Friday, January 6, 2012

The Honeymooners [The Complete Restored Series] (DVD REVIEW)



The Honeymooners Lost Episodes 1951-1957 [The Complete Restored Series]
DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Classic TV Series Treasure Trove Includes Missing Shows

The Honeymooners was a hit sitcom from the moment it first aired as part of the Cavalcade of Stars variety show back in 1951. Starring Jackie Gleason, Audrey Meadows, Art Carney and Joyce Randolph, the beloved program revolved around the travails of beleaguered, NYC bus driver, Ralph Kramden (Gleason), and his long-suffering spouse, Alice (Meadows), along with their best friends, Ed (Carney) and Trixie Norton (Randolph).
60 years later, the skits remain just as hilarious as ever, with the irrepressible Gleason still able to generate laughs via an endearing combination of bravado and vulnerability. What makes this 15-DVD set special is that it includes the lost episodes, over 10 hours of material not seen in 5 decades.
Highlights include 8 Honeymooners musical hours not seen since 1957; 9 episodes from 1951-1952; 2 Honeymooners radio episodes; color home movies on the set; Ed Norton interviews; extra footage with cast members; Joyce Randolph interview; History of the Lost episodes; original scripts for 3 missing episodes, and more.
The digitally-restored collection is accompanied by a 42-page booklet featuring rare cast photos and detailing the history of The Honeymooners. The perfect gift for any fan of this seminal series from TV’s Golden Age.

Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 50 hours
Studio: MPI Home Video

No comments: