Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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77 of 77 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
YES! The one, the original, and now the complete series, April 11, 2006
What can I say that isn't already known about the best-loved sitcom in television history? Well, it has a history of many firsts as its makers were pioneers in television. They single-handledly invented the re-run. They were also the first show to have a video club in VHS format for sale back in the late eighties. I purchased those tapes and still own them, and waited for the day the full six seasons would be available on DVD. I also own the 13 episodes of the "Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour" on VHS, which were shot as once-a-month specials at the end of Lucy and Desi's run. A separate DVD package for that makes sense, and we the fans look forward to its release (hey, while you're at it, guys, The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy would be great too!).
So from the first episode shot (which aired as episode #3, entitled "Lucy Thinks Ricky Wants To Murder Her", to the final episode from season six, entitled "Lucy Dedicates A Statue", you now have the complete set, with a pristine and lovingly restored picture, and all the extras from each season DVD.
Here's something a lot of people are surprised to know when I tell them. The advantage of watching all six seasons in a package like this is you see the story of the Ricardos and the Mertzes unfold, and the story has an arc, particularly for Lucy. This is perhaps most evident in one particular Hollywood episode, when she is offered a golden opportunity. But I won't give anything away here, you'll have to see what I mean!
Lucy collectors have been around since the beginning of the I Love Lucy phenomenon, and I think it's mainly because the show has heart. The jokes never get old, and there is a genuine appeal - you can relate to the show no matter who you are or where you're from. Sure, there was backstage controversy over the marriage which ended in divorce in 1960, and women's groups may quibble about how Lucy did not exactly move the women's movement forward, but it did what television does best: reflect the times of our culture. If anything Lucille Ball was quite the pioneer herself, as the first female TV Studio executive, navigating Desilu well into the 1970's.
Anyone who wants to see a master at play in situation comedy should take a good look at this collection. In fact, the work of Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance (whom I may submit here as the greatest sidekick in sitcom history) and William Frawley presents the original Fab Four, way before Seinfeld. These cats still show how it's done.
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56 of 60 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What's up with the price?, July 18, 2006
I would gladly this set 5 stars, except for the fact that it is currently cheaper to purchase all 6 seasons of "I Love Lucy" individually. That should not be. There is nothing extra in this set that is not included in the individual sets, except for a fancy piece of cardboard on the bottom and some extra plastic wrap holding all of the sets together. I really don't understand Amazon's pricing policy. Their DVDs go dramatically up and down in price every week. Just last week the "I Love Lucy" seasons were $45 each, making this complete series collection a good deal. Now it is not worth it. Buy them individually and save 50 bucks. But beware, maybe next week they'll jack the prices up again.
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33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vitametavegamin, Candy Factory, Hollywood, Europe & Connecticut, May 6, 2006
Over 50 years ago during the early years of broadcast television, the very inspired talents of Lucille Ball (1911-1989) and her then husband Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) were showcased on their hilarious television show "I Love Lucy". TV execs had initially rejected the plausibility of the show because of Desi and because they intended to tape the shows. However, thanks to the tireless efforts of Lucille Ball and Desi's obvious talents, the show first aired in 1951 and quickly became one of the most successful TV shows during all six of its regular seasons. As Lucy and Ricky Ricardo on "I Love Lucy", Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were joined by William Frawley (1877-1966) and Viviane Vance (1909-1979) as their best-friends/apartment landlords of Fred and Ethel Mertz.
Listed below are some of the best of the show's 180 episodes & 1 special contained within this six-season DVD set.
First Season (35 Episodes):
2. "Be A Pal": Thinking their marriage is going cold, Lucy joins Ricky for a poker game, then turns their apartment into a Cuban getaway.
3. "The Diet": To be in one of Ricky's shows, Lucy must lose 22 pounds. No steak for Lucy.
8. "Men are Messy": Lucy divides their apartment in half when she tires of Ricky being messy, but goes whole-hog to impress a magazine photographer.
13. "The Benefit": Lucy gets Ricky to perform for Ethel's womens club, but only if she can perform too.
17. "Lucy Writes a Play": Lucy writes a play for her woman's club, but when Ricky won't do it, she changes it from Cuban to English. Ricky later changes his mind, but gets the wrong script.
18. "Breaking the Lease": After a fight, Lucy & Ricky want to move, but Ethel & Fred won't end their lease; so Lucy & Ricky have a little party.
29. "The Freezer": The Ricardos & Mertzes purchase a used commercial freezer to save money, but Lucy gets locked in while trying to hide the beef.
30. "Lucy Does a TV Commercial": One of the best episodes of all time with Lucy drinking too much Vitametavegamin for a TV commercial that Ricky begrudgingly allows her to do.
33. "Lucy's Schedule": Unhappy with Lucy's disorderliness, Ricky puts her on a tight schedule; but the wife (Edith Meiser) of his new boss (Gale Gordon) starts a woman's revolution. Look out for low-flying dinner rolls!
34. "Ricky Thinks He is Going Bald": When Ricky thinks he's going bald, Lucy resorts to tortuous hair-growing methods.
Second Season (32 Episodes):
1. "Job Switching": Lucy & Ethel get jobs at a chocolate factory, while Ricky & Fred try their hands at being "house-husbands" and cook up a large mess; a famous & very popular all-time favorite episode.
2. "The Saxophone": Lucy's talent (or lack thereof) of playing the saxophone is showcased when she wants to join Ricky on a band tour.
5. "The Operetta": Lucy writes an operetta for her woman's club to perform to raise money. Unfortunately, Lucy hasn't been very good managing the club's finances.
7. "The Courtroom": Ricky & Lucy purchase a new TV for Fred & Ethel's anniversary, but things go awry when the TV appears to need to be adjusted.
8. "Redecorating": Lucy thinks that she's won new furniture and decides to give their apartment a wallpaper makeover.
10. "Lucy is Enciente": Lucy tries to find the right way to tell Ricky that she's pregnant.
22. "No Children Allowed": A frequent "I Love Lucy" recurring character is introduced: Mrs. Trumble (Elizabeth Patterson, 1875-1966).
28. "Lucy Wants New Furniture": Lucy gets a new sofa & coffee table without Ricky's permission, so she tries to economize to pay for it.
32. "Never Do Business With Friends": Ricky gets Lucy a new washing machine. so Fred & Ethel purchase their old one, but it doesn't work as well as expected. (One of my favorite all-time episodes.)
Third Season (31 Episodes):
1. "Ricky's 'Life' Story": Not happy about being ignored in Ricky's magazine interview, Lucy gets back at Ricky.
3. "Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress": Getting a rare opportunity to perform on TV for their women's club, Lucy & Ethel purchase the same dress.
6. "Lucy Tells the Truth": Lucy bets Ricky that she can tell the truth for 24 hours and drives everyone crazy.
8. "Redecorating the Mertzes' Apartment": Lucy helps Ethel & Fred redecorate their apartment, including new paint and new upholstery with obvious results.
12. "Ricky's Old Girlfriend": Lucy's worried about Ricky's reaction to a visit in NY by one of his old Cuban girlfriends: Carlotta Romero.
13. "The Million-Dollar Idea": Lucy & Ethel's TV commercial to sell Lucy's salad dressing ends up doing much better than expected.
15. "The Charm School": Lucy & Ethel go to charm school to keep Ricky & Fred interested in them.
17. "Fan Magazine Interview": Lucy & Ricky prepare for a fan magazine interview, but a quarrel between them could change the interview outcome.
19. "Ricky Loses His Temper": Lucy bets Ricky that he can't keep his temper and that she won't buy any new hats.
20. "Home Movies": When Ricky gets the opportunity to do a film audition, Lucy, Ethel & Fred create their own film that Lucy edits with Ricky's home movies of Little Ricky.
21. "Bonus Bucks": Lucy & Ethel become obsessed with trying to win money with 'bonus bucks'.
25. "Lucy's Club Dance": When Lucy & Ethel's 'all-girl' orchestra rehearse horribly for a club dance, Ricky has to think fast since Lucy put his name as their orchestra leader.
27. "The Diner": When Ricky decides to quit show business, he & Fred purchase a diner; but everyone isn't too happy with their new duties.
28. "Tennessee Ernie Visits": When Cousin Ernie (Tennessee Ernie Ford, 1919-1991) pays the Ricardos an unexpected visit, Lucy tries to scare him away.
Fourth Season (30 Episodes):
1. "The Business Manager": Ricky's hired business manager (Charles Lane) for Lucy's household budget only allows her $5/month to spend.
5. "Mr. and Mrs. TV Show": Ricky's reluctance to do a live morning TV show with Lucy from their apartment backfires for Lucy when she tries to get back at him by sabotaging what she believes is only a dress rehearsal.
6. "Ricky's Movie Offer": When a talent scout comes to audition Ricky at the Ricardo's apartment, Lucy isn't about to give up her big chance.
7. "Ricky's Screen Test": Lucy wants more than a bit part in Ricky's audition for "Don Juan".
8. "Lucy's Mother-in-Law": Lucy tries to impress Ricky's mother on visit from Cuba by having a Spanish-speaking translator on an earphone.
9. "Ethel's Birthday": Fred asks Lucy to pick out Ethel's birthday gift; Ethel's reaction angers Lucy with hilarious results at a play.
11. "Getting Ready": When the gang decides to drive to Hollywood, Fred purchases an old used car.
12. "Lucy Learns to Drive": When Ricky gets a new convertible, Lucy insists that she learn to drive; but when Lucy wants to teach Ethel, uh oh!
13. "California, Here We Come": Confusion ensues when Lucy's mother (Kathryn Card, 1892-1964) decides to join the car trip to California, but a better decision is made as Lucy, Ricky, Fred & Ethel head west!
14. "First Stop": With everyone tired of riding in the car, Lucy pulls over to a run-down restaurant/hotel.
17. "L.A. at Last": Lucy, Fred & Ethel eat the famous Brown Derby where Lucy makes a mess of William Holden (himself, 1918-1981) in a nearby booth.
19. "Lucy Gets in Pictures": Lucy finally gets her big chance to appear in a film thanks to Ricky, but the headdress is too much to handle.
20. "The Fashion Show": Lucy finds a way to get a free original Don Loper (himself, 1906-1972) dress; but she quickly learns that sunburns and wool don't mix.
28. "Harpo Marx": Again to impress the visiting Carolyn Appleby, Lucy pretends to be Harpo Marx, but the real Harpo (himself, 1888-1964) shows up!
Fifth Season (26 Episodes):
1. "Lucy Visits Grauman's": With Ethel's help, Lucy steals John Wayne's footprints from Grauman's Chinese Theater.
5. "The Great Train Robbery": Thinking there's a jewel thief on board the train to NYC, Lucy can't stop pulling the emergency brake cord. (Train conductor played by Frank Nelson, 1911-1986.)
9. "Nursery School": After Lucy's fear of Little Ricky getting sick at nursery school comes to pass, she is determined to stay with him at the hospital.
10. "Ricky's European Booking": When Ricky can't afford to take Lucy on his European tour, she & Ethel dream up a raffle to help the "Ladies Overseas Aid", which they think is themselves.
12. "Staten Island Ferry": To help Fred overcome seasickness, Lucy takes him onto the Staten Island Ferry; but she gets seasick herself and may be late to the passport office. (Passport clerk played by Charles Lane.)
13. "Bon Voyage": When the ship leaves port for Europe, Lucy is inadvertently left behind; so she'll have to get to ship via a helicopter. One of the best fifth-season episodes!
18. "Paris at Last": Not having any French currency, Lucy, Ethel & Fred exchange money with a so-called French artist (Shepard Menken, 1921-1999), who turns out to be a counterfeiter. The translation sequence is priceless, as is Lucy's introduction to escargot!
20. "Lucy Gets a Paris Gown": When Lucy goes on hunger strike to force Ricky to buy her an expensive French-designed dress, Ricky & Fred have dresses...
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