Essential Lucy in a compact DVD set
August 4, 2011 5:58PM
Lucy takes on the City of Lights in “Paris at Last,” a classic episode on the new two-DVD set.
Updated: November 2, 2011 2:56PM
With any number of the 179 episodes of “I Love Lucy” airing every day somewhere around the world, suffice it to say “favorites” have emerged over the years. While Paramount Home Entertainment released the complete series box set in 2007, the $235.98 price tag could be off-putting.
For thriftier fans, the studio (in conjunction with CBS Home Entertainment) has just released “The Best of ‘I Love Lucy’ ” ($19.99) in one marvelous two-disc set. Fourteen all-time favorite episodes (completely restored) are featured, including “Lucy Does a Commercial” (with the Vitameatavegamin pitch), “The Freezer” (Lucy gets locked in a walk-in freezer), “Lucy’s Italian Movie” (the famous grape-stomping episode), “Lucy Is Enceinte” (Ball was pregnant in real-life and the censors would not allow use of the word “pregnant”) and “Job Switching” (the iconic chocolate factory episode), among others. Sold only at Target, the set contains episodes featured on seasons one through five of “I Love Lucy” and seasons 7 to 9, when the show became 60-minute “Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” specials.
The digital transfer is pristine (light years ahead of the TV rerun versions), and a Spanish mono soundtrack and subtitles are also featured.
It’s a nicely packaged, convenient “Lucy” fix for fans who don’t want to trek through multi-disc sets for a quick reminder of just how incredible a comedian and actress Lucille Ball was (not to mention the enormous talents of Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley, of course).
Miriam Di Nunzio
Comments Click here to view or make a comment