Product Details

• Actors: Robert Young
• Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 7
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Shout! Factory
• DVD Release Date: May 4, 2010
• Run Time: 1380 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000SMNK16
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,377 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Marcus Welby, M.D.: Season One" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

More than 40 years later, Marcus Welby, M.D. may have lost some of its potency, but it's still pretty strong medicine. One of the most beloved TV series of its time, this Emmy winner and Top Ten series in its inaugural season anticipated The Streets of San Francisco with the generation-bridging mentor-student relationship between straight-talking but compassionate general practitioner Marcus Welby (Robert Young) and aspiring neurologist Steven Kiley (James Brolin). Kiley may ride a cool motorcycle, but in a nice twist, he is more tradition-bound and by the book than Welby. In one episode, he dismisses the edgy "sex and garbage" novels of a controversial writer in favor of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. In 1969, TV was getting hip with such youth-oriented series as The Mod Squad, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, and The Music Scene. The then-62-year-old Robert Young, a boomer TV icon as Jim Anderson on Father Knows Best, was definitely part of the over-30 crowd, but viewers on either side of the generation gap could absolutely trust him.

In its first season, the series tackled such hot-button issues as abortion, substance abuse, and autism. No matter what life or medical crisis befell his patients, Welby responded in a reassuring, nonjudgmental manner. In the episode "Go Get 'Em, Tiger," he compels a school board to hire Kiley's former benefactor (guest star Jack Albertson), who is now a reforming heroin addict. In "Enid" he pleads for understanding in the case of a compassionate teacher who is addicted to prescription drugs. Welby could get radical. In "Dance to No Music," he stages a public confrontation to break through to a man convinced he has a crippling genetic disorder. Marcus Welby, M.D. earned an Emmy for Best Dramatic Series. Young and Brolin were also honored. The humanistic scripts are exceptional, and guest stars--veteran character actors and future stars (including a pre-Partridge Family David Cassidy)--rose to the occasion. Joe Campenella is a standout in "Dance to the Music" as the man who fears he has Huntington's disease. This seven-disc set includes the original pilot movie, A Matter of Humanities, in which Welby, felled by a heart attack, hires Kiley to help him run his suburban practice, which he operates out of his Santa Monica home. Marcus Welby, M.D. has rarely made the rounds in syndication. For fans of the series, this is the ultimate house call. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

The Original M.D. Show Finally Comes to DVD

Robert Young plays Dr. Marcus Welby, a dedicated family physician who made house calls a priority in life. From week to week Welby was tasked with some of the most devastating disorders and serious situations an M.D. can face, but confronted them with a fierce honesty and dedicated compassion that made him a virtual superhero with a stethoscope. But he could not do it alone.

Enter Dr. Steven Kiley, portrayed by the strapping and very new James Brolin in his first regular television role. As any doctor will tell you, looks can be deceiving. The show mixed up the common formula, with the older and wiser Welby embracing the unorthodox treatments while the young gun, Kiley, had the straitlaced approach. The chemistry was electric, and the results were positively award-winning, as both actors earned Emmys for their roles.

Marcus Welby, M.D. ran for seven seasons on ABC from 1969 1976, earning it a top spot in the medical drama lexicon and paving the way for such hits as House, M.D.

Bonus Features

* Original 2-Hour Pilot Movie: A Matter Of Humanities: Dr. Marcus Welby enlists the help of a young Doctor Steven Kiley to help run his Santa Monica practice. Airing on March 26, 1969, this two-hour made-for-TV movie set the stage for the one-hour series that would be viewed regularly in about one of every four American homes that year.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

219 of 221 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It paved the way for the other medical dramas December 3, 2007

By Rosemary Thornton VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

Back in the day, medical dramas were primarily soap operas with a focus on people's multitudinous troubles and the occasional rare, but life-threatening "are-we-gonna-renew-his-contract-next-season-or-not" disease thrown in for good measure.

Marcus Welby, MD was different. It was the first network program to have more of a true medical focus, and yet it kept a good balance, interweaving the medical theme with the drama of people's storm-tossed lives. I've read that medical professionals thought highly of this show, because of its fairly accurate depiction of a general practitioner's day-to-day life.

And Marcus Welby was such a likable character. And the show's writing was stellar. I still remember so many wonderful quotes from the show and I could probably sit down and recite a dozen of the story lines - just from memory. It made *that* kind of impression.

The show first aired on ABC in 1969 and one year later, actor Robert Young won an Emmy for his portrayal of Dr. Welby. In 1972, he won the Golden Globe Award. Interestingly, another medical drama, "Medical Center" (remember that hunky Chad Everett?) also hit the airwaves in 1969.

I came to this site, hoping against hope that Marcus Welby, MD had been put onto DVD but am saddened to see that it hasn't happened yet.

If you think it's time to get Marcus Welby, MD onto DVD, how about a "yes" vote for this review and let's show them how many people are paying attention and better yet - ready to pay *money* to see this show again (and again).

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Long Overdue March 27, 2008

By John McWhirk

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you liked Robert Young as Jim Anderson in "Father Knows Best", then you'll just adore him in this long overdue to DVD As Marcus Welby, the kindly old time doctor whom every family would like to call their own. Imagine, a doctor who actually cares about his patients. Whooda thunk it. Try that today! Anyhoo, why is it not on DVD yet? Come on guys. Lets get the ball rollin' and show the folks what real TV was like. Not like today's stuff, let me tell ya!

62 of 67 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Still Waiting January 3, 2008

By Bean

Format:DVD

I have been checking Amazon hoping to find Marcus Welby on DVD for a long time now. It was a great show and I am hoping to see it offered in the near future. The shows on TV today are not even worth watching. I think that it is wonderful to purchase the old shows and let my son appreciate how good TV used to be. I don't know what the writers are thinking today most of them have their minds in the gutter and it does not set good examples for the younger generation.