Beverly Hillbillies: The Ultimate Collection, Volume 1

This restored set has some very nice extras and the restoration of the episodes will make you put those PD DVDs in the trash can.

The only complaint is, why only 26 episodes from the 36 episode first season. One of the missing episodes is show #13 "Home For Christmas", which MPI is putting on a "Christmas with The Beverly Hillbillies & Petticoat Junction" DVD. Unfortunately, it interrupts the flow of the continuing story line. In the pre-Christmas episode the Clampetts are in Beverly Hills. Then jump to the post-Christmas episode and the Clampetts are back home in the hills.

Otherwise we are getting the first 27 episodes, minus the Christmas show, of season 1.

26 newly-restored and unedited episodes with the classic opening and closing theme songs.

Disc 1
Series Introduction, by Linda Kaye Henning
Pilot Episode: The Clampetts Strike Oil (September 26, 1962)
Getting Settled (October 3, 1962)
Meanwhile, Back at the Cabin (October 10, 1962)
The Clampetts Meet Mrs. Drysdale (October 17,1962)
Jed Buys Stock (October 24, 1962)
Trick or Treat (October 31, 1962)
The Servants (November 7, 1962)

Disc 2
Jethro Goes to School (November 14, 1962)
Elly's First Date (November 21, 1962)
Pygmalion and Elly (November 28, 1962)
Elly Races Jethrine (December 5, 1962)
The Great Feud (December 12, 1962)
No Place Like Home (December 26, 1962)
Jed Rescues Pearl (January 2, 1963)

Disc 3
Back to California (January 9, 1963)
Jed's Dilemma (January 16, 1963)
Jed Saves the Drysdales' Marriage (January 23, 1963)
Elly's Animals (January 30, 1963)
Jed Throws a Wingding (February 6, 1963)
Jed Plays Solomon (February 13, 1963)
Duke Steals a Wife (February 20, 1963)

Disc 4
Jed Buys the Freeway (February 27, 1963)
Jed Becomes a Banker (March 6, 1963)
The Family Tree (March 13, 1963)
Jed Cuts the Family Tree (March 20, 1963)
Granny's Spring Tonic (March 27, 1963)

Bonus features:
Original Cast Sponsor Commercials
CBS-TV Network Promo
Documentary: Paul Henning & The Hillbillies
Vintage Variety Show Appearances by Buddy Ebsen & Irene Ryan
Unaired Pilot with Extra Footage

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!!