I had this for about a month now and I didn't watch it till last night. It beat out Rescue From GI for my favorite Reunion movie. This was done very good. It has everything that makes it a good reunion movie.

1. It ties up loose ends and explains a lot
2. So many characters reprised there role.
3. Not to many new characters.
4. References past episodes without using footage.
5. The background music is the same as in TAGS.
6. Many interesting plots, not just one.
7. The actors look the same, didn't gain much weight.

___________
Here are some pics from it for those who haven't seen it.

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

....this WAS THE PERFECT "TV reunion movie"!

WHY? Because, like Sherwood Schwartz, Andy Griffith wanted EVERYONE to come back and "tie up some loose ends", and have some fun doing it.

MANY people in front of AND behind the camera, who had worked on the original series, jumped at the chance to revisit "Mayberry". The only thing they couldn't do was film the movie on the same Desilu backlot they'd worked on, 20 years before---"Mayberry" had been torn down some years back, so they had to "rebuild" it somewhere else.

And Frances Bavier was too ill to appear, so there was this very moving scene where Andy visits Aunt Bee's final resting place....very sad.



And, by gosh, it all clicked!!!!


:)

....this WAS THE PERFECT "TV reunion movie"!

WHY? Because, like Sherwood Schwartz, Andy Griffith wanted EVERYONE to come back and "tie up some loose ends", and have some fun doing it.

MANY people in front of AND behind the camera, who had worked on the original series, jumped at the chance to revisit "Mayberry". The only thing they couldn't do was film the movie on the same Desilu backlot they'd worked on, 20 years before---"Mayberry" had been torn down some years back, so they had to "rebuild" it somewhere else.

And Frances Bavier was too ill to appear, so there was this very moving scene where Andy visits Aunt Bee's final resting place....very sad.



And, by gosh, it all clicked!!!!


:)

I was wondering why Aunt Bea wasn't in it. Frances Bavier didn't die till after this was filmed so I was really wondering what was up. Thanks for explaining.

I remember when that was on-it was a Sunday night at 9, on NBC. I remember, I taped it, and I still have the tape. I think it was in 1986. Ron Howard surprised a lot of Hollywood "insiders" by aggreeing to play Opie again; since by that time he had become a fammous director with the movie "Splash" 2 years earlier. But, I remember reading an interview with him at the time where he said that he did it because, when he had left the show years before, he'd said that if they ever wanted him to revive Opie, then he would.
I also remember reading, besides all that stuff TV KNOWLEDGE FAN said, that it was the highest rated TV movie that year.
I also remember reading that they were going to make a sequel to it the next year, for Christmas, but they couldn't get everyone back together. I've often wondered though, why they never tried again.

You're right, though, it was a GREAT reunion movie!!

(unlike the HORRIBLE "The return of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES " and "Return to GREEN ACRES")