Customer Reviews

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although I was more of a fan of Seasons 2 and 3, I am so happy to see that Gomer Pyle USMC is FINALLY being released on DVD!! My VHS tapes are so worn from the constant playing! The first Season is not to be missed though. Gomer coming right out of Mayberry RFD/Andy Griffith and straight into the Marines to face the sweet tender hearted quiet Sgt. Carter (not!). On a side note, Frank Sutton was truly an incredible powerful actor, and his early death in 1971 from a heart attack was unfortunate. He was in many movies prior to Gomer...too many to mention. One of my all time favorite actors. I can't wait until this December!!! I will be rush ordering this one for sure!! Highly recommended!

After waiting for the first season of this series to be released for years,it was just as hilarious as I remembered. Jim Nabors was sensational as Gomer Pyle, but the real key to the success of the show was the brilliant performance given by Frank Sutton as Sgt. Carter. His was one of a small group of contenders for the funniest performance given by an actor in TV sitcom history. With current TV nothing but reality garbage, American Idol dribble and endless news and talk shows ad-nauseum, what a pleasure it is to pop a show like this in the DVD player and enjoy something truly original, creative and funny.

It didn't take long to view the entire first season of "Gomer Pyle USMC". I enjoyed the comedy back in the 60's and it's still enjoyable today. Even the "Jim Nabors Hour" clip brought back memories. The quality is very good. It was also interesting to hear Jim Nabors and Ronnie Schell describing how it was working on the series. I hope Paramount will release the entire series on DVD.

I had some very fond memories of The Gomer Pyle Show during its' run and I'm happy to say this first season set didn't disappoint in the least.
The years of its' initial run was a time when a plethora of military related shows graced the TV screens of homes throughout North America.Shows like Rat Patrol and Combat gave us the serious side of things while shows like McHales Navy(I'm anxiously awaiting THIS show to come out!) and of course this one the Gomer Pyle Show.
This show gave us an already familiar and likable character from the then popular Andy Griffith Show and put him into his own show.To make the transition more smooth for the TV audience they created an entire Griffith episode for just that purpose(included in this set..a VERY nice touch).From then on the producers and writers of the new show started to flesh out and create a totally lovable character in the form of new USMC recruit Pvt.Gomer Pyle.The able and very talented Jim Nabors rose to the occasion brilliantly and helped create one of the most memorable TV characters ever.Gomer could be a bumbler and pull some boners but his down home charm and sensibilities underscored the fact that he was far from stupid.He didn't have a mean bone in his body,always looked to the best inside everyone and did everything with the best of intentions.In other words a totally likable/lovable person.
Now of course to counter so much goodness there has to be a foil.And that took the form of one Sgt.Carter portrayed with great gusto and pinnache by Frank Sutton.His character was a 15 year decorated Korean career Marine vet and he played the tough as nails DI to a tee.But as tough and Marine as he was he did have a soft side and was always perplexed at why Gomer liked him.Even in the Sergeants' worst moments of Gomer-induced apoplexy(Frank Suttons' facial expressions have to be seen to appreciated!) we always knew that the sarge himself wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes either.
And throughout it all shone Gomers' innocence,his never say die spirit and his continual longing to always please the sergeant.
The two characters AND the two actors that help shape them were matches made in TV heaven.Wonderfully acted and beautifully executed these two men made the show the success it ultimately became and the reason it is remembered so fondly by so many.And of course these two were surrounded by a great stable of TV character actors and directors watched over by the benevolent Sheldon Leonard who is one of if not THE most prolific TV producer ever.
In conclusion a wonderful and memorable TV show is awaiting all who buy this great DVD set.The on screen chemistry and portrayals of principals Jim Nabors and Frank Sutton are a marvel to behold.The show promises much and delivers.The laughs are in abundance and again(as I point out in all my reviews re family oriented entertainment) if you are looking for a series the ENTIRE family can watch,enjoy and laugh with I can highly recommend this one.When was the last time you saw a program in recent years you could do THAT with??.......I can't hear you!!!??

This season has never looked better. Beautifully mastered. Nice sound and a C-ration of extras to complete it.

I really enjoyed the Jim Nabors commentaries (on the pilot and TAGS spinoff). Any GOMER PYLE fan will love the set, which comes in new slimline cases with episode synopses written on the back of each case.

A LONG overdue release -- I've already put in my preorder. One of the best, and strangest, sitcoms of all time indeed, and it's been woefully absent from syndication for several years now. I can't wait until the whole series is available! Kudos to Paramount for FINALLY making this available in Season sets. Awesome!

I bought this for my parents for Christmas. They had been looking for it for a long time.

They have had great enjoyment out of this DVD set and have told me how the comedy is so much better than anything on TV today.

I've watched a few episodes with them and they were funny. I hope that the rest of the seasons come out soon so I can continue to see my parents giggle like teenagers.

Why write a detailed review? Anybody reading this right now already knows about Gomer Pyle and the fact that the DVD release is long overdue, and that it is one of the funniest shows from the sixties, can I get an amen?

Always loved this show, one of my all time favorites & now I'm going to love watching it on DVD. I have been checking over the years to see if it's out on the market, so glad 1st season is out-please, please get all 5 seasons on DVD ASAP, I'm ready to buy!!!!

Being 46 yrs old, I used to watch this show when I was 4 yrs old & up. I hadn't seen an episode even as a rerun since the early 70's and all I can say is that it wasn't a SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE at all at how good this show still is! From the packaging to the picture and sound quality it has been great! My children ages six and four, my wife and I watched an average of 2 episodes a night until we had seen all 5 discs and there wasn't a flaw in any disc. THIS SHOW LIKE MANY SITCOMS FROM THAT ERA PROVES YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE DIRTY, NASTY OR VULGAR TO BE FUNNY! I am now going to order season 2. A must for families looking for wholesome family friendly entertainment!