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All in the Family - The Complete First Season

All in the Family - The Complete First Season

List Price: $29.95
Your Price: $22.46
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Loved it
Review: This sitcom aired on cbs from 1971-1979 and I'm glad to see that it finally arrived on dvd.This is a 3 disc set and has almost the entire season 1 on it.The following episodes on this disc are:Disc 1(1) Meet The Bunkers(2) Writing The President(3) Oh My Aching Back(4) Judging Books By Covers Disc 2(5) Archie Gives Blood(6) Gloria's Pregnancy(7) Mike's Hippie Friends come to visit (8) Lionel Moves Into The Neiborhood Disc 3(9) Edith Has Jury Duty(10) Archie Is Worried About His Job (11) Gloria Discovers Womens Lib (12) Success Story (13) The First and Last Supper All of these are very funny.Although the video on this dvd doesn't look as crisp as most it still looks better than it does on cable.I've never seen it look this good.This was recorded on video tape and not film so It's understandable that it's not as sharp as most dvds as the tape they used was very old.Their were a few dissapointments however.They are as follows:1 The pilot is missing 2 The sound isn't that loud.I had to cut the tv up during the show.But once you cut it up it sounds ok.But when you first load the disc make sure the volume is low as the columbia tristar presentation is pretty loud.3 No Chapter Stops 4 No Play All Feature 5 No Extras 6 Episodes are spread over 3 disc. 7 The trifold packaging which doesn't shut completly living disc 1 vaunrauble to dust.Also disc are hard to get out from the packaging.8 Clear disc surface which leaves top layer of disc vaunrable to finger prints.Columbia if your reading this improve the packaging for season 2.If your a big fan of this show like me these negatives hardly make a difference.After all these shows will last forever on dvd and won't wear out.Also these episodes are uncut and comercial free.The only features on this disc are episode selection and subtitle selection.I can hardley wait for AITF season 2 to come out.With the advent of tv shows on dvd I would hope to see Alf,The Golden Girls,Night Court,Three's Company and Seinfield.If you love All In The Family I highley reccomend this dvd.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A truly classic TV series; worth every penny of its cost
Review: "All in the Family" is one of television's true gems; not only was it groundbreaking in its content, but the cast and writing were brilliant. It is a show truly worthy of a DVD release.

This first season DVD set contains all 13 episodes of the first season. This includes the classic first episode, Gloria's miscarriage (which ends in a touching scene with Carroll O'Connor and Sally Struthers as father and daughter), and the hilarious attempt to invite the new neighbors, the Jeffersons (before their own series began) to dinner, in spite of Archie's objections.

Throughout its nine seasons, All in the Family willingly (and effectively) tackled issues previously undiscussed in the context of a situation comedy. But it would have been all for naught were it not for the perfect portrayal of Archie Bunker by Carroll O'Connor, who plays off his loving, understanding wife Edith (Jean Stapleton), whose kindness and tolerance is a perfect contrast to Archie's ignorance and bigotry. Mike (Rob Reiner) and Gloria (Sally Struthers) provide hilarious liberal counterpoints to Archie's reactionary conservatism.

I can't wait for season two, which provides such AITF gems as the death of Cousin Oscar, the two appearances of Cousin Maude (played by Bea Arthur in the role that got her a spinoff series, which would also be quite welcome on DVD), and, of course, a visit by some guy named Sammy Davis, Jr.

You absolutely need to buy this DVD set, even though extras are nonexistent and picture quality is only average (the show was shot on videotape, and the first season production values were always a little shaky). It would be shameful if Columbia TriStar only stopped at one season while leaving the rest to rot in badly-edited syndication versions like those which are on Nick at Nite.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "Gee, Our Old LaSalle Ran Great..."
Review: When I was a kid growing up in the 1970s, my parents were forever trying to get me to read a 'good book' or go outside to get some fresh air and excercise (this didn't seem to stop me from lapping up endless episodes of "Mannix" & "Room 222"). "Boob-tubing" as my father like to call it, was seriously frowned apon. But every Saturday night, like clockwork, my whole family gathered around our little 19", b&w set with rabbit ears to view the further comedic TV exploits, that took place in the 704 Hauser St. living room between Archie, Edith, "Meathead" and the "Little Goil". My family and the rest of the American television viewing audience had never seen anything like "All in the Family". It was a well written, hilarious, TV sitcom performed by a talented group of actors about the serious issues of the day, using some very 'frank' language. This wasn't about if Mr. Clampett would take his money out of Mr. Drysdale's bank. Nor was it about creating a radio out of coconuts to get off of a tropical island. Instead Archie and the rest of the Bunkers screamed and argued about the Vietnam War, politics, the economy, race relations, women's lib, homosexuality, religion, student protest Etc. We had never seen anything like this. And you know what? It was really good! Norman Lear's teleplays were well written, emotionally moving and very funny as they drove home the topical issues of the day.This was a historic first in the world of TV sitcoms! It also helped that the show had one of the best television acting ensembles (with exception to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") of the 1970s. The characters created by actors Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner & Sally Struthers will forever go down in television history. Now finally, the Emmy award winning show is being put out season by season to the DVD format. In this first season we get to see the early creation of the characters. Archie isn't as mellow as his later incarnations (he uses some pretty course, racist language). Edith isn't as sweet and 'dingbat-like' in her persona. We get great episodes like the premiere ("Meet the Bunkers") as well as comic classics like the episode where the Jeffersons move next door ("Lionel Moves into the Neighborhood"). My personal favorite is "Gloria's Pregnancy". In that episode we get to see a more tender side of Archie Bunker after Gloria suffers a miscarriage.As for the DVD itself, the picture quality is only fair. No extras are provided, which is a shame since I think fans would love to have some commentaries from Producer, Norman Lear and the cast. Even so, I would highly recommend this excellent, historic, TV comedy be made a part of any DVD collection!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Whoopdee-Doo, Whoopdee-Doo!
Review: This is my favorite TV show of all time! (And has been since I was 19) Probably because it's realistic--it's about real problems and events...I guess it's funnier when it's happening to someone else ^_^ Carroll O'Connor did a fantastic job as Archie Bunker--the right-wing, bible-(mis)quoting, ignorant hypocrite who you can't help but love. This is full of laughs and even a few tears. If you're easily offended religiously or politically, don't watch this. If you're looking for some good laughs, then buy this!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: THE COVER LOOKS BETTER THAN THE CONTENTS
Review: Bought the DVD of the first and second seasons and discovered that the cover looks better than the contents. The shows are all there and unedited, but there are several missing features. No commentary, no facts about the show, and you can't even make scene selections. Once you start the episode, you get the whole thing as one single cut. Also, there is something not right about the video quality. I know the show was originally shot on videotape (early 70's at that) but something funky happened to the picture once transferred to the DVD. All in all, you will be able to relive these episodes, but you get a lot less for the money than similar products.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good News: Archie Bunker's On DVD!
Review: What a treat to have all of these famous Archie-isms now on DVD. Carroll O'Connor's Archie Bunker shall live forever as one of the finest characters ever created for the small screen. Always controversial, but always well-written, was the character of Archibald Bunker of 704 Houser Street in Queens.

These 13 first-season episodes of "All In The Family" (as well as nearly the entire batch of episodes contained in the Season Two follow-up DVD boxed set) are some of my favorites of the entire series (which ran for all or part of nine seasons, from January 1971 to April 1979).

The debut episode, which probably had the show's creators on pins and needles when it first aired, is a fabulous premiere program for Archie and his gang. Take note how Edith, in show #1, isn't quite the totally dominated housewife that she'd become in later episodes. She holds her own a few times with her hubby in the "Meet The Bunkers" debut. Such as her jab at Archie about the church service they just attended: "Mister religion here wasn't quite seeing eye to eye with the sermon". :)

You'll get to see the entire "epilogue" sequences for each program on these DVDs as well, rather than the usual trimmed-down-for-more-commercials versions that are likely to be shown on broadcast TV.

Other first-rate Season One episodic Archie adventures include such Classics as "Lionel Moves Into The Neighborhood" (which features the burst-out-loud hilarious "Watermelon Rinds" Archie-ism!); "Edith Has Jury Duty"; and "Archie Gives Blood".

The picture quality is, sadly, not very good on this set of DVDs. Not much better, if any, than VHS quality. Many scenes are downright blurry; and might have you rubbing your eyes. But keep in mind the age of these programs, and the added fact that the show was shot on "tape" in the first place (not "film"), which is bound to take the quality of any video release down a few notches.

No chapter stops are included either. Nor is a "slipcase" box for housing the fold-out package containing the actual discs. (But that latter point is just a picky one; for there's no real risk of the discs getting damaged by having no outer box/carton. My discs, thus far, have not burst into flames, nor have they fled to Cuba on their own, for lack of a more durable and appropriate outer package.) :)

Sound quality isn't really anything to write home about either. It's a mono soundtrack being utilized on the discs, and sounds quite "tinny" and harsh at times. But the dialogue, in general, is still very well understood, which is the most important thing.

Even with the negatives about the video quality, lack of extras (there's absolutely none here), no slipcase, and no chapter selections, this boxed set of the first thirteen episodes of "All In The Family" still comes very highly recommended by this Archie Bunker fan! Because, even a blurry and grainy Archie on DVD is certainly better than no Mr. Bunker whatsoever!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: one of the greatest shows ever
Review: archie bunker and edith remind me of my grandparents they are so darn funny meathead is funny to but glory gets on my nerves but she is a needed character

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: osbournes parody
Review: boy the way black sabath played. Made the cover of parade. that was before jack got layed. those were the days. (iforget this part) then there was the bat I bit. that was when we could say words like ***, **** or ****.(forget this too) kelly was still in the wo. We lived next to the pat boone. those were the days.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I love this show
Review: Great addtion to my collection

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Meet the Bunkers and Michael Stivic
Review: When All in the Family premiered on January 12,1971, There was a preceding message shown that goes something like,"The program you are about to see is called 'All in the Family'". No previous sitcom was anything like this. Norman Lear created AITF inspired by a UK sitcom,"Till Death Do Us Part". Richard Dreyfuss auditioned for Rob Reiner's role of Michael Stivic before he(Dreyfuss) became a movie star. Dreyfuss and Reiner had attended Beverly Hills High School together. AITF,however,was not an immediate hit. It had become a hit in 1971-72. There was a flashback episode in a later season where Mike Stivic had met the Bunkers. What happens? Archie calls Mike a meathead meaning "dead from the neck up". Mike leaves repeatedly yelling to Archie, "You're prejudice" while Archie is singing "God Bless America". Mike had a beard in that scene. Also,the late Vincent Gardenia is seen,not as his later recurring character Frank Lorenzo,but as Jim Bowman,a neighbor of the Bunkers' who sold his house to Louise and Lionel Jefferson,seen shortly thereafter. Mike and Lionel are best friends. There is little seen of Henry Jefferson,brother of Louise's husband George,also.


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