DVD Releases

Rita Hayworth’s sultry glamour made her one of the top stars of the ’40s, not to mention a pinup fantasy of American GIs everywhere thanks to an iconic Life magazine shot. It wouldn’t last. Hayworth was fated to have her star dimmed by gossip-fueling marriages and later struggles with alcohol and Alzheimer’s, to the point that maybe we sort of did need Madonna’s Vogue shout-out to revive our appreciation. There’s a similar aim to the five-disc set “The Films of Rita Hayworth’’ (2010), culled from the actress’s career-heyday run as a Columbia contract player. The collection is anchored by Hayworth’s definitive role in the exotic film noir “Gilda’’ (1946), in which she plays the wife of a menacing Buenos Aires casino owner determined to get back at old flame Glenn Ford through her wild ways. Much is made of Hayworth’s physical sensuality in a famed satin-glove striptease, but she’s got some great dialogue, too, at one point purring, “If I’d been a ranch, they’d have named me the Bar Nothin’.’’ The set includes another filmography highlight, the splashy Hayworth-Gene Kelly pairing “Cover Girl’’ (1944), along with three DVD debuts: the wartime musical “Tonight and Every Night’’ (1945), the biblical spectacle “Salome’’ (1953), and the dramatic musical “Miss Sadie Thompson’’ (1953). The collection includes interview material with “Moulin Rouge!’’ director Baz Luhrmann, who draws some entertaining parallels between the melodramatic fabulousness of Hayworth’s screen world and his own filmmaking predilections. Luhrmann on Hayworth’s “sure, I’m decent’’ entrance in “Gilda’’: “In anyone’s terms, you go, ‘Sex bomb.’ ’’ (Sony, $59.95)

DRAMA WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS (2010)

Sequels as long in coming as Michael Douglas and Oliver Stone’s encore generally have to force their relevance a bit — such as, say, with a subplot about Gordon Gekko’s prospective son-in-law (Shia LaBeouf) getting amped about green-energy investments. But the idea of Gekko resurfacing — and thriving — amid the economic meltdown couldn’t be more perfect, or perfectly played by Douglas (pictured). With Josh Brolin and Carey Mulligan. Extras: Stone supplies commentary, noting that he modeled his closed-door Federal Reserve Board scene on Gekko’s shareholders’ meeting from the original: “Obviously it’s simple, but it [is] based on what happened in 2008.’’ (Fox, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.99)

ACTION SALT (2010)

Angelina Jolie plays a CIA spy who may or may not be a Russian sleeper agent in an unexpectedly out-there espionage thriller from director Phillip Noyce (“Patriot Games,’’ “Clear and Present Danger’’). A contemporary commie plot to plunge the United States even deeper into today’s foreign-policy nightmare? It all couldn’t be screwier. Extras: Intriguingly, if oddly, Blu-ray offers both an extended cut of the film and a separate director’s cut, also with added footage. The latter shows Jolie (pictured) in a startlingly cold light in one scene, and tweaks the ending for maximum conspiracy-theorist impact. (Sony, $28.96; Blu-ray, $34.95)

BOX SET AMERICA LOST AND FOUND: THE BBS STORY (2010)

The Criterion Collection offers a genius survey of the output of BBS Productions, the counterculture-minded filmmaking outfit formed by director Bob Rafelson and producers Bert Schneider and Steve Blauner. The set traces how their ventures gave Hollywood a much-needed infusion of new ideas and talent in the late 1960s and early ’70s, from “Easy Rider’’ (Dennis Hopper, pictured), “Five Easy Pieces,’’ and “The Last Picture Show’’ to “The King of Marvin Gardens,’’ “Head,’’ and more. Other recent Criterion releases of note: Lars von Trier’s “Antichrist,’’ a reissue of David Cronenberg’s “Videodrome,’’ and another of Guillermo del Toro’s “Cronos.’’ (Criterion, $99.95; Blu-ray, $124.95)

EASY A (2010)

Emma Stone amusingly plays charitably minded faux jezebel in a high school riff on “The Scarlet Letter.’’ Extras: commentary by Stone; gag reel. (Sony, $28.95; Blu-ray, $34.95)

JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK (2010)

Documentarians Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg take an honest, humanizing look at the 77-year-old comedian, from the highs of the Carson days to the death of husband Edgar Rosenberg and other personal trials. Extras: Rivers commentary; Sundance Q&A. (IFC Films, $27.98; Blu-ray, $34.98; available now)

DEVIL (2010)

M. Night Shyamalan cooks up a high-concept tale of people stuck in an office building elevator with Satan himself. Shyamalan hands off the directing to John Erick Dowdle (“Quarantine’’), with only marginally better results than he’s had himself lately. Extras: Shyamalan discusses plans for other supernatural thrillers he is shepherding as part of his new venture, “The Night Chronicles.’’ (Universal, $29.98; Blu-ray, $39.98)

TRUE GRIT (1969)

With the Coen brothers’ remake riding into theaters this week, John Wayne’s original outing as Rooster Cogburn gets the requisite Blu-ray reissue. Extras: recycled commentary by Western historians, locations segment, and other featurettes. (Paramount, $24.99; available now)

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW 50TH ANNIVERSARY: THE BEST OF MAYBERRY (1960-65)

Cue that signature whistle, as Andy, Barney, and the gang are celebrated with a set of 17 classic episodes. Extras: “Danny Meets Andy Griffith,’’ the episode of “The Danny Thomas Show’’ that launched the series. (Paramount, $24.99)

Titles are in stores Tuesday unless specified.

Tom Russo can be reached at trusso2222@gmail.com.