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The Library DVD Shelf

America Dances! 1897-1948
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523, Flemington, NJ 08822
$49.95 www.DancetimePublications.com 1-888-854-5602

America Dances! 1897-1948: A Collector's Edition of Social Dance in
Film is an archive of American film clips featuring dance, many of
which are originally from the era of silent movies. From the "Comedy
Cakewalk" and "Two Step" of the early 1900's, to the many variants of
the Charleston in the 1920s, the Lindy Hop and the Jitterbug in the
1930's, to Rumba, and Conga in the 1940s, and much more, a vast
plethora of dance styles and highlights have been preserved for
posterity. An inspirational treasury that scholars and choreographers
will find useful, and that fans of dance are sure to enjoy. 75
minutes.

Discoveries... Africa, Tanzania series
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
9781934682265, $24.95 each www.Bennett-Watt.com

Discover... Africa, Tanzania is a new four-volume DVD series exploring
the wild areas of the East African nation of Tanzania, well known for
the continent's tallest mountain (Mt. Kilimanjaro) and an
infrastructure highly conducive to wildlife tourism and photo safaris,
hosted by expert guides and safeguarded through strict game management
and hunting regulation. "Arusha & Lake Manyara National Parks"
includes portraits of the swamps, forest, Ngurdoto Crater, and even
shallow alkaline lakes. This is the only northern safari circuit
location where the rare and beautiful Colobus Monkey can be found.
"Tarangire National Parks" showcases the park with the largest
population of elephants on all of Tanzania, as well as some of the
world's oldest baobab trees (which can survive for up to 3000 years!).
"Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area" reveals an amazing contained
ecosystem tucked away within crater walls, and a plethora of wild
animals ranging from cheetahs on the hunt to black storks, hippos,
zebras, warthogs, lions, and more. "Southern Serengeti & The Great
Migration" reveals the broad, flat Serengeti Plain, known for the
Maasai people who co-existed in harmony with wild animals for
thousands of years. The highlight shows how the 1.5 million wildebeest
(as well as 200,000 zebra and gazelle) habitually migrate from the
Serengeti plains to the hills of Kenya's Maasai Mara in a clockwise
fashion, traversing over 1,800 miles each year in search of food. All
four DVDs are enthusiastically recommended to wildlife lovers, and
perfect for armchair travelers, or anyone who would love to experience
(or relive) the thrill of an African photo safari.

Pie in the Sky, Series 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
DVD, $49.99 www.acornmedia.com

Starring Richard Griffiths (whose previous appearances include "The
History Boys" and "Harry Potter"), Pie in the Sky Series 1 is the
debut boxed set of a British DVD series that blends elements of
mystery, police drama, and comedy into a witty whole. 25-year police
veteran Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe longs to take early
retirement and open the restaurant of his dreams, which he calls "Pie
in the Sky", but his accountant wife thinks his dream is a bottomless
money pit, and his boss needs him to handle those intricate cases that
he has a natural gift for! A surprisingly lighthearted crime drama (at
least, as lighthearted as any crime drama can be), Pie in the Sky even
weaves elements of culinary delight into its slyly sumptuous
storytelling. Special features include an interview with star Maggie
Steed, production notes, a biography of Richard Griffiths, and more.
Highly recommended. 3 DVDs, 10 episodes, 488 minutes plus 18 minutes
bonus program, 4:3 full screen, subtitles.

Murder Most English
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
DVD, $49.99 www.acornmedia.com

Murder Most English is the DVD debut of a British murder mystery
series laced with scathing dark humor and shocking twists. Based on a
series of detective novels by author Colin Watson, Murder Most
English: A Flaxborough Chronicle features star talent Anton Rodgers
(known for his work in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" among other films),
Christopher Timothy ("All Creatures Great and Small"), John Comer ("I
Didn't Know You Cared") and Moray Watson ("The Darling Buds of May").
Featuring an unquestionably English hero who embodies British culture
in every aspect of his attitude, down to wearing tweed and puffing on
pipes, Murder Most English is an enthralling drama of the effort to
unravel duplicity and bring order back to a most English town. 3 DVDs,
7 episodes, 344 minutes, subtitles.

Dancetime DVD! 500 Years of Social Dance Volume I: 15th-19th Centuries
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523, Flemington, NJ 08822
0966207483, $44.95 www.DancetimePublications.com 1-888-854-5602

Dancetime DVD! 500 Years of Social Dance Volume I: 15th-19th Centuries
is an amazing video history of social dance from the courts of Italy,
France, and England to the ballrooms of America. Viewers are treated
to enthralling demonstrations of each style of dance as it arose, as
well as the grand history of this wonderful pastime. Now the
Dancetime! video series has been further enhanced on DVD with over 600
original source documents and historical timelines. Viewers may also
investigate dance steps and instructional text simultaneously or
separately from the program. An excellent survey of the evolution of
an art form, highly recommended for public library collections along
with its companion volume "Dancetime DVD! 500 Years of Social Dance
Volume II: The 20th Century".

The Paris Concert
Jose Feliciano Band
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
DVD, $19.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486

The Paris Concert is a DVD recording of six-time Grammy Award-winning
guitar player and singer Jose Feliciano and his five-piece band
performing in Paris. With a masterful blend of flamenco, bossa nova,
pop and jazz elements in their repertoire, they perform widely beloved
pieces to an adoring crowd. Fans of internationally-influenced Latin
music are sure to love this stellar video. Highly recommended. The
songs played are "Chico And The Man", "Crazy Heart", "Billie Jean",
"Como Fue", "I Got A Woman", "Rain", "Bamboleo", "If You Don't Know Me
By Now", "Higher Ground", "Oye Guitarra Mia", "Beyond The Sea",
"Affirmation", "Cherry, Cherry", "Porque Te Tengo Que Olvidar",
"Money", "Oye Como Va", "Purple Haze", "Sunshine Of Your Love", "Que
Sera", and "Light My Fire". 98 minutes, 16:9 picture format.

The Apostles' Creed Full-Length Version
T. N. Mohan, producer-director
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
DVD, $99.99 www.visionvideo.com

The Apostles' Creed Full-Length Version is an over nine hour
curriculum series by award-winning producer-director T.N. Mohan, now
released as part of Christian History Institute's 25th anniversary
celebration. Expert theologians speak of each phase of the Apostles'
Creed in historical context, with a particular note as to how each
part of the Creed is relevant to daily life in the modern era. Special
features include a one-hour bonus program "Hymns of Our Fathers",
audio sermons by Pastor Langdon Palmer, and the opportunity to
download a companion guide to the series on Vision Video's website. An
in-depth educational documentary of faith and scholarship, The
Apostles' Creed is an enthusiastically welcome addition to Christian
Studies DVD collections. 17 episodes, 9 1/2 hours.

Cardmaking
Sharyn Pak
On Air Video Inc.
8203 Westminster Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027
DVD, $14.95 www.onairvideo.com

In Cardmaking: Greetings, Invites & Announcements, craft expert Sharyn
Pak teaches the viewers how to create dozens of different types of
unique, home-made cards with the beauty of store-bought cards but
without the expense - and also without the impersonal nature of mass-
produced products. Topics covered include how to create single-panel
note cards and announcements, making single-fold and multi-fold
greeting cards and invitations, window cards, money gift cards, pop
ups, seasonal cards, and much more. A section on crafting
aesthetically pleasing custom envelopes and a downloadable Materials &
Tools list in PDF format round out this excellent DVD, recommended for
public library collections as well as for private arts and crafts
shelves. 120 minutes. Also highly recommended for the artistically
inclined is "Paint Like Van Gogh: Learn From A Master" ($19.95, 66
minutes).

Crunchless Abs
Linda LaRue
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD, $19.99 each www.411videoinfo.com

Two new fitness DVDs hosted by registered nurse and athletic trainer
Linda LaRue help serious belly flatteners strengthen their core
muscles, burn midsection fat and increase back strength. Both are
divided into three ten-minute segments, one for standing exercises,
one for seated exercises, and one for floor exercises. "Crunchless
Abs: Progressive Core Training" (38 min.) walks the viewer through
each easy-to-follow workout, targeting abdominal muscles for a great
foundation to improved fitness. "Crunchless Abs: 3-Dimensional Core
Training" (33 min.) uses a simple weighted gel bal (an inexpensive
floor mat is also recommended) and features movements designed to
three-dimensionally sculpt one's abdomen. Both DVDs are a worthy
supplement to fitness libraries, and enthusiastically recommended to
anyone interested in improving their back and midsection.

Voices of Holocaust History
Deanne Scherlis Comer
c/o Beach Lloyd (distribution)
PO Box 2183, Southeastern PA 19399-2183
9780979277801, $25.00 www.beachlloyd.com 866-218-3253

Suitable for middle school to adult viewers, Voices of Holocaust
History: Ruth Tells Her Story is a DVD of the story of Ruth Kapp
Hartz's survival as a hidden child in Nazi-occupied France in 1941.
Forced to conceal her Jewish identity, she survived in part to the
courage of villagers who risked their lives to save Ruth's family.
Increased Nazi persecution caused her to be placed within a convent
for safekeeping. She became the real-life subject behind Stacy
Cretzmeyer's book "Your Name is Renee". An incredible survivor's
story, Voices of Holocaust History is highly recommended for school
and public library DVD collections. 36 minutes.

John Deere Country Part 2
TM Books & Video
PO Box 279, New Buffalo, MI 49117
DVD, $14.95 www.tmbv.com 1-800-892-2822

John Deere Country Part 2 is a DVD anthology of true stories by John
Deere farming equipment owners. The John Deere brand of tractors and
equipment earned customer loyalty for many reasons - one of the most
compelling is because of their willingness to give farmers extra time
during the Great Depression to pay for their equipment. Archival
footage of tractors and combines from the 1920s through the 1960s
rounds out this engrossing DVD enthusiastically recommended for
tractor aficionados of all ages and backgrounds. 1 hour 30 minutes.

Ian McKellen in the Royal Shakespeare Company's King Lear
William Shakespeare
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations (publicity)
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
0793670667, $24.99 www.ssapr.com

Ian McKellen in the Royal Shakespeare Company's King Lear is a DVD
presentation of William Shakespeare's great play of tragedy and
betrayal. When King Lear plans to divide his kingdom among his three
daughters, the tests he creates to measure their character reveals the
corrupt poison two of their hearts, and hateful schemes they have
plotted. This performance of King Lear features the incredible cast of
the Royal Shakespeare Company, including Ian McKellen as the star
performer and stellar supporting members Frances Barber, William
Gaunt, Sylvester McCoy, and Philip Winchester. An exclusive interview
with Ian McKellen rounds out this unforgettable production of an
immortal classic. 173 minutes, closed captioned.

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