Among the flood of DVDs out today is the first wave of Paramount’s “Centennial Collection,” a new set of two-disc special editions that will apparently continue until Paramount celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2012. The first three titles, complete with spine numbers, are “Sunset Boulevard,” “Roman Holiday” and “Sabrina.” There are coupious special features, both old (the ubiquitous “Paramount in the ’50s” is on all three) and brand new. Some of the featurettes are unusually ambitious, including one devoted to the uncredited and blacklisted writer of “Roman Holiday,” Dalton Trumbo. In addition to a featurette on the old mansions of Great Neck (mysteriously not mentioning Paramount president Barney Balaban’s), there is an especially nice one on William Holden’s Paramount career. Notably, it includes clips from just about all of his movies, including the pre-1948 talkies that Paramount sold to MCA half a century ago and are currently owned by Universal: “Those Were the Days,” the Trumbo-written “The Remarkable Andrew,” “The Fleet’s In,” “Streets of Laredo,” “Dear Ruth,” etc. Which suggests to me that Universal, which owns literally hundreds of Paramount titles, may in some fashion be celebrating its centennial (also 2012) jointly with Paramount. New editions of “Funny Face” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” are scheduled for January.
Also out today is this year’s trio of “Disney Treasures” hosted by my pal Leonard Maltin. They include the fourth volume of “The Chronological Donald” (Duck), a collection of cartoons from the ’50s, and “Annette,” a serial starrring Annette Funicello that originally appeared on “The Mickey Mouse Club” (two complete episodes are also included). The ultimate boomer treat may be “The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh,” a delightful period adventure starring Patrick McGoohan as a preacher turned smuggler that originally appeared as a three-part episode of “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color” in 1964. Included is a feature version, “Dr. Syn,” that was released in British theaters. The venerable Mr. McGoohan, the beloved star of “The Prisoner” and “Silver Streak,” is on hand to offer his memories of the production in a featurette.