Tom Selleck returns to DVD with two “Jesse Stone” films

By Patrick Luce Apr 5, 2007, 15:13 GMT

Six-time Emmy Award nominee Tom Selleck (who won for TV’s “Magnum PI”) reprises his signature role as Police Chief Jesse Stone in a prequel and a sequel to the highly-rated TV movie “Stone Cold” – “Jesse Stone: Night Passage” and “Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise” – both debuting on DVD June 12 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.  Based on the best-selling books by Robert B. Parker, each title will be available separately at the suggested retail price of $24.96 each. 

Selleck plays the role of Jesse Stone, a former Los Angeles homicide detective who left California and his ex-wife to become the police chief in a small New England town.  Among his many character flaws are his struggles with a drinking problem and lingering feelings for his ex-wife.  The three films produced from the Robert B. Parker novels have been rating winners for CBS, even opposite strong competition from ratings juggernauts “Desperate Housewives” and the season debut of “24.” 

Selleck’s involvement in the projects has extended to co-producing and co-writing the films, with the endorsement of author Parker, who notes that the films capture the spirit of his books.  The TV movies have attracted millions of viewers and a fourth TV movie entitled “Jesse Stone: Sea Change” is currently in the works.

“Jesse Stone: Night Passage” is a prequel to 2005’s “Stone Cold,” and originally aired on CBS January 15, 2006.  Co-starring Stephanie March (TV’s “Law & Order: SVU”) and Stephen Baldwin (The Usual Suspects), the telefilm depicts  Jesse Stone’s (Selleck) first days as Paradise, Massachusetts’ Chief of Police.  He must immediately find the killer of his predecessor, plus investigate a domestic violence situation involving the city’s resident hothead (Baldwin), whose ties to a local bank manager expose a money-laundering scheme.

“Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise” is a sequel to 2005’s “Stone Cold,” and originally aired on CBS April 30, 2006.  Co-starring William Devane (TV’s “Knot’s Landing”), the TV movie finds Chief Stone (Selleck) settling into his new life in Paradise when he becomes obsessed with finding the killer of a teenage girl.  His quest to solve the murder unearths facts indicating there is more to the girl’s history than originally suspected and the new clues lead him to probe the Boston underworld. 

DVD Special Features for “Jesse Stone: Night Passage” include:
Digitally Mastered Audio and Video
Widescreen Presentations
Audio: English, French, Portuguese, Thai
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Thai
Bonus Previews
Closed Captioned

DVD Special Features for “Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise” include:
Digitally Mastered Audio and Video
Widescreen Presentations
Audio: English, French, Portuguese, Thai
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Thai
Bonus Previews
Closed Captioned

“Jesse Stone: Night Passage” is now available for pre-order at Amazon. It is available for pre-order at AmazonUK for a June 4th release. Visit the DVD database for more information.

“Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise” is now available for pre-order at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.