I MARRIED JOAN starred Joan Davis, a movie and radio comedienne billed as "America's Queen of Comedy," and Jim Backus, the voice of MR. MAGOO and the popular character Thurston Howell III from the GILLIGAN'S ISLAND TV seri... more »es. The show centered on Joan, a scatterbrained housewife, and her husband, Bradley Stevens, who was a staid and settled domestic court judge. Beverly Wills, Joan Davis' real-life daughter, also co-starred on the show playing the part of her sister. The show was cut from the same mold as the I LOVE LUCY series, with Joan Davis' comedy antics derived from the physical school of humor. Ms. Davis produced the show under her own production company for NBC and the series ran for three years between 1952 and 1955. This special DVD collection, on 2 discs, contains 12 complete episodes from the TV series: Prize Fighter, Wall Safe, Joan's Haircut, Changing Houses, Talent Scout, Bad Boy, Honeymoon, Home Movies, New House, Neighbors, Alienation and Sister Pat. Bonus Features: Actor Bios| Previews| Episode Selection Specs: 2-DVD9s; Dolby Digital Mono; 318 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA ? NR; Year ? 1952-1955; SRP - $14.99.« less
Actors:Joan Davis, Jim Backus Genres:Comedy, Kids & Family, Television Sub-Genres:Comedy, Family Films, Comedy Studio:Vci Video Format:DVD - Black and White DVD Release Date: 02/24/2004 Release Year: 2004 Run Time: 5hr 18min Screens: Black and White Number of Discs: 2 SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages:English
"This is a very pleasant collection of episodes from Joan Davis's TV series. While the writing is seriously uneven, and there are production shortcomings (it looks much more slapdash in execution than such contemporaneous filmed comedy series like Phil Silvers, Lucy, and Burns and Allen) the talent of Joan Davis still glows.... More sardonic than Lucille Ball (and for some of us, more appealing bcause of this), she was just as adept at physical comedy (and Jim Backus provides solid support). ALthough few episodes in this set are wholly satisfying ("Alienation" might be the best) each one contains at least a few shining moments when Miss Davis's comic smarts come through (any female comedy performer could do worse than to study her technique).... It was probably a tactical error not to shoot the show in front of a studio audience (a la Lucy); had the cast had real people reacting to them-- rather than an often annoying laugh track-- the show might have kicked into overdrive....And if you like Joan Davis on TV, be sure to catch her teaming with Abbott and Costello in HOLD THAT GHOST (1941)."
Underappreciated tallents
M. Perona | Western NC | 02/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Joan Davis and Jim Backus star in a very funny sitcom that ran in the early fifties. More subtle than Lucille Ball, but just as wacky, I always preferred Joan...I recently purchased the Fawlty Towers DVDs and was pleased to hear John Cleese mention I Married Joan in an interview on that collection. She was an early influence on him. You can't give much higher praise than that!"
Watch Out Lucy, Here Comes Joan Davis
Joseph A. Machado | Colton, CA | 02/21/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've always been a fan of Joan Davis in "I Married Joan". Her humor was never insulting to her public, she did her physical comedy that was believeable, interesting and funny. Her co-star husband, Jim Backus ( Mr. Howell in Gillian's Island), was the perfect straight man because you have to be good at setting up the funny situations and timing.
To get a preview of Joan Davis, watch her in the Abbott and Costello movie called "Hold That Ghost", its a classic."
The Series
Melanie R. Masi | 10/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All these episodes were funny, but the ones that were the funniest were not included in these. I hope there will be more in the future."
Discover or rediscover "I married Joan"
bernie | Arlington, Texas | 06/25/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Joan Davis (radio comedian) plays an empty-headed house wife. Jim Backus (Peter Bowers in "Boys' Night Out") plays the husband, Judge Bradley Stevens (1952-1955) (38 episodes, 1952-1955).
Each episode is a wholly contained story that starts out sane and logical. As time go on unlikely elements creep in to make the situation hysterically ridicules. Eventually everything is wrapped up. The actors and their characters is what make this comedy work so well.