Product Details

• Actors: Matthew Fox, Scott Wolf, Neve Campbell, Lacey Chabert, Paula Devicq
• Directors: Ellen S. Pressman, Ken Topolsky, Michael Engler, Peter O'Fallon, Richard Pearce
• Writers: Amy Lippman
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: March 1, 2009
• Run Time: 960 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001IN0T4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,277 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Party of Five - The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In its seven-year run on television, Party of Five managed to portray extreme emotions in a contained, tasteful, and level-headed way without sacrificing poignancy or richness. Aimed at a teen audience but with crossover appeal to most viewers, the series dealt with recurring themes of loss and disappointment, made all the more interesting because Party of Five's major characters, especially in season 1, are youthful siblings coping with the recent deaths of their parents in an automobile accident.

Shocked into a beyond-their-years awareness of the fragility of ordinary life and the importance of loyalty and loving bonds, the Salinger offspring--24-year-old Charlie (Matthew Fox), high schoolers Bailey (Scott Wolf) and Julia (Neve Campbell), 11-year-old Claudia (Lacey Chabert), and baby Owen (various infant actors)--bring a deeply felt, sometimes desperate gravitas to lesser but still significant misfortunes in relationships, peer pressures, and ambitions. On top of that, each has to take on responsibilities beyond their experience--hiring nannies, raising money for mortgage payments, etc.--and make sacrifices robbing them of formative experiences. Charlie, accustomed to adult freedom, has to rejigger his plans and move back home as a surrogate, and often resented, parent. (If he doesn't do this, his brothers and sisters could be separated and sent to foster homes.) Ultra-responsible Bailey, with little time for homework, buddies, or girls, loses perspective and gets hung up on an older, appealing nanny (Paula Devicq). Top student Julia's academic career fades as she seeks a second family among undeserving thrill-seekers. Claudia, a gifted musician, pawns her violin.

Despite all that drama, the essence of Party of Five is the Salingers' homing instinct, the way they survive internal and external conflict to find their way back to reassuring family rituals--among them weekly (free) dinners at the restaurant their late father owned. The 22 episodes on six discs in this boxed set typically test the Salingers' hopes, dreams, and mettle, and while stories can certainly be unsettling, a viewer is never left with serious worries that things won't turn out all right. Among the highlights are "Homework," in which Julia, having made plans to attend a party rather than salvage her failing grade in English lit, stays home instead to save Bailey's bacon by writing his difficult term paper. The powerful "Thanksgiving" concerns a face-to-face meeting between the Salingers and the drunk driver (John Rubinstein) who killed their parents. Most memorable is a suite of episodes featuring Megan Ward as Bailey's girlfriend, Jill, a possible drug addict whose fate rocks the startling season finale, "The Ides of March." --Tom Keogh

Product Description

The Complete First Season party Of Five Color/16 Hours 22 Episodes on 5 Disc's

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Ghost of Television's Past September 17, 2004

By W. Sullivan

Format:DVD

This engaging character study of five children who lost their parents in a tragic car accident was one of the most worthwhile shows on television. It sounds difficult to have a show that details the intermingled lives of five individuals who have very intricate relations with not only one another but others in their lives. This show managed to familiarize us with each character in depth while showing their strenths and weaknesses as a family unit.

The first season gets us acquained with the Salingers as a family and as individuals. You find yourself relating to one or several characters but empathizing with all due to their circumstances. I truly hope that the next season will be offered on DVD soon.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brave, moving and thought provoking June 3, 2004

By H. R. Trigg

Format:DVD

This has to be, without a doubt, one of the bravest tv shows aimed at the teen market, especially when you consider this season is from 1994.
Its about 5 children (between the ages of 24 and 1) who try desperately to keep their family together after the death of their parents in a car crash, and the problems they face on a daily basis and how they deal with them in the absence of their parents. The show is beautifully acted by all, and you really feel their pain. The show covers so many topics with dignity without being patronising; teen sex, drug abuse, under age drinking, sex, homosexuality, death, infidelity, HIV and so many more.
Its a brave show, the best 22 hours of TV I've watched in a very long while. I have missed many of the following series as I live in the UK, and I can't wait to catch up!!! (Hurry and release the follow up series' PLEEEEASE!!!).

The DVD extras - adequate. A couple of commentaries and a 'look back', with interviews from some of the cast and writers.

A brilliant, inspiring show for teens and upwards (I'm 33!).

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY!!!! May 21, 2004

By Mark A. Donohoe

Format:DVD

I have actually written my name on the online petition last year to get Party of Five released on DVD. Not sure if it was because of efforts like that or similar petitions, but it's finally here and I couldn't be happier! This was one of my all-time favorite shows with depth, drama and comedy all while still being very 'real' in a sea of teen-dramas that were anything but.
So ok, I'm guessing everyone who's reading this review already knows about how great the show was so I'll focus on the DVD.

But first, I'll start by addressing two other reviews here with low-star rankings. First, to the person who said it was a poor-quality DVD with audio out of sync and color blotches, etc., that's not true at all and is a common trait of off-brand DVD players or even budget versions of name-brands and especially computer-based DVD players (although I'm not sure which the reviewer was using.) What I can say however is *every* DVD here plays pristinely on all of my equipment, including a notebook with a DVD drive. Perfect colors, perfect syncing, everything. It actually looks clearer and more razor-sharp than the original shows that aired on TV showing they most likely went right from the masters right to DVD rather than converting to an interim step first.

Second, to the person who commented that they didn't like how the producers 'decided to strip the opening credits and song from the first disc' didn't follow the show (or just doesn't remember), nor did they listen to the commentaries by the producers or actors. If they did, they'd remember that there *was* no opening credits or theme song for the first few episodes because there wasn't enough footage of the show yet recorded to make the opening scene!... These DVD episodes are literally exactly as they appeared on TV, missing openings and all, including calling the Bodeans' song 'Closer to Free' 'Closer to Five' in the end credits! This is exactly what was aired. That's the way DVD-from-TV should be.

Which brings me back to the DVD extras. I really like that there's both producer and actor commentaries for a few episodes, but I'd say too few. For example, there's only one on discs 1 and 2 (with five episodes on the disc) and none at all on disc 3.

Also, the two 'special feature' interviews at the end are almost verbatim dialog between them and seem to be the same interview just shot on different days on different sets and edited differently. This of course isn't the actual case, and I attribute it to trying to remember something from ten years ago, but it did seem a little redundant. (For instance, at least three separate times Scott Wolf explains what 'Just look at the dog!' means. I'm glad he did--better too much than not enough--but I wish they would have extended the interviews to cover more topics perhaps including more about the actual filming or how Lacey Chabert trained to look sooo da*n convincing playing that violin even though she admits she can't play even one note!

Something else that I can't figure out is why was Neve Campbell left out of the actors commentaries for the episodes? They never said. At first, I thought maybe she wasn't part of the DVD release at all, but she is in the extra features, plus she's ironically the only name mentioned on Amazon as a cast member (without clicking 'more') and is even named in the title on the site! Go figure!

So to sum up, I love these DVDs. Finally one of the best shows on TV is making a come-back for the DVD-lovers out there. Plus the bonus extra interviews, etc. just make them that much more appealing. (Again though, I do wish there were more from the cast and crew as far as commentaries of the episodes. Maybe seasons 2-6) But all the extras are the 'nice to haves'. The 'must haves' are the episodes themselves which are faithfully replicated exactly as they aired. Perfectly.

Watch all of the episodes and definitely go through the interviews and commentaries and you'll quickly see why it won a Golden Globe and was called by TV Guide 'The Best Show you're Not Watching!'

Ok... now will someone tell NBC to release Hidden Hills seasons 1 through 1 (smirk) on DVD! Man, I'm still ticked that didn't make it to season 2! What a hilarious show!!! Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars we want the second series! we want the second series! January 24, 2005

By Jamie Erskine

Format:DVD

This was the best tv series of the early nineties (ally mcbeal being the best of the late nineties), it is a crime to see that the following series' have not yet been released. How can they release as much rubbish as they do on dvd these days without releasing ALL of the party of five series'. It must be to do with the fact the 1st series has not sold as well as expected, but I can't believe that.

Who are these people that refuse their release, and where do they live?

ITS JUST RUDE!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What are they waiting for? May 18, 2005

By A. Christian

Format:DVD

PLEASE- all seasons need to be released, i have waited long enough! This is one of the best shows that was ever on TV, and i would love to make it a part of my DVD collection!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars PLEASE RELEASE OTHER SEASONS!!!!!!! January 30, 2005

By Carol Coulbourne

Format:DVD

This was by far my very favorite TV show ever! I was thrilled to buy the 1st season and now am devastated that they may not release others!! There is so much junk that has been released and it is so unfair. This show dealt with so many important issues in a very tasteful way. It was a learning tool for young people and a reminder of what growing up was all about for those of us who are older. I agree with a previous reviewer that maybe if they promoted the sales of season 1 on the "Lost" show it would sell better. I think a lot of people for some reason are not that familiar with the show and need to see how great it really was. I hope everyone will do all they can to promote the issuing of the other seasons! There is not enough quality TV out there any more.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars About Freakin Time February 23, 2004

By bryan sandquist

Format:DVD

I am sooooo happy. Party of five is one of the great classics. I was so worried that it wasnt going to come out on dvd. My only concern is that Columbia Tristar will do a horriable job on this set like Dawson's Creek and Mad About You. Nevertheless, i am way HAPPY. For those of you who dont know, Party of Five is about 5 siblings dealing with life after thier parents die in a car wreck. There is Charle(Matthew Fox, Haunted) Bailey(Scott Wolf, Go) Julia (Neve Campbell, Scream, Wild Things) Claudia (Lacey Chabert, Wild Thornberrys) and the baby Owen. I really hope the sales are good so they release Seasons 2-6. It would also be great to see the spin-off Time of You Life on DVD. But 5 stars for quality and for being a great show.