'shakespeare' Center Stage

Labor Day weekend prompted a mood of romance for DVD customers.

In addition to record DVD sales of "Titanic," unit sales of the DVD version of "Shakespeare in Love" rose nearly 3% in that title's fourth week of release, moving the film into second place in DVD sales last week and up to 28th overall for the year, according to the VideoScan data tracking service.

It was one of only three titles in the top 20 that saw unit sales increase from the prior week. The others were "Eight Millimeter" and "Ghostbusters," which now rank 20th and 33rd for the year.

The record DVD sales of "Titanic" put the title in 17th place for the year after just six days in video stores. It has almost surpassed sales of "There's Something About Mary," which has also climbed rapidly up the charts and moved into 13th place after five weeks.

Among the most notable other new DVD titles released last week, New Line Home Video's "The American President" ranked 12th and Columbia TriStar Home Video's "Idle Hands" ranked 17th on the sales chart.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment's comedy "Office Space" was the third most-rented DVD title, according to VSDA VidTrac.

Revenue figures are not available for VHS sales or DVD sales and rentals.

VideoScan data represent actual sales at approximately 70% of retailers selling DVD software.