The Addams Family - Volume One (1964)

classic tv

I grew up watching these shows. Own every season and now my children watch them too. Good classic tv without all the sex and violence. Perfect. November 2, 2008

Deeper Than We Might Think

I recently received this as a gift. It was certainly before my time, but it didn't take me long to enjoy it. I can not help but feel that there was more to this series than we may have thought. Amongst other things, the 60s were a time of learning to accept different lifestyles. Well, the Addamses give us that. But more than that, I think the real profound aspects come over watching it a few times. The Addamses exaggerate certain aspects of the human condition. They are different; but just how different? You have Morticia and Gomez who are really in love with each other; you have Uncle Fester who likes weapons of torture, but how many gun magazines are out there? You have Mama who enjoys some strange habits such as fortune telling, but is this uncommon? You have the children who enjoy strange pets, but is that much different from children who like to go out and play with bugs or frogs? Lurch is stoic and into his duties. But is that so unheard of? If anything, I think this show allows us to see different aspects of the human condition to an exaggerated degree. And if we think they are strange, we may face the reality that we are looking at aspects of ourselves. That said, I think the defining episode is "The Addams Family Meets A Beat Nick." A deep profound moment is when the beat nick's father says: "If there's a cook around here, it's me. You Addames accepted him as he was. I couldn't." Not all of the episodes are as profound, but they are entertaining with a touch of comical horror, where we know no one will really get hurt. The intro episode exposes some of our hypocrisies if we think the Addames are so strange. (The story of 'Hansel and Gretel' often told to children is gross!) "Gomez the Politician" has some interesting comments on the reality of campaigns. And for laughs, we have the episode "The Addams Family Splurges." The arguably funniest episode is "The Addams Family In Court." They may be' creepy and cooky, mysterious and spooky.' But they are more like us than we are probably willing to admit. October 16, 2008

Neat! Complete!

The Addams Family DVDs were a major hit at this household. The show captured Chas. Addams' quirky style of cartooning and the actors portrayed the various family members to a "T" (A?). For those too young to remember the show, this is a great series to get. Clever, funny, and droll at the same time. One of the best 60s shows. June 16, 2008

Well done fun!

I've ordered the set (both 1 and 2) in a spur of nostalgia and am very glad I did... The show is funny, witty, and at the same time sweet in the innocent lack of true malice--something that is very missing in today's TV shows that are so chok-ful-of terror, horror, and human evil cunning. I still enjoy seeing current TV, but the nicely done set of these older TV shows, with the hilarious and endearing (yes, even with all the stuffed ickies in their house...) cast of characters. I HIGHLY recommend it. May 22, 2008

Excellent video transfer - informative extras

"The Addams Family" Series 1 is a treat. Here's my "Top 5".

Firstly, this black and white series doesn't date. Monochrome suits the mock macabre world of the Addams. And they are "ooky and kooky" enough to be outside of everyone's fashion universe. Where other shows from 1964 seem better in memory than in rerun, the Addams are better. My prediction? The recently produced Addams Family movies will be well and truly out-of-date before the sixties TV series.

Secondly the Addams Family was ahead of it's time. Today many series pay lip service to tolerance and diversity. As John Astin mentions in the extras to this disk set, the Addams Family had poked gentle fun at the dividing line between conventional and unconventional. The Addams' have a foot in both camps. Outwardly unconventional they believe themselves to be middle of the road normals. Today we're used to people being "non-confromists just like everyone else", our self-styled non-confromists wouldn't last too long around Uncle Fester!

Gomez's on screen passion for his wife was, as the extras note, unique in it's time. Another area where the Addams were ahead of the trend. One area they aren't is in simple good manners. Wednesday always (always!) says "thank you Thing". How many modern series exhibit children with good manners? Maybe modern series and audiences could learn something here.

Thirdly, the video and audio reproduction in this series is very good. With the DVDs you realise just how central Vic Mizzi's excellent music is to the series. Again harpsichord doesn't date. If it's not 'in' it can't go 'out'.

Fourth, the extras here are valuable, informative and entertaining. They are not an after thought. It's great to see the surviving cast and how Pugsley and Wednesday have grown up. The extras background the work of Charles Addams, the cartoonist creator of "The Addams Family", detail the origin and casting of the series, and showcase the music. Hit it Lurch!

Last but not least, the Addams Family is simply fun. And don't we all need a laugh? April 16, 2008

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