Review(s): DVD Beverly Hillbillies: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1
...and the verdict is, Buy It!!
All of the criticisms pointed out in previous postings are true: no, this set does not contain the complete first season; yes, they should have included the Christmas episode; yes, the sound and picture quality could be better; yes, they should have indexed the times of each episode individually instead of running them all together; yes, it would seem that a DVD set that has the apparent support of someone as important (not to mention as fabulously beautiful) as our beloved Linda Kaye Henning probably should not contain these flaws.
Nevertheless, this set is worth every penny for two reasons: 1. all the episodes are (at least as near as I can tell) COMPLETE and unedited, to include the "third" verse of the opening credits where they plug the "sponsor of the week", and, 2. there are a solid TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES of the extremely rare and highly sought after Cast Commercials. These are the particularly valuable Episode Related Cast Commercials, which continue the plots and story lines of each episode they are associated with (same as with the CC's on the 2nd and 3rd seasons of the Andy Griffith DVD sets, and hopefully future sets as well). No, they aren't integrated into each show, which would have been a better way to do it. Still, to have them at all is a true blessing, particularly the Winston cigarette commercials (I do not smoke myself, but I am nevertheless delighted to have these. Given the arrogant certainty with which the modern day political correctness thought police presume to impose upon us whatever they judge to be in our best interest, it is truly amazing that these were allowed to be included on the DVD). Watching the C.C.s all together I was expecting a few, maybe ten minutes worth or so, but they just go on and on, it's great. As near as I can tell ALL episodes on this DVD are accompanied by their respective Cast Commercial (many of which also contain the ending title card blurbs, and some episodes also contain interesting short little "public service" announcements at the end).
As for the documentary, it is entitled "Paul Henning & the Hillbillies". While informative, yes, it does spend a great deal of time talking about him and not specifically the show itself, and some viewers might find this a bit tedious. However, at the end of the documentary the whole story is revealed, and you can put two and two together: apparently Mr. Henning passed away this year. Considering the depth of involvement that Linda Kaye Henning granted to this and to the Petticoat Junction release, it is reasonable and gracious that MPI recognize her father, to whom, after all, we do owe the creation of these shows in the first place. Both Paul and Linda deserve a salute from all of us, and the inclusion of this documentary is entirely appropriate.
This show ran for 274 episodes over nine seasons, all of which are deserving of release on DVD. Buy this set today and let the big wigs know that there is a serious fan base of customers who are anxious to see the whole awesome, delightful series on DVD!!
Restored?
I agree with most of the reviews that MPI Home Video done a poor job of so called restoring these episodes. Unfortunately, that seems to be the usual with MPI. The best thing I can say for this set is, at least most of the episodes aren't the run of the mill public domain ones. I will probably buy Vol. 2 only because thery're not available anywhere else. The best thing that could happen to this great series is for Paramount to release it on DVD, in full season box sets. I have 32 episode box set produced by Platinum Disc Corporation, and most of the episodes are better picture and sound quality than the ones released by MIP Home Video.
Mixed Feelings...
I can't dislike this set. Having watched/enjoyed "The Beverly Hillbillies" since its initial run on CBS, it's a treat to have most of the first season on a single DVD set. The humor is sharp/funny, right from the very first episode...and seeing the original extended openings, featuring plugs for the program's two alternating sponsors at the time (Winston and Kellogg's), is wonderfully nostalgic...it didn't take long for those "sponsor of the week" jingles to bring a smile.
I can't comment on the full set, having only viewed the first three episodes. If the first three are any indication, though, I can't help but question the claim on the packaging that these have been "restored." A couple of splices in the openings have been observed, sound quality is anything but pristine, and end-of-reel cue marks (poorly etched onto the film frames, way too reminiscent of 16mm syndication prints) are extremely distracting...as are the many vertical film scratches that resurface all too often from too many trips through a dirty projection gate, episodes two and three in particular.
Very little effort appears to have been devoted towards the restoration of the film elements. MPI notes, on the packaging, that some material on this DVD came from producer/creator Paul Henning's private collection. Perhaps that's where these episodes came from, as current copies of the same shows for broadcast look/sound noticeably better.
That's the bad, now for the good. Scratches and other anomalies aside, the episodes are at least presented unedited, and look far better than the knockoff DVD versions of this show that usually sell for $5.00 and under. Image quality is very sharp/clear. And the version of the pilot seen here (under the title "The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills") is a different edit, including a very funny "glimpse of things to come" segment at the end, featuring Raymond Bailey. Then, there are the extras...they're marvelous, particularly two excerpts from the ABC program "Hollywood Palace," one featuring Buddy Ebsen and one featuring Irene Ryan (in character as Granny, this one is side-splittingly funny). There's also a wonderful documentary about Paul Henning, the show's producer, and an interview with Max Baer that's great fun to listen to...and original commercials, featuring the cast members in character, plugging the sponsor for that week. I loved these as a kid and they're still great fun to watch, frequently as entertaining as the program itself.
My feelings about this set are indeed mixed...but in spite of my mediocre three-star rating (solely for the less than pristine image/sound quality observed so far) it's a purchase that will never be returned or given away! I love it, flaws and all.
Related DVD's Beverly Hillbillies: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1
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