GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS ON CHILD SAFETY

Parents are always warning their kids to be wary of strangers. Often the message doesn’t sink in because it may be presented in an uninspired, unconvincing manner. Parents are earnest but few are schooled in the most efficient techniques of giving such critical warnings. Disney Home Video has designed a videocassette, “Too Smart for Strangers,” that effectively gets the message across to youngsters. The secret is entertainment. Kids who won’t absorb parents’ warnings may be more receptive to the same message offered in spritely, amusing fashion by Winnie the Pooh and friends.

In the guise of entertainment, the cassette imparts vital defensive skills, teaching kids how to identify and be suspicious of strangers, to say no and to tell parents if accosted.

Assembled under the guidance of experts, “Too Smart,” which uses songs and dramatizations, is well-made and, though I can’t speak for youngsters, seems capable of accomplishing its goal of making them leery of strangers.

It’s aimed at children between 3 and 10. What’s effective for a 3-year-old would seem to be too juvenile for a 10-year-old. Not true, said Richard Fried, Disney marketing director.

“All children in that age range would respond to it,” he insisted. “The difference is very young children wouldn’t absorb the message as quickly. They would have to see it several times. But the 10-year-old could see it once and get the message.”

The idea for this cassette, made exclusively for the home video market, originated early this year at Disney. “We wanted to make a cassette for the younger children,” Fried explained. “Paramount did a video for preteens and teen-agers that’s more forthright and not effective for the younger kids.” He was referring to Paramount Home Video’s “Strong Kids, Safe Kids” ($24.95), until now the best and most successful anti-abuse cassette.

Though undeniably valuable, “Too Smart” doesn’t sufficiently attack a larger problem. Statistics indicate that in most child-abuse cases the culprit is the victim’s relative or acquaintance.

The cassette, an obviously expensive production, sells for $29.95, which is relatively inexpensive. Anyone who purchases it is automatically making a contribution to child welfare: Disney is donating $1 to various child welfare organizations for every cassette sold this year.

NEW AND COMING MOVIES: In the stores next week: One of last year’s nominees for the best picture Oscar, “A Soldier’s Story,” starring Adolph Caesar, and “Runaway,” the Tom Selleck science fiction thriller released late last year. Both at $79.95 from RCA/Columbia.

Also next week, from MCA: the Jack Lemmon movie, “Mass Appeal,” and John Landis’ “Into the Night,” with Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer. Both are $79.95.

In two weeks, “The Mean Season,” starring Mariel Hemingway and Kurt Russell will be released by Thorn/EMI for $79.95.

Two of the year’s best teen movies will be available on cassette in late summer. “The Sure Thing,” the romantic comedy featuring John Cusack and Daphne Zuniga, is scheduled for late August release by Embassy for $79.95. In mid-September, MCA will offer “The Breakfast Club,” with Emilio Estevez and Molly Ringwald, for $79.95.

MOVIE CLASSICS: In two weeks “Pinocchio,” the 1940 feature-length animated movie, makes its debut on cassette. Some consider this Disney’s best. It features Jiminy Cricket singing that year’s Oscar-winning song, “When You Wish Upon a Star.” From Disney at $79.95.

Next week, Bob Hope’s funniest movie, “The Paleface,” the 1948 comedy-Western co-starring Jane Russell, will be available from MCA at $59.95.

Coming next month from Embassy for $69.95: the 1937 camp tear-jerker “Stella Dallas,” starring Barbara Stanwyck and “Summertime” (1955), with Katharine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi.

TENNIS: Though John McEnroe was whipped decisively by South African/American Kevin Curren in the Wimbledon tournament Wednesday, the average tennis player can still learn a thing or two from Mad Mac. So Vestron Video probably isn’t worried about interest in the instruction cassette featuring McEnroe that it’s releasing in mid-August.

“The Winning Edge--Private Lessons With the Pros” ($29.95) isn’t all McEnroe. You also get tennis tips from Ivan Lendl. Written, directed and produced by tennis pro John Yandell, the cassette is composed of five lessons, with the stars explaining the techniques of their ground strokes, volleys and serves.

Other how-to tennis cassettes: “How Tennis Pros Win,” featuring Tracy Austin (Morris Video, “29.95); “Tennis,” instruction by Vic Braden (three volumes, $39.95 each on Paramount); Stan Smith’s “Tennis” (A&R;, $49.95).

CLASSICAL MUSIC AND ARTS: “Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute,’ ” a Glyndebourne Festival Opera Production featuring Leo Goeke and Felicity Lott, is available on Video Arts International at $79.95. Performed in German with English subtitles.

More Mozart. From Sony, “Mozart” ($39.95) offers three of the composer’s works by the Polish Chamber Orchestra, with soloists Alain Marion and Jeremy Menuhin. In format, this resembles a standard pop video, with the music performed against a feudal castle setting.

Also from Sony, a studio recital: “Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms,” performed by Alexis Weissenberg, Teresa Berganza and Pierre Amoyal, $39.95.

This month Thorn EMI/HBO is releasing the Royal Opera’s production of Puccini’s “Manon Lescaut,” with Kiri Te Kanawa singing the title role, and the Imperial Russian Ballet’s “The Sleeping Beauty,” with dancers Irina Kolpakova and Sergei Berezhnoi. Both at $39.95.

SEX AND ART: Even the coffee-table book isn’t safe from the videocassette boom. Now the video equivalent is here. Next week MCA is releasing “Nudes in Limbo” ($29.95), for those who appreciate the male and female nude, tabbed an aesthetic exploration of the human body, with musical accompaniment, of course. Some will call it art, others will call it soft-core porn disguised as art.

Vestron is a releasing a coffee-table video book, “The Secret World of Erotic Art,” which is tasteful or titillating, depending on your point of view. It covers a wide spectrum of erotic art, from ancient to modern, spanning many cultures, presenting the works of the 14th Century American Indian as well as Picasso. It’s due at the end of August. The price hasn’t been announced.

CHARTS: As expected, “We Are The World: The Video Event” is a smash, entering the Billboard magazine sales chart at No. 1, a remarkable achievement. . . . “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” re-released at an inexpensive price, is also a big seller, climbing to No. 7 in three weeks.

“Starman” (No. 5) and “2010: The Year We Make Contact” (No. 6) are the new hit rentals. . . . “Micki and Maude” (No. 16) is doing fairly well. . . . “Protocol,” the Goldie Hawn comedy that wasn’t a box-office draw is certainly attracting renters. It moved up to No. 8 this week.

TOP VIDEOCASSETTES, RENTALS 1. “The Karate Kid” (RCA/Columbia).

2. “The Terminator” (Thorn/EMI).

3. “Missing in Action” (MGM/UA).

4. “Places in the Heart” (CBS/Fox).

5. “Starman” (RCA/Columbia).

6. “2010: The Year We Make Contact” (MGM/UA).

7. “City Heat” (Warner Video).

8. “Protocol” (Warner Video).

9. “The Cotton Club” (Embassy).

10. “Dune” (MCA).

TOP VIDEOCASSETTES, SALES 1. “We Are The World: The Video Event” (MusicVision ).

2. “Jane Fonda’s Workout” (Karl).

3. “Star Trek III: The Search For Spock” (Paramount).

4. “Gone With the Wind” (MGM/UA).

5. “The Karate Kid” (RCA/Columbia).

6. “Singin’ in the Rain” (MGM/UA).

7. “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (RCA/Columbia).

8. “Tina Turner Private Dancer” (Sony).

9. “Wham: The Video” (CBS-Fox).

10. “Prime Time” (Karl).