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