DVD Release Date: August 31, 2004 (by Paramount Home Video/CBS on DVD)
B&W/799 min.
MSRP: $59.95
Number of discs: 5
Number of episodes: 31
Languages and Subtitles: English closed captioning;
Spanish subtitles.
Special Features: Flubs, Lost Scenes, Restored Music,
Behind the Scenes Featurettes, Deleted Footage,
Original Series Openings, Original Animated Sequences,
Script Excerpts, Production Notes, Guest Cast
Information, Series Promotional Spot and Five Complete
Episodes of Lucy's Radio Show: "My Favorite Husband"
Introduction:
From its 1951 premiere to the present day, I Love Lucy
has never been off the air! All 31 uncut season two
episodes are restored and digitally re-mastered.
Relive the days of that crazy red-head Lucy angling to
finally be in the show. From the antics of Lucy and
Ethel to Ricky and Fred's reactions to it, it's all
here in this Season Two DVD box-set!
Memorable Episodes / Notable Guest Stars:
You'll definitely enjoy this set because of the very
memorable episodes from season two. Such gems as "Job
Switching," in which Lucy and Ethel do their
unforgettable battle with a chocolate factory conveyor
belt; "The Handcuffs," in which Lucy cuffs herself to
Ricky and then loses the key; and "The Operetta," in
which Lucy's money problems bring down the curtain on
her role as "Queen of the Gypsies." This set also
includes the once "controversial" and ground-breaking
"pregnancy shows," including the moment when Lucy
tells Ricky she is pregnant and the delivery itself.
It's all here in this great set!
Packaging:
The packaging itself is a slip sleeve where five
individually boxed (thin case) DVDs are stored. The
box itself features a color cutout of Lucy from the
"Job Switching" episode and various screenshots in
black and white cut together to form a montage of
sorts. The "I Love Lucy" logo is there as well. In
this set, there are five discs and 31 episodes. Disc
one holds 7 episodes; Discs Two-Five each hold six
episodes. The disc cases themselves are each
individually "pictured" with a cutout screenshot of a
scene from a memorable episode on the disc. It's a
simple but nice design. Inside each "mini-case" is one
DVD and on the front cover there are mini episode
descriptions and on the back of the mini case is a
quote from a memorable episode. The actual back of the
case lists the special features, a screenshot, and the
episodes on the disc inside. The disc itself (the main
color is a dark gold) has the Lucy logo as well as a
screenshot from that episode on it.
Menu Design and Navigation:
The menus are the same as they were from the Season 1
release. There is the theme looping in the background
and you can choose to select an episode, you can
select individual scenes or even go to a music scene
from the episode! It's one of the best features yet,
and it was carried over from Season One's release.
It's easy to navigate. There are several sections to
choose from on each disc such as "Play All," the
episodes themselves. When you choose an episode it
takes you to another menu where you can choose the
scenes you want to watch from that episode. The bonus
menu (special features) is where you can choose the
special features on each disc.
Video and Audio Quality:
The video quality is excellent. I didn't notice any
scratches. The audio is also fairly good, a bit low,
but better than a lot of older releases I've seen.
Special Features:
The special features themselves are great. All of the
discs includes Flubs (there are various to choose from
and there is a little description that pops up for
each of them as well as a screenshot!) to choose from.
The times will vary on each one. On each disc is also
"Guest Cast Information" which lists any special
guests and bios for them. You can look at a guest list
from each episode.
On each disc is "Original Openings" featuring the
original animated opening sequences that prominently
feature Phillip Morris Cigarettes (TV Land has
remastered them and replaces Phillip Morris with the
TV Land logo). Each one is approx. 30 seconds. Also on
each disc is "Lucy on the Radio" featuring full-length
radio shows from Lucy's "My Favorite Husband." Usually
the radio shows used are ones that I Love Lucy
episodes were based on. By the way, each special
feature includes a little bit of information before
you can play them, very handy! Times for the radio
shows are unavailable. And on each disc are production
notes, basically just some background information on
the behind the scenes things for certain episodes.
Disc two contains a "Behind the Scenes Featurette."
Disc one contains Special Footage, Guest Cast
Information, Flubs, Original Openings, Production
Notes and Lucy's Radio Show ("Liz and George Get
Handcuffed"). Disc two's "special footage" is "Jingle
Bells" Tag Scene. The 12/22/1952 episode Lucy's Show
Biz Swan Song contained a Christmas tag scene with had
first aired a year earlier on December 24, 1951 at the
end of "Drafted." (approx. 3 minutes). "Restored
Transition" (approx. 35 seconds) it's just a longer
version of the opening that was cut for syndication
(it's where the scene ends and music is cut off)
--hard to explain. Original Openings are a list of the
three animated sequences used for the episodes
originally and when you go through each one it lists
the episodes they are used in! The "My Favorite
Husband" radio show for Disc Two is "Mrs. Cooper
Thinks Liz is Pregnant." Behind The Scenes Featurette
is cool. Its excerpts from the book: "Laughs, Luck and
Lucy", by Jess Oppenheimer. It features video clips
from Lucy's Show Biz Swan Song and Lucy Is Enceinte.
No time is available. But it's a really neat feature.
Disc three bonus features include Special Footage,
which includes lost scenes. They are just
introductions from reruns during original runs that
feature introductions (these were done while Lucy was
on maternity leave). The My Favorite Husband episode
for this disc is "Liz Becomes a Sculptress". Original
openings, Behind the Scenes Audio Featurette are more
excerpts from the book "Laughs, Luck and Lucy." Disc
four bonus features are Flubs, Guest Cast Information,
Special Footage (a lost scene that was used to open
the spring 1953 reruns while Lucy was on maternity
leave). The other notable one is Heart Fund Appeal in
which at the end of the March 31, 1953 rebroadcast of
The Séance, Lucy and Desi made a special appeal for
contributions to the Heart Fund. The "My Favorite
Husband" episode for this disc is "Liz Changes Her
Mind". And Production Notes. Disc Five bonus features
include more Special Footage, Guest Cast Information,
Flubs, Original Openings (used on each disc), And a
Behind The Scenes Slide show. The Special Footage
includes the 2nd Season Promo which originally aired
on August 25, 1952 which was three weeks before I Love
Lucy returned for its' 2nd season. "Lost Animation" is
the animated sequence used as a transition to the
closing commercial on a number of second season I Love
Lucy episodes. "Deleted Dialogue" which are just a few
lines that were cut for time reasons and from all
subsequent airings! Another restored transition, Lost
Tag Scene (it was to mark the end of the second season
and Lucy and Desi bid farewell to the TV audience in a
special end of season tag scene, it was broadcast just
once on June 29, 1953).
Final Comments:
In closing, this set is one of the best of any show;
notably because of the special features (audio book
excerpts, lost footage, restored scenes and dialogue).
It's a great set to own. I can't really think of
anything else that could be included in future
releases!
Final Numbers (out of 5 stars):
Video Quality: 4.5/5
Audio Quality: 4/5
Special Features: 5/5
Menu Design/Navigation: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5
-- Reviewed by TVJunkie101 (Shawn) on 08/21/04
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