The Donna Reed Show - Season Three DVD Review

[TJ]

The Stone family returns to DVD for another season with Season Three of The Donna Reed Show! Virgil Films brings 38 more episodes from the 1960-1961 season of the classic sitcom starring the legendary actress to a four disc DVD set. The Donna Reed Show stars Donna Reed as Donna Stone, a housewife that proves that a housewife is not just sitting at home watching Oprah and eating bonbons as Peggy Bundy made it out to be thirty years later. She is a hard-working manager of the Stone household, dealing with all of the difficult problems and issues that the Stone household faced on a daily basis. Carl Betz plays Dr. Alex Stone, the “man of the house,” and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen play the two children of the house. It’s a light-hearted family sitcom that basically puts the “woman of the house” in charge at a time where other family sitcoms were heavily male-centered.

Read our review by Skees53 here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/thedonnareedshowseason3dvdreview.html

Please post any questions or comments about this set.

[catlover79]

Sounds great! I can't wait to watch it! :cool: :D

[gidgetgrape]

I can't wait to see the episode with Jay North again.

[retroTVfan4ever]

I enjoy classic TV, but Donna Reed Show isn't really my cup of tea. To me it's an OK show but not high on my list of favorites. Despite that, I would consider buying the DVD's, but it seems the episode quality isn't too good so all things considered I think I'll pass on these. Thank you though for the informative review.

[comedyfreak]

I'd like to pick this one up though, I still need season2.

[MickeyMac]

I enjoy classic TV, but Donna Reed Show isn't really my cup of tea. To me it's an OK show but not high on my list of favorites. Despite that, I would consider buying the DVD's, but it seems the episode quality isn't too good so all things considered I think I'll pass on these. Thank you though for the informative review.



With all due respects, if this show isnt something you dig, then why comment on it. I cant put into words how much I hate Seinfeld so I never post on that thread.


Just saying.

[MickeyMac]

I so wish I could see this again.

[gidgetgrape]

With all due respects, if this show isnt something you dig, then why comment on it.

:clap:

[catlover79]

I just put a hold on this at the library. I hope it comes soon - it sounds great!! :cool: :D

[comedyfreak]

I entered the season 3 give away, hope I win.

[catlover79]

I entered the season 3 give away, hope I win.
I hope you win, too!! :cool:

[MickeyMac]

I just put a hold on this at the library. I hope it comes soon - it sounds great!! :cool: :D


We need to trade library staff.

[gidgetgrape]

I asked a librarian about requesting DVDs and she told me that they weren't a video store. :rolleyes:

[Jude The Obscure]

^What an attitude!!!! That librarian must be loads of fun at parties! :p

[TeeVeeCloset]

The Stone family returns to DVD for another season with Season Three of The Donna Reed Show! Virgil Films brings 38 more episodes from the 1960-1961 season of the classic sitcom starring the legendary actress to a four disc DVD set. The Donna Reed Show stars Donna Reed as Donna Stone, a housewife that proves that a housewife is not just sitting at home watching Oprah and eating bonbons as Peggy Bundy made it out to be thirty years later. She is a hard-working manager of the Stone household, dealing with all of the difficult problems and issues that the Stone household faced on a daily basis. Carl Betz plays Dr. Alex Stone, the “man of the house,” and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen play the two children of the house. It’s a light-hearted family sitcom that basically puts the “woman of the house” in charge at a time where other family sitcoms were heavily male-centered.

Read our review by Skees53 here:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/thedonnareedshowseason3dvdreview.html

Please post any questions or comments about this set.

I understand your points regarding Virgils "Donna Reed" season sets, BUT I think you are being extremely hard on a very low budget company that is releasing uncut episodes of a long forgotten series that no other company wants to touch.....I don't care about the packaging, there is nothing wrong with thick plastic cases and many companies besides public domain ones use them, low budget companies do, one in mind is S'more Entertainment and Arny is a one man band operation. BTW...Disney has used them! Virgil is actually releasing a long forgotten Saturday morning series starring Robbie Rist next year (Big John, Little John), they are unique......now for some eduction about the future of the Donna Reed series, the last two seasons are owned by Sony, so there might be a problem with releasing those seasons, the seasons currently being released are owned by The Donna Reed Estate and that's probably why they are unedited and now credit problems, but at least they are not some butchered major studio prints......I'm just saying, even though you recommend it, I think you should take into consideration the company behind it....after all these are long 39 episode seasons and if CBS/Paramount were releasing it it would be broken up into volumes (My Three Sons) with background music replaced....it just seems like in some reviews companies can't win, we need to be more positive and clearly point out the differences between a company like Virgil (formally Arts Alliance Media) and CBS/Paramount & Sony!

[Jude The Obscure]

I know I'm happy with these releases!

FTR, why does Sony own the last two seasons while the Donna Reed Estate owns the others?

[TeeVeeCloset]

I know I'm happy with these releases!

FTR, why does Sony own the last two seasons while the Donna Reed Estate owns the others?

I'm 90% sure I'm correct on this one, but I think we need member "TV Knowledge" for as to why? That is one of the reasons when General Mills did a "Donna Reed" 2 episode DVD givaway a few years back on cereal boxes...the good "old" days, the episodes were from the later years from Sony. It certainly is a partnership, but my main point is that Virgil doesn't have to get the prints or have heavy negotions with Sony (who syndicates it) to release these earlier seasons.

[Jude The Obscure]

The last time TV Land bothered to show any reruns of The Donna Reed Show it was from these last two seasons.....

this is almost as perplexing as The Danny Thomas Show/Make Room for Daddy syndication issue--where the early seasons with Jean Hagen are never in reruns (and have been ignored on official releases) and supposedly the last two seasons are owned by Marjorie Lord (?????).

[skees53]

I understand your points regarding Virgils "Donna Reed" season sets, BUT I think you are being extremely hard on a very low budget company that is releasing uncut episodes of a long forgotten series that no other company wants to touch.....I don't care about the packaging, there is nothing wrong with thick plastic cases and many companies besides public domain ones use them, low budget companies do, one in mind is S'more Entertainment and Arny is a one man band operation. BTW...Disney has used them! Virgil is actually releasing a long forgotten Saturday morning series starring Robbie Rist next year (Big John, Little John), they are unique......now for some eduction about the future of the Donna Reed series, the last two seasons are owned by Sony, so there might be a problem with releasing those seasons, the seasons currently being released are owned by The Donna Reed Estate and that's probably why they are unedited and now credit problems, but at least they are not some butchered major studio prints......I'm just saying, even though you recommend it, I think you should take into consideration the company behind it....after all these are long 39 episode seasons and if CBS/Paramount were releasing it it would be broken up into volumes (My Three Sons) with background music replaced....it just seems like in some reviews companies can't win, we need to be more positive and clearly point out the differences between a company like Virgil (formally Arts Alliance Media) and CBS/Paramount & Sony!

I kind of agree, but at the same time, I still feel they could have done better. Infinity has mostly done pretty well with Route 66 quality-wise and I'd put them on the same level as Virgil. Shout!, while definitely a little more "high budget" (I guess...) than Virgil has done better on quality of FKB. All of these were Screen Gems shows from the same era, and in a sense, I kind of expect all of them to be of similar quality. This set doesn't really do that like I was hoping that it would. I own some of Virgil's Charles in Charge sets (although those were technically released when they were Arts Alliance) as well, and the set just feels like a much higher quality set, even with the packaging. This set just looks and feels like something public domain from the beginning, and it is just troubling because if I didn't know that this was a halfway decent set, I wouldn't even bother picking it up.

The main point though, and I hope my review didn't take away from it too much, is that I still think the set is worth owning. It's a great show to watch and of course these DVDs are basically the only way we can watch it. But I just feel that there are too many bits and pieces that could have been fixed so to speak.

[bliss]

I'd be happy with the first five seasons anyways. It was the Mary years.

[bliss]

Almost done with Season 3. I'm on the last disk right now. Looks like
Mr. Betz was a no-show in at least 3 episodes this season so far. Why?

[MickeyMac]

Who won the Season 3 giveaway contest?

[MickeyMac]

I was at Barnes and Nobles yesterday and they had both season two and season three, and now I am so tempted to buy both. Mainly for the fact I havent seen this show since 1993, and I grew up watching it on Nick at Nite.

[Jude The Obscure]

If I had the extra funds, Mickey.......I'd help you out! :)

[catlover79]

I requested this from my library and it still hasn't come yet...booo. :(

[Madame X]

Almost done with Season 3. I'm on the last disk right now. Looks like
Mr. Betz was a no-show in at least 3 episodes this season so far. Why?

I noticed that too, Bliss. I am trying to find out why "Alex" was not in three episodes. They weren't even three in a row, as if Carl Betz was ill.

In "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions" (12-8-60), I don't think they mentioned where he was, just that Mary needed to clean her room before her father saw it. He is not in the end credits.

In "Trip to Nowhere" (2-9-61), Alex calls from a business trip. He is not in the end credits.

In "Mary's Heart Throb" (3-23-61), Alex has "a lot of house calls to make." He is not in the end credits.

I'd really like to know why he was absent. :confused:

[catlover79]

I noticed that too, Bliss. I am trying to find out why "Alex" was not in three episodes. They weren't even three in a row, as if Carl Betz was ill.

In "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions" (12-8-60), I don't think they mentioned where he was, just that Mary needed to clean her room before her father saw it. He is not in the end credits.

In "Trip to Nowhere" (2-9-61), Alex calls from a business trip. He is not in the end credits.

In "Mary's Heart Throb" (3-23-61), Alex has "a lot of house calls to make." He is not in the end credits.

I'd really like to know why he was absent. :confused:
Maybe he WAS out three consecutive weeks and they aired those three episodes out of production order. That's what ABC/Screen Gems did when Dick York started missing a lot of episodes on Bewitched due to his back injury - and don't forget that's the same TPTB that ran The Donna Reed Show.

[Madame X]

Maybe he WAS out three consecutive weeks and they aired those three episodes out of production order. That's what ABC/Screen Gems did when Dick York started missing a lot of episodes on Bewitched due to his back injury - and don't forget that's the same TPTB that ran The Donna Reed Show.

I thought about the production order answer too, Monika. Maybe the production order is listed somewhere. Unfortunately there is not a lot of info on this show as with others, like "I Love Lucy," where we can find out anything!

[catlover79]

I thought about the production order answer too, Monika. Maybe the production order is listed somewhere. Unfortunately there is not a lot of info on this show as with others, like "I Love Lucy," where we can find out anything!
It's a bummer that there's not more info about that on TDRS. As for why Carl Betz was not in those episodes, your guess is as good as mine. :confused:

[MickeyMac]

I just purchases this earlier. I havent started watching it yet though.

[catlover79]

I'm actually watching S3 of TDRS - just took it out of the library and am really enjoying it so far. Great show. :cool: :D

[old grouch]

Of the seasons that are out on DVD so far, I think season 3 is my favorite.

[catlover79]

From what I've seen so far, S3 is probably my favorite so far as well. It's a lot of fun. :cool:

[MickeyMac]

A while back I bought season 3 for old times sakes (because I used to watch this show when Nick at Nite showed it). I havent opened it yet, but I am going to have to real soon.

[catlover79]

Plus, there are several Bewitched cast members guesting in S3 - Irene Vernon (Louise Tate #1), Dick Wilson (The Drunk), C. Lindsay Workman (Darrin's doctor), and another Bewitched connection...Danny Sue Nolan aka the first Mrs. Bill Asher. Plus, you can't miss Dennis (Jay North) and Mr. Wilson's (Joseph Kearns) appearance!! :cool:

[MickeyMac]

Watching this is like watching it back when it was on Nick at Nite (the good ole days). Good episodes and it makes me yearn for the rest of the series. It got better and better.