BEWITCHED SEASON 1 & 2 DVD QUESTION? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jack77 · 07-13-2008, 07:54 AM

Hi I have the first & second season COLORIZED DVD sets and they did not use the original openings in these episodes. I guess SONY was to cheap to colorize the opening credits/theme and easily replaced it with the third season opening. My question is I was thinking about buying the 1st & 2nd season sets again in Black & White now that the prices have come down. Can ayone who owns the B&W sets tell me if the opening credits/themes are the original openings from 1964 & 1965? I'm not talking about the original sponsors just the cartoon opening with the original theme music. Thanks!

treky · 07-14-2008, 03:37 AM

I've never seen the DVDs, but I think I read that they're not.

Larry Tate · 07-14-2008, 11:12 AM

In regards to the first two seasons Black & White DVD sets, the Opening is just like the episodes themselves, just a greyscale version of the Colorized version of the same episode, in effect it is as if you have the Colorized version & you just turned the color down completely to no color.

Larry Tate

Jude The Obscure · 07-14-2008, 11:28 AM

As much as I would love to have the original openings, my love for the actual show was greater, so buy the DVDs!!

catlover79 · 07-14-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

As much as I would love to have the original openings, my love for the actual show was greater, so buy the DVDs!!

Jack77 · 07-14-2008, 11:29 PM

Wow Larry Tate that really sucks. So there is no point buying the Black & White DVD sets when I can just turn down the color on my color sets.
Leave it to SONY to screw up another show on DVD!

Larry Tate · 07-15-2008, 12:12 PM

Yes i know, it is a shame, if you have a Columbia House B/W
VHS tape of any episodes then that is where you see them as they
were originally filmed re Lighting, camera work, original texture, nuance, shadows etc.

The B/W effect you see on them is completely different then what you see on the B/W DVD sets from the first two seasons.

Larry Tate

MickeyMac · 07-15-2008, 12:16 PM

I would reccomend buying the season one and two in black and white, just cause the fact that they were originally filmed in black and white. When they take stuff that was originally filmed and black and white and colorize it, it looks tacky.

Dusty's Fan · 07-16-2008, 09:43 AM

For anyone who may not be aware, the original complete openings were apparently heavily tied into the original sponsor's (advertiser's) product. I remember reading that the early Bewitched openings incorporated a car ad, flying through the air. It could be that removing or separating the ad would not be possible.

Larry Tate · 07-16-2008, 12:08 PM

Yes that is right, depending on which company was sponsoring a given episode. there was a large Chevrolet or Quaker Oats Logo
at the very start of the animated opening that then morphed into a Moon
with the animated opening then continuing on from that point onwards.

I have these with each of these two sponsors from each of the first 4 seasons that they sponsored the show from original 16mm prints so i know it to be so through these.

As well i have the Kodak one from season 5, Ban & Clairol from season 6, Ban, Bufferin,Excedrin,Clairol & Oscar Meyer ones from Season 7 as well.

They all had a very interesting Bewitched hooked or themed sponsor commercial as well just after the animated opening & just before the end credits which as well had the sponsor logo in it throughout the end credits animation up to & including season 5.
In the case of Chevrolet you had an animated Darrin & Samantha flying along on a broom that then becomes the Chevrolet logo.

Larry Tate

Jude The Obscure · 07-16-2008, 11:46 PM

Today's technology provides no excuse as to why the original theme music can't be restored to the proper seasons.

Jack77 · 07-17-2008, 04:07 AM

MickeyMac, that's why I started this post, I wanted to know if I should also buy the first two seasons in B&W to view the orignal dark tones of B&W and listen to the original opening music with the different stove in the kitchen, but did you not read what Larry Tate posted? The black & white DVD sets are not the original B&W prints. For that why waste money when you can just buy the colorized sets and turn down the color yourself!
At least you can have both versions on one set. It's true the only way to see these original B&W openings from the first two seasons is either on Columbia House Video where they are uncut or if you taped them as they originally aired on nick@nite or TV Land. Those episodes are cut but still have the original openings. The give away clue is the stove looks different. It is seperated from the sink. I'm sure Larry Tate can better distinguish how to tell the original opening from the fake opening as I don't have the actual episodes in front of me but I remember the kitchen was slightly different.

catlover79 · 07-17-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jude86

Today's technology provides no excuse as to why the original theme music can't be restored to the proper seasons.

Well said!!

Jude The Obscure · 07-17-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack77

MickeyMac, that's why I started this post, I wanted to know if I should also buy the first two seasons in B&W to view the orignal dark tones of B&W and listen to the original opening music with the different stove in the kitchen, but did you not read what Larry Tate posted? The black & white DVD sets are not the original B&W prints. For that why waste money when you can just buy the colorized sets and turn down the color yourself!
At least you can have both versions on one set. It's true the only way to see these original B&W openings from the first two seasons is either on Columbia House Video where they are uncut or if you taped them as they originally aired on nick@nite or TV Land. Those episodes are cut but still have the original openings. The give away clue is the stove looks different. It is seperated from the sink. I'm sure Larry Tate can better distinguish how to tell the original opening from the fake opening as I don't have the actual episodes in front of me but I remember the kitchen was slightly different.

the stove is different, the sink is seperate from the stove, there are kitchen cabinets and a door! Also the cat is white, compared to the darker hues such as blue/black used for the color seasons.

Jude The Obscure · 07-17-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Well said!!

Thank you!

Why is is that somehow the season 1 theme was restored enough to be used for syndication, but it couldn't be done for seasons 2,3,4, and 5? That's just laziness and I've played around with the openings and music and I see there is a way for the themes to be properly restored!

07-13-2008, 07:54 AM	#1
Jack77 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2003 Posts: 339	BEWITCHED SEASON 1 & 2 DVD QUESTION? Hi I have the first & second season COLORIZED DVD sets and they did not use the original openings in these episodes. I guess SONY was to cheap to colorize the opening credits/theme and easily replaced it with the third season opening. My question is I was thinking about buying the 1st & 2nd season sets again in Black & White now that the prices have come down. Can ayone who owns the B&W sets tell me if the opening credits/themes are the original openings from 1964 & 1965? I'm not talking about the original sponsors just the cartoon opening with the original theme music. Thanks!

07-14-2008, 03:37 AM	#2
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I've never seen the DVDs, but I think I read that they're not.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

07-14-2008, 11:12 AM	#3
Larry Tate Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2001 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,569	In regards to the first two seasons Black & White DVD sets, the Opening is just like the episodes themselves, just a greyscale version of the Colorized version of the same episode, in effect it is as if you have the Colorized version & you just turned the color down completely to no color. Larry Tate

07-14-2008, 11:28 AM	#4
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	As much as I would love to have the original openings, my love for the actual show was greater, so buy the DVDs!!

07-14-2008, 11:29 PM	#6
Jack77 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2003 Posts: 339	Wow Larry Tate that really sucks. So there is no point buying the Black & White DVD sets when I can just turn down the color on my color sets. Leave it to SONY to screw up another show on DVD!

07-15-2008, 12:12 PM	#7
Larry Tate Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2001 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,569	Yes i know, it is a shame, if you have a Columbia House B/W VHS tape of any episodes then that is where you see them as they were originally filmed re Lighting, camera work, original texture, nuance, shadows etc. The B/W effect you see on them is completely different then what you see on the B/W DVD sets from the first two seasons. Larry Tate

07-15-2008, 12:16 PM	#8
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	I would reccomend buying the season one and two in black and white, just cause the fact that they were originally filmed in black and white. When they take stuff that was originally filmed and black and white and colorize it, it looks tacky.

07-16-2008, 09:43 AM	#9
Dusty's Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 13, 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,092	For anyone who may not be aware, the original complete openings were apparently heavily tied into the original sponsor's (advertiser's) product. I remember reading that the early Bewitched openings incorporated a car ad, flying through the air. It could be that removing or separating the ad would not be possible.

07-16-2008, 12:08 PM	#10
Larry Tate Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2001 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,569	Yes that is right, depending on which company was sponsoring a given episode. there was a large Chevrolet or Quaker Oats Logo at the very start of the animated opening that then morphed into a Moon with the animated opening then continuing on from that point onwards. I have these with each of these two sponsors from each of the first 4 seasons that they sponsored the show from original 16mm prints so i know it to be so through these. As well i have the Kodak one from season 5, Ban & Clairol from season 6, Ban, Bufferin,Excedrin,Clairol & Oscar Meyer ones from Season 7 as well. They all had a very interesting Bewitched hooked or themed sponsor commercial as well just after the animated opening & just before the end credits which as well had the sponsor logo in it throughout the end credits animation up to & including season 5. In the case of Chevrolet you had an animated Darrin & Samantha flying along on a broom that then becomes the Chevrolet logo. Larry Tate

07-16-2008, 11:46 PM	#11
Jude The Obscure Retired Eternal Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 10, 2006 Posts: 7,520	Today's technology provides no excuse as to why the original theme music can't be restored to the proper seasons.

07-17-2008, 04:07 AM	#12
Jack77 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2003 Posts: 339	MickeyMac, that's why I started this post, I wanted to know if I should also buy the first two seasons in B&W to view the orignal dark tones of B&W and listen to the original opening music with the different stove in the kitchen, but did you not read what Larry Tate posted? The black & white DVD sets are not the original B&W prints. For that why waste money when you can just buy the colorized sets and turn down the color yourself! At least you can have both versions on one set. It's true the only way to see these original B&W openings from the first two seasons is either on Columbia House Video where they are uncut or if you taped them as they originally aired on nick@nite or TV Land. Those episodes are cut but still have the original openings. The give away clue is the stove looks different. It is seperated from the sink. I'm sure Larry Tate can better distinguish how to tell the original opening from the fake opening as I don't have the actual episodes in front of me but I remember the kitchen was slightly different.