Customer Reviews

You Bet Your Life - The Lost Episodes

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Incredible as it may seem, most of the "lost episodes" in this Groucho Marx DVD collection might have been lost forever. In the early 1970s, the geniuses at NBC planned to destroy ALL the "You Bet Your Life" programs for the sole purpose of freeing up some warehouse space. Fortunately, Groucho and producer John Guedel thwarted this cultural crime and reissued the comedy-quiz shows for late-night syndication with successful results. However, the "Best of Groucho" package was re-edited to eliminate any trace of the DeSoto-Plymouth references from the original broadcasts. Upon viewing this excellent three-disc set, the viewer is immediately aware of DeSoto's dominant sponsorship of "You Bet Your Life" and the major role Groucho played in the selling of its automobiles - lending his trademark image to its used-car dealerships. The "stag reels," promotional films and DeSoto commercials featured in this collection make for fascinating and historic viewing. Of course, there's the long-awaited pleasure of seeing 18 unedited "You Bet Your Life" programs for the first time since the 1950s - a remarkable find comparable to the "lost" Jackie Gleason kinescopes. The result is a valuable addition to Groucho's comic legacy.

This nicely-presented 3-Disc collector's set of Groucho Marx' "You Bet Your Life" TV program is a real treat. While viewing these restored episodes and rare outtakes and bonus materials, I really get the feeling of owning something very rare and special from TV's bygone era.

The 18 episodes on these three discs have been remastered for DVD, and they look pretty good, although quite a bit of dirt and grain still remain on the prints. But, after all, these shows are 50 years old! I guess we shouldn't expect perfect video quality. The prints, although far from perfection, have indeed been cleaned-up considerably. For proof, just watch some of the outtakes included in this set. It's fairly obvious that the restoration team didn't touch any of these outtake clips, for they are far worse in quality than the full episodes themselves.

A variety of different seasons are represented among the shows in this package. Groucho's TV version of "You Bet Your Life" ran from 1950 to 1961. This DVD compilation includes episodes spanning the years 1950-1959, including the October 1950 debut program (with a "secret word" of "Wall").

Here's a breakdown of the years that are represented within this DVD package (indicating the year the programs initially aired):
1950 -- 2 episodes.
1951 -- 1 episode.
1952 -- 4 episodes.
1953 -- 3 episodes.
1954 -- 3 episodes.
1955 -- 1 episode.
1956 -- 2 episodes.
1957 -- No episodes.
1958 -- 1 episode.
1959 -- 1 episode.

Watching Groucho, with cigar ever-present, banter with his guests (some famous, but most just regular folk from the studio audience) is sure to bring a smile to the face of anyone who purchases this deluxe DVD set. His quick, disarming displays of ad-libbed wit are something to behold. Nobody could "jab" at his guests like Groucho could.

Three "Stag Reels" are included in the set, containing "racier" elements from the original shows that had to be cut out by the network when broadcast to the public. These clips are very fun to watch. There's plenty of deleted moments here too (36 total minutes, spread over the three discs).

Many people purchasing this set will be happy to know there's a "Play All" feature on each of the discs, so that the episodes will play consecutively without the need for user intervention.

The lengthy booklet included is extremely well-done and informative. It chronicles the history of Groucho's radio and TV variants of the "You Bet Your Life" program. Plus, many vintage photos are presented within this top-notch booklet insert. As well as info on each of the 18 episodes included on the discs, with original air dates, filming dates, and the "secret word" for each episode. This same episode information is also repeated on one of the flaps of the fold-out case. So you can locate a specific episode "at a glance" without having to dig out the booklet. Bonus features, specific to each disc, are also listed on the case flap, as well as inside the booklet.

While the lack of a "Slipcase" (or outer cover of some ilk) is a bit of a disappointment, it doesn't greatly detract from the fact that this DVD presentation of "Groucho Marx -- You Bet Your Life -- The Lost Episodes" is, in my opinion, a terrific example of "TV-on-DVD done right". It's a first-rate product that I'd recommend highly to any Groucho fan, or any admirer of old-time TV in general.

So -- to mimic Groucho's very capable and likeable sidekick/announcer, George Fenneman -- "Won't you come in please, and meet Groucho Marx!"

"The Best Episodes" is a worthy follow-up to last year's Groucho Marx "Lost Episodes" DVD collection. Once again, there are 18 unedited "You Bet Your Life" programs that have not been viewed since the original broadcasts, along with a plethora of special guests, blooper reels and vintage commercials (including the famous Creamy Prom spot with Harpo and Chico). Running from 1947 to 1961, the comedy-quiz show was a perfect vehicle for Groucho's razor-sharp talents, which became evident when Groucho and producer John Guedel attempted a new format in the early 1960s with THREE less-than-stellar pilots - all featured in this DVD set. The inclusion of these unsuccessful ventures does throw the overall collection somewhat off-balance. Nevertheless, there are enough memorable laughs to satisfy any die-hard Marxist.

This DVD set is even better than I expected, and I expected a lot of laughs. The production of the show itself is charming, Groucho is great, the guests are (usually unintentionally) funny, and the extras showing the commercials, bloopers, etc. are all superb. And the video quality is excellent as well. Groucho's wit, especially when working on a nervous contestant, is something to behold. Sometimes the simplest concepts are the best. These shows are better than most Marx Bros movies!

'Y.B.Y.L. - The Lost Episodes' was brilliant. So much so that I feared this DVD, 'Y.B.Y.L. - The Best Episodes', would not meet my high expectations. How wrong I was! Of course B&W and on very simple sets they were again with very good sound and picture quality, (considering the age I think they have done very well).
The packaging is excellent and again it comes with a 10page booklet.
There were more special guests in these three DVDs. And they were entertaining. However, the not-so-ordinary men/women off the street were the real stars of the show. Groucho Marx was a unique talent. His skills in comedy and conversation were exceptional. *Please note, it should be said that this was made before political correctness reared its boring head stunting the world's humour and our abilities to laugh at ourselves and each other.
No doubt about it. A very good buy with lots of laughs.

When I was a kid visiting my grandparents in Boston, we'd be able to catch "You Bet Your Life" reruns at night - although they didn't air until late night. We'd have to keep the volume down way low to make sure nobody knew the TV was on.

It's nice to finally hear Groucho at a normal volume. He's got such a great give and go with the contestants and George. What's amazing is that you don't care about the answers. And you can rewatch the shows because Groucho is the main focus of entertainment. You just don't have his type of personality on TV anymore. I do hope they put more episodes out.

The bonus features are great - espeically the ads for DeSoto with Groucho pushing the car.

I must confess up front that I was never a fan of the Marx Brothers' films. As a result, I wasn't much of a Groucho fan either. But many years ago, I saw some episodes of You Bet Your Life in syndication and found them surprisingly entertaining. I recently decided to take a chance on this DVD set and am glad that I did. Some episodes were clearly chosen due to the celebrity nature of the guests (e.g. a young Candice Bergen and her ventriloquist father, Edgar) but these are not necessarily the most entertaining.

Groucho and the show are both at their best when the guests are no-name people who happen to be interesting characters. When an organ grinder from Italy appears in one episode, Grouch has a field day teasing the guy and is then "zinged" in return when the man brings out a monkey who does a hilarious Groucho imitation. What made You Bet Your Life so unique is that it was a quiz show where the quiz was entirely incidental. It was all about the quick wit of Groucho and the quirky people who came on to spar with him for their 15 minutes of fame. It makes for great entertainment by any standard.

Attention Marx Brothers Fans! Here he is, the one, the only, Groucho on DVD!

I just received the 3 DVD You Bet Your Life Lost Episodes box set. This is a really great set that Marx Brothers fans should have in their collections. It's beautifully packaged with the DVDs set in clear in-set holders, through which are displayed many TV Guide and other magazine covers with Groucho plus other memorabilia. A really nice booklet comes with the set resembling a TV magazine from the 1950's with information on the show plus a break down of all the episodes and special bonus features. Among the bonus materials is included the famous ad-libbed radio appearance Groucho made with Bob Hope that led to the birth of You Bet Your Life. Among the 18 episodes of YBYL which are included is the famous Pedro G. Gonzalez appearance, as well as rare appearances by hipster comic Lord Buckley, Art Linkletter and Ernie Kovacs.

Also included is the radio pilot for YBYL and outtakes and stag reels from the TV show as well as a behind the scenes look at the show filmed for the DeSoto Plymouth Dealers and a recording of the Seasons Greetings Groucho Highlights sent to DeSoto-Plymouth employees. When I opened up the set the first thing I said was "cool!" when I saw how nicely packaged it was. This DVD set is definitely worth having in any Marx Brothers collection. And remember, if this set sells well, there will be a volume two set that will include among the bonuses the famous cameo made by Harpo in the early 1960's.

So, get this set. And remember to tell your DVD dealer that Frevo sent you!

I've been a big fan of this show since i was a kid catching already classic reruns on Boston TV. It's a shame that it isn't rerun anymore - you'd figure with all those cable channels, someone would put this on in the wee hours. Even though there are several cheap PD collections with a few episodes from the show, it's great that Shout! factory has put together some of the unreleased versions of 18 episodes. And what's even more fun is seeing the Stage reels featuring all the stuff the network didn't want us to see.

The nice part of the show is that no one is doing it merely for the money - cause compared to most game shows, Groucho is barely giving out cab fare. They appeared on the show to chat with Groucho.

If you only know the man from his Marx Brothers shows, give yourself a chance to see that he was a wit without the grease paint mustache.

The absolute simplicity of concept, economy of verbiage and humanity of the subjects makes You Bet Your Life a TV landmark. Simple, handsome, ugly, funny, wierd people all become fascinating. In the context of a current TV era that has only The Simpsons and Seinfeld to save us, this show puts the trash depicting vulgar, voyeuristic and mechanical people to shame. And yet, YBYL is not essentially different from that which bores me in TV today. Only with a once in a millenium host who circles around the subtleties of sex and voyeurism within strict limits, stages thier weaknesses then gently caresses them back to favour. Brilliant.