TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : Excellent Good Fair Poor : VIDEOCASSETTES

“The Hitchcock Collection.� MPI. $79.95. Two of the three tapes in this package consist of Alfred Hitchcock’s most magnificently entertaining classics from his “English period.� And while “The 39 Steps� (1935) and “The Lady Vanishes� (1938) are more inexpensively available from other video companies (they’re public-domain titles), MPI is offering the best prints, licensed from Janus Films. The third cassette here also comes from Janus’ vaults--a 27-minute documentary on “Vintage Hitchcock.� Part of a ‘70s educational series, “The Art of Film,� it merely strings together clips from the best-known ‘20s-’30s Hitchcock works. Though agreeably narrated by Douglas Fairbanks Jr., the superficial overview will nevertheless irk many fans; it completely skips some films, misinforms (the Macguffin is defined as a red herring) and does little more than illustrate some of the director’s chief motifs. Considered as a watchable bonus tape, though, it complements a worthwhile ensemble. Information: (800) 323-0442. 1/2