Customer Reviews

The Jack Benny Show

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

 

 

that phrase from Don Wilson was like heaven to many TV viewers throughout the '50s and '60s who sat glued to their television sets every Sunday night to watch Jack Benny after HEARING him earlier that day on radio! Jack Benny is a comedy legend and most of his career was spent on radio (1932-1955). From 1950-1965 he was on television and after 1965 he continued to appear in TV specials on into the early '70s...This two set DVD spotlights a few of his funniest TV episodes. the hilarious Christmas episode is on here which co-stars the one and only Mel Blanc as the tormented salesman...the floor walker is none other than Frank Nelson. Charlie Cantor, a radio legend known for his dopey voices, is seen as one of the other salesmen. the whole episode centers around Jack having a hard time deciding how he should write a greeting card for Don Wilson...this sets up the classic routine in which Jack constantly changes his mind and each time Mel Blanc has to run and get the package, tear it apart, re-write the greeting, re-tape the box, etc. Jack does his three or four times until Mel snaps...the deadpan Jack actually cracks up on this segment as even he has a hard time holding back the laughter when Mel's sobbing and crying become too hysterical. this episode is the 4th on DVD 2.Jack's long running 'feud' partner on radio, Fred Allen, makes an appearance on the third episode on DVD one. Fred is trying to steal Jack's TV show. In one of the crazier episodes, Dennis Day does a broad impersonation of James Cagney in a skit starring Dan Duryea as a gangster. Jack plays a guy named Gundlefinger. Don plays a cop named Chubby Wilson. lots of sight gags are used: especially when Don sits down on the stool. Benny Rubin has a cameo in the skit...he's talked into paying for his bill and ringing himself up. At first Rubin refuses but Jack says: "you've never eaten at Gundlefinger's before have you? i trust people. put your money in the cash registar and get your change. you're honest aren't ya?" "of course!" Rubin strolls over and puts his money in the drawer but before he can get his change out...well, another sight gag. i won't spoil what comes next.John Daly, Nancy Culp, Jayne Mansfield, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Liberace, Humphrey Bogart, Sheldon Leonard, and Giselle McKenzie are among the guest stars on the DVDs.i grew up watching Jack Benny re-runs on the local PBS stations here in Ohio during the late '80s. i own some of his classic radio programs too. this DVD is a great start for anyone just discovering him.

This set has 15 episodes, and Benny is hilarious. The quality of the DVDs isn't the best. Both of the DVDs I got had these little swirly marks on them, and each had a point on the DVD where they skipped. However, that still gave me 13 episodes that worked great (and I could get almost all of the other two if I hit fast forward at the right point). Hey, what can you expect for the price? And maybe I just got unlucky and got a set off a bad batch. Still, all that said, I'd buy them again in a heartbeat.

The three stars pertain to the value of the purchase versus another product, not Jack Benny's humor. That is always 5 stars in my book.

There are so many public domain packs of 50's TV I can see why anyone would be confused as to which to buy. In this case, every episode in this two disc set except one is on the four disc set Best of Jack Benny. The one missing is "The Railroad Station Program". The four disc set is cheaper than this one and includes 40 episodes of programs starring Jack Benny. Most are from the Jack Benny Program, but several are from other shows in which Jack made a major appearance or from TV specials that he hosted. I recommend that product as a better buy. The episodes in this 2 disc set are:
DISC 1:

The Humphrey Bogart Show
Guest Star: Humphrey Bogart
Police Lt. Jack Benny grills notorious killer "Babyface" Humphrey Bogart. Bogart is promoting his new picture.

The Jam Session Show
Guest Stars: Fred MacMurray, Kirk Douglas, Dan Dailey, Tony Martin
Jack's friends are coming over for their weekly jam session. The band is Tony Martin on clarinet, Fred MacMurray on saxophone, Dick Powell on trumpet, Dan Daily on drums and Kirk Douglas on banjo.

The Christmas Show
Guest Star: Charles Cantor
Jack goes Christmas shopping with Rochester and drives the staff of the department store crazy.

Railroad Station Program
Guest Star: Artie Auerbach
Jack takes the train to New York to talk to his sponsor, Lucky Strike. He stays in the usual dump, the Acme Plaza, where a girl keeps phoning the room, arranging for her elopement. Unfortunately, Jack never tells her it is a wrong number.

Talent Show
Guest Star: Jayne Mansfield
During the monologue, Don announces that a purse has been found. It belongs to Jayne Mansfield, who was sitting in the audience when an usher grabbed her purse - a sneaky way to get a guest star. Jack hosts a talent contest and Mel Blanc plays an animal impersonator with hilarious results.

DISC 2:

Goldie, Fields and Glide
Guest Star: Bing Crosby
Jack recalls his old vaudeville days and the tours he made with his two partners, Bing Crosby and George Burns, who were billed as "Goldie, Fields and Glide."

How Jack Found Mary
Guest Star: Bea Benaderet
Jack and Mary have differing recollections of how they met when Mary worked at Macy's. In Jack's version, he is handsome spender. Mary remembers it very differently, especially buying the engagement ring.

Reminiscing About Last New Year's
Guest Star: Bob Crosby
When the show's cast invites Jack to a big New Year's Eve party, he turns them down because he has a date with his new lady friend Gloria. A couple of hours later, however, Jack finds himself at a "party" with his new date - Rochester.

The Honeymooners Show
Guest Star: Audrey Meadows
Jack plays Ralph Kramden in a take-off of The Honeymooners, with Audrey Meadows as Alice and Dennis Day as Ed Norton.

4 O'Clock In The Morning
Guest Star: Bea Benaderet
After being awakened at 4:00 a.m. by a phone call from "Hank, The All Night Radio DJ," Jack finds that he can't get back to sleep. He and Mary go clothes shopping later that day, but it turns out to be an ordeal for the exhausted Jack.

All of these episodes are hilarious, but why buy not buy these episodes plus two more discs full of Jack Benny for a cheaper price?

(The title of this review was Jack's response to a masked robber (Mel Blanc) who pointed a gun at him and demanded, "Your money or your life!")

THE JACK BENNY SHOW COLLECTOR'S EDITION is a nicely put together package. Two single-sided CDs come in individual sturdy plastic slimline cases that are stored in a heavy paper slipcover. There's nice "extras" with this set including a Benny bio, facts & trivia, film information, a photo gallery and chapter access for each scene. Audio is Dolby 5.1 surround sound.

Regular cast members of THE JACK BENNY SHOW included announcer Don Wilson, Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson, Mary Livingston (Jack's wife), Dennis Day (the Irish tenor), Artie Auerbach (Mr Kitzel), Mel Blanc (in a variety of roles, voices and sound effects), and Dale White (as Don's son, Harlow). This DIAMOND ENTERTAINMENT box set is perfect for all lovers of vintage TV comedy, and especially for Jack Benny fans. A definite keeper!

PROGRAM LIST--
DISC ONE
The Hillbilly Show
Burglars
Fred Allen
Humphrey Bogart
Liberace
Goldie Fields, and Glide
How Jack Met Mary

DISC TWO--
New Year's Eve Show
Jack's Hong Kong Suit
The Lunch Counter Murderers
Christmas Shopping
Jack Casts For His Television Special
Don Wilson's 27th Anniversary
4 O'Clock In The Morning
Jack Rents His House

This TV Classic's collection of five Jack Benny Shows is clear and a pleasure to watch. Jack Benny was a comedian with a style like no other and one of the most popular. He was the only comedian to make the jokes at his own expense -- especially his legendary stinginess. Every Jack Benny fan (and perhaps those young viewers who don't yet know him) will enjoy this DVD. My only regret is that one lists the guest stars but not the episodes themselves. Several of the shows are repeated on a number of DVDs. I think I've got the Christmas Show, Bogart as an arrested crook, Goldie Fields and Glide and the Jam Session 3 or 4 times! But you can't have too much Benny. Right?

I remember the Jack Benny show from when I was a child. I am very happy I got this one. It just brings back memories and laughs. Looking forward to more in this quality.

It's time to show people the Benny class of timing on telling of a joke.
His shtick was he was cheap but in real life he was very generous.
The forever 39 year old man.
WELL!

Ken and I were very disappointed in this show. It is very dated and his mannerism of staring at the audience may have been funny in the early 60's. But definately not today.