A cinematic classic and a vintage TV favorite are new on home video today as the Mary Poppins 40th anniversary edition makes its way to disc and Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids debuts on DVD in time for its 35th anniversary. The Mary Poppins release even features an all-new animated short.
Mary Poppins is now available as a two-disc set from Buena Vista Home Entertainment. The special edition offers a full list of extra features including commentary by actors Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and Karen Dotrice, and composer Richard Sherman, as well as archival recordings from Walt Disney and others involved in the film. There’s also a new 50-minute making-of documentary; the deleted song “Chimpanzo;" A Magical Musical Reunion with Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and Richard Sherman; a sing-along song selection; pop-up fun facts; a set-top trivia game; Dick Van Dyke’s make-up test; a special effects featurette; and analysis of the “Jolly Holiday" and "Step In Time" scenes. Special galleries feature stills, publicity shots, artwork and trailers.
In addition, Andrews hosts the new animated short, The Cat That Looked Like A King, which is based on an original P.L. Travers story about a magical nanny who moves in with a banker’s family and brings it closer together. Former Duchess of York Sara Ferguson, Tracy Ullman (The Tracy Ullman Show) and David Ogden Stiers (Disney’s Teacher’s Pet) provide voices. The DVD carries a suggested retail price of $29.99.
Released by UrbanWorks Ent., Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids offers five classic episodes on one disc. Also available today is Fat Albert’s Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection, a special box set featuring more than seven hours of animated fun and a 12-page keepsake companion booklet.
The Emmy-nominated Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids debuted on CBS in 1972 and aired for 12 consecutive years. Creator Bill Cosby served as the show’s live-action host and also provided for a number of the animated characters, including Fat Albert, Rudy, Mushmouth and Weird Harold. The series tackled real-life dilemmas with humor as it followed a group of young friends growing up in a Philadelphia neighborhood. A new live-action Fat Albert, directed by Joel Zwick and starring Kenan Thompson, will hit theaters Dec. 25.
The single-disc Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids lists for $14.99 and the four-disc Fat Albert’s Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection carries a suggested retail price of $49.99.
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