Product Details

• Actors: George Burns, Gracie Allen, Bea Benaderet, Harry von Zell, Larry Keating
• Producers: Charles Lowe
• Format: Box set, Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 3
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: September 24, 1996
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304197071
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #300,804 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

For a generation too young to know that George Burns had a career long before Oh, God!, this Burns and Allen collection will be a wonderful discovery. This boxed set contains six episodes of the show that ran from 1950 to 1958, featuring George Burns as the straight man (believe it or not) and his scatterbrained (to put it nicely) wife, whose constant flubs and misunderstandings create laugh-out-loud scenarios. You would think her shtick would get old, but the more episodes you watch, the more you realize just how smart Gracie is, and in all her confusing ways, she gets exactly what she wants; she only gets funnier along the way. The first tape includes "Columbia Doing Burns and Allen Story," in which Columbia Pictures decides to make a movie on the life story of the couple (a tremendous disappoint to Gracie; she prefers Paramount because they put more butter in their popcorn). Things go awry when Gracie thinks that George has a wife and four sons living in San Diego. "Gracie Doing a Picture Without George" continues the performance theme when Gracie finds on old telegram asking George to do a Broadway show without his partner. Not realizing it's 30 years old, Gracie tries to force George to leave in one of the most ridiculously funny scenes ever presented on television.

The second video contains "George and Gracie Hear a Burglar," in which Gracie is convinced that a robber is roaming around outside. Detective Sawyer despairs at another phone call from the Burns household, but comes over to investigate. "Gracie Sees a Holdup--Johnny Velvet" has Gracie as a witness to a bank stickup headed by a Mob boss. When they kidnap her to keep her from testifying, they can't seem to get rid of her fast enough. Instead they decide to steal George away, but plenty of mistaken identities ensue. Gracie as the fumbling kidnapee is absolutely hysterical, and you can't miss the cameo appearance by the man who at the time was known only as an actor, Ronald Reagan as himself.

The final video contains "Gracie Buying a Ranch for George." After a weekend on Fred Astaire's ranch, Gracie is determined to buy George a ranch, despite his having no desire to live on one. The second episode, "Von Zell's Girlfriend Between Trains," has Gracie posing as Harry Von Zell's wife, after he tells an old sweetheart that he's married. Gracie is at her finest as she tries to remember her name is Mabel Von Zell. As an interesting bonus, the original show sponsorships are left on the video, giving us a glimpse of the advertising world of the 1950s. --Jenny Brown

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much better than I expected!, January 28, 2001

By 

Rodney Bowcock Jr. (California, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Burns and Allen Show - Collection [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As a fan of Old Time Radio shows I was very familiar with George and Gracie's radio program. I had never seen the TV program until I picked up this set of videos and was pleasantly surprised to learn that they are even better than the radio program which is one of my favorites ever. I won't trouble with plot summaries, because I can't do that nearly as well as what's already been done. If you're already a fan of George and Gracie, you're sure to love these episodes, and if you've never experienced them, this is a great place to start!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nostalgic "must see" for all Burns & Allen fans, November 12, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Burns and Allen Show - Collection [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Bridgestone's two volume video boxed set, The Burns & Allen Collection, showcases the comedic talents of George Burns and his wife, Gracie Allen as revealed in episodes of their early television series. Both of these video volumes have a running time of 180 minutes, are black & white, and feature six Burns & Allen episodes (included "Hollywood Parade" which starred George Burns and the Andrews Sisters). The Burns & Allen Collection will prove to be an inexpensive and greatly appreciated addition to any community library video collection, and is a nostalgic "must see" for all Burns & Allen fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars last of the VCRs, July 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Burns and Allen Show - Collection [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though I`m completely sold on DVDs, these tapes were still well worth the purchase to me. I was too afraid they might be discontinued and never converted......I hooked my VCR back up for these........love the shows, hate the VCR....Rewinding is such a joy!