Product Details

• Actors: Phil Silvers, Allan Melvin, Harvey Lembeck, Paul Ford, Billy Sands
• Writers: Nat Hiken
• Format: Box set, Black & White, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Dubbed: 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: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: July 27, 2010
• Run Time: 882 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003KSO3QQ
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,352 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Sgt. Bilko: The Phil Silvers Show - First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Phil Silvers Show, originally titled You'll Never Get Rich, ranks as one of television's greatest comedies, and more than 50 years later it still passes inspection, thanks to masterful writing, a platoon of great character actors, and the commanding presence of Phil Silvers as major schemer and private fixer Sgt. Ernest Bilko. In movies, Silvers, a vaudeville veteran, was a scene-stealing Top Banana. On TV, his Emmy Award-winning performance as Bilko promoted him to Top Cat (the Hanna-Barbera cartoon character inspired by his iconic role). Bilko is the best motor pool NCO that Ft. Baxter in Kansas has ever had. He is also "a gambler, a sharpster, a promoter," observes the base chaplain in the first episode, "everything I'm here to prevent soldiers from becoming. Tell me, why do I like you?" We like him because Bilko, always looking for an angle, usually ends up outsmarting himself, as in the episode "Doberman's Sister," in which he cons himself into arranging a blind date with the sibling of the platoon's lovable slob, convincing himself she must be a beauty. We also like him because he uses his unique talents for good, as in "The Con Men," when he turns the tables on a trio who bilk Doberman (Maurice Gosfield) out of $500. Silvers's Bilko is a quick-thinking, sharp-witted, double-talking weapon of mass distraction. "You didn't tell me your daughter was visiting," he flatters the matronly wife of Col. Hall (Paul Ford). The genius of Bilko is that he more or less gets away with everything even though he isn't fooling anybody. The entire layout of the post, Col. Hall reveals at one point, has been reorganized "so that no rookie even by accident could ever get near Bilko." Special commendations are due to the ensemble, including such familiar faces as Ned Glass, Joe E. Ross (Car 54, Where Are You?), and Allan Melvin (Barney Heffner on All in the Family and Sam the butcher on The Brady Bunch) and Harvey "Baron von Zipper" Lembeck as Bilko's partners in chicanery. Two of this set's special features--the never-broadcast live audition show and the show's original opening titles--are re-enlisted from the 50th Anniversary Edition. Also included is an episode of The Lucy Show featuring Silvers as an efficiency expert. But this first season, an Emmy winner for Best Comedy Series, stands on its own. For new recruits especially, it's great to see this classic character in action, and thanks to DVD, you have a grandstand seat. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

This classic TV gem follows the fast-paced antics of Sgt. Ernie Bilko (Phil Silvers) as he attempts to swindle, bluff and flatter his platoon and his fellow comrades at the Ft. Baxter Army Post, in the wilds of Kansas. The camp is supposedly run by Colonel Hall, but it's Bilko that calls the shots! Along with the other sergeants from the mess hall; Signals and Supply, Bilko is continually at war with Colonel Hall, who is desperately trying to put a stop to the gambling Bilko is running.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 108 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great show - with all the first year episodes May 29, 2010

By Celtic

The Phil Silvers show was one of the funniest comedies ever on TV and deserves a season-by-season release. The show originally ran from 1955-59, only four years, but had a whopping 143 episodes! A few years ago, Paramount released a 50th Anniversary Edition of the show (sometimes titled "Bilko" and sometimes "The Phil Silvers Show," though Wikipedia states the original title was "You'll Never Get Rich"). That earlier dvd collection only included 18 episodes selected from all 4 seasons, with most from the first season.

Most fans have wanted a season-by-season collection, and this release of Season One is a good step in that direction. (It would have been nice, as others have noted, if the manufacturer had included a "play all" viewing choice, but the picture quality is crisp.)

Please note: Ten episodes from this Season One set do overlap with the Sgt. Bilko - 50th Anniversary Edition (The Phil Silvers Show) earlier set, including the episodes New Recruits, The WAC, The Horse, The Eating Contest, Bivouac, the Twitch, the Investigation, The Revolutionary War, The Court Martial, and The Con Men. However, you're still getting 24 other episodes NOT on that earlier set, including the very funny The Empty Store, and others. It's worth buying the new set, though the Anniversary edition has more special features.

Here is a per disc list of contents:

Disc 1:
New Recruits (commentary by Allan Melvin)
The Empty Store
The WAC
The Horse
AWOL
The Boxer
Special Feature: The Lost Audition Show - never aired

Disc 2
The Hoodlum
Mardi Gras
The Eating Contest
The Centennial
Bivouac
The Singing Contest
The Twitch
Special Feature: Original Opening & Cast commercials

Disc 3
The Reunion
The Rich Kid
Hollywood
The Investigation
Kids in the Trailer
The Revolutionary War
The Transfer

Disc 4
The Rest Cure
Dinner at Sowici's
Army Memoirs
Miss America
The Court Martial (commentary by George Kennedy)
Furlough in New York
The Big Uranium Strike

Disc 5
Bilko and the Beast
Physical Check-up
Recruiting Sergeant
Hair
The Con Men
War Games
Bilko on Wall Street
Special Feature: "Lucy and the Efficiency Expert"

This Phil Silvers show was well written and well acted, with some very funny improvised moments. (The series creator Nat Hiken should be given a lot of credit for creating a quality show that just wasn't the same after he left.)

In this first season you have the episode titled "The Court Martial." Normally, that would sound like a serious subject. Not for Bilko. It seems the army wants to improve their timing and efficiency in processing new recruits. Unfortunately, one of the new recruits is a monkey. This is an episode that can't be described, but must be seen. And if you can get through it without laughing uncontrollably, then you need to see a doctor to see if your sense of humor was removed without your consent.

What is great about the Phil Silvers show is that even when the situations get insane, the humor never talks down to the audience. And Bilko, despite all his schemes, can never finally let his men down. (Except perhaps in the fourth season, done without Hiken, which is not the best.) This is also a show that had an integrated cast--a rarity then--and early TV appearances of Dick Van Dyke and others. The show started the career of actor George Kennedy.

Buy this set and encourage the manufacturer to put out the other 3 seasons on dvd. This show is unbelievably funny, with humor that isn't dated, and deserves to be enjoyed for generations. Silvers was a comedy genius.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Season One is brilliant - and it has subtitles. Please let's have seasons 2, 3 and 4 ASAP August 18, 2010

By David C Anderson

Amazon Verified Purchase

This set has English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired. As someone with bad hearing, I find that information vital whenever I buy a DVD these days.

Of all the TV comedies I ever saw, this one has to be the best. Not even Lucy or The Honeymooners, the two other great series from the golden age of US sitcom, came anywhere near it. Maybe it hit me at an impressionable age; maybe I missed some other great series; maybe they showed only the best episodes here (Melbourne, Australia, the early 1960s). But the pleasure that I've had from watching this long-awaited set of the first season has proven to me at least that Sgt Bilko really is the best. For anyone who wants proof of the genius of Phil Silvers, I'd suggest they try the episode where Bilko goes to bring back a Hungarian private who's gone AWOL. The story is practically non-existent and the dialogue is forgettable, but from the moment when Bilko enters the house of the celebrating Hungarians, the laughs just keep on coming. Phil Silvers was an amazing performer.

One question though. Is there anyone out there under the age of 40 who enjoys Bilko? I'd hate to think he has no young fans.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Blarney-ed to the max=Sgt.Bilko! August 31, 2010

By Robert Badgley

When one watches the Phil Silvers Show,one cannot help but ask who else but Phil Silvers could ever have successfully pulled off such a brilliant characterization of one Sgt.Ernest T.Bilko?I cannot honestly think of any actor then extant who had the moxy and energy coupled with such an innate ability for ad libbing than Silvers had who could have.He was creator Nat Hiken's first and best choice for the role.
This is the first season of "The Phil Silvers Show",for a short time known as "You'll Never Get Rich",with eps spanning from Sept.20/55 to May 15/56.The opening credits are the syndication animated titles which show a group of soldiers walking on with the shows title card ,Bilko barking orders,the group marching off,then Doberman appearing with an upside down card only to be righted by Bilko shouting again.However the original titles,bumpers and end credits ARE included in this five single DVD set which are a delight to see.Also included are numerous commentaries,show related commercials(sponsors were the life blood of /50s TV),the so called "lost"audition show and an ep from the /60s Lucy Show with Phil Silvers as an efficiency expert.Silvers was SO good at his character that ever after,it seemed,everyone wanted to see him playing Bilko in some way,shape or form.Just watch him in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and you'll see Ernest T.in full swing there,just dressed of course in Roman garb instead of combat fatigues.
The show featured a bevy of great supporting cast members,among them Harvey Lembeck as Corp.Barbella(who would soon gather another following as the aged biker in the Frankie and Annette films),stalwart and talented Allan Melvin as Corp.Henshaw,Herby Faye as Pvt.Fender,Maurice Gosfield as the slovenly Pvt.Doberman,Billy Sands as Pvt.Papparelli,Harry Clark as Sgt.Sowicki,and the irrepressible John Ford as the hard done by Colonel Hall.It has been said that Ford would often forget his lines and Silvers would,without missing a beat,say a line that would twig Ford to remembering or just say his line for him.You can see many an ad lib by Silvers but one most obvious one is in"The New Recruit" where a monkey is inducted into the army,despite Bilko's attempts to stop it.At the court martial where Bilko is the simians counsel,his client suddenly dashes over to a corner and Bilko says something to the effect that he thinks his client is trying to contact his congressman.It's hilarious stuff and this and so many other instances are there for all to see.
Also visible are little bloopers.One quite visible one,and I'll let you try and find the ep yourself,is where Sgt.Sowicki leaves the scene by going out a doorway.The camera then switches angles and Harry Clark is quite visible standing behind the scenery watching the proceedings for quite a bit of time.Someone must have told him as he suddenly moves away.
Now this show was NOT the ratings Goliath you may have been led to believe it was.Sure it won around nine well deserved Emmys during its tenure on CBS but it never reached more than into the top 25 and that was in its second season.Mind you I do have a BIG problem with the so-called "ratings" system at the best of times and this concept was in its infancy in the /50s,its accuracy was dodgy at the best of times and it was/is most unrepresentative of the viewing public as a whole at ANY time.
Having said that however the shows writing I believe was much better in the first two years,especially in so far as the Bilko character goes.For the first while Bilko was certainly portrayed as the conman he would always be but at least he was shown to have the best interests of his platoon at heart.Later they(the writing staff)turned him into more of a self-centred hustler and I found that aspect of the character the least sustainable on any long term basis.Another small detail is the fact of sustaining such a high energy character on a weekly basis.It is a credit to Silvers professionalism that he was able,for the most part,to pull it off but there are times even Silvers can't overcome the poorer scripts,and the shows would fall flat;and hard.That also became more the norm than the exception as the series wore on.I think these factors,more so than the normal spin that the show went off the air because of the cost of such a large cast,are more the causes of the shows demise than any other.I thought so in 1959 and I still think so today.
Technically speaking this set has NOT been remastered and while generally speaking the eps look pretty good I must say that a good remastering from the original elements should have been on the cards for this truly iconic tv show.Paul Brownstein who put this package together( and quite a few others for various companies-kind of a gun-for-hire)got his first big break in that end with the mega packaging and transfer of the Dick Van Dyke series;which by the way were also in great need of remastering but weren't.Brownstein seems to be good at getting the extras together which fans love but for some reason he stays away from any remastering,which frankly I do not get.In this set not only are some of the prints very,very grainy and with blemishes,quite a few have been printed too close in.To see this take note at the end of each ep of just how many that you can clearly see the final year of release on(1955,1956,etc).If they are cut off partially or completely then new prints should have been made.As mentioned there are some nice extras but this doesn't make up for this lack of remastering.But then again cost is always the big concern and more often than not the consumer gets cut the most.
In conclusion despite this sets non-remastering it is still in pretty good shape(we all have seen worse)and the extras Mr.Brownstein has added are as welcome as pay day.This is the series in one of its' best years with Phil Silvers in his penultimate role as the fast talking con man sergeant of Fort Baxter,Kansas;with a heart.The laughs come at break neck speed and Silvers is well supported with a cast of great second bananas on hand to assist him.This is one of 1950's television's better shows and I'm glad to see its final release to DVD.