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After fans wanting it in season sets for years, Matlock
finally hits the DVD format. ***
The story behind Matlock is simple enough. Andy Griffith
(Andy Griffith Show, Salvage 1) stars as the title character,
an attorney who goes above and beyond when it comes to defending
his clients. With a plethora of interesting characters and
guest stars, the series ran from 1986-1995 - with its popularity
always remaining fairly high. ***
This 7-disc set features every episode from the show's
first season: Episodes included here are the Diary of a
Perfect Murder premier movie (double the length of a standard
episode), The Judge, The Stripper, The Affair, The Seduction,
The Don (two-parter), The Sisters, The Cop, The Angel, The
Professor, Santa Claus, The Chef, The Author, The Rat Pack,
The Nurse, The Convict, The Court-Martial (two-parter),
The Therapist, The People Vs. Matlock, The Photographer,
The Reporter, and the Doctors. ***
In addition to having a brilliant main cast, led by
the always excellent Andy Griffith, plenty of guest stars
appeared over the course of the show's nearly decade-long
run. Amongst the famous faces you'll be seeing in Season
One are Dick Van Dyke, Roddy McDowell, and Billy Bob Thornton.
***
Matlock is a classic series that stands the test of
time, and it's about time we get it in season sets! With
solid acting, entertaining guest stars, and a plotline so
simple yet so effective, it's a fantastic series, and it's
as entertaining now as it's ever been. ***
I also wanted to point out, before moving on, that
the DVD set has Paramount's now-standards “some shows may
have been changed from the broadcast versions” disclaimer.
It's impossible to tell what, if anything, has been altered.
But I wouldn't worry too much about this. If there have
been any cuts or edits, they certainly don't impact enjoyment
of the episodes. ---
Image And Sound:
Matlock gets an average-looking and sounding transfer
to the DVD format. Picture quality shows its age, looking
a bit soft and fuzzy at times, with the occasional blemish
to the quality. Audio fares slightly better, but it's clear
that neither audio nor video were touched up nearly as much
as they should have been. Still, it's better than a lot
of old TV shows on DVD look and sound. ---
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