Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44151 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-11-16
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Dimensions: .80 pounds
• Running time: 915 minutes

Customer Reviews

TV (and now DVD) just doesn't get any better than this
The Andy Griffith Show is loved from coast to coast, but it's especially important to a fellow like me who has spent all of his life in the great state of North Carolina. Around these parts, The Andy Griffith Show is more than just a TV show. Just about everybody under the age of 50 has grown up with Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Opie, Floyd, Otis, and the whole Mayberry gang. And, no matter how many times I see a particular episode, I never get tired of watching it. I've seen the 32 shows from Season One more times than I can remember, but watching them again on these DVDs was even better than seeing them for the first time on television. As time goes by, this show actually grows in importance. Mayberry is more than a place; it's a paradise on earth, a way of life many of us yearn for. Heck, I live in a small town now, but it doesn't feel like a small town anymore. I'm all for progress, but no life is as satisfying as the simple life in a calm, lazy town where you not only know everybody, you actually like everybody. Folks is just folks in Mayberry, and I would move there in a heartbeat if I could. Maybe a criminal wanders into town once every blue moon, but old reliable Barney Fife is always there to nip criminal activity in the bud (and Andy is there to see that Barney succeeds despite himself). About the worst thing that ever happens in Mayberry is Aunt Bee deciding to make a run of pickles. This is truly the life, and The Andy Griffith Show The Complete First Season lands a spot smack dab on top of my stack of favorite DVDs.

The first season doesn't have some of the big-name episodes (e.g., the Fun Girls or Citizen's Arrest), but it's my favorite season of them all. It takes a few episodes to settle in, though; in the first few episodes, Andy comes across as a real local yokel, and the comedy sometimes comes at the expense of the South that I love so dearly. Pretty soon, though, the comedy refines itself into good old country humor. The show was never just about making people laugh, though. It's instructive in the way sit-coms used to be. It's not easy for a widower to raise a precocious young'un like Opie, but this father and son learn life's lessons together.

I don't even have to describe Barney Fife, as I can't imagine there is anyone who is unfamiliar with one of TV's greatest characters. Barney wasn't in every episode early on, but it didn't take long for the local deputy sheriff to start stealing the show week in and week out. And just imagine this - week in and week out, a new episode of the show aired. No mid-season reruns here. I don't think we'll ever again see the day when a show airs 32 episodes in a single season. Not only did this show deliver up a new show every week, every single episode was a classic.

I won't try to describe every individual episode; you've probably seem all of them already at some point, anyway. I will, however, emphasize the point that these are the complete, uncut episodes. I had never seen a good many of the short epilogues because those are invariably cut out of syndication - in a number of cases, the story truly isn't complete without the epilogues. And sakes alive, the audio and video quality of these episodes is nothing short of glorious. Gone are the days when you have to buy little DVD collections of random episodes, many of them of questionable quality. The Andy Griffith Show's first 32 episodes look, sound, and play better now than they ever have before.

This is the epitome of good, wholesome, hilarious family entertainment. As far as I'm concerned, The Andy Griffith Show ought to have a place in every household. TV (and now DVD) just doesn't get any better than this.

Welcome to Mayberry
the show revolves around the widowed sheriff, Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), and his young son Opie (Ron Howard), Andy's Aunt Bea (Francis Xavier) who keeps house and helps with Opie, the deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts), and their life in a small town in North Carolina named Mayberry. Barney Fife is incompetent, but there is not much lawbreaking going on in the sleepy little town, so he usually stirs things up by going over the top (such as trying to write tickets to sweet elderly ladies for crossing the road away from the crossing points). Andy was also the Justice of the Peace, so often married people and held court for traffic offenders and such. Andy's refusal to carry a gun or rifle unless completely necessary (such as when bank robbers tried to rob the town bank) also make for some of the plots, as Barney is very gung ho about carrying his gun, but is made to carry the one bullet for it in his pocket as he usually shoots the floor, ceiling or a wall rather than anything he wants to actually hit. His view on weapons and reliance on common sense and friendliness to maintain order rather than fancy techniques and carrying a gun also cause the stae police and FBI to look down upon him when they have cause to operate in his area, but he often demonstrates that without it, they do not have a good chance of success.
The occasional crime features, but the longest running thread through the entire programme is Andy's relationship with his son, Opie. He helps Opie learn about personal responsibility and doing what's right, and he himself makes mistakes in how he relates to his son, leading them both to grow together and forge a tight family bond. The second longest thread is on the adult relationships. By this I am not only referring to Andy's dating, but the relationships in the community with neighbours and friends.Situations arise that give Andy and his family and friends pause for thouht and they each carry away a deeper understanding of community and friendship without being overly preachy.

~~~The Cast~~~
As you read the cast list, no doubt you will find a few familiar faces. The first season main cast are:

Sheriff Andy Taylor - Andy Griffith
Opie Taylor - Ron Howard (as Ronny Howard)
Deputy Barney Fife - Don Knotts
Aunt Bea - Frances Bavier
Ellie Walker - Elinor Donahue

Andy Griffith is spot on in his portayal of a laid back father and small town sheriff. He has a genuine, easy smile that makes you want to smile right back, and his joking manner with his cousin and deputy ring with the warmth and familiarity you would expect fro a long term association, and his gentleness with his son is one that radiates affection. Francis Bavier is a delight. Her maiden aunt is played to perfection, with demonstatable affection and lends honesty to her middle aged insecurities. To be quite honest, many of her foibles remind me very much of my own mother in law today, so it goes to show times may change, but people do not. Don knotts superbly lends his comic talents to his role as the over eager but rather incompetant deputy, but without being over the top. his facial expressions are subtle and lend realism to his hyper active deputies antics. Young Ron Howard also shines here, showing his early promise as a talented actor. No wooden child actor here, reciting cadence like lines. Elinor Donahue plays Ellie walker with just the right amount of chip on her shoulder, as the new female chemist fresh from uni who feels she has something to prove in the male dominated professional world, and who often gets into a mess romantically with her assumptions as to motivation. because of it All in all, a fine ensemble cast that display a fine tuned cohesion without any jarring notes to ruin your viewing pleasure.

As it was filmed in 1960, it is full screen and in black and white. Being in black and white has not diminished its watch ability even by the youngest members of the family, ages 3 and 5. Indeed, they actually ask for us to watch at least one episode during family TV time in the evenings. The picture transfers are clear and crisp without any distortion, having been remastered with great care. The sound is Dolby Digital, but as it was mono originally, it still is. This means you will likely need to turn your TV set up a bit to hear it best, though it is not muffled sounding.

The set has 4 discs, each in its own case, and the series is complete with all 32 episodes in correct order present. For an episode guide list, you can visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Andy_Grif fith_Show_episodes#First_ Season_.281960-1961.29 . It also gives a brief outline of the plots.

The first series' box set does not have any extras of any sort on them, though later series' do have the original sponsor's spots using the cast. It would be nice if Paramount reissued this series with the same, and perhaps some archived material such as old interviews.

When all is said and done, this is a lovely series to watch. Buy this set and come home to Aunt Bea's delicious home cooking, and pondering the art of being a parent with Andy, and let your children (if you have any!) learn about life with Opie, and how to do your small part in making a friendly community. You will not regret a single moment.

Hours of pure fun
The Andy Griffith Show is unique in a sense that it started out fun and had all the standard encounters and stories that most TV programs had but it never deteriorate or got so left field as to lose its appeal. Every show is entertaining and usually carries a message.

A lot of other programs spun off form the characters that played in this series. And you always think that Opie Taylor (Ronny Howard) is always young. Everyone knows that they issued Deputy Barney fife "1960-1965" (Don Knotts) one bullet that has seen a lot of action in his pocket. Too many people to name here.

This series will bring back old memories or can also create some now ones.