The Addams Family - Volume One

TV in the 50s and early 60s was more varied and creative than it often is remembered as having been - think of Playhouse 90, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, One Step Beyond, or the Twilight Zone. However, the sitcom genre was family-friendly with a vengeance: Donna Reed, Leave It to Beaver, Make Room for Daddy, Ozzie and Harriet, and so on. There was and is nothing wrong with shows of this type, except for the fact that these were the only images of domesticity presented in that format.This, like so much else, changed in the mid-60s, and The Addams Family was a part of the change. I loved the show from the first episode, which aired on September 18, 1964, (and, incidentally, I was smitten by the lady in black played by Carolyn Jones the same night). The Addams family poked fun at the standard TV family as much by its resemblance to one as by its deviance. Like the Charles Addams cartoons on which it was based, The Addams Family stood ordinary conventions on their heads; typical was an early episode in which Morticia finds (horrors!) a baseball glove in her son's closet and holds it up at arm's length by two fingers, as appalled as another mother would be by drug paraphernalia. These people were not merely oddballs, they were seriously dangerous, with children who literally played with dynamite, but were utterly likable for all that. They defied social norms along with all the busybody regulations (property, weapons, safety, and the like) to which most of us long have been resigned. The sensual interaction of Morticia and Gomez differed enormously from the behavior other sitcom couples as well. Actually, it still does differ; contemporary shows have much more randy jokes, but that is far from the same thing.The first season on DVD arrived in the mail this week. I've been enjoying it as much as when I was eleven, and I still have a crush on the long haired beauty with the lovely gray pallor.

For several years I have been complaining that my favorite TV show was never on TV. Nickelodeon runs Gilligan's island, Sponge Bob (or is that cartoon network), anyway - NO Addams family! I even wrote Amazon asking if they were EVER going to carry The Addams Family. Of course 3 days later - they did.This is a GREAT collection of the television show's early episodes. It is well organized, with no commercials or other junk to get in the way of your enjoyment, but I do wish they were more clear on the chronology (this is the pilot, this is episode 1,2,3...). I was concerned at first when I first bought it, as it was entitled "Volume One" but gave no reference as to how many volumes there would be, or what the total number of episodes would appear on each disc. When I finally got the DVD(s) I was overjoyed to realize that there were in fact 22 episodes and several bonus features (these were not included in the original Amazon listing).With all due respect to Raul Julia and Angelica Houston, John Astin and Carolyn Jones ARE the Addams' and thus my extended family. This really is a must-own classic television series that whose magic has not been captured in the attempted spin-offs and recreations. Arthur Hiller is a genius. I was fortunate enough to meet him when I was eleven. I only wish I knew enough to tell him so then. As to this volume, the value/cost ratio is excellent. You really do get a lot of episodes for the money. I hope Volume Two is as good as this.

When you consider the impact of the Addams Family TV show it's really hard to wrap your mind around the fact that it was only on the air for 2 years.But decades latter we have a broadway musical and two fairly recent movies to prove that it is still relevant and unique. This is truly a American classic! Nearly anyone over the age of 50 will recogize the finger snapping music and know at least somethine about Thing, Lurch, Cousin IT, Uncle Fester, etc.And, of course, we also have the orginial comics from an earlier time!The pictue was, if anything, better than originally shown - it's hard to tell because of the differences in technology, etc. Sound was as good as it's going to be. Acting is 'hammy' just as I remembered. John Astin is superb as Gomez and Carolyn Jones is wonderful as Morticia.Ted Cassidy is great as Lurch - Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester is very memorable as well. The phase, 'you rang' has entered the publics consciousness - in fact I still hear it from time to time today almost 50 years after it was 1st used on the TV show.This a great show at a very good price - nearly everyone should buy or get this at their local library!I would rate this a very high 9.0 to 9.5 out of 10 - HIGHLY RECOMENDED!

...so what do you think how I liked this DVD set?I LOVE IT.At last, for crying out loud. This is nostalgia at its best but that apart the product is excellent.Video and audio quality?First class, and the set has the special convenience (for me) of having Spanish subtitles and some episodes even have Spanish audio track, this being exactly the one I had when I was a kid and watched the program almost 40 years ago.When I was a kid I liked the weird things and the train wrecks but now as an adult what I liked the most was that sweet love, mutual admiration and everyday passion between Morticia and Gomez. I liked that very much indeed.Bonus material is not extensive but it is very good.I guess, of course that if you are reading these lines is because you are trying to decide about purchasing the set. Well, if you allow me the arrogance...BUY IT. You will not regret it for a second.