By Steven Suskin
03 Jan 2010

"Glee" has garnered numerous fans inside the theatre world since its premiere in April. And no wonder; the principal cast includes Matthew Morrison (of Hairspray, Light in the Piazza, and South Pacific) and Lea Michele (of Spring Awakening and the original Ragtime). What's more, this series — centering on the glee club of a Midwest high school — has peppered the guest star list with a constant parade of musical comedy folk of the Victor Garber-Debra Monk-Kristin Chenoweth ilk. Now we have Glee Season 1: Road to Sectionals [Fox]; the first 13 episodes on four DVDs, including the so-called "director's cut" of the pilot. The complete package was not yet available for review, but the special features include "Welcome to McKinley," a behind-the-scenes feature; a "Glee" music video; full-length audition pieces; video diaries; comic little interviews with cast members; and producer/writer Ryan Murphy "Deconstructing Glee." My resident 12-year-old, who has eagerly watched the show week after week, indicates that the bonuses enhance the overall "Glee" experience, add all sorts of interesting highlights, and are "very well done."

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To say that Mel Brooks goes blue would be too easy. The folks at Twentieth Century Fox have seen fit to package nine of their Brooksfilms into a lavish Blu-ray box, The Mel Brooks Collection [Fox]. "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein" top the list, joined by "The Twelve Chairs," "Silent Movie," "High Anxiety," "History of the World — Part I," "To Be or Not to Be," "Spaceballs," and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights." (The original 1968 version of "The Producers," which remains my favorite Brooks concoction, is not included as it came prior to Brooks' long-term relationship with Fox.)

If the works of Brooks don't necessarily cry out visually for Blu-ray treatment, so be it. This is a lavish, gala, celebratory gift set; sure, it belongs on Blu-ray. (For the record, let it be said that a 2006 DVD set, with eight of the nine movies, is also available.) There are far too many bonuses and special features to enumerate here; some new for Blu-ray, some retained from prior releases, all sorts of items that will keep fans of Mel in stitches for hours and days and weeks. There is also a handsome and informative oversized 120-page book, "It's Good to Be the King," that is highly readable. Based on a small-print hint on one of the back pages, it seems to be written by Stephen J. Smith with the participation — but not smothering oversight — of Mel. In any event, it is an informative and highly-illustrated tome. "The Mel Brooks Collection" offers 969 minutes-worth of motion picture, plus who knows how much additional material. That should be almost enough to please Mr. Brooks himself.

Also on Blu-ray comes a delectable new release of Howards End [Criterion]. This 1992 adaptation of the novel by E. M. Forster, from producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory, was something of a modern-day classic, and can't be said to have faded into memory. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning three (including a Best Actress nod for Emma Thompson and Best Screenplay for Ruth Prawer Jhabvala). Ms. Thompson is joined by Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter and Anthony Hopkins, so we get quite a display of acting. Blu-ray brings out the many layered riches in the film — and not only in the production design and cinematography. Bonus features include the documentary "Building Howards End"; a look at the design elements of the film; and a new appreciation of the late Mr. Merchant by Mr. Ivory.

(Steven Suskin is author of the forthcoming updated and expanded Fourth Edition of "Show Tunes" as well as "The Sound of Broadway Music: A Book of Orchestrators and Orchestrations," "Second Act Trouble" and the "Opening Night on Broadway" books. He can be reached at Ssuskin@aol.com)