The Bonanza Collection (1959) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm giving this set 1 star, because the item description doesn't give detail on show titles. I really would love to get my hands on more Bonanza episodes, however, this set is just a repeat of previously released Bonanza shows on dvd sets/collection :o(
Good thing I did my homework before purchasing (and of course I WILL NOT be purchasing this one, as I have the 20 Best Episodes and Best of vol. 1), may I recommend that you please do the same (check the titles BEFORE buying this set)...to save you some time and money and FRUSTRATION, I've posted ALL of the show titles for FOUR popular and separate Bonanza sets/collections on dvd.The Bonanza Collection features:
Disc One:
The Courtship
Denver McKee
The Gunmen
Disc Two:
Avenger
Last Trophy
Desert Justice
Disc Three:
The Ape
The Blood Line
Showdown
Disc Four:
Blood on the Land
Badge Without Honor
Death At Dawn
Disc Five:
The Spanish Grant
Day of Reckoning
The Fear Merchants
Running Time: 12 hours 15 minutes
******************
Bonanza 20 Episode Set (it's cheaper too) features
Disc 1 - The Avenger,
Last Trophy,
the Hopefuls,
Denver McKee

Disc 2 -
Dark Star,
Spit Fire,
The Fear Merchants,
Gunman
Disc 3 -
Abduction,
Courtship,
Bitter Water,
The Mill
Disc 4 -
Escape to the Ponderosa,
The Ape,
The Blood Line,
Death at Dawn
Disc 5 -
Blood on the Land,
Badge without honor,
Day of Reckoning,
Desert Justice
*********************************
The Best of Bonanza, Vol. 1 (Cheaper still)
This DVD contains the following episodes:
Mr. Henry Comstock,
Death on Sun Mountain,
The Saga of Annie O'Toole,
Paiute War,
Enter Mark Twain,
The Crucible,
Any Friend of Walter's
Bullet for a Bride.
I hope this help you choose a Bonanza set wisely not get ripped off by buying a set that contains the EXACT episodes you've already purchased, just put in different packaging.

----------$$$$$$$$$$$$$$-------------PLEASE NOTE UPDATE:
UPDATE: (12/02/05) There is a new Bonanza DVD set (called: Bonanza-31 Episodes on 10 Discs) Here's the each show listing by name, and as you will see, UNFORTUNATELY...many are repeats of preciously released shoes as well: Bonanza-31 Episodes on 10 Discs
EPISODE #1 THE GUNMEN
EPISODE #2 THE FEAR MERCHANT
EPISODE #3 THE SPANISH GRANT
EPISODE #4 BLOOD ON THE LAND
EPISODE # 5 DESERT JUSTICE
EPISODE # 6 THE STRANGER
EPISODE # 7 ESCAPE TO THE PONDEROSA
EPISODE # 8 THE AVENGER
EPISODE # 9 THE LAST TROPHY
EPISODE #10 SAN FRANCISCO HOLIDAY
EPISODE #11 BITTER WATER
EPISODE #12 FEET OF CLAY
EPISODE #13 DARK STAR
EPISODE #14 DEATH AT DAWN
EPISODE #15 SHOWDOWN
EPISODE #16 THE MISSION
EPISODE #17 BADGE WITHOUT HONOR
EPISODE #18 THE MILL
EPISODE #19 DENVER MCKEE
EPISODE #20 DAY OF RECKONING
EPISODE #21 THE ABDUCTION
EPISODE #22 THE LAST VIKING
EPISODE #23 THE SAVAGE
EPISODE #24 THE APE
EPISODE #25 THE BLOOD LINE
EPISODE #26 THE COURTSHIP
EPISODE #27 THE SPITFIRE
EPISODE #28 BREED OF VIOLENCE
EPISODE #29 SILENT THUNDER
EPISODE #30 THE TRAIL GANG
EPISODE #31 THE HOPEFULS
As soon as a Bonanza DVD set comes out that contain NEW episodes, I'll be one of the first to buy it--and with JOY! Until then...I can only hope and pray that a (TRULY) new Bonanza DVD set will be released soon, INSTEAD of more rehashed (previously released) episodes with new covers or packaging.

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Take your boots off, put the feedbags on the horses, sit back, and enjoy a passel of mighty-fine episodes from television's most-beloved Western series: BONANZA! Here is the vast Ponderosa Ranch and the entire Cartwright family: Ben, Adam, Hoss, and Little Joe (otherwise known as Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts, Dan Blocker, and Michael Landon). Using the Western TV show format, BONANZA wove morality tales around the Cartwrights, touching on such social issues as injustice and race prejudice, just one of the reasons this classic series still holds up strong today. Among the guest stars included among the classic episodes in this compilation: Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek ; Lee Van Cleef, gunslinger in spaghetti Westerns; Ricardo Montalban of Fantasy Island ; Sebastian Cabot of Family Affair ; Vic Morrow of Combat ; Franchot Tone of Mutiny on the Bounty , Julie Adams of Creature from the Black Lagoon ; British ‘Scream Queen' Hazel Court, future game show host Bob Barker, and Everett Sloane of Citizen Kane ; as well as Hollywood reliables Dan Duryea, Patricia Medina, Lyle Talbot, Claude Akins and Philip Ahn. With fifteen complete episodes of BONANZA on five discs, this DVD collection is perfect for fans of Westerns, classic TV shows, or just good old-fashioned entertainment. 735 minutes DISC 1 "The Courtship" Guest stars Julie Adams, Paul Dubov and Lyle Talbot Going to the aid of a beautiful young widow, Hoss falls in love and becomes engaged to her, not knowing she has a serious gambling problem. Julie Adams, the damsel in distress in The Creature from the Black Lagoon, guest stars. "Denver McKee" Guest stars Franchot Tone, Natalie Trundy, Ken Mayer and Bob Barker The Cartwrights ask former lawman hero Denver McKee (Franchot Tone) to lead a posse in search of an outlaw gang, unaware that he is the gang's leader. Complicating things is Little Joe having eyes for his daughter, just returned from the East and equally ignorant of her father's crimes. "The Gunmen" Guest stars George Mitchell, Ellen Corby & Jonathan Gilmore In Texas to buy breeding stock for the Ponderosa, Hoss and Little Joe are mistaken for two gunslingers hired by one side in a feud between two families. Will they be able prove the mistaken identity before they are shot or hanged, and what will happen when their lookalikes show up? DISC 2 "Avenger" Guest stars Vic Morrow, Jean Allison Convicted of murder, Ben and Adam Cartwright await hanging, with Hoss and Little Joe trying to exonerate them. Meanwhile, a stranger with a dark past (Vic Morrow) comes to town looking for someone and asking questions. Will he side with the Cartwrights? "Last Trophy" Guest stars Hazel Court , Edward Ashley Adam guides a visiting British lord and lady on a mountain lion hunt, only to encounter more dangerous varmints in the form of lawless renegades who take the party hostage. "Desert Justice" Guest stars Claude Akins, Tom Greenway and Bud Osbourne Claude Akins guest stars as a none-too-gentle U.S. marshall extraditing a friend of the Cartwrights back to California to stand trial for murder. Adam and Hoss go along to make sure their friend gets to court alive. DISC 3 "The Ape" Guest stars Leonard Nimoy, Karen Sharpe, Cal Bolder Hoss attempts to help out a brawny but dimwitted and unstable drifter (Cal Bolder) who is infatuated with a callous saloon floozy (Karen Sharpe). Leonard Nimoy plays her bartender friend. "The Blood Line" Guest stars Jan Sterling, David Macklin, Lee Van Cleef, Allan "Rocky" Lane After Ben shoots a man in self-defense, he and Hoss try to help out his vengeful teenage son (David Macklin). Movie bad girl Jan Sterling plays-what else? – a bad girl, and future spaghetti western star Lee Van Cleef plays- what else?-a gunslinger. "Showdown" Guest stars Ben Cooper, Jack Lambert, Ray Teal A young bank robber hires on as a hand at the Ponderosa as lookout for his gang. Little Joe is suspicious of the stranger, who has his own misgivings as the Cartwrights treat him with kindness. Will he remain loyal to the gang of robbers? DISC 4 "Blood on the Land" A hardbitten sheep herder (Everett Sloane) aims to drive his herd over the Ponderosa, and Ben Cartwright is just as determined to stop him. Can Adam resolve the matter without bloodshed, or will there be a range war? "Badge Without Honor" Guest stars Dan Duryea, Fred Beir, Christine White, Wendell Holmes, Richard Warren Dan Duryea plays a smooth talking lawman who likes killing a little too much, raising Adam's suspicions about his mission to take an unwilling witness back to California to testify. "Death at Dawn" Guest stars: Robert Middleton, Gregory Walcott, Morgan Woodward, Wendell Holmes When Virginia City is overrun by a gang of bullies, the sheriff deputizes the Cartwrights to help restore order. Will the gang allow one of their own to be hanged? Character actor Robert Middleton guest stars as the leader of the gang. DISC 5 "The Spanish Grant" Guest stars Patricia Medina, Sebastian Cabot, Paul Picerni, Celia Lovsky Holders of an original land grant ruthlessly evict homesteaders on their property. Are the Cartwrights next? Patricia Medina guest stars as the land heiress of dubious origin, with Sebastian Cabot as her conniving manipulator. Will Adam let his feelings for the senorita interfere with finding out the truth? "Day of Reckoning" Guest stars Ricardo Montalban, Madlyn Rhue, Anthony Caruso Ricardo Montalban guest stars as an Indian caught between the traditional ways of his tribe and the new ways of the settlers. Even though he saves Ben Cartwright's life, will hostility of other whites and contempt from his fellow braves drive him on the warpath? "The Fear Merchants" Gene Evans, Helen Westcott, Frank Ferguson, Guy Lee, Philip Ahn A candidate (Gene Evans) for the mayor of Virginia City stirs up hatred against Chinese immigrants, including Hop Sing. When one Chinese is accused of murder, mob violence brews. No need to state whom the Cartwrights support.

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Combat - Season 1, Campaign 2 (1962) Review

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(More customer reviews)Great series! but the DVD's are a bit strange... the episodes are grouped in order of "production" and NOT in the original air date/episode order. here are the episodes on "Campaign 2" in order:

DISC #1
- Episode 10: I Swear by Apollo (12/11/1962)
- Episode 30: Walking Wounded, The (04/30/1963)
- Episode 14: Medal, The (01/08/1963)
- Episode 16: Volunteer, The (01/22/1963)

DISC #2
- Episode 23: Survival (03/12/1963)
- Episode 21: No Time for Pity (02/26/1963)
- Episode 18: Next in Command (02/05/1963)
- Episode 22: Night Patrol (03/05/1963)

DISC #3
- Episode 20: Off Limits (02/19/1963)
- Episode 24: No Hallelujahs for Glory (03/19/1963)
- Episode 26: Battle of the Roses (04/02/1963)
- Episode 27: Hill 256 (04/09/1963)

DISC #4
- Episode 28: Sniper, The (04/16/1963)
- Episode 29: One More for the Road (04/23/1963)
- Episode 31: High Named Today (05/07/1963)
- Episode 32: No Trumpets, No Drums (05/14/1963)

you'll have to buy BOTH sets if you want to watch the series correctly - the way it was aired in the '60s.

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One of the television's most popular series, the groundbreaking Combat!! offers a gritty, unflinching look at American soldiers battling in Europe during World War II, confronting imposing odds and demonstrating remarkable levels of ingenuity and courage. Vic Morrow and Rick Jason head a stellar cast in the longest-running war series in history, featuring an incomparable list of guest stars from Hollywood's Golden Age as well as top directorial talent including Richard Donner and Robert Altman. Campaign 1 guest stars: Robert Culp, Dean Stockwell, Joan Hackett, Don Edmonds, Dan O'Herlihy, Victoria Vetri, Denise Alexander, Michael Murphy, Barbara Babcock. The Squad / Next in Command / The Chateau / Off Limits / No Time for Pity / Night Patrol / Survival / No Hallelujahs for Glory / The Quiet Warrior / Battle of the Roses / Hill 256 / The Sniper / One More for the Road / The Walking Wounded / High Named Today / No Trumpets, No Drums.

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Combat - Season 3, Operation 2 (1962) Review

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(More customer reviews)We have now reached the midpoint of the COMBAT series and the show is now only becoming better. While I may find a few more "clunckers" in the third season, that were not present in season 2, this is outweighed by the fact there were far more excellent episodes in total. The actors who comprised the core of the Squad have fully developed their individual personalities and Vic Morrow was now becoming the true centerpiece of the show. There was apparently no clash of egos between himself and Rick Jason, probably because Jason shrewdly had it in his contract that he got paid whether he appeared or not.
Of course, one of the drawbacks in a series such as COMBAT is the main participants of the squad survive every episode, while those poor forlorn "red shirts", or in this case "green shirts" take one for the team. And it is admittedly humorous to find Saunders, Hanley, or Caje, become ground up chop meat, only to never receive the "million dollar" wound that they so hungered for. Despite these obvious restrictions, in deference to a 1960's television show, you can still maintain a sense of realism and excitement while viewing COMBAT.
Some of the Highlights:
1. Odyssey...in another top notch episode, Saunders attempts to get back to his own lines by pretending to be a shell shocked German soldier...in this one, Saunders is able to see life from the other side, and Bert Freed is excellent as an understanding German Sargent who protects Saunders....another tragic story in the making....
2. The Hard Way Back....Sal Mineo guest stars as a cowardly soldier who abandons a trapped Saunders and tells everyone the Sarge is dead....Sal Mineo obviously excels....
3. The Cassock.....James Whitmore plays a German officer who disguises himself as a priest and hides in a church....There is some clever, and at times even tender interplay between himself and G.I. Mart Hulswit (of Guiding Light fame) who, as a former alterboy, finds comfort in the church..the show leads you down a false path more than once....
4. The Hell Machine.....another appearance by Frank Gorshin as he and Saunders attempt to navigate through enemy held territory using a captured German tank......nice claustrophobic feel on how it would be inside a tank....
5.The Enemy....usually whenever a battle of wits was written into the story, it was left up to Hanley to be one of the wits...this one, starring Robert Duvall as a German demolition officer has Hanley trying to outthink his captor....
6. The Duel.....Saunders, on foot, single handedly attempts to distract a German tank, while the supply truck he is protecting can be repaired before the tank comes upon it...fun stuff here
7. The Steeple...no doubt the true exploits of JOHN STEELE come into play here as a paratrooper is caught on a church steeple...it is up to Saunders to try to get him inside despite the fact that the village is overrun by Germans.
8. Cry in the Ruins....this is one of the best episodes of the season, as Hanley and a German Lieutenant, put aside the war for a moment in order to rescue a woman's child...there is a few twists in this episode and the character study between the two opposing squads is well written.....
9. The Little Carousel...poignant tale of the squads encounter with a young student nurse who wants to help Saunders and his men....deeply moving and an emotional tour de force for Vic Morrow.....
10. The Imposter...Hanley must once again use his wits in order to determine who within his merry band of men is an Imposter....enough monkey wrenches are thrown in as to not make it too easy to figure out.....
Those are a few of the quality episodes, but there are a few duds as well:
1. Vendetta....you would think an episode staring Telly Savales, as a vengeful Greek would be great, but guess again, it's not
2. Birthday Cake....Littlejohn would have been shot had he acted this way in a real war...it is just too stupid, even for a big lug like him...
3. A Walk with an Eagle...this type of episode, where an arrogant Air officer does not respect Saunders authority, has been done before....
4. Fly Away Home....I guess it is good to give the Pigeon Corp their props, and it is a treat to see Neville Brand, but the story is simply not compelling....
5. Mountain Man....there is so little story here, that the first third of it follows the squad walking through the snow, setting markers, and the final third, features Cage skiing through it.....tedious viewing at its worst....
6. The Town that Went Away...this episode, about a bunch of conniving French Villagers, needs to go away.......
Though I may sound a bit harsh concerning some of these episodes, remember that they are far and few between the good to excellent episodes that span this two volume set...
So there you have it once again....If you have read my previous reviews, you obviously know that I am a big fan of this series and welcome them to DVD. I hope you welcome them into your home as well....my minor complaints aside, this set is enthusiastically recommended!

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One of the television's most popular series, the groundbreaking Combat! offers a gritty, unflinching look at American soldiers battling in Europe during World War II, confronting imposing odds and demonstrating remarkable levels of ingenuity and courage. Vic Morrow and Rick Jason head a stellar cast in the longest-running war series in history, featuring an incomparable list of guest stars from Hollywood's Golden Age as well as top directorial talent. Guest stars include: James Whitmore, Tom Skerritt, Frankie Avalon, Dan Duryea, Robert Loggia, Glenn Cannon, Johnny Crawford, Andrew Prine, Charles Bronson, Chad Everett. Episodes include: A Gift of Hope; A Walk with an Eagle; Birthday Cake; The Cassock; The Town That Went Away; The Convict; The Steeple; More Than a Soldier; The Long Wait; The Tree of Moray; A Cry in the Ruins; Heritage; The Hell Machine; Billy the Kid; Beneath the Ashes; Odyssey

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Combat - The Complete Series (1962) Review

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(More customer reviews)Alas we have Combat - The Complete Series in an all encompassing 40 disc set. As a baby boomer whose dad proudly served his country contributing to both the European and Pacific theatres, I treasure this series as it told the stories of our brave men and women truly fighting for world peace. Like most returning GI's, my father, who was in the U.S. Army MAC, really never spoke about the things he saw during his time overseas. He is gone now as is many of his fellow "Greatest Generation" comrades. Although Combat! does not show the graphic carnage that comes with battle, it does show the daily emotional toll that war brought to the boots on the ground, as best as 1960's television could provide. It reminds us that the only good thing about war is its ending.
This series is truly a tribute all VFW's then and especially now.


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Experience the excitement of TV's most popular, star-studded series of all time with all five action-packed seasons! This groundbreaking program offers a gritty, unflinching look at American soldiers battling in Europe during World War II, confronting imposing odds and demonstrating remarkable levels of ingenuity and courage. Vic Morrow and Rick Jason head a stellar cast in the longest-running war series in history, featuring an incomparable list of guest stars from Hollywood's Golden Age as well as top directorial talent - Over 30 Hours of Special Features! Each Season is packed with Special Features including Photo Galleries, Commentaries, Oddities & Bloopers by Jo Davidsmeyer and more! - "Memories of Combat!": An all-new documentary featuring cast members, guest stars and directors - Audio Commentaries by Tom Lowell, Michael Caffey, Robert Altman, Joseph Campanella, Ben Cooperand, Sutton Roley, Ted Post, Richard Donner, Esther Mitchell, Pierre Jalbert, George Fenady, Shirl Hendryx, Jo Davidsmeyer, Warren Stevens, Conlan Carter and Steve Mitchell - Archival Interviews with Vic Morrow, Pierre Jalbert, Rick Jason, Ben Cooper and Anthony Call - "The Big Picture" Feaurette Narrated by Vic Morrow - "Combat! Directed by Vic Morrrow" (27-Min Documentary) - "This Season in Color" Two-Part Featurette.

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Message From Space Review

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(More customer reviews)This movie came out in Japan within a year of "Star Wars" release in '78 and was released throughout the U.S. shortly thereafter and on television shortly AFTER THAT. I've read it was made into a tv series in Europe. There are so many familiar elements - spacehips, robots, space pirates, spunky princesses in distress - all elements well known to Star Wars fans, just done the Japanese way. Story? I don't remember the story and I don't care - something about finding these seeds. The main thing is just seeing how "Star Wars" was mainlined into this production and how it's stylistically translated. It's neat to watch this and think how Lucas might've done his epic if he couldn't have got a movie deal in the U.S. and instead went to Japan and made it. That's the fun of it, and nothing else did it like this. There were a number of things that came out on tv and in the movies right after Star Wars, from Saturday morning kid shows like "Jason of Star Command" primetime stuff like the original "Battlestar Galactica" and movies like "Battle Beyond the Stars", all of which tried to capture the fire started by "Star Wars". "Message From Space" is one from that period that has eluded release for all this time and it's GREAT to see it finally out there in a quality form. One question - Where is it Amazon? Are you just takin' orders to see what the demand is before they press any copies and fill any of them. Is this REALLY available? I'm planning to keep my order in place until it is. As a movie that measures the impact of Star Wars in the late 70's, this is one I don't want to get away from my collection.
(Update 4/20/10: Yay! It's finally, now in stock! A-ma-zon!)

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OFFICIALLY LICENSED IMPORT VERSION! THIS IS AN AUTHENTIC, LICENSED DVD.Contains both the Japanese language version with English subtitles and the English language versions! Plays on all DVD players.The peaceful planet of Jillucia has been nearly wiped out by the metal skinned Gavanas, who's leader Rockseia XLL takes orders from his old wretched mother.King Kaiba sends out eight Liabe holy seeds, each one to be received by a chosen one. Its up to these special warriors to save mankind from the Galvanas attack.Starring Sonny Chiba, Vic Morrow, Hiriyuki Sanada, and Tetsuro Tanba. Directed by Kinji Fukasaku (Battle Royale)

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