The Addams Family - Vol. 1 (Box Set) (DVD)

During the 1930's, The Addams Family first became popular as a cartoon in the New Yorker created by cartoonist Charles Addams. I, along with generations of young Americans, was first introduced to the Addams' through the television show, which first aired in 1964 and ran for two seasons. The Addams' defied the "Ozzie and Harriet" images of family life so popular during the '50's and '60's. They also had a great deal of fun thumbing their ...
...characters in a cartoon strip, the Addams family has grown into a full-blown, somewhat twisted, and darkly blossomed family tree. The family has, since its quiet start, been portrayed in two live action television series, two cartoon series, three feature films, and countless items of memorabilia.

Just in time for Halloween, MGM chose to re-release this groundbreaking television series on DVD. The Addams Family: Volume One is a three ... more

During the 1930's, The Addams Family first became popular as a cartoon in the New Yorker created by cartoonist Charles Addams. I, along with generations of young Americans, was first introduced to the Addams' through the television show, which first aired in 1964 and ran for two seasons. The Addams' defied the "Ozzie and Harriet" images of family life so popular during the '50's and '60's. They also had a great deal of fun thumbing their collective noses at anything conventional.

This quirky family show was one of those rare endeavors that actually became more popular during reruns than it ever was during its initial airtime. From it's simple beginnings as occasional characters in a cartoon strip, the Addams family has grown into a full-blown, somewhat twisted, and darkly blossomed family tree. The family has, since its quiet start, been portrayed in two live action television series, two cartoon series, three feature films, and countless items of memorabilia.

Just in time for Halloween, MGM chose to re-release this groundbreaking television series on DVD. The Addams Family: Volume One is a three disc boxed set and contains the first 22 episodes. The Addams' were Goth long before Goth became a subculture in America, and while this aspect of the 'creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky" family is surely a large contributing factor in their continued appeal to later audiences, it would be difficult to really pinpoint why they maintain such a widespread popularity.

They did hallmark a lot of 'firsts' for television audiences. Morticia (Carolyn Jones) and Gomez (John Astin) Addams were the first TV couple to display ardent affection for each other, and to imply a sexual relationship. The Addams' were the first TV family to own a 'home computer'. The UNI VAC may have been far from the laptops of today, but it was certainly in keeping with the equipment of the era and about as troublesome as most mechanical devices I've known.

They were also the first TV family to deal with having a truant officer come to the home, the first to demand a change in curriculum for their children, the first to vigorously tout nonconformity, and one of the first to display a strong female role model. I don't believe that there were many TV mom's from the 1960's out there trying to take on a job to support the family before Morticia. More than anything though, I believe this family continues to fascinate audiences because they continuously display two distinct characteristics... individuality and familial love.

Almost every episode opened with the family having some sort of crazy fun together, whether it was crossbow practice with apples, flamenco dancing, sword fighting, fishing with dynamite, or practicing a little yoga. Not even the Addams' could really predict what they might be up to next! I clearly remember the very first time I saw the Addams'. I was about seven and flipping through channels in search of something interesting to watch after another boring day at school. Suddenly, I saw a little girl in dark dress and tight braids playing on a lawn in front of an old Edwardian mansion with her dolls. When she took out a miniature guillotine and lopped off the head of "Marie", I was instantly hooked.

I couldn't believe there were actually kids out there my age who knew who Marie Antoinette was, and, apparently, included historical or literary figures in their own play. Until that moment, I thought I was the only one. Now if only they had lived in My neighborhood! The Addams Family had rather a deep impact on my life. Morticia was one of my first role models and I never forgot the Addams' fierce spirit of independence and ingenuity. Like them, I have never been afraid to be myself or allow others the right to be themselves, even in the face of social opposition. This clever, macabre, darkly humorous family also went on to entertain me... well, pretty much the rest of my life.

Within the 22 episodes contained in this set, you will find a truly amazing blend of innocence, wit, uniqueness, and black humor. You will witness Wednesday's (Lisa Loring) and her brother's, Pugsley (Ken Weatherwax), first day of school, where they are forced to listen to those 'horrible' Grimm's tales where witches, ogres and other respectable beasts are often put to death. You can share in Gomez's sense of civic duty as he (unintentionally) runs another politician out of the game. Explore the intricacies of familial devotion as Pugsley helps Wednesday fashion a letter explaining why she has decided to leave the family..."Dear Mother and Father, I hate you. Love, Wednesday. P.S. Don't bother looking for me because I'm not anywhere." You might try learning to dance along with the butler, Lurch (Ted Cassidy), or simply watch Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan), Thing, and Grandmamma Frump (Blossom Rock) join the rest of the family in attempting to cure Gomez of his amnesia, or simply meet the rest of the family in one hilarious episode after another.

Image and Sound: Again, I viewed this in a U.S. format and am not sure on UK specs which is why I usually stick to Film Only type reviews. For those interested..

Full Frame (1.33:1) video; Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono

Special Features: Two featurettes, a brief karaoke session and a single episode with commentary are rather slim for this section of a DVD nowadays, but considering the age of this series it's perfectly understandable. Actually, I'm thrilled that there is any commentary at all and look forward to whatever further insight it might give me to this eternally bizarre and lovable family.

Final Words:
This three disc set is attractively packaged in a traditional Addams style, and is definitely good value for the asking price. While this original series is a must have for die-hard fans of the Addams family, it continues to hold a curiously inexplicable appeal for first time viewers as well, despite its black and white presentation or the increasing worldliness of today's audiences. I would have preferred to see this released as a 'seasonal' set, and a few more extras in the Features section would have been nice. I never expect many extras in a re-release of a show or film from this far back though. I understand that it is seldom possible or reasonable to provide some of the spectacular special features we are becoming accustomed to seeing in newer releases.

However, with a TV classic that continues to spread in popularity more than 30 years after its first broadcast, perhaps it would be advisable to put a little more effort in that direction. There is certainly a wealth of trivia, simple games can be entertaining, and I believe three of the original cast are still with us, (John Astin, Lisa Loring and Ken Weatherwax) and might enjoy adding a little input. Although I'm sure they have all moved on with their lives, I have it on pretty good authority that true Addams' are hard to keep down... even from six feet under with a fairly large boulder on top.
 

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