Showing posts with label television. Show all posts
Showing posts with label television. Show all posts

M*A*S*H - Season Seven (Collector's Edition) (1972) Review

M*A*S*H - Season Seven (Collector's Edition) (1972)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
There are many enjoyable episodes in this season. Though this season is the last for Radar, aside from his final episode in season 8, MASH went on. This show, for better or worse, survived on through the many changes in cast. Radar was no exception.
Commander Pierce - Much to his own dismay Hawkeye takes charge and finds that the grass isn't greener on the other side of command.
Peace on Us - Hawkeye goes to the peace talks when they change the rules on discharge for doctors. Margaret's marriage to Donald hits a real rough patch, prompting her to get a divorce.
Our Finest Hour - The second of the documentary style shows that are shown in black and white and color. This one looks more deeply at the characters and their feelings about the war, family, and being away from home.
The Billfold Syndrome - A talented medic forgets his own name and Sydney is called in. Charles stops talking to B.J and Hawkeye after being turned down for a prestigeous post back in Boston. This gets a minor war going on between the Swamprats.
Major Ego - Charles' ego gets much higher when he saves a patient, and Stars and Stripes sends a reporter.. He sees a chance to get home. Klinger shows some of his more extravagant flair when the reporter shows up to interview Charles.
Point Of View - This show is shown from the view of a patient, for the entire show. You see a distracted Potter, and an enraged Charles. This episode was very very well done.
An Eye For A Tooth - Hawkeye, B.J, and Margaret trade a series of practical jokes, with Charles helping both sides. This series of jokes include a lemon pie, a full sized dummy, and a special mail delivery. Father Mulcahy goes on a mission of mercy after being passed over again for premotion.
Dear Sis - Father Mulcahy writes his sister over a Christmas holiday and tells of how he feels lost in the middle of a war zone.
The Young And Restless - A young brilliant surgeon bruises a few egos upon his visit displaying new surgical techniques.
C*A*V*E - A serious barrage of fire at the camp sends them to a cave, much to the dismay of Hawkeye, who suffers from clausterphobia. He an Margaret head back to camp under heavy fire to save patient who needs emergency surgery.
Rally Round The Flagg, Boys - Colonel Flagg goes way over the top and thinks everyone is a commie symp. He is copiously aided by Charles. Hilarious ending. This is the last show in which we get treeted to Flagg's raving paranoia. He left the show with some real flair.
A Night at Rosies - Hawkeye escapes a long night of surgery, and a horrid breakfast at the mess tent by heading for a drink at Rosies. He gets beer and then pours it over cereal. Then B.J follows, then Radar, Charles, and many others. Klinger heads to a floating crap game. The crowd pulls an all night binge to escape the war. This gets into Potter's craw, but he relents when he realizes that it's just what they all really need. This is also where we meet Scully, who's AWOL. He later becomes a love interest of Margaret.
The Party - B.J works hard on getting the loved ones of the main cast members together for a huge party. This happens after Radar offers his mother's help, and Potter hands him his home address. Peggy, his wife, had recently ruined the stove while canning. Radar says that his mother puts something special in it to keep it from boiling over. Potter talks about how good a canner Mildred is. This happens in the middle of a bug out, and return to camp when the Chinese pull of a huge offensive. This also happens while B.J has a patient that may never walk again, or have no feeling.
I prefer M*A*S*H after season four. I wasn't as crazy about the first few years. I enjoy the later episodes, because they got away from the slapstick humor and touched upon many many issues from suicide, blindness, love, hate, envy, infiltration, peace talks and so so much more.

Click Here to see more reviews about: M*A*S*H - Season Seven (Collector's Edition) (1972)

As the seventh season opens, peace talks to end the war have been going on for over a year and Hawkeye has had enough. He jumps in a jeep and roars off to the talks, and although he makes it onto the speaker's floor, his rant does little to speed up the negotiations. His discontent isn't helped by the return of war correspondent Clete Roberts who has came back to the 4077 to tape another one of his television talks for the folks back home. Yet Hawkeye isn't the only one feeling the pressures of war. BJ nearly drives himself to exhaustion trying to help a poor Korean family, Father Mulcahy almost gets himself killed trying to get a promotion, Charles falls in love with a working girl at Rosie's Bar, and Margaret's divorce is finally made official. It's all part of life during wartime.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about M*A*S*H - Season Seven (Collector's Edition) (1972)

Read More...

The Twilight Zone - Collection 1 (1959) Review

The Twilight Zone - Collection 1 (1959)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
For those of us in the know, all TZ episodes have been available on DVD for quite some time, but in 40-some odd volumes that contained 3 to 4 episodes each and left you broke after about 20 volumes. Now, As I write this, we are a couple months away from being able to own the entire Twilight Zone series in a collection of 5 box sets,... Has Image Entertainment finally given TZ fans something worth emptying their pockets for? You bet.
Okay, so they still haven't put the series in chronological order. Don't wait -- this will probably never happen. It's an anthology series and there is no continuity here that absolutely demands you have the episodes in order. But what Image has done is put 9 volumes in each box set (Vols. 1-9 are contained in Collection 1) and made the cases a little more compact. These are great cases, by the way, and the box isn't just something to throw away either. The episodes in Collection 1 are among the most memorable: "To Serve Man", "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", "Time Enough At Last", "The Lonely", "The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street", "The Invaders", and "It's A Good Life", to name only a few of the 35 episodes.
Quite simply, these releases (meaning not only Collection 1, but the 4 others) mean that you'll be able to own the series on DVD for [much less money than]it would cost you to buy the volumes individually...

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Twilight Zone - Collection 1 (1959)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Twilight Zone - Collection 1 (1959)

Read More...

The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Third Season Review

The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Third Season
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
For years I have been making do with various collections of episodes, with only a poor instrumental theme bearing little resemblance to the original theme song. Now at last this wonderful show is being released in full season sets with the original opening and closing theme songs. Some reviewers have applauded the presence of the original sponsor messages on these discs. Personally, I don't like them, but the great thing is that you have the choice of playing the episodes with or without the advertising. Some of the difference may be that as Americans, the other reviewers remember the shows that way, with some nostalgia. For me, living in a country where cigarette advertising on television has never been legal, my fond memories are of the version without the ads.
This is a great set of my favourite season of a fantastic show, complete with all the original music , photo gallery and an excellent special feature, "The Legend of the Beverly Hillbillies". Every episode is packed with laughs; the Hillbillies are still as funny and as wonderful as I remember them from my childhood.
Contents are:
Disc 1
Jed Becomes a Movie Mogul
Clampett City
Clampett City General Store
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Dr. Jed Clampett
Back to Marineland
Jed, the Heartbreaker
Disc 2
Teenage Idol
The Widow Poke Arrives
The Ballet
The Boarder
The Boarder Stays
Start the New Year Right
Clampett General Hospital
Disc 3
The Movie Starlet
Elly in the Movies
Dash Riprock, You Cad
Clampett A-Go-Go
Granny's Romance
Jed's Temptation
Double-Nought Jethro
Disc 4
Clampett's Millions
Drysdale's Dog Days
Brewster's Honeymoon
Flatt, Clampett and Scruggs
Jed and the Countess
Big Daddy, Jed
Cool School is Out
Disc 5
The Big Bank Battle
The Clampetts vs. Automation
The Brewsters Return
Luke's Boy
Jed, the Bachelor
The Art Center
The Legend of the Beverly Hillbilles
Photo Gallery


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Third Season

Studio: Paramount Home VideoRelease Date: 02/17/2009Run time: 868 minutesRating: Nr

Buy NowGet 40% OFF

Click here for more information about The Beverly Hillbillies: The Official Third Season

Read More...

Father Knows Best: Season Two (1955) Review

Father Knows Best: Season Two (1955)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Shout Factory and the family of Robert Young and estate of Eugene Rodney should all be given kudos for listening to our wishes for "Uncut" episodes of this classic slice of Americana- Father Knows Best! Sony also deserves credit for co-operating with Shout Factory in searching in Sony's vaults to be able to present the Season 2 set in complete uncut episodes! This is GREAT news that should be greeted by all of the fans of this show with applause and pre-orders for this set!
Bravo to Shout Factory, Robert Young's family, the estate of Eugene Rodney and Sony!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Father Knows Best: Season Two (1955)



Buy NowGet 50% OFF

Click here for more information about Father Knows Best: Season Two (1955)

Read More...

M Squad - The Complete Series starring Lee Marvin - 15 DVD Box Set, Plus Bonus CD - The Music From M Squad Review

M Squad - The Complete Series starring Lee Marvin - 15 DVD Box Set, Plus Bonus CD - The Music From M Squad
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
It's great that this series is out in a full 117 episode box set, but whoever is responsible for the video transfers obviously didn't know what they were doing. 16mm syndication prints were the source elements for the transfers and if they were professionally done they would look far better than they do here. It appears that someone ran these off on a home system of sorts as there is no control over contrast levels at all. Sometimes the episodes have completely blown out contrast and are murky in the extreme, other times there is no contrast at all, with everything appearing a milky gray color. The prints are dirty, with hairs often getting in the gate and the sound quality is like mud on some episodes. This show was originally shot on 35mm film and if a proper transfer had been done, it could have looked glorious. As-is, some episodes look like they came off of bad kinescopes, which isn't the case. Even using 16mm prints should have yielded much better results than this. I certainly hope the original elements survive on this show and hopefully someone will one day give this show a proper presentation. Until then, we're stuck with this mess. Yes, I'm glad to have the DVD collection, but it's obvious that every expense was spared in the making of it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: M Squad - The Complete Series starring Lee Marvin - 15 DVD Box Set, Plus Bonus CD - The Music From M Squad

M SQUAD - THE COMPLETE SERIES STARRING LEE MARVIN! 15 DVD Box Set, Plus Bonus CD: The Music From M Squad! 117 Episodes! One of the most memorable of the early television police dramas, M Squad debuted in 1957 running for three seasons on NBC.There were many black and white crime dramas competing for viewers in the late fifties, notably Dragnet, Arrest and Trial and Checkmate. M Squad stands apart because of its unique combination of story, production values, musical score and a great cast portraying crime fighters getting down and dirty on the mean streets.Lee Marvin, a decorated WWII Marine veteran of the South Pacific,where he received the Purple Heart in the Battle of Saipan, stars as Lt. Frank Ballinger, a no-nonsense Chicago plainclothes cop in the elite M Squad Division. The Squad's (M-for Murder) task is to root out organized crime and corruption in America's Second City. Marvin's portrayal of a tough undercover officer, whose perseverance and potential for violence, but with utter cool, permeates each gritty episode, gave Marvin name recognition with the public, and did much to make him a star. He would go on to many starring roles (The Dirty Dozen, Cat Ballou) and to win a coveted Oscar for Best Actor.Frank Ballinger's boss, Captain Grey, is played by Paul Newlan, a fine actor who brings weight and substance to the role of running the M Squad. It is perhaps his most memorable role.In addition to the regular cast, a who's who of television luminaries and stars-to-be made guest appearances on the show. Among the guest stars were Angie Dickinson, Charles Bronson, Janice Rule, Leonard Nimoy, Ed Nelson, DeForest Kelley, H. M. Wynant and a young Burt Reynolds.But is wasn't just the crisp, taut story lines and great cast that made M Squad memorable.First, it was shot in gritty, film-noire style black and white. The excellent high contrast cinematography brings Chicago to life, with all of its easily recognizable landmarks, swanky penthouses on Lake Michigan, and the seedy darker side of the city. In fact, M Squad did for Chicago what the Naked City did for New York. Second was the musical score. In keeping with the film noir look of the series, the producers enlisted conductor Stanley Wilson to lead the orchestra in arrangements by legendary jazz men Benny Carter, and a young John Williams (Star Wars). For the second season, the great jazz artist Count Basie wrote the enduring M Squad Theme. It was a perfect marriage of image and sound. Lee Marvin, who wrote the liner notes for the RCA Victor release of the Music From M Squad album in 1959, put it this way: I am ... constantly amazed at the manner in which our characterizations and situations are supported, highlighted and intensified by the fine musical score ... I love the great beat, the exciting solos and the clean, crisp section work of the trumpets and trombones. As I listen, my imagination paints thumbnail sketches of the Loop, Bayshore Drive, the South Side, and the other localities which set Chicago apart from other cities. It's sort of like an armchair tour of America's second largest city. - Lee MarvinThe resulting television series is hard to match for its intensity and its humanity. Marvin's hard-nosed Frank Ballinger is the archetype of all the tough-guy, big-hearted crime fighters, from Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe and Hammett's Sam Spade, to later incarnations portrayed by Jack Nicholson and Harvey Keitel.In sum, M Squad is that rare television series that has it all. It's about time that long-time fans and newcomers have a chance to experience high quality DVDs of this great show.

Buy NowGet 73% OFF

Click here for more information about M Squad - The Complete Series starring Lee Marvin - 15 DVD Box Set, Plus Bonus CD - The Music From M Squad

Read More...

Secret Agent AKA Danger Man, Set 6 (1965) Review

Secret Agent AKA Danger Man, Set 6 (1965)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've been a big follower of 60's cult television and Secret Agent Man is by far the darkest and most realistic of the spy genre. Assasinations, plot twist after plot twist, intelligent writing that will keep you on the edge of your seat--this series has it all---even a character that is showing his frustration at what his job involves (which helps to build the perfect segway into "The Prisoner"--) The set completes the 1 hour collection (and I certainly hope that they'll release the 1/2 hour episodes at some time)-- My only critique is that they should have included not only the 1 hour versions of "Shindo Shima" and "Koroshi" (as they did) but also the entire full length version as it was put together for a feature film--a few scenes were added for continuity that collectors would have appreciated-
(even moreso because the segway that ties the two episodes together in the film version actually shows a differant impression of where an agent's loyalty lies then in the pt.1 and pt.2 version---a cool little twist that you'll only catch in the film version)---At any rate---the entire series is fantastic and excluding the final two episodes, the noirish Black and White atmosphere of Secret Agent morphing into the color of The Prisoner has an almost Wizard of Oz effect if you watch the two series back to back and assume that Drake and No. 6 are indeed the same character (which I tend to believe regardless of the lingering debate amongst hardcore fans)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Secret Agent AKA Danger Man, Set 6 (1965)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Secret Agent AKA Danger Man, Set 6 (1965)

Read More...

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 3 (The Atomic Brain / The Sidehackers / The Unearthly / Shorts, Vol. 2) (1988) Review

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 3 (The Atomic Brain / The Sidehackers / The Unearthly / Shorts, Vol. 2) (1988)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
They could have given MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER VOLUME 3 the subheading of "Shorts", as there are more short films on offer here than in any previous box set, and most likely any future releases simply won't contain as many as there are here. There are nine short features here, six from the Shorts Vol. 2 disc, and three more scattered throughout the other three discs. I love the heckling that the MST3k crew give to those short packets of hilarity. While some films are able to transcend their time, the short films are intrinsically tied to the sillier aspects of decades past.
Here are some quick comments on each of the discs:
THE ATOMIC BRAIN: This is a film from that era of bad science fiction films where filmmakers put the word "atomic" in front of any dubious sounding scientific technobabble, hoping that this would somehow make the whole endeavor appear to be more scientific. In this film, a mad atomic scientist attempts to harness the power of the atom to atomically put an old woman's atomic brain into the atomic body of a young, sassy, atomic blonde. Features the short film WHAT ABOUT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY?, which only provokes me to wonder, "Well, what about it?"
THE UNEARTHLY: More scientists here. This time they're trying to insert a new gland into human bodies so that people will live forever. Or something. If the back of the DVD box hadn't told me that this was a horror flick, I really wouldn't have noticed. Maybe someone forgot that "horror" and "boring" are different things. Also features the shorts, POSTURE PALS (teaches kids to mock the posture of their peers), and APPRECIATING OUR PARENTS (teaches kids to obey). Strangely, every film in this episode seemed to be filmed in Blue and White, rather than Black and White.
THE SIDEHACKERS: Truly hilarious fare here. Grown-up idiots decide to risk life and limb by attaching shopping carts to the sides of their motorbikes and run them around in circles. There are also some subplots involving jealous lovers and mentally unstable cyclists. No sidehackers were harmed during the making of this movie, unfortunately.
SHORTS, Vol. 2. Features the following short films: CATCHING TROUBLE (a 50's sadistic version of the Crocodile Hunter inflicts pain on helpless animals), WHAT TO DO ON A DATE (no, it's not what you think, and when you see who will be doing the dating, you'll be glad it's not what you think), LAST CLEAR CHANCE (teens + cars + moody cops = death), A DAY AT THE FAIR (old men like to show off their corn at the fair), KEEPING CLEAN & NEAT (teaches kids to clean their bedrooms by employing clever camera tricks; any kids without a film camera will remain unenlightened), and THE DAYS OF OUR YEARS (tells us why it's always the worker's fault when someone ends up dying on the job).
Unfortunately, the original, uncut films aren't available as extras on this box set. To make up for this, those folks at Best Brains Inc. have included raw unedited footage and bloopers from the various host segments that appear in these episodes.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 3 (The Atomic Brain / The Sidehackers / The Unearthly / Shorts, Vol. 2) (1988)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 3 (The Atomic Brain / The Sidehackers / The Unearthly / Shorts, Vol. 2) (1988)

Read More...

Peter Gunn, Set 2 (1958) Review

Peter Gunn, Set 2 (1958)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Long before Crockett and Tubbs, before Magnum and Dan Tanna, and before Tony Franciosa as Matt Helm or Mike Conners as Mannix, there was Peter Gunn. He was cool. He was the guy every girl wanted and every guy wanted to be like. He lived in a cool world of jazz and bad guys, and girls who needed his help. He had a cool and sexy girlfriend, a little on the sweet side. Some of his friends, like Lt. Jacoby, were squares. It somehow made Gunn even cooler, that you didn't have to be cool yourself to be his pal.
Craig Stevens was Peter Gunn and Lola Albright was his girl, Edie Hart. Hershel Bernardi was his cop pal Lt. Jocoby. Hope Emerson was "Mother." She ran the jazz joint Gunn frequented. Blake Edwards was the guy who dreamed up Peter Gunn in the first place. By accident, he ran into a guy by the name of Mancini while getting his hair cut, and the music Mancini would write for Gunn would change television forever. It would also begin a long and fruitful friendship that would give moviegoers and music lovers such classics as "Days of Wine and Roses" and "The Pink Panther."
While there is an occasional washed out look to these black and white episodes, the convenience of having so many great episodes on the two discs sort of makes up for the occasional lack of quality. While the first boxed set offered some great episodes, including "Lynn's Blues," which I feel is the best of the series, the second boxed set is actually more colorful.
While Mancini's West Coast jazz score and the noirish tone continued, the locations offered Gunn a chance to roam a bit, as the show got even better. Craig Stevens will always have a special place in TV history as the very cool, Peter Gunn. This show broke new ground in television for its blend of music and action, and set a tone for what cool really was. This is a must have for "Peter Gunn" fans and anyone else who loves classic television. There may indeed not be much that's new here, but that is only because Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn started it all.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Peter Gunn, Set 2 (1958)

Item Name: Peter Gunn, Set 2; Studio:A&E Home Video

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Peter Gunn, Set 2 (1958)

Read More...

The Twilight Zone: Season Two (Definitive Edition) (1959) Review

The Twilight Zone: Season Two (Definitive Edition) (1959)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The Complete Second Season of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone is now on DVD. This second season contains all 29 episodes on 5 disks. It is full frame and is about 900 minutes.
I don't have a favorite season; there are great episodes from each. I am really enjoying entire seasons being released at once.1) King Nine Will Not Return - A World War II captain wakes up in the desert, next to his crashed plane.
2) Man in the Bottle - A shop owner finds an old bottle which contains a genie which grants him 4 wishes.
3) Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room - A smalltime hood is ordered to commit a murder and when he looks into a mirror he sees himself with courage.
4) A Thing About Machines - A writer believes the machines in his home are against him.
5) The Howling Man - A man finds refuge in a monastery during a storm and finds an unusual prisoner.
6) The Eye of the Beholder - A woman goes through treatments to make herself normal so she can fit into society.
7) Nick of Time - A newlywed becomes obsessed by a fortune-telling machine when they are stranded with car trouble.
8) The Lateness of the Hour - A scientist creates robot servants and his daughter feels a little unusual.
9) The Trouble with Templeton - Templeton is an aging actor who longs for the old days when his wife was alive.
10) A Most Unusual Camera - A couple have stolen a camera that takes pictures of events just a few minutes into the future.
11) Night of the Meek - A drunkard Santa Claus discovers a bottomless sack of toys.
12) Dust - A peddler tries to sell a condemned man's father a bag of "magic dust".
13) Back There - A man goes back in time and realizes, he can't change the future by changing the past.
14) The Whole Truth - A "Model A" automobile compels its owner to tell only the truth.
15) The Invaders - An old woman in an old farmhouse encounters tiny aliens in her attic.
16) A Penny for Your Thoughts - A bank employee flips a coin and when it stands on its end, he is given the ability to read minds.
17) Twenty-Two - Miss Powell has a recurring nightmare ("room for one more") about room 22.
18) The Odyssey of Flight 33 - A commercial aircraft and its passengers travel back to prehistoric times.
19) Mr. Dingle, the Strong - Martians give Luther Dingle the strength of 300 men.
20) Static - Ed Lindsay hates television, so he gets his old radio out of the basement and it can receive programs from the past.
21) The Prime Mover - A man has the ability to control objects with his mind.
22) Long Distance Call - A boy finds he can communicate with his dead grandmother through his toy phone.
23) A Hundred Yards over the Rim - A man in the year 1847 moving west sets out to find medicine for his dying son and winds up in the future.
24) The Rip Van Winkle Caper - Three thieves put themselves into suspended animation for 100 years after stealing a million dollars worth of gold bars.
25) The Silence - A man is offered half a million dollars to remain silent for one year. The bet is taken and won but with a twist at the end.
26) Shadow Play - A man is trapped in a recurring nightmare where he tries to persuade those who are sentencing him to death that this is not reality.
27) The Mind and the Matter - After reading a book on the "power of thought" a man is able create the world exactly as he wants it.
28) Will the Real Martian lease Stand Up? - State Troopers follow the tracks from a frozen pond to a diner where they find a bus driver and his seven passengers but there were only six on the bus.
29) The Obsolete Man - In a state where religion and books are ban, a librarian is judged obsolete and sentenced to death.


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Twilight Zone: Season Two (Definitive Edition) (1959)

The Complete Second Season of Rod Serling's Classic, Groundbreaking Series Exploring the Fantastic and the Frghtening. Spectacular New Digital Restorations Featuring Unsurpassed Video and Audio Clarity! Episodes include: King Nine Will Not Return; The Man in the Bottle; Nervous Man in a Four-Dollar Room; A Thing About Machines; The Howling Man; Eye of the Beholder; Nick of Time; The Lateness of the Hour; The Trouble with Templeton; A Most Unusual Camera; The Night of the Meek; Dust; Back There; The Whole Truth; The Invaders; A Penny for Your Thoughts; Twenty-Two; The Odyssey of Flight 33; Mr. Dingle, the Strong; Static; The Prime Mover; Long Distance Call; A Hundred Yards Over the Rim; The Rip Van Winkle Caper; The Silence; Shadow Play; The Mind and the Matter; Will the Real Martian Please Stand Up?; The Obsolete Man.

Buy NowGet 44% OFF

Click here for more information about The Twilight Zone: Season Two (Definitive Edition) (1959)

Read More...

Benny Hill Complete and Unadulterated: The Naughty Early Years, Set One - 1969-1971 (1979) Review

Benny Hill Complete and Unadulterated: The Naughty Early Years, Set One - 1969-1971 (1979)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The A&E Collection Of 'Benny Hill Complete And Unadulterated - The Naughty Early Years, Set One (1969 - 1971) is an absolute treasure to fans of this beloved, chubby, moon-faced comedian!
These are the very first episodes American TV audiences viewed of Benny Hill, when he was at the peak of his comic genius. Benny Hill is young, surprisingly slender in these shows and full of vitality, and energy missing from his twilight shows some twenty years later.
Here we can see the entire 'Benny Hill Show' special as it appeared on Thames Television in Great Britain, completely unedited. The shows boast first-rate musical numbers usually performed by Benny's in-house quartet of female singers, the Ladybirds, and Hill's brilliant comedy. American viewers will recognize some of the sketches, but be astonished as to how much material was edited out for American syndication, primarily for time considerations.
I always loved the delightful, and hilarious sketch, 'The European Song Of The Year Contest', which is in the very first special of the 11 included on this three-disc set. Here the sketch has several more contestants added, and a finale that was always deleted from the USA version. Even the order of the scenes in the sketches was juggled by the American editor! There are really only a few moments where a skit or gag was dropped because of raciness or poor taste.
There are also three black & white specials included on this set that were never broadcast in any form to American television, as USA audiences are generally loathe to watch anything not in color!
What is also remarkable about these broadcasts is that the beautiful women on the show clearly take a backseat to comedy and music! There are still no "Hill's Angels" as of yet, just lovely ladies appearing in the hilarious comedy skits.
This is the very best of Benny Hill, and the sharp clear copies of his shows, are truly 'old gold' to fans of the great comedian!



Click Here to see more reviews about: Benny Hill Complete and Unadulterated: The Naughty Early Years, Set One - 1969-1971 (1979)

Studio: A&e Home VideoRelease Date: 08/24/2004Run time: 550 minutesRating: Nr

Buy NowGet 86% OFF

Click here for more information about Benny Hill Complete and Unadulterated: The Naughty Early Years, Set One - 1969-1971 (1979)

Read More...

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Complete Second Season (1990) Review

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Complete Second Season (1990)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This DVD set compiles all 24 episodes from the hilarious second season of this 90s classic. While season 1 centered around Will trying to bring some levity and street wise knowledge to his snobbish relatives, season 2 shows Will blending in with his new family and forming a more cohesive unit. This season also marked a lot of changes for the show including a brand new more spacious house set, new additions to the supporting cast such as Will's mom and Will's new best friend Tyriq (my personal favorite), the broadening of unique character traits for each family member that would become their trademarks, and the first time the show was ranked in the top 20. Here are the episodes that make up this memorable season;
1. DID THE EARTH MOVE FOR YOU?- Will and his new girlfriend are trapped together during an earthquake.
2. THE MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES- Will and Carlton try to help Ashley with a bully problem.
3. WILL GETS A JOB- Will juggles school and a new job in order to pay for a homecoming party.
4. PSAT PSTORY- Will confident while preparing for college aptitude tests while Carlton is a mess.
5. GRANNY GETS BUSY- Philip can't bear to think of his widow mother having a new man in her life.
6. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO MARRY?- Will's mom forbids Will to attend the interracial marriage of Aunt Janice.
7. THE BIG FOUR-OH- Vivian's 40th birthday marks a crisis as she is determined to perfect her dance skills.
8. SHE AIN'T HEAVY- Will likes the full-figured Dee Dee (Queen Latifah) but doesn't want to ask to the dance.
9. CASED UP- A pompous lawyer (Malcom Jamal Warner) who's dating Hilary sues Will after a car accident.
10. HI-HO SILVER- Will and Carlton think a party guest (Zsa Zsa Gabor) stole their silverware.
11. THE BUTLER DID IT- Carlton rents the house to Bell Biv DeVoe for a video shoot while his parents are away.
12. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING- After winning money at a fundraiser, Will is reluctant to donate it to charity.
13. CHRISTMAS SHOW- The family must come up with heartfelt Christmas gifts after they are robbed.
14. HILARY GETS A LIFE- Hilary must work for a caterer after her credit cards are canceled.
15. MY BROTHER'S KEEPER- Winning at basketball isn't as important to Will as it is to his opponent from Malibu Prep.
16. GEOFFREY CLEANS UP- Geoffrey falls for a neighbor he believes is a housekeeper but who turns out to be rich.
17. COMMUNITY ACTION- Hillary develops a crush on a doctor after being ordered to do community service.
18. ILL WILL- The family fears Geoffrey's memoirs while Will fears having his tonsils removed.
19. EYES ON THE PRIZE- Needing a game show partner, Will must choose between bickering friends Jazz and Tyriq.
20. THOSE WERE THE DAYS- A '60s radical wanted by the FBI influences Will and Carlton to protest a teacher's firing.
21. VYING FOR ATTENTION- Will dislikes his mother's new boyfriend.
22. THE AUNT WHO CAME TO DINNER- Aunt Helen unexpected arrival disrupts Will and Carlton's plans with two women.
23. BE MY BABY TONIGHT- The family fawns over Ashley's new boyfriend but Will chokes when she asks him about sex.
24. STRIP TEASE FOR TWO- Will and Carlton become strippers to regain Vivian's bracelet after getting a bad stock tip.
Extras include cast bloopers and a featurette called 'Best Bits of Bel-Air', with montages, trivia and pop-ups. It is disappointing that Will Smith seems intent on distancing himself from this show now that he has become a big Hollywood star. It would be refreshing to see updated interviews or even an audio commentary or two from the star of the show. In closing, despite the lack of bonus content, this is still arguably the most memorable season from a truly 'fresh' TV show.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Complete Second Season (1990)

Will Smith stars as a teenager from inner city Philadelphia who's sent to California to live with his wealthy relatives in the hopes that they will "straighten him out and teach him some good old-fashioned values. On Season 2, Bel-Air is starting to feel like the hood for Will. His Philly roots run deep, but even a street-smart rapper can wrap his mind around croissants and credit cards and his arms around upscale hotties. Guest stars include Queen Latifah, Milton Berle and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Buy NowGet 59% OFF

Click here for more information about The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: The Complete Second Season (1990)

Read More...

The Outer Limits (Original Series) - Season One, Vol. 2 (1963) Review

The Outer Limits (Original Series) - Season One, Vol. 2 (1963)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Disc 1-Side A
Don't Open Till Doomsday
A young couple's honeymoon is cut short by the horrifying contents of a mysterious box.
ZZZZZ
A queen bee with sinister intentions is transformed into a human to seek out the perfect mate.
The Invisibles
A government agent infiltrates a secret criminal organization that uses repulsive alien parasites to control its members.
The Bellero Shield
An ambitious scientist, with hopes of taking over his father's corporation, creates a laser that inadvertently brings a gentle alien to Earth.Disc 1-Side B
The Children Of Spider County
A powerful alien from the planet Eros returns to Earth to rescue and claim his son who has been charged with murder.
Specimen: Unknown
The crew aboard a space station investigates the death of a young lieutenant and uncovers a strange and deadly new life form.
Second Chance
Believing that they're going on a mere carnival ride, a crew of discontented dreamers unknowingly boards a space ship bound to save the future of the human race.
Moonstone
Lunar colonists find themselves in grave danger when they attempt to aid five fugitive alien scientists.Disc 2-Side A
The Mutant
After being exposed to a radioactive ionic shower, a scientist on a distant planet develops telepathic abilities and is driven to madness.
The Guests
Trapped in a mansion run by a mysterious alien being, a pair of young lovers discovers that eternal life comes at a heavy cost.
Fun And Games
The fate of the entire Earth is at stake when a man and woman are transported to a satellite, where they must fight the members of an alien race for the amusement of their captors.
The Special One
A man with an intellectually gifted son is alarmed by the boy's sudden change in behavior and is suspicious of the boy's tutor, the mysterious Mr. Zeno.Disc 2-Side B
A Feasibility Study
The people of Earth surprise their alien captors when an entire neighborhood is transported to another planet as part of a plan to enslave the human race.
Production And Decay Of Strange Particles
A nuclear accident creates a rift in the time/space continuum, tearing a hole in the very fabric of the universe and allowing deadly creatures to emerge.
The Chameleon
A government agent faces a crisis of conscience when he infiltrates a band of aliens marooned aboard the wreckage of a flying saucer.
The Forms Of Things Unknown
After murdering an abusive man, two women find themselves in a frightening house where the dead are brought back to life via a time-tilting machine.


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Outer Limits (Original Series) - Season One, Vol. 2 (1963)



Buy NowGet 45% OFF

Click here for more information about The Outer Limits (Original Series) - Season One, Vol. 2 (1963)

Read More...

Supercar - The Complete Series (1960) Review

Supercar - The Complete Series (1960)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
What I consider the real `marvel of the age" is that at long last I now own all 39 episodes of my favorite 60's TV show and pop culture touchstone in beautiful clear editions. I get to dump all my horrid multi-generation standards converted VHS copies into the trash! Cool!
Better still: this is a better put-together set than the "Fireball XL5" box from a few months ago. There is one non-episode specific commentary track from Sylvia Anderson on the pilot episode, "Rescue", in which she describes the state of the company in 1959 and how they were able to get Supercar financed and on TV. There is also a great 30 minute documentary on the late special effects supervisor Derek Meddings with behind the scenes shots and reminisces from his former crew, a brief video tribute to Meddings from "Lord Of The Rings" director Peter Jackson, a 4 1/2 minute audio recording of a fan-club flexi-disc issued by a chain of petrol stations, a production stills gallery and a send-away coupon to receive a free copy of the new Supercar comic book. The episodes themselves are beautifully remastered, and look sharp and clear with little to no film defects. Thanks heavens they took good care of their negatives thru the years! It's also nice to be able to see the here-to-fore impossible to find second season episodes, with the revised opening theme and slightly modified vehicle design. (I do note, however, that my JVC brand DVD player has some difficulty navigating around the discs smoothly).
I've no idea why this show continues to bring me so much enjoyment over four decades since it first aired. But I'm grateful to be able to visit Black Rock Lab once again, and to be able to carry this icon of my youth with me into the future. So, Gerry Anderson (and A&E Video), a five year old boy salutes you with increasingly arthritic 48 year old hands.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Supercar - The Complete Series (1960)

SUPERCAR - COMPLETE SERIES - DVD Movie

Buy NowGet 61% OFF

Click here for more information about Supercar - The Complete Series (1960)

Read More...

The Donna Reed Show: The Complete First Season Review

The Donna Reed Show: The Complete First Season
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
It's time to celebrate, the First Season of the ground-breaking and truly iconic classic The Donna Reed Show is coming to DVD after years of fan pleadings - along with a promise to release Season 2 next year!
Joe Amodei, President of Arts Alliance America and Mary Owen (the daughter of Donna Reed) made the happy announcement together. The release will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the show's debut episode. ABC first aired The Donna Reed Show on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 1958 at 9:00 p.m.
The series took place in the fictional town of Hilldale. It centered around the dreams, ambitions, and frustrations of the Stone family: Alex, a pediatrician; his wife, Donna; and their children, Mary, Jeff, and Trisha (unofficially adopted in later episodes).
It was the beginning of a long relationship with America as viewers tuned in weekly to visit the Stone family for eight years, representing 274 episodes. The series' final episode aired March 19, 1966.
Ms. Reed was Emmy nominated four times for her role on the show, and in 1963 won a Golden Globe as Best Female TV Star. She also won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1953 for her performance in "From Here To Eternity," but is probably best known for her role as Jimmy Stewart's wife, Mary Bailey, in the Christmas masterpiece, "It's a Wonderful Life."
The series was one of several family-based shows that literally helped shaped the landscape of reality in America - rather than the other way 'round. Other Classic iconic family shows of the era included Father Knows Best, Leave It to Beaver, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Patty Duke Show and My Three Sons.
The adventures of the Stone family were similar to what those other TV families had to contend with - measles, girlfriends and boyfriends, school problems, little white lies, and so on, compounded by the fact that Dr. Alex was always running off at odd hours to attend his patients. Like those other shows, it had a wholesome quality that endeared it to audiences.
But, the ground-breaking difference between this show and all of the others was its focus: In this series, it was the Mom who knew best. This was the first show of its kind where the Mom was the lead character. And what a Mom! In my opinion, Ms. Reed was - and remains - in a class by herself.
When this show originally aired, Ms. Reed became an influential role model to women - as mother, wife and professional.
Despite all of these shows utter lack of racial and religious diversity and conservative depiction of conformity at all costs, I still love them all. I'm a liberal feminist so it makes absolutely NO sense, but there it is. My favorite is Father Knows Best, but this show comes in a very close second because of its star.
Ms. Reed was effervescent without being mechanical. She was sweet, funny and forgiving - everything a child could ever want in a Mom. In addition, her relationship with her "husband," played by the brilliant Carl Betz, had just a hint of real sexuality that was blatantly missing in the other shows.
In addition to Mr. Betz (who later starred in the Classic TV courtroom drama Judd for the Defense,) the cast included Shelley Fabares and Paul Peterson, as the Stone's children, Mary and Jeff. The Donna Reed Show remained on the air so long that the original children grew up. Mary left for college in 1962 and Jeff did the same two seasons later. An 8-year-old orphan named Trisha was adopted by the Stones joined the cast in January of 1963 to maintain the "family" appeal of the series. Patty Peterson, who played, Trisha was Paul Peterson's (Jeff Stone) real-life sister.
Close friends of the Stones were Midge Kelsey, played by Ann McCrea, and her husband, Dr. David Kelsey, played by Bob Crane (long before the Classic TV comedy Hogan's Heroes.) Children pals were Smitty, played by Darryl Richard and Herbie Bailey, played by Tommy Ivo.
The Donna Reed Show had numerous special guests stars including Buster Keaton, who appeared twice on the program, Marlo Thomas, Esther Williams, and baseball greats Don Drysdale and Willie Mays who appeared on the show as themselves.
For 10 years syndicated re-runs of The Donna Reed Show entertained new generations of young people on Nick at Nite. In a growing resurgence of nostalgia and a salute to Mothe;'s Day, the cable television network, Nickelodeon, aired a week long "Seven Day Donna-Thon" of episodes in 1990.
Ms. Reed's daughter, Mary Owen, said, "My Mother always said that she and my Father (Tony Owen was the Producer and principal architect of The Donna Reed Show) had climbed a mountain together making this show. For a whole generation of Baby Boomers, the Stone's were their second family. Today, when Boomers are starting to retire, it's time again to sit and watch The Donna Reed Show, this time with their grand kids and let them be amazed at who established and sowed the seeds of the American family. In the 1960's, before we lived with computers and cable TV with over 200 channels of mostly junk, the Stone family showed what love, respect and support for one another looked like."
In the debut episode, "Weekend Trip," audiences were introduced to the Stone family and got a glimpse of their sometimes chaotic day-to-day life flavored by the loving influence of Donna Stone who dispenses advice, discipline, humor and wisdom to her family. When series begins, Donna and Alex Stone had been married for 15 years.
All of the First Season episodes are included in this boxed set and are: 1. Weekend Trip (9/24/1958); 2. Pardon My GLoves (10/1/1958); 3. The Hike (10/8/1958); 4. Male Ego (10/15/1958) 5. The Football Uniform (10/22/1958); 6. The Foundling (10/29/1958); 7. Three-Part Mother (11/5/1958); 8. Change Partners And Dance (11/12/1958); 9. Dough Re Mi (11/19/1958); 10. Guest In The House (11/26/1958); 11. The Baby Contest (12/3/1958); 12. The Beaded Bag (12/10/1958); 13. The Busy Body (12/17/1958); 14. A Very Merry Christmas (12/24/1958); 15. Mary's Double date (12/31/1958); 16. Jeff's Double life (1/7/1959); 17. Nothing But The Truth (1/14/1959); 18. It's the principle of the thing (1/21/1959); 19. Jeff vs. Mary (1/28/1959); 20. Have Fun (2/4/1959); 21. Donna Plays Cupid (2/11/1959); 22. Love Thy Neighbor (2/18/1959); 23. The Report Card (2/25/1959); 24. Boys Will Be Boys (3/4/1959); 25. The Ideal Wife (3/11/1959); 26. Mary's Campaign (3/18/1959); 27. The Flowered Print Dress (3/25/1959); 28. April Fool (4/1/1959); 29. The Parting Of The Ways (4/8/1959); 30. The Hero (4/15/1959); 31. Do You Trust Your Child? (4/22/1959); 32. Grateful Patient (4/29/1959); 33. The Testimonial (5/6/1959); 34. Miss Lovelace Comes To Tea (5/13/1959); 35. Tomorrow Comes Too Soon (5/20/1959); 36. Advice To Young Lovers (5/27/1959); and 37. Operation Deadbeat (6/3/1959).
The theme song for the series, "Happy Days," and was written by William Loose and John Seely.
Several family and medical groups honored the series with awards. In fact, the President of the American Medical Association made a brief appearance on one episode.
Arts Alliance America has promised to follow this release with The Donna Reed Show: Season 2 next year.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Donna Reed Show: The Complete First Season

Donna Reed went from a distinguished film career to an even bigger career on Television as she starred in and co-produced The Donna Reed Show. This beloved and hugely successful sitcom premiered 50 years ago on the ABC network and aired from 1958-1966. The show revolves around housewife, Donna Stone, and her family--husband Alex who is a pediatrician, 14 year-old Mary, and 11 year-old Jeff. The Stone family reside in the midwestern town of Hilldale. Donna was the perfect American housewife and mother. She was always neatly-groomed, lovely, good-natured, thoughtful, and capable. The episodes involved the usual family problems and adventures, with Donna usually saving the day in her quiet, capable way.

Buy NowGet 16% OFF

Click here for more information about The Donna Reed Show: The Complete First Season

Read More...

Fireball XL5 - The Complete Series (1963) Review

Fireball XL5 - The Complete Series (1963)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Kennedy was in the White House when this aired. No one had heard of the Beatles yet. All televisions were black and white and most ran on cathode tubes. I was 7 years old. This is a great treat to anyone who wants to relive the children's programs of their youth. It is not sophisticated like "Thunderbirds", though. Thunderbirds had effects that still make you wonder how they did them. It also had scripts that approached B movie quality. Fireball is in black and white and is quite primitive by comparison. Still, it will make you want to grab some milk and cookies and watch with delight.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Fireball XL5 - The Complete Series (1963)

In the year 2063, the World Space Fleet is extending mankind's reach beyond the solar system. Leading the charge is the incredible spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by the dashing and daring Colonel Steve Zodiac. With his steadfast crew--the brilliant professor Matt Matic, the lovely space doctor Venus and Robert the Robot--Steve patrols the vast reaches of Sector 25, where strange races inhabit distant planets.In 1962, legendary producer Gerry Anderson (Space: 1999, UFO) turned his attention to space for the first time. The result was FIREBALL XL5, a rarely-seen gem that paved the way for later supermarionation masterpieces like Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet & the Mysterons. This definitive collection includes all 39 black and white episodes of FIREBALL XL5, digitally restored and presented in their original production order. Return to Galactic Sector 25 as FIREBALL XL5 flies again in this DVD set.

Buy NowGet 60% OFF

Click here for more information about Fireball XL5 - The Complete Series (1963)

Read More...

My Three Sons - Season One, Vol. 2 (2009) Review

My Three Sons - Season One, Vol. 2 (2009)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Come back for our money when you decide not to butcher this classic show with your awful music/sound substitutions. I was fooled once with your volume 1 release, but I've learned my lesson.
I'm only giving this 1 star, sadly 0 stars doesn't appear to be an option.

Click Here to see more reviews about: My Three Sons - Season One, Vol. 2 (2009)

MY THREE SONS is a delightful slice-of-life comedy about the American family. The series chronicles the life of the Douglas family; a seemingly simple premise that was a huge hit with audiences and a keystone of the TV family lineup in the ‘60s. Fred MacMurray delivers a standout portrayal as Steve Douglas, an aeronautical engineer and widower raising his three sons alone.

Buy NowGet 51% OFF

Click here for more information about My Three Sons - Season One, Vol. 2 (2009)

Read More...

Diver Dan (2006) Review

Diver Dan (2006)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I was glad to order this DVD, having awaited the arrival of DIVER DAN on home video for years -- but enjoyable though it was watching this DVD, this isn't really the proper release of DIVER DAN on digital video disc. The Alpha DVD is apparently unlicensed, and while it's good to have the 15 shows included here, this is going to look a lot better when and if the actual owners of the series ever get an edition of their own out. For starters, they're in black-and-white (which, yes, I know is how all of us saw the show in 1960-66 or whenever we caught it), but the series was actually show in full color, and should be presented that way. But worse is the fact that not only are the story-lines incomplete, because the makers didn't have complete story-arcs among some of the 15 shows here, but they're also out of sequence, so that the first installment of what was the last story in the series comes at the very end of the disc, over an hour after the material that is supposed to follow it. The transfers are also flawed in places -- for the price it's okay, but I'll gladly buy this material again, to get this series done properly if the owners of the series ever give me the opportunity.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Diver Dan (2006)



Buy Now

Click here for more information about Diver Dan (2006)

Read More...