The Addams Family – Volume Three (MGM DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Episodes: B

 

 

A series inspired by one of America’s greatest cartoonist, Charles (Chas) Addams, is now available in its final volume with The Addams Family: Volume 3.  Charles Addams creepy and kooky art still inspires a plethora of people to this day (such as Tim Burton) and this reviewer has always felt that The Addams Family television classic has always done his vision justice.  And though many of the actors and the original visionary are gone now, we can still hold onto the dark yet warming memories they gave us.  The series that focuses on a more than eccentric family, chronicles the lives of The Addams who are creepy, kooky, and yea just a little bit spooky.

 

From mild mayhem to full out chaos the series never fails to bring a smile to the viewer’s face.  The show is a pure classic comedy that is so creative and ahead of its time it leaves you stunned.  This is a must have for anyone who knows anything about classic television.

 

Episodes featured on this classic set include:

 

Gomez, The Reluctant Lover

Feud In The Addams Family

Gomez, The Cat Burglar

Portrait Of Gomez

Morticia’s Dilemma

Christmas With The Addams Family

Uncle Fester’s Tycoon

Morticia & Gomez vs. Fester & Grandmama

Fester Goes On A Diet

The Great Treasure Hunt

Ophelia Finds Romance

Pugsley’s Allowance

Happy Birthday, Grandma Frump

Morticia, The Decorator

Ophelia Visits Morticia

Addams Cum Laude

Cat Addams

Lurch’s Little Helper

The Addams’ Policy

Lurch’s Grand Romance

Ophelia’s Career

 

 

The technical features are much the same as previous releases being presented on a three disc, double sided, DVD set with the technical features remaining adequate but needing some degree of touchup work.  The picture is good in its 1.33 X 1 Full Screen format, but continues to need some digital remastering and possibly an anamorphic widescreen treatment.  The picture does occasionally have a light or faded appearance due to the Black & White filming, but overall as in the last set the black and white is classic and crisp.  The sound in this final volume is again presented in an original Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono and has little issues, but still sounds compressed at times as well as having a bit of grain.  The sound for its age however is pretty not bad.

 

The extras on this MGM are nowhere near as impressive to this reviewer as on the last set.  Not only are extras sparse this time around, but have little rewatchability and could put anyone into a ghoulish sleep.  Extras include such interesting features as Tombstone Trivia on ‘Cat Addams’ and audio commentary with The Addams Chronicle author Stephen Cox.

 

The world has always loved the works of Chas Addams and this TV series inspired by his work was no different.  Even in 2007 an M&M’s commercial was produced for their new dark chocolate line that did an amazing frame by frame reconstruction of The Addams Family opening featuring the patented M&M mascots.  This series is a pure classic.  So grab you Thing, put Itt on the couch, and enjoy the darkness.

 

 

-   Michael P Dougherty II