• "The Great Escape" (WGBH, 2004, not rated, $19.95). This hourlong NOVA documentary tells the real story that was fictionalized in the 1963 film of the same title (starring Steve McQueen) of POWs in a German camp who dug three tunnels to effect a remarkable escape.

A team of archaeologists begins a dig at the site of the high-security POW camp Stalag Luft III to search for the one tunnel that the Nazis never found. During the famous escape, 75 POWs managed to get out. Unlike the '60s movie, this documentary tells the story in more detail, and three former Allied prisoners are interviewed and also return to the site.

(Note to PBS: One of the reasons we like DVDs is that they don't have the annoying logos at the bottom of the screen that are on the broadcasts — and when "NOVA" and "PBS" show up here in flashing color, it's really annoying.)

Extras: Widescreen, printable materials for educators, optional English subtitles, described video for the visually impaired, chapters. (If you can't find this title in a local store, it can be ordered by phone at 800-949-8670, or on the Web at shop.wgbh.org).

• "Echoes From the White House" (PBS/Paramount, 2001, not rated, color and b/w, $19.99). This look at the two centuries that surround the title building is an hourlong documentary with voice performances by Dianne Wiest, Sam Waterston, Avery Brooks, Regina Taylor, Blythe Danner and others, and hosted by "The West Wing's" Martin Sheen.

Extras: Full frame, chapters.

• "Ancient Refuge in the Holy Land: Unearthing a Rebel Hideout" (WGBH, 2005, not rated, $19.95). A cave in a canyon near the Dead Sea was a secret place for Jewish refugees who fled oppressive rule by the Roman Empire some 2,000 years ago. And now it has been yielding up historical artifacts that provide information about that time, as shown in this hourlong NOVA documentary.

Extras: Full frame, optional English subtitles, described video for the visually impaired, chapters. (If you can't find this title in a local store, it can be ordered by phone at 800-949-8670, or on the Web at shop.wgbh.org.)

• "Weebles: Welcome to Weebleville!" (Playskool/Paramount, 2005, G, $14.95). . . . As in "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down." Another animated series based on a toy product, with various characters learning life lessons in wacky ways.

Extras: Full frame, five episodes, chapters.

• "Pocket Snails: Letter Adventure" (Soaring Star, 2005, not rated, $15.95). This new preschool DVD (for ages 2-5), the first in a series, uses animation, humor, original songs and sing-alongs to teach the alphabet to small fry. The two snails of the title live in the pocket of a young boy Jake, and help him learn as he acts as the surrogate for those watching.

Extras: Full frame, upper-case and lower-case versions, interactive games, music player, character introductions, TV ad, chapters.

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E-mail: hicks@desnews.com