The Color Honeymooners Collections 1 – 3 (1966 – 68 from The Jackie Gleason Show/MPI DVD Sets)

 

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

 

 

Jackie Gleason had the last laugh.  Though his 39 filmed half-hours of The Honeymooners (reviewed elsewhere on this site) did not save the Dumont Network and could not win against established competition on other networks in its time, the show became a classic when it turned out to set the standards for the mainstay of television sitcoms that are still with us over a half-century later and counting.  In the late 1960s, as he was having hit albums and still appearing in major feature films, he brought the show back.

 

In Miami Beach, he set up The Jackie Gleason Show and among the many skits, he revived The Honeymooners as a full color musical comedy show.  Gleason continued playing Ralph Kramden, Art Carney was back again as Ed Norton, but the wives had been recast.  This time, Sheila MacRae was Alice Kramden and Jane Kean was Trixie Norton.  As an added bonus, the late, great Johnny Olson (The Price Is Right, Match Game) was the announcer.

 

The show would often open with a musical number and though nothing is strikingly memorable, the songs still tend to be amusing and entertaining just the same.  Of course, there is a huge audience and any time Gleason or Carney show up, they go nuts because they know they are seeing one of the all-time great comic teams.  The chemistry is still there and the upbeat sense of fun is easily felt at every turn.

 

The writers know what they have to work with and usually know what to do, with Gleason and company knowing that they are not continuing the classic show, but bringing it back in a revived version with the fresh twists of color, videotape and music.  Then there is Gleason, the hero that made it big and Carney as one of the most beloved underdogs in TV history.  How could you not love them?  The episodes from each set includes:

 

 

Set One:

 

1)     In 25 Words Or Less

2)     Ship of Fools

3)     Poor People Of Paris

4)     Confusion, Italian Style

5)     Curse Of The Kramdens

6)     The Mod Couple

7)     You’re In The Picture

8)     We Spy

9)     Petticoat Jungle

 

 

Set Two:

 

1)     Run, Santa, Run

2)     King Of The Castle

3)     Without Reservations

4)     Rififi, Brooklyn Style

5)     Ralph Kramden Presents

6)     Flushing Ho

7)     Sees All - Knows All

 

 

Set Three:

 

1)     Be It Ever So Humble

2)     Hair To A Fortune

3)     The People’s Choice

4)     Two For The Money

5)     Nephew Of The Bride

6)     Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

7)     Two Faces Of Ralph Kramden

8)     The Main Event

9)     To Whom It May Concern

10)  Sleepy Time Gal

11)  Boy Next Door

12)  Follow The Boys

 

 

Yes, it may take some adjusting, but once you settle into the format, The Color Honeymooners is very rewarding and brings to a conclusion one of the greatest TV shows in history.  MPI is doing a great job reissuing these and we hope they release them all.

 

The 1.33 X 1 image can be soft at times and show the limits of the videotape, but looks pretty good for its age just the same while the Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is at least as clean and clear.  I only wish the music numbers were in stereo somehow.  There are no extras.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo