'Annie,' 3 golden oldies are out on DVD

A reissue of "Annie," along with three golden oldies, top this week's new DVD releases.

— "Annie" (Columbia, 1982, PG, $19.95). It's been quite awhile since I've watched this film, and to be honest, I was prepared not to like it. After all, its reputation as an overinflated, pretentious bomb precedes it.

However, I found myself charmed by much of "Annie," and while I won't pretend it's not overproduced and occasionally overdirected (by film genius John Huston in his decline), there is much to enjoy in one of Hollywood's last big old-style musical productions — chiefly the choreography and the central performances by Aileen Quinn in the title role and Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks.

The show's inherent staginess in places is not helped by the pan-and-scan, full-frame version here. The film begs for widescreen presentation (which it got in a previous DVD release), and that is emphasized all the more by the disc's bonus tracks — in which all the film's clips are shown in widescreen!

OK, I understand that this is primarily a children's film, and kids probably do prefer pan-and-scan movies. But if that's the reason we don't have a widescreen option here, why are the clips in the many extras — from a grown-up Quinn's making-of featurette to those used in the interactive games — in widescreen? Aren't those for kids, too?

To steal a line from another famous musical, is a puzzlement.

Extras: Full frame, interactive games, interviews, music video, trailers, etc.

— "Divorce American Style" (Columbia, 1967, not rated, $24.96). The very talented Dick Van Dyke had a woeful movie career, with only a few highlights — but this is one, a satire of divorce in America. Van Dyke and Debbie Reynolds play longtime marrieds with two sons (the oldest played by young Tim Matheson). They were happy once, but now they spend all their time together bickering. Eventually, they head for divorce court, then attach themselves to others and ultimately discover that being single isn't all it's cracked up to be.