Warner Home Video has a belated holiday gift for Sidney Poitier fans: the release of a new four DVD boxed set that includes titles never before available on the DVD format. The films contained in the set are:

Edge of the City- Never before available on home video, this 1957 classic by director Martin Ritt stars Poitier and John Cassavetes as longshoremen who team to battle corruption and racism. The film was instrumental in launching Poitier as a leading man.

Something of Value- In another film released in 1957, Poitier co-stars with Rock Hudson in another racially-charged drama set in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprisings.

A Patch of Blue - This controversial and moving 1965 film cast Poitier as a social worker who has a love affair with a blind white girl - and has to cope with the racist rants of her trailer trash mother. Poitier gets fine support from Elizabeth Hartman and Shelly Winters.

A Warm December - As one of the pioneers in bringing African American actors better roles in Hollywood, Poitier measured his success by the increasing number of films in which race was not a factor in the screenplay. His 1973 romantic comedy A Warm December was just such a film, casting Poitier as a recently widowed doctor who discovers he can find love again.The film was shot in London and affords some great time capsule-like views of the city in the early 1970s.

There are no major extras, but original trailers are included for each film.

It's been frustrating that in recent years, Poitier has virtually retired from acting and directing (most people fail to remember, he helmed a string of box-office hits). However, The Sidney Poitier Collection allows fans to relive seeing this dashing leading man at both the early stage of his career and at the peak of his popularity.

The set will be released January 27. Click here to order