Trio of historical epics on DVD

A trio of vintage historical epics lead this lengthy list of movies released on DVD this week, which includes a pair of new sports-related family-friendly films and some reissues of old favorites.

Vintage movies

• "Anne of the Thousand Days"/"Mary, Queen of Scots" (Universal, 1969/1971, PG/PG-13, $19.98). Genevieve Bujold deservedly earned an Oscar nomination for the first film here, as Anne Boleyn, opposite Richard Burton as King Henry VIII (also Oscar-nominated). And Bujold carries the film in a wonderfully modulated performance that rises above the spectacle (and questionable history). Irene Papas, Anthony Quayle co-star.

The second film has also been criticized for historical inaccuracies but forget that and enjoy the show as Queen Mary (Vanessa Redgrave, another Oscar-nominee) and Queen Elizabeth (Glenda Jackson) get into a power struggle. Co-stars include Timothy Dalton, Patrick McGoohan, Ian Holm and Trevor Howard.

Extras: Widescreen, featurettes (for "Mary"), trailer

TV miniseries

• "Masada" (Koch, 1981, two discs, $29.98). Emmy nominations went to Peter O'Toole and Peter Strauss as, respectively, the Roman commander whose legions attack the title fortress and the leader of the Jewish zealots who put up a memorable last stand. One of the great miniseries that once were commonplace on network television, with everyone involved at the peak of their powers. (The copyright is NBC/Universal, but it actually aired on ABC over four nights in April 1981.)

Extras: Full frame

• "The Starter Wife" (Universal, 2007, two discs, $29.98). Debra Messing ("Will & Grace") stars in this cable miniseries, a comic drama that aired in June, based on a Hollywood insider's novel. Messing is the wife of a studio exec who dumps her, sending her into a tailspin. Pretty good but could have been a two-hour movie. Judy Davis and Joe Mantegna co-star.

Extras: Widescreen, six episodes

Recent films

• "Gracie" (New Line, 2007, PG-13, $27.98). Siblings Elisabeth and Andrew Shue developed this uplifting effort (and they take supporting roles). The story focuses on a teenage girl (Carly Schroeder) who steps up to get on the all-male soccer team when her soccer-star brother is killed in an accident.

Extras: Widescreen, audio commentaries, featurette, trailer