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| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
remains to be to provide you, the entertainment community with
the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
link to the most popular dvd movies. |
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“I Love
Lucy-The Complete Third Season”
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Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Comedy |
| Video: |
1.33:1 full
screen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
1.0 (mono) |
| Languages |
English,
Spanish |
| Subtitles |
Spanish |
| Length |
819 minutes
|
| Rating |
NR |
| Release Date |
2/1/05 |
| Studio |
Paramount
Home Entertainment |
| Commentary:
|
None |
| Documentaries:
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None |
| Featurettes:
|
Behind-The-Scenes Audio
Featurette |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
Guest Cast
Information |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Promotional Spots |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
Original
Animated Sequences, Original Series Openings, Lost Scenes |
| Music
Video: |
Song Selections |
| Other:
|
Five Episodes
of Lucy’s Radio Show, Production Notes, Script Excerpts, Flubs
|
| Cast
and Crew: |
Lucille Ball,
Desi Arnez, William Frawley, Vivian Vance |
| Written
By: |
Todd Holland,
Bryan Fuller, Tim Minear, Liz Garcia |
| Produced
By: |
Gretchen
J. Berg, Michael J. Maschio, Paul Rabwin |
| Directed
By: |
Todd Holland,
Allan Kroeker, Peter Lauer, Michael Lehmann |
| Music:
|
Michael Andrews
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| The
Review: |
Time tends to destroy our own history
making it seem less important than it is. Nowhere is that
more true than in the entertainment field where barriers are
pushed, creative boundaries established and brilliance appears
only to fade in the avalanche of celluloid and videotape.
I Love Lucy was the Seinfeld of its day pure and simple. The
show changed the rules and comedy would never be the same
even though it was only the infancy of television. This is
truly where the situation comedy was born and it came out
kicking and screaming full of vigor & life. These 31 classic
half hour comedies have been lovingly restored and still have
comedic life to them today fifty-two years later. How many
TV comedies can you say that about? Whether it be a visit
with Cousin Ernie (Tennessee Ernie Ford), the ladies learning
Rick & Fred’s unique version of golf or watching Lucy and
Ethel pitch Aunt Martha’s Old Fashioned Salad Dressing, the
brilliance of the writing, performing and direction will keep
you laughing. These aren’t old hoary photos that should be
stuck in the corner of an attic but funny, vibrant stories
that should be enjoyed every day. ---
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| Image
and Sound: |
Lucy clearly
underwent a major make over here. The images are vibrant and
crisp with nice textures and clear pictures compared to previous
video versions. While it doesn’t snap and crackle like something
made today, Lucy gets around better than any 52 year old I know
of. While the image are occasionally soft and a bit fuzzy the
images are a marked improvement over previous editions. The
restored soundtrack benefits from the overhaul as well with
crisp, clear dialogue and music that stands out without the
muffled effect seen, again, on previous video incarnations.
I suppose you could say that Lucy has been reborn. --- |
| The
Extras: |
Paramount
has no ‘splaing to do here as they have provided fans with
a whole boatload of extras. We get an audio featurette on
the production of this season drawing from a number of sources.
Original promotional spots, lost scenes and the original openings
are included as are the original animated segments that appeared
in the shows themselves. There are also five episodes of the
Lucy radio show as well as script excerpts and production
notes about the series. In lieu of featurettes about the guest
stars, we do get a guest cast list. We also get flubbed scenes
(since the series was filmed many outtakes exist) along with
direct access to the various songs performed in the episodes.
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| Commentary:
|
This is the
one area where Paramount might have improved this set. Providing
a text commentary track with trivia or a historical commentary
track on the making of the series and any behind-the-scenes
stories would have been beneficial for both long time fans and
new fans of the series. --- |
| Final
Words: |
Overall
a terrific job by Paramount at cleaning up and restoring this
classic series. The third season of I Love Lucy continues to
provide perks for fans including flubbed lines and scenes, an
audio featurette on the making of the series, original promo
spots, original animated segments and openings as well access
to musical numbers for each episode. The series looks and sounds
much younger than its age. |
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