DVD Release Date: October 24th, 2006 (20th Century Fox)
B&W / 1964-65
MSRP: $29.98
Number of Discs: 3 (double-sided)
Number of Episodes: 22
Running Time: 561 Minutes
Running Time of Special Features: approx. 33 minutes
Languages: English & Spanish
Subtitles: English & Spanish / Closed captioned
Special Features: "You Rang, Mr. Addams" featurette;
"Snap, Snap" featurette; "The Addams Family" theme
song karaoke; Audio commentary on three episodes;
Original drawings and photos; "The Addams Family
Portrait" featurette.
Introduction:
They're creepy and they're cooky ... mysterious and
spooky ... they're altogether ooky ... they're the
ADDAMS FAMILY! And for the first time ever, they are
on DVD! Digitally remastered and uncut, the first 22
episodes of the hit ABC gothic sitcom come to DVD in
this bonus-packed edition. The series, which ran from
1964-1966 produced a total of 64 episodes, starred
John Astin and Carolyn Jones as Gomez and Morticia
Addams, respectively. Rounding out the stellar cast is
Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester, Blossom Rock as
Grandmama, Ken Weatherwax as Pugsley, Lisa Loring as
Wednesday and Ted Cassidy as Lurch.
Memorable Episodes / Notable Guest Stars:
The first 22 episodes of the series are included on
this set. Some of the more memorable ones include:
"The Addams Family Goes to School," "Morticia and the
Psychiatrist," "Halloween With The Addams Family,"
"New Neighbors Meet the Addams Family," "Lurch Learns
to Dance," "Uncle Fester's Illness," "Cousin Itt
Visits the Addams Family," "The Addams Family in
Court," and "Amnesia in the Addams Family."
Special guest-stars that appeared in this episodes
are: Madge Blake, Don Rickles, Vito Scotti, Ellen
Corby (as Mother Lurch), and Felix Silla (as Cousin
Itt), among others.
Packaging:
The main box art is black and white in color and
features a great shot of the Addams Family cast (minus
Blossom Rock as Grandmama). The back of the box
showcases a large picture of Thing next to a small
family photo. A brief description of the series can be
found on the back along with a list of the bonus
features.
The three discs in the set can be found in two
slip-sleeve cases. The first case, which features a
close-up black and white shot of John Astin as Gomez,
contains the first two discs while the second case,
which features a close-up black and white shot of
Carolyn Jones as Morticia, contains the third and
final disc of the set.
Disc 1/Side A contains episodes 1-4 while Disc 1/Side
B contains episodes 5-8. Disc 2/Side A contains
episodes 9-12 while Disc 2/Side B contains episodes
13-16. Disc 3/Side A contains episodes 17-20 while
Disc 3/Side B contains episodes 21-22 along with the
bonus features for the set.
Menu Design and Navigation:
The main menu immediately pops up when you put in the
disc. The background for the menu is a teal colored
spider-web; with a cropped picture of cast members
(each menu features a different picture). The show
logo is shown next to the photo and below it is a list
of episodes. On Disc 3/Side B, the "Special Features"
option is available. Another option on all discs is
"Play All" in which you can play all of the episodes
un-interrupted. When you click on an episode title, it
takes you to a sub-menu, which features Thing holding
a framed still from that episode. You can "Play" the
episode; choose "Language Selection," which takes you
to a sub-menu that lets you pick from Subtitles to
Languages. On the main menu, the entire theme-song
(with lyrics) loops.
Video and Audio Quality:
Even though the series is in black and white, the
video quality is stellar -- much better than I had
anticipated. The audio itself is very good, which was
another pleasant surprise. The episodes appear to me
to be uncut, except for two minor edits, as discovered
by a tvshowsondvd.com reader,
and explained by MGM:
"two of Carolyn Jones scenes of her as Morticia,
singing "It's So Nice to Have a Thing Around The
House" in the episode "Halloween With The Addams
Family" were cut because MGM/20th Century Fox couldn't
get the rights to the original song "It's So Nice to
Have a Man Around The House." And chapter skips are
available.
DISC 1 / SIDE A:
1- The Addams Family Goes To School (25:41) with
optional audio commentary
2- Morticia and the Psychiatrist (25:41)
3- Fester's Punctured Romance (25:42)
4- Gomez, The Politician (25:40)
DISC 1 / SIDE B:
5- The Addams Family Tree (25:33)
6- Morticia Joins The Ladies League (25:39)
7- Halloween With The Addams Family (25:38)
8- Green-Eyed Gomez (25:41)
DISC 2 / SIDE A:
9- New Neighbors Meet The Addams Family (25:42)
10- Wednesday Leaves Home (25:32)
11- The Addams Family Meets the V.I.P.s (25:42)
12- Morticia, The Matchmaker (25:42) with optional
audio commentary
DISC 2 / SIDE B:
13- Lurch Learns to Dance (25:43)
14- Art and The Addams Family (25:41)
15- The Addams Family Meets a Beatnik (25:23)
16- The Addams Family Meets the Undercover Man (25:33)
DISC 3 / SIDE A:
17- Mother Lurch Visits The Addams Family (25:43)
18- Uncle Fester's Illness (25:41)
19- The Addams Family Splurges (25:40)
20- Cousin Itt Visits The Addams Family (25:37) with
optional audio commentary
DISC 3 / SIDE B:
21- The Addams Family In Court (25:32)
22- Amnesia In The Addams Family (25:47)
Special Features:
Lots of special features!
* Audio Commentary
You can find optional audio commentary by "The Addams
Chronicles" author Stephen Cox on the following
episodes "The Addams Family Goes to School,"
"Morticia, The Matchmaker," and "Cousin Itt Visits the
Addams Family."
* You Rang, Mr. Addams? (Approx. 12:03 minutes)
A mini-biography of Charles Addams, who was the
mastermind behind "The Addams Family" as told by Ken
Miserocchi, who is a part of the Tee and Charles
Addams Foundation.
* Snap, Snap (approx. 5:41 minutes)
An interview with Vic Mizzy (theme/music composer) in
which he discusses how the Addams Family theme song
came about.
* The Addams Family Portrait (approx. 14:25 minutes)
This is a discussion about the series as a whole, with
new interviews from Lisa Loring (Wednesday), Felix
Silla (Cousin Itt), John Astin (Gomez) and Ken
Weatherwax (Pugsley).
* Theme Song Karaoke (approx. 1:03 minutes)
Just what it says ... Thing guides you along with
subtitles and you can join in singing the classic
theme!
* Still Galleries
When you select the option, it takes you to a sub-menu
where you can choose either Original Drawings (which
are artist drawings of the Addams Family) or Photos
(still photos of Charles Addams).
Final Comments:
I have to say, 20th Century Fox impressed me with this
set. The package was designed well and really
represented the gothic feel of the show. The episodes
are uncut (minus the two little cuts) and restored.
The menus are good. Overall, the set is just great and
if you are a fan of the show, or you like a little
gothic humor and slapstick situation comedies, then go
and pick this set up on October 24th ... or Grandmama
will put a curse on you!
