Gunsmoke - 50th Anniversary Collection, Volume 1 (1955) Review

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(More customer reviews)The selection of the episodes is fine. The commentary by the stars varies between good and excellent.
Since I purchased almost all of the original 30 minute episodes of "Gunsmoke" from Columbia House (four per tape at $25), I am still disappointed that this amazing series was not released in sequence of broadcast, just as it was released by Columbia House.
"Gunsmoke" was so much more than entertainment 50 years ago. Families would gather around the "Cool Blue Fire" to share the stories (and morality tales) told by the actors and writers. Fifty years ago I was six years old, and obviously not cognizant of the great leap forward - into 'adult' territory - which "Gunsmoke" represented.
When I began watching the Columbia House 30 minute episodes, always in order of first broadcast ten years ago, I was amazed at the quality of the productions and the way that the totality had survived across (then) 40 years. Awed.
By selecting the 'best' of "Gunsmoke" the marketers imply that the rest of the series was like every other series on TV: there were only a few episodes worth watching, much less, worth BUYING. My view: that is not true.
This is one series that still deserves to be watched, and remains "must see" TV after 50 years.
I would encourage the release of "Gunsmoke" by seasons, just as "Have Gun Will Travel" is being released.
"Gunsmoke" was the primal American legend brought to black and white TV. It deserves to be seen as it was broadcast, not simply because the nostalgia quotient is higher but because it remains a seminal series.
The definitive episodic TV Western.

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Marshall Matt Dillon is responsible for bringing law and respectability to the Dodge City in this western action-drama. The show still holds the record for being the longest running primetime drama series in television history.

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Sanford and Son - The Third Season (1972) Review

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(More customer reviews)Finally, more Sanford & Son has arrived! With more Aunt Esther, Julio, Chico the goat, Bubba, Rollo & lots & lots of Grady! This 3 DVD set contains all 24 episodes of the hilarious 3rd season. The 3rd season, which ran from September 1973 - March 1974, is interesting because Redd Foxx (due to contract disputes with producers) does not appear in the last 6 episodes of the set. Foxx's absence from the episodes was written as Fred visits family in St. Louis and Grady instead stars in each episode alongside Lamont. Don't worry, there's still 18 episodes here featuring Fred and the last 6 episodes are hilarious in their own right. Another interesting aspect is there is no episode 19 (again because of contract disputes). The episode was scripted, but wasn't filmed so the episodes run like 17, 18, 20...
Season 3 features some of the shows most hilarious moments. Each disc features a color photo & the only extra feature is a preview of other TV comedies on DVD. Here are the episode titles in the order they appear on the DVD set:
Disc One
1. Lamont, is that you?
2. Lamont as Othello
3. This little TV went to market
4. Presenting the 3 Degrees
5. Libra rising all over Lamont
6. Fred, the reluctant finger man
7. Fuentes, Fuentes, Sanford, & Chico
8. A house is not a poolroom
Disc 2
9. The Blind Mellow Jelly Collection
10. Superflyer
11. The members of the wedding
12. Grady, The Star Boarder
13. Mama's baby, Papa's Maybe
14. Wine, women, & Aunt Esther
15. Fred Sanford, Legal Eagle
16. This land is whose land?
Disc 3
17. Fred's cheating heart
18. The party crasher (last Redd Foxx appearance in Season 3)
20. Lamont Goes Karate
21. Will the real Fred Sanford please do something?
22. Tyrannt, thy name is Grady
23. Aunt Esther & Uncle Woodrow Pfft...
24. The way to Lamont's heart
25. Hello cousin Emma, Goodbye cousin Emma
I can't recommend this set enough because it just keeps getting better. Redd Foxx was brilliant and the fact that he continued to be hilarious even during the behind the scenes feuds with producers is a testament to him. I'm already anticipating Season 4! Bring it on!
Trivia:
* The Grady character, played by Whitman Mayo, became popular enough to spawn a series spin off ("Grady") which also co-starred Haywood Nelson from What's Happening. The show only lasted 12 episodes between '75-'76. Season 4 of Sanford & Son contains the episode that served as the pilot for this series.
* Redd Foxx's contract disputes, which led to his absence in 6 episodes of Season 3, carried on into Season 4 making him absent from 4 of the season's 25 episodes (including the pilot episode for "Grady").
* Season 4 contains the final appearance of Julio (Gregory Sierra, who went on to Barney Miller) and the introduction of character Ah Chew (Pat Morita)

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SANFORD & SON:THIRD SEASON - DVD Movie

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