It is nice that Warner Bros is making these great shows of "The Waltons" available on DVD, but I am sorry to report that I just watched the two-part episode "The Return" and it is edited and has approximately six minutes cut from it. How can this happen Warner Bros? In this
episode the character of John-Boy (Richard Thomas) returns home for a visit from New York. I own this episode on video tape, recorded several years ago from WGN. There are some coal mine scenes which are edited, including a scene of a small cave in before the big one hits. There is a scene in which the daughter Erin gives her father John some money to help the family out, and this is cut from the DVD. There is a scene in which the character of Harley refuses to discuss his fears of a possible cave-in with his wife Verdie which is not on this DVD. A scene in which John-Boy conducts an interview with a businessman is shortened too. Again, I think about six minutes total is missing.
I noticed a few edits in the season five set too. I must say when I am
paying for a complete season and see so many cuts or edits it is pretty
disappointing. Were the original master tapes not available? I would very
much like to know what happed as this cut up episode, "The Return", is one of my favorites. I thought that quality control at Warner Bros. would do a better job. From what I could tell "Grandma Comes Home" seemed complete, but what happened with "The Return"? This is why I rate this as four stars instead of five. The series itself is easily five stars.