The Jack Benny Collection boxed set

 

                                       Picture:     Sound:     Extras: D      Program:

The Medicine Man (1930)       C-            C-                               C

Jack Benny TV episodes         C              C                                C+

 

 

Jack Benny was one of the great comic talents of his time, who made as many memorable guest TV appearances as he did headline shows.  The new Jack Benny Collection brings together his first feature film with episodes of his hit TV show.  Benny material has been issued on DVD before, but this is the most extensive yet.

 

The Medicine Man (1930) is a 65-minutes-long early “Soundie” that is only worth watching for Benny and what such early films were like.  Produced independently, the film banked on the idea that Benny could be a serious lead actor, and though he carries himself well, it did not show off his talents at his best.

 

He was also a huge hit on radio, then converted his show (like so many did who had hits) to TV.  The first series was called The Jack Benny Show, and was also known under the name The Jack Benny Program.  The earlier shows were broader and had guest stars, while the latter was more like an actual sitcom.  This version ran from 1950 – 1965.  DVD 5 has a program from The Jack Benny Hour from 1959, still in black and white.  The shows in this box are as follows:

 

Liberace Show

Goldie, Fields, & Glide (Bing Crosby and George Burns guest star)

Jack At The Races

Ed Sullivan/Genevieve Show

Christmas Shopping Show (1957, the best show in the set)

New Year’s Show (1960)

Danny Thomas/McGuire Sisters Show (Raymond Burr also stars)

 

Besides Rochester and Mary Livingston, some of the regulars included Mel Blanc (the #1 voice of the classic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodie cartoons), Frank Nelson (the famous Mr. “yeeeeeeeeesssssss”), Richard Deacon (The Dick Van Dyke Show) & Benny Rubin.  Benny always had the best.

 

The full frame image varies throughout, all on film and in black and white.  Earlier shows look to be from a video source, but The Medicine Man is in very bad shape.  The print is in very poor shape and barely watchable.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is identified as if it were 1.0 Mono, but it is actually 2.0 Mono, though it might as well be the lesser 1.0 version when it comes to The Medicine Man.  The sound is not harsh or shrill, but some of the worst I have ever heard on DVD, with dialogue barely audible at times.  I have heard even worse, but this is very bad.  There are no extras, though there are plenty of ads for various sponsors over the years.  The famous one tattooed on his arm is not one of them.

 

The shows are entertaining, though the laughs vary.  I still enjoyed them, even when they did not always deliver.  Considering how old they are and that they hold up enough to see them a half-century later, that should give you an idea of how good they can be.  Benny was a great comic talent and I wish more had been in this set, but maybe this box will inspire the release of more shows.  The Jack Benny Collection is a worthwhile set.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo