a GoldStar press con¬ (VCP)—play-only decks—is definitely system upgradings for the months and ference: a sales exec assuring wholesalers upon us too. As if to add insult to injury, years ahead. But let us not forget that that when prices are cut on the new VCRs, GoldStar already has one. Its VCP VHS Hi-Fi isn’t exactly ancient history they’ll be “price protected” through some 4000M is listed at $349.95. yet. There is lots of room to explore, fine sort of rebate program. The operative Quasar is a well-established brand tune, and generally improve the format. word was “when, ” not “if. ” The same exec —its announcement of a VCP, the | Among the most interesting VHS Hi-Fi said GoldStar would have VHS Hi-Fi decks VH5050, gives the stamp of legitimacy to j entries is the Mitsubishi HS410. It won’t here by the summer. Hmmmm, disposable the onslaught of the nonrecording decks. be available until next winter at the ear¬ VHS Hi-Fi—now that might be worth wait¬ Quasar has further legitimized its newly '■ liest, but it’s being planned as a new-gen- ing for. released VCP—price is slated for the eration of the 400UR. Like its predeces¬ The age of the videocassette player continued on page 126 1 sor, it will feature a built in MTS/SAP re¬ ceiver which automatically senses—and switches to—stereo broadcast signal whenever it is present, one-touch recording; and a 30-minute timer-backup power supply to protect programmed set¬ tings against accidental unit power loss. But the HS410 will utilize four video heads instead of two, for improved performance. TEAC, of reel-to-reel and audio-cas¬ sette fame, has entered the fray with a VHS Hi-Fi deck. The MV-1000 is a solid first Hi-Fi venture. It doesn’t have any new or unusual bells and whistles—but it doesn’t leave off any of those we’d expect either. TEAC is also fielding a companion LV deck, the LaserMate LV-1000, and an LV/CD combo deck, the LV-5000 DS —though Pioneer did the latter first. (Suggested list prices are: MV-1000, $1400; LV-1000, $800; LV-5000DS, to be announced.) But perhaps the most intriguing and irtf- portant VCR news for the here and now is actually a series of tow-tech developments. As long expected, several Korean and Taiwanese manufacturers—Gold Star, Samsung, and Sampo among them— have introduced low-priced VCRs. Sam- po’s new front-loading VR 9500 is listed at $419.95. Gold Star’s 2-head GMV-41FM is tagged at $399.95. Sam- sung’sVT-210T is priced to compete. If those don’t sound like a bunch of wildly great buys, just wait. The Korean com¬ panies are still stinging from recent charges that they “dumped” color TVs (sold them at unfairly low prices to gobble up a piece of the U.S. market). Remember that the prices quoted above are list prices and never—repeat, never—pay them. Korean VHS VCRs enter the low-budget home-video fray (from top): Gold Star GMV- Shop the sales. Soon the age of the dispos¬ 41FM ($399.95); Sampo VR 9500 ($419.95); Samsung VT-210T ($399). able VCR may be upon us. 74 Video COLLECTOR EDITIONS RELEASED BY MAJOR HOLLYWOOD STUDIO! !§" |l ^ ft 2 . - Z\?y. ms» K?0 RKO homevideo * ff ft S3 ft , A***—-. S || JUDYGARLANDIN CONCERT I? zl

VOLUME TWO

Now you

For additi i Reader Servic King of Video presents ENCHANTED MUSICAL PLAYHOUSE A Nightstar/Centerpoint production co-executive produced by Jim Rich, Jr., and Jimmy Osmond _ Marie Osmond__

“The Velveteen Rabbit,” starring Marie Osmond, is the story of a young boy and his love for a special gift. This is the first in a series of children’s stories to be aired on the Disney Channel and available simultaneously on cassettes from King of Video and laser discs from Image Entertainment. KINGgVIDEO Created, written and produced by Jeff Sherman, with music and lyrics by The Sherman Brothers. (Writers and producers of children’s music from such popular Disney hits as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Jungle Book)

“The Velveteer promises to This half-hour | with colorful I of all ages.

AVAILABLE ON VHS & BETA for ONLY KINGo/VIDEI

£ deck.Forthe record,therearethree ■§ almostevery consumeraudio-cassette o noise-reduction circuitsfoundbuiltinto preceding page by Peter people knowthenameDolby fromthe what Dolbyis,andhowitworks. Most What's inaName? ware. Curious?We’lltellyouhow. room withoutinvestingincostly newhard¬ by’s magnificenteffectinyourownliving in motion-picturesoundalmost50years. front tobackwithastoundingrealism.Its that itispossibletoalmostduplicateDol¬ tations, however,youmaynotbeaware Despite itspopularityintheatricalpresen¬ debut markedthefirstwidespreadchange Dolby Stereohasbeeninstalled,thesound today—is heretostay.Intheaterswhere virtually every“major”filmreleased surrounds theaudience,sweepingfrom Movie technologycomesandgoes, First, though,youshouldknow just but DolbyStereo—thedimen¬ sional soundtechniqueusedin SOIJNl) to improvemoviesoundwas usefilm results. effect thatproducesthemost dramatic adds athird,distinctaudiochannel, the movie audiences.ButDolbyStereoalso like equalizationorsound“tuning”andbass improvement techniques.Someofthese, a collectionofspecialrecordingandsound- by noise-reductiontechniques,itisactually name andwhofoundedDolbyLabs. ing upinsomenewstereogear.Thereis types ofDolbynoisereduction:A(used in professionalrecordingstudios),B,and striped withamagnetic(instead of thecon- “surround” track,tothemix,and itisthis enhancement, arealmosttransparentto dio engineerwhoseinventioncarrieshis also Dolbytheperson:RayDolby,au¬ C. Thelastisthemostrecenttype,show¬ BY VIM ONOSKO During the1950sand’60s,only way While DolbycinemasoundemploysDol¬ Dolby, yousee, alsousesphaseencoding by Tate,etal.—lives oninDolbyStereo. But withslightvariation, SQ—asimproved tional channelswerecomparatively crude. electronic circuitsthatdecoded theaddi¬ required extracareinproduction, aridthe course, diedaswiftdeath.Quad records two-channel stereorecord.Quad soundsof two morechannelsofsoundin a standard known as“phaseencoding”tried to“bury” the SQtechnique,whichbyaprocess livering quadsoundtotheconsumerwas hoo ofquadraphonicsoundintheearly theater sound. by re-thoughtfour-channelsound,the an impracticalscheme,atbest.WhenDol¬ originate anewstandardformultichannel sponse oftheopticalsoundtracksandto company soughtbothtoimprovethere¬ sive andweresubjecttoquickwear.Itwas 1970s. Themostpopularmethodofde¬ ic tracksmadeprintsextremelyexpen-, ventional optical)soundtrack.Butmagnet¬ Flash back,foramoment,tothebally¬ £ to hide its rear surround channel. SQ’s speaker arrangement is different— gram exactly as it is shown. Pay special the results were unmistakable. attention to the polarity of the speakers by Going Through Channels Since then several consumer rear-chan¬ making certain that terminals marked “ + ” Dolby 35mm movie soundtracks contain nel decoders have appeared. Fosgate sells and are connected correctly at the two channels, which the company calls one, as does Pioneer Video and Surround amplifier and to each speaker in the back. If “left total” and “right total.” From these Sound Inc. These decoders sell for be¬ speakers are unmarked and, instead, you come two other channels: “center” (behind tween $250 and $500. Genuine Dolby have plug-type connections, it is safe to the movie screen) and “surround.” The equipment, sold only to theaters, costs assume that the inside connector (or wire) center channel is the sum of the left and from $5500 to $20,000. is the “ + ” lead, and the ouside (or shield) right tracks. It’s what you’d hear if the But you can also get a kind of “con¬ is the “ - ” lead. movie were presented in mono instead of sumer” version of the Dolby effect for just Connect your standard stereo speakers stereo. Surround is the difference between a few dollars worth of wire and connectors. in the ordinary way to your amplifier or the two. Because of an effect known as Here’s how: stereo receiver. Connect the “ + ” (or “phase cancellation, ” you won’t hear much “hot”) leads of the second set of speakers of the surround track in a monophonic play¬ Getting Wired to the same terminals as the hot leads of back. It is, for all intents and purposes, Back in the early 70s, Dynaco, a then- the first set. But instead of connecting the truly buried in the stereo mix. Much sur¬ famous maker of hi-fi components, pro¬ two “ - ” (or “ground”) leads back at the round information is also canceled in the air moted a scheme to decode the phase- amplifier, connect them to each other. If when the Dolby track is played in two-track encoded information in SQ quadraphonic you have two sets of connectors on the stereo. In theaters, special circuitry— sound. It was, in fact, outlined in a pam¬ amplifier (for “A” and “B” speakers) you greatly improved since the old days of quad phlet packaged with a quad recording of might want to connect the front channel to sound—decodes the rear-surround chan¬ The Flame, produced by Beach Boy Carl A and the rear channel speakers to B. The nel so that it is almost completely free of Wilson. This Dynaco circuit is shown in diagram also shows an optional eight-ohm sound information, like dialogue, meant Figure 1. As you can see, it requires only resistor (which returns the correct speak¬ strictly for the front channels. the addition of an extra set of speakers—if er impedance to this rather unorthodox Since the beginning of stereo home you have them—and no additional amplifi¬ connection) and a potentiometer to control video, which began with two-channel cation. (Of course, you’ll also need a stereo the volume of the back speakers. Make LaserVision videodiscs, most movies re¬ videocassette recorder or disc player.) sure the left and right connections from the corded in Dolby Stereo have been trans¬ Note that the sound coming from both back disc player or tape deck are correct. ferred from film to video with the two origi¬ speakers is the same in all the systems An alternative (and a preferable one) is nal Dolby soundtracks, left total and right mentioned except the Tate/Fosgate. If you to use a second amplifier, which will give total, intact. Some experimenters discov¬ want the effect of the fourth Dolby channel, you more control over the back-channel ered this years ago when they played the Center, simply turn up the speaker on sound. This way you can adjust the tonal their early stereo LV discs through SQ your TV. quality and loudness of the surround decoders. Though it didn’t sound right— Be extremely careful to follow the dia¬ continued on page 131

j ovie theaters have long reigned instrumental music composed and pro¬ M duced by Moroder, plus songs by pop as the grand purveyors of visual entertainment. With the latest in artists like Adam Ant, Billy Squier, Pat deluxe features such as enor¬ Benatar, and Freddie Mercury. In the mous screens, large P.A. systems, com¬ theater, the film is a stirring juxtaposition fortable seats, and air conditioning, it of early film techniques and state-of-the- wasn’t hard for exhibitors to lure patrons art music. However, on videocassette, it into the fantasy world of the silver screen. seems likely that Metropolis will become But now, home video has seriously the ultimate music video—a visually excit¬ jeopardized this role—the home-video for¬ ing movie that can stand up to repeated mats have won a decisive victory over the plays, coupled with a high-end audio sound¬ movie theater in an equally crucial area: track that takes advantage of the dynamic sound. Pioneer’s new LV/CD player, and range offered by high-fidelity video to an only slightly lesser extent Beta and formats. VHS Hi-Fi, provide stiff competition for The “Hi-Fi” tapes on the market are even the finest moviehouse audio. And DIGITAL indeed a marked improvement over stan¬ with a new breed of digitally recorded dard mono or stereo video sound. movies on the way, it now seems that However, in audio at least, “digital” those who really want to “hear” these re¬ FILM TRACKS doesn’t always mean “pure digital. ” Com¬ leases will have to do their first-run listen¬ pact Discs may be promoted as the only ing (and viewing) at home. commercial digital playback records, but WILL SOUND often the CD digital mastering process is New Metropolis not enough to repent for the audio sins One of those leading the digital trend in committed in the original analog recording. Hollywood is producer/composer Giorgio BETTER Keep in mind that tricky question of the Moroder, who works the recording-studio source material sold on a “digital” Compact control room like a high-tech maestro. His Disc. Naturally, if you want to hear Furt- Los Angeles studio is filled with enough ATHOME wangler or Toscanini on CD, what you’ll be computer processing and recording equip¬ hearing is an analog recording pressed in a ment to create and preserve any kind of digital format—not a production that is all- sound—with a heavy emphasis on the digital, from recording to mastering to latest in digital audio equipment. choice of playback format. The same goes Moroder is a musician and composer for Beta and VHS Hi-Fi. Though they who thinks with his eyes as well as his ears. claim specs for wide dynamic range Though he is regarded as one of the found¬ (80dB), as do CDs (an astounding llOdB), ers of the disco beat and credited for dis¬ they can’t do their true stuff unless the covering Donna Summer, he is probably source material is of the highest grade. In best-known for his soundtracks to Mid¬ fact, in video, the opposite is usually the night Express and Flashdance, for which he case; video sound is usually slapped won two Academy Awards. His traditional together with audio tracks that had origi¬ medium isn’t video—like many of today’s nally been geared for monophonic broad¬ MTV-oriented artists, Moroder’s milieu is cast television or VCR release. strictly film. However, you can’t make “Somebody had to start doing purely movies these days without editing sound¬ digital recordings,” Moroder said in a re¬ tracks to video workprints. And you cer¬ cent interview. “I don’t think it’s fair to tell tainly can’t finance a motion picture without the audience it’s a digital recording if the full evaluation of both theatrical and home- original is analog and only transferred to video release. digital.” Things are about to change, Home video will undoubtedly be the though—largely due to the home-video in¬ medium by which most will be exposed to dustry’s growing influence on motion-pic¬ Moroder’s most recent project—his musi¬ BYMARTIN ture profits. Several other leading Holly¬ cal interpretation of the original Fritz Lang wood producers and directors are now film classic Metropolis, which opened to preparing their film epics with blow-away wide box-office acclaim last summer. The PORTER sound quality—with a not-so-distant eye new soundtrack to this silent film contains continued on page 132 p\ease i

\ THE ART THE CHIP One Pixel is Wwth 1000 W>rds

In the 20 years artists have ex- movement is its uniting of artists, who tradi¬ ! perimented with computers, simple im- tionally have shunned machines, and tech¬ j ages have given way to geometric pat- nicians, who are discovering their own kind of I. terns and then burst out in all direc¬ artistry. Though computer art began in the in¬ tions at once. Computer-generated art can dustrial world, graphics systems now are be¬ range from staggeringly accurate photographic ing developed for their own sake, for use in realism, to surrealism, to colorful extensions graphic arts, TV, and movies. Most computer of the visual imagination that extrapolate im¬ images are “applied art”—meaning they are of ages from reality in a way that is at once commercial value. But that makes them no radical and recognizably electronic—and im¬ less attractive or appealing. Here is a gallery possible to originate in any other medium. An of the best new computer graphics from the “electronic look” is emerging. But perhaps the most inventive labs and studios. greatest influence of the computer-graphics —Tim Onosko

and colors are the only concrete elements in much computer-generated art —they become so vivid that they create a purely abstract realism of their own, as in 'Ray Tracing Spheres with Vases' on the preceding page. Yup, that’s a purple sphere, all right! (‘Ray Tracing: Shaun Ho & Michael Collery, Technical Directors; hardware, Marc Howard.) The remainder of these land!space/cavescapes are by Melvin L. Prueitt of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the spaces they show exist only in the artist's mind. \_A lockwise from right: Alva Ray Smith used particle systems to realize this complex photorealistic 31) background set for Lucasfilm in ‘The Adventures of Andre & Wally B. ’ Los Alamos' Prueitt goes purple. Romantic skyline by John Ridgeway/Geni graphics. Down the road into futurism with Herman Towles/ Computer Creations. Through the computer into the 'Future' via Larry T. McCoy/ Creative Technologies. And we wind up back where we started—sort of—with more purple spheres, or at least the word ‘Spheres' on a purple background, by Stan Cohen & Todd Rodgers/ Intelligent Light.

NEW ANGLES ON ULTRALIGHT SHOOTING by Norm Bendelt

Through the Lens, Lightly

n The Dark Crystal an elf wakes up cameras had to be fixed in space on a tri¬ design were to make “electronic news- j I staring into a witch’s hand-held pod. They were little more than static pic¬ gathering” (ENG) cameras as light and re- j eyeball. The witch turns her scrutiniz¬ ture frames on the world. The screen be¬ sponsive as 16mm cameras, which meant a ing eye first in one direction, then in came a stage on which the action took shoulder-resting up-against-the-head the other before placing it back in its place. Movies, early television, and even camera. But with video the cameraman can i socket. That mobile eye is exactly what we newsreels felt like spatially compressed now focus and compose away from the expect of today’s film and video cameras. plays. That’s the way cameramen thought lens. The camera can be an extension of 1 As camera equipment changes, so do about the medium because that was what the hand and imagination, instead of the j the ways it can see, and the ways we can the medium could do most easily. In the head and eye. observe through a camera. The newest mid-1960s a lightweight 16mm documen¬ The latest offerings in ultra-small con- j video cameras are potentially as tary camera—which could be held on the sumer cameras and camcorders are | disembodied—and as magical—as the eye shoulder, focused through the lens, and in unique. They have no equivalents in pro- j of the witch. JVC’s VideoMovie, the RCA effect become part of the eye and head of fessional gear. They put techniques within “Small Wonder" camera, and other feats of the cameraman—revolutionized the look the grasp of the average home shooter that ] ultra-miniaturization are creating a new of film. The camera could go places, can only be replicated professionally using j home-video vocabulary. abruptly change angle and perspective, and highly specialized equipment. Maybe the ; reveal a new reality to the audience. next chapter in video aesthetics will I In the Beginning In a film camera the eye must be close to emerge from the home ranks. The technology of film and video has the lens because all the viewing and focus¬ The mini-camera is casual, no big deal to always affected the way people see ing is done through an optical system. For a carry around. You can take it backpacking through cameras. This is particularly true long time breakthroughs in video-camera or hang-gliding, or bring it along to a gallery in documentaries (including home video), opening or party. A camcorder like the where the object is to capture reality. In Betamovie or VideoMovie is good for j the beginning, unwieldy motion-picture By John Bishop catching impressions of ongoing life in SB Video I attached the camera to a broom handle, which allowed me to sweep it around at floor level.

much the way people use 35mm still that I could hold it steady for long periods out. I’ve tried the same with a video cameras. I’ve always wanted to shoot mov¬ with my arm alone. With no cable and camera, with poor results. Framing goes ing images on the street the way Henry dangling VCR, I could make radical moves uncontrolled, and the horizon invariably Cartier-Bresson does with stills, but even quickly and easily. The electronic viewfind¬ crosses the screen at an odd angle. But super-8 was too expensive. The camcord¬ er was bright enough to frame and focus with the detached viewfinder to my eye, I er, like the 35mm camera, can always be with my eye two feet from the eyepiece, could raise the VideoMovie above my head there, always ready when you notice permitting me to hold the camera in my lap and make impeccably composed and fo¬ something, but not overwhelming to carry. or out to the side and still see what was cused shots. There is no risk in trying something off- being recorded. I also tried holding the camera with a the-wall in video because you can always The electronic viewfinder is detachable, relaxed, dropped arm, so I could follow a record over the tape. Half the fun is seeing so I patched an extension cable between person’s feet as he walked. It is a dramatic what you can make the camera do. So you the camera and viewfinder, which enabled angle, with the ground moving over the can hold it like a microphone or turn it me to keep my eye on the image no matter screen and the feet relentlessly coming around and use it as a mirror. You can pass how or where I held the camera. This in¬ toward the camera. With the viewfinder to it around a group of people the way mi¬ creased flexibility enormously; the camera my eye I could make this shot work per¬ crophones are handed through church head was spatially and psychologically sep¬ fectly, though it would be impossible if my when people witness. arated from the seeing and thinking head. eye had to be up against the camera. In the macro mode, a small camera feels (The particular plug and socket are used on For candid video you can face away from like a recording magnifying glass as it ca¬ several brands of camera, but are not what you want to shoot, hold the viewfind¬ resses flowers or examines details of a readily available as a spare part. JVC said it er to your eye, and point the camera in a painting. By moving in ways that our eyes will not make a viewfinder extension cable completely different direction. Having a cannot, it shows us new worlds in familiar unless there is a demand for them, and so camera staring at them often makes people things. It can reach high or low, out the far only VIDEO’S Roderick Woodcock and uneasy and alters their behavior, but this window or around the comer. It can shoot I have made such an inquiry.) unobtrusive technique does not signal to from inside the fishbowl. The new camera The advantage of having the viewfinder people that they are on the air. Con¬ is a playful and inquisitive eye—an eye that and camera separate is that you can put the sequently you have the potential to capture isn’t afraid to see the world turned upside- camera in places where you cannot put more subtle and delicate moments. down. your head. The “Hail Mary, ” for example, was invented by press photographers who Big Small Wonders Making VideoMovies had to get a shot even when their view was RCA’s CKC-020 “Small Wonder” The first thing I found about VideoMov- obscured by a crowd of people. They camera is a solid-state MOS model. The ie was that it was too small to rest on my would hold the camera over their heads, lens is the heaviest and most bulky part, shoulder without a pad or extension base. squeeze off a few frames, and say a “Hail but the unit as a whole is so compact that it However, it was so light and well-balanced Mary, ” hoping that the picture would come feels like an extension of your hand.

The kids handled the camera as if it were a reporter's microphone, pointing, probing, exploring. Although the viewfinder is easily removed cause all that intruded was a small camera, overhead shot. This could be fixed by a from the camera, doing so leaves an ex¬ not a full-size cameraman. You can move in remote pivoting head on the broom handle, posed hole in the camera case. Further¬ really close in tight spaces—for example, but RCA wanted its camera back, and my more, I didn’t have the materials to make right over a violinist’s shoulder so the experiments came to an end (for the mo¬ an extension cord. So I attached a battery camera is only inches from the bridge. To ment). operated monitor to the video output of the do this with a conventional camera would I had just invented a handheld version of VCR for my remote viewfinder. (The JVC crowd the musician, both physically and by the “Loomis crane,” a device that has put TM-P3U miniature three-inch color moni¬ intruding on psychological space. crane shots back in Hollywood movies. In tor is excellent for this purpose.) The kids got tired of fighting and took the past, to get a high angle shot where the I discovered that holding the CKC-020 over the camera. They tilted it so they camera starts on the ground and then out the window (or sunroof) of a car pro¬ came out upside down and sideways. They swings up to a high vantage point (lots of duced some of the best-composed, steadi¬ moved in for macro closeups of lips and those shots appear in Errol Flynn movies), est, and most easily accomplished moving- eyes, and generally created a tight video a crane that could hold the camera, vehicle shots I had ever made (and I love reality of themselves. They handled the cameraman, director, and maybe an assis¬ making those shots). The key element was camera as if it were an investigative report¬ tant had to be used. But the lightweight having the remote viewing screen. I sat er’s microphone, pointing, probing, ex¬ Loomis crane raises only the video- back in the seat, put my arm out the win¬ ploring. The camera alone was inserted assisted camera. The crane operator, dow, and had complete control of what I into the scene, not a person plus camera. focus puller, and director watch on a re¬ was shooting. With a heavier camera and In fact, the child holding the camera often mote video viewfinder. But the Loomis no remote viewer, you have to hang out turned it on himself when he wanted to crane has to hold a 40-pound camera, and the window with the camera, put your eye speak. The camera was being treated as an thus requires a heavy stand and counter¬ to the viewfinder, and try to hold steady. autonomous perceiver, not as an extension weights. My broom-handle camera The feeling that the camera is an exten¬ of the operator. weighed next to nothing. There is no pro¬ sion of the hand is enhanced by its light¬ fessional equivalent in film or video. ness. There is no strain holding it above Eye on a Stick Emboldened by my success (and imagin¬ your head or out to the side. I tried some If you can handle a camera like a hand¬ ing enormous future royalties), I next tried bird’s-eye shots of children wrestling on held mic, then you probably can handle it a handheld version of Garrett Brown’s lat¬ the living-room floor by holding the camera like a room mic. With plenty of gaffer’s est invention, the Skycam, a remote- as high up as I could and pointing it down. (I tape, I attached the camera to a broom controlled camera that swoops around on a composed and focused on a large console handle, which allowed me to stand up com¬ set of cables and was used extensively TV.) After a bit, I lowered the camera from fortably and sweep the camera around at covering the 1984 Olympics. My modest the overhead position to ground level in floor level or drive a riding lawnmower and variant treats the camera as a marionette. I one smooth move. The feeling on the simultaneously hold the camera inches made an X of two strips of wood, each 18 screen is of spatial freedom and unpredict¬ from the front tire. These are dramatic inches long, and mounted an old camera in able fluidity of movement. The big advan¬ point-of-view shots. By changing the angle the center. A wire was attached to each of tage of a shoulder-held camera is that it at which the camera met the pole, the the four ends of the X and attached to the frees you to move around the room in any broom gave me greater reach above my corresponding point on an identical X which direction. The hand camera affords a sim¬ head. Bird’s-eye views 12 feet off the I held in my hand. The camera hung from ilar freedom in the vertical plane. ground became routine. The boom camera these four wires and I could move it over With the lens set at maximum wide angle peered around comers, over hedges, and the ground by moving my arm. The X and close focus, I moved it in and around within inches of a hornets’ nest. allowed me to fly it over the ground. Tip¬ the squirming kids. Some angles worked, Having the camera fixed to the pole at a ping up my hand brought up the camera others did not; but they were all different, constant angle was limiting. For example, nose; tilting to the side banked the camera. more engaging and intimate than what I had it was theoretically possible but difficult to It gave me a whole new perspective on my been used to seeing. In part this was be¬ swing from a ground-hugging shot to a high son’s electric train. a

■ or candid video, hold the viewfinder and point the camera in a completely different direction. Don’t miss the spectacular May issue of VIDEO. Our programming special gives you the most comprehensive lineup ever—complete coverage of the vast, exciting world of prerecorded tapes and disks, including all the latest releases for April, May, and June.

• The Hot 100 Tapes • Exclusive Clint Eastwood Interview • The Truth About Excerise Tapes • The Where and Why of Tape Prices • Is Rock Video too Violent? • Special Expanded Program Section...and MORE.

Take the VIDEO Challenge The Worlds Hardest Video Trivia Quiz

• First Prize—A Super System: Complete, state-of-the-art audio/video package worth over $5000. • Three Second Prizes—Top-quality video cameras. • Five Third Prizes—A selection of 20 hot Sony '45s. • Fifty Fourth Prizes—1-year subscriptions to VIDEO. • One Hundred Fifth Prizes—VIDEO T-shirts.

The May VIDEO—all you need to know about programming, and all these great prizes too. You can’t afford to miss it. VIDEO, May ’85—on sale April 18th. April 1985

Sansui SV-R9900HF VHS Hi-Fi VCR

Canon VR-E10 Portable 8mm VCR

Canon VC-200A Color Camera

Bib VE-39 VHS Video Alarm

Sonsui VHS Hi-Fi VCR

Sansui is an old and which is quite similar to the Zenith VR6000 is all black. Its looks are not marred by the respected audio (reviewed June 1984) in performance discreet gold lettering of the logo and j manufacturer though not appearance, and of course legends. Only one control stands out: the which joined the JVC’s own Hi-Fi VCR. In addition to its red Record button. However, the Power video revolution Hi-Fi capability it offers a mono TV tuner button’s legend is printed in orange, and about a year ago and simulcast recording capability, so you Eject in blue. The one-touch-record button with the introduc¬ may use one of the external BTSC receiv¬ has a red dash on it. The VCR weighs just I tion of the SV- ers to capture BTSC broadcasts. There 20.7 pounds and is 4-3/16 inches high by j R9000 VCR, reviewed in July 1984. It also are the usual manual and automatic audio 17-1/8 wide by 14-15/16 deep. offers a PCM (pulse code modulation) level controls, and two sets of audio out¬ At the left side is a column of five buttons j adapter (PC-X1, September 1984) that puts so that you may leave the Hi-Fi output with a moderate-size power button at the I records audio in digital form on the permanently connected to a stereo sys¬ top. Below it are three smaller buttons for video tracks of a VCR. Sansui’s current tem. Its linear stereo tracks offer switch- timer On/Off, SP/EP record-speed select, VCR is made to its specifications by JVC able Dolby noise reduction, and you may and Video/TV switching. At the bottom is I and the company expects to have its own audio dub new sound onto those tracks the moderate-size Eject button. Like most manufacturing facility shortly. In the mean¬ without affecting the Hi-Fi tracks. Video JVC-built machines it does not record at j time, Hi-Fi VCRs have been introduced, insert is also possible; however, when you the LP speed, though it plays tapes re- j and in this business you either keep up or replace the picture you always replace corded at that speed. It also uses the EP get out. So instead of waiting until its plant the Hi-Fi tracks at the same time, though (extended play) designation instead of the> j goes on line, Sansui chose to keep up by you may preserve the original sound on the more common SLP (super long play). Play- I introducing a Hi-Fi VCR made by JVC. The linear tracks. These features are well- speed selection is automatic. Next to the ] way we read that is that Sansui plans on chosen and give the video hobbyist a wide Timer button is the indicator for Dolby NR staying in video for the long haul and range of features for creating home videos. in operation; next to the record-speed j doesn’t want to fall behind the competition. Description. The SV-R9900HF is a selector are indicators for SP and EP, and ] Its new Hi-Fi VCR is the SV-R9900HF, handsome high-tech-looking machine that next to the Video/TV button is its in- J 92 Video Send One of These+$5.95 and We’ll Fill in the Blank.

lere’s the deal . . . Choose the movie you would like to add to your collection from the selection above. Then send us >5.95, plus a standard factory sealed, brand name (we reserve the right to refuse any tape deemed tot suitable from quality reproduction) VHS T-120, or Beta L-500, blank video cassette. Your movie vill be professionally recorded on one of our own high quality cassettes, equal to or better than rour brand and will come packaged in an attractive plastic storage case. We will also include at no :xtra cost, previews of other movies and programs available at affordable prices, f you prefer not to send us a tape, send us an additional $4.95 and we will supply the tape.

. KINGSTREET'S WAR - COTTER — Color, 1971 THE PROUD & THE DAMNED UFO — TOP SECRET — MUTINY — Color, 1952 »r, 1972 Modern western drama — Color, 1970 Color, 1979 War of 1812 Action with lotion in the wilds of with Don Murray Explosive western action Archeological evidence of Mark Stevens trica stars John Saxon stars Chuck Connors UFO’s is explored. ROADTO NASHVILLE

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Directed by Don Washburn

Produced by Producec ne down screen to expose y< Peter Li jits. Use with camera and easel.

Mounts next to Hybrid or on 6' Zipstick Zips effects to any position on the screen. Horizontal and Vertical Will manually converge wipes to H Translucency Controls bright¬ shape spotlights. ness of all areas outside the spotlight, from very bright, to Auto/Manual Switches select deep gray. Auto/Manual operation of wipes. Fade Picture fades/in to a Spot- A/B Switch Operates Hybrid light or fades/out to soft gray. A/B Switch.

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(4) Bouncing Ball A tiny bright ball, pn electronic pointer. How it works: Zipstick zooms ball pround screen as you point out details. Usually used with VCR in freeze frame j>r live with camera.

Al B Switch Methods Compared Most video f Note To Our Customers: A/B switch. And you switch source A to B by a method You’re The World’s Most Important Person There were mown as a “crash/switch” - an appropriate name! 17 competitors in 1980 when the Video Processor field was entered ^ CRASH/SWITCH ^ by a small company named V.I.P. Today there are 3 competitors. V.I.P.’s explosive growth can only be explained by 2 facts: Customers demand the best Video Processors. We supply the best Video Processors. Thank you for the priviledge of serving you today - you’re the world’s most important person to us! Mr. Hook-Up and the 100% Quality Crew at V.I.P. Hybrid Gives You A Clean Switch Press X-CH fade - screen lentarily fades to a soft gray - then B fades/in. Glitch has been History of VIP Products Awards Hybrid-8: Most Innovative lasked by the gray! You’ll love this Hybrid exclusive. Video Design, Design Engineering Council, Electronics Industry Assoc., 1984 • Best Consumer Video Switcher S.E.G., Video Review Magazine, June, 1984 • Best S.E.G. System, Video Magazine, 1983 • Best Video Processor Value, Video Magazine, 1982 • Most Techni¬ cally Advanced Video Processor, Video Swapper Magazine, 1981 • Vaudio System Manager + RF: Most Innovative Switcher Design, Design Engineering Counpil, Electronics Industry Assoc., 1984

-800-792-2489 Videotests

dicator. The Video/TV switch is normally one-touch record button, Instant Record. 1 called the TV/VCR switch. These small Successive pushes set the recorder into j variations are not important and you timed recording mode for up to four hours ] soon become accustomed to them. in half-hour increments. Below the display Next to that column of buttons and in¬ are the audio-level display, volume-level dicators is the cassette hatch near the controls for right and left channels, Audio machine’s top edge, and below it are the limiter (automatic audio-level control) with | transport function controls. Most of those an indicator, Counter/time Remaining buttons are familiar ones. At left are the selector, counter Reset, and channel Up/ j Insert (Video Dub) and Audio Dub buttons Down scan tuning. one above the other. To their right are the Those might seem to be all the controls j Rewind, Fast Forward, Search, Record, at the front, but the entire facing of the Pause/Still, Play, and Stop buttons. Of base swings forward to reveal a subsidiary j these, Search is unusual in that it is a control compartment. At the extreme right forward/reverse rocker switch that offers of this area is the IR remote-control sensor a wide choice of speeds. With that switch, which operates through a window in the successive pushes of one end or the other door. In a recess next to that are the Dolby LIGHT change the search speed up or down in the on/off switch; a selector for audio dub following sequence: 1/40, 1/20, 1/10, 1/5, which gives you the choice of replacing the j YOUR normal, 3X, 5X, or 7X. They combine the left, right, or both channels; and two con- j functions of slow-speed play and search in trols for audio output. One is a switch that j WAY one simple rocker switch, and to get out of lets you hear the left, right, or both chan- 1 that mode you just push Play. nels, and the second is a rotary control that WITH THE COMPLETE To the right of the hatch is a large display lets you determine whether you’ll hear the j LINE OF PRO-QUALITY area with discrete indicators for Simulcast linear tracks, the Hi-Fi tracks, or a chosen ! ACCESSORIES FOR mode and Cassette inside. The other dis¬ mix of the two. Next to these are 1/4-inch YOUR PORTABLE play carries all the information on clock, phone jacks for stereo headphones, left j timer, counter/time remaining, and chan¬ mic, and right mic. (There is a two-position nel. At the far right of the display area is the low/high volume switch for the j

Test Report: Sansui SV-R9900HF VHS Hi-Fi VCR

DATA preserved Date of test: January 1985 Auto rewind: yes Suggested retail price: $1299 Linear (longitudinal track) stereo: Weight: 20.7 pounds yes Dimensions: 4-3/16 x 17-1/8 x 14-15/16 Hi-Fi: yes inches (h/w/d) Audio only record: yes e Power requirements: 120VAC, 60Hz Tuning method: frequency synthesis Power consumption: 40W (50W with Channel selectors: up/down scan on camera) VCR; random access plus up/down scan Tape format: VHS on remote Tape speeds: SP, EP (SLP), record: Preset method: add/delete from scan se¬ SP, LP, SLP, playback quence -VDO-LITE- Play speed select: automatic Cable readiness: 139 channels VIDEO LIGHTING SYSTEM Still frame: yes AFC: switchable NI-PAK Frame Advance: yes (press Frame Ad¬ Channel lock: yes Ni-Cd pack vance button again) Timer: 8 programs, 14 days Slow motion: see speed play Auto channel-change: yes POWER BELTS Speed play: variable—1/40, 1/20, 1/10, Accessories: remote control, battery for From 6 to 20 AH 1/5, normal, 3X, 5X, 7X in either direc¬ remote control, T-30 cassette, 75-ohm CAR CORDS tion selectable with the same rocker cable, matching transformer, audio cable switch (no sound) (supplied) AND MUCH MORE! Rapid search: see "Cue & review” Cue & review: 7X in either direction, at RESULTS & RATINGS - WE’VE GOT YOUR BATTERY all speeds using the Fast Forward and Re¬ Horizontal resolution: 250 lines wind buttons S/N, video luminance: 43.4dB, un¬ Visible FF and Rew: no weighted; 47.8dB, weighted With the broadest line of belts, packs and Remote pause: only through camera S/N, chroma AM: 47.8dB lights available VDO-PAK has the right jack S/N, chroma PM: ll.4dB combination for YOU! Call us for all the Remote: wireless IR with buttons for Audio frequency response: 20- information and the location of your local power on and off, random access and scan 20,000Hz, +0.2, -2.1dB, Hi-Fi; 70- VDO-PAK dealer. tuning, TV/Video, forward and reverse 10,000Hz, -3dB. SP linear: 70-6000Hz, search, fast forward, rewind, stop, play, -3dB, EP linear pause/still, record, audio dub S/N, audio: 43dB, linear tracks (24 HR.) TOLL FREE! Separate eject: yes Dynamic range: 82dB. Hi-Fi tracks Counter digits: 4 switchable to time- Audio distortion: O f/;, Hi-Fi: 2.3% VDO-PAK PRODUCTS . remaining indicator linear | P.0. Box 67 Port Orange, Florida 32029 | Counter memory: yes Overall picture quality: excellent U.S.A. 800-874-5906 Program start locator/index/cue: yes Audio quality: excellent, Hi-Fi; ex¬ Audio dub: yes cellent, linear ■ FLORIDA 800-342-49001 Video dub: yes; hi-fi audio replaced at Ease of operation: very good (see text) the same time, linear track audio may be Overall performance: excellent VAUDIO SYSTEM MANAGER —

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You Can Try VSM Free Order VSM today on a 7 -day free trial basis. If not 100% delighted, return (in original packing) for a full refund minus handling and shipping. Phone Donna, Lisa, Lori, Pat or Robin for info or order. PRICE: $797., Shipping $4. In Mich. (313) 388-5289 PHONE: 1-800-792-2489 “Mr. Hook-Up” (313) 388-5422 Or Write VIDEO INTERFACE PRODUCTS Order To: 19310 Ecorse Allen Park, Ml 48101 IN AUSTRALIA: ODYL COM. LTD. (03) 846-3272 TELEX AA33708 For additional information, circle No. 36 on Reader Sen/ice Card. The remote control has no surprises. It Operation. Other than our usual com¬ The top, bottom, and sides are bare ex¬ is a breeze. If you’re not scared of me¬ chanical toys you can understand most operations on your own after you find the hidden compartments. Even if you’re fa¬ miliar with VCRs, you’ll probably need at however, the wide variety of choices makes it more than worthwhile. Some ex- least a quick look at the manual to get the best out of the special search feature— ment on how manuals should be improved for first-time VCR owners, using the 9900 sports separate buttons for On and Stand¬ selection of TV channels, up/down scan selectors, TV/Video switch, and transport controls that mirror those on the VCR. some prefer over grainy, snowy pictures. by (Off), a 10-key pad for random-access sharpness. The use of this switch is recom¬ are weak and noisy. It is a compromise that switch labeled Dynamic Apcon (Dynamic aperture control) which lets you select a more noise-free picture at the expense of mended only if the TV signals you receive carry either the linear or Hi-Fi audio or a mixture of the two. This output is available for connecting to other VCRs or monitor/ receivers. The audio inputs and video in¬ puts are standard. The last rarity is a Channel 3/4 RF output selector. The first puts. One of these carries only the Hi-Fi output, so you can leave the Hi-Fi sound permanently connected to your stereo sys¬ tem. The second pair of audio outputs can some other VCRs. The AC cord and con¬ VHF and UHF inputs and outputs and rarity is a 10-pin camera input which has years. It allows you to use a camera with table-model VCRs without a camera adapt¬ er. The second is two sets of audio out¬ venience outlet are common, as are the been gaining popularity in the last two cept for air holes and hand holds. The bot¬ tom has just the headphone low/high volume control switch and air holes; however, the back is a little different from spring-loaded drawer slide open, and in¬ side are all of the controls for setting the clock, timer, TV/CATV tuning sequence, of that area seems blank except for the legend “Push-Open,” but a push makes a AFC, and adding or deleting channels from the scan sequence. switch the VCR will stop at counter zero, a rotary switch which lets you select audio and video inputs for recording with posi¬ tions for TV (tuner), simulcast, Aux (line), or Camera. That’s not all—the remainder stereophones on the bottom of the VCR.) switches for T-160 tape and Counter/Off/ Cue. Depending on the position of the at the end, or at every cue mark in fast- forward and rewind modes. Cues are put on the tape each time you start a recording from stop. The last control in that group is Farther right are three rotary controls for mal tracking, and next to them are slide picture sharpness, slow tracking, and nor¬ Videotests -

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Zip:- 1 -800-421 -7756 (in CA 1 -800-692-5555) DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED | Date:--■-- L Videotests- perimenting can achieve the same goal. both sets of numbers for awhile until you ease of operation, but using the subsidiary Setting the input and output switches is a get accustomed to our new measure¬ controls requires reading the manual thor¬ little more tricky, but even that can be ments. Chroma AM noise was 47.8dB and oughly to understand them and a little ex¬ learned by trial and error. The areas where chroma PM noise was 41.4dB, both un¬ perimentation to become thoroughly famil¬ we recommend you go by the book are weighted. Horizontal resolution was 250 iar with them. But that’s the price you pay audio dubbing and insert editing (video lines. That is excellent performance. for a sophisticated machine with all the dub). There, if you’re not careful you can On Hi-Fi audio the results were no less bells and whistles. So we reduce the ease- ruin valuable recordings. We recommend outstanding. Frequency response was 20 of-operation reading to very good because that you follow the book and do trial runs on to 20,000 Hertz, +.2/-2.1dB with a total of complexity. unimportant tapes before inserting new harmonic distortion (THD) of less than 0.4 Conclusion. Overall the SV-R9900HF pictures into important material. Again, percent, and wow and flutter was below is an excellent machine with attractive even the beginner need not be scared of the 0.005 percent rated. On the linear looks and wide flexibility. It is a great simple recording and playback operation. tracks audio frequency response was 70 to choice for the sophisticated video buff who Performance. The SV-R9900HF 10,000 Hertz, +/-3dB at SP, and 70 to wants the best. If you just want a great gives an excellent picture with very little 6,000 Hertz, +/-3dB at EP. THD on the picture and excellent sound, you may still noise. Video luminance noise was 43.4dB linear tracks was less than 2.3 percent and want it—but avoid the more exotic unweighted and 48.3dB weighted using worst-case wow and flutter was 3.8 per¬ controls at the beginning and learn them our new noisemeter, and 46dB using our cent. as the need arises. We recommend it high¬ older equipment. We will continue to give The basic controls rate an “excellent” on ly. At $1299, it’s a bargain. Canon Portable 8mm VCR

We’ve been taking Because we remember how inconvenient And Canon is first to get that dream into a wait-and-see atti¬ seven-pound cameras are. That was a our hands. tude on 8mm from typical camera weight in December 1978, Actually Canon offers a complete 8mm the time it was an¬ when we started doing these reviews. system. The VCR and battery are 4 to nounced. Now, Then, we put the 22-pound recorders on 4-1/2 pounds depending on what battery is Canon offers an the ground or broke the other shoulder connected, the camera (reviewed else¬ 8mm system that carrying them. If you ask us, 4-1/2 where in this issue) is a bit over 3 pounds, has us excited. It pounds of recorder on our belts and 2 or 3 and the tuner/timer or AC adapter stays consists of 8mm “separates”—VCR, pounds of camera in our hands is a pleasant home. That’s all the flexibility we could camera, tuner/timer, and AC adapter. Why combination. So it looks like the man¬ hope for. The real news is that the 8mm does that excite us more than camcorders? ufacturers are catching up with our dream. format is starting to grow up. (Tfewem© viDeo action pac The VIDEO ACTION PAC is the only All of the materials used in a LowePro bag are carefully chosen and represent the highest quality available: Nylon system available that serves as 3 carrying zippers and Delrin buckles will not scratch or chip video systems in one for your VCR, CAMERA gear; high density “closed” cell foam protects from shock with minimum weight; strong 11 ounce Waterblock and ACCESSORIES: Cordura® nylon shell ensures a lifetime of protection. See this and the full LowePro (1) A supremely comfortable strap. (2) Can be used as a Action Pac into a convenient line of high quality video shoulder bag when accessing backpack with a unique camera and trim carrying or storage bags. Compare quality, then sling that removes the camera the VCR controls. (3) All straps case. (Fits under an airline weight from your arms between stow neatly under a special seat.) get a LOWEPRO - it’s guar¬ takes. It also serves as a safety travel cover, converting the Dealer inquiries welcome! anteed for life. (patent pending) FREE j PASSPORT . POUCH

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A. SPLICING KIT. As the saying goes, it's a simple job if you have the F. PERISPHERIC VIDEO LENS. Add a whole new dimension to yo right tools. This kit gives you just that: splicing block, splicing tape, videocamera with the Perispheric'' Super Wide Angle Macro Vide cutting tools and complete do-it-yourself instructions that take minutes Lens. A great lens that is completely distortion free, the Perispheric to learn. produces an image area three times wider than the normal wide anc #D250026-Splicing Kit $40 ($3.50) of your videocamera. The depth-of-field capacity of this lens is so gre: that everything will be in focus from as close as two feet to infinit B. VIDEOTAPE ERASER. There’s a world of difference between tape Extreme close up shots can be achieved by slight refocusing and yo erasing and merely recording over old programming. Bulk erasing is can use this lens with absolutely no light loss. Works well on any vide almost instantaneous and improves picture and sound reproduction. camera that has MACRO capability and a filter thread of 58mm or les #D250024-Videotape Eraser $59 ($3.50) #D240065-Perispheric Lens $129.95 (S3) C. FILM-TO-TAPE CONVERTER.Transfer your own movie film or 35mm slides to videotape with virtually no loss of color, brilliance, clarity, or G. BEAMSCOPE. Increase your T.V. viewing area up to 4 times the sir contrast! Even sound movies can be converted with full audio using without the cost of a large screen T.V. Beamscope is easy to inst? your video camera’s built-in microphone. Additional sound tracks, Attaches in minutes to any T.V. that’s 10-23" and actually magnifies tl music or narration can be added as often as you like during or after the picture from your set. An economical way to enjoy large screen T film-to-tape conversion process. You can even superimpose or cut in without spending thousands of dollars. your own color titles or graphics. Comes complete with converter with #D100048-30" Beamscope for 19-23" Screens $70 ($3) adjustable height base, camera stand with mounting bracket, easy-to- #D100049 25"-Beamscope for 10-17" Screens $60 (S3) follow instructions and one year warranty. #D240056-Film-to-Tape Converter $179.95 ($5.50) H. VIDEO CASSETTE CABINET. For the serious collector, this han some cabinet stores up to 168 standard size VHS or Beta cassette D. MINI-VAC. This compact and efficient tool will clean dust and debris Three center shelves on each door offer a smart arrangement for ea: from your VCR, camera lens, office equipment and more. Mini-Vac selection. Cabinet measures a generous 32" and features elega utilizes an actual vacuum which safely cleans away pollutants from moldings, bronze handles, and an attractive walnut finish. Son your expensive equipment. Operates on a 9-volt battery, purchased assembly required. separately. #D260031-Cassette Cabinet $199 ($20) #D250062-Mini-Vac $29.95 ($2) E. THE STARTER SYSTEM. Everything you need when you purchase a J. VIDEO EQUIPMENT AND CAMERA STAND. Lend a steady hand VCR. Deluxe kit includes one TDK standard T-120 video tape, one TDK your taping sessions with this durable aluminum camera stand th high grade video tape, a wet system head cleaner and durable VCR provides steady camera support with full panning and tilting capab dust cover. ties. A must for all enthusiasts on the go, this great stand carries yc #D170021-The Starter System VHS $49.95 (S3) VCR and battery pack, and folds into a functional luggage cart as we #D170022-The Starter System Beta $49.95 ($3) #D240007-Camera Stand $66 ($5) YOUR VIDEO STORE IN PRINT

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Oear Customer: Videotests — The VCR is a full-feature machine that is so much like familiar half-inchers that we’ve found ourselves blinking to reas¬ sure ourselves that we were not look¬ ing at a half-inch machine through the wrong side of our glasses. Canon’s VR- E10 is a perfect miniature. Features like search, Index search, and Auto search all go to heighten the image—and we like what we see. Description. The recorder in Canon’s 8mm system weighs a scant 3.2 pounds and measures 2-7/16 inches high by 6-5/16 wide by 7-5/16 deep without battery. The BP-E10 battery pack supplied with the VCR adds about 1-1/2 inches to its depth and 20 ounces to its weight, making a com¬ pact, light package. The AC adapter—if used to power the VCR—adds about three inches to its depth and charges batteries as well as powering the recorder. It’s a mix¬ ture of dark and light blue-grey,with a black base and accessories. The VR-E10 has all the controls and features you’d expect on a portable, plus a remaining/counter switching. Farther right Advance, Pause/Still, Index, Auto Search, few niceties. The top is bare but for the are the tape-transport controls in two and Repeat. Most of those controls are cassette hatch. The front has a big blue rows. Across the top row are Rewind, familiar, but the last three—though their Eject button at the top left comer. Next to Stop, Play, Fast Forward, and Record. names are descriptive enough—are un¬ it is the counter/time-remaining indicator The Record button is red, but all the other usual and deserve further explanation. with an abbreviation for minutes, M for buttons (except Eject) are black. The Fast From play or stop mode, pressing index Memory, S for standby, and a battery- Forward and Rewind buttons double as search causes the tape to rewind to the last condition indicator. Below it are buttons search controls. index mark on the tape. The VR-E10 puts for Memory on/off, Reset, and Tape In the lower row are buttons for Frame an index mark on the tape every time you TENM PRESENTS THE AMAZING SHRINKING VHEO SMI Because you shouldn’t have to buy two bags to do the job of one. Or vice versa.

Before. The new V212* expands from a trim VCR bag into one that con¬ veniently holds any of the new videotaping systems including VCR, camera, lens adapters, and long-lasting batteries. * Patent Pending.

There are seven more Tenba Video Bags, all engi¬ neered with the attention to flexibility, con¬ struction and extra protection that sensitive video equip¬ ment demands. TENBA' Even amateur video equipment needs professional protection. i, Dept. V185, 503 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10012. IF YOU HAVEN’T CALLED BPV...YOU DON’T HAVE THE BEST PRICE % 1-800-233-5556 Everyone’s talking about Best Price Video Inc. because that’s where you’ll find the lowest prices on VCRs, Video Cameras, T.V.s, tapes, custom-designed cases, tripods and all accessories. At BPV we deliver: • Lowest Prices • Large Selection • Expert Advice • All Major Brands • Best Service • Manufacturers’ Warrantees • Fast Delivery • Factory Sealed Cartons

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Enclose $2.00 for postage and handling. BEST PRICE VIDEO INC., nnif Best Price Video Inc. 9 Brooklyn Avenue Dr V 9 Brooklyn Avenue, New Hyde.Park. N.Y. 11040 BPV New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11040 m Videotests

enter recording mode. Index search does not work reliably if the nearest index mark is less than 30 seconds away. Auto Search initiates a similar search, but in the forward direction, and the VCR looks for the blanks between recorded segments. Repeat does just that—repeat a selected segment five times. You go to the end of the segment, push in Repeat and hold it down, reverse search to the start of the segment, then release the Repeat button. The segment repeats five times. On the black base from left to right are the camera jack, remote-control jack, tracking control, and at far right the power button. The supplied remote control offers the same 10 transport controls on a 20- foot cord. Just around the comer on the right side of the VCR, and also on the black base, are the video, audio, and RF outputs, followed by the adapter jack. At the top back is the Channel 3/4 RF output selector under a protective cover. The only other point of interest is the hole for the supplied carrying strap. On the left side is a match¬ ing strap hole and the release for the bat¬ tery. The back is bare but for grooves and contacts for the battery. The BP-E10 battery supplied is feature¬ less except for its grooves, contacts, and an instruction label. It weighs about 20 ounces and powers the VCR for 85 min¬ utes. A smaller, lighter battery, the BP- Ell, is available. That 14 ounce battery powers the recorder for 40 minutes. THE MISSING YEARS OF 'EAR OLD TRAIL The battery may be charged by either .EFT BY JOHN PAUL JONES'' the matching tuner/timer or the VP-E10 (EVOLUTIONARY AC adapter. In either case, charging is ■IERO. JOHN PAUL IONES. THE NARRATED complete when the charge indicator goes SEARCH TEAM BY out. The battery should then be dis¬ .EAVES BEHIND JAMES EARL JONES connected. Attempting to charge a fully :lues for you to charged battery shortens its life. The AC ■IND $50,000 IN fREASURE BURIED adapter connects through the adapter ter¬ N SEVERAL minal and provides for audio and video in¬ .OCATIONS puts, not directly available on the machine. VCROSS THE U S. A separate jack on the other side is used for battery charging through an adapter. The tuner/timer—which we had a chance to use but not test—offers the same facilities as the AC adapter plus its tuner and timer facilities. The tuner pro¬ vides for receiving cable Channels A to I and J to W in addition to the broadcast channels. The timer segment provides for taping up to four programs over two weeks. AFC is switch-selectable. It has the usual RF inputs and outputs plus video “THE MISSING YEARS"TREASURE and audio inputs and outputs. c/o COMMUNIQUE, INC. Operation. Operation of the VCR is as 404 LORAINE BLDG. 124 E. FULTON simple as for a standard audio-cassette GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 deck except for Index, Auto Search, and 616-456-8936 repeat, with those last two available on "MICHIGAN RESIDENTS some of the more esoteric audio machines. NAME ADD 4% SALES TAX (Of course Still and Frame Advance are not applicable for audio.) Just insert a cassette, ADDRESS _STATE_ZIP_ attach a camera or tuner, and press Record VHS □ BETA □ (ALLOW 4 TO 6 WEEKS FOR DEUVERY) and Play together for recording. For play¬ CHARGE TO MY □ VISA CARD □ MASTERCARD back attach a TV or monitor and press MY CARD NUMBER IS _EXP. DATE--— Play. Editing is possible but is not glitch- VOID WHERE PROHIBITED B CALL OR WRITE FOR QUANTITY PRICING INFORMATION free unless the VCR remains in Record, 106 Video AVAILABLE ON VIDEOCASSETTE

World class, beautiful women, plus porno greats Harry Reems and Jamie Gillis make this flick a winner.

RATED X Starring Angel, Ginger Lynn, v i] - ^ Harry Reems and Jam. >

If you can’t find this sizzler at your video store, send $89.95 to VMC, (Video Mailorder Company), 21540 Blythe Street, Canoga Park, CA 91304-4991. Available in Beta or VHS (please specify). 100% guaranteed against defects. Visa, Mastercard, money orders or checks accepted. Call our toll free 800 # for Visa or Mastercard orders. (800) 423-5106, in California (818) 992-6170. Add $6.00 postage and handling with each order (California residents add 6V2% tax). Money orders and charge orders shipped in 24 hours, via 2nd day air mail delivery at no extra charge (except CA, NV, AZ, UT). Free color catalog with purchase, or $5.00 refunded on first order. Sale to minors prohibited. Se habla espanol. Offer good in United States and its possessions only.

DH CABALLERO^

7920 ALABAMA AVE., CANOGA PARK, CA 91304-4991 COPYRIGHT© 1984 SUNSHINE PRODUCTIONS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Videotests

• FREE NATIONWIDE SERVICE and even then a frame or two may be dis¬ signal-to-noise ratio was measured at colored. For taping from a camera, the 43.5dB but it is rated at 46dB. Whatever 90-minute cassette limit is not a bother— noise the instruments were measuring was but for taping off the air, be careful not to not obtrusive to the eye. On chroma AM run out of tape. The instruction manual is noise our instruments measured 46.9dB— thorough and answers most common prob¬ commendable in any format, and on chro¬ 1985 RCA Models Now Available! lems. ma PM noise the result was a respectable CAMERAS Performance. The picture is a little 40.8dB. less sharp than on half-inch VCRs, with The 8mm format uses the AFM (audio VKT275 VKP 170 CKC 021 horizontal resolution of 230 lines. Its frequency modulation) technique, similar VKT 385 VKP 900 CKC 031 Test Report: Canon VR-EIO VKT550 VKP 950 Portable 8mm Video Recorder VKT 650 DATA Counter digits: 4/tape remaining in¬ dicator in minutes (5-minute increments) Date of test: January 1985 Counter memory: yes Suggested retail price: $900, VCR; Program start locator/index/cue: In¬ $300, tuner/timer (TT); $135, VP-E10 AC dex or Auto Search power adapter; $55, BP-E10 85-min. bat¬ Audio dub: no tery (one supplied); $46, BP-E11 40-min. Video dub: no battery Auto rewind: in play mode only Weight: 3.2 lbs. without battery, VCR; Stereo: no 4.2 lbs., TT; 1.5 lbs., AC adapter; 1.25 Hi-Fi: see text RCA lbs., BP-E10; 14 oz„ BP-E11 Tuning method: varactor Dimensions: 2-7/16 x 6-5/16 x 7-5/16 Channel selectors: 14 push-buttons To place your order with a company who offers inches (h/w/d), VCR without battery, 1-9/ Preset method: 14 rotary band switches CUSTOMER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE before 16 inches deeper with BP-E10; 2-7/16 x and rotary station selectors and AFTER the sale, ACCESSORY SUPPORT 10-1/4 x 10-1/4 inches (h/w/d), TT Cable readiness: 105 channels—2-6, 7- Power requirements: 12VDC, 6.5W for their products and who specializes in. . . 13, A-I, J-W, 14-83 (playback), 13.5W (record with matching AFT: switchable camera); 120VAC, 60Hz, 40W, TT Channel lock: yes EXCLUSIVELY RCil Tape format: 8mm Timer: 4 programs, 2 weeks Tape speeds: 9.565 in/sec (14.345 mm/ Auto channel-change: yes CALLS 1-800-368-5020 sec) Accessories: remote control, BP-E10 Play speed select: single speed In Virginia 1-804-595-2572 battery, antenna cable and transformer, Still frame: yes shoulder strap, earphone MON - FRI 9 AM - 9 PM(EST) Frame advance: yes SATURDAYS 9 AM -6 PM (EST) Slow motion: by holding down Frame RESULTS & RATINGS Advance button Horizontal resolution: 230 lines Speed play: no S/N, video luminance: 43.5dB Rapid search: see Cue & review weighted, measured; 46dB, rated Cue & review: 9X forward and reverse S/N, chroma AM: 46.9dB, measured Visible FF and Rew: no S/N, chroma PM: 40.8dB, measured Fast forward/rewind time: 4 minutes Audio frequency response: 30- for P6-90 cassette 14,000Hz, -3dB Remote pause: on camera connector S/N, audio: 69dB, measured; 70dB, rated Remote: wired with 20-foot cable and Audio distortion: 0.15% buttons for Play, Record, Stop, Frame Overall picture quality: good (see VIDEO DIRECT DISTRIBUTORS Advance, Pause/Still, Rewind (Search), text) 116 Production Drive Fast Forward (Search), Index (Search), Audio quality: very good Ease of operation: excellent Tabb, VA 23602 Auto Search, Repeat Separate eject: yes Overall performance: very good Now, sciTech adds another dimension to special effects: Portable.

From your corporate office to your conferences and N-2 GenClock. Our SEG line delivers! Ruggedly. Reliably. With [ seminars... let your creative juices flow! Prepare Transforms virtually any modern video camera into a minimal power consumption. With features such as effective sales demonstrations, compelling auto wipes, dissolves, fades and 20 other dazzling presentations or moving wedding videos every time! genlocked camera for special effect generation. With SciTech’s SEG line of portable special effect A complete line of accessories allows you to generators, for color cameras. Stereo Hi-Fi, customize your system to your special needs: Audio-Follow-Video standard in all models. IH-11 Pro Intercom headset, Distribution amplifiers, Camera extension cables, AC & AC/DC uninterrupti¬ SEG-21 ble power supplies. Only $1,099! Call or write today for your free color catalogue and Yet, it includes built-in genlock, cuts, dissolves and name of the dealer nearest you. accepts 20 optional plug-in special effect modules. Demo tapes available in all formats: $12 VHS or Beta, Measures only 8"x4"x2.38"; 1.6 lb; 12 Volt ,35A. Vt" U-matic $25. Requires one Magnavox BR8282BK, VR8283BK or : JVC GN-X80U Cameras, or one camera upgrade.

SEG-11 EU-3 Expansion Board. Only $699! (Not shown). Fits all our SEG’s. Allows instantaneous switching from up to 3 special effect modules. The perfect SciTech I Least expensive modular SEG in the market. accessory. Bringing real innovation Features all of the above but requires one directly to you. camera with a built-in genlock. Complete Special Effect 1450 N.W. 78 Ave., Miami, Florida 33126 SEG-31 Interchangeability. Tel. (305) 591-1620 Only $1,299! Dealer Inquiries welcome. Our complete portable studio. Includes: built-in cuts, 20 optional plug-in modules add flexibility and dissolves, horizontal, vertical and corner wipes, creativity to your videos. • For orders or info, call toll free: variable speed auto-wipe and fade to black. Accepts 1-800-421-4407 (West Coast Time) Use our SEG’s to train aspiring film makers, budding 1-800-842-0070 (East Coast Time) 20 optional special effect modules. Weighs only 2.2 sports stars, salesmen, or any time you want big lbs; 8"x4.6"x2"; 12 Volt .48A. Requires one camera time special effects to add pizzaz to your videos... with built-in genlock. without the big time camera crews. S^jg;

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§ E "Emerson : | AKAI™ Ull. MAGNAVOX FREE Videotests VIDEO STORAGE CASE TO BEAUTIFY AND PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE TAPE Soft ^ Vinyl Construction Gold Foil Imprints 4 Vines or 1«« @ 35C Per Line Per Case Additional MalUW**'1" Min. Order 6 Cases ofWU'OUl @ 35C Price. Less imptii" Than 6 Case Min. $2.00 Per Line.

The big news is that the little format is growing up. Just the sight of an 8mm cassette (perched atop the VHS cassette) is exciting.

to that used in Beta and VHS Hi-Fi. The a component system with two speeds and VR-E10 delivers its rated 30 to 14,000 TDK showing a tape that achieves near NEWEST SUPER DELUXE VIDEO CASES Hertz within 3dB, but we have measured half-inch quality from a Kodak camcorder, Made ol attractive leatherlike 100% soft vinyl. The up to 15,000 Hz with the same tolerance on we’re surer that the format will be ultimate in quality, design, workmanship. These other 8mm machines. We measured audio accepted. The first prerecorded 8mm soft¬ cases are not to be contused with hard plastic, less S/N at 69dB, quite close to the rated 70dB, ware has also been announced. Just as with expensive cases on the market today. ‘Free Case given with every order placed Irom this magazine. and harmonic distortion was less than 0.15 half-inch tapes, it’s X-rated material, CUSTOM MADE FOR VMS OR BETAMAX percent. of course. Color Code Your Titles. Five exciting decorator Conclusion. When the 8mm format So if history is to repeat itself, all the colors. Brown Leatherette. Light Blue. Bed. Black was bom last year, we declined to make a pieces are in place. If you’ve been eyeing ORDER TODAY! OFFER LIMITED prediction about its acceptance because of 8mm, the Canon system may be the place SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR FULL REFUND the limited appeal of camcorders. Now that to start: a familiar, logical set of separates SAVE • S3.95 Retail Value • SAVE 6@$1.98EA. • 12@$1.88EA. • 24@$1.78 Canon has broken the format down to a that you can update a piece at a time as the EA. • 46 @ $1.73 EA. • 96 @$1.68 EA • VCR, tuner/timer, and camera we feel format progresses. The price is right, too, 192 @ $1.63 EA. • 240 @ $1.60 EA. • 300 more positive. With Sanyo ready to market at $900. @$1.56 EA p irs 01 Deluxe Video Cases ~ □ VHS □ BETA k Red F/_ Canon Color Camera k_Black #_Brown k_White Place imprint instructions on separate sheet Qty_Cases @-Each_= S- Canon is the first to However, it has so many features of the Qty_Foil Stamp @ ■*- Shipping Charge Only $2.00 * *- release an 8mm largest consumer video cameras that it Handling Charge C O D S2 00 - component video compares favorably with the best of them. IL Res. Only add 7% Sales Tax **- system, and it is not Heading the list of features is auto-focus, 0utsideCont.USAadd20cper/cs.‘ *- surprising that a but following closely are a built-in one-line TOTAL $- noted camera titler and stopwatch function, auto white :ome —Very Competin' manufacturer balance, electronic viewfinder (EVF) with would make the on-screen display in words, and respect¬ » OAKTON BOX 1937GR Oes Plainas. II 60018 camera component of that system such an able light sensitivity of 20 lux. It is also no 04 Hr CALL TOLL FREE 7Davs slouch in the weight competition. At 3.3 ADav '800-752-7777 . k exciting competitor. Because it is intended Huay In III. (3121 965-0044 H weeK for a system in which size is important, size pounds it is at the low end of midrange, and Please Rush □ Order DMore Informatioi and weight are at the low end of traditional it is amazing how many features the de¬ camera sizes. However, since it is divided signers crammed into such a small camera. Address . into separate units rather than crammed Description. The VC-200A has a nar¬ City_ into a camcorder there is room for some of row body just 2-1/2 inches wide, but with a State _ the features typically left off camcorders. handgrip on one side and an electronic Payment □ Check □ C.O.D. $2.00 Extra So, in a sense, it is a small VHS-compatible viewfinder mounted like an outrigger □ Mst.Cd./Visa □ Am. Expr. Exp.Dt- camera with a titler. across the top, its overall dimensions are Card No. _ That camera is the Canon VC-200A, and 5-3/4 inches high by 5-5/16 wide by 9-13/16 for all practical purposes it looks like a deep. On the right side is a comfortable $3.98 VALUE LOW AS $1.56 slightly scaled-down standard camera. handgrip with a depression on its top for IF YOU OWN A VIDEO CAMERA, your fingers and an adjustable strap goes THESE LENSES ARE A MUST! around the outside of your hand for extra support and security. The only control on the grip is the VCR run/pause button at the Make Your Camera a back, where it falls under your thumb. The jack for the detachable cable is on the front, and a clip on the security strap insures that Complete Video System the cable will not stray in front of the lens. Also at the front is another jack that you might miss because it is covered. It’s for an optional remote control that gives you con¬ PH! trol over zooming and run/pause. There are no other controls on the right side of the camera. On the back is a standby switch which offers positions for normal operation, and a Gain Up high-sensitivity position. That is standard. Also on the back is a switch for BLC (back light control), and a jack for an external microphone. In a way, that back panel may be viewed as the exposure- control panel. The camera may not be switched to manual iris control. On the left side of the camera the con¬ trols fall into three distinct groups. Far¬ thest forward are the zoom and focus rings on the lens. Since you can control both functions from elsewhere, you’ll hardly have to reach that far forward except to enter the macro focus range. Then you must pull out the stubby zoom lever to enter the macro range. However, you may power-zoom out of the macro range. On what may be called the lens mount is the second set of controls. In a direct line with the center of the lens is the indoor/ outdoor filter switch. A bit farther back is the button to engage the auto white bal¬ 1.5XTELEPHOTO LENS CLOSE-UP/WIDE-VIEW ance (AWB) circuitry, which you hold down only until the white balance is com¬ This is a double-element attach¬ ment. As a close-up, lets you move plete. Between these two is an in/out in tightly on small objects. Good switch for a white filter. Under standard for detailed shots, for example, a procedure you point the camera at a white enough to get the whole picture etc. with your camera. Or, take a wedding invitation. As a wide- object in the scene, zoom in on it until it fills you want. Use it close up and you close-up of a near subject view, lets you get the entire shot the frame, and press the AWB button. If no you want, even when you can’t such object can be found you may balance move back any further. the camera by switching in the white filter. Each lens attachment comes complete with a carrying case Using a white object seems to give better and adapter rings to fit most video cameras. results. A little below the AWB button is LENS OPTICAL SYSTEM MAGNIFICATION the auto-focus switch. It offers three FISHEYE High Quality Coated - 3 element .42 X choices: automatic, manual, and one-shot. The first two are obvious. In the one-shot TELEPHOTO Multi-coated 1.5 X position the automatic circuitry and motor CLOSE-UP/WIDE-VIEW High Quality Coated. Maximum closeup: 13 cm. +1.7 diopter. .67 X are normally off, but pressing in on the switch engages the mechanism momen¬ TOMORROW TODAY, INC., Dept V4 tarily. It goes back to manual mode as soon SPECIAL FREE 4 New Hyde Park Rd. 800-231-0031 as you release the pressure. Franklin Square, NY 11010 (516)596-1211 The third group of controls is on the OFFER! Please send me the items checked below. I understand that if I am not body just below the viewfinder. There are completely satisfied, I may return them for a full refund (exclusive of shipping) within 10 days. she buttons arranged in two rows of three. □ FISHEYE Only $74.95 The two outer buttons in the top row con¬ □ TELEPHOTO Only $175.00 trol the power zoom. The one in between □ Close-Up/Wide-View Only $69.95 □ SAVE $39.95! All three lenses, with free cap. only $279.95 them switches the zoom speed from low, Please add $3.00 shipping per order. Send check or monev order (no C.O.D.) its normal setting, to high. At the low set¬ payable to: tomorrow today, iNC.or charge it: □ MasterCard □ VISA ting, zooming from wide to tele takes CLEAR OPTOHiNS CAP about 10 seconds; at high it takes This protective lens cap covers your lens while in use. Wards off about 7 seconds. At neither setting is flying dust, sand, spray, etc. zooming so fast as to cause discomfort in while you shoot, it's yours at your audience. Of course, you can always no extra charge when you buy all zoom faster manually, but be careful— three lens attachments. zooming too fast can unsettle your audi- >n Reader Service Card. Videotests

ence. And that’s bad. stopwatch. Of these, you may record title letters, numerals, and some punctuation The three buttons in the lower row per¬ and stopwatch onto your tape. In title marks. In title mode the two forward but¬ form multiple functions. The one farthest mode you may record one line of up to 12 tons let you select the letter position and back lets you choose from three types of characters across the bottom of your cycle through the character set. The finder displays: camera status, title, or frame. The character set consists of capital camera keeps the title in memory as long NEW VIDEO MAGIC FROM MFJ MFJ-1445 DELUXE COLOR MFJ-1452 ADVANCED PROCESSOR/ENHANCER/ VIDEO PROCESSOR STABILIZER The newest magic box gives you profes¬ sional features at a layman s price. MFJ s ultimata magic . _ _ _ __ k Our state-of-the-art Advanced Video Pro- box for the serious Ik cessor lets you transfer all home movies, videophile. AWESOME A slides and prints to videotape. Transfer is the only word to describe the Deluxe corkfkQR negative films to video model of our Color Processor/Enhancer tape by using our exclu¬ Stabilizer. sive Luminancefbright- First, it's a full featured color process- f" ness) and Chrominance(color) Invert sor with Color Tint, Color Intensity and Switches. VCR Reverse Switch lets each Color Brightness control that let you * VCR record from the other with the push of "paint" video images to your exacting a button. Great for videophiles with both Beta and VHS VCRs. Professional contrast Second, it’s a state-of-the-art enhancer/ control is yours with independent White/ stabilizer with Automatic Stabilizer control. Stretch and Black Pedestal Controls. Built- Split-Screen Enhancer (light and normal in Luminance Level Meter measures up to modes) and Noise Cancel control. 200% luminance for accurate brightness MFJ-1450 COLOR PROCESSOR/ENHANCER/STABILIZER Third, it's an incredible Stereo Synthesizer level setting. Additonal features include a creating convincing stereo effect from any $ O 1 Q95 The "magic box that s a complete video processing unit. Video/Audio Distribution Amplifier that mono source. It also features unique audio 4 19 Our amazing Color Processor/Enhancer/Stabilizer lets you gives you three outputs for making three noise reduction. correct color tint and intensity for true-to-life video color and correct color copies simultaneously, Dual Inputs, a Fourth, it has Electronic Video/Stereo brightness to improve too dark or light picture scenes. MFJ magic combines Bypass Switch and a seperate RF Modulator Switching—select from four inputs. And it's this unique color processing capability with Automatic Stabilizer, Split- for TV viewing. MFJ combines all of these a Cross Channel Fader, letting you fade Screen Enhanced ight and normal modes). Noise Cancel and RF Modulator professional video processing features with from any one output to any other. Fade features. Now you can control color, contrast and sharpness not only on play¬ a Full Featured Color Processor, Split- Duration controls the length of fade. back—but directly on video tape as you record! Additonal features include: Screen Enhancer, Noise Cancel Control and Last but not least, it's a four-way Video/ Dual inputs, a Bypass Switch and a Split-Screen Enhance Control to allow an Automatic Stabilizer to give you video Stereo Distribution Amplifier that gives you direct comparison of enhanced to unenhanced picture simultaneously. Black processing capabilities that you've been four outputs for making four recordings cabinet with brushed aluminum front panel. Measures 12x2x6 inches. waiting for. at a price you can afford' simultaneously. It also features MFJ's Operates on 110 VAC or 12 VDC for portable use. Gi eat features for $219.95! 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CALIBUR FILMS Now you can enjoy the finest in adult movies in the privacy of your own home — the complete original productions packaged by APRIL SPECIAL S4?5* the movie studios, all at low, low discount prices. Plus, you can exchange these movies as often as you like. There are no time limits. No hidden costs. And no membership fees. rfk i vIImWi PURCHASE ANY TITLE YOU WANT - $50>95’ *0* (p(plus $2.50 shipping & handling) starring Tracy Lords, Eric Edwards, r The same titles selling elsewhere for $99.00 and up. Angel West, Ken Starbuck, Julie Winchester, EXCHANGE ANY TAPE PURCHASED - Wayne Thomas, and Rene Summers. low . __ as ♦3«L'-is* (plus $2.50 shipping A handling) ★ The world’s largest selection of X-rated video movies. ★ Exchange as often as you wish. ★ No monthly ‘Club’ fees. ★ All orders shipped promptly. ★ Lifetime quality guaranteed! THIS MONTHS TOP 40 □ 1 SEX WAVES ★ □ 21 CANDY STRIPERS -100% □ 2 ALEXANDRA - 100% □ 22 DEEP THROAT-100% □ 3 DEADLY LOVE □ 23 RX FOR SEX-100% □ 4 DIXIE RAY: STAR-100' □ 24 DEBBIE DOES DALLAS II - 100% □ 5 TABOO □ 25 SUZIE SUPERSTAR -100% □ 6 EVERY WOMAN'S FANTASY -100% □ 26 HUSTLER #1 -100% f FIRESTORM-1 □ 27 IN LOVE-100% □ 8 DEBBIE DOES DALLAS - 100% □ 28 DEVIL IN MISS JONES-100% □ 9 FLESHDANCE-100% □ 29 INSATIABLE I -100% □ 10 GOLDEN GIRLS-100% □ 30 SCOUNDRELS-100% □ 11 BAD GIRLS-100% □ 31 IRRESISTIBLE-100% □ 12 FANTASY -100% □ 32 OCTOBER SILK-100% □ 13 BARBARA BROADCAST - 100% □ 33 SEXCAPAD.ES-100% □ 14 HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES □ 34 NAUGHTY GIRLS-100% □ 15 HOT PURSUIT-100% □ 35 THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS -100% □ 16 BEHIND GREEN DOOR -100% □ 36 DEVIL IN MISS JONES II -100% □ 17 CAFE FLESH - 100% □ 37 SEX WORLD-100% □ 18 INSATIABLE II -100% □ 38 MIDNIGHT HEAT - 100% □ 19 MAN EATERS -100% □ 39 PRISONER OF PARADISE - 100% □ 20 REEL PEOPLE-100% □ 40 MISTY BEETHOVEN - 10 100% = HUSTLER’S HIGHEST_RATINGJ_

Sex Waves is the arousing story of a young and beautiful □ Please send the following movie(s) at $59.95 plus $2.50 shipping/handling (CA residents add 6% tax). newlywed, played by Penthouse Centerfold Tracy Lords, who is cool toward sex until her accident. A fall over the side of a cliff causes her to be in a permanent coma. Her husband, played by Eric Edwards, agrees to, as a last resort, an experimental brainwave transfer procedure. What he doesn’t realize is that the brainwaves come from a nymphomaniac! Once Tracy Lords awakens from the coma she's to hot to handle. This lavishly produced David Michel film is superbly scored and edited. The plot is quite exciting, the acting is outstanding, the dialogue is easily the most sophisticated ever to have been penned for an adult film, and the erotic scenes contain special effects that will knock your socks off! Sex Waves is one film you’ll □ VISA □ Master Charge □ Money Order □ Check be sure to see! Card # TOLL FREE.. 1 " 800-BETA-VHS In Cilifornia: 1-800-VIDE0-CA or (714) 773-5855 7 Days E^CALIBUR FILMS * Offer void after midnight April 30, 1985. 424 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton, CA 92632

VIDEO DEALERS: If you’re not buying from us, then you’re paying too much! We guarantee lower prices overall. Call today for your Free Dealer Package. Videotests

as the VCR is powered. In stopwatch mode disappears and the legend flashes. If the one of the two forward buttons lets you battery is low, the OK disappears and the Test Report: Canon VC-200A Color Camera start and stop the clock, and the other lets word “battery” flashes. In the status mode DATA a slightly darkened rectangle appears in the you reset it to zero. In status mode you get Date ot test: January 1985 a variety of information in the viewfinder middle of the screen to indicate the area Suggested retail price: $1000 and the forward buttons turn the displays covered by auto focus (AF). It disappears if Weight: 3.3 pounds on or off. AF is off or if you select info check. At Dimensions: 5-3/4 x 5-5/16 x 9-13/16 All the displays in the finder window are the left of the screen is a pointer that tells inches (h/w/d) on-screen, and most’ are in words. The the approximate iris opening. If the pointer Power requirements: 12VDC, 6W words are: W(hite) BAL(ance) OK, is too near the bottom you should select approx., 1.5W standby BATTERY OK, ZOOM H or L, INDOORS the Gain Up position or add more light. If it Image sensor: 1/2-inch high-band Sat- or OUTDOORS, GAIN UP, and BLC. If is too near the top you should make sure Lens: fl.2, 6X (8.5-51mm) two-speed you’re in normal exposure mode and use a white balance needs adjustment, the OK power zoom with macro capability Filter diameter: 46mm Minimum focusing distance: 1 meter Field at closest focus: 3 x 4 inches, AMBICO tele; 21 x 28 inches, wide angle Minimum illumination: 20 lux in Gain VIDEO TRIPODS Up position Auto Focus: yes, switchable to manual r or one-shot focusing QUALITY White balance: indoor/outdoor switch plus automatic white balance at the touch of a button Iris: automatic with a BLC (back light STANDS ALONE control) Sensitivity: switchable with normal and Gain Up positions Viewfinder: 1-inch B&W electronic with all indicators on screen—Gain Up, BLC, White Balance, low Battery, Indoors, Zoom Low (speed), auto focus target area and Record; built-in microphone and VCR running externally on both front and back Viewfinder controls: focusing magnifier Auto fade: no VCR controls: run/pausc Microphone: built into EVF or external ' optional accessory Cable length: 5.9 feet, detachable Plug: miniature 10-pin type with one pin unused On-screen stopwatch: yes Titler: 1 line, 12 character (all caps) posi¬ tioned at the bottom of the frame Accessories: lens cap, lens hood, remote control cap, camera cable, supplied; 1.4X tele-converter, filter, super-directional mic (DM-100), chest pod (CP-3), zoom re¬ mote control (ZR-20), camera extension cable (C-10R, optional)

RESULTS & RATINGS Horizontal resolution: 270 lines, rated and measured S/N, video luminance: 45dB, rated; 44.6dB, measured Color: very good under daylight, under incandescent light blues and purples are a little weak Overall picture quality: very good Audio frequency response: 100 to 13,000 Hz, -3dB piRST N Audio quality: average/good Ease of operation: excellent Overall performance: very good

neutral-density filter if the scene is still too bright. Call for the name of your The EVF is permanently attached but ^ nearest dealer, or send $1.00 may be twisted so it runs in the same direc¬ for complete catalog to: AMBICO, 101 Horton Avenue, tion as the camera body for transport and Lynbrook, NY 11563 516-887-3434 storage. Its single control is a focus wheel for its flip-up magnifier. On top it sports an accessory shoe, and on its front is a per-

Videotests

manent microphone which is disconnected instruction manual is clear and informative. close to its 45dB rating. Color rendition in if you plug in an external microphone. On And the RF mechanism does relieve you daylight is excellent, but under low artificial both the front and back are LEDs that blink of the worst nuisance in making tapes: out- light the blues and magentas are a little when the VCR is running, and the legend of-focus pictures. You still may have to weak. There is no color fringing and very REC appears on the EVF screen. The resort to manual focus for dark or shiny little comet tailing when you pan across viewing hood may be turned from straight objects and subjects with Strong horizontal bright objects. Overall the picture is very downward to straight up for convenient or vertical patterns. Otherwise shooting is good. viewing at any shooting angle. a breeze. On audio, with the built-in mic, perfor¬ Operation. The only complex opera¬ Performance. Despite its small size, mance is average/good with a frequency tion in using the camera is selecting be¬ the VC-200A produces very good pictures response of 100 to 13,000 Hertz at the tween display stopwatch and title modes, thanks to its high-band half-inch Saticon. It -3dB points. We did not test the optional and they are best learned by trying them. offers a horizontal resolution of 270 lines super-directionai mic, but Using one is Otherwise the 200A is easy to use and the with a signal-to-noise ratio of 44.6dB, very usually a good idea. Conclusion. The VC-200A is very good as an overall performer and is quite competitive with half-inchers. You might even want to mate it with a standard VHS VCR or with a Beta using an adapter. Of course, it is a perfect mate for Canon’s 8mm system, for which it is intended. Either way it is a good Value at $1000 list. (For comparison, reread the review of the Minolta K-520S AF reviewed in December 1984 and the Sanyo VSC800 in October 1984. The Sanyo camera was designed to be used with its 8mm system, to be released soon.)

Bib Video Alarm

We hope neither you nor any of your friends have lost a VCR —but we have, and in addi¬ tion to the mone¬ tary loss, we felt our right to privacy had been invaded by the burglars. Now, with Bib’s introduction of a burglar alarm for VHS VCRs, you can have a deterrent that will most likely scare a burglar into leaving your VCR and other possessions behind. The alarm emits a loud, piercing noise likely to make the burglar forget about anything other than being someplace else. Description. The Bib Video Alafm looks a lot like a standard VHS videocas¬ sette without the protective flap that cov¬ ers the tape. However, on the top surface, in the middle of where the label would be, is a hole that is a smidgen smaller than a dime. Beneath it is a loud buzzer-like noisemaker. Along its back edge is a key switch at the extreme right, and near the center are a pushbutton and red LED for battery testing. The sides appear normal, but on the bottom the tape reels are miss¬ ing. Instead, opposite the key there is a battery compartment for a single nine-volt battery, and extending forward from the blank hole near the key end is a narrow Mon-Thurs 8-8 slot. When the key is turned, a projection C.O.D. Friday 9-8 pokes through that slot—but it is spring- Saturday 10-5 loaded like a door latch. It lets you insert the alarm cassette into a VCft, but pre¬ For additional information, circle No. 54 Reader Service Card. vents you from removing it without the correct key. The alarm is supplied in a THE SOPER GAMES SUPERMARKET

It’s all here. interest you should know The newest, best, before you buy! most challenging games for the It’s the 1984 Atari, Commodore, SOFTWARE Apple and IBM ENCYCLOPEDIA . . . computers . . . and produced, directed the Colecovision, and brought to you Atari, Vectrex by the Editors of and Intellivision ELECTRONIC GAMES videogame systems! Magazine. And that makes it an More than 900 up-to-the-minute, game descriptions, must-have ratings and reference for other important gung-ho gamers and points of passionate players!

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

Yes, I’m game to check it out! Send me EG’s 1984 SOFTWARE ENCYCLOPEDIA (at $3.95 + $1.00 postage and handling for each copy ordered) right away!

Name---;-(lea-—---

Address__ -*-—-*-►- City_____State---Zip.

Number of copies ordered:--—--—-- Payment (at $4.95 per copy) enclosed:----- All orders must be prepaid. Please make check or money order payable to Reese Communications Inc.

MAIL TO: ELECTRONIC GAMES SOFTWARE ENCYCLOPEDIA, 460 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 Videotests

DATA Date of test: December 1984 Brand and model: Bib, Video Alarm, VE-39 Manufacturer: Bib, Division of Kelsey Industries, Inc.; in U.S., Bib Audio Video Products, 3595 S. Teller—Suite 402, Lakewood, Colorado 80235 Function: motion-detector alarm to deter theft or unauthorized use of VHS VCRs Suggested retail price: $39.95 Dimensions: standard VHS cassette, 1 x

jbw ^AAAnftA CALL TOLL FREE ORDERS ONLY Illi /MU CAMERA 1-800-221-1926 160 Broadway New York N.Y. 10038 RCA w/Rebate PANASONIC HITACHI NEC CANON COPIER VKT 275 $339.95 PV 5400 $549.95 VT88A . 599.95 CT 1901 A. 47 PC-10 . 489.95 VKT300 369.95 PV 5800 599.95 VT8P 740.95 CT 2501 A 62 PC-20.. 659.95 PV 6600 VT34A. . 379.95 VC20N . 32 PC-25 . 899.95 PV 8500 VT89A. . 869.95 VC40N . 39 PV 8600 VC 739E 64 SONY HI FI 9600.979.95 OLYMPUS SL 2300 $339.95 CALL FOR 833EU 52 PK 558 . 549.95 VC 105 . 649.95 895 Ell . 82 SL 2400 349.95 VC 106 . IN STOCK SONY TV’S VC 70N . 69 SL 30 . . 379.95 VR 208 . 209.95 SL 60 . . 799.95 VX 304. CALL COMPUTERS SL 2710 659.95 Commodore VIC 64 149.9 SL 2005/ GXN7U.. 619.95 MINOLTA Plus 4 .209.95 Disc Drive 169.9 W/T.T 589.95 GXN 70U 679.95 V 770S. CALL 1702 Mon. 209.95 Atari 800XL109.9! BETA MOV. 799.95 GXN80U 849.95 T770S . CALL HVC 2500 .799.95 GXN 4U. 499.95 CDG 5 . . 843.95 K0DAVISI0N PENTAX Auto Focus 2000 1069.95 R 1000A CALL BMC 220K1079.95 2400 . . . 1299.95 V 1000A US LAST SLHF300 .539.95 T.Timer. 169.95

TAPES T 120.3 T-120HG ...4 Now available A totally unique super wide angle/maero lens. A must for every video camera.

many cable television stations consider the Pave Perispheric lens a sound investment in their equipment inventory. The quality of this widely acclaimed lens begins in the manufacturing process, with a secret proce¬ dure that makes the lens ex¬ tremely difficult to manufacture. No effort has been spared in the crea¬ tion of this lens in order to assure you of its remarkable, distortion-free Compare the difference between the normal wide angle capability of your came performance. The addition of the incredible picture area you’ll take in (3 times more!) with the new RAVE Perisp this totally unique lens to your video camera will provide you The Pave Perispheric™ Super with more enjoyment and Wide Angle Macro Lens will more versatility than you ever thought possible. add a whole new dimension of photographic possibilities Right now you can own this to your video camera. you can uncover with your Perispheric Super Wide Angle In fact, this extremely sophis¬ video camera. ticated, high quality, state-of- Video Lens for the low price Specifications: the-art lens will enhance and of $129.95 plus $3 shipping expand the capabilities of your and handling. Order your Pave Dimensions: 90.1mm x 24.2mm camera beyond your expecta¬ Perispheric Video lens today Filter and Size: 58mm x 0.75mm tions. and discover the wide range Weight: 92 gms. You'll be able to take in an incredible three times more picture area than the normal wide angle capability of your camera. Best of all, this lens is absolutely distortion free. (No fish eye effect, barrel distortion, etc.) No matter what brand of video camera you own, if it has Place the PAVE Perispheric lens right up a macro capability and a filter next to a butterfly and you'll stay in focus, capturing precise detail like this-before thread size of 58mm or less, it takes flight you can use this extraordinary lens. (If your video camera has the whole family into the shot, a filter thread of less than without cutting off Aunt Martha 58mm, step-up ring adapters and Uncle Fred. You can even are available from us.) take an extreme close-up of The Pave Perispheric lens is the family dog or a garden simple to use. Simply screw it flower and still be in focus. on to your existing lens—it's The super wide angle capa¬ that easy! Because the depth- bility of this lens also makes it of-field of the Pave Perispheric ideal for shooting sports lens is so great, virtually every¬ events, business meetings, thing can be in focus from the community happenings and CITY STATE ZIP front of the lens element to school functions. It’s not sur¬ Mail to: Photo and Video Electronics Service Inc. 1620 Hillside Avenue infinity. prising that institutions like hos¬ New Hyde Park, NY. 11040 516-328-6606 Imagine the possibilities. pital operating rooms are using For immediate shipment please enclose a certified check or money order or charg* your VISA or Mastercharge. All orders processed and shipped in 72 hours. Next time you videotape a fam¬ the Pave Perispheric lens for ily gathering, you can gather educational purposes and that j^Perispheric is a registered trademark of PAVE, Inc ^ J Videotests library-type cassette case. piece of merchandise in their hands kicking Performance. Our major testing con¬ Operation. To use the alarm simply up a loud racket. sisted of trying to move a VCR while it was turn the key counterclockwise and remove When you want to use the VCR, just loaded with this cassette, and trying the it. Then press the battery Test button and press the Eject button—but be ready to cassette by itself to measure how much make sure the red LED lights before going insert the key to turn it off because that movement it took to set off the alarm. We any further. The projection will come out, movement will trigger it. You will have to also measured the level of the noise it and you have 15 seconds to load the cas¬ insert the key and turn it before you can made. Outside the VCR it does deliver the sette into the VCR. The cassette can be remove the cassette from the VCR. Be¬ 98dB that Bib says. The measurable noise removed only by inserting the key and cause it can’t be removed without a key, while it is inside the VCR depends on the turning it to the “off’ position. After 15 and because it makes so much noise, it construction of the VCR, and was over seconds, the alarm is armed. Almost any prevents unauthorized use of the VCR. 85dB on all VCRs we tried. movement will set off a piercing noise— The instructions for use are on a printed If you’re very careful it is possible to lift and few burglars want to be caught with a label on the top side of the cassette. the VCR straight up without triggering the alarm, but it must be held perfectly flat and moved slowly. However, if you attempt to walk with it the alarm goes off almost im¬ mediately. In fact, the cassette can be tilted as much as 20 degrees without triggering the alarm, but none of us could move it horizontally for more than a foot or two without triggering it. We did not attempt to check battery life, and Bib doesn’t say how long a battery will last, but the test button assures you that there is enough power left in the battery to sound the alarm. On a fresh battery we let the alarm run for several periods of 10 seconds with no noticeable loss in vol¬ ume. Ouch! Conclusion. Burglars don’t usually take much time when removing your posses¬ sions, so they will most likely trigger the alarm and the surprise will help convince them to leave in a hurry. Bib gives a sug¬ gested retail price of $39.95 for the Video Alarm, and that seems a fair price for a product that could save you hundreds of dollars. We recommend it highly. Ci

Greatest Stories continued from page 69

famed chariot race. The movie is episodic: Ben-Hur is im¬ prisoned, meets Jesus, spends three years as a galley slave, fights in a sea battle, becomes a Roman citizen, battles Messala, rescues his family from a leper colony, wit¬ nesses the events leading up to the crucifi¬ xion of Christ. Jesus is a figure in the film (it opens with his birth), but He is subtly used, crossing Ben-Hur’s path at key plot points (He gives Ben-Hur water; the favor is re¬ turned on Calvary). The religious events are trimmings that help focus the story on its theme: the dan¬ ger of becoming what you hate. The movie holds your interest because it keeps its attention centered on this idea—on the transforming effect of Ben-Hur’s hatred of Messala—and on its converse, the forgiv¬ ing power of love as epitomized by Christ. Heston justly won an Academy Award for his complex picture of a flawed, driven man. As for the transfer: the print’s colors are washed out, with reds once again predomi¬ nating. The end of Tape I is abrupt, but the For additional information, circle No. 56 on Reader Service Card. pans and scans are fairly well-done and ML-U-UNE ELECTRONICS L. T. D. VIDEO VALUES FOR THE LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE AND ADVICE! TOLL FREE 722-7778 ItCJI Quasar. JVC 0 Panasonic HITACHI MAGNAVOX SONY NEC SANYO FULL LINE OF ACCESSORIES r FREE! *25.°° BONUS WITH ~! VIDEO EXPERTS * ALL MAJOR BRANDS I “EXTRA VAL-U-LINE” CATALOG I T-120 $3.99 HG $4.99 | Name___ | KIWI | Address__ |

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i Reader Service Card. subtle, and the chariot race doesn’t seem and they love each other passionately. Hur, but lacks that film’s simplicity: Ben- to suffer as much as it might have. But Loren’s father calls Heston a traitor. Hes¬ Hur’s driving need was revenge, which tied someone should have struck a new print. ton’s father calls Loren’s father a liar. the whole thing together. In El Cid you This movie would have been worth it. Loren’s father slaps Heston’s father, who really have to be a Spanish history major to (4) El Cid (1961). As a followup to his is now insulted. Honor being everything, follow most of the plot, involving Prince triumph in Ben-Hur, Charlton Heston Heston asks for an apology. When he Alfonzo, A1 Kadir, Don Diego, and other starred in this 12th-century adventure doesn’t get it, he kills Loren’s father in a unknown notables. And Heston’s El Cid story about Spain’s nearly legendary hero sword fight. Loren’s father, with his dying character is a concept, not a person: so El Cid (The Lord), who successfully led the breath, then asks Loren to avenge him. noble, so perfect that he becomes dull after Spanish against an invasion by the Moors. She does so by marrying Heston but hating about 30 minutes, making the movie a This movie was the beginning of the end him. This goes on for a good hour before series of meaningless battles. of the epic form, taking the idea of honor the two make up. It’s typical of the convo¬ The film is not helped by the transfer. El and virtue to a ridiculous extreme. Get luted storyline that cripples the film. Cid was shot in widescreen and characters this: Heston is engaged to Sophia Loren El Cid tries to be a big epic like Ben- are constantly cropped out during conver¬ sations. The poorest moments occur dur¬ ing a dramatic joust: most of the tension is dissipated by confusing panning-and-scan- ning which makes it unclear who is who or LASER LASER what is going on. There also seem to be some registration problems: image and col¬ or fluctuate badly at the opening. Once again the colors are washed out or too bright, with reds predominating. (5) Cleopatra (1963). El Cid may have been bad, but it made money. This turkey killed the epic form more or less per¬ manently and nearly closed its chief inves¬ tor, Twentieth Century-Fox, as well. The story behind the screen is actually dicital dicital more interesting than the one on it. Begun dicital dicital in 1958, the film was started and stopped SOUND SOUND SOUND SOUND four times. It had two different directors, Import Import Import Import two Caesars, two Antonys—blit only one Cleopatra. She was, of course; Elizabeth Taylor, and she demanded $125,000 for 16 weeks’ work, $50,000 for every Week of work that went over schedule (that even¬ NEW RELEASES tually amounted to about 104 weeks), Once upon a Time in America (35 98). The Woman in Red (26.95). Bo Derek's Bolero $3000 a week for expenses, and 10 percent (Uncut) (31.45). Star Trek III DIGITAL SOUND (26.95). Firestarter (31.45). Conan the of the gross. She got it all—and not only Destroyer (31.48). Another Country (31.45). Star Wars CAV (44.98). Empire Strikes Back that: her third husband, Eddie Fisher, re¬ CAV (44.98). Mary Hartman II (31.45). Carlin on Campus (26.95). Kool & the Gang DIGITAL SOUND (22.45). Randy Newman (22.45). Streets of Fire (31.48). Attack Force Z portedly was paid $1500 a day to see that (26.95) she turned up for work. Above Prices 10% Off List. Call for up-to-date Release Information. All this is reflected on the screen. The movie is an opulent, irresponsible bore dominated by Taylor’s Cleopatra, a spoiled bitch fashion plate who wears about 15 VIDEODISCS UNDER $10 VIDEODISCS different hairstyles in the course of the Duran Duran, Kim Carnes. Missing Persons. Stray Cats, Phil Collins, Iron Maiden. Sheena story. The film’s only saving grace is Rex Easton, Kajagoogoo, Minor Detail, David Bowie. Motels Harrison (who called the movie a “bizarre” Call for more bargains! experience) as Caesar. He is witty and charming, an oasis of sanity among the LASER VIDEODISCS WITH goings-on. When he disappears at the end fl!) pioneer of Part I, Burton’s Marc Antony takes WE CARRY: LD-660's over, just as sour and self-pitying a charac¬ LD-700’s ter as his Marcellus in The Robe. It’s hard CLD-900's to believe that Taylor and Burton began their off-screen romance here, since their CALL FOR PRICE on-screen affair is tepid. WE ALSO ACCEPT CED TRADE-INS Cleopatra is a pointless movie with no message except don’t fall in love, and it is a near-total failure except in the transfer. 1-800-VHS-DISC The colors are rich and vivid and the pan¬ 617-890-9262 (retail) 617-890-5384 (mail order) Shipping Charge: ning and scanning done skillfully, usually 800-VHS-BETA (MA) UPS $3.00 for First Disc. $.50 fc corresponding well with the on-screen _ the each additional—call for prices •mutant 800-VHS-DISC (US) action. The widescreen ratio is well-han¬ 800-THE-INST (Canada) other carrier preferred. replay dled, with actors only occasionally cropped 479 Winter Street, Waltham. A 02154-1216 Rt. 128 - Exit 48W - Adjacent to Twin Cinema out of a scene noticeably. Too bad the film Open 10-7 M-F Sat. till 5 is not worth the extra effort that apparently went into the tape. For additional information, circle No. 60 on Reader Service Card. (6) The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964). This one suffered from the Cleopa- tra backlash and its failure destroyed the living skeletons (the “Children of the Hy¬ queen and thus sows the seeds of destruc¬ company that produced it. The Fall of the dra’s Teeth,” to be more precise). tion for the Round Table. Roman Empire is a series of battles and As with DeMille, the story and dialogue None of the mythic qualities of the intrigues only worth watching for some are pretty hokey—but the special effects Arthurian legend are captured, and the nice turns by Alec Guinness and James are wonderful, skillfully achieved through whole movie has the dried-out prepack¬ Mason as two thoughtful Romans. Stephen the painstaking stop-motion process (the aged look of a bad Broadway musical. It is Boyd, in a role rejected by Charlton Hes¬ frame-by-frame animation of three-dimen¬ justifiably one of the 40 biggest flops of all ton, is dull as the hero, though Sophia sional figures). The skeleton fight, for in¬ time, though the transfer is fine, with rich Loren is as beautiful as ever. The movie stance, is a frenetic, brilliantly chor¬ color and fairly smooth scanning (in some details Guinness' and Boyd’s attempts to eographed (and tongue-in-cheek) battle scenes, however, a simple crop would deal with the barbarian hordes. They fail, that becomes even more wonderful when have been better—and clearer). naturally, but take nearly three hours you realize that it is staged between six- (9) Excalibur (1981). John (Deliverance) to do it. foot men and six-inch miniatures. Boorman’s retelling of the Arthurian story The transfer crops people out in conver¬ Jason and the Argonauts is the stuff of certainly has more meat than the tepid sations, scans obtrusively, and offers dreams, cleverly tapping into a childhood 1967 musical, but also has its own failings. murky color. Overall, The Fall is one love of fairytales and an adult longing for The film is a sometimes mystical, mostly to avoid. the simplicity of myth. It is complemented gory rendition of what Mallory tells us hap¬ by Bernard Herrmann’s throbbing score pened to the king and his cohorts in his The Myth as Epic and colorful Greek locations. Morte dArthur. Those familiar with the (7) Jason and the Argonauts (1963). The transfer is excellent with fine color poem or the history might have better luck After Cleopatra, the successful epic was reproduction and only occasional problems understanding some of the events. Others forced to take a new form, drawing its with scratches and splices on the print. will at times find themselves wondering inspiration from classical antiquity and re¬ Scanning and panning are unobtrusive. who is who, and why they are fighting so lying more on special effects than ever be¬ (8) Camelot (1967). Lemer & Loew’s last fiercely. fore. Jasoti, the best example of this new Broadway musical, an adaptation of T.H. Nonetheless the movie, which tries to form, is the work of special-effects wizard White’s The Once and Future King, be¬ cover too much, has its moments, most of Ray Harryhausen (The Seventh Voyage of came this overblown film, directed by them taken by Nicol Williamson’s Merlin. Sinbad, Clash of the Titans). Following the Joshua Logan as though he were doing a He plays the character as a figure out of adventures of Jason and his men in search TV variety show. Richard Harris is Arthur, nightmare—sometimes friendly, some¬ of the magical golden fleece that will make given to long speeches to himself, theoriz¬ times creepy, but always there at the right him ruler of ancient Greece, the movie ing about the issues facing the world; time. His is the most vivid performance; offers the 50-foot bronze giant Talos, the Vanessa Redgrave is Guinevere (“Jenny” everyone else is more or less a cipher, lost flying Harpies, the seven-headed Hydra, to her friends), a fairly no-nonsense sort in the battles, spells, and speeches. (The the gigantic Olympian gods (and Olympus who has a good voice; and Franco Nero is worst comes from Arthur, when he de¬ itself), Poseidon holding apart the an Italian-accented Lancelot (“Lance”), cides how he will form the Round Table in a “clashing rocks,” and the sword-wielding who of course betrays Arthur by loving the kind of You Are There monologue.) The WE'VE GOT IT Ml TOGETHER WITH. THE 1985 VIDEO TEST ANNUAL AND BUYER’S GUIDE The convenient all-in-one resource every video hobbyist should have within reach

The VIDEO Test Annual and Buyer’s Guide is filled with complete and compre¬ hensive test results on products that range from VCRs to batteries . . . Tests performed by Berger-Braithwaite Labs are in-depth reviews and evaluations of the operation, performance and overall quality of selected video equipment and accessories. Plus practical tips that will help you get the most use and enjoyment from your video purchases. If you’ve missed any issues of VIDEO or are tired of searching for information you need quickly... invest only $3.95 in the VIDEO Test Annual and Buyer’s Guide. It could be your most valuable video accessory.

Please send me_copies of the 1985 VIDEO Buyer’s Name-- Guide at $3.95 + $1.00 for Address_ postage and handling per copy. I am enclosing $_ City-State-i Payment must accompany all orders. MAIL TO: VIDEO Buyer’s Guide, 460 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 transfer is fine, with no noticeable tracking with three wise men following a star—but The Pythons’ earlier Holy Grail mined or scanning problems. to the wrong baby.) Brian is constantly the Arthurian vein, though less successful¬ being mistaken for the Messiah in the ly. It is episodic, like Excqlibur, featuring The Epic Parodied movie and in the process becomes involved the quest, a pompous Arthur, and some (10) Monty Python’s Life of Brian with an inept Jewish rebel group (the Peo¬ hilarious sequences involving the Holy (1979)/Monty Python and the Holy ple’s Liberation Front of Judea, bitterly Hand Grenade, the killer rabbit, a knight Grail (1975). With the epic dead (reborn opposed to a rival group, the Judean Peo¬ who wants to keep fighting even after all as the mini-series on TV), the British Mon¬ ple’s Front), a lisping Pontius Pilate (who his limbs have been cut off, and a balladeer ty Python troupe resurrected the form and sounds like Porky Pig and has a friend, who sings nobly about his master’s cow¬ parodied it in these two films. Bigus Dickus, who “came all the way from ardice. There’s also a bouncy song-and- Brian is the better of the two, if only Wome”), and a man who keeps getting dance number called “Knights of the Round because it sticks more closely to a coher¬ crucified for a lark. The climax finds the Table.” ent plot, neatly spoofing conventions of the cast on crosses singing a Camelot-style Both films are adequately transferred, genre. (In fact, the pre-credits sequence is number called “Always Look on the Bright though some of the colors are washed out. a direct takeoff of the opening oiBen-Hur. Side.” Nonetheless, both bring welcome relief from the weight and virtue of sqme of the epics, recalling the greatnesses—and the absurdities—of a once-proud form. Q

What's New continued, from page 74

$300-$350 range—by saying it will have “mainly industrial and/or commercial appli¬ cations” (it’s just to the trade, don’t y’know). Quasar spokesmen say the deck is “ideal for sales forces as a presentation tool,” and also perfect for sale to deck- rental shops. But they admit we’ll be seeing it in retail stores too. It will be fascinating to see exactly how deeply we come to love these VCPs. Will we become a nation of prerecorded tape watchers—boob tubers redux—or will we continue to want our taping and time shifting? Tune in next year.

...And Everything Nice Video accessory makers have to eat too, and they want us to help them. Here’s a random sampling of some products you may be inclined to support. The VCR Rabbit by Envision Systems is a two-piece system (one module for transmitting, the other for receiving) which you can use to send a video signal from your VCR or disc player to any TV in your home. Clever little rabbit: it bumps down the signal, sends it through your house wiring, then bumps it back up to RF level at the plugged-in TV of your choice. To send to more TVs, simply add more solid-state receiver modules. (Suggested list price, for the Rabbit T100 is $99.95; additional receivers are $39.95 apiece.) The VideoCaster from Quantec In¬ ternational achieves a similar effect through the airwaves, making any man’s home his own LP (low power) broadcasting station. The VideoCaster sends a low pow¬ er signal up to 40 feet, to any antenna. It works best with rabbit ears. (Sug¬ gested list price for the VideoCaster is $119.95.) Both Fosgate and SSI have new rear- channel Surround Sound decoders. Fos- gate’s 360° Space Matrix 3601 Direc¬ tional Processor ($624.95 with remote) claims to provide “cleaner and more trans¬ For additional information, f No. 62 on Reader Service Card. parent” sound than previous surround re- Heart disease Put your and stroke money where will cause half your Heart is. of all deaths ^^ American this year. ■ ■Heart Association WE'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE

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SANYO BETA BESCOR 5 HOUR JVC HRD-725U Top Loading, BATTERY VHS Hi-Fi 14 day/8 Enclosed please find $2 Remote Control, This extended life event, cable ready, Please send me the 1984 3 day program, battery will supply a JATEK Catalog wireless, remote, 131 85 channels J charge to any 12 volt front loading Top NAME_ I portable system. of the Line ADDRESS | Light but Machine. | durable. CITY/STATE/ZIP Only Only Only^ JATEk, Corp- P.O. Box 175 Pelham, N Y. 10803 YOUR TOLL FREE ORDER LINE 1 (800) 232 1 for info, and prices 1-(718)-438-3007 SATISFACTION GUARANTEED or your money back ELECTRONICS. INC. Pic JATEK Corp 1984 production systems. And a new company VIDEO called Aphex has a Surround Sound decod¬ HOMEVIDEO {© er (model 6000) which it says will elimi¬ ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CASSETTES AT nate some problems found in older genera¬ tions of logic-controlled sound gear. The LOW PRICES 6000 features full-bandwidth cinema sound Gone With The Wind.$79.95 decoding, SQ decoding, and stereo-to-sur- Spartacus.$69.95 round enhancement. VIDEO CASSETTES Little Drummer Girl.$69.95 Sony has a new digital audio processor, the PCM 501ES. It enables digital audio Red Dawn.$69.95 SEND S3.00 FOR OUR COMPLETE CATALOG to be recorded on a VCR—up to 5 hours of Impluse.$69.95 DEDUCTIBLE WITH FIRST PURCHASE TO: digital audio on Beta, up to 8 hours on VHS. HOME VIDEO ENTERTAINMENT. INC. Sheena.$69.95 List price is $750. P.O.BOX 32277 Night Gallery.$53 95 Blank tape is a confusing, quickly chang¬ CLEVELAND. OHIO 44132 East End Hustle[unraied].$69.95 ing world unto itself. But the major change since our recent exhaustive and exhausting Crimes of Passion.$69.95 |gg|(216) 731-5228 tape tests (see VIDEO, February and C.H.U.D.$62,95 March, 1985) has been TDK’s introduc¬ tion of its high-quality P6-90MP 8mm tape, mentioned above. The proliferation of high-quality blank tape is one more ne¬ cessity for the format’s survival. And speaking of survival, let’s face it— We’re Fighting 8mm is going to need an extensive library of prerecorded tape if it’s really to compete with the bigger boys. Well folks, now the 8mm prerecorded tape makers have got¬ ten their start. A-8 Video Movies, a Cali¬ for Your Life' fornia-based company, goes on record as being the first to support 8mm by selling cassettes. It has released Suzie Superstar Please give generously to the and I Want to Be...BAD, two X-rated features. As we seldom tire of carping, let American Heart Association 0 the sellers of half-inch prerecorded tape not forget that their billion-dollar business began with (and continues to be fueled by) people’s taste for adult fare. But don’t get us started. We could go on and on. Instead, we’ll cast aside our pen and go watch some (PG-rated) video. 5»”«2SS Lowest pwcb We’ve touched lightly on the new and im¬ portant —but stay tuned in the months ahead. We’ll be taking in-depth looks at toll fcrPey many of the items we’ve mentioned, and OUT OF N.Y. introducing numerous others we just didn’t have room for here. Q

ALL MERCHANDISE SHIPPED IN FACTORY SEALED CARTONS I 100% GUARANTEED Who's Who in "What's New": R A Directory of Manufacturers Aphex Systems, Ltd. 13340 Saticoy St. North Hollywood, Calif. 91605 818-765-2212 Canon U.S.A. Video Division One Canon Plaza Lake Success. N.Y. 11042 516-488-6700 Casio 15 Gardner Rd. I Fairfield, N.J. 07006 201-575-7400 Fosgate Research Box 70 Heber City, Utah 84032 801-654-4046

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ZERO CALCULATORS •• . HP 12C 88.50 HP 15C 88.50 ; ; HALLIBURTON j HP41CX 249.95 ALUMINUM CASES | SOME PRICES MAY INCLUDE REBATES I C*MERA VCR EXT C0RDS 49 95 SURE SHOT Photron Marketing Inc. BUSINESS HOURS: OPEN, DAILY 9:00 AM 256 West 38th Street SUN 10:00 AM CLOSE, SUN 4:00 PM New York, N.Y. 10018 MON-WED 6:00 PM THUR 7:00 PM FRI 2:00 PM General Electric Panasonic Mail Drop #20 Matsushita Electric Division Portsmouth, Va. 23705 One Panasonic Way Mitsubishi Electric 804483-5000 Secaucus, N.J. 07094 Sales America 201-348-7000 GoldStar Electronics 3030 E. Victoria International Rancho Dominguez, Calif. 90221 Pioneer Video 1050 Wall Street West 800-323-4216-IL 200 W. Grand Ave. Lyndhurst, N.J. 07071 800-421 -1132-CA Montvale, N.J. 07645 201-460-8870 NAD (USA) 201-573-1122 Magnavox/N.A.P. Consumer 675 Canton St. Polaroid Electronics Norwood, Mass. 02062 549 Technology Sq. 1-40 & Straw Plains Pike 617-769-7050 Cambridge, Mass. 02139 617-577-2000

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City & State Phone ( We need your help. 6'A% tax. Please s ties I have checked above □ Please cl rormat 'O VHS Q BETA a VISA Q MasterCard □ Money Order □ Check American Heart Card No._ -Exp. Date_ Association DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME WE'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE provements to the soundtrack, can repro¬ but both Showtime and Home Box Office Found Sound duce sound only to 12.5kHz. The response are scheduled to begin stereocasts soon as continued from page 79 of the laser videodisc players, for example, well. Of course, stereo broadcasting is is much greater. And if you have noise scheduled to begin soon, and it is likely that reduction on your recorder or disc player the networks will broadcast many Holly¬ sound. Using another amplifier, make con¬ (Dolby for VHS machines, CX for LV play¬ wood films in stereo. nections to a “tape output” instead of the ers), use it. It will greatly improve the Not every stereo movie has a surround speakers. sound. track, however. Some films were decoded In either case, be careful making these If you don’t have a stereo recorder or before transfer to tape, which ruins the connections. A wrong wire can short the disc player, you can also hear surround surround information. Two examples of output of your amplifier and cause prob¬ sound from a stereo film soundtrack deliv¬ this are the early videodisc versions of lems. And don’t tfy this scheme on old ered via cable TV. At the time of this Alien and The Elephant Man. (Both have high-powered or tube-type amplifiers. writing, the Movie Channel was the only since been remastered to correct this Though Dynaco (which itself made high- pay-TV network playing films in stereo, error.) The Black Stallion, which critics quality audio gear) recommended this sys¬ tem, some audio engineers were skeptical of the strain it could put on an old amp. When you fire up the system and play a stereo videodisc or videocassette, you’ll probably be astounded by what you hear. There, in all its glory, is that Dolby Sur¬ round track. For best results, sit between the front and rear speakers. If you can, turn off the front speakers and listen just to the back. There, you’ll notice, are environ¬ mental sound effects and music. Dialogue, though, will be suppressed, and most will be almost unintelligible in a well-mixed Dol¬ by Surround track. How do the results of this “brute force” decoding method differ from what you’ll hear coming from a more expensive de¬ coder? Well, when using any decoder which has a delay line, the dialogue that accidentally makes it through the back speaker—called “leakage” by I takes on an ec active logic circ and lower the level of the surround track. You’re also like in the back c ror,” using this Experiment and try listening to a con¬ ventional stereo record or audio tape. You’ll hear some interesting things in the back speaker, but not because they’re sup¬ posed to be there. It’s more error that’s just inherent in most stereo recordings. The surround channel may also be clut¬ tered with high-frequency sounds in cer¬ tain scenes. The sounds of glass shatter¬ ing, steam hissing, or paper rustling, for instance, resist phase encoding. In live concert recc rustling and applause—may appear at the back of the n was mastered fc cause those noises, coupled with the natu¬ ral acoustics of the hall and front-to-back delay time, yield phase information. Still, Tim Prouty, who oversees video for Dolby Labs, confirms that this s nected properly, that comes out' tation—minus, i noise reduction a; Beyond that, you will be pleased y the results qf this inexpensive experime In fact, i sound with’s response than in a Dolby Stereo film 35mm film which, even with Dolby’s im¬ cited for its excellent sound, has no sur¬ the last concert by the Who. It was mixed, studios may not indicate which films use round track either, according to Prouty. live, through a DS-4 encoder. surround, and some are more concerned Yet some video versions of movies Dolby notes that only certain video pro¬ with maintaining the integrity of the origi¬ which you would not expect to use sur¬ grams carry its trademark. VHS linear- nal stereo track than others. Tim Prouty round have been specially re-recorded. track stereo tapes can use it to indicate cites MGM/UA and Warner Home Video Twentieth Century-Fox mastered The that Dolby-B noise reduction was used, but as being particularly careful with their Sound of Music and other older stereo this doesn’t necessarily indicate that the soundtrack mastering, and says that Dolby films for video using Dolby’s DS-4 en¬ surround track was mastered intact. Laser was especially impressed with RCA/Co¬ coder, and Warner Brothers completely videodiscs, since they use CX noise reduc¬ lumbia’s video version of The Right Stuff. remixed the 1954 Judy Garland version of tion instead of Dolby, do not carry the After listening to Dolby surround sound, A Star Is Bom for Dolby. RCA/Columbia’s trademark. MCA now indicates which of its you may be hooked enough to purchase disc of Lawrence of Arabia has a very good films have surround information encoded. one of the consumer rear-channel de¬ surround track too. One example of a (Even so, at least one release, D. C. Cab, coders. The results are almost sure to be made-for-video presentation that uses does not have a legitimate surround chan¬ more pleasing, especially to hardcore audio Dolby Surround is CBS/Fox’s recording of nel though it was marked that it did.) Other buffs. Yet our “cheap surround” will be all that many video fans need to bring home the most impressive sound in movies. Q Heard Any Movies? I.R.S. SALE continued from page 81 on video release. (INVENTORY REDUCTION SALE) Francis Coppola, for instance, isn’t known for pinching pennies or progress; his Apocalypse Now was one of the first OVERSTOCK SPECIALS! stereo video releases. If anything, Coppo¬ la’s recognized for going wildly over budget NOT rental tapes, or distress dealer stock. and overspending for detail and “the All Factory Fresh ★ Original ★ Sealed best”—one of the reasons why the Quantities are limited ☆ No additional discounts! soundtrack for his latest extravaganza Cot¬ ton Club carries digital sound. It was for this detail that Coppola’s Zoetrope Produc¬ *48.88 tions called in music recording expert Tom ★ A Coming of Angels t A Dirty Western t Misty Beethoven Jung to handle the audio chores for the ★ All the Senator's Girls r The Ecstasy Girls lr Oriental digital video rigs that Lucasfilm, in Marin County, California—is « FOR FASTEST DELIVERY USE: ». will handle both their audio and video re¬ * MONEY ORDER, BANK CHECK, VISA * actively promoting a new theatrical sound cording and playback needs. or MASTERCARD. * system throughout the country that has Sony is already showing prototype dig¬ * CHECKS—allow 2 weeks * been installed in nearly 50 moviehouses ital video systems to broadcast pros; digital DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME nationwide, including the famed Mann’s video standards are also in the making. FREE BROCHURE W. PRICE LIST: Chinese Theater. The THX System “There’s no reason to compromise,” UNISON ELECT. CORP., DEPT. V45 (named after Lucas’s first film THX 1138) Dauphinee intones. “Digital everything is 82 3RD AVE., NYC 10003 ties into a standard six-channel Dolby just a few years down the road.” Q (212) 228-4199, 673-2032_ The abused child will grow up someday. Maybe.

Each year, over 2,000 American to do it. But we need your help. We need children die from child abuse. money. We need volunteers. Send us But what about those who survive? your check today. Or write for our booklet. An abused childhood can affect a Because if we don't all start somewhere, pers e life. we won’t get anywhere. rhild abuse can be prevented. The National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse is a private National Committee for charitable, organization that knows how Prevention of Child Abuse

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follow the standards applied Rashomon and Knife in the and high-school age crowd. by Ichiro by the Japan Video Manufac¬ Water, has fallen on hard Thus the tendency, not sur¬ turers Association, a group of times. One industry estimate prisingly, in both films and Kdkehashi 30 producers and distributors is that 65 percent of the video—which are most often of videotapes, although they movies made in Japan last one and the same anyway—is are not—by virtue of their year were pom flicks. Once- to cater to the lowest com¬ Softies “unseemly” affiliation—full mighty giants like Toho and mon denominator. The Pony Corporation, a large distribu¬ TOKYO—If I had some members of the group. Toei survive on video and use tor (Pony/Herald) of films and champagne, I’d drink a toast But editing the tapes, cross-promotion to get the records, was one of the first to Japan’s purveyors of what especially copies of Amer¬ most out of each audience. to bring feature-length is known here as “video soft, ” ican-made hard-core that One example of that dou¬ movies to video in Japan; in about to enter its second make it here for legitimate ble-edged exploitation, and a alliance with the Kadokawa year. Yes, though Japan has a distribution, often leads to a clue to just how little there is Motion Picture Division of virtual monopoly on video screen filled with lots of to attract the real Japanese the giant mass-market book equipment, we’ve been strategically placed rectan¬ film aficionado, is the recent publisher led by seasoned woefully far behind in the stuff gles. The result, for the Toho remake of Godzilla. promoter Haruki Kadokawa. to play on it. viewer and distributor, has Now, with all the computer The Kadokawa group 1 recently returned to been less than satisfactory. graphics and robot simulation promotes its films well in ad¬ Tokyo through Narita, the “Business is not so good, ” and refined special-effects re¬ vance of release with a bar¬ far-from-Tokyo International one of the distributors told sources available to the stu¬ rage of TV spots. Although Airport. A half-dozen sun¬ me. “We started out with a dio, we might reasonably ex¬ critics here are virtually burned young men just back good idea, taking advantage pect the new color wide¬ unanimous in deriding the from a weekend on Guam of the fact that the average screen version of the atom- Kadokawa juggernaut as an zipped past me to the near¬ family man in Japan doesn’t fed monster from the slimy exploiter of both talent and est restroom before we want to be seen going into a depths to be scarier and more audiences, the formula approached customs. I found theater that’s showing dirty chilling than the 30-year-old works. A twin bill in the sum¬ out later that they had movies. But now, most of original. Not so. Godzilla is mer of 1983, with 20-year-old dumped several unopened what we can put on tape is Godawful. Hiroko Yakushimaru in Tan¬ American triple-X cassettes available for free on late-night Nevertheless the video te i Monogatari (“Detective into the trash in the john. commercial TV. ” version was ready for home Story”) and 17-year-old Customs, it seems, The combination of cus¬ distribution as a shirttail Tomoyo Harada in Toki o doesn’t take too kindly to toms regulations and a flaccid promotion of the movie. Kakeru Shojo (“The Girl Who what is considered porno¬ market make business risky Sometimes the video comes Made Time Stand Still”), was graphic video, which is basical¬ in more ways than one for the out ahead of the movie, as the second-biggest box-office ly anything that shows geni¬ bold few who try to bring in with John Travolta’s Stayin’ success in Japanese film his¬ tals or pubic hair. But fans of headier fare. Every few Alive and with Breakin’ and tory. The biggest box-office triple-X—and they are legion months, Tokyo Customs its sequel. Recently, promo¬ attraction, by the way, was in Japan—will tell you that if scores a bust on would-be dis¬ tions of video releases have Nankyoku Monogatari (“Ant¬ you, er, take away the geni¬ tributors of Triple-X materi¬ been heralded by showings of arctica”), an animal-adven¬ tals and pubic hair, there real¬ al. One recent raid led to the the same title on commercial ture film coproduced by Toho ly isn’t much left. arrest of a video company TV. That was the case with and Fuji TV, one of the major That makes it interesting president and three assis¬ Superman II and My Fair networks. for the producers and distrib¬ tants, and the confiscation of Lady, among others. One critical bright spot is utors of so-called “roman 31 hardcore cassettes and expected to be the midsum¬ porno” (for romantic pornog¬ two discs, together with Lords of Misrule mer release of Akira Kurosa¬ raphy) which, if screened in about 1000 copies. Although Japan has seen a wa’s Ran (“Revolt”), a big- an American theater, would renewed interest in movies, budget adaptation of King probably get an “R” rating. Shrinking the big audiences are the Lear. But here, as in Amer¬ The suppliers of roman porno Big Screen kids—usually the junior-high ica, the movies we’d really are largely self-policing and Sad to say, the film indus¬ try in Japan—though esteemed abroad for such I award winning movies as like to see often aren’t avail¬ is linked with Warner Home tles but about 85 percent of traditionally the start of ear¬ able on video except in murky Video and JVC distributes discs. nest sales campaigns at elec¬ pirate versions. For better or Paramount and Universal ti¬ tronics stores here. This year worse, that has led to a rapid tles through CIC Video, Ways to Go video fans have the extra rise in sales of foreign-made among its numerous and suc¬ Makers of portable head¬ choice of 8mm video, with films on video. The assistant cessful distribution and repro¬ phone stereo products like Sony first out of the gate manager at one of the shops duction alliances. the Walkman from the Sony —surprising its own deal¬ in the Roppongi area of Video rental became legal Corporation and its host of ers and distributors, as Tokyo, where I rent most of only in April 1983 and didn’t imitators have been looking well as the competition, by the video I don’t buy or tape really get started as a busi¬ for ways to build more sales. being at least a month ahead off the tube, told me that for¬ ness until the end of the They think they have found of anybody’s estimate with a eign films are the most popular year, as distributors and the answer in combination camcorder combination using tapes in his stock, and more foreign—primarily Amer¬ products having recorders a CCD image sensor, much than 26 percent of the new ican—companies formed and tuners that get AM, FM, like the slightly modified ver¬ video releases during 1984 alliances to bring the tapes to and TV frequencies. By April sion that Sony is building for were from outside Japan. Japan. The Japan Video Soft virtually all of the manufactur¬ OEM sale for the Fuji Photo That is because American Rental Industry Association ers will have at least one such Film Company. The man-on- partners in the ventures have has about 1000 member mer¬ model. One typical example is the-street curiosity for 8mm been quick to see the poten¬ chants, with estimates that the Sanyo Electric Com¬ video has been high ever tial here. Two of the biggest about as many other entre¬ pany’s MR-JJ7, with con¬ since Japanese companies providers of prerecorded preneurs are running prosper¬ tinuous automatic reverse started making the equip¬ video are the Pioneer Elec¬ ous pirate video rental sales and a suggested retail price of ment a year ago for the Amer¬ tronics Company, which shops offering illegal dubbing Y28,800 (that would be ican market. Unfortunately, makes LaserDisc equipment, services. $115.20 based on an ex¬ the prices are high too, still in and the Victor Company of I could go on, and I will. I change rate of Y250 to $1). I the neighborhood of $1200. Japan (JVC), which originated haven’t even touched on find listening to TV is about as That may not be unreason¬ VHS as a tape format and music video, which is in a interesting as watching radio, able given the technology VHD (for Video High Den¬ class by itself. I’ll just say for but nobody consulted me. built into the product. But sity), the alternate disk for¬ now that music is a rapidly Japan, even with about 15 mil¬ mat here—although you only rising component of the mix, 8mm Blossoms lion VCRs in place, is not see it Stateside so far in pro¬ now representing less than The spring plum- and cher¬ quite ready to be a second-set fessional equipment. Pioneer one-quarter of the cassette ti¬ ry-blossom-viewing season is market. Q

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LARRY The Stooge pion, football hero, and disco made are surveyed in this by George L. In the Middle bouncer before appearing in attractive volume. (Citadel, George by Morris Feinberg Rocky III and eventually star¬ Secaucus, N.J.; $19.95.) TV and video have created ring in TheA-Team series. a nationwide Three Stooges (St. Martin’s, N. Y.; $12.95.) Road Movies revival. This is their by Mark Williams story from the Sports Junkies Hollywood’s cult of the viewpoint of Larry Rejoice! motor vehicle (car, truck, Fine, written by his by Bill Rasmussen bike)—celebrated in The younger brother; The birth of ESPN, the Wild Ones, Easy Rider, Two with a foreword by widely distributed sports Lane Blacktop, and hundreds Steve'Allen and a cable service reaching some more movies—is earnestly posthumous “appen¬ 30 million homes, is told by its exorcised in this study of a dix” by Jack originator in an upbeat tale of conventional macho symbol. Kerouac. VIDEO vision and entrepreneurship. (Proteus, N.Y.; $10.95.) artist Drew Fried¬ (Sports Junkie, Box 9995, Na¬ man contributed ples, Pa. 33941; $14.95.) W. C. Fields numerous illustra¬ by Ronald J. Fields tions. (Last Gasp, Hollywood Authored by the co¬ San Francisco; Babylon II median’s grandson, this $9.95.) by Kenneth Anger perceptive biography draws Nonstop gossip, most of it on family archives to reveal The Last Days shopworn, saturates this se¬ the private man behind the Of M*A*S*H quel to Anger’s original noto¬ screen character, and dis¬ cusses Fields’ film career at by Arlene rious 1960 expose. Photos & Alan Alda are catchy, especially some length. (St. Martin’s, N.Y.; Arlene’s lively eyepopping Joan Crawford $14.95.) poses. But on the whole, I photographs and Sexuality notes dovetail with Alan’s what’s interesting is not new, perceptive commentary in and what’s new is not in¬ In the Movies edited by Thomas R. Atkins this farewell to 11 years of teresting. (Dutton, N.Y.; Films have delivered sex¬ TV’s uniquely successful $24.95.) ual messages since their in¬ show. The book, whose pro¬ ception. Their content and ceeds benefit the Pearl S. Memorable Film style, moral aspects, cultural Buck Foundation for Amer- Characters value, censorship problems, asian children, reflects the by Susan Lieberman poignancy and exhilaration of & Frances Cable and public acceptance are surveyed by Atkins and his those final filming days. Performers and roles they collaborators in this candid (Unicom, Parsippany, N.J.; played are compiled in this and well-illustrated study. $9.95.) useful reference volume. It identifies, describes, and (Da Capo, N. Y.; $12.95.) Mr. T cross-indexes some 1500 by Mr. T characters, together with film The World in a Frame Son of a poor preacher, title and performer’s name, by Leo Braudy Lawrence Tureaud narrates covering movies of the 1915- This primer of film criti¬ cism for nonprofessionals his rise from Chicago slums to 83 period. (Greenwood, West- proposes criteria for movie media celebrity. Deeply reli¬ port, Conn.; $29.95.) gious and proud of his race, enjoyment based on visual Mr. T was a wrestling cham¬ The Films style, historic and social cred¬ Of Steve McQueen ibility, acting aptitude, and by Casey St. Chamez story values in a context of Violence was the cultural continuity. (U. of trademark of this very pri¬ Chicago Press, Chicago; vate, restless star. His death $9.95.) B at age 50, his marriages and liaisons, and the 28 films he THE IDEAL HOLIDAY GIFT VIDEO TAPE & DISC GUIDE TO HOME ENTERTAINMENT7 FifthEdltion ARE YOU A VCR OWNER?

The completely revised 1985 THE Video Tape & Disc Guide to Home Entertainment, Fifth Edition, pub¬ VIDEO lished October 1,1984, is the per¬ fect addition to your video library. SOURCE Where else but in this GUIDE can you find over 900 pages packed BOOK® with information on prerecorded Sixth Edition tapes and discs for home use, including: FOR THE VIDEO PROFESSIONAL . . . over 5,500 listings of the most Increase your popular feature films, children’s programs, sports features and knowledge with r our new and completely “how-to’s” available for home revised 1985 Video video Source Book, Sixth Edition, ■ ■ 19 facts about every title to be published November listed, including program 1, 1984. This hardcover description, format, running time reference book includes: and sources . . subject category index . . program sources index . . cast index of over 250 stars / • Over 1,900 pages • More than 40,000 ■ . closed captioned index / titles • Indexes of more than 400 subjects/850 distributors/ ■ . disc index / wholesalers • A main category index covering Movies/ ■ . . 16 pages of classic / Entertainment, Sports/Recreation, Fine Arts, General Interest/ photographs / Education, Health/Science, Business/Industry, Children/Juvenile, and ORDER NOW- / How-To/lnstruction • Free update with return of response card $12.95 plus $3.00, shipping and handling + ORDER NOW: $135.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling

e make check for total amount payable and mail to: Please send the indicated publications The National Video Clearinghouse, Inc., 100 Lafayette Dr., Syosset, NY 11791 as follows: Tel: 516-364-3686 Telex: 6852011 _copy(ies) of The Video Tape & Disc Guide to Home Entertainment, Fifth Edition @ $12.95 plus $3.00 postage and handling each. Check enclosed for $_ —/charge to □ VISA □ Master Card _copy(ies) of The Video Card#_ _ Exp. Date_ Source Book, Sixth Edition @ $135.00 plus $5.00 postage and handling each. Name _ Signature _ • NY Residents add appropriate sales tax. Street Address _ City_ Allow 4 weeks after publication date for delivery

93 on Reader Ser People Idol Chatter

The Goodbye People—the Ann Reinking, who owns much of what was going on, by Lorenzo film version of Herb Gard¬ the best set of dancer’s legs but I didn’t have to. I was too J ner’s play about a dying man, this side of Gwen Verdon, busy flying around, having a H Carcaterra his wayward daughter, a con¬ was more than happy over great time. ” fused beach lover, and the her role as Dudley Moore’s Peter Fonda, whose Coney Island board¬ second wife in the Blake Ed¬ mother committed suicide walk—will be avail¬ wards comedy Micki & when he was 10 years old, able on cassette Maude (that’s right, in your plays a father contemplating this month after a video stores this month). that same act in A Reason to less-than- She’s ecstatic. “I think this Live, which aired on NBC in successful turn in film will finally erase the label January and is available on movie theaters. of dancer from my name, ” video this month. “I want the The entire movie she says. “It’s not that I don’t film to get one simple mes¬ was filmed little love to dance, but I’d like to sage across,” he says, “that more than a mile have the option of being able you can always begin your life from the famous to work after I’m 40. I mean, I again, you can always start Wonder Wheel won’t be able to dance for¬ over. Suicide is not an answer 1 Ride, a ride which ever. ” Who wants to? to anything.” Ricky Schrod¬ the film’s star, Many of you probably re¬ er costars. Judd Hirsch, used member Richard Crenna Here and There: Tina Tur¬ to take every day from the TV series The Real ner, due soon on the big during his teen McCoys. The older among screen in Road Warrior III, is years. “It’s been you may remember him from expected to do well video¬ here since year radio days (and later TV) wise with her HBO concert. one, ” he told us. “When you when he was goofy Walter It goes on sale later this ride it, as you’re zooming Denton in Our Miss Brooks. month....Word is that down the rails, you can feel Some of you may not remem¬ Vanessa Redgrave the wheels rock you back and ber him at all. No matter. You will play transsexual forth. Any minute, any can see a great deal of tennis player and coach Re¬ second, it could splatter hun¬ Richard Crenna on your nee Richards in a TV-movie ^ dreds of people to the ground VCR. Watch him scare Au¬ and video spinoff called and crush them to drey Hepburn in Wait Until Second Serve. Vanessa’s death. I love rides like that. Dark, try to kill Kathleen Playing for Time is still wait¬ The very idea that you can Turner in Body Heat, try to ing to be bought in many of put someone you don’t like on save Sly Stallone in First the video stores across the such a ride and watch him Blood, and this month try to country.... puke his lungs out makes it all teach Matt Dillon a few card Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just worth it. At least it did for tricks in The Flamingo Kid. Want To Have Fun begins “I’m also in First Blood II," filming this month with Sara Jack Lemmon, whose opening nationwide this sum¬ Jessica Parker and Lee film version of the Broadway mer. “Stallone suggested Montgomery in the lead play Mass Appeal is available that they promote me from roles. Not bad for what was to video lovers this month, colonel to general for the se¬ meant to be a one-joke video < found the role of an alcoholic quel. But I told him to keep that costarred a wrestler.... priest quite—well, appealing. the chicken on my shoulders Those are Starman stars “He’s the redneck of the and save the star for my Jeff Bridges and Karen film,” Lemmon told VIDEO. dressing room. ” Allen in that RCA/Columbia “He’s totally filled with faults, Ken McMillan can be video of the Everly and being a priest, he’s also a seen twice this month, first as Brothers’ early hit, All I vaudevillian. He can get up the high-flying Baron in the Have to Do Is Dream. Song there and regale a packed confusing Dune and as a nor¬ leads off the movie.... house. ” Lemmon just mal earthling Senator in Pro¬ There is much truth to wrapped production this tocol with Goldie Hawn. “I the rumor that Silent month on Macaroni with loved doing Dune, ” McMillan Night, Deadly Night, the Marcello Mastroianni says. “Are you kidding? To Santa Claus ax film, will be 1 (himself a former screen play a guy who does nothing on RCA/Columbia this priest). but fly and give orders—who month. Q , < wouldn’t want to play that? I admit I didn’t understand

Off the Air The Last Word

parents who’ve sunk their ers got hold of the early sence, all they have needed Technoturkeys disposable bucks into a TI or Adams, they found bugs to win a case is to prove to a Coleco Computer are more aplenty. They also had praise court that Joe X. sported a than disgruntled cus¬ for the concept, suggested high-frequency antenna on By Bob Brewin tomers—they’re people wit¬ fixes, and gave praise where his rooftop capable of receiv¬ nessing the American it was due. ing the MDS signal, usually Probably the last ads Dream, epitomized today by The stock-market-driven HBO, and the judge would Coleco Industries ran microprocessor power, gone Coleco could not handle the ignore sections of the Com¬ for its ill-starred criticism or the losses associ¬ munications Act allowing any¬ Adam “Family Comput¬ The attitude behind the ated with continued backing one to receive any signal as er System” ran in trade boom/bust cycle of both the of the Adam. Meanwhile the long as they did not resell it. magazines distributed at the TI and Coleco computers Cabbage Patch Kids, which Now MDS is going mul¬ Consumer Electronics Show seems as venal as the ads. thankfully had no electronic tichannel in a number of cities last January—and they are a While Coleco may have sin¬ parts, poured tons of money including Washington and classic in a category of adver¬ cerely developed the Adam into Coleco, which grew re¬ New York, and this could tising that could be easily as the first truly low-cost luctant to toss these dollars pose some novel legal prob¬ dubbed techno-terror hype. bundled computer for Every¬ into a machine that seemed lems. For example, the Capi¬ This ad shows two happy man, reaction from Wall designed solely to eat Co- tal Connection—the mul¬ tykes carrying the Adam box Street soon took precedence leco’s bottom line. So just as tichannel MDS operator in while a smiling mid-American over the difficult business of dealers at CES were reading Washington—offers C-SPAN - DatLstands J>ehind them with bringing such a complex idea Coleco ads promising “major and Cable News Network an armload of obviously edu¬ to market and then sticking advertising and promotional along with truly premium cational software. with it. When the Adam was support” for the Adam, the movie channels. Since both The implication is obvious: first introduced at CES company pulled the plug and these services are offered via in today’s silicon-chip-driven almost two years ago, The was rewarded with a run-up C-band satellite service as world responsible Dads keep Wall Street Journal gave it in the price of its stock. well as MDS, how will the those tykes happy (not to better press than Edison The only obvious losers in MDS companies win a case in mention ahead of the other probably got for the lightbulb. this whole tawdry exercise light of the recent federal law kids) by buying them com¬ Soon Coleco looked like a are the 250,000 or so families which allows earth-station puters. Coleco is not the first company that made comput¬ who put their faith in Adam. owners to pick up these sig¬ outfit to embrace techno-ter¬ ers designed to satisfy stock But, heck, Coleco got its nals without penalty? ror. Who can forget the usual¬ touts, not customers. money, so why care? Some¬ I’d love to put both a C- ly responsible Bill Cosby This gave Coleco very little one should care, dammit, be¬ band dish and an MDS anten¬ hustling Texas Instrument room to maneuver with a cause Coleco, TI, and Timex na on my rooftop and then computers, which also dis¬ complex product like the before them were selling challenge one of those MDS appeared from retail Adam. Any new product has more than just a TV or a CD spectrum poachers to try and shelves, in terms that pre¬ development problems, but player. By the use of subtle win a case. How are they saged economic misfortune Coleco—with its gaze and not-so-subtle techno-ter¬ going to prove that the CNN not seen since the Weimar seemingly fixed more firmly ror hype these companies signal I’m watching came Republic on the children of on Wall Street than Main were trading on the intellec¬ from the satellite or their parents who lid not buy one Street—could hardly afford tual and economic future of transmitter? About the only of these machines? to fess up to the kind of bugs truly innocent kids. They also way to do that is to come into Technoturkeys are com¬ normal with any new venture. may have made it difficult for my house, examine the wires monplace in the consumer- One early sign of this attitude the next computer company going into my set, and then electronics business. Some¬ was the firm’s reluctance to promising silicon salvation for determine which I was watch¬ where out there in videoland let hardly anyone in the com¬ the masses to win an au¬ ing—and I think there are a few folks are probably still puter trade press test the dience. You can only cry com¬ Constitutional provisions trying to find blank tapes for machine. (Ford builds a puter so many times. slightly stronger than the Communications Act of 1934 their Cartrivision VCRs. One lemon or two. But it does not The Piracy of the prices of progress is tell Car and Driver or Road I against that kind of activity. Q that every so often a quarter and Track they can’t test the Conundrum of million or so homes get cars.) For good reason, it MDS companies have had stuck with an electronic dino¬ turned out. Once the review¬ much success in winning law¬ saur, It’s hard to get emo¬ suits against so-called pirates tional about the Quasar Great on the flimsiest grounds over American Time Machine. But the past few years: in es¬ Video Bingo is a new game to play on your VCR. The two-hour videocassette has hundreds of game variations, and comes packaged with everything you need for hours of enjoyment, for all ages. $34.95

For a free brochure, contact: Best Film & Video Corp. Dept. V4 98 Cuttermill Road Great Neck, N.Y. 11021 516-487-4515 Now you can watch the Cowboys and the Indians.

DIGITAL

than what you get with a conventional set. Why? Because Toshiba introduces Digital TV our digital TV is run by a microcomputer which processes It gives you options you never had with a television all the elements that go into our remarkable FST® picture before. It allows you to watch a football game and a tube and puts them together in precise digital fashion. movie—at the same time. Virtually eliminating the visual distortion found in Simply punch up the flick from your VCR and put it an ordinaiy television. in the corner of the screen, directly over the game. Toshiba's new digital TV also features 8 and' 21 pin Now freeze the action. Reduce the picture. Adjust RGB ports for home computer applications; 139 cable the color and volume; check their settings on a graphic channel compatibility; built-in stereo/bilingual capability; indicator on the screen. Bring up the channel number automatic shut-off for up to 180 minutes; and, of course, and video source. All by thirty-two key wireless remote. Toshiba's exclusive 30-month limited warranty. By just pressing the right button, you're in control It's clearly the most advanced m Touch with Tomorrow of every advanced new feature on our digital receiver. television ever made. So advanced TOSHIBA And the picture you receive is clearer and sharper you may never turn It off. Toshiba America, Inc., 82 Totowa Road, Wayne, Nj 07470 For additional information, circle No. 96 on Reaader Service Card.