Search - A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court on DVD

The CBS animated TV special from 1970

byrner | The South | 10/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This hour and half cartoon was the first of the Famous Classic Tales aired on CBS throughout the 1970s. There were about 25 shows in all, sponsered by Kenner toys, adapted from classic books, and broadcast on weekends around holiday time. Adults who grow up in the 1970's will most likely remember the cartoon version of A Christmas Carol that was aired yearly throughout the decade. Some other shows included Kidnapped, Black Arrow, Prince and the Pauper, and From the Earth to the Moon, but there were also many others.



A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court is great nostalgia trip. It's an enjoyable, though sillier, version of the Mark Twain story. If you've seen it, you may recall the knights of the round table riding choppers by the end of the show (a distinctly non-Twain addition to the story). The goofier aspects of this particular special depart from the formula of later Famous Classic Tales (developed by the Australian animation company Air Programs International). Later shows were reduced to an hour in length, and tended to be bit more intellegent and realistically animated than this one. They are also known for the high caliber of their musical scores.



Anyway, if you're in for a nostalgia blast or just want to treat your kids to TV as you remember it, you'll have fun with this show. Delta Entertainment has released 7 DVDs from the original series. These included: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1970), The Legend of Robin Hood (1971), Treasure Island (1971), Robinson Crusoe (1972), Swiss Family Robinson (1973), Journey to the Center of the Earth (1977), and The Adventures of Sinbad (1979). Some are better than others (Robin Hood and Treasure Island are standouts), but most are worth owning. Unforunately, all of them have suffered a loss in quality during the transfer to DVD. The Delta DVDs are very cheaply produced and the quality is not as good as you might hope. But then, these shows are rarities and were difficult to find on VHS, and have never been available on DVD before now. I don't suggest waiting around for a broadcast quality high definition version, as it is are unlikely to ever come."