Customer Reviews

The Best of the Andy Griffith Show

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

This series of 5 CDs contains only 2 episodes per CD. The video quality is very, very poor and "The Fishin' Hole" theme song has been removed. If Andy Taylor knew about the poor quality of these CDs, Barney definitely would "be allowed to arrest somebody!". If it were my company (Amazon.com), I would warn the prospective buyer of this CD set. If you are a devoted TAGS rerun watcher, I can safely rest assured that you will be disappointed and irritated with these CDs. Madacy is the name on these CDs.

Well, I just received this DVD 5 pack in the mail today and am I ever disappointed. I watched about two minutes before deciding to return this DVD set. But, according to the return policy, DVD must be returned unopened, so I guess I'm out of luck. But I can at least warn you to lower your expectations in regards to old shows/movies released in the DVD format. So far I have ordered Abbot and Costello and Andy Griffith DVDs from Amazon, and was hoping for a picture a least equal to broadcast quality. However, in both cases the picture is horrendous. These Andy Griffith DVD versions contain only two episodes per DVD, and the theme song has been deleted (as stated in a previous review). The pictures have not been cleaned of dust, etc, and they obviously aren't using the first generation master prints. I think my plan now will be to buy a DVD recorder when they become available, and tape the Andy Griffith shows off of TV Land, minus commercials. That seems to be the only way to get a great picture, no commercials, the episodes you truly want, and more than two episodes per DVD! As stated in the other reviews, these DVDs are a rip-off. I don't know what that one guy was thinking when he gave these DVD 5 stars. Unfortunately, that was the only review available when I made the mistake to order this DVD set.

Not what I had hoped for. The opening theme is missing, The transfer to DVD is poor and there are only 10 episodes on 5 discs...2 per disc! I would not but this if I knew then what I know now...This is in spite of the fact that I now live and work in France and felt like I really needed a Mayberry fix to get me in touch with my roots....

Avoid.

OK, here's the scoop: this is the best Andy Griffith Show DVD out there, but that's not exactly saying much. However, I do highly recommend you buy this set of 2 dvd's. Also, most of the previous reviews are incorrect, even the ones saying the others are incorrect. Here are the details...

THE PRO'S:
This 2 dvd set is double sided, so there are 16 total episodes. The theme music on MOST of the shows is original, which really surprised me--and pleased me. The picture quality is good enough to get by.

THE CON'S:
Some good special features would be nice; this only lists a short history of the show & actors. No subtitles. On about 6 of the shows, the introduction music seems to be the same "tune" as the ending music. I don't know if this was originally what was done on the show, or if the DVD producers did this...but I hardly noticed it in any case. BUT...on two of the shows the theme music was altogether re-made (and poorly done, might I add!) This is contrary some of the other reviews I've seen...they've not watched all the episodes. Also, the picture quality, especially at the beginning & end, is ever so slightly sub-par. Again, this could be because of the master tapes, but the other dvd I own has better picture quality on the same episodes...you have to wonder.

So...is this the Andy Griffith show DVD you've always been wanting? ... NO!

Is there anything better currently out there on DVD? ... NO!

Will you be making a wise decision if you buy this set? ... YES!

---(Edit 2011-12-06) Obviously this is no longer the best offering available. Only buy this if you want a sampling.

This DVD set contains the episodes found on previous releases by Medacy and Sterling: "Rafe Hollister Sings," "Class Reunion," "The Big House," "A Wife for Andy," "Mountain Wedding," "Opie and the Spoiled Kid," "Andy Discovers America," "Aunt Bea's Medicine Man," "The Darlings Are Coming," "The Great Filling Station Robbery," "The Loaded Goat," "High Noon in Mayberry," "Barney's First Car," "Andy's English Valet," "Dogs, Dogs, Dogs," and "The Rival." Fans will recognize "The Loaded Goat" and "Barney's First Car" as some of the finest episodes in the series.

You'll receive two double-sided DVDs in this set.

Let's hope someone comes up with a definitive, restored edition of this fine program.

This collection does contain the Andy Griffith episodes it states, however the consumer is short changed in several ways. First, the official (whistling)opening music is omitted for whatever reason. Second, the quality of episodes is suspect. Third, considering what they are charging for this set, one would expect more episodes. I highly recommend not buying this item. I would wait until other Andy Griffith DVD's are released containing the same episodes. As a matter of fact there are several episodes in this set that are on other Andy DVD's.

I love the Andy Griffith Show, but this DVD was a big dissappointment. "Best of" not even close, contains only 3 (mediocre) episodes. And doesn't even include the original theme or credit music. "Classic Favorites" is much better, 6 episodes.

When I purchased this DVD, I brought it home and put it in the player with eager anticipation. "What a great deal", I thought, "$... for 16 awesome episodes of this classic series!"...

Boy, was I disappointed. What a let-down! The video quality is poor, but the most disappointing thing of all is that the original theme music has vanished!!! I sat in disbelief as I saw Andy and Opie walking and skipping stones to some campy, MIDI-generated, "we're not going to waste money to buy the original music" theme song. The show's contents are, in my opinion, heavily damaged by this musical compromise. To me, it isn't worth owning. I gave my copy away.....

It seems that some people are completely satisfied with "collections" like these, noting that "the music doesn't matter, it's the shows that count." I say this: The theme music is an INTEGRAL part of the mood of this whole series, as many people will attest, and therefore IS the show.

C'mon, if relatively new shows like "Friends" and "Mad About You" can be released properly (i.e., entire uncut seasons in a set), why can't we have a GOOD, definitive collection of this perennial classic?

By the way: in retrospective, I would gladly have paid a couple of dollars more for this set had I known that the original theme was intact!

No theme music. "Best of" is a joke. Only 3 episodes. Would have been much better to watch the reruns on TV. Not at all collector quality.

This video contains the following episodes: High Noon in Mayberry and The Loaded Goat, plus vintage television commercials...