Product Details

• Actors: Brian Keith, Sebastian Cabot, Kathy Garver, Anissa Jones, Johnny Whitaker
• Directors: James Sheldon, William D. Russell
• Writers: Austin Kalish, Cynthia Lindsay, Don Fedderson, Dorothy Cooper, Doug Tibbles
• Format: Box set, Color, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Mpi Home Video
• DVD Release Date: June 27, 2006
• Run Time: 750 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000EXZFS0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #40,301 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Family Affair: Season One" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though it never garnered much critical acclaim during its network run (1966-71), the TV comedy-drama Family Affair has been a viewer favorite for decades thanks to its gentle tone, adorable cast, and simple but sweet storylines; the charm of the show has been well preserved on this debut season set. The appeal of Family Affair came from the relationship between wealthy bachelor engineer (gruff character actor Brian Keith), his manservant Mr. French (Sebastian Cabot), and the three children (Johnny Whitaker, Kathy Garver, and Anissa Jones) of his late brother, who have come to live with them. The stories in the first season may have been lightweight--Cissy (Garver) doesn't want to go to boarding school ("The Matter of School"); Buffy (Jones) loses her Mrs. Beasley doll ("Mrs. Beasley, Where Are You?"), Bill and Jody (Whitaker) try to go on a trip ("One for the Little Boy")--but there's no denying that Keith, Cabot, and the young cast approach the material with honesty and genuine emotion, which undoubtedly provides some of the reason for the program's enduring appeal. The set's five discs include all 29 episodes of the 1966-67 season, a gallery of production stills, and a featurette starring the now grown-up Garver, who provides some tidbits of information about the show's genesis, as well as her own reminiscences about the series. --Paul Gaita

Product Description

Family Affair was a popular situation comedy and a regular top 20 hit show for CBS-TV during its five-year run from 1966-71. Brian Keith stars as bachelor Bill Davis, a highly-paid engineering consultant who lives in a posh Manhattan apartment with his proper English manservant, Mr. Giles French (Sebastian Cabot). Davis’ carefree existence is turned upside down when his brother and sister-in-law die suddenly in a tragic plane accident, leaving their three children orphaned. Davis becomes an instant father figure to six year-old twins, Buffy and Jody (Annisa Jones, Johnnie Whitaker) and their big sister, Cissy (Kathy Garver). Despite their reservations, Davis and French grow attached to the children. Through humorous trial and error, coupled with big doses of love and patience, the five become a real family. Not only was the series a household favorite, but Buffy’s best friend and confidante, Mrs. Beasley was a huge star in her own right. The talking Mrs. Beasley doll was first introduced in 1967. Coloring books, paper dolls, games and a Family Affair lunch box soon followed. Just like Buffy, the highly collectible Mrs. Beasley was a source of friendship and comfort to little girls everywhere. Family Affair Season 1 contains 30 episodes on 5 discs.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic TV show gets classy treatment on DVD June 25, 2006

By Pageturner in NYC

Format:DVD

I remember loving this TV show when I was very young and so I approached re-viewing it 40 years later with much trepidation because I was not sure how it would hold up. I didnt remember this sitcom being heavy with jokes and punchlines, so I worried that it might have aged badly. I'm very relieved to say that the 30 episodes in this set are wonderful and the entire cast is restrained, believable and talented. This is one of those heart-warmer comedies that aren't made any more. Its humor comes from the situations rather than a goofy setup or (worse yet) impossibly adult wisecracks coming out of the mouths of young children. When bachelor Bill Davis (Brian Keith) inherits the three children of his late brother and sister-in-law (Anissa Jones, Johnnie Whittaker and Kathy Garver), he and his butler (er "gentleman's gentleman, Mr. French, played by Sebastian Cabot)find themselves suddenly having to raise three kids. Be forewarned, the first few episodes are real tear-jerkers as the kids continually believe they will be sent away to another relative. The DVD's picture is vibrant--it was one of the first color TV shows besides BONANZA-- and the stories are captivating.

The only confusing part of the DVD experience is that each episode begins with a pre-opening credits sequence--sometimes the scene that plays is a scene you'll see later in the episode and sometimes its the actual beginning of the episode, so don't be too quick to speed past the opening sequence. The DVD doesn't have chapter breaks within each episode.... Sadly, there's no commentaries (only Garver and Whittaker are still alive from the core cast) but on the final disk, Garver hosts a special feature that takes you behind the scenes of the show and she's just as effusive and attractive as she was when she was first cast in the show--she was 18 when she was cast as 15-year-old Sissy. She also explains how Brian Keith agreed to do the TV show as long as he could film all his scenes one right after another (much the way Fred MacMurray did on MY THREE SONS), so he would only have to commit to a few months filming a TV show rather than a much lengthier filming period. This meant that many of the cast filmed their reaction shots to sequences weeks later. Even with this knowldge, its almost impossible to spot any odd continuity; it plays seemlessly--which is certainly high praise for William D. Russell, who directed all by the first episode.

Guests stars during this first season (1966)includes Myrna Loy, with reoccurring appearnaces by Heather Angel as another nanny, Miss Faversham. John Williams appears in episodes 18--26 as Mr French's brother, who looks after the family when his brother is called away (Cabot was ill at the time--can anyone explain why Cabot is wearing a bandage on his hand for almost half of the first season's episodes?).

Best episodes for season one include: the first show, "Buffy"; "Take Two Aspirin" (ep #11, when Uncle Bill is in Mexico and Fench gets the flu); "The Thursday Man" (ep #13, which deepens the characters of Sissy and Mr French); "All Around the Town" (ep #17, where the twins get lost in the city); and "Once In Love With Buffy" (ep #21 when Aunt Fran returns and wants Buffy and Sissy to come live with her).

This is a DVD set well worth owning.

NOTE: One of the other reviews posted on Amazon complained that there was no list of the episodes on each disk. My set contained a glossy insert that listed all teh shows and noted which disk they were on. Maybe it was left out of his set. (Although, thanks for the helpful list of season one's episodes.) Read more ›

48 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT! March 29, 2006

By 60's fan

Format:DVD

Brian Keith and the whole cast made this show a winner. It was funny and the whole family could watch. I am glad that this and other shows of the 60's are being released on DVD. It gives me something to watch. TV has lost it's innocence.

53 of 59 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for this beloved show! March 20, 2006

By fivemile13

Format:DVD

I am so excited to actually be able to see this neglected gem once again. It hasn't been re-run on any networks, even cable, in years and years. Looking forward to Cissy's romance in Tahiti, Jody clipping Mr. French's beard, the substitute Mr. French (played by John Williams--not the orchestra conductor but the actor who did the "Masterpieces of Music" commercial ("I'm sure you recognize this lovely melody as 'Stranger in Paradise,' but did you actually know it is based on the Polovtsian Dance number 2 by Borodin?"), stickball in the park, Uncle Bee-iill, Buffy and her beloved Mrs. Beasley, and the excitement of New York in the 60's. IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!! Now let's get out a few more 60s favorites like "That Girl!"

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great DVDs... But Where's The Index? September 5, 2006

By David Jackson

Format:DVD

Let me start by saying that my wife and I love this show and were thrilled to get it on DVD. We do have one small complaint though... the people who produced these DVDs forget to include some sort of index to the DVDs showing which episodes are on which DVD. For those of you reading this I would like to offer this homemade index:

Disc 1

1. Buffy (Pilot)

2. Jody and Cissy

3. The Gift Horse

4. The Matter of School

5. Marmalade

6. Room with a Viewpoint

Disc 2

7. Mrs. Beasley, Where Are You?

8. Who's Afraid of Nural Shpeni?

9. A Matter for Experts

10. Beware the Other Woman

11. Take Two Aspirin

12. Think Deep

Disc 3

13. Love Me, Love Me Not

14. The Thursday Man

15. Hard Hat Jody

16. That Was the Dinner That Wasn't

17. All Around the Town

18. One for the Little Boy

Disc 4

19. Fancy Free

20. A Helping Hand

21. Once in Love with Buffy

22. Ballerina, Buffy

23. The Mother Tongue

24. Everybody Needs Somebody

Disc 5

25. The Way it Was

26. All Nephews are Created Equal

27. The Prize

28. What Did You Do in the West, Uncle?

29. The Award

30. The Butler Method

Feel free to copy and paste this for your own set!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars FAMILY AFFAIR FINALLY ARRIVES March 28, 2006

By Scott Denny

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

It Is wonderful to see this show released on dvd,The show is wonderful in its wholesomeness and family atmosphere.It is a sharpe contrast to the real life Buffy Annisa Jones had to endure.Her vh1 True Hollywood Story made me feel very sad to watch.Such a happy looking child could have such an awful life but yet be such a great young actress that when your watching family affair she seems like shes on top of the world...This is a great series and I hope they release Batman with Adam West and Burt Ward they looked terrific on TV Land Awards 2006 and I hope the show comes out this year also. Scott Denny Runnemede NJ

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars LOOKING FORWARD TO OWNING THIS WARM FAMILY FAVORITE! April 3, 2006

By Forrest C. Hopson

Format:DVD

"Family Affair" has been one of those TV shows that I have long been waiting for to be released onto dvd. I grew up watching this warm, family show of Uncle Bill, Sissy, Jody, and Buffy, and of course, Mr. French, who seemed to always have some kind of a solution to whatever problem had occurred. Most memorable episodes involved the disappearance of Buffy's Mrs. Beasley doll, a camping trip with Sissy complaining she couldn't use her hair dryer, and Jody trimming Mr. French's beard. I only hope that the Season 1, listed on the box cover, instead of "The Complete First Season," doesn't mean that something has been omitted and this is only a scattering of select episodes from the first season. If anyone has any insights on this issue, please inform us in your review. Once again, I'm very pleased to see that the beloved "Family Affair" will be joining "The Brady Bunch," "Bewitched," and "The Andy Griffith Show," on dvd. I see "That Girl!" is also being released to dvd, another favorite TV show! I hope that a release date is set soon for another great `60's TV show, "Get Smart." I believe that I enjoy these now "classic" TV shows for the cast members in all of these shows do a great job in making their audience believe in whatever role they're playing and whatever the situation their involved in, is actually happening, and this is rare TV magic that's hard to find on TV these days.