The Munsters - The Complete Series (DVD, 2008, 12-Disc Set)

Just when you thought that things could not get any spookier in the world of DVDs; get ready for the complete series of the classic 60s television sitcom, "The Munsters". This monumental DVD boxed set contains all 70 episodes from both seasons, together in a special collector's package. You also get several featurettes about the series, as well as individual profiles on the show's stars, Fred Gwynne (Herman), Yvonne DeCarlo (Lily) and Al Lewis (Grandpa). The episodes have been remasterd for the very best sound and picture quality available, in all its ghoulish black-and-white. As a bonus, you also recieve the 2 movies featuring members of the original cast; the 1966 feature film "Munster, Go Home!" and the 1981 made-for-TV reunion "The Munsters' Revenge". This is perhaps the only program in television history that 4 actresses have played the same character in a regular series. Of course, I am talking about Marilyn Munster, played by Beverly Owen (the first 13 episodes of season 1 only), Pat Priest (the remainder of season 1 and all of season 2), Debbie Watson ('Munster, Go Home!') and Jo McDonnell ('The Munsters' Revenge'). These ladies had the unique honor of working along-side Gwynne, DeCarlo and Lewis. With this box set, you can see the many faces of Marilyn. The chemistry between the 3 main cast members in each show in undeniable, and it shows. There are not too many classic television shows that rate very highly, but "The Munsters" is definitely one of them. The shows are still as much fun to watch as when they first aired back in 1964-1966. Take a trip back to 1313 Mockingbird Lane for yourself!

Coming in only second to The Addams Family in core essential comedic series in My estimation*, this presentation continually brings forth much amusement and joy. Box art features the beloved characters colorized in the dungeon, although most fortunately, the episodes themselves are rendered in original black & white as they should be, and just the way I like it. Featuring Herman & Lily on the covers for the first season, with Grandpa & Eddie for the second, the dungeon crypt opens in a tri-fold presentation to discs that are "blood red", and so is the logo, which is nicely embossed on the box.

There is an extra option to view episode "Family Portrait" in color, although some of the pastels can honestly get kind of irritating. Also included is the previously un-aired pilot starring the painfully gorgeous Phoebe as the proposed matriarch, bearing a striking resemblance to Morticia, and who might have been better preserved as a cousin, perhaps. Despite her beauty, her delivery falls flat, especially in comparison to Lily.

Of note, very pleased to see Disc six featuring BOTH films "Munsters Go Home" and "Munsters' Revenge"; plus "America's First Family of Fright" featurette {the history of the show & its societal relevance}, & biography presentations on Fred Gwynne: "More Than A Munster" {from Harvard to Herman}, Yvonne DeCarlo: "Guilded Lily" {from dancer to beauty pageants, to actress in such films as the temptress 'Salome, Where She Danced', to the '10 Commandments'}, Al Lewis: "Forever Grandpa" {from roustabout to burlesque & vaudeville (sounds rather familiar...), to political activist & restaurant proprietor}, each displaying the remarkable lives of these truly exceptional actors, when actors were actually interesting besides the roles they played, and truly deserved fame & fortune.

Visual and sound quality is flawless, which can be no less for this timeless treasure. So drop by whenever you like to 1313 Mockingbird Lane, there are many tricks and treats, and prepare for much fun & fright!

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* It seems that while The Addams Family concentrates more on a sophisticated level of humor, The Munsters appeals to a more child-like sensibility. More here: http://dblackthorne.livejourna​l.com/390456.html.

My thoughts on the Munsters DVD's was; unless you really can't afford it, why settele for purchasing bits and pieces when you can have it all with this Complete Series box set? If you are a genuine fan of this 2 season series of the 60's as I am, it's really the only rational way to go.

The Complete Series finally came though after many trial and error attempts here on ebay. After months of being outbid here I finally found this box set for under $40 shipped through a Google search. That's all 70 B&W episodes, a full color version of the 'Family Portrait' episode, 'Munster's Go Home' movie and 'Munster's Revenge' movie. Plus 4 other special features surrounding this all American family of fright in the night and laughter.

I watched this B&W series religiously every week as a child. Much easier watching it now being commercial free. I can appreciate it even more currently as an adult when I can look further past the surface presentation and see how the character actors fit the parts they played so well. They all complement each other spontaneously and I think that's what made this series so popular, even today. Herman the caring frightful looking fun loving father, Lilly the Vampira mother figure, grandpa the mad scientist vampire senior figure, Eddie the wolf boy child and Marlyn the bodacious blonde so-called ugly duckling of the family. You'll meet monstrous cousins, twin brothers and other comical wretched relatives and fiends along the way as well.

If you are a fan now or in the past of the Munsters TV series, this is the set to get for everything you'd want related to this hilariously whacky monster family of TV's past.

I bought The Munsters twice. I bought this complete set, my second go-around, because the original two seasons box sets were terribly flawed. Universal had experimented for a time with DVD-18, an encoding process that allowed Universal to release double-sided DVDs (with more information on one side) and save on production costs, but more often than not led to encoding errors in the finished product that caused stuttering, skipping, and even freezing during playback. Enough customer's complained over time that Universal abandoned this method of recording, and thus they released The Munsters Complete Series on one-sided disks (as well as the Complete Universal Abbott and Costello, which I also re-purchased for the one-sided disks). I am, of course, angry that Universal never offered a rebate for those of us who basically paid twice for both The Munsters and Abbott and Costello. But, the great news is that in both cases, all the disks now play flawlessly, and you can enjoy The Munsters (or, Abbott and Costello) without any of the frustration caused by the original releases. For those lucky enough to never have problems with the original releases, the quality of the episodes is basically the same, very crisp, very satisfying. What you are missing from the re-release are several extras on the actors and production of The Munsters, as well as the more complete full-color premier episode (which is not as satisfactory as the black-and-white Universal eventually went with-B/W connects us solidly with our memories of the Universal monster movies this comic series was inspired by).

Simply one of the best tv shows ever created. This dvd collection includes every episode including the original pilot filmed in color with a very obnoxious Eddie Munster, and Phoebe instead of Lily. It's fun to see the same script done twice and the vast improvement that a few character tweaks can make.