Most helpful customer reviews
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Five stars" for the series-"O stars" for the packaging!, April 10 2008
I should have titled this review:
"The DVD set I ALMOST bought,but didn't".
This is the only review of a DVD set I do NOT own,but TRIED to get and failed.
First let me review the series then I will get to my bugaboo about the packaging in the second half.
The series itself,as everyone knows,has a stellar position in television
history.Lucille Ball was a struggling bit player at RKO then later for MGM who eventually managed to garner some lead roles in lesser pictures.She was a smart and ambitious actress who paid her dues and learned her lessons very well.During the war she met and romanced with Cuban band leader Desi Arnaz.They eventually married and Desi also became an actor.In the early 50s Desi and Lucy decided to develop a sitcom.Both would star, with Desi heavy into the production end and Lucy concentrating on her comedy schtick for the camera.Desi had the show filmed,a virtual first,which is why we are still able to Love Lucy after all these years.Lucy as I said was one smart lady and she had learned alot about comedy over the years from her days at the studios.She knew who to get advice from when she needed it and one of the most important was one of the greatest gag men/comedians of all time,Buster Keaton.
The show started in 1951 and wasn't a giant hit right off the bat.The first year was touch and go and Lucy and Desi worked their tails off to perfect and improve everywhere they could.By the second year the ratings improved dramtically and by the third they were the biggest thing on TV.And why not?The audience loved(and still does) the interplay between Lucy and Desi(husband and wife) and the dynamic their neighbours Fred and Ethel Mertz(William Frawley and Vivian Vance,respectfully) brought to the entire series.Like the great comedians of old Lucy showed audiences that you didn't need to constantly talk in order to be funny.Many of the routines and situations Lucy gets herself into in these shows are done without uttering a single syllable.And they are for the most part simply hilarious.This show is the cream of the crop as far as television is concerned,a benchmark in many ways.And it is an essential to anyone interested in wholesome,genuinely funny and just plain excellent television programming.
Now for the other half of this review,and it all revolves around the packaging.When my set arrived I was first surprised at how thin it was,maybe six inches.The set itself is rectangular,encased in thick plastic with Lucys' picture on the front.You open a flap on the right side and slide out the contents.The bottom half is square while the top half has the shape of a heart.On top of the heart is a form fitting piece of plastic to fill the gaps the heart doesn't,to keep it tight inside.You remove that piece then you lift up the heart to reveal two smaller hearts sitting at the bottom inside of the case,and a booklet.The smaller hearts contain all the DVDs in this set.They are open topped and like accordians.Each DVD sits loose inside one of these accordian slots.
I placed my order for a set and the first one that came I started to check each DVD and found the very first disc had a nasty looking scratch on it.That set I returned and ordered a replacement.In the second set I got to about the seventh DVD when I found a scratch on that one!!
I have had this kind of thing happen before and instead of prolonging the inevitable I decided to call it a day and get a refund.What a shame too as there hasn't been many sets I was looking forward to as much as I was this one.
How the scratches got on those DVDs is difficult to say.There was nothing in the accordian shaped holders to indicate anything that could have scratched them.But the very idea that they sit loose and can move around bothers me.The manufacturers also may be to blame with sub standard DVDs and/or poor equipment.
Furthermore if you wanted to take a few episodes over to show old Aunt Sadie the ONLY way you could safely take them is to take the ENTIRE set with you.If you just threw one of the heart DVD holders into a plastic bag and took them over like you would an ordinary slipcase,you would find the entire collection sitting loose at the bottom of the bag,and probably all scratched.
The concept for this set was unique and is nice to look at.But in practical terms it comes up a complete failure.I can only hope sometime in the future Paramount Home video takes some notes and reissues this set in nice,tight slimpacks.It is really the only way to go.
In conclusion I highly recommend the Lucy series to everyone out there.But fair warning to those who are contemplating buying this set:caveat emptor!
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Comedy, Oct 24 2007
Oh dear, the antics Lucy gets herself into is a treasure. There will never be another like her. I was pleased to find when it arrived, the package was well made. and all the dvds were intact and I have begun to watch. It brings wonderful memories. I do not as a whole watch much of television these days. nothing on. But all the dvds I have purchased here are my solace, and they bring back joy to my life. If anyone is looking for I Love Lucy,buy this package. Laughter is the best medecine.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lucy the versatile person, Nov 13 2008
This is the best buy ever. I laughted so much. I could not stop viewing the CD's. Eventhough this was produced in the 50's, it's still funny. If you want to spend a very comic evening, you just have to buy this series. Lucy has all the talents, actress, comedian, stunt woman, dancer, she can even play some bango. She can do everything and excel. If I rate the actors, Lucy comes first, followed by Vivian Van, than Desi and last William Frawley. The four together make a very good team.. Believe me, this is a must.
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