Search - The Munsters - America's First Family of Fright (Documentary) on DVD

It's Baaack... What You Should Know Before You Buy!

Servo | Atlanta, GA USA | 08/17/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Back in August 2004, Universal released The Munsters: Season One DVD. The set featured all 38 episodes plus the unaired pilot, but no extras. This set, The Munsters - America's First Family of Fright, an independent 2-disc (243 min.) set, with extras, from Image Entertainment was also planned to arrive on August 24th, the same day as Universal's The Munsters: Season One release. Fearing consumers would be confused by what they would be getting from the two Munsters sets, Image pulled their release with the intent to simply release it at a later date. But then Universal expressed interest in using it as extras for the Munsters Season Two set. Universal and Image negotiated and voila! The Munsters Season Two released with extras: the four documentaries that make up Disc One of this 2-disc set listed below.



Four Amazing Looks at the Munsters:

The Munsters: America's First Family of Fright

Fred Gwynne: More than a Munster

Yvonne DeCarlo: Gilded Lily

Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa





And here's the previously unreleased material you're getting that make up Disc Two of this 2-disc set:



Hours of Eerie Extras:

"My Fair Munster" plus 3 Different Presentations in Black and White and Color; Unaired Main Title Sequence (Pilot Version); CBS Network Promos; The Munsters in Several Vintage TV Special Appearances: "Seven Wonderful Nights" (CBS Special with Buddy Ebsen); "Wayne & Schuster Take an Affectionate Look at the Monsters"; "Marineland Carnival" (CBS Special); "Big G, Little O"; "It's What's Happening, Baby" (with "Murray the K"); "We Don't Knock" (with Lenny Clarke).



Plus: Universal Newsreels; Syndication TV Spots; Munsters Go Home Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots.





This set is a "no-brainer" purchase if you don't already own The Munsters Season Two DVD, but for those that do already own the Munsters Season Two set (with the Disc One documentaries from this set), just know you run the risk of double-dipping on Disc One content (assuming the docs are the same versions) so you may want to first rent and compare before you decide to buy."

Well Worth the Wait!

Hermie Baby | 1313 Mockingbird Lane | 09/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Two years ago, Image Entertainment announced the release of this DVD only to have it yanked from release just days before Universal's release of "The Munsters" Season One. It seems Universal was "spooked" that another Munsters DVD item might confuse buyers. A compromise was reached: Image would withdraw the item voluntarily but Universal would release all four of the one-hour Munsters documentaries as VAM on their Season Two DVD. So why purchase this disc? Well, in addition to the really terriffic documentaries (originally produced by for A&E's Emmy Award-winning Biography series), Image has added LOTS of great bonus material, all digitally remastered from original 16mm and 35mm elements! In addition to two (2) extremely rare versions of the original 1964 Presentation entitled, "My Fair Munster" (which are, by the way, different from the one Universal released as VAM on the Season One disc), there are vintage TV spots, a cast commercial for Cheerios, a promo for the Munsters' 1965 TV Special at Marineland, "Munster, Go Home" trailers and TV spots, vintage Universal Studios newsreels and even a PSA featuring Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster for a US Government youth program -- to name just a few! But wait! There's MORE! As if nearly five full hours of content were not enough, Image added an hour of excerpts from cast interviews with Al Lewis, Yvonne DeCarlo, Butch Patrick and all three original Marilyns (Beverley Owen, Pat Priest and Debbie Watson)! Look, if you're NOT a Munsters fan, there's no reason to buy this DVD (or even read this review, for that matter). But if you ARE a Munsters fan, you MUST add this well produced item to your collection. Trivia Note: The featured documentary, "The Munsters: America's First Family of Fright" is narrated by Bill Mumy of "Lost in Space" and "Babylon 5" fame. Bill also guest starred on "The Munsters" in an episode entitled, "Come Back, Little Googie." Pretty cool, eh? Additional Note: All four documentaries and all contents of the discs were produced by #1 Munsters fan, Kevin Burns. Burns is the prolific filmmaker who made the definitive documentaries on Apes ("Behind the Planet of the Apes"), "Star Wars" ("Empire of Dreams") and Superman ("Look, Up in the Sky"). He also created and produces E! Entertainment's hit reality series, "The Girls Next Door.""