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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka 'Beverly Hillbillies: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1')

Created by Paul Henning

directed by Joseph Depew, Robert M. Leeds, Ralph Levy, Guy Scarpitta and Richard Whorf
USA 1962 - 63

How do I write to successfully convey my love for a sitcom called THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES? Well, the answer is 'I don't' - being one of the most syndicated shows in television history you'd have to have lived in a cave not to have seen at least one episode. But perhaps I am thinking everyone is as old as I am... and after questioning my two nieces (in University now - I have a much older sister ,by the way) they have only vague recollections of the 1993 disaster film of the same name - poor, culturally deprived girls.

In one sentence - a simple Ozark family, The Clampetts, through the unintentional discovery of crude oil on their property, are transplanted to mingle with the jet set of Beverly Hills. That's it - a stranger in a strange land - every joke revolved around the cultural clash - their simple, and at times, absurd country-ways intermingling with shallow gold-diggers and the materialism of the modern world. But funny? Nothing on TV was ever so hysterically amusing with clever plots dreamt up years before TV stamped itself as the dominant form of mindless hypnotic seduction. This was bordering on that most famous mis-used word; genius. Re-watching these episodes in the mind-numbing sphere of modern television trash is akin to going from the funny papers to G.B. Shaw (okay, I exaggerate)... this is still as fun a time as your family can spend in front of the box. I can't extol its pure entertainment value enough! out of  

Gary W. Tooze

Television Premiere: September 26th, 1962 - USA and Canada

Reviews    DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Mpi Media Group (4 discs Ultimate Collection - Vol. 1) - Region 0 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:
Distribution Mpi Media Group - Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime Each episode is around 23:30 minutes each X 27 = total is about 12 hours
Video 1:33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.49 mb/s (sample)
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s   

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) 
Subtitles English (close captioned), Spanish, French, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Mpi Media Group

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Disc 1
Series Introduction, by Linda Kaye Henning
Pilot Episode: The Clampetts Strike Oil (September 26, 1962)
Getting Settled (October 3, 1962)
Meanwhile, Back at the Cabin (October 10, 1962)
The Clampetts Meet Mrs. Drysdale (October 17,1962)
Jed Buys Stock (October 24, 1962)
Trick or Treat (October 31, 1962)
The Servants (November 7, 1962)

• Disc 2
Jethro Goes to School (November 14, 1962)
Elly's First Date (November 21, 1962)
Pygmalion and Elly (November 28, 1962)
Elly Races Jethrine (December 5, 1962)
The Great Feud (December 12, 1962)
No Place Like Home (December 26, 1962)
Jed Rescues Pearl (January 2, 1963)

• Disc 3
Back to California (January 9, 1963)
Jed's Dilemma (January 16, 1963)
Jed Saves the Drysdales' Marriage (January 23, 1963)
Elly's Animals (January 30, 1963)
Jed Throws a Wingding (February 6, 1963)
Jed Plays Solomon (February 13, 1963)
Duke Steals a Wife (February 20, 1963)

• Disc 4
Jed Buys the Freeway (February 27, 1963)
Jed Becomes a Banker (March 6, 1963)
The Family Tree (March 13, 1963)
Jed Cuts the Family Tree (March 20, 1963)
Granny's Spring Tonic (March 27, 1963)

• Bonus features:
Original Cast Sponsor Commercials
CBS-TV Network Promo
Documentary: Paul Henning & The Hillbillies
Vintage Variety Show Appearances by Buddy Ebsen & Irene Ryan
Unaired Pilot with Extra Footage

DVD Release Date: September 27th, 2005
Double thick Keep case holding 4 separate discs

Chapters: 1 in each episode X 27 = 27 in total

 

Comments:

I have seen various faux-appearing DVD incarnations, but nothing that made me think that what was slapped together may be a definitive keepsake of the show I love so much. This however, authorized by  creator Henning's estate, is probably the closest we will get.

It is not prefect, but it is about what I anticipated - the image is non-progressive and exhibits combing (see last capture of 'Pearl') - it looks un-manipulated and the condition is generally looking weak but certainly tube viewable. Audio is acceptable but has some occasional miscues. The 5-6 episodes are on dual layered discs.

The extras are wonderful - from the previously unaired Pilot episode (and its alternate title- see below), to Clampetts making adverts, featurettes, interviews, and an introduction by Linda Kaye Henning (daughter). I doubt you could do much more unless someone had the wallet for restoration (but that isn't likely) or commentary (which would be inappropriate). I am especially happy with the inclusions of optional subtitles - albeit a previously unseen font style. 

Well, I strongly recommend cause I don't remember this being as funny as it is - great fun ideed! -out of     

Gary W. Tooze



Sample DVD Menus

Extras

 

Subtitle Sample

 

 

 

Screen Captures Samples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Combing visible
 

 
DVD Box Cover

CLICK to order from:
Distribution Mpi Media Group - Region 0- NTSC




 

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Gary Tooze