'Frank Sinatra: Concert for the Americas' on DVD

“Criterion Collection Presents America Lost & Found: The BBS Story”

Criterion is a special manufacturer of DVDs that excels in quality and content. They take films and restore them with high-definition digital transfers, and usually include many exclusive bonus features. Their latest release is a nine-disc collection, featuring the seven films produced by BBS, a production company run by Bert Schneider, Bob Rafelson and Steve Blauner from 1968 to 1972. Their films were made for a younger audience, and featured a terrific group of actors.

They created The Monkees, and that got them the money to start and keep things going. America loved most of their films, and Criterion has produced beautiful transfers and lots of extras.

The films are: “Easy Rider,” “Five Easy Pieces,” “The King of Marvin Gardens,” “A Safe Place,” “Drive He Said,” “Head” and “The Last Picture Show.”

“Frank Sinatra: Concert for the Americas”

Available on a single DVD for the first time, this concert is one of Sinatra's finest performances. The 1982 show was recorded at the Altos De Chavon Amphitheatre in the Dominican Republic. Sinatra was backed up by the Buddy Rich orchestra, and the concert features a classic performance by guitarist Tony Mottola playing with Sinatra.

Sinatra performs “I get A Kick Out Of You,” “My Kind of Town,” “Something,” “Strangers in the Night,” “I've Got You Under My Skin,” “Send in the Clowns,” “New York, New York” and many other great songs.

“Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work”

Joan Rivers has been in the public eye for many years. What is so refreshing about this excellent documentary is the access that Joan gave to the filmmakers, allowing a warts-and-all look at the celebrity know known as much for her plastic surgeries as her comedy.

Joan Rivers has reinvented herself quite a few times, but she keeps plugging away. Her life and career has been a roller coaster of a ride, and all of us should be thankful that she has taken us along with her.

“Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days plus Bonus Disc”

For those of you who have grown up with “Sesame Street,” you can now relive those times and share them with the children in your life. The Count introduces a segment from each of the 40 seasons, and each five-year period begins with a new look that represents a different period of time. Some of the guest stars that have appeared on the show include Mister Rogers, Diana Ross, Robert De Niro, James Taylor and Lena Horne.

There are many bonus features included, and the extra disc is an episode from Season 41.

Available Next Week

“Andy Griffith Show 50th Anniversary: Best of Mayberry”

“Films of Rita Hayworth”

“Roger Corman Collection two”

“Salt”

“Soul Kitchen”

“The Virginian: Complete Season Two”

“Waking Sleeping Beauty”

“Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps”