Deseret News (Salt Lake City): Classics served up in double-disc sets

Universal Home Entertainment has come up with the "Legacy Series" as a way to reissue some of its classics in double-disc sets with bonus materials. First up are "To Kill a Mockingbird," "The Sting" and "The Deer Hunter" -- with by far the best preferential treatment given to "Mockingbird."

"Legacy Series: To Kill a Mockingbird" (Universal, 1962, not rated, b/w, $26.98, two discs). Harper Lee's classic Pulitzer Prize- winning novel became a classic Oscar-winning film with this wonderfully detailed look at small-town life in America during the Depression. Specifically life in the South, wrapped up in the story of a black man (Brock Peters) on trial for the rape of a white woman.

Gregory Peck is excellent in his Oscar-winning role as Atticus Finch, a small-town lawyer who defends the alleged rapist. Much of the film is told in a matter-of-fact manner, from the viewpoints of Finch's young children Jem (Phillip Alford) and Scout (Mary Badham).

Beautifully adapted by screenwriter Horton Foote (who also won an Oscar) and perfectly cast with a bevy of seasoned character actors, there are many standouts, from Peck to Peters, as well as newcomer Robert Duvall, in the small but pivotal role of Boo Radley. (It was Duvall's first film.)

Of the many bonus features, the most fascinating is the 1999 documentary "A Conversation With Gregory Peck," during which the veteran actor -- in his 80s -- fields questions from audiences in several cities. Peck was a great storyteller, and it's a highly entertaining 95-minute show, broken up with film clips, footage of Peck's personal life, TV interviews, etc.

Newsreel and documentary excerpts include Peck's daughter paying tribute to her father after his death, and Peck's Oscar-acceptance speech. Also nice is a 1999 interview with Mary Badham, who reminisces about making the film. Plus a thorough and fascinating 90- minute making-of documentary.

Also quite good is a 10-minute excerpt from an AFI tribute to Peck, as he makes a still-timely speech about the decline of film quality and tells a couple of amusing stories. Which made me wonder why the entire AFI show could not have been included; it would be fun to see Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Quinn and the many others who took part.

Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary (with director Robert Mulligan and producer Alan Pakula), making-of featurettes, documentary: "A Conversation With Gregory Peck," Peck's Oscar speech, Peck's acceptance speech at "AFI Life Achievement Award," trailer, language options (English, French), subtitle options (English, Spanish, French), chapters. (Also, 11 postcard reproductions of the film's international poster art.)

"Legacy Series: The Sting" (Universal, 1973, PG, $26.98, two discs). For Paul Newman and Robert Redford's second movie together (after "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid") they came up with this classic comedy about Damon Runyan-style con artists coming together to pull the ultimate "Sting."

Great fun all the way, even after 32 years, with Newman and Redford in peak form, and a slew of great character actors in smaller parts -- Robert Shaw, Ray Walston, Charles Durning, Eileen Brennan, Harold Gould, etc.

Bonus features are simply a re-release trailer and an hourlong making-of featurette broken into three parts. But most of the principals do take part -- including Newman and Redford -- and they all have interesting anecdotes to share about the film's production.

All of this could all have been contained on a single disc, but it's a nice set. And though the film has been on DVD before, this is the first widescreen release (a VHS widescreen version came out in 2000). Oscar-winner for best picture, best director (George Roy Hill, who also directed "Butch Cassidy") and best screenplay (David Ward).

Extras: Widescreen, making-of featurettes, text production notes, trailer, language options (English, Spanish, French), subtitle options (English, French, Spanish), chapters.

"Legacy Series: The Deer Hunter" (Universal, 1979; R for violence, language; $26.98, two discs). Here's one of those three- hour movies that earns its length, telling the gripping story of Philadelphia factory workers (Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage) who go to war in Vietnam. The first hour is spent getting to know the characters and their lives at home, the middle section is set in Vietnam (including the notorious Russian roulette scenes), and then adjusting to civilian life once more.

Tough, harsh and utterly compelling, "The Deer Hunter" is unquestionably director Michael Cimino's finest hour, and everyone delivers knockout performances -- including Meryl Streep, in only her second theatrical film. Walken won a well-deserved Oscar, and the film also won for best picture and best director.

The bonus features here are weakest of all, just 16 minutes of rough-cut deleted/extended scenes, text production notes, a trailer and an audio commentary by a journalist and the film's cinematographer (who predictably talks more about lighting and camera angles than anything else). None of the other principal filmmakers take part, nor do any of the actors.

Extras: Widescreen, audio commentary (cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond; journalist Bob Fisher), deleted/extended scenes, trailer, text production notes, language options (English, Spanish), subtitle options (English, Spanish, French), chapters.

E-mail: hicks@desnews.com