Description

THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW - THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON, is a comedy about a North Carolina widower named Andy Taylor who divides his time between raising his son, Opie (Ron Howard) and being sheriff of the small and virtually crime-free town of Mayberry.With next to no crimes to solve, Andy spends time philosophizing and trying to calm down his cousin, Deputy Barney, played by Don Knotts. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

I don't want to make a big mulage, or anything
this is a wonderful collection!Great quality--- love the "lost snippets" that we never see due to television chopping these up so painfully!My ONLY complaint is about the previews on Disc 1 -- First of all, why would ANYONE who loves TAGS want to see previews to McGyver and Charmed???? puuuuleeeeeeeease!Secondly, if they MUST put previews, WHY can't we at least fast-forward them?I think it was pretty low for the company to make the previews unable to be forwarded through-- low!

The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Second Season
For those that complain, about the 7 minutes of advertising - obviously you all don't have the kind of DVD player I have, because I had no problem hitting the fast forward button a few times to 4th speed and I'm there. I'm watching all the wonderful episodes, while everyone else is complaining. My suggestions get some cheese with your wine!
Besides if you all think you can do a better job, by all means do it and stop complaining!

GREAT TV!!!!
What A Wonderful Set!!! The Added Sponser Spots By The Cast Are Very Funny!!! Lots Of Great Guest Stars, & Terrific Episodes!!! Bill Bixby, Barbara Eden & Alan Hale!!! As For The Paramount Ads....WHO CARES!!!!!!! Ten Minutes Of Ads To Get A Season Full Of Warmth, Heart & Humor Seems Like A Small Price To Pay!!! Keep The Seasons Coming!!!!!!!!!

I'm not "forced" and I love the DVD!!!!
I agree with David.I had little problem advancing passed the commercials, so I was not "forced" to watch any of them.Of course, Paramount could have been nice and left the commercials off, but their main concern is making money, and lots of it.The inconvience of spinning through the commercials (which takes me approximately 10 seconds) is nothing when compared to the rest of the DVD's content!This is easily the best situation comedy of all time and has never stopped being aired in the nearly 45 years since it first ran on CBS.This DVD will be highlighted in my DVD collection, just as season one is.I especially like the added "original sponsor spots",many of which I don't remember ever seeing before.Does anyone know if these "spots" ran during the first season of the show?If so, I hope they tag them on to the season three set along with the season three spots.

Commercialism Destroys The Enjoyment of Mayberry
Paramount Studios (owned by Viacom) has taken their commercialism to an all time low.The Andy Griffith Show has been one of my favorite, most relaxing shows for many years.I purchased the complete 2nd season, anticipating laughs and relaxation.But, hold on.Paramount forces the viewer to sit through at least 10 MINUTES of advertisements on disc one - you cannot fast forward through it - you cannot switch to the top menu.The viewer must endure 10 miserable minutes, watching advertisements for other DVD's (which many of us have no interest in).This was not done on the complete first season.I'm seriously considering the return of this DVD set - I do not like to be exploited / forced to endure 10 unending minutes of commercial trash.I don't even watch regular TV - to avoid commercials.What a shame.What a shame that such a materialistic, moronic company owns the rights to The Andy Griffith Show.This has taught me to avoid ALL Paramount DVD's in the future.Burn me once, shame on you - there will not be a second time.

Comments / complaints can be sent to:



Paramount Studios
5555 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90038

323.956.5000

...Tom ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Barney Is Back
This is a great Set of 8 of the best Andy Griffith Show featuring the unforgettable Barney Fife.

The only down fall is that they don't include the origional theme song.

At Least it Has Barney
Call me a crybaby, but I couldn't get over the fact that the music is not the original music. I had to fast forward each intro due to the horrible tune. Yuck! At least the shows feature Barney.

One thing to look out for is that many if these DVDs have the same episodes, just recycled into different packaging. I found this out after I bought "The Best of the Andy Griffith Show" and "The Best of Barney" in an Amazon package deal. Those 16 episodes are the same as the 16 on "The Best of the Andy Griffith Show 16 Episodes". Oh well. (The later DVD set is much better.)

Horrible DVD
Please do not waste your time buying this DVD! Half of the feature would not work, the episode would skip and the theme song is some cheap knock-off. I was very disappointed with the whole DVD. I wish someone would come out with the Andy show in seasons like any other respectable show. Please give this show some dignity and respect.

The Almost Best of Barney
This DVD has a few bonus features but once you do it once it gets boring I hope this review was helpful to you. NNOOOOOTTTT

The best televison show ever made!!!!!!!!
This DVD is one of the best quality Andy Griffith collection out there. I have seen a few other DVDs that the picture and sound quality is so poor its hard to enjoy. The quality here is great considering how old AG Show is. Plus if your a Barney Fife fan like me, you'll enjoy every one of the episodes. This DVD takes you back to the simple life in Mayberry NC, and is one the whole family will watch over and over again. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

oh, tootsie don't cry
This is a great find. it has five episodes, The loaded goat, the great filling station robbery, Andy Discovers America, Aunt Bee's Medicine Man, and The Darlings are coming. Five great episodes, a couple do not have the origional music, but show from begining to end. I know some of the others cut out the intro and outro, these are fully intact. Higly Recomended!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Andy and Barney at their funniest!
From the fall of 1960 when the Andy Griffith Show premiered to spring 1965 when Don Knotts left the series,Mayberry sheriff Andy Taylor(Griffith) and deputy Barney Fife(Knotts) were in constant partnership when at the police station in Mayberry. This package contains the first humorous police work on screen,big or small. Later there would be humorous police work on "Barney Miller" and the "Police Academy" movies. Giving Griffith and Knotts moral support are Ronny Howard as Andy's son Opie and the late Frances Bavier as Andy's aunt Bee. Howard later would star as Richie Cunningham on "Happy Days" and become one of Hollywood's best-loved movie directors. Griffith would star on "Matlock" and Knotts would join the "Three's Company" cast as landlord Ralph Furley. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

Wait...DO NOT buy this DVD
Dismal picture quality (it looks like it was literally recorded off the air by somebody using a consumer DVD recorder). WAIT until somebody decides to release quality sets. I am sure the original masters exist; they are valuable enough that at some point the whole series will be released. MONEY and greed talk. In the meantime, just tape or DVD record your OWN episodes off TV for free...you'll get better quality.

Antenna quality- Can anyone do any better????? PLEASE
This particular DVD set is NOT of very good quality. But being a true TAGS fan, I'll take what I can get. I still LOVE watching the hilarious comedy while overlooking the poor picture and sound. It's true what they say "You get what you pay for", this set's quality matches the price. For now, this is about the best you can get, if you are willing to overlook the quality. Just pretend it's 1963. It's about the same quality sound and picture as back then, if you had good antenna reception.
But can anyone do any better? PLEASE
Some years ago a company put out the Andy Griffith Show on VHS, four episodes per tape. (Great Quality)
It's time for them to do the same on DVD. PLEASE?
I speak for all TRUE TAGS Fans, when I say, We WILL buy it.

Don't be fooled!
Ok, I am one of the biggest fans of the Andy Griffith show. And I'm even more of a fan of Don Knotts. BUT, this DVD is worthless for one reason - its video quality is worse than broadcast television (I'm not kidding). I bought this at a local store that won't take returns on opened DVD's, so I lost out. What a waste of money. Don't buy it!

If you want a great Don Knotts movie on DVD, buy "The Shakiest Gun in the West". Its absolutely perfect in every way! (as far as Don Knotts movies go)

Don't even have to buy it to know
You only have to read two reviews to know what this is--a piece of garbage.

It is truly a shame that whoever owns these shows doesn't clean up THE ORIGINALS & release them as per-season box sets. Other shows of this era are being released--Why not this one?! Are they so mired in legal matters that it can't be done? I've often wondered.

Can you begin to imagine how many they could sell? You just know that at least a million customers would go out & buy all 5 of the B&W seasons. That's $125 (5 box sets) x 1,000,000 = 125-million bucks at least. 'Not enough return I suppose.

Best DVD available for this show!
I grew up just after the shows original run ended and watched this show frequently in syndication. It is a great show that blends comedy, drama and moral lessons. In recent years I have tried to tape the entire 8 year show off of tv and have found that usually several minutes of the show are cut out to make room for more commercials. This really ticks me off!! When a show like TAGS is already made to fit commercials in why do tv and cable stations feel the need to remove 3 to 5 minutes of the show to fit in additonal commericals?

Anyway, I've looked forward to TAGS on DVD and recently my wife purchased this 16 episode 2 DVD package for me. My version does not have the original theme song during the opening and ending credits but rather some poorly done replacement tune. This is a real downer as I, like everyone else, enjoy the original theme song. It helps set the mood for TAGS. However, the shows themselves are fine and the picture quality good. It also has the complete shows.

My version of this DVD has some retro commercials in between some of the episodes. It also has some old cartoons such as POPEYE between the episodes. I rather enjoy these old commercials and cartoons. It reminds me of my childhood when I would watch TAGS in the afternoon in syndication followed by the afternoon cartoons.

So while I eagerly await a boxed set of season by season episodes of TAGS along with the original theme this DVD will tide me over. ... Read more

Description

3 Great Movies on 1 DVD.Star Power, Exciting Genre with Extras on each DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

2 STARS BASED SOLELY ON TERROR OF TINYTOWN THE REST STUNK
Well, I've been curious about this movie for years and now I've finally seen it: "The Terror of Tiny Town" (1938), a Western/musical with an all-dwarf cast! In many respects it's just a typical Western-- dashing hero attempts to save/woo gorgeous gal and fight off cattle rustlers at the same time (one such rustler tries to frame the hero for murder). The film starts with an average-sized man introducing the diminiutive stars; including the hero, "Buck Lawson" (played by Billy Curtis, who has been in several movies and even has a walk-on in "the Incredible Shrinking Man".)

"Tiny Town" is populated entirely by little people(or "midgets" as some have called them). They ride ponies instead of horses, but everything in town seems scaled for average sized people. Thus the image of cowboys sauntering UNDER half-doors into saloons! To be honest I think SOME of the "dwarf" actors were actually average-sized children. In one scene, a barbershop quartet sings and a "dwarf" in a chair sings along in a much deeper voice than you'd expect. That "dwarf" looks more like an average-sized little boy in reality.

But then more than a few of the (adult) little people in the cast look like kids (but aren't)-- not just height-wise but they also have very-young-looking faces. You almost think it's a film of kids playing adults (ever see "Bugsy Malone"?) but they are indeed dwarfs.

You get the typical elements of an "oater" (Western), from shoot-em-ups to a seductive female singer in a saloon; some very bad puns ("smallpox", "half-pint"); a hero-and-girl duet that will conjure up images of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald (all together now: "when I'm calling you-u-u-u"--though to be honest, the songs in "Tiny Town" are VERY forgettable!)...a dwarf drinking a huge beer stein, and a duel in a shack where dynamite is about to go off!

So is it great or horrible? Kind of in between; unusual enough (in that it has an all-dwarf cast) to see at least once, but cliched dialogue, weak songs, etc....still, now at least I can say I've seen The Terror of Tiny Town!

(PS--I must add that in many respects the film is the type that exploits little-person actors for their size instead of whatever other talents they may have. How many dwarf actors out there go to a casting call and immediately are told, "ah! We'll make you the leprechaun...the tiny space alien...one of Santa's elves..." etc. instead of more substantial roles... )

SADLY I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THE OTHERS WERE VERY DISMAL. I WOULD BUY THIS PURELY FOR THE PRICE AND THE TERROR OF TINYTOWN ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Classic Munster laughs...how can you not love Herman?
If you are a Munster fan, you will love this one. Herman is at his best in England along with the rest of the cast. This has another new Marilyn though so don't look for Beverly Owen or the lovely Pat Priest. I enjoyed the antics of Lord Munster as much as I did in the series.

Huh Huh Huh Huh! Herman says!
The old Munsters series is great and this movie is supreme! If you loved the old show then you got to get this one. This movie still contains the magic of the show and the times unlike the later movie made "Musters Revenge" which is also in my collection but not nearly as good as this one. If only there were more to get on the Munsters! I have the DVD version of Munster Go Home and the quality is excellent! Buy it!

Debbie Watson rules!
I love the auburn haired beauty playing Marilyn in this film. That's one Debbie Watson. Not to belittle very comely Pat Priest's performance in most of the original series but Watson really steals the movie with her great beauty, surprisingly deep characterization, and genuine wholesomeness.

NO SIGN OF SERIES IN SIGHT
And thats a shame.The movie,very enjoyable.My gripes are minor. The opening theme music was incredibly boring. I've gotten used to it,but it makes a bad first impression.Not casting Pat Priest. I'll never know why or how anyone could be so stupid,but after several viewings they did Pat a favor. For some reason Marilyn went backwards in time and became about 6 years younger and the family didn't seem to notice.Plus she is portrayed as a naive whiney contemptiple brat.These are the reasons I dropped the rating from 5 stars to 4.No extras on the DVD and even though it was filmed in the same dimensions as tv I believe if they pulled back far enough we would get at least 12.5 percent more picture. This drops my rating again, now to 3 stars. Sept 2004 is only 6 months away and there's no sign the series will be released on DVD and this is a shame not to commemerate the 40th anniversarry of this great show.Even though I'm a Munsters maniac and they are my first choice of family fright I also like the Addams Family series,to a lesser extent but I do like them. And since they both premiered in 1964 a dvd release of both series season one at the same time would be one of the greatest events to ever happen since whatever your favorite event is.Sept 21,2004 would be the most sensible time,3 days after the Addams 64 debut and 3 days before the Munsters debut.Plus its a Tuesday the infamous day most new CDs,video tapes,and DVDs are released.I really,really,REALLY wish someone who had the power to make this happen was reading this,but... unfortunately I feel that they're are not.If you can get past these little complaints enjoy this fun movie.

The DVD .... not the movie
This movie is great fun...but the DVD is another example of GoodTimes Video's electing to push crap on an unsuspecting public. The movie studio needs to release this one....and in WIDESCREEN. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

3 Excellent Episodes!
This edition features 2 of the best Mexico episodes, and a superlative Japan episode. "Bet Me A Dollar" starts as a lightheared bet between a bored Kelly and Scott, which becomes a race against time as Scotty must find his friend who has been dosed with anthtrax and has only hours to live. The little boy who guest stars in this one is especially good, and delivers a very strong performance. "Carmelita" is another great one from the Mexico arc as the boys become unwitting babysitters for infant Carmelita as "the opposition" chase after them. (Watch for a cool moment in the teaser as Cosby says a line too early and Culp has to cut him off.) "Tatia" is a very dramatic episode which sees Kelly fall for a beautiful photographer whom Scotty suspects is an opposition agent. A great moment occurs when Scott tells Kelly there's no way he's going out let him out to meet her, and calls down to the lobby to let them know they may hear some loud noises like a fight, but not to worry, it's only a sound effects record. The only drawback to this edition is the video quality of "Tatia" which is a little off, probably due to the source material. But the content more than makes up for it. As usual the other episodes are strikingly clear and beautiful. Remarkable for a series over 35 years old! This is a must have for the I Spy fan, featuring 3 of the best of the series. ... Read more

Description

In the early months of 1965, actor and screenwriter Robert Culp undertook a task that would change his life forever. Secretly working without the knowledge of the show's producers, he wrote several scripts for "I Spy." Ultimately these scripts would become some of the series' most popular and acclaimed shows. Now, for the first time, Robert Culp candidly reveals the intriguing story behind the scenes of "I Spy" in unique and exciting commentaries about this groundbreaking television series. Episodes: "The War Lord" - Assigned to rescue an attractive but impulsive young English girl being held hostage in the back country of Southeast Asia, Robinson and Scott are stymied when she refuse to leave. Co-Starring Jean Marsh. "Court of the Lion" - An Oxford-educated Zulu seeks revenge on white men by selling industrial diamonds to the Red Chinese. Co-Starring Godfrey Cambridge. "Magic Mirror" - Kelly Robinson learns that the woman he loves is linked to an exiled dictator he and Scott are assigned to investigate. Co-Starring France Nuyen and Ricardo Montalban. "Home to Judgement" - Robinson and Scott bungle an assignment and become the hunted rather than the hunters in a deadly cat-and-mouse game across a rugged midwest prairie. Co-Starring Will Geer and Robert Donner.Audio Commentary by actor/writer Robert Culp ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Culp Collection, A Must Have!
The Commentary on this second of the Culp Collection discs is amazing! Even better than the the first one. Robert Culp gets more into the personal relationships on the show, and the material on Sheldon Leonard, France Nuyen and others is nothing less than fascinating. The behind the scenes material is a real treasure, and the technical information on writing for series television is like a university course. If you're an I Spy fan do yourself a favor and get them both. As usual with this Image Entertainment DVD series the show looks breathtakingly beautiful. They did a superb job on these discs. And Mr.Culp, if you're reading this, thank you for all the great work, and there has to be a behind the scenes book in this milestone series! We're dying to read it!

The War Lord
Robert Culp is an amazing man with more talent than I can ever put into words in this review. There are two DVD's that are the "Robert Culp Collection" and I think they contain the best of all the I Spy shows. The War Lord and Home to Judgement have always been two of my favorite episodes and in seeing them again, I remember why I have always felt this way.

Written and performed beautifully, the candy cane inside the pickle on these two DVD's is commentary by Robert Culp.

If you buy no other I Spy DVD's, buy these two.

Great writing for television
Today the raves are for Aaron Sorkin and The West Wing, two decades ago it was Bochco and Hill Street Blues, but some of the writing done on I Spy (most by series star Robert Culp) was every bit as lively, crisp and topical as TV is today.
The episodes on this disk, specifically Magic Mirror and Home To Judgement, are some of the best television scripts ever produced.
This is part of a double-DVD set, with all episodes written by series star Robert Culp. I've read where Culp locked himself away in a secluded house with no phone to write these episodes, and the dedication shows.
Magic Mirror is more than just a cold war thriller, it's plot is a Shakesperean tragedy for the jet set set against the backdrop of a small country being tugged over like a rope caught in superpower's jaws.
Home To Judgement illustrates that television heroes aren't always shaved and well dressed, and that sometimes things do go wrong. The end sequence has Robinson and Scott shooting it out inside a cramped farm house with hoods whose faces you never quite see ... it is quite sureal.
Great series. A big screen movie with Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson is in the works, but I don't think it'll live up to the small screen rendition. ... Read more

Description

Lone Ranger starring Clayton Moore - 14 thirty-minute episodes on 2 DVDs.

"Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear…"The Lone Ranger and his faithful Indian Companion, Tonto, rode into the lives of American TV fans in the early 1950's.The masked rider and his sidekick led the fight for law and order, vowing to avenge wrongs through out the Old West.Week after week, viewers thrilled to their daring exploits, which always ended up with the bad guy in custody and The Lone Ranger's hearty "Hi-yo Silver, away!"

Disc 1
1. Enter the Lone Ranger (1st show) (9-15-49)
2. The Lone Ranger Fights On (9-22-49)
3. The Lone Ranger's Triumph (9-29-49)
4. War Horse (10-20-49)
5. Finders Keepers (12-08-49)
6. Old Joe's Sister (12-22-49)
7. Cannonball McKay (12-29-49)

Disc 2
1. Rustlers Hideout (10-13-49)
2. Pete and Pedro (10-27-49)
3. The Renegades (11-03-49)
4. High Heels (11-17-49)
5. Six Guns Legacy (11-24-49)
6. The Return of the Convict (12-01-49)
7. The Masked Rider (12-15-49) ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great but also not so great
I have to say from the onset that the quality of this set was extremely good. But, I also have to say that I was expecting more. SHAME ON YOU, AMC!!
I was expecting (hoping) to see the original (1949) opening credits and theme song. But, what I got was a cleaned up version of the distribution opening like the ones that TV Land used. I would have gladly given up quality for the original opening and closing.
If you are a true, and by that I mean older, fan of The Lone Ranger and are looking for the pure, genuine TV show, this is not for you.

The BEST early Lone Ranger set!!!!!!
This set contains the AMC Network remastered and audio-enhanced version of the first fourteen episodes from the first season of the Lone Ranger TV show, airing from september through december, 1949. The episodes are clean and sound better than any 1949 televeision program has a right to sound in 2004. In short, I am VERY happy with this 14-episode set!

As far as the DVDs themselves go, there are basically no extra features, but what do you expect for ten bucks? At least the screens are very professional and easy to navigate, not amateurishly done like the ones for a lot of old TV shows on DVD.

Get this set for the EARLY Lone Ranger and the Wea Corp set for 19 episodes from the END of the Lone Ranger series, and you'll see the best from the beginning and the end!

I only hope AMC continues to issue future Lone Ranger sets through the run of the series. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "Affair in T'sien Cha" - A train bound for Hong Kong disappears, and Robinson and Scott are assigned to solve the mystery. Co-Starring Vera Miles. "Carry Me Back to Old Tsing Tao" - American merchant Charley Haun in Hong Kong asks agents Robinson and Scott to deliver a million dollars in back taxes to the U.S. so he can die honorably in his native village."Danny Was a Million Laughs" - Robinson and Scott do their best to keep their moving target, Danny, from getting killed, but they cannot move fast enough to save Danny's henchmen Sam and Genius. Co-Starring Martin Landau. "A Cup of Kindness" - In Hong Kong, secret agents Robinson and Scott are ordered to kill one of their own colleagues, Russ Conley, who has turned traitor. Co-Starring David Friedkin. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good to see spy series on DVD
I've been an I Spy fan for nearly 30 years, since seeing it in repeats in the early 70s, and the show is hard to find on broadcast television -- cable or otherwise. In short, this is a great DVD for fans of the series, spy genre or action shows. The DVD rocks. It's clear and the color is vibrant. That's not always the case on some DVDs or VHS releases on TV shows. Also, there's no translucent company logo that pops up on the screen. A big plus, because some companies do that too. The release order seems to be following most of the shows from the first season of I Spy. Hopefully, the company will release all the episodes. If there's any drawback it's the lack of "extras" that many DVDs come with, but that's not a true need for something like this, just a nice to have. ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "This Guy Smith" - Robinson and Scott pose as vacationing fishermen at a mountain resort while attempting to ferret out an enemy agent on murder charges. Co-Starring Diana Muldaur. "Turnabout for Traitors" - Kelly Robinson is accused of being a traitor to the United States and is hunted down by his own colleagues, including partner Alexander Scott. Co-Starring Peter Donat and Ross Elliot. "Happy Birthday Everybody" - Robinson and Scott try to thwart a vengeful escaped prisoner's plot to destroy the now-retired agent who arrested him. Co-Starring Jim Backus and Gene Hackman. "Shana" - Theft of a top-secret sample of rocket fuel brings Robinson and Scott to Acapulco on the trail of a beautiful but elusive suspect. Co-Starring Albert Dekker and Gloria Foster. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Masterful Production & Acting
Robert Culp has been my favourite actor since he starred in the Western Series: TRACKDOWN. The chemistry between Culp & Cosby was blessed magic and the series went on to win dozens of top awards including 2 EMMYS and THE GOLDEN GLOBE. It was the FIRST action series on TV to be shot on actual locations from Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Greece, Africa, the U.S. and Las Vegas. Robert Culp gained my admiration not only as a most credible actor, but his talents went far beyond the realm of acting. Mr. Culp has play numerous roles, and Mr. Peter Falk has always spoken honourably of him for the roles he played in Columbo. He even wrote some of the stories for the series of I SPY, even donning dual roles. I SPY was a true, down-to-earth portrayal of the spy business. The ad lib technique of Culp and Cosby engendered a level of talent that has NEVER been equalled. Hats off to the best! Mr. Culp and Mr. Cosby, I hope you see this!!! --wes shrader ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I Spy - So Long Patrick Henry and The Warlord
Since other reviewers have commented on the high quality of the dramas on these two discs, I want to talk about the audio commentary by actor/writer Robert Culp, which is, if you are interested in how series TV was created in the Sixties, reason enough to buy these DVDs. Mr. Culp talks engagingly and personally about the genesis of the series; his troubled professional relationship with producer Sheldon Leonard; his unsuccessful attempts to get Sam Peckinpah hired onto the show as a director; the unadulterated joy of working with Bill Cosby for three years; where his script ideas came from and how they were developed; working with creative collaborators like directors Richard Serafian and Tom Gries; how John Chambers worked, unpaid, for six months to create Culp's make-up for "The Warlord"; how Earl Hagen's scores enriched certain shows -- in short, everything you've ever wanted to know about I SPY. These excellant commentaries -- thorough, entertaining, and well-researched -- add up to the book about I SPY that no one has yet written. Much thanks to Mr. Culp and Image Entertainment for these invaluable discs.

The Best Episodes Ever!
Robert Culp saved "I Spy" from being just another spy show during the James Bond craze of the early and mid-sixties. He saved it by writing intelligent scripts that were long on characterization and tight, swiftly-moving plots, a stark difference from the wincingly trite bill of fare offered up to us on shows like "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and others. Culp's scripts showed us that Robinson and Scott were a couple of CIA working-stiff operatives with plenty of heart, rather than comic book superheroes in tight pants. Kel and Scotty sweated and suffered through their jobs, and the episodes on this first volume of the Robert Culp collection were amongst their finest hours. Honestly, this is arguably the among the finest television that came out of the sixties, certainly in the spy genre, if not in television as a whole. We owe a great deal to Robert Culp for raising the bar in television drama to establish a standard of excellence that is still recognized today. All three episodes are cases-in-point, but if I had to pick one out of the lot, I would say that "The Loser" is the finest. This episode covers an incredible amount of ground in 51 minutes and never-not once-meanders into the absurd. An excellent plot and moving, relevant dialog make for one hell of a fine viewing experience, and even the most discriminating audience will be pleased. Incidentally, the commentary tracks (there are three) are informative and entertaining, too. Thanks, Bob, for all of your hard work on "I Spy" and all of the other shows on which your talent and heart showed through. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the 1960s audiences were crazy for secret agents, and two of the coolest guys to go undercover were found on television's I Spy. Robert Culp and Bill Cosby played a pair of American agents whose cover story was that they were a pair of happy-go-lucky globetrotting athletes following the "tennis circuit." The show was considered something of a milestone in the 1960s for having an African American in a lead role, but when viewed decades later what's remarkable about the show is simply how much fun it was. In the four episodes in this package Culp and Cosby run around Hong Kong and Tokyo, looking totally cool in blazers, sneakers, and sunglasses, and their battles with agents working for "the other guys" always seem to involve beautiful women. The assignments given the unlikely agents, such as finding a foreign agent who is to be traded for an American spy plane pilot, or stopping "Red China's top scientists" from waging germ warfare, are utterly implausible. But who cares? What counts is that the agents engage in flashy martial arts slugfests with enemy agents, have gun battles in back alleys, and must always ponder the motivations of the aforementioned beautiful women. These programs epitomize escapist entertainment. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Amazon.com

Grab your mask and six-guns, kids, 'cuz the Lone Ranger's back andbetter than ever! Once again, the retro-wizards at Rhino have expertly packagedthis welcome trip down TV memory lane, serving up six complete 22-minuteepisodes of the popular shoot-'em-up series, starring Clayton Moore as the LoneRanger and Jay Silverheels as his faithful sidekick, Tonto. The firsttwo black-and-white episodes (from 1949) are included as bonus features,reminding us of the masked man's origins, and four consecutive color episodesfrom 1956 show the series at its peak of popularity. The colors have faded a bit(otherwise these shows look great), but the action's still as brisk as ever;this is kid-stuff produced with intelligence and skill, with well-cast villains(including Glenn Strange and General Hospital veteran John Beradino) andpunchy stories that will still delight any baby boomers who look back fondly atTV's golden age. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Tag You're It
This DVD contains my all-time favorite "I Spy" episode, "An American Empress," featuring France Nuyen, who was Robert Culp's wife at the time. I looked it up and it was originally broadcast on Christmas Day in 1967. I happened to catch the rerun in August just before the show was cancelled by NBC.

This episode was shot on location in San Francisco and includes Culp and Bill Cosby at their best in terms of the rapport between the two. There's also a catchy jazz theme throughout.

4 Unforgettable episodes- Spy School!
The first three episodes on this wonderful DVD are set in San Francisco. In "An American Empress", Robinson & Scott take a beautiful Chinese heiress (Frances Nuyen) on a tour of the city, only to discover that she plays an unwitting part in a plot to gain control of the government of China. The 2nd episode is one of the best of the entire series: "Anyplace I Hang Myself Is Home"; After Alexander Scott mysteriously tries to take his own life, a series of flashbacks show Scott & Robinson's early days in spy school, including their very first encounter with one another, in which both consider the other "helplessly square"!! In "Tag, you're It", our heroes return to spy school for a training exercise that goes badly wrong (look for our boys hiding out in the Haight-Ashbury district dressed as Hippies!); and in "A Few Miles West Of Nowhere", the pair investigate the killing of a fellow agent in a small town in which local vigilantes make them less than welcome. ... Read more

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Barney's First Car; The Darlings are Coming; Dogs, Dogs, Dogs; The Great Filling Station Robbery ... Read more

Description

Episodes: "Chrysanthemum" - Assigned to recover stolen documents, agents Robinson and Scott are ordered to assist Maximilian D'Brouget, an eager but hopelessly confused counterspy. Co-Starring Marcel Hillaire. "Dragon's Teeth" - Robinson and Scott are being introduced to George Serengi, fiance of hostess Alicia Cavanaugh, when Serengi drops to the floor, apparently poisoned. Co-Starring Mike Faulkner and Joanne Linville. "No Exchange on Damaged Merchandise"--In Hong Kong, agents Robinson and Scott seek double agent Erik Thorsten, the only person the Communists will trade for a captured American pilot. Co-Starring Kurt Kreuger and Sue Randall. "A Time of the Knife"--Missing microfilm is involved in the untimely death of agent Michael Fane in Kyoto, Japan, and places his bereaved fiancee, Jean Dillard, in great danger. Co-Starring Madlyn Rhue and Warren Stevens. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I Spy, I Like!
One of my favorite old TV series is "Man from UNCLE". With actors Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, how couldn't I like it? So when I found this DVD I though I'd try it out. And I though "I Spy" was fantastic! Robert Culp and Bill Cosby are good! There are four episodes in one DVD:

"Chrysanthemum": Agents Telly Robinson (Robert Culp) and Alexander Scott (Bill Cosby) are forced to work with Maximilian D'Brouget (Marcel Hillaire), a very eager yet not very bright counterspy.* Most boring episode of all four episodes. Very slow, I wince every time I see D'Brouget mess up, which he does quite often.

"Dragon's Teeth": While in Hong Kong, Robinson's old friend, Alicia Cavanaugh (Joanne Linville) introduces him and Scott to her fiance, George Serengi (Mike Faulkner). But while at a party, Serengi dies mysteriously.* Makes up for "Chrysanthemum". The ending was so surprising I at first couldn't believe it!

"No Exchange Damaged Merchandise": Again in Hong Kong, Robinson and Scott look all over for Eric Thorsten (Kurt Kreuger) to exchange him for a captured American pilot from the Communists.* Another good episode. Culp and Cosby's banter is very funny!

"A Time of the Knife": When Robinson's friend, Michael Fane (Warren Stevens) is killed in an accident, he and Scott are sent on a mission to find some missing microfilm with the help Fane's fiancee, Jean Dillard (Madlyn Rhue).* Culp and Cosby are really good at judo! They actually do a lot of it. But the most interesting thing about the episode is that it takes place in Japan. I live in Japan and has been to most of the places, though it's much more modern now than it was before.

Though "Man from UNCLE" is my forever favorite, I would still like to get more of the "I Spy" DVDs. People who like old movies and TV series will like "I Spy"!

Early Episodes - Work in Progress
The early episodes, in Hong Kong especially, have a certain poignancy, but they're too trite and corny and sometimes stilted to really love.

Chrysanthemum introduces "Scottie's Theme" and other tunes that were a staple of the show. Besides on-site camera work - for the most part (you can see the LA coastline in some of the scenes) the show was a vehicle for Earle Hagen's music. This episode was a Pink Panther rip-off but its saving grace was the "goodness" of the two heros and they're love of other people, their loyalty to Max, regardless of how ridiculous he is.

Dragon's Teeth is an attempt at an Agatha Christie story. You get a look at a young James Hong, playing an old man, what else? For the most part it's slow and Alicia Cavanaugh's make-up is hideous.

No Exchange ... about half-good. Has themes that are echoed in future episodes, and the heroes start to look hip.

Time of the Knife - now we're getting there. The scenery is great but the story has a tendency to limp, and the music is not well integrated. Nevertheless, worth four stars - the dialog works in nearly every scene. ... Read more