Honeymooners Set #4

Recommended confidently to Honemooners fans. If you're not a Honeymooners fan, first pick up "the Classic 39" for about $30 and it'll provide years of entertainment. If you're hungry for more, these lost episodes are a good way to get more fun. Some sets are very expensive because they have been out of print for a few years I guess.

This set, Box-4, was quite affordable and therefore I thought it might turn out to be a dud. However, after 2 viewings, my family and I have warmed-up to them and I must say it is classic in its own right. To my surprise Alice IS actually meaner than Ralph in the beginning of the episode "Jellybeans"! She derates Ralph visciously and calls him STUPID without any provocation! This particular episode is from 1952 and is one of the earliest Honeymooners episodes, with characters that are still developing into those that we've come to know/love in the "classic 39". Regardless, it's still quite entertaining. There is quite a range of vintage on this set (Boxed set 4) from 1952 to 1956.

There are a couple of weaker episodes such as "Pickles", "Alice Plays Cupid" (Jan '53)(In which Alice AND Ralph are rather mean spirited to a girl simply because she's a little overweight!)

"The Hypnotist" is probably the best one here in which Ralph uses a hypnotist friend to get Alice to surrender the family funds for Ralph's Racoon Lodge convention trip. Absolutely hysterical and on-par with the best of the classic-39!

"The Check-Up" opens with Gleason coming out on-stage with fly undone (seemingly unscripted) and a few minutes later zips it up while his back is to the audience. The audience knows exactly what's going on during the zip-up and begins to crack-up big-time....then Gleason cracks-up too. The 1st time I watched this, I didn't know why the audience and he were laughing so hard.

As others have noted the video quality is not perfect due to the fact these were all Kinescopes (is that the term?) but this does not detract from the fun...as a matter of fact I think it makes me appreciate the nostalgia aspect of it even more.
Sure there are a few less than classic episodes here, but all in all, great entertainment.

Wonderful lost episodes. I love them. A must buy. Hot dog stand is so cute. The hypnotist and promotion are funny. Cottage for sale is so hilarous. I love this box set.

Every evening my wife and I turn on the Honeymooners and laugh aloud until we cry. How pleased we are to have included this "lost episodes set" to our collection. Gleason's numerous facial expressions deliver the lines above and beyond most actors his age. Who else but Gleason can send Alice on a free trip to the moon. Enjoy!

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