Customer Reviews

The Perils of Penelope Pitstop - The Complete Series

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The three stars I give to this release is not to the show itself, but the shabby treatment it's been given. It looks like the syndicated editions of this show have been used to make the DVD, which means all the cliffhanging tags that ended the programs have been omitted. The original series usually left you on a cliffhanger note that was continued from one program into the next, and here, all the episodes end nice and cleanly. I don't see any reason for this, since you are getting the complete season, after all. It's a shame that so much material was left off this release (when this is probably the only time it will ever get such a deluxe treatment), but I suppose it's better than not having it available at all. I wish Warner Bros. would pay more attention to what they're leaving out when they release these Hanna Barbera sets. I wasn't happy about the edited shorts being included on their Tom & Jerry 2-disc set, the syndicated end credits (instead of the more proper one from the original broadcast) used on the "Wacky Races" set, and certainly not over this. Even the lamer opening theme is used on the Penelope Pitstop episodes. Just very disappointing, overall.

Penelope Pitstop returns to your TV screen in this DVD release, the third part of a trio consisting of WACKY RACES, DASTARDLY AND MUTTLEY IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES and THE PERILS OF PENELOPE PITSTOP. In the days of their release upon the public, they heralded Hanna-Barbera's return to gag-laden slapstick comedy that began with such series as YOGI BEAR and HUCKLEBERRY HOUND.

The plot is simple: Our semi-hapless heroine Penelope Pitstop, fresh from her tenure in WACKY RACES, is heir to a vast fortune of millions (which probably enables her to travel the world and have adventures, if this series is any indication). Unfortunately, her legal guardian Sylvester Sneekly, in his guise of the Hooded Claw, is determined to destroy Penelope and gain her fortune for himself. Hot on the trail to aid Penelope Pitstop are the Ant-Hill Mob (also from WR) and their loyal car Chugga-Boom, whose desperate attempts to rescue Penelope from the clutches of the Hooded Claw often wind up with the Mob having to be rescued by the strangely resourceful Penelope (who surely must be used to this sort of thing--after all, she DID race with Dick Dastardly).

By today's standards, this cartoon is dated, predictable and rather lame; however, it's lame in a way that can be described as unrepentant. It NEVER pretends to be more than it is, and it often manages to acknowledge its own goofiness simply by playing everything deadpan-straight. In this age of grossouts, fart jokes and pretentious self-referencing in cartoons, this is downright refreshing.

The voice cast features such HB stalwarts as Mel Blanc, Paul Winchell, Don Messick and Janet Waldo, who voices Mlle. Pitstop. Kudos must go to both the venerable Gary Owens as the Narrator, whose breakneck color commentary on the action provides a manic Greek chorus to the proceedings, and the uncredited Paul Lynde as Sylvester Sneekly/Hooded Claw, whose ridiculous Evil-Villain laugh and sarcastic asides on Penelope's perils mine occasional comic gold within this series. (In a featurette contained within this set, Janet Waldo recounts how Lynde could often crack up the entire cast during recording with a simple three-word-line, using only vocal characterization, timing and inflection.)

There is one glaring flaw in this set, which has already been mentioned by another reviewer, and is also why I gave it only three stars: each episode begins with annoying syndicated theme music rather than the original Pitstop theme, which undercuts the enjoyment of the episodes. (The original theme music can still be heard over the closing credits; why the syndicated theme was used I do not know. It can only be chalked up to decisions at Warner Bros, the studio who needed to be convinced that people would actually buy a JUSTICE LEAGUE box set.) All in all, TPOPP is an enjoyable series on the whole, so just fast-forward through the opening credits and wait for the proper theme music at the end, or wait until this set is re-released properly instead.

Good cartoons, ideal for kids and people who enjoys good humor. It makes me forget about bad cartoons for children. All family comedy, great to spend the afternoon with children. It's a shame studios nowadays produce so conflictive cartoons. I recommend this product.

My daughter loves it! Thanks for such a great product. Now she can watch "Penelope Pitstop" anytime that she wants to instead of just 30 minutes a day. Thank you so much!

When I ordered "Wacky Races" in May, originally, I wasn't going to order either of it's spinoffs. However, after renting the DVDs of the complete series of both spinoffs, I decided to not order "Dastardly & Muttley & their flying machines" but I couldn't resist ordering "The Perils Of Penelope Pitstop". I think that "Perils" is a wonderful series, just as wonderful as "Wacky Races". I love the plot which has Penelope inheriting a vast amount of money and her legal guardian, Sylvester Sneekly, A.K.A. The Hooded Claw, tries to do away with her so he can have the fortune all to himself. However, the Anthill Mob, who are Penelope's loyal friends & protectors, always foil the Hooded Claw's schemes by coming to Penelope's rescue, although, sometimes Penelope rescues herself, then has to rescue the Anthill Mob, sometimes. I also like the fact that the episodes take place in different locations (the jungle, a carnival, the North Pole, a movie lot, etc.). I also love the collectible print and how the set is packaged in full-color. What I really love are the characters, especially Penelope Pitstop & the Anthill Mob, whose members I really like are Yak-Yak, with that laugh of his, and Zippy, because he's so fast and, sometimes, says things twice! Plus, I must admit, I even like the Hooded Claw, with the amazing voice of Paul Lynde, and the Bully Brothers, especially when their schemes fail. To sum it up in one word, this DVD set is wonderful. Just like "Wacky Races", I love this DVD set and, to anyone that's a fan of 60's/70's animation, Hanna-Barbera cartoons, or any cartoons, in general, I recommend that you buy this set because, believe me, it is TERRIFIC!

When I bought Wacky Races, I thought it was very exciting and entertaining. But when I got Dastardly & Muttley, it was slightly better, just shorter cartoons.

Enter Perils Of Penelope Pitstop, this show was much better! It was more adventureous than it's predecessors. It had more of a hero, also. The only smidget flaw is that I think the villain needs a better laugh, but it's not a huge problem with me.

These shows were longer (20-21 minutes approximate runtime), and I love Janet Waldo! I think she was perfect for Penelope! I loved Paul Winchell & Mel Blanc. Don Messick kinda reminded me of other voices but he was good.

Now, I don't know if Paul Lynde was right for the villain or not, but otherwise, a great DVD! If you're looking for action, adventure, & comedy all rolled in one, get this DVD!!!

My Score: 9 out of 10 4.75 out of 5

I'm so satisfied that Perils of Penelope are finally available on DVD. Me, my mom and some friends found the show funnier than ever. We can't stop laughing at softy and yak yak, they are the funniest characters in this show. The presentation of the DVD is wonderful as well as the transfer and I have to add that the spanish version also included in this package is even funnier and I just love that this version was included. All Hanna-Barbera shows must include the spanish version in their remastered DVD forms. My only complain is that every show is edited, at the end of it, cutting the introductory part of the successive episode, so when you watch the successive episode you get confused. Why did they do that? There was plenty room to leave show complete as it was originally.

This is one dvd set that does not disappoint. It has lots of extras from commentary, interviews, and a collectible print. The cartoons are really good kept me laughing the whole time! The Ant Hill mob, Bully brothers and the hooded claw all add to the pure enjoyment of this dvd. Two thumbs up for this dvd set it was worth the wait.

I remember watching this as a kid. As an adult it's even funnier, or at least has some great funny moments in it. The overall theme is nearly like old black and white Keystone Cops in a non-stop joyride with The Hooded Claw trying several different ways to get rid of Penelope in each episode. And each time either The Ant Hill Mob or Penelope end up defeating him. The interaction between the characters and the narrator is priceless. Even though it's a short 17 episodes, they are a nice distraction from some of the overly serious things on TV today. It's a lot of fun.

Penelope has more adventures! Not quite as funny as Wacky Races, but certainly more entertaining (and wholesome) than most cartoons on tv today. We've just about worn out our DVDs... and my 9 yr old is still laughing with my 6 yr old.