Customer Reviews

The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show, Vol. 1

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'd like to see the show from beginning to end instead of clipped together, but this isn't a complete deal-killer, given this is a variety show format. But what annoys me about this is that each volume only contains about an hour's worth of material (presumably so Time-Life can send you one volume at a time and charge you an arm and a leg without you realizing it). The other problem with the disc, decidedly more dumb, is the inability to pause the disc in order to take a short break. That was not an oversight, that was a deliberate disabling of a disc feature and for what reason, I have no idea. But in order to make the disc stop, you have to press "stop." When you restart, you start over from the beginning. I would NEVER pay money for this. I'm glad I was able to get it through my library, but I won't be bothering to get subsequent volumes.

This DVD is a total rip-off. It is 60 minutes of excerpts for an astounding and outrageous price of $83.95 plus S&H!!! For that price, I was expecting several complete shows. I was extremely disappointed that it was excerpts only. I tried in vain to send it back to the seller for a refund; however, the seller was difficult to deal with. Seller took a very long time to respond to my multiple emails, and when seller did respond, the requirements to return the DVD were that it was to be in NEW condition, NEVER opened, and factory sealed. AND, Seller planned to charge a 15% restocking fee as well. Needless to say, I will never purchase another item from this seller. If this review can prevent others from being ripped off, I am more than happy to give this warning. Save your $83.95 + S&H, and spend it on something worthwhile. This DVD definitely is not worth the staggering cost!!!!

Although only 60 minutes long, this volume has some most enjoyable clips featuring Lucille Ball, Bill Cosby, John Wayne, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra among others. As a long-time Dean Martin fan this was a tremendous addition to my video library.

I ordered a NEW DVD - The Best of Dean Martin Variety Show Vol.1 - I recieved a USED DVD, the box had wear AND the DVD box was labeled Vol 1 but contained Vol. 8, NOT Vol. 1 as ordered. Filed a claim with Amazon. Stay away from this provider, he/she did NOT respond to my email concerning the issue.

Videotapes of THE BEST OF THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW (2001) were once available from GUTHY-RENKER via a TV infomercial. There are 30 individual one-hour compilations in this series, which has since become somewhat of a collectible. (Note: these are highlights only, not complete programs.)

Title card seen here was also used as THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW LP cover. Audio is clean mono. Colors in these dubs of well-preserved tape excerpts are vibrant.

CONTENTS for Volume 1--
During Orson Welles intro, Dean slides down firepole and crashes through floor; Frank pops up for a zinger
Dean: "Where or When"
Producer/director Greg Garrison on no rehearsals
With Lucille Ball, as Emma Frump
With Carol Lawrence, Dean flubs lyric on "Somebody Loves Me," they start over
Jonathan Winters as Elwood P. Suggins, on jetliner with Dean
Cole Porter medley with Ella Fitzgerald
At nudist camp, with Bob Newhart as reporter, Dean as fotog
Sings lyric jokes accompanied by Ken Lane's piano
With Bing Crosby, a medley from Bing's films
Plays straight man to Phil Silvers while singing "My Buddy"
Rowan & Martin as two trenchcoated spies; they're joined by Bill Cosby and Dean
Woody Allen stand-up routine about his personal life
Jimmy Stewart intros farmer's daughter skit featuring David Janssen, Elke Summer, Charles Nelson Reilly and Dean
Duet with John Wayne, who lip syncs to Frank's version of "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime"
Finale: late 1890s/early 20th Century medley with Kate Smith; Lucy as chorus girl
Dean's goodnight and credits

Reviewed this disc on a notebook PC with PowerDVD installed. The PAUSE and other functions worked fine.

DVDs of THE BEST OF THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW (2001) were once available from GUTHY-RENKER via a TV infomercial. There are 30 individual one-hour compilations in this series, which has since become somewhat of a collectible. (Note: these are highlights only, not complete programs.)

Title card seen here was also used as THE DEAN MARTIN SHOW LP cover. Audio is clean mono. Colors in these dubs of well-preserved tape excerpts are vibrant

CONTENTS--
During Orson Welles intro, Dean slides down firepole and crashes through floor; Frank pops up for a zinger
Dean: "Where or When"
Producer/director Greg Garrison on no rehearsals
With Lucille Ball, as Emma Frump
With Carol Lawrence, Dean flubs lyric on "Somebody Loves Me," they start over
Jonathan Winters as Elwood P. Suggins, on jetliner with Dean
Cole Porter medley with Ella Fitzgerald
At nudist camp, with Bob Newhart as reporter, Dean as fotog
Sings lyric jokes accompanied by Ken Lane's piano
With Bing Crosby, a medley from Bing's films
Plays straight man to Phil Silvers while singing "My Buddy"
Rowan & Martin as two trenchcoated spies; they're joined by Bill Cosby and Dean
Woody Allen stand-up routine about his personal life
Jimmy Stewart intros farmer's daughter skit featuring David Janssen, Elke Summer, Charles Nelson Reilly and Dean
Duet with John Wayne, who lip syncs to Frank's version of "Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime"
Finale: late 1890s/early 20th Century medley with Kate Smith; Lucy as chorus girl
Dean's goodnight and credits

I know a lot of people would poo-poo the idea of buying VHS, but when you see how much these sets normally go for, you'd buy them, too. I have a combo player, so whatever style I buy is fine, doesn't really matter. The quality of this video is excellent. It looks like it was just filmed last week. If you are a "green-minded" person, you should be buying these products anyway, to keep them out of a landfill.

I thought I ordered the product on DVD and got it on VHS. Have contacted the sender at least twice via email asking how we can resolve it and NO REPLY back. Unsatisfied in Iowa.

Although this DVD has some funny material (taking advantage of the talents of Bill Cosby, Jonathan Winters and Dean Martin himself) I think I would still enjoy the unedited shows themselves.

Stars included in Volume 1:

Lucille Ball, Bill Cosby, John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Rowan & Martiin, Jonathan Winters, Phil Silvers, and Frank Sinatra.