Leave It To Beaver – The Complete First Season
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B
Only rivaled by Ozzie & Harriett, which was
actually created by an advertising agency despite a radio past, Leave It To
Beaver is considered the quintessential 1950s “happy family/good family”
series that set the standards for such sappy situation comedies all the way to
date and has been endlessly referenced, including in darkly comic moments from
Richard Donner’s Scrooged (1988) and much of the world in Gary Ross’ Pleasantville
ten years afterwards. Hugh Beaumont and
Barbara Billingsley (later the mom on the animated Muppet Babies) became
the understanding, concerned, smart, loving, perfect parents, while brothers
Wally (Tony Dow) and “The Beav” (Jerry Mathers) were the children growing up
who had to navigate those “common childhood problems” that are a picnic today.
Of course, life was not that simple for children even
growing up back then in the conservative 1950s, but Leave It To Beaver
offers the well-rounded construct that kept it going for six seasons, though it
more than any other show seems like it never ended. The adult acting always seems controlled, yet sincere, which has
always sold the show. The series was
done in half-hours like all sitcoms to come and they did log an amazing 234
shows in that time.
The shows become repetitive, but are pleasant, safe and
(now more than ever) too safe for their own good. But there are other highlights.
Character actors who showed up in this first season include Harry
Shearer, Edgar Buchanan, Phyllis Coates, Charles H. Gray, Buddy Hart, Herb
Vigran, Norman Alden, William Schallert, Lyle Talbot and Frank Wilcox. Richard Deacon, later of The Dick Van
Dyke Show, became known first as Fred Rutherford in these shows. Majel Barrett, later of Star Trek
fame, was Gwen Rutherford. That is
reason enough to giver this set a look, even if you are not a fan.
The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on real black and white film
of the time and though there is grain throughout all the prints, they look good
and clean. Detail may be a little
limited, but for shows shot in 1957, you will be surprised. They may be a tad lighter at times, but as
good as I have seen any shows over the decades on broadcast and cable. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is pretty good
for its age, though you can hear some background hiss, this is still good for
its age as well. The show is mostly
dialogue driven, especially in the first season. There are 40 episodes covering both sides of three DVDs in those
great slender-cases we all appreciate and 39 of the shows are the whole season,
with the other a bonus. There are
really no extras per se; Universal has included the original pilot It’s A
Small World before the cast was finalized, though Billingsley and Jerry
Mathers are mother and son. More extras
would be nice, but Leave It To Beaver – The Complete First Season has
solid presentation and fans will be pleased.
- Nicholas Sheffo
