Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II & III • March 7, 2012 DVD releases (continued from Restaurant page) “The Idle Rich” (Warner Archive) is an early talkie starring Leila Hyams (“Freaks”) and Conrad Nagel. In this comedy about love between people of different classes, millionaire William Van Luyn (Nagel) weds stenographer Joan Thayer (Hyams) and finds himself subjected to the social criticism of her strident working white-collar relatives. Van Luyn moves in with Joan’s family, eager to show he has no disdain for the hardships and shortcomings that are an everyday part of Joan’s “class.” As the Thayer family’s pride endangers both William’s marital happiness and their own prospects, William gambles his fortune against his understanding of human nature in order to bring them to their senses. Some of the typical flaws of early talkies are evident in “The Idle Class,” including long takes, an excess of dialogue, and stilted movement. However, Hyams is a charmer and manages to keep the tone light and airy. Bessie Love is amusing as Joan’s sister -- the only one in the family who actually wants to benefit from the money Joan’s marriage will bring to the family. There are no extras. “54” (Lionsgate), new on Blu-ray, is a look back at the excesses of the late ‘70s Disco Era when the popular Studio 54 was at its peak. Working class 19-year-old Shane O’Shea (Ryan Phillippe), drawn by the promise of glamour in the big city, gets a job as busboy at Studio 54 -- co-owned and managed in a paternal manner by Steve Rubell (Mike Myers) -- and quickly is promoted to bartender. Shane befriends busboy Greg (Breckin Meyer) and his wife Anita (Salma Hayek), the club’s coat check girl, and encounters the possibility of romance with soap star Julie Black (Neve Campbell). The story spans the summer of 1979 until the decline of Studio 54 a year later with IRS investigations followed by the arrest of Rubell. This was Phillippe’s first role after the horror flick “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” and he conveys an innocence that contrasts with the vulgarity and unrestrained sensuality of the club. Viewers see the story unfold through Shane’s eyes. The main drawback is the character of Rubell, who is never explored in depth. Myers wears a false nose to impersonate the entrepreneur, but little is revealed about Rubell and his scenes appear more cameos than those of a principal character. “Wyatt Earp’s Revenge” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) is based on a true story of the legendary lawman. Earp (Val Kilmer) recounts to a Kansas City Star reporter how he brought together top lawmen to avenge the vicious murder of his beloved Dora (Diana DeGarmo). Joined by Bat Masterson, Charlie Bassett, Bill Tilghman, and Doc Holliday, Earp rides after the Kennedy brothers, who are on a murder spree that spans from Dodge City to Mexico. Protected by their powerful father, the ruthless brothers know the law won’t touch them, but they underestimate Earp and his celebrated posse. Shawn Roberts plays the young Earp as the story unfolds largely in flashback. Production values are decidedly low, with a minimum of extras, locations that look like backlot sets, and period costumes that look fresh from the dry cleaners. There are some good action sequences reminiscent of the old B Westerns, a staple of Hollywood for three decades. Not enough detail is spent on characterization, though, so viewers never really learn a lot about the good guys or the bad guys. The only extra on the DVD release is a brief making-of featurette.