Most helpful customer reviews
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beware of alterations to background music!! REVISED MARCH 14/09 RE MUSIC SITUATION - SEE PARAGRAPH 3, Jun 7 2008
I've always thought the 2nd season (1964-65) was the best of the series. The first season (1963-64) was fantastic, but the second just edges it out slightly. Everything seems to come together and gel perfectly in the second season.
My 5 star rating is based on my rating of the season 2 episodes, which, as I said, probably make up the best season of what many consider to be the best dramatic series ever made for television. However, if I were asked to rate this particular DVD release, my review would be much lower. Buyers should be aware that the background music for the season 2 episodes has been altered for this DVD release. I have not seen the DVD release yet. Apparently, the only origianl music left intact is Peter Rugolo's theme in both the opening and closing credits. The rest of the original music has been removed and replaced with newly scored background music. One episode that has been pointed out in a review as having been particularly desecrated is "Ballad For a Ghost," in which Kimble meets a woman who reminds him eerily of his late wife Helen. There is a scene in which Kimble first lays eyes on the woman as she is singing a song. There is apparently about one minute of footage chopped out at this point in the episode. Also, the closing credits of the episodes have replaced the names of the original music composers with those who composed the new music for the DVD release. Awful!! I can say that there do not appear to be any alterations to the music in the season 1 set except for a scene in a bar in the episode "Where the Action Is" (season 1, vol. 2). In that episode, "live" music being played by a band in the nightclub is replaced with new, similar music. All in all a very minor and barely noticeable alteration.
The altered music situation with season 2 really is quite a shame, especially given how vital the background music was to the mood of the series. As of February 2009 CBS/Paramount has apparently restored much of the original music to the season 2, volume 1 set. However, retail sets will still contain the altered music. Consumers have to purchase the set and then send away for the replacement discs containing the original music by submitting the proofs of purchase from the packaging. The replacement discs are then shipped for free. I understand that this is a limited time offer available until September 2009. Word is that most, but not all, of the original music has been restored. I have not seen the replacement discs so cannot offer my own opinion.
There are so many great second season episodes. This volume contains the first half of the second season. Some of my favourites from this volume are "Man In a Chariot," guest starring Ed Begley, who plays a bitter wheelchair-bound law professor who has his class put on a mock Kimble trial in order to prove to Kimble that he could get him acquitted before a jury; "World's End" guest starring Suzanne Pleshette, who plays a woman who fell in love with Kimble while following his trial; "Dark Corner" guest starring Tuesday Weld as a deranged country girl; "Escape Into Black," the second season's "one-armed man" episode; "Cry Uncle" guest starring Ron Howard, in which Kimble hides out at an orphanage.
The second season is in black and white just like the first, and just like the third season (1965-66), which has yet to be released. Only the fourth and final season of the series (1966-67) switched to colour.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Classic!, Feb 1 2009
One of the best tv series ever on television is finally on dvd! This series has it all- drama, tension, suspense, great acting and a "who's who's" of up and coming stars. Yes, the music has been altered and when I first heard about this I was very disappointed but I bought the dvd anyway and to be honest the altered music does not take a thing a way from this classic tv show. The haunting, suspenseful mood still remains and brings much anticipation to future scenes or episodes.
It would be nice to see this dvd series add subtitles and some special features for seasons 3 and 4 but all in all thanks to the series itself, a job well done!
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3.0 out of 5 stars
The Fugitive Season 2, Volume 1, Jun 16 2008
One of my all time favourite programs and one that after many years waiting for the powers at be to release the program to DVD was like a dream come true. I purchased both Season 1 offerings and was very pleased to finally see some of my favourite episodes and some I had never seen previously. I awaited the Season 2 issue and purchased it and received it last week. Although, the sound and picture quality were excellent, I was most upset with the "restored" music in the episodes. The classic Fugitive theme was still at the beginning and end of each program but they replaced all the background and mood music with new stuff that I don't like. I can only hope that CBS/Paramount receive the feedback and rectify this terrible decision.
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