Mighty Morphin: Official Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Karate Club - Level 1 (1993) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As a former martial artist, I first watched this tape back in 1997 when my cousins wanted to rent it. If they hadn't, I may well have written it off, but I am so glad I didn't! Jason Frank, aka Tommy in the show, gives a great Karate lesson for kids, and it's plain to see in the video that he is a great instructor for kids! At the end of the video, he shows you a really cool kata that perhaps Jason developed himself, which incorporates every move he teaches throughout the tape.
For those who aren't so familiar with Jason Frank's accomplishments, he began training in martial arts when he was 4, and was already teaching the other kids when he was 12, so he has a lot of experience on the teaching end. He and a friend of his bought his first dojo when he was 18, and nowadays, Jason Frank owns all the Red Dragon Karate dojos, and still teaches sometimes at the one in Anaheim Hills. He currently holds the rank of 5th dan (5th degree black belt) at the age of 31, and considering the fact that 6th dan is the highest one can go in Karate if they are under 45 years old, that is amazing! Not only does Jason teach good basic moves in the video, but he also talks about the philosophies of martial arts and gives his own outlook on what it means to him. I bought this tape in 1999 when I saw it on a rack at a video store, and will soon be buying another copy for a little girl I know who wants to learn Karate. I would definitely recommend this tape, along with the tape made by Austin St. John (he played Jason in the show) to anyone just starting out in Karate or who thinks they might want to take it up.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Mighty Morphin: Official Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Karate Club - Level 1 (1993)

Click here for more information about Mighty Morphin: Official Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Karate Club - Level 1 (1993)

Read More...

The Avengers - The Complete Emma Peel Megaset (1966) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews) The immensely popular ABC series called "The Avengers" has long since achieved legendary status since it appeared back in January 1961. Since then there have been 161 episodes, which break into four major sections. We have the early episodes (1-26) with Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Ian Hendry as Dr. Keel. Then the "Cathy Gail" series (27-78) with Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale, the man-tossing, leather-covered intellectual who broke new ground for female characters on television. Even more popular was the black and white series (79-104) with Diana Rigg and Emma Peel (read "M[en] appeal "), which led not unexpectedly to the color series with Rigg (105-129). Then the final section with Linda Thorson as Tara King (129-- in which she co-starred with Rigg-161).
As of this writing, the early episodes in the Gale series and all of the King series are not yet available. However, A&E has just released all of the Rigg entries, both the black and whites and the color, in a wonderful boxed set called "The Avengers: the Complete Emma Peel Mega-Set." And Mega, I suppose, is as good as any adjective to describe the enjoyment value of the contents therein. We have here all the Rigg episodes, including the transition entry in which Tara takes over for Emma, on 16 DVDs, each holding 3 episodes with an occasional 4th as a "bonus."
Those who have never seen them before will want, of course, to watch them in order. Others will want to jump to their favorite episodes, which is pretty easy on DVD. You will notice that the black and whites were less studio-bound and the sets in general more realistic. With the first color episode, the series took a strong science fiction bent; and the sets, as the producers admitted, were more a view of England as the Americans would like to think it is.
You will also have a lot of fun spotting stars-to-be. There is Donald Sutherland, Brian Blessed and Charlotte Rampling in "The Superlative Seven," Peter Bowles in "Dial a Deadly Number" and "Escape in Time," Geoffrey Palmer in "A Surfeit of H2O," and Christopher Lee in "Never, Never Say Die." It was a policy that no actor could appear more than once a season, so Bowles and Lee, for example, would have to wait for the King series to play other characters. In fact, the only characters as such to reappear in the color Rigg series from the black and whites is the bumbling Brodny (Warren Mitchell) who can be found in "Two's a Crowd" and "The See-Through Man" and the evil assistant (Frederick Jaeger) to the Cybernaut-master.
And for more fun, see how many actors from "Are You Being Served?" you can spot? There are three in all.
The most frequent repeat actor seems to be comedian Roy Kinnear, who also has the honor of being in the very last King episode in the role of Bagpipes Happychap. And then we have rotund Patrick Newell who was murdered in the very first Rigg entry, drugged in a color one, and wound up as Mother in the King series.
But all in all, it is the interplay between Macnee and Rigg that really made this program work. Unlike Cathy Gale, who seemed actively to dislike Steed when she was not merely tolerating him, Mrs. Peel had a genuine fondness for him and was not averse to stirring his tea (anticlockwise, as he preferred it). And as for the question of Peel and Steed being lovers, recall that they are fictional characters and have no life off the screen.
The dialogue was light hearted, and you seldom if ever saw blood after a mere trickle in their third episode. You also never saw a policeman, an element that for some reason the producers thought would be a jarring note. (You figure out why; I cannot.)
The best episodes? There is no question that "The House That Jack Built" leads the pack. This is the one in which Emma finds herself in a house designed to drive her mad and Steed appears only at the start and end. The worst? Possibly "Silent Dust." The silliest? That has to be "Epic." The most serious? "Murdersville." So what if the package costs a small fortune? You could purchase them separately, of course; but think of what you would be missing.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Avengers - The Complete Emma Peel Megaset (1966)

Click here for more information about The Avengers - The Complete Emma Peel Megaset (1966)

Read More...

The Long, Long Trailer (1954) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Directed by Vincent Minelli, this comedy, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez, was filmed at the height of the popularity of their television show, "I Love Lucy". In this film, Lucy was never funnier, and Desi was never better as her comedic foil.
The plot is surprisingly simple. Tacy Collins (Lucille Ball) and Nicholas Carlos Collini (Desi Arnez) are about to be married. Tacy persuades him that having a trailer home would be ideal, since he has the type of job that takes him away so often. This way, she could always be there to take care of him no matter where he is working, as their home would always go with him, wherever he may be. Nicky buys into her logic, and the rest is history.
They purchase a top of the line trailer home, a new car to tow it, and get married. Tacy and Nicky then hit the road and have a number of very funny adventures. They will have you belly laughing, as the personas of their film characters do not differ greatly from that of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, the characters of their television show. If it ain't broke, why fix it?
Keenan Wynn has a small role as a traffic control cop whose path briefly crosses theirs. Don't blink, or you may miss him. Some of the footage is shot in gorgeous Yosemite National Park and the cinematography is a treat, with beautiful scenic vistas replete with mountain views.
Not only was this film a hit for MGM in 1954 and the best grossing comedy of the year, but it was also their best grossing comedy to date, beating MGM's previous record holder, "Father of the Bride". If you are a fan of Lucy and Desi, or if you simply want a film that would be fun for the whole family, you cannot go wrong in choosing this one.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Long, Long Trailer (1954)

Get 17% OFF

Click here for more information about The Long, Long Trailer (1954)

Read More...

Power Rangers Dino Thunder, Vol. 2: Legacy of Power (2004) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These are the episodes that will be on Volume 2,
1404: "Legacy of Power"
1405: "Back in Black"
1406: "Diva in Distress"
1407: "Game On"
1408: "Golden Boy"
Great that Tommy is a Ranger again.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Power Rangers Dino Thunder, Vol. 2: Legacy of Power (2004)

Click here for more information about Power Rangers Dino Thunder, Vol. 2: Legacy of Power (2004)

Read More...

Avengers '65 - Set 1, Vols. 1 & 2 (1966) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These DVD's from A&E represent the best known and certainly the most popular era of the long running British TV fantasy-adventure series "The Avengers." Made between 1965 and 1966, all 26 episodes of the fourth season of the show are available here on eight discs in four sets, or two at a time.
When Honor Blackman (Mrs. Cathy Gale) left the series after season 3 to take up the lead role in the Bond movie "Goldfinger," the producers had already made the decision to start filming the series, moving it out of the TV studio and giving it a much glossier and dynamic feel. John Steed (Patrick MacNee), the debonair British government agent stayed on and his new partner was devised by the production team to be another tough, all-action girl with "Man Appeal." M-Appeal (geddit?) Elizabeth Shepherd was cast as Mrs. Emma Peel and two episodes were filmed before it was mutually agreed that she didn't meet the expectations of the production team. A quick replacement was sought and in stepped Diana Rigg. A TV legend was born.
The relationship between Steed and Mrs. Gale had always been haughty to say the least. With the introduction of the widowed (or seemingly) Mrs. Peel, the relationship between the two leads became much closer with a great deal of sexual tension. Mrs. Peel was as intelligent, quick thinking and emasculated as her predecessor, and initially at least shared her penchant for leather outfits, but she was also certainly softer and more readily prepared to act as Steed's partner in their adventures.
The stories were certainly becoming much more fantasy bound, and the use of diabolical masterminds and organizations with bizarre acronyms became the norm for the stories from this series on. The fantasy and sci-fi elements of the show were highlighted more than before and the fashions and design of the show took on a much more stylish and indeed 'stylized' look. The success of these elements was immediate, and huge ratings in the UK followed, plus overseas transmissions of the show followed for the first time. Such was their success indeed that another 26 episodes were soon commissioned, this time to be made in color.
The stories have supposedly been digitally re-mastered for these DVD releases, and indeed the picture quality is pretty impressive, but there is still sparkle and dirt on the prints that may detract from the quality for some viewers. The 26 episodes are presented in the same order of their original UK transmission. Unfortunately, as with all the A&E Avengers releases, there are no extras at all. Not even production notes. However, there are menus included, which are nicely done.
This for me is the very best season of the show, with great style and wit accompanying the excellent scripts, direction and production values. I'd certainly recommend this release to anyone.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Avengers '65 - Set 1, Vols. 1 & 2 (1966)

Click here for more information about Avengers '65 - Set 1, Vols. 1 & 2 (1966)

Read More...

The Buccaneers: The Complete Series Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The mid to late 1950s and early 1960s saw numerous costume adventure series produced in England and exported to the United States, series like "The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel," "The Adventures of Robin Hood," "The Adventures of Sir Lancelot," "Ivanhoe," "William Tell" and "Sir Francis Drake." In the wake of the successful series "The Adventures of Robin Hood," the same production company, Sapphire Films, made "The Buccaneers" for the 1956-57 season on CBS. "The Buccaneers" focuses on the exploits of reformed pirate Dan Tempest and his crew as they aid Lt. Beamish, the acting governor of New Providence, a small British colony in the Caribbean. Robert Shaw, perhaps best remembered for his portrayal of "Quint," the doomed shark hunter in "Jaws," portrays Captain Tempest. Like "The Adventures of Robin Hood," "The Buccaneers" was produced for a juvenile audience but thanks to some good writing and acting, adults can enjoy this fun adventure series. Look for guest stars like Joan Sims and Sidney James from the "Carry On" movie and TV series, Hazel Court of Hammer Films fame, and even future film director John "Midnight Cowboy" Schlesinger makes an early acting appearance.
Following on the heels of their two previous classic TV releases (the 1954 version of "Sherlock Holmes" with Ronald Howard and "Victory at Sea," the early 1950s World War II documentary series), Mill Creek Entertainment offers all 39 episodes of this entertaining series. Given the low selling price for this release, I had low expectations for this DVD set, but was very pleasantly surprised at the visual quality of the episodes. These episodes are very near the quality that one would expect for a classic TV release from a major studio. There are some very minimal film specks and an occasional tape roll but, on an overall basis, Mill Creek has more than exceeded my expectations for this 50 year old series ("The Buccaneers" began U.S. broadcasts in September of 1956). There are 13 episodes included on each of three single-sided, dual-layered discs, but the transfers are very solid; I've seen no significant issues regarding compression or digital breakup on the episodes. Unfortunately, the Mill Creek Entertainment logo appears twice for about 15 seconds in each episode; it's not too distracting and is the only real negative for this release.
There are a couple of interesting notes on "The Buccaneers" and this release from Mill Creek Entertainment. In episode #9, titled "The Ladies," Robert Shaw is heard singing "Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain . . ." Shaw would reprise this very same tune 19 years later in "Jaws." Shaw also returned to the genre in the 1976 film "Swashbuckler." Mill Creek incorrectly describes "The Buccaneers" as being television's very first pirate series on the back of the DVD box. That's not correct; "The Buccaneers" was produced in 1956 whereas "The Adventures of Long John Silver" (with Robert Newton reprising his signature role from two theatrical films), was produced in Australia in 1955 for syndication in the U.S. and England. It was Australia's first television production (it wasn't even shown there for a few years until the country had a nationwide feed) and was filmed entirely in color. Mill Creek has included 14 (of 26) episodes of this series in "The Ultimate Pirate Collection" which Amazon also sells.
For fans of classic TV and costume adventure series from the 1950s, I can easily recommend "The Buccaneers" . . . five stars and a hoist of the Jolly Roger!


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Buccaneers: The Complete Series

Get 16% OFF

Click here for more information about The Buccaneers: The Complete Series

Read More...

Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season (1955) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For those not fortunate enough to have grown up with these shows, Richard Greene is probably the second-best Robin Hood ever (Errol Flynn being number one). The rest of the cast all seem right for their roles, too. Stretching the Robin Hood legend out over more than 120 episodes may seem to be a daunting proposition, but each one of these episodes is at the very least a pleasant way to spend half an hour, and the stories are always true to the spirit of the legend.
So what do you get in this set? All 39 episodes of the first season on 3 single-sided discs (not 4 as Amazon currently states), so the eagle-eyed among us will see some artifacts resulting from that much compression. Mill Creek has pulled from a variety of sources: some very worn films, and apparently some previous video releases (even, I suspect, some European releases). You get to see a couple of original sponsor messages (Wild Rood Cream Oil and BandAids) and you are occasionally informed that "this film was flown from Europe to the US via Pan Am", with a CBS logo or two. There are also a couple of syndication prints in which the title of the show was changed to "Richard Greene plays Robin Hood in Adventures in Sherwood Forest".
Because of the way this set was put together, the physical quality of the shows varies greatly. Some are very dark, others are too contrasty or blown out, and several have a heavy green tint to them. The ones that appear to be sourced from European videos have the best picture quality, but often have a distracting twinkling line on the left edge of the picture (which you may not see, depending on your DVD player and TV set). This set cannot hold a candle to the quality of the DVDs released in the UK, but you'd pay much more for the UK sets.
All in all, for the price, most people will be happy with this set, and Richard Greene's portrayal of Robin Hood is worth seeing. Videophiles or devotees of this series will have to have the outstanding UK DVDs, though.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season (1955)

Studio: Digital1stopRelease Date: 03/18/2008Run time: 855 minutesRating: Nr

Get 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Adventures of Robin Hood - Complete First Season (1955)

Read More...

TV Classics: The Adventures of Topper (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This DVD contains the following episodes (9):
Decorating 1.29.54
George's Old Flame 7.2.54
Henrietta Sells The House 4.9.54
The Proposal 2.19.54
Second Honeymoon 1.8.54
Sweepstakes (A Ghostly Joke) 5.7.54
Topper Goes to Las Vegas 4.23.54
Topper Goes West 4.30.54
Trip to Lisbon 2.12.54
This is A Platinum dual layer disk (DVD9), so there is a Platinum leader on each episode as well as the logo in the lower right corner.
Video quality is good to very good as is the sound.
I bought it for the first episode (Decorating). If not for that go with Critics Choice Volumes One and Two. They contain 8 of the 9 episodes above with the exception of Decorating.

Click Here to see more reviews about: TV Classics: The Adventures of Topper (2005)

Click here for more information about TV Classics: The Adventures of Topper (2005)

Read More...

Baa Baa Black Sheep - Volume 1 (1976) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I watched this show when it first came out in the late 70s. Based very loosely on the memoirs of Col. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, USMC, Ret. (also titled Baa Baa Black Sheep), it tells a fictionalised and highly romanticised account of the exploits of the Marine Corps Fighter Squadron VMF-214 (aka The Black Sheep). This ragtag squadron based in the Solomon islands created headlines when in a span of 12 weeks in late 1943, it accounted for 197 enemy planes destroyed or damaged. That run ended with Boyington's own downing by the Japanese and his subsequent secret internment as a POW. Upon his release at the end of the war, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his role as Commanding Officer of the Black Sheep.
The TV series of course takes liberties with actual history. Boyington and the Black Sheep were stationed at Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides (present-day Vanuatu). They also flew from Vella Lavella but there was no island called Vella La Cava or Epiritos Marcos. Although Boyington describes his men as misfits and the series happily plays this up, more balanced later accounts note that the men were more likely stragglers who had been separated from their units or got lost in the general confusion of the war and army bureaucracy. His Intelligence Officer is on record noting that none of the men in the squadron were facing disciplinary action while they were with the unit. When the series aired with his name attached as Technical Advisor, surviving members of the Black Sheep recalled how they ribbed him about it and how he had to apologise. One of the veterans is quoted to have indignantly said, "We never went up drunk. The only thing accurate about the show was that we flew Corsairs."
The exploits of the Black Sheep form about a third of his memoirs. Prior to that, before America's entry into the war, Boyington had served with the Flying Tigers in China. He also served in Burma before Roosevelt declared war and he once again joined the Marines in the Pacific. Following his downing and capture by a Japanese submarine, he spent the remaining 20 months of the war as a POW. In the years after the war, he fought alcoholism, broken marriages, joblessness and ill-health. A line from his memoir sums it up poignantly. As he rode through the ticker-tape parade after receiving his Medal of Honor from President Truman, a well-wisher grabbed him by the arm and said, "Enjoy it today, my boy, because they won't give you a job cleaning up the streets tomorrow." He published his memoirs in 1958. He returned to part-time flying after partially overcoming his alcoholism. He finally died of lung cancer in 1988 at the age of 75. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. A true American hero. But as he himself wrote at the end of his book, "If this story were to have a moral, then I would say, 'Just name a hero and I'll prove he's a bum.'"
NBC's Baa Baa Black Sheep lasted a total of just 2 seasons, the casualty of poor ratings (it was up against Charlie's Angels), and high cost. This was before the advent of cheap CGI effects. Those planes you see onscreen are the real deal, vintage F4U Corsairs put through their paces.
In an effort to milk as much money as possible from this re-release, NBC-Universal has slyly packaged the 2 seasons into what I believe will eventually be 3 premium priced boxed sets. Volume 1 contains just half of the first season. Talk about greed. (For comparison, Universal has just released a boxed set of the first 2 seasons of Quincy ME at the same price.) Universal has crammed all the episodes onto 2 double-sided DVDs. Some older DVD players have problems playing these double-sided Universal DVDs. On one player it just spun uselessly registering a blank screen.
This first half-season consists of the first 10 episodes plus the one and a half hour pilot "Flying Misfits". What has NBC-Universal done to justify the pretty exorbitant price? Well, one thing we can be thankful for is that they have provided a reasonably good restoration of the original film prints. Picture quality is generally very good, clean, clear and sharp (though not as good as on the aforementioned Quincy ME). There are still occasional film nicks and dirt specks but generally the quality of the studio based footage is very high considering this was made in 1976. Archival and older stock footage has not been restored. They look very grainy and grimy in comparison to the footage shot specifically for the series. But this is quite reasonable and even lends a certain authenticity to the episodes. Sound is a basic 2.0 mono but clean and clear. The extras last a grand total of 6 minutes and consists of two interviews with the real Pappy Boyington, one made in 1959 just after the success of his memoirs, and the other in 1976 on the occasion of the premiere of Baa Baa Black Sheep on NBC.Bloopers: Stock footage of the corsairs is used repeatedly over the entire span of the series. One result is that the pilots' kill score reflected in the meatballs painted below the cockpits change haphazardly between episodes and even within episodes. Some of the archive footage has been used rather indiscriminately, the most obvious are the ones involving aircraft carriers. In the episode "Meatball Circus", the Black Sheep are supposed to land on the WW2 carrier Lexington. The footage however shows them approaching the modern carrier USS Ranger (CV61) with a full complement of jet fighters on deck. In at least 2 scenes we get to see helicopters taking off from the carrier when carriers did not have helicopters till well after WW2.
Note: The Black Sheep still flies today (redesignated VMA-214) as part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in support of Marine Expeditionary Forces. They are presently equipped with AV-8B Night Attack Harriers (VSTOL/Jump-Jets). Their last major deployment was to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Baa Baa Black Sheep - Volume 1 (1976)

BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP VOL 1 - DVD Movie

Get 22% OFF

Click here for more information about Baa Baa Black Sheep - Volume 1 (1976)

Read More...

Daniel Boone - Season One (1964) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I got this for my wife for her birthday. She has been wanting this on DVD for a very long time and we are glad it is out.
To the reviewer who claimed the picture quality was not good, remember this was a B&W TV from the early 1960s, what did you really expect? It was not recorded with modern hi-def digital cameras, it was recorded over 40 years ago.
I found the picture quality to be quite good, as good or better than other shows I have seen from the same era.
If you are a fan of the show, or just want to get some quality family DVDs to watch, get this set.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Daniel Boone - Season One (1964)

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Daniel Boone - Season One (1964)

Read More...

Avengers '66 - Set 1, Vol. 1 & 2 (1966) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)These DVD's from A&E represent the best known and certainly the most popular era of the long running British TV fantasy-adventure series "The Avengers." Made between 1965 and 1966, all 26 episodes of the fourth season of the show are available here on four discs.
When Honor Blackman (Mrs. Cathy Gale) left the series after season 3 to take up the lead role in the Bond movie "Goldfinger," the producers had already made the decision to start filming the series, moving it out of the TV studio and giving it a much glossier and dynamic feel. John Steed (Patrick MacNee), the debonair British government agent stayed on and his new partner was devised by the production team to be another tough, all-action girl with "Man Appeal." M-Appeal (geddit?) Elizabeth Shepherd was cast as Mrs. Emma Peel and two episodes were filmed before it was mutually agreed that she didn't meet the expectations of the production team. A quick replacement was sought and in stepped Diana Rigg. A TV legend was born.
The relationship between Steed and Mrs. Gale had always been haughty to say the least. With the introduction of the widowed (or seemingly) Mrs. Peel, the relationship between the two leads became much closer. Mrs. Peel was as intelligent, quick thinking and emasculated as her predecessor, and initially at least shared her penchant for leather outfits, but she was also certainly softer and more readily prepared to act as Steed's partner in their adventures.
The stories were certainly becoming much more fantasy bound, and the use of diabolical masterminds and organizations with bizarre acronyms became the norm for the stories from this series on. The fantasy and sci-fi elements of the show were highlighted more than before and the fashions and design of the show took on a much more stylish and indeed `stylized' look. The success of these elements was immediate, and huge ratings in the UK followed, plus overseas transmissions of the show followed for the first time. Such was their success indeed that another 26 episodes were soon commissioned, this time to be made in color.
The stories have supposedly been digitally re-mastered for these DVD releases, and indeed the picture quality is pretty impressive, but there is still sparkle and dirt on the prints that may detract from the quality for some viewers. The 26 episodes are presented in the same order of their original UK transmission.
This for me is the very best season of the show, with great style and wit accompanying the excellent scripts, direction and production values. I'd certainly recommend this release to anyone.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Avengers '66 - Set 1, Vol. 1 & 2 (1966)

Click here for more information about Avengers '66 - Set 1, Vol. 1 & 2 (1966)

Read More...

Walt Disney Treasures: Zorro - The Complete First Season Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Complete First Season is the definitive version that Disney Zorro fans have waited years for. Covering all 39 episodes that comprise season #1 (1957-1958), this limited edition (and numbered) 6-disc set of 30,000 includes a Certificate of Authenticity, a collectible pin (showing two crossed silver swords with Zorro's mask superimposed on top), as well as a black-and-white photo postcard showing Guy Williams in character as Don Diego. A booklet outlining the contents of the set can also be found here. The set comes handsomely encased in a black metal tin, fitting of this B&W series where the hero wears an all-black costume.
A 5:21 intro by Leonard Maltin introduces the episodes and gives a brief history of Zorro and these particular episodes along with the extras on these discs. The remastering is evident on these episodes. The picture is clear and so is the sound; naturally, with the way it was originally recording, a digital surround experience is not possible, but the Dolby Digital recording is crisp, clear, and the score sounds better than it has in years. And no...there are no colorized versions here. Just the genuine black and white originals. The comedy, action, drama, and music combination that one expects from a Walt Disney production is all here, completed with a stellar cast. Guy Williams, Gene Sheldon, and Henry Calvin have fantastic chemistry. Williams' hero Zorro, who is a "bookish" Don Diego by day, becomes the black-caped & masked legend who rights wrongs in his "off hours."
Besides the 39 episodes (starting with "Presenting Señor Zorro", original air date of 10/10/1957 and finishing with #39 "The Eagle's Flight", original air date of 7/3/1958), there is a 6th disc of bonus material. Here you will find 2 hour long episodes:
1. "Zorro: El Bandido," original air date of 10/30/1960, from Walt's anthology TV series "Walt Disney Presents." Clocking in at 51:10, this episode features Gilbert Roland & Rita Moreno, not long before her breakthrough role in "West Side Story."
2. "Zorro: Adios El Cuchillo," original air date of 11/6/1960, from Walt's anthology TV series "Walt Disney Presents." This episode is 49:00 long and again stars Roland & Moreno.
An excerpt (3:17) is included here from "The Fourth Anniversary Show," which originally aired on 9/11/1957. Walt is surrounded by the Mouseketeers who anxiously want to hear more about Zorro. Walt finally relents, and the opening from the show rolls out. There is an "interaction" between the two sets, where Zorro talks to the Mouseketeers and then engages in a sword fight shown only in shadow (very effective!).
There is also a featurette entitled, "The Life and Legend of Zorro" (12:26) detailing the history of Zorro. Starting with the publication of Johnston McCulley's story in a pulp fiction magazine titled All-Story Magazine, "The Curse of Capistrano" came out in 1919. Swashbuckler Douglas Fairbanks Sr. was the first to play Zorro in the movies (1920), followed by Tyrone Power over at 20th Century Fox in 1940. Disney purchased the rights to the property in 1952, but didn't get around to actual production until 1957. This marked the first time that a standing set was built on the Disney lot in Burbank at a cost of $500,000. Disney worked closely on this show to make everything authentic, and made sure it was helmed by a quality team. Each episode cost $78,000 to film and was shot on a 5-day schedule, which was very lavish for the day. Each installment also had original music and scoring written by William Lava. Today, the quality still shows and has paid off handsomely for the studio from its continued fanbase over the past 50 years. The documentary has many technicolor images of Guy Williams and the Zorro cast, along with interviews of Williams' son. Legal battles between ABC and Disney delayed Season 3, which resulted in a few hour-long episodes. It is ironic that one of the top rated shows (garnering an unheard of 40% audience share in season 2) was killed not by the ratings but by legalities and quibbling.
This is a sure-fire set that will please old and new fans of this quality program.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Walt Disney Treasures: Zorro - The Complete First Season

Out of the night, when the full moon is bright, comes the horseman known as Zorro. Debuting October 10, 1957, Walt Disney's thrilling series about the masked avenger was so successful, it made Zorro a household name -- and quashed every series that went up against it. Filled with action, adventure and suspense, this volume presents the first season's 39 episodes (all newly restored and remastered) in their original blakc-and-white format. To enrich your experience of Disney's unforgettable classic, this six-disc set also includes ZORRO: EL BANDIDO and ZORRO: ADIOS EL CUCHILLO, the rarely seen two-part, one-hour specials shown on Disney's anthology series, WALT DISNEY PRESENTS. Then discover the many faces of Zorro from his literary beginnings through the creation of the Disney TV series. Featuring exclusive introductions by film historian Leonard Maltin, this is a timeless collection from generations past for generations to come.

Click here for more information about Walt Disney Treasures: Zorro - The Complete First Season

Read More...

Combat - Season 3, Operation 1 (1962) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We have now reached the midpoint of the COMBAT series and the show is now only becoming better. While I may find a few more "clunckers" in the third season, that were not present in season 2, this is outweighed by the fact there were far more excellent episodes in total. The actors who comprised the core of the Squad have fully developed their individual personalities and Vic Morrow was now becoming the true centerpiece of the show. There was apparently no clash of egos between himself and Rick Jason, probably because Jason shrewdly had it in his contract that he got paid whether he appeared or not.
Of course, one of the drawbacks in a series such as COMBAT is the main participants of the squad survive every episode, while those poor forlorn "red shirts", or in this case "green shirts" take one for the team. And it is admittedly humorous to find Saunders, Hanley, or Caje, become ground up chop meat, only to never receive the "million dollar" wound that they so hungered for. Despite these obvious restrictions, in deference to a 1960's television show, you can still maintain a sense of realism and excitement while viewing COMBAT.
Some of the Highlights:
1.The Cassock.....James Whitmore plays a German officer who disguises himself as a priest and hides in a church....There is some clever, and at times even tender interplay between himself and G.I. Mart Hulswit (of Guiding Light fame) who, as a former alterboy, finds comfort in the church..the show leads you down a false path more than once....
2.The Hell Machine.....another appearance by Frank Gorshin as he and Saunders attempt to navigate through enemy held territory using a captured German tank......nice claustrophobic feel on how it would be inside a tank....
3.The Enemy....usually whenever a battle of wits was written into the story, it was left up to Hanley to be one of the wits...this one, starring Robert Duvall as a German demolition officer has Hanley trying to outthink his captor....
4.The Duel.....Saunders, on foot, single handedly attempts to distract a German tank, while the supply truck he is protecting can be repaired before the tank comes upon it...fun stuff here
5.The Steeple...no doubt the true exploits of JOHN STEELE come into play here as a paratrooper is caught on a church steeple...it is up to Saunders to try to get him inside despite the fact that the village is overrun by Germans.
6.Cry in the Ruins....this is one of the best episodes of the season, as Hanley and a German Lieutenant, put aside the war for a moment in order to rescue a woman's child...there is a few twists in this episode and the character study between the two opposing squads is well written.....
7.The Little Carousel...poignant tale of the squads encounter with a young student nurse who wants to help Saunders and his men....deeply moving and an emotional tour de force for Vic Morrow.....
8.The Imposter...Hanley must once again use his wits in order to determine who within his merry band of men is an Imposter....enough monkey wrenches are thrown in as to not make it too easy to figure out.....
Those are a few of the quality episodes, but there are a couple of duds as well:
1. Birthday Cake....Littlejohn would have been shot had he acted this way in a real war...it is just too stupid, even for a big lug like him...
2. A Walk with an Eagle...this type of episode, where an arrogant Air officer does not respect Saunders authority, has been done before....
3. Fly Away Home....I guess it is good to give the Pigeon Corp their props, and it is a treat to see Neville Brand, but the story is simply not compelling....
4. Mountain Man....there is so little story here, that the first third of it follows the squad walking through the snow, setting markers, and the final third, features Cage skiing through it.....tedious viewing at its worst....Well there you have it once again....If you have read my previous reviews, you obviously know that I am a big fan of this series and welcome them to DVD. I hope you welcome them into your home as well....my minor complaints aside this set is enthusiastically recommended!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Combat - Season 3, Operation 1 (1962)

Get 56% OFF

Click here for more information about Combat - Season 3, Operation 1 (1962)

Read More...

Superman & Mole Men (1951) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Sorry, but this has to be a dissenting opinion. As some of the other reviewers have noted, "Superman and the Mole Men" was later edited into a two-part episode for the George Reeves TV program, now rechristened as "The Unknown People." Sorry, folks, but in this case the "edited for TV" version is a distinct improvement and for one reason: THE MUSIC! The score used in the original movie is a pallid, third-rate job that does nothing to advance the action or to support the eerie, "film noir" feel of the camera work. But when the film was mixed down for presentation on TV, the show's producers had the genius to replace the film's soundtrack with some of the scariest, most vivid background scores then available. (As a matter of fact, this weird and wonderful music - used over and over again as background music throughout the first, black-and -white season of the 1950's "Adventures of Superman" TV show - has been helpfully collected on CD by the Varese-Sarabande label. You can order it right here, at Amazon.com!) I only wish the edited TV version was made commercially available; anyone who gets to know "Superman and the Mole Men" only through this original theatrical release will have no idea of how good it really is, or understand how the effective use of great background music can turn a third-rate movie into a very good film.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Superman & Mole Men (1951)

Click here for more information about Superman & Mole Men (1951)

Read More...

The Wild Wild West - The Complete First Season (1965) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are no words to adequately express the excitement created by this DVD boxed set release of the complete first season of The Wild, Wild West. While several episodes were only available on DVD in recent years through a pricey enrollment club, this represents the first time the ENTIRE first season of this landmark TV Western icon has been available in ANY format!
Starring Robert Conrad as Agent James T. West, along with the late and deeply lamented, Ross Martin, who portrayed his partner, Artemis Gordon, master of disguise and invention, the series ran on CBS from 1965-1969.
The series focused on their adventures as the country's first secret service agents, working for President Ulysses S. Grant, to thwart all manner of evil doers who directed their villainy at individuals and/or the nation. Mixing espionage, thrilling adventure, western cliff-hanger suspense and high-tech, sci-fi gadgetry the likes of which had never been seen on network TV, the series propelled the actors into international stardom. On the series, West and Gordon traveled in style on a personal train equipped with the amazing gear they used each week to save the day and/or world (the interior of which was used in the epic Gunsmoke episode, "Death Train.")
(Note: Martin, who suffered a heart attack during the first season, was replaced during the last season by the network because they were concerned about his health, which probably resulted in the series' demise. Actor Charles Aidman joined the cast, portraying Jeremy Pike, also a master of disguise, who was supposedly West's former partner. Two later made-for-TV movies, The Wild, Wild West Revisited in 1979, and More Wild, Wild West in 1980, reunited Conrad and Martin.)
The series (set in 1868 primarily in or around San Francisco) continues to be a source of fevered worldwide fan devotion. Like The Avengers, which also aired in the 1960s, The Wild, Wild West was made into a simply awful "blockbuster" big-screen feature film in the 1990s, which failed in every way to capture the quality, fun, adventure, action and entertainment of the original, beloved series.
The brilliant actor, the late Michael Dunn, guest starred in 10 episodes during the show's run (several considered the best in the series) as the diabolical nemesis of West and Gordon, Dr. Miguelito Loveless, who suffered from delusions of grandeur. (At 3 feet-10-inches tall, Dunn suffered from chondrodystroyphy, which eventually took his life. He was also a child prodigy with an IQ of 178 and became a concert pianist at age 15, and was a remarkable singer.)
Dr. Loveless was ably assisted by the devoted Voltaire, portrayed by Richard Kiel (best known for his portrayal of the evil "Jaws" in the James Bond films, "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker"), who is a towering 7-feet-two-inches tall! The juxtaposition of the two actors increased the pathos that Dunn used in his unforgettable performances expressing the doctor's jealousy and hatred of West for his "perfect body" and society in general for its embrace of physical beauty and harsh rejection of those who do not meet that superficial, rigid criteria.
Throughout the series, Conrad insisted on performing all of his own stunts (which were minion) and viewed himself as a tough-guy, developing a devoted stunt crew "family." Dunn, who was no slouch himself, also performed his stunts at the urging of Conrad, despite network fears that both actors would be seriously injured (Conrad did suffer numerous injuries and Dunn injured an ankle.)
As of this writing, the studio had not announced what, if any, special features would be included in the boxed set. The first season (the only one in black and white) had 28 episodes: The Night of the Inferno; The Night of the Deadly Bed; The Night the Wizard Shook the Earth (introducing Dr. Loveless); The Night of Sudden Death; Night of the Casual Killer (the only episode in the entire series to omit "The" before "Night of" in a title); The Night of a Thousand Eyes; The Night of the Glowing Corpse; The Night of the Dancing Death; The Night of the Double-Edged Knife; The Night that Terror Stalked the Town (also featuring Dr. Loveless); The Night of the Red-Eyed Madmen; The Night of the Human Trigger; The Night of the Torture Chamber; The Night of the Howling Light; The Night of the Fatal Trap; The Night of the Steel Assassin; The Night the Dragon Screamed; The Night of the Grand Emir; The Night of the Flaming Ghost; The Night of the Whirring Death (third Dr. Loveless episode); The Night of the Puppeteer; The Night of the Bars of Hell; The Night of the Two-Legged Buffalo; The Night of the Druid's Blood; The Night of the Freebooters; The Night of the Burning Diamond; The Night of the Murderous Spring (Dr. Loveless' final appearance in Season 1); and The Night of the Sudden Plague.


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Wild Wild West - The Complete First Season (1965)

The first season of the WILD WILD WEST follows the adventures of James West (Robert Conrad) and his sidekick Artemus Gordon comes as an unlikely pair of Secret Service Agents who work to protect President Ulysses S. Grant and investigate federal crimes in the old west. The 7-disc set is packed with 28 digitally remastered episodes, rare footage, audio commentaries and a special introduction to each episode from Robert Conrad.

Get 27% OFF

Click here for more information about The Wild Wild West - The Complete First Season (1965)

Read More...

Combat - The Complete Series (1962) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Alas we have Combat - The Complete Series in an all encompassing 40 disc set. As a baby boomer whose dad proudly served his country contributing to both the European and Pacific theatres, I treasure this series as it told the stories of our brave men and women truly fighting for world peace. Like most returning GI's, my father, who was in the U.S. Army MAC, really never spoke about the things he saw during his time overseas. He is gone now as is many of his fellow "Greatest Generation" comrades. Although Combat! does not show the graphic carnage that comes with battle, it does show the daily emotional toll that war brought to the boots on the ground, as best as 1960's television could provide. It reminds us that the only good thing about war is its ending.
This series is truly a tribute all VFW's then and especially now.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Combat - The Complete Series (1962)

Get 52% OFF

Click here for more information about Combat - The Complete Series (1962)

Read More...

Hawkeye and Last of the Mohicans Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Based on James Fennimore Cooper's characters, "Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans" was an adventure series set on the American frontier of the 1750s, which, at the time, meant upstate New York. The titular characters Nat `Hawkeye' Cutler and his Indian blood brother, Chingachgook, the last living member of the Mohican tribe, fight the French, their ruthless Huron Indian allies and various frontier criminal elements while trying to maintain peace between the Americans establishing new settlements in the wilderness and peaceful Indian tribes living in the area.
Hawkeye was played by John Hart, a handsome, athletic, if somewhat bland actor most famous today for stepping into "The Lone Ranger" role when Clayton Moore left the show for a season in a contract dispute. Lon Chaney Jr. might seem a strange choice to play Hawkeye's Indian friend and partner, but the burly actor is actually quite good in the role and Chaney seems to be having a blast playing the character. The last 38 episodes of the series were shot in Ontario, Canada and provide a realistic, rustic backdrop to the proceedings.
The series' outstanding pilot episode was shot in Hollywood with a excellent production values and many top-drawer character actors, such as Michael Ansara and Stacy Harris, filling the cast. Unfortunately, the pilot's promise was not fulfilled in subsequent episodes. Sam Newfield directed all of the remaining episodes with little panache. Newfield directed some of the best "Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion" shows, so he was perfectly capable of providing exciting entertainment on a limited budget, but the grind of producing so many programs week in and week out seems to have had a detrimental effect on his performance. Likewise, the scripts lack the polish and even the wit of similar juvenile adventure series. Finally the subordinate actors don't measure up to those cast in other 1950s programs. One contemporary critic stated that the guest stars seemed to be trying to project to patrons in the third balcony rather than play to the camera. This isn't to say that the shows are without merit; just that other Timeless Media video releases of 1950s adventure series provide superior entertainment. The ten episodes included with DVD set are:
1.01 Hawkeye's Homecoming (guest starring Michael Ansara and Stacy Harris)
1.02 The Threat (John Paris and Lloyd Chester)
1.05 The Delaware Hoax (Bill Walker and Powys Thomas)
1.09 The Medicine Man (Dickson Kerwin and Frederick Euringer)
1.11 The Search (Larry Solway and Marjorie Pulvey)
1.12 Snake Tattoo (Daryl Masters and Bonar Stuart)
1.13 False Witness (Rodney Bunker and Bill Walsh)
1.15 The Scapegoat (Jonathan White and James Doohan)
1.16 The Way Station (James Doohan and Rex Devlin)
1.19 The Promised Valley (Bill Walsh and Larry O'Connor)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hawkeye and Last of the Mohicans

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Hawkeye and Last of the Mohicans

Read More...