66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Early Television Sitcom makes it to DVD, November 15, 2005
This review is from: Mister Peepers (DVD)
In the late 1940s and early 1950s, much of television production was broadcast live and, prior to a nationwide feed, kinescopes (films of live broadcasts from television monitors) were made as a way to broadcast shows at a later date in different parts of the country and, in some cases, for later syndication purposes. Unfortunately, many of the kinescopes from early television shows were either lost or destroyed and, consequently, a good portion of early American television history has been lost to the ages. Thankfully, this is not the case with "Mister Peepers," one of television's earliest weekly situation comedies. Supposedly, 102 episodes out of a total series production of 127 reside at the UCLA Film & Television Archive and, from this collection, comes this first TV-on-DVD release from S'more Entertainment, a new DVD releasing company.
This set includes the first 26 episodes of the series along with the series' pilot, which features an unbilled Walter Matthau in the role of "Mr. Burr," Jefferson Junior High's coach (Matthau would not become a series regular). In addition to Matthau, the series featured up-and-coming stars like Tony Randall and Jack Warden. Marion Lorne, later "Aunt Clara" in "Bewitched," is also in the cast. But the show really belongs to Wally Cox. Unlike the cynical and often tasteless humor found in many modern sitcoms, there's a "kinder, gentler" humor found in "Mister Peepers," and Cox is just perfect in the role of Robinson Peepers, the good-hearted science teacher. Technically, the shows are crude when compared to modern day productions. While very watchable, there are some scratches and film specks from time-to-time (one of the early episodes has a bad scratch for a long portion) and there is noticeable audio hiss present on some episodes. And, unfortunately, the UCLA Film & Television logo appears from time-to-time in the bottom right hand corner (couldn't this have been done on the credits only). But the positives of this DVD set far outweigh the negatives and what really shines through on "Mister Peepers" is both the wonderful writing and ensemble acting by a very talented cast performing live. In addition to the pilot episode, there are some other extras on the DVD set that, while not essential, enhance one's appreciation of Wally Cox and the show.
"Mister Peepers" is highly recommended for both fans of early sitcoms as well as anyone interested in early American live television broadcasting. From a historical perspective, this is one of the most important TV-on-DVD releases available on the market. Let's hope that S'more episodes from this wonderful comedy series are released in the future.
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Despite the manufacturing glitches, a treasure of a show, July 1, 2006
This review is from: Mister Peepers (DVD)
Sadly, someone really did screw up in the packaging of this one; my first set was a mess with mislabelled disks and two with the same episodes, meaning seven episodes were missing; I got a replacement from Amazon and it was fine -- except for some reason there was an extra fifth disk that was a copy of another one. That's why I am giving the set four stars. So check your disks when you get your set, but then...
Savor one of the very few fifties sitcoms that holds up (and even though I'm an I LOVE LUCY fan, even that show is getting so old that the fascination is increasingly anthropological rather than a true, direct delight in the "wacky" goings on). PEEPERS has the sweet fifties-whimsical tone of GERALD MCBOING BOING or HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON. Wally Cox's portrayal is, in its way, a kind of less tortured proto-Stephen Wright.
And then you get a young Tony Randall (or Anthony Randall, as he is first billed) using his stage smarts to breathe incredible life into the character of Peepers' colleague and friend. In addition, the unearthing of these shows means that anyone who has ever loved Marion Lorne as Aunt Clara on BEWITCHED or enjoyed her memorable turn as the mother in STRANGERS ON A TRAIN now gets two-dozen-plus new performances by her; her dithery shtick steals many an episode. (Peepers: "Have a good weekend!" Lorne: "Oh, yes, we will, we will ... we're having artichokes!")
And even in this first season, we get to watch the budding romance between Peepers and the school nurse. Patricia Benoit's Miss Remington, with her early-Mia-Farrow short haircut and a fetching bit of an overbite, comes off as a quietly sexy small-town girl, and her eternal solicitous gaze at Peepers seems utterly plausible and warms the heart.
The show takes its time, with long, casual exchanges between the characters that no wacky Desilu show ever had time for. As with most shows, it took a little while to gel. The first disk and a bit dwell in a little too much dopey slapstick, and only after them are Randall and Benoit introduced (despite the frequently adduced factoid, Walter Matthau plays the coach only in the pilot, which is included in the set). But by the end of the second disk, you're hooked and happy to return "next week" as Cox reminds us to at the end of every show. I can't wait for the second season to come out (it'd better!).
As to quality, I am mystified at some of the reviewers' complaints. As kinescopes (film made of a TV monitor, so that live shows could be rebroadcast out west), these are quite nice compared to what some of them look like after all this time. MR. PEEPERS never looked like FATHER KNOWS BEST because it was either seen done live on flickering little sets or as kinescopes. Sound in the first half-dozen or so episodes is a little dicey, especially since Cox was soft-spoken, but turning up the volume does the trick.
And as for performance glitches, it is admirable how few there are. If you're really waiting for them, you sense that here and there someone has dropped a line and the others are filling in. But it's not as if people are tripping over furniture, or going blank as to what to say next and breaking each other up a la blooper reels. If anything, the live aspect is exciting -- when a scene is over, often the camera will focus on some trivial set piece or Marion Lorne will be given 30 seconds of "business," just so that everyone can run over to the next set and launch into a scene taking place the next day (often in different clothes!). It's like watching little plays.
Most fifties TV is tough viewing today -- just try sitting through more than one episode of PRIVATE SECRETARY, for example; America and its sense of humor have changed vastly since the Eisenhower era. MR. PEEPERS was one for the ages, and given that I used to think it was all but lost, hooray for the UCLA archive (and the show's creators, for donating the kinescopes). Very soon, let's have Season Two -- with disks properly pressed and packaged.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Beware of defects!!!, January 20, 2006
This review is from: Mister Peepers (DVD)
I purchased this set twice and the first disc was so scratched that it would not play. I exchanged it and the same thing happened again. Someone else complained of same problem. The manufacturer should have better quality control. I will try purchasing at a later date, but I wonder how responsive seller will be. Too bad as I looked forward to seeing this wonderful series once again.
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