Easter

Holiday Inn (Special Edition)

Two song and dance men leave showbusiness to open a Connecticut inn, but conflict arises when they fall for the same woman.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 10-OCT-2006
Media Type: DVD

This perennial, Christmas-season favorite from 1942 teamed Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire as entertainers (and rival suitors of Marjorie Reynolds) running an inn that is only open on holidays. It's a great excuse for lots of singing and dancing, seamlessly wrapped in a catchy story, and Astaire's frequent director Mark Sandrich (Top Hat, Shall We Dance?) doesn't let us down. The Irving Berlin numbers (each one connected to a different holiday) are winners. Crosby's warm performance of "White Christmas" is a movie touchstone. --Tom Keogh

In 1942, Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby teamed up at Der Bingle's Paramount Pictures for Holiday Inn, a black-and-white musical that proves more entertaining than Crosby's color semi-remake White Christmas in 1954. Astaire and Crosby play partner/rival song-and-dance men who compete for the hand of their performing partner, played by Virginia Dale. After Crosby loses, he moves to the Connecticut countryside where he creates a resort that is only open on holidays and puts on the shows with the help of Marjorie Reynolds. Dumped by Dale, Astaire makes a drunken arrival at the inn on New Year's Eve and dances with Reynolds. He decides she'll be his new partner, but doesn't remember what she looks like, setting off a frenzied search at every subsequent show while the once-bitten Crosby does his best to steer him off track. The theme gives Irving Berlin an excuse to craft or recycle a number of holiday-themed songs, such as (in the former category) "Washington's Birthday" or (in the latter) "Easter Parade." The most famous of the new material, of course, is "White Christmas," which became one of the bestselling songs of all time and the title song of Crosby's 1954 film. Astaire and Crosby also team up for "I'll Capture Her Heart," which playfully contrasts the stars' specialties, and Astaire's "It's So Easy to Dance with You" became one of the signature songs of his post-Ginger Rogers career. Astaire and Crosby teamed up again for Blue Skies in 1946. --David Horiuchi

Easter Parade (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Don Hewes (Fred Astaire) is devastated when his longtime dancing partner, Nadine Hale (Ann Miller), breaks up the team to set out on her own. Determined to prove that he can succeed without her, Astaire vows that he can pick any random chorus girl and make her a star. Fortunately for him, the chorus girl he picks happens to be one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, Judy Garland (playing Hannah Brown). Easter Parade turned out to be the first and only collaboration between the two screen legends. Garland made the 1948 film despite ongoing health problems then had to pull out of a planned follow-up, The Barkleys of Broadway (Ginger Rogers replaced her); Astaire had retired following Blue Skies in 1946 but was brought in for this film as an emergency replacement after Gene Kelly broke his ankle playing touch football. Fortunately, Easter Parade always feels like an Astaire film rather than a Kelly film, from its Pygmalion-esque plot (which helps explain the principals' 23-year age disparity) to its score of Irving Berlin standards (some new, some recycled from earlier films). The film capitalizes on the strengths of both stars, Astaire in dance solos, including "Drum Crazy" and "Steppin' Out with My Baby" (MGM's take on Astaire's earlier, persona-defining "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails"), and Garland in vocal solos, including the torchy "Better Luck Next Time." The stars especially shine, however, when they perform together in their vaudeville numbers, most notably the persona-defying hobo routine "We're a Couple of Swells." Watch this classic every Easter. --David Horiuchi

It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (remastered deluxe edition)

The thirteenth installment in the evergreen Charlie Brown animated series this is a delightful romp through the rites of spring. The running gag that holds this string of episodic misadventures together is Peppermint Patty's futile attempts at explaining how to make Easter eggs to Marcy. Highlights of this rather surreal Peanuts outing include Snoopy's dancing with little bunny rabbits inside a kaleidoscope Sally heading to the mall to purchase a pair of platform shoes (this video was made in 1974) and Woodstock's lavishly equipped bachelor-pad birdhouse. As with the best of the Peanuts cartoons this will entertain children and adults alike and is one of the last of the series to feature a music score by Vince Guaraldi.System Requirements:Run Time: 50 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY UPC: 085391200635 Manufacturer No: 120063

The thirteenth installment in the evergreen Charlie Brown animated series, this is a delightful romp through the rites of spring. The running gag that holds this string of episodic misadventures together is Peppermint Patty's futile attempts at explaining how to make Easter eggs to Marcy. Highlights of this rather surreal Peanuts outing include Snoopy's dancing with little bunny rabbits inside a kaleidoscope, Sally heading to the mall to purchase a pair of platform shoes (this video was made in 1974), and Woodstock's lavishly equipped bachelor-pad birdhouse. As with the best of the Peanuts cartoons, this will entertain children and adults alike, and is one of the last of the series to feature a music score by Vince Guaraldi. --Kristian St. Clair

Winnie the Pooh - Springtime with Roo

Friendship and compassion provide a memorable Easter celebration in Springtime with Roo. Roo's excitement on Easter morning is boundless, but when he, Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore arrive at Rabbit's door for the big Easter egg hunt, Rabbit seems to have forgotten Easter and proclaims it "Spring Cleaning Day" instead. A dispirited Pooh and his gang quickly rally and decide to surprise Rabbit by putting up his Easter decorations. Rabbit is not at all happy with their efforts and furiously declares that Easter is canceled. It turns out that everyone involved has been selfish in some degree by failing to consider the feelings and desires of one another. Can a little mutual understanding and caring salvage Easter for Roo, Rabbit, and the rest of the gang? (Ages 2 to 7) --Tami Horiuchi

Disney's classic tradition of great storytelling continues with the all-new, full-length feature, WINNIE THE POOH: SPRINGTIME WITH ROO. This delightful tale stars all your friends including Winnie The Pooh and his little pal, Roo. Every year Rabbit plays Easter bunny. But not this year. No bunny means no hunny for Pooh, no Eastery egg hunt for Tigger, no basket for Piglet, no fluffy bunny ears for Eeyore -- and no fun for Roo. Rabbit expects them all to spring into action: scrubbing, dusting, sweeping, and mopping instead! But Roo's love and wisdom show Rabbit that special days are to be shared in special ways. Blooming with beloved characters, memorable songs, spirit, and hope, WINNIE THE POOH: SPRINGTIME WITH ROO will delight and inspire one and all every day of the year!

Easter Parade (Special Edition)

Max & Ruby - Easter With Max & Ruby

The adventures of two sibling bunnies, Ruby and Max; Ruby and Max celebrate the holiday in six Easter-themed episodes.
Genre: Children's Video
Rating: NR
Release Date: 13-MAR-2007
Media Type: DVD

VeggieTales - An Easter Carol

Explores the Christian holiday of Easter.
Genre: Children's Video
Rating: G
Release Date: 8-JAN-2008
Media Type: DVD

VeggieTales goes Dickensian for this sprightly and inventive take on the Christian significance of Easter. Greedy Ebenezer Nezzer, a Scrooge equivalent and manufacturer of such Easter kitsch as plastic eggs and mechanical chickens, mounts a huge commercial campaign to reap further profits from a day that should be about remembering the resurrection of Jesus. With series regulars Bob the Tomato (cast, fittingly, as a Bob Cratchit type) and Larry the Cucumber on board, An Easter Carol finds Ebenezer led by a music-box angel named Hope (voiced by Rebecca S. James) through a spectral journey to discover the real meaning of Christ's death and return. As usual, the animation is lively but the script is less heavy-handed than some other Biblically inspired VeggieTales. Production art includes some wonderful stained glass backgrounds. The overall effect is clever and pleasing. --Tom Keogh

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Have you ever wished for a classic Easter special to show your kids? Here Comes Peter Cottontail is a Rankin & Bass production that bears a marked similarity to the beloved Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. Narrator Seymour S. Sassafrass, voiced and sung by Danny Kaye, takes young viewers on a tour of the mythical April Valley and relates the story of how Peter Cottontail almost failed in his quest to become Chief Easter Bunny. Sassafrass peers into his magic egg, and viewers are introduced to Peter Cottontail--a spunky, ingenious young rabbit who is boastful, is prone to fibbing, and lacks a sense of responsibility. In order to become Chief Easter Bunny, Peter Cottontail must defeat the evil Irontail in a contest to deliver the most eggs on Easter Sunday. Through his trials, Peter Cottontail discovers the value of ingenuity, the importance of placing duty before pleasure, and the folly of self-conceit.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail features catchy songs, great 1970s stop-motion animation, and a fun Easter tale. Parents will find themselves reminiscing over holidays gone by or wondering how they missed this show in their own childhood. The 2 and up crowd will be begging for another showing long after the Easter candy is a distant memory. --Tami Horiuchi

The Challenge

In their newest direct-to-video Mary-Kate and Ashley embark on a Survivor-style adventure in Cabo San Lucas Mexico! Estranged teen sisters who live on opposite sides of the country are brought together as teammates in the TV show "The Challenge" much to their surprise. In order to win the grand prize - college scholarships - they'll need to reconcile their differences work together and keep their romances a secret from the producers all at the same time!Running Time: 90 min.System Requirements:Running Time 92 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 085393421625

Combining the effervescent Olsen twins with the sizzling popularity of a Survivor-style reality show, The Challenge is a seemingly perfect concoction for Mary Kate and Ashley fans. In this G-rated jaunt, the perky twins play Shane and Lizzie, two estranged sisters who are unwittingly cast together to compete as teammates in seven grueling contests. Residing on separate coasts after their parent's divorce, the girls are polar opposites: Lizzie is ambitious and high-strung, while Shane is a tree-hugging vegetarian. Now in Mexico, they will eat, sleep, and socialize as one while a ruthless producer hopes the ensuing sibling controversy will spike the show's ratings. Amid the daring feats and romantic entanglements, the twins realize that their greatest challenge will be to accept each other's differences. If viewers overlook the painfully contrived plot and deplorable acting, the result is a clean, family film that goes no deeper than a pretty face. (Ages 7 to 12) --Lynn Gibson

The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town

Brought to you by the same crew that wrote and directed the classic Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, this Easter staple will look and feel familiar to any eyes that watched the 1970s around holiday time. Writer Romeo Muller's done a wonderful job capturing simple lo-fi dialogue and action around the lovable early-spring bunny, weaving enough drama into the script to make the show comprehensible for kids and enjoyable for (most) adults. The production team makes their animation-verité visuals jerky enough that it feels still like their Santa juggernaut (created seven years earlier than this 1977 production). And narrator Fred Astaire returns to give the shell of the story its pleasant feel, not at all too threatening but neither too mushy or idiotic. Of course the production dynamics and sound are subpar in comparison with current techniques, but this isn't a film to watch with an eye for how with-the-times it could or should be. --Andrew Bartlett

In Kidsville, youngsters make their own laws, run their own shops and maybe even stay up as late as they want. Each Spring, everyone - including Sunny the Bunny - pitches in to make Easter holiday goodies. Then it's the Bunny's job to take the painted eggs and yummy jellybeans to a nearby town called Town. But he better watch out. Because grouchy old Town doesn't allow kids or a hippity-hoppity Easter bunny! With a childlike sense of wonder, this perennial favorite shows how Sunny and his pals win over the meanies of Town by inventing many of our happiest, hoppiest Easter traditions!