View Full Version : Here's Lucy DVD Set: Get Ready


LittleRickyII
08-04-2009, 02:28 AM
Just saw this write-up on the new DVD set and thought I'd pass along. I also recently got a sneak peek at some of this stuff and I can tell you, you will not be disappointed. You'll be blown away. Incidentally, I've noticed from the published back cover that Lucie and Desi Jr. aren't the only ones doing the intros. There are a couple other people as well, including I Love Lucy performer Peggy Rea.

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/291207/here-s-lucy-season-one

For those eager to see the forthcoming Season One release of Here's Lucy, I don't think you'll be disappointed. I got a copy yesterday and perused it last night. Generally, it's on a par with the release Shout! Factory did a few years back with beautiful transfers of the episodes themselves and introductions to each episode by Lucie or Desi, Jr., this time on camera!

Plus, there are lots of fun bonus features, much of which is culled from the Desilu II archives of Lucy's personal material. There's beautiful color silent home movie footage taken from the 1957-58 season of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show, showing location work in Las Vegas and Sun Valley along with the Maurice Chavalier episode from 1958 featuring Little Ricky on drums. (During the Sun Valley footage, try and read Fernando Lamas' lips as he talks into the camera!)

There's also home movie footage from the episode filmed at LAX and raw blue-screen work from that same episode. (Once again, read Gale Gordon's lips during one part of the silent blue-screen material!). There's also a delightful little 16mm "story" film by Gary Morton and Lucille Ball during a vacation in Monte Carlo probably done for the kids.

Also on the DVD are the raw footage of the making of the opening credits (shots with the Lucy puppet) and a long take of Lucy looking regally into the camera, smiling and winking for use during the credits.

Lucy's secretary, Wanda Clark, reads the production publicity material written in 1968 to publicize the new show.

There's promotional material from the network run and syndication promos for, if I'm not mistaken, each and every episode of season one as part of the bonus materials.

A fun addition is a complete 15 minute episode from the "Let's Talk to Lucy" radio series, which aired around 1964. Let's hope there are lots more of these coming as the on-camera visuals that play against the audio-only material indicate that Lucy talked with the likes of Vivian Vance, Bea Benaderet, Bob Hope and Eve Arden over the course of the series. Here she interviews Gale Gordon.

Also included is a cute vintage plug for The Mothers-in-Law, featuring Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard giving us the premise of that show. It's a nice ad for that forthcoming release on DVD.

There's more, but I haven't gotten to it all yet. Looking at the credits, I see a few of the same names that worked on the recently released Lucy Show and I can safely say this is as much a labor of love as that release was.

I'd say it's a must for Lucy fans and a nostalgic treat for everyone old enough to remember those fabulous Monday nights on CBS.

MadonnasManOne
08-25-2009, 04:03 AM
I can't wait to pick up this set, later today. I have never seen one episode of this series, so this is going to be a real treat!

dakert
08-25-2009, 02:54 PM
You are in for a real treat :happyface Amazon said my copy was on its way.

I can't wait to pick up this set, later today. I have never seen one episode of this series, so this is going to be a real treat!

Robert 13
08-25-2009, 03:52 PM
I just received my copy. Beautifully done by MPI. Nice and compact but they were able to fit the discs in without blocking the inner artwork and episode list. These Lucy releases really have been the best of tv-on-dvd this year. While people had little nitpicks here and there, these sets are definitely what other studios should strive to model their releases after.

Here's looking forward to the release of Season 2. Hopefully, "The Lucy Show" Season 2 will be announced soon as well. :)

Benno123
08-25-2009, 05:19 PM
No luck in finding it in stores around here, so I ordered from Amazon. Already the status says "ready to ship soon" so here's hoping that I have it by the weekend. If not, then I'll have a nice treat for Labor Day weekend instead!

Marvo301
08-25-2009, 05:45 PM
I had no luck finding it in the stores here this morning either. So this afternoon i drove to Langley which is a 20 minute drive west from here. And they had this DVD set in stock at the Walmart there so i was able to purchase a copy. Can wait to start watching it later!!!

Benno123
08-25-2009, 08:18 PM
Lucky you, Marvo, that it was available in your area. I had a feeling that it wouldn't be here, almost all MPI releases I have had to order.

Marvo301
08-25-2009, 08:23 PM
I watched a bunch of the extra'a this afternoon (and there are many on this set) . So much great material here. This is the way all TV DVD sets should be!!

LittleRickyII
08-26-2009, 02:45 AM
[COLOR="RoyalBlue"]I just received my copy. Beautifully done by MPI. Nice and compact but they were able to fit the discs in without blocking the inner artwork and episode list. These Lucy releases really have been the best of tv-on-dvd this year. While people had little nitpicks here and there, these sets are definitely what other studios should strive to model their releases after.

I watched a bunch of the extra'a this afternoon (and there are many on this set) . So much great material here. This is the way all TV DVD sets should be!!

I agree with you both. I just noticed this set is up to #101 on Amazon on their list of all TV and movie DVDs. I don't know if it's gotten higher, but that's where it stands now. TLS Season One got up to at least 95th place. So interestingly, it looks like the Here's Lucy set may be selling as well as TLS set.