‘Star Trek IV’ Due to Dock on Sept. 30; Disney’s ‘Lady and the Tramp’ to Be Released

Good news for Trekkies.

Paramount will release “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” on Sept. 30. Every good Trekkie knew it would be a fall release--in time for the Christmas shopping season--but no one knew exactly when. And Trekkies won’t have to scrape up $80 or $90 to buy this one, considered by many the best of the four movies. Paramount has priced it at a relatively reasonable $29.95.

And that’s not all. Ten more of the “Star Trek” TV episodes also will be available on Sept. 30--at $14.95 each. This will be the first package of TV episodes released since last October. So now, 60 of the 79 episodes are on the market--plus the series pilot.

The big Disney release for the Christmas season will be that lovable doggie tale, “Lady and the Tramp,” which has grossed $160 million since it came out in 1955. Due Oct. 6, it’s also priced at $29.95.

“Tramp” and “Star Trek IV” should be the big Christmas releases--unless, of course, MCA finally puts out “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial.”

“Blind Date,” the hit comedy starring Bruce Willis and Kim Basinger that’s grossed more than $40 million, will be available on RCA/Columbia on Sept. 17.

Next week’s major release is Warner Video’s “Wisdom,” starring Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore. Later in the month: “Deadtime Stories” (July 29), “Hunk” and “Black Widow” (July 30).

Aug. 5 will be the biggest day of next month for new releases: “Crocodile Dundee,” “Nightmare on Elm Street 3” and “Three Amigos.”

NEW RELEASES: A schizophrenic movie like HBO’s “Something Wild,” directed by Jonathan Demme, is a hard sell in theaters. Audiences prefer a movie to be in one style. This one starts out as a screwball comedy, then drifts into drama. Demme seems to be exploring the limits of the screwball-comedy genre by showing some of the consequences of kooky, lawless behavior.

It’s about a wacky, unscrupulous nonconformist (Melanie Griffith) who latches onto a conformist (Jeff Daniels) and liberates him. The movie rolls merrily along until her hoodlum husband ( Ray Liotta) enters the picture about halfway through. Then it turns serious--and violent.

Vestron’s “That’s Life,” directed by Blake Edwards, is burdened with an alienating central character--a whiny, self-absorbed architect who’s gracelessly turning 60. Jack Lemmon turns in such a good performance that the character is a turn-off. He’s too wrapped up in his own problems, which include impotence, to notice that his long-suffering wife (Julie Andrews), a well-known singer, is grappling with a cancer scare. Even living among the super-rich in ritzy Malibu is no solace to him. “That’s Life” isn’t for everyone--critics were divided; audiences avoided it.

MGM/UA’s “The Assault,” by Dutch director Fons Rademakers, won an Oscar as best foreign-language film of 1986. It begins grimly in Holland during World War II with the Nazis murdering the family of 12-year-old Anton after they discover a dead colleague in front of the family’s house. But the boy knows the body was planted there. Who did it and why? For the next few decades, Anton is haunted by the incident. An unfeeling, unstable adult, Anton (Derek De Lint) encounters people over the years who shed light on the mystery.

In New World’s “Miss Mary,” directed by Maria Louisa Bemberg, Julie Christie plays an English governess tending to the bratty brood of a wealthy family in Argentina during World War II. Hardly anything happens in this dull movie, which is also confusing because of helter-skelter flashbacks. Probably best appreciated by the staunchest Christie fans.

OLD MOVIES: It’s hard to stay awake while the auto racers in “Grand Prix” (MGM/UA, 1966, $79.95) are muddling through their personal problems. But you won’t snooze through the spine-tingling racing footage, particularly the race through a rain-soaked course. Stars James Garner, Yves Montand and Eva Marie Saint are hampered by the horrible script. The roaring cars aren’t quite as impressive on the TV screen but if you have a stereo TV or VCR, they’ll at least sound real. Directed by John Frankenheimer.

In RCA/Columbia’s “Diamond Head” (1962, $69.95), Charlton Heston, noted for playing virtuous heroes, plays a bigot whose nickname is King. As a rich, powerful landowner in Hawaii, he deplores miscegenation and opposes a marriage between his sister (Yvette Mimieux) and a young Hawaiian (James Darren). Meanwhile his sister has eyes for her fiance’s brother (George Chakiris) while King silently lusts for her. This steamy, silly soap opera is a fun bad movie.

“Along the Great Divide” (Warner, 1951, $19.98) offers deft execution of an old Western plot by director Raoul Walsh. Lawman Kirk Douglas faces innumerable hazards as he treks a prisoner (Walter Brennan) across the desert. The prisoner’s daughter (Virginia Mayo) tags along for romantic interest. Lots of thrills, some creditable acting and breathtaking scenery, photographed in black and white.

Director John Ford’s “Two Rode Together” ($69.95, RCA/Columbia, 1961) is a mildly entertaining Western about a marshal (James Stewart) and a cavalry officer (Richard Widmark) hunting for captives held by Indians. Stewart’s excellent performance is the movie’s strength. Some may find Ford cliches--brainless comic relief and rampant male chauvinism--annoying.

“Son of Kong” (Nostalgia Merchant, $19.98, 1933) is the sequel to “King Kong.” Little Kong is much nicer than his surly dad. Carl Denham (Robert Armstrong), who took Kong Sr. to New York, returns to Skull Island and discovers kindly Kong Jr., now king of the jungle. It starts slowly but the second half is moves fast--the ending is a heartbreaker.

CHARTS (Compiled by Billboard magazine) TOP VIDEOCASSETTES,

RENTALS 1--”The Color of Money” (Paramount).

2--”Hannah and Her Sisters” (HBO).

3--”Little Shop of Horrors” (Warner Video).

4--”The Morning After” (Lorimar)

5--”Children of a Lesser God” (Paramount).

6--”Heartbreak Ridge” (Warner Video).

7--”The Mosquito Coast” (Warner Home Video).

8--”Crimes of the Heart” (Lorimar).

9--”Jumpin’ Jack Flash” (CBS-Fox).

10--”Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (Paramount).

TOP VIDEOCASSETTES, SALES 1--”Top Gun” (Paramount).

2--”Jane Fonda’s Low Impact Workout” (Lorimar).

3--”Callanetics” (MCA).

4--”Jane Fonda’s New Workout” (Lorimar).

5--”Here’s Mickey!” (Disney).

6--”Playboy Video Centerfold 5” (Lorimar).

7--”Disney Sing-Along Songs: Heigh Ho!” (Disney).

8--”Sleeping Beauty” (Disney).

9--”Here’s Donald!” (Disney).

10--”The Sound of Music” (CBS-Fox).