The Munsters: The
Complete Series + The Munsters: Family Portrait (Universal DVDs)
Picture:
B- Sound: C+ Extras: A- Episodes: B+
Universal
has now issued the complete Munsters,
which includes all 70 episodes in this terrific box set that is broken down
into two smaller boxes with each box containing six discs. The first box contains season one, which also
included the unaired pilot episode, plus the Family Portrait episode in color, also sold separately as a single.
The second box contains season two, plus
two extra discs with one disc containing supplements and the other one
containing the two feature length movies: Munster
Go Home and The Munster’s Revenge.
Not only
is it great having the entire and complete episodes here, plus both feature
films, unaired pilot episode, and a full color version of Family Portrait, but it’s equally great to see just how much these
shows have appreciated over the years.
While the show only lasted these two seasons, it’s amazing to see how
it’s survived ever since and was in my opinion always a superior show to the Addams Family. Neither show would have probably made it
today, it always fascinated me how a show like this could have existed in the
first place, but the early-to-mid 1960’s were a bizarre time where experimental
TV was becoming far more common and many shows survived because of it. Personally I think the shows work so well
being in black and white and really add to the ‘creepy’ and ‘gothic’ look that
the show not only embodied, but strived for, although underneath the show was
almost like Everybody Loves Raymond
meets the Universal classic monsters.
The two
feature films here are perhaps my favorite in the set as they are hilarious and
have perhaps the most substance as they needed to in order to be feature length
and have value that a shorter episode cannot handle.
The
episodes are presented in their original television aspect ratio of 1.33 X 1
and look good considering their age at this point. The show always had a terrific contrast to it
and these appear to be in good condition as these transfers demonstrate. The sound is 2.0 Dolby Mono and is also in
good condition and works well, you can also obtain the Family Portrait DVD
separate from this box set and the sound and picture are about the same, if not
identical.
Extras on
the complete box set include all of the episodes, plus both feature films and
an in-depth documentary on the show, it’s success, it’s initial concept, and
many other interesting facts on the show, plus three features on each of the
following actors: Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, and Yvonne De Carlo, which are all
terrific and embody the spirit of the show quite well and are exactly the types
of features that fans love to have.
There is no doubt that Universal wants to appeal to it’s loyal fanbase
of this show and this box set proves just that, it’s not only a must for fans,
it’s an absolute!
- Nate Goss
