'Mistral's Daughter' among TV series new to DVD

The 1980s miniseries "Mistral's Daughter," based on the Judith Krantz novel that spans several generations, leads off this collection of TV series arriving on DVD this week.

"Mistral's Daughter" (E1, 1984, three discs, $39.98). Stacy Keach is arrogant Mistral, a self-centered painter in 1920s Paris who has an affair with an artist's model (Stefanie Powers), marries a rich American (Lee Remick) and becomes a Nazi sympathizer to achieve his own ends — all of which comes back to bite him, of course.

This lavishly trashy miniseries is the kind of thing TV doesn't make anymore, a big-budget affair largely photographed in gorgeous European locations, with a good cast (although Powers has trouble passing for 18 in the early stages). Co-stars include Timothy Dalton, Robert Urich and Joanna Lumley.

Extras: full frame, introduction by Krantz, interview with Keach

"Smallville: The Complete Eighth Season" (Warner/Blu-ray, 2008-09, four discs, $79.98). This show is going to have to change its name to "Metropolis" pretty soon, as these episodes lead up to Clark Kent's evolution into Superman.

But it's still coy about that as Clark (Tom Welling) goes to work for the Daily Planet, spars with Lois Lane and is seen in heroics only as "The Red-Blue Blur" (a sharper blur in Blu-ray, of course).

Extras: widescreen, 22 episodes, deleted scenes (also in hi-def), audio commentaries, featurettes (also on DVD, six discs, $59.98)

"Wiseguy: The Complete First Season" (Mill Creek, 1987-88, four discs, $14.98). This very well written, hard-hitting crime series has an undercover agent (Ken Wahl) going deep into mob territory after serving 18 months in prison to bolster his cover.

This first season is split into two halves, as he faces down a New Jersey mobster (Ray Sharkey in a terrific performance) and the second half focuses on bringing down a psychotic sister and brother (Joan Severance and, delivering a knockout performance, Kevin Spacey). Pre-stardom Annette Bening has an important role in an episode of the first story.

Extras: full frame, 22 episodes

"Wanted: Dead or Alive: Complete Series" (Mill Creek, 1958-61, 11 discs, b/w, $29.98). This is the show that put Steve McQueen on the map, leading him toward movie roles that would make him a superstar.

It's a first-rate half-hour Western, with McQueen as a soft-hearted bounty hunter who totes a sawed-off shotgun. Guests include Mary Tyler Moore, Cloris Leachman, Lon Chaney Jr., Martin Landau, and in two episodes each during the first season, Michael Landon and James Coburn.

Extras: full frame, 94 episodes