Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Happy Holidays from Red Skelton, December 3, 2005
A very nice DVD collection. Unlike most of the Red Skelton DVDs, this is authorized by the Red Skelton Estate. The main episode, "The Plight Before Christmas," is in color, co-starring Greer Garson. In a nutshell, Freddie the Freeloader has a run-in with the law, escapes, and helps a flower lady escape as well. The flower lady is the actress Greer Garson in stage makeup, who later returns the favor by allowing the hobos to hold their annual Christmas program in her theater - a benefit for orphans. Nicely done, with some good Freddy the Freeloader moments, Red pantomiming, and just plain good entertainment. One nice piece of trivia: at the beginning, the action takes place in front of Valentina's Antique Shop -- Valentina is Red's daughter. The other features are in black and white, and include "Christmas with the Skeltons," where Red's various character (Clem Kadiddlehopper, Willy LumpLump, Cauliflower McPugg and Deadeye) drop by the Skelton home to wish seasons' greetings, including an appearance by Red's real-life wife, son Richard and daughter Valentina. Another Christmas episode is based on O. Henry's "The Cop and the Anthem," dealing with Freddie the Freeloader trying (& failing) to get arrested on Christmas Eve in order to have a warm place to stay the winter - heartwarming, and one of my favorite episodes of all time.
However, this "Christmas" DVD also has other holiday goodies, including Red Skelton's famous recitation & explanation of the Pledge of Allegiance, two Thanksgiving skits (one hilarious with Clem Kadiddlehopper, one less so).
In short, this 130 minute DVD is packed, and a bargain to boot. I enjoy it, and recommend it.
(In case you're wondering, the only thing that prevents me from giving it 5 stars is that it includes highlights from another excellent Christmas program, "Freddy and the Yuletide Doll" -- had they included that entire program, I would have given it an enthusiastic 5 stars.)
|
|
|
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A special treat for the holiday season, January 8, 2006
Red Skelton Christmas offer the holiday-themed show "The Plight Before Christmas" and the extras "The Pledge of Allegiance", "The Thanksgiving Turkey", "Frozen Freddie", "Freddie and the Carolers", "Red Talks About Santa and Stair Climbing", and "Freddie Gets 90 Days". All DVDs are authorized by the Red Skelton estate, and all offer rip-roaring good clean fun. A special treat for the holiday season, for family viewing or as a gift, both the two volume Red Skelton: America's Clown Prince and Red Skelton Christmas would make enduringly popular additions to any community library DVD collection.
|
|
|
|