Wiseguys, Debutantes on Tap This Week

The videocassette pickings are slim but choice this weekend, topped by two 1990 films for sophisticated tastes.

RECENT MOVIES

“GoodFellas” (Warner, $94.99, R) is the most outstanding of last year’s several Mob films. Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Nicholas Pileggi’s book “Wiseguys” manages to be fast, violent, shocking--and funny. This winner of New York Film Critics’ awards for best picture, director and actor (Robert De Niro), as well as a best supporting actor Academy Award for Joe Pesci, also features outstanding performances by Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino.

“Metropolitan” (RCA/Columbia, $89.95, PG-13) focuses on an altogether different Manhattan bunch--debutantes and their escorts, including an outsider (Edward Clements) who’s invited to take part in this socialite swirl due to the lack of escorts. Those fascinated with such people will probably find this low-budget film witty and charming; others may find the critically acclaimed comedy-drama somewhat overrated.

VINTAGE VIDEO

Warner is accompanying its video release of “GoodFellas” with three related oldies ($59.99 each):

* “Who’s That Knocking at My Door?” (1968) was the first feature film for Scorsese and one of his favorite actors, Harvey Keitel. The crude-but-taut drama about a streetwise guy is a compelling predecessor to the director’s “Mean Streets.”

* “I Died a Thousand Times” (1955) with Jack Palance and “The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond” (1960) with Ray Danton are mediocre gangster movies. The former, a remake of “High Sierra,” may be worth renting for young viewers who’ve just discovered Palance in “City Slickers.”

NON-MOVIE CASSETTES

Vestron has just released two tapes that could hardly be more different: “One Night With Dice” ($39.98), 48 minutes of scurrilous comic Andrew Dice Clay, and “The Mormon Tabernacle Choir: Greatest Hits” ($19.98).

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Next week: “Reversal of Fortune,” “Edward Scissorhands.”

Future features: “Misery” (July 11), “The Russia House” (July 17), “L.A. Story” (July 18), the Mel Gibson “Hamlet” (July 24), “Alice” (July 25), “Sleeping With the Enemy” (July 25), “Teenage Mutant Turtles II” (July 31, $22.98), “Awakenings” (Aug. 7), “King Ralph” (Aug. 8), “New Jack City” (Aug. 22), “Home Alone” (Aug. 22, $24.98).

On June 28, Voyager will release a special edition of “The Last Picture Show” including not only the letterboxed film, original trailer, screen tests, screenplay and several interviews, but also seven minutes cut from the original release (and not in the recently released cassette version). Price: $99.95.

In July, MGM/UA will release Vincente Minnelli’s “Two Weeks in Another Town” (1962) on laser disc only. The $34.98 disc will include the short documentary “Big Sur,” about Minnelli’s work on another film, “The Sandpiper.” Other laser disc-only releases will follow.