Plot: What’s it about?
I am not an expert on Sid Caesar and his comedic endeavors by any means, but I’d seen some of his work and found him to be quite entertaining. So browsing this three disc collection of his work was a breeze, I had a lot of fun and would recommend the set to those interested. The discs contain various sketches and segments from Your Show Of Shows and Caesar’s Hour, as well as some bonus shots from other sources. Some are musical sketches, some hinge on basic humor, and other use utter nonsense, but all offer plenty of laughs, which is what we want, right? This is comedy from another era, so the jokes are clean and rather innocent, but that doesn’t lower the comedic effect at all. You have to appreciate this style of humor of course, but I think most people will find a lot to like with these discs. Each disc is loaded with over an hour of material, plus bonus features, so there’s no shortage of laughs to be found here. In addition to the normal sketches found on each disc, you’ll also find bonus sequences, interviews, and live footage, all of which is worth a look. From the doubletalk sequences to the very amusing sketches, The Sid Caesar Collection is packed with fun and laughter from top to bottom. I give this release a recommendation as a rental, but if you’re a fan of Sid or the other performers, a purchase is more than justified.
Video: How does it look?
The material is shown in the original full frame format and thanks to extensive restoration work, looks better than ever on these discs. I saw few instances of excessive debris or grain on the print, which is a real sign that the restoration work was a massive success. The black & white images look good, as contrast is well mixed and no detail is lost. The image is never too dark, but also never blooms, so the correct shading balance is always present. No real complaints at all, Creative Light Entertainment has done a very nice job with the source materials for these discs.
Audio: How does it sound?
In terms of what this material is, an older television show, this mix is more than adequate. The musical numbers come across with minimal distortion and no harshness, which is good since I imagine the source materials were less than stellar. A few small flaws surface, but in the end, the music sounds pretty good and won’t let you down. The rest of the audio is centered on dialogue, which of course is vital to this style of humor and as such, needs to be clean and clear at all times. The vocals here sound good and though some age related issues emerge, I didn’t notice any serious problems. This audio could have been a little better in the end, but I don’t think anyone will be disappointed with this mix.
Supplements: What are the extras?
All three discs contain various bonus materials, such as extra sketches, interviews, and performance footage. The interviews include screen time with Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, and many other comedy forces. I wish these were longer and more in depth, but they still warrant a look and are fun to watch. The bonus sketches are very funny on all three discs, but the Friar’s Club footage and spoof with Charlton Heston have to take the cake. Each disc also contains writer and cast talent files, which are always nice to have. You can also view side by side restoration slides, which allow you to see what a difference some work makes.
