Customer Reviews

The Captain & Tennille - Ultimate Collection (3 DVD Set)

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2 star:		(1)
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Beautifully packaged 3 DVD set of the 76-77 series "The Captain and Tennille" is a joy to behold. The show has a magical quality about it an though somewhat dated in spots, still remains as entertaining today as it was back then. What a collection of guest stars: John Travolta, Redd Foxx, Tony Randall, Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, "Charlie's Angels"(Kate, Farrah, and Jaclyn), The "Happy Days" cast, Penny Marshall, Leonard Nemoy, Muhammad Ali, and many, many more. Remember "The Bionic Watermelon"?, The endless hat jokes?, the great music? If you have a fondness for the seventies, or if you want to enrich the lives of your children, pick this set up, out the discs in and enjoy. We need this kind of entertainment in our lives today. Thank You R2 entertainment, keep the good times coming-you've made my whole DVD collection a bit brighter.

For years I've longed to see episodes of THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE again as it was one of my many cherished childhood memories, but I have to admit I was a bit worried that seeing it again would ruin the memories. Unlike the bad experiences of re-viewing 1978's atrocious `Star Wars Holiday Special' and `Legend of the Super Heroes', seeing THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE again was a wonderful delight! I watched all 11 episodes and the delicious extras in less than 2 days. Anyone who had a fondness for this pop duo should not miss this excellent boxed set.
THE SONNY & CHER SHOW set the format for all 1970's variety programs, and THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE falls into line perfectly. Sure, the comedy bits are dated and not really all that funny (were they ever on these variety shows?) but on THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE the comedy pieces are quick and to the point. Many other variety series belabored the ill fated comedy sketches and let them drag on far too long. This one doesn't. The main focus on THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE is the music. And what music it is! Many consider the music of the 1970's to be lightweight and weak, but how can anyone argue how well crafted these songs are? It may not be raw rock & roll, but it is perfect pop music. Toni Tennille has an amazing voice and seems capable of performing just about anything. Watching her belt out the tunes (from 1940's standards to 1970's ballads and pop classics) and dancing up a storm, one can only wonder how she did not become a huge Broadway star (oh, how I would have loved to have seen her in the touring company for `Victor / Victoria' back in 1995). She's an incredible talent. It's quite fun to watch her with her chipmunk hair style and her happy peppy persona and know that by 1980 she'd become a full blown sex symbol upon the release of "Do That To Me One More Time". The Captain (Daryl Dragon) should not go unnoticed either. The box set proves he is a first class musician on so many levels.
As for the shows themselves, they contain most of the duo's big hits ("Lonely Nights", "Love Will Keep Us Together", "Shop Around", "Butterscotch Castle", and "Come In From The Rain") as well as some excellent covers ("Boogie Fever", "Your Song", and "My Boyfriend's Back"). Toni performs duets with John Travolta on "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" and Erin Moran (Joanie Cunningham) on "My Guy". THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE offers up several of the hottest guest stars from the hottest TV shows of the time - Charlie's Angels (!!!), Welcome Back Kotter, Happy Days (even Pinky Tuscedaro & The Pinkettes!), and What's Happening.
Cher had nothing to worry about as far as wardrobe competition was concerned. Toni Tennille's costumes are usually quite conservative, but in a few numbers she surprises viewers with an image defying outfit. In one episode she dons a sheer black dress with a plunging neckline that rivals anything Jennifer Lopez has ever worn. In another, Daryl and her are dressed in Elton John's leftovers and even comment on how ridiculous the costumes are. In one sexy number, Toni shows off her long sexy legs in a skimpy nurse's costume! Va Va Voom!
The extras are fantastic. If you watch all 11 episodes and find one of your favorite songs are missing, check out the video jukebox! Most stunning here is the vampy "Superstitious" which features Toni dressed as a spider vixen (she looks exactly like Pat Benatar in this number). There's plenty more where that came from! A music video, a Tonight Show appearance, and some extra comedy bits are all worth watching.
It's hard to believe that THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE was only on for one season. My memories of `The Bionic Watermelon' are so vivid (don't ask why - it's really not that funny). In my head it is probably all a big blur because there were so many variety shows on at the time - `Sonny & Cher', `Tony Orlando & Dawn', `The Jacksons', `Donny & Marie' (coming to DVD in spring 2006), and all those miscellaneous variety specials by Diana Ross, Suzanne Somers, Cheryl Ladd (!!!!), and Donna Summer. THE CAPTAIN & TENNILLE is a perfect slice of the 1970's and should not be missed!

I was 10 years old when this show originally aired and feared that it would be so bad I wouldn't be able to take it 3 decades down the line. But my curiosity wouldn't keep me from getting this set to watch it again. The first episode is as bad as I expected but it surprisingly gets better as the series goes on. The 1977 episodes have more emphasis on music and less comedy skits and are the reason the show continued to improve. It's fun to see performances by many of the pop stars of the time like Marilyn McCoo/Billy Davis, Heart, Leo Sayer, The Sylvers, Bread, and England Dan & John Ford Coley, although only McCoo/Davis refrain from lip-synching. The performances featuring Louisa and Melissa Tennille are also very enjoyable. I remember having a thing for Melissa when I was 10. I thought she was pretty hot!
The comedy mostly ranges from semi humorous to very bad but there are a few laughs along the way, mostly involving the ongoing "Masterjoke Theater" skits. The pie fight on the season finale was predictable but fun to watch.
Mostly it's just fun to watch the Captain & Tennille perform, particulary when doing songs from their own albums.
I was disappointed to find that the performance of "Mind Your Love" was not included on the C&T jukebox though. It was the one performance from the show that I still retained a vivid memory of and I was looking forward to seeing it again. It was always one of my favorite C&T songs.
It's a good set though -- full of fun, memories and good tunes. Anyone who enjoys the goofiness that was the 70s television variety show will really enjoy this collection.

I got this DVD at Tower Records in Hollywood(the 1st one at 12:00!!) rushed home and played it. Toni Tennille's hair deserves to have third billing(the first two shows I could've stop looking at it!...I've never seen a hairstyle so match a face....)You'll love this dvd if you love real musicians(both are clasically trained) and Toni's showmanship carry the show. Between her contagious energy and Daryl's arrangements it was easy to watch all 9 hrs. in a sitting. I mean, think of it, only the year before,1975, they had their first big hit, Love Will Keep Us Together, and did such an outstanding job on that song(the #1 song of '75....smack dab in the middle of the 70's)that it luanched them into worldwide stardom, and their own show.Amazing what one good song/arrangement can do for a carear!Toni Tennille's smile is pure sunshine, and her nuclear energy is enough to light 100 New York City's.The sketches show the times..BUT, the music is timeless!! and still sounds great. On disc three,the bonus is a big one...it's their first national appearance on television on Johnny Carson...they sang Love Will Keep Us Together and Honey Come Love Me...just the two of them and a drummer....it was interesting to hear Johnny say that they'll be appearing at Knott's Berry Farm that June...and that,"...I have a feeling those two are going to go places!" how right he was.. As for the corniness of the sketches, you just sort of have to surrender to the 70's....back to when we all weren't so sophisticated and educated by talk shows, and it's actually are beautiful observation of what a different world and different pace the world was in. I found myself, after watching them for hours, going about my day more cheerful..eagar to love and laugh...maybe carrying some of the innocence of the 70's inside me. Thanks to them, and the people who put this dvd out for the absalute joy it brought me!...Now,where's the Live dvd from the Greek Theater??...will be watching for it!

These two wonderful musicians are the reason that I am now a musician and music teacher. I watched them every week and fell in love with their sound. I had to make music my life, too. They will never know the influence that they had in my life. Watching these DVDs all day today just helps to reinforce that even at the age of 12, I had the very best of taste in music. I haved loved them for 30 years and I hope to love them for at least 30 more!!!

This is an incredible collection.
Toni Tennille's voice is the 8th wonder of the world on these DVDS. She sings lush ballads, fun pop, and mindblowing R&B songs. The duet with Dionne Warwick is out of this world.

What strikes me most viewing these as an adult, is how incredibly hard Toni and Daryl must have been working during this time. From the music to the dancing, and yes the somewhat corny sketches, this type of show produced on a weekly basis must have really worn them out.

If you ever appreciated the music of The Captain and Tennille, you will not be disappointed with this set. Here's hoping that R2 will release the rest of the series and the three specials that are not included here.

A big thank you to R2, and most especially the extremely talented
Captain and Tennille!

Mike

I bought this because I enjoy retro shows. I have The Captain & Tennille's "Greatest Hits" and I liked the songs on it so I figured I had a reasonable chance of liking this set.

As I watched the first show on Disc One, I thoroughly enjoyed the songs, skits, and Toni Tennille. She looked fabulous and appeared to be having a great time and had energy galore. She could probably pull off appearing on a Public Access show singing the telephone book and I would watch it after seeing her on this. I thought the show was incredibly fast-paced and was surprised to see the episode lasted only forty-some odd minutes.

After doing some research on the internet, it appears that most or all the shows in this set have been edited. The episode with Tony Randal has him giving an ongoing summary of what's happened on the show and he refers to things that aren't on the DVD. Despite this flaw, I do recommend the set. The Captain & Tennille seem to have supervised the DVD production so if stuff is cut out, it must be at their request.

Don't miss Toni singing "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with John Travolta and watch him mess up the song. Watch Toni and Daryl do a funny skit in a movie theater with members of the "Happy Days" cast. Shake your head in disbelief as Toni performs "Jive Talkin'" with back-up dancers dressed as mimes and laugh at the production number for "Shop Around".

Even the bonus features are fun in this set. Be sure to watch both versions of "Muskrat Love", and the bonus skits from episodes not included in the set. As it says in the song "Lonely Night (Angle Face)", I can't get this set "out of my mind".

I bought The Tony Orlando and Dawn dvd (enjoyed it very much) and was a little hestitant to get Captain and Tennille but am I glad I did.
With great Guest Stars-Welcome Back Kotter Gang, Happy Days, Penny Marshall, Charlie's Angels and a whos who of mid 70s popular entertainers. It was also nice to see Toni's 2 talented sisters.
What I liked most is how much fun and colorful these shows are.
If you need a smile and a little pick me up I recommend Captain and Tennille. Love Will keep Us Together

My nephew who is now 29 years old was an infant when I used to hold him on my lap every Monday night and watch the C&T weekly show. When the show was on, his tiny face was glued to that set, and for those brief thirty-second commercials (yep, they were only about that long then!), once Toni's smiling face would depart the screen and Colgate (or whatever) would take over the airwaves, my tiny nephew would start to cry...a little flowing riverbed of tiny tears. I would have to reassure him, "its okay, honey, she will be back on in a few seconds." And once Toni would return, he'd smile again, an ear-to-ear grin. To this day he tells me that he remembers being "in love with Toni!" Imagine that, a few month old infant, but he swears he remembers the show. He even has described it to me, and the hat jokes, etc., so they have to be "genuine memories" of his. For me, I loved them (Daryl and Toni) BOTH equally, and have been waiting for this DVD set now since, like Jerry's review mentioned, since FOREVER! So, how cool is this to have them, FINALLY, all on one, three DVD set?? Personally this year has been a VERY rough one for me (lots of deaths in family, etc.) so this gives me one FINE REASON to SMILE (for me) ONE MORE TIME!!! THANKS, TONI and DARYL for all the years of terrific music!!! I've been an original fan since I first heard LWKUT in 1975, and haven't looked back since. I'm really looking forward to seeing: "Still the One", "The Way I Want to Touch You", "Boogie Fever" (clear, at last!), "Mr. Sandman" (and can only HOPE they've included it on this DVD set!), the cast of Happy Days show (was HILL-ARIOUS!), oh gosh, there were just so many cute things on that show, and I'm sure there will be MANY surprises on it, too, stuff that I've forgotten was included. Though Daryl thought his "hat jokes" were dumb, I always thought they were CUTE- just like him in that cute little sailor's cap!!! We can all watch, and go, "Oh, they look sooooo young!!!" (but, hey, weren't we all then?)

So what U say, R2 Entertainment, how about re-releasing Toni's solo talk show, The Toni Tennille Show, too??? That would be cool to have that stuff MINT, too!! She did lots of neat stuff on that show, as well.

Let's all raise a glass to the rock stars of the past!!
To Toni and Daryl, may they have another twenty five years of music together! :)

-MJ

This is an awesome set;I definitely enjoyed every minute of it !! It brought back a lot of great memories for me...Capt and Tennille were my fav ! I was a young teenager when this show originally came on..I remember their songs so well, how great they were,and how we all wanted hair just like Toni's ! :)
The 'extra's' at the end are well-done..esp. "Do that to Me One More Time" ( I wondered what the Capt looked like without his hat on, LOL) and their very first appearance on the Tonight Show...thx for putting out this wonderful set;it gives me a chance to share some of the past with my own teenagers now.
Daryl's keyboard music and style is so unique and special;combine it with Toni's great voice and her ability to sing and dance to any song ever written,and it's one great duo that shouldn't be missed! Good music like this is hard to come by these days,esp. with the degree of talent Daryl and Toni put into it.I highly recommend this set ! :)