Customer Reviews

The Legend of The Beverly Hillbillies [TV Series] [VHS]

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This video is the 1993 CBS special of the same name, a "faux" documentary of the Hillbillies, written as if they were real people and the subjects of a "whatever happened to.." investigation. There are cameos by Reba McEntire, Ray Charles, and a few others (Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor are wasted in a cameo only seconds long!!) and the show is hosted by Mac Davis. Eventually, all three surviving hillbillies are located, Jed Clampett (Buddy Ebsen), his daughter Elly May (Donna Douglas), and cousin Jethro (Max Baer). Ebsen, Douglas, and Baer all recreate their legendary characters and the program is loaded with vintage clips from the series (one will note most of them are from the early black-and-white years when the series' was at it's best). I didn't like the specials storyline which has banker Mr. Drysdale stealing the Clampetts' money - an unpleasant touch for what was a very pleasant show. And nertz to whoever chose the clips for this show and failed to use a single one featuring Harriet MacGibbon as the haughty yet hilarious Mrs. Drysdale. Raymond Bailey's Drysdale is well-represented in old clips, as is Nancy Kulp's Miss Jane and of course, Irene Ryan's immortal Granny. This special was better than the 1981 TV-movie reunion misfire but still could have been much better. I would have liked more new footage with Ebsen, Douglas, and Baer, especially together (they are only together recreating the famous waving goodbye at the show's end). I was almost as distressed as Granny would have been to see "Elly May" really ending up an old maid, although the show features brief new appearances by two of her best-known beaus from the show, Louis Nye's Sonny Drysdale and Larry Pennell as Dash Riprock. Still lovely Donna Douglas still has her critters (though the "talking bear" was a stupid gag that would have never been used on the original series) though. Making dumb Jethro a doctor though was really incredible - a man of his intellect was made for politics! Max Baer looks good too. Buddy Ebsen, then well into his eighties, is somewhat frail but still captures his Jed character. This tape runs under an hour but I recommend it for fans of the show if only for a chance to see their "fay-vor-rites" again.

For those of you who love "classic TV" this is the tape for you. From Granny's "cure-alls" to Jethro's get famous schemes. The laughter never stops at the Clampet mansion. If there were still TV shows like this out there, the world would laugh alot more. Join Elly-maye, Jethro, Granny, and Jed as they bring hillbillyism to Beverly Hills. A non stop trip in humor. I loved it.

I ordered more than a dozen movies from various venders and received all of them promtly and in good condition, except for "The Ledgend of the Beverly Hillbillies". I was charged for the movie and have paid the credit card company, but have yet to get my movie. Hope this situation is corrected soon.