One of the summer's fun releases is the Disney four-movie "Kurt Russell Collection" featuring the very youthful, all-American actor.
This Kurt Russell is about 30 years younger than the popular motion picture star of today and a joy to watch at this stage.
The four family films in this release are "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes" (1970) with Cesar Romero; "The Horse in the Gray Flannel Suit" (1968) with Dean Jones and Diane Baker; "The Barefoot Executive" (1971), in which Russell shares billing with a talented chimp; and "The Strongest Man in the World" (1975) co-starring Eve Arden, Phil Silvers, Romero, Dick Van Patten and Joe Flynn. The films are $14.95 each.
These films vaulted Russell into the limelight after he signed a 10-year contract with Disney following just one film, "It Happened at the World's Fair," in which he kicked star Elvis Presley. Russell was just 10 years old when he made that film and signed on with Disney.
These delightful movies provide just the right blend of humor and adventure and lack of big-bang special effects to make viewing an enjoyable experience. They rank among the best of Disney's live-action comedies.
Other enjoyable viewing for the summer: "America's Greatest Roller Coaster Thrills: The Next Generation" from Goldhil Home Media (70 mins., $19.95, 1-800-250-8760).
Jokers Jinx of Six Flags America, in Largo is among the 14 roller coasters featured. There also are three from Virginia: Apollo's Chariot and Alpengeist in Busch Gardens in Williamsburg; and Volcano, the Blast Coaster from Paramount's Kings Dominion in Doswell.
Hershey Park's The Great Bear, and Twister from Knoebels in Elysburg, are the two from Pennsylvania.
There also are three in Florida: Dueling Dragons and Incredible Hulk from Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando and Gwazi from Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay.
Two other movies that also offer that feel-good sensation are just out (both priced for rental). "Anna and the King" stars Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat in the Twentieth Century Fox epic about a woman who won the heart of a king and changed the destiny of a nation. And in "Music of the Heart," Meryl Streep won her 12th Oscar nomination for her performance in an inspirational story about a teacher's profound effect upon the lives of her many students. Angela Bassett, Aidan Quinn, Cloris Leachman and Jane Leeves co-star in the film, which is based on the 1996 Academy Award-nominated documentary "Small Wonders."