'See No Evil' and 'Twelfth Night' are among new-to-DVD TV shows
• "SEE NO EVIL: THE STORY OF THE MOORS MURDERS" (MPI, 2006, $24.98). This two-part TV movie's matter-of-fact approach only serves to make the story all the more harrowing, and may bring to mind the Leopold-Loeb killings.
From 1963-65, three children and two teens were abducted, assaulted and murdered, their bodies buried in shallow graves on the Manchester moors. In the film we see a young hedonistic couple attempting to draw into their lifestyle the woman's sister and husband. Eventually, the husband will join them, his naivete leading to tragic consequences.
To the film's credit, only one killing is on-camera, and then it's done in a way that is dark and mostly obscured. But the near-documentary style and excellent performances make for one disturbing ride.
Sadly there is no documentary featurette about the real events.
Extras: widescreen
• "TWELFTH NIGHT" (Koch, 1969, $24.98). This delightful, albeit somewhat abbreviated and stagey adaptation of the timeless comedy boasts a stellar cast — Alec Guinness, Joan Plowright, Ralph Richardson and Tommy Steele, along with Adrieene Corri, Gary Raymond and John Moffat. All the players are terrific in this British TV presentation; a must-see for Shakespeare fans.
• "THE BILL ENGVALL SHOW: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON" (Warner, 2007, two discs, $19.98). Engvall — one of the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour" guys — stars in this traditional and old-fashioned sitcom, playing a family counselor with a typically undisciplined family. This is an enjoyable family sitcom, and how many of those can you actually watch as a family these days? As Engvall's wife, Nancy Travis is also good (nice to see her again). Season 2 episodes on TBS begin in June.
Extras: full frame, eight episodes, featurettes
• "THE RAT PATROL: THE COMPLETE SERIES" (MGM, 1966-68, seven discs, $49.98). This '60s color half-hour show (yes, they had half-hour dramas in those days) stars Christopher George and is filled with action, focusing on a combat team that takes on Rommel in North Africa during World War II. (This set combines the series' previously released two seasons.)
Extras: full frame, 58 episodes
• "THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN: THE COMPLETE SERIES" (MGM, 1998-2000, five discs, $49.98). It's difficult to follow up a classic movie, even if it's nearly 40 years later, but this series is an enjoyable Western in its own right. Michael Biehn, Eric Close and Ron Perlman star, and one of the original "Seven," Robert Vaughn, shows up occasionally, as the gunslingers protect a lawless town, as well as areas farther afield. (This set combines the series' previously released two seasons.)
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