Plot: What’s it about?
Oliver Wendell Douglas (Eddie Albert) is a powerful lawyer in New York, which means he has a lot of cash and a plush lifestyle. But his wife Lisa (Eva Gabor) defines pampered, as she indulges every last whim and tries to never lift a finger. She loves her husband to no end, but at times, he thinks she might love all the luxuries a little more. Oliver seems to have the good life, with money, a great job, and a loving wife, the kind of lifestyle most of us would only dream of. But he has dreams beyond his current lot in life, though not of more money and more success at work, instead he dreams of an escape from it all. At least an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and the pressures of his high profile career. In an effort to find true happiness, he wants to fulfill a dream of his own, one he has had his entire life. Oliver has often thought about the laid back life of a farmer, a prospect which intrigues him more than a little. He finally decides to take the plunge and buys a plot of farm land in a town called Hooterville. His purchase turns out to be a bit of a swindle, since his land needs a lot of work, but he is determined to make it all work. Of course, Lisa is the one who has to adjust, since this is the opposite of her idea of a dream come true. Can Oliver convince his wife that life in Hooterville could be like a dream?
As television shows have boomed on DVD, all the studios seem to be getting involved, even smaller ones. But MGM has been behind the pack, with only a handful of television based releases to mention. That trend seems to be over, as MGM has a number of shows lined up to be sent out, including the classic Green Acres. This first volume includes all thirty-two episodes from the show’s first season, spread across two dual sided, dual layered discs, which means space is plentiful and compression is never an issue. I didn’t think we’d see this series so soon, given its frequent presence on cable, but I am glad to have to own it, to be sure. The premise of a spoiled urban woman thrust into a rural, rough setting wasn’t a new one, but the show was a hit and supplied countless evenings of solid, often hilarious entertainment. The casting was superb, with Eddie Albert (The Longest Yard, Tv’s Petticoat Junction) and Pat Buttram (Roustabout, Robin Hood) in roles tailor made for them, but without question, the highlight is Eva Gabor (Love Island, Gigi). Gabor is splendid here and is a pleasure to watch, as she is perfect for this role, no doubt about it. I know Green Acres falls into the same traps as all sitcoms, but it works far more often than it fails. So if you’re even a casual fan, this complete first season is well recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. This show is almost four decades old, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from the transfers. As it turns out, the episodes look good and even better than we’re used to with reruns. The prints have no real flaws to mention, though a light grain is evident in most scenes. The grain never impacts the visuals however, so no need to be worried about softness or such issues. The colors are bright and show no errors, while flesh tones have a warm, natural presence. No concerns with contrast either, as black levels are spot on and provide solid shadow depth. The elements here have held up rather well, so fans of the show should pleased with these presentations.
Audio: How does it sound?
Not much to discuss here, as the included tracks manage fine enough, but don’t offer much beyond the basics. I heard minimal distortion and harshness however, which are often present in these older television show audio options. As such, I was pleased and on the whole, I was able to detect very little in terms of age related flaws here. The lovable music, sound effects, and dialogue all sound terrific here, very clean and never hard to listen to. I wouldn’t call the audio here remarkable, but for the material, it all sounds quite acceptable.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
