Cheap The Honeymooners - The Lost Episodes, Vol. 5 (DVD) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Honeymooners - The Lost Episodes, Vol. 5

Better quality picture? Remastering?
I'm a big HMer fan and consider the work between these four actors funny, touching and timeless. If you don't like certain episodes, fine; To each his own. I do have to scratch my head about those reviewers who take exception to the picture quality; That the DVD should be clearer than the original VHS releases. Are they aware that the "Lost Episodes" <
>are "Kinescopes" and not "Film" like the "Classic 39". Up until 1957 most TV sitcoms and all variety shows were broadcast live with no means to record the transmission. (Networks wouldn't film most shows due to the expense involved.(Multiple cameras,editing, developing etc.) "Lucy" was an exception. ) Standard practice was to use a single "Film" camera focused on a studio moniter during the actual performance. This would then be quickly developed and shown several hours later for the west coast. These resulting "Moniter films" are "Kinescopes "and they are no where near as clear as film, the images look crammed into the screen since the film camera was slightly "zoomed in" so as not to get the edges of the live moniter. In '57 video tape was introduced and shows that weren't filmed were at least preserved for posterity on videotape. I doubt any modern technology could undo the qualities of a Kinescope. These are treasures from the early TV age. I personally wouldn't be so picky about the picture quality. These shows are what they are; Great comedy thankfully preserved in a primitive medium. Think of all the shows that weren't Kinescoped. They were seen once and were gone, lost in the ethos of time and space! Anyway, I'll take Kinescoped Honeymooners over any number of digitally recorded reality shows today.

STOP YOUR WHINING!
The legion of true "Honeymooners" fans has NO room for snobs. I'm amazed by the number of people who have no interest in the Lost Episodes due to the "I only love the Classic 39" syndrome ---- indicating that they regard the LOST as somehow inferior, often without having even SEEN them! (Odd that Jackie Gleason actually regarded the LOST as generally FUNNIER than the 39). <
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>The "LOST" cover 4 seasons before and after the "39"; they are absolutely of the same vintage AND inspiration, using the same CAST, WRITERS, DIRECTOR, SETS, etc. as the "39". The only difference is their LENGTH---all are significantly longer or shorter---but the basic material and Comedic Level are the SAME! <
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>True, occasionally the longer shows are padded a bit--but SO WHAT?--it's GLEASON/CARNEY/MEADOWS in their PRIME!! How can you not TREASURE it!? And let's be honest---the quality of the "39" varies quite a bit; "Please Leave the Premises" and "Unconventional Behavior", for instance, leap to mind as pretty sub-par shows. <
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>And since when does the saga of an "Everyman" Bus Driver struggling to eke out an existence in a New York tenement in the 1950's require PRISTINE video quality in order to appreciate it? <
>C'MON! Just be thankful that these shows were preserved in ANY format! <
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>A few real "LOST" Highlights---Buy with Full Confidence! <
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>VOL 1 --"Letter to the Boss" is beautifully scripted and executed (plus you get to see the great character actor Robert Middleton as Mr. Marshall). <
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>Vol 8--While 4 of the shows on this dvd are only average, "Ralph's Sweet Tooth" (a full 36 minutes) is a good as anything they ever did. The scene with Ralph and Ed rehearsing the TV script must be among the funniest scenes in comedy history. <
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>VOL 12-- At 13 minutes, "Double Anniversary Party" is a perfect microcosm of the relationship between Ralph and Alice. It's very funny AND wonderfully touching; a real gem. <
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>VOL 18---"Stand-In for Murder" -- A Tour-de-Force for Gleason, playing Kramden AND a dapper doppelganger Gangland Boss---often within the SAME scene! The intricate timing is simply amazing, with Carney, George Petrie, Les Damon and John Marley all performing like the true pros they were under the pressure of Live TV. Unfortunately, the end gets lopped off, since the show ran overtime! <
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>VOL 21---"Stars Over Flatbush" Norton + Astrology = Hilarity! <
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>VOL 22---If you only buy one dvd, this should be it. <
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>"Catch a Star"-- See Gleason, Carney and Meadows play their onscreen characters AND themselves in real life--all filmed LIVE! <
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>"Battle of the Sexes"---the final 5 seconds of this show contains, in my opinion, the SINGLE FUNNIEST MOMENT in Ralph's comedic output. It's not a BIG moment--it's very subtle and realistic. <
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>"SONGWRITERS"----This episode should have been held back and broadcast as the VERY LAST show of the entire series--it would have made a fitting conclusion to the Honeymooner's saga, with one of Ralph and Ed's crazy schemes FINALLY paying off!! It's so sweet, so funny, so profoundly REAL. The interaction between the 4 principles during the final 2 minutes represents humanity at its finest. (Plus the show contains a catchy novelty tune that you'll be humming after a single viewing!) <
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>So don't whine and moan; GET the "LOST" Epsiodes and help preserve the greatest comedic legacy of all time---ALL of it!