Classic DVDs can help brighten holidays

A number of holiday DVDs are on the shelves now ... well, in truth, some have been in stores since Halloween.

Anyway, some are new, others are reissues and all are designed to kindle that warm glow inside — no, not heartburn over gift expenditures.

Scrooges, enter at your own risk.

• IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: 60TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Paramount, 1946, b/w, $19.99). What can I say about this movie that hasn't been said a thousand times?

If you have the previous DVD edition, you have this one. Despite the "60th Anniversary Edition" label, there's nothing new this time around.

But if you don't have this movie in your library, by all means run out and get it. This tale of James Stewart learning what life in Bedford Falls would have been like if he'd never been born is truly timeless and holds up wonderfully to repeat — and repeat and repeat — viewings.

Extras: Full frame, featurettes, trailer.

• DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS: 40TH BIRTHDAY DELUXE EDITION (Warner, 1966, $19.98). Another one that needs no introduction — the 1966 cartoon narrated by Boris Karloff, of course. Looks great, still funny and among the bonus features is the Dr. Seuss follow-up, "Horton Hears a Who."

Extras: Full frame, "Horton Hears a Who" (1970), featurettes, song selections, text biographies, pencil test.

• THE ORIGINAL TELEVISION CHRISTMAS CLASSICS (ClassicMedia, 1964-70, five discs, $39.98). Hold on to your stockings, nostalgia buffs.

Yes, these are the originals, a collection of those great old cartoons you remember from your childhood — no matter what era you may have grown up in ... well, from 1964 forward.

Utilizing everything from traditional animation to stop-motion puppet animation, this package contains the original "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964), "Little Drummer Boy" (1968), "Frosty the Snowman" (1969), "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (1970) and "Frosty Returns" (1992). And a CD of Christmas tunes.

As such, it's the same set that was released last year.

Except that this year's edition also has a bonus disc — "Cricket on the Hearth" (1967). And it's another good one.

Extras: Full frame, six cartoons, two animated music videos ("Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Destiny's Child; "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," Mariah Carey). (Cartoons are also available individually, $16.98; "Cricket" is $9.98.)