The Brady Bunch - The Complete Fourth Season
by Bruce Bilson, George Tyne, Hal Cooper, Jack Arnold, Jack Donohue
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Ann B. Davis, Eve Plumb, Florence Henderson, Maureen McCormick, Robert ReedDirector: Bruce Bilson, George Tyne, Hal Cooper, Jack Arnold, Jack Donohue
Brand: Paramount
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 581 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-11-01
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
Product features:
- Condition: New
- Format: DVD
- Box set; Closed-captioned; Color; DVD; Full Screen; NTSC
Movie Reviews of The Brady Bunch - The Complete Fourth Season
Movie Review: Say 'aloha' to the 'Bunch' with season 4
Summary: 5 Stars
Even though the Brady Bunch began in the 1960's, the show is commonly referred as 70's pop culture. This one season contains so many classic episodes which demonstrate why the `Bunch' and the disco era became forever entwined in pop culture history. If you have to buy one season of the Bunch, this is it!
The Brady Bunch launches the 23-episode 1972-1973 season with an awesome 3-part Hawaii trip. Mike's construction firm is building a property in this (then-still-relatively young) state so he gets permission to take the entire family along on the business trip. The Brady Bunch often gets faulted for being `too nice' but I've got to give this three-parter props; the Brady girls independently figure out what to do after their brothers are kidnapped by an evil archeologist wanting an ancient taboo idol found by Bobby. These are the episodes which really do keep you in suspense. I'm thinking the fact that the young actors actually got to run around Hawaii also contributed to their stellar on-screen performances in the episodes.
Another good episode is "Today I am a freshman". Eager to fit in at high school after she was the undisputed queen of junior high, Marcia literally joins every club which she gets contact information for. Marcia thinks that she is following the `get involved' advice which her parents gave, but doesn't realize that she had overlooked the importance of balancing schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Wearing herself out, it then becomes impossible for Marcia to maintain good high school grades-something which both she and her parents also expect. The Brady Bunch is often criticized for having `unrealistic plotlines', but this episode remains universally relatable to people who are entering high school and thus adjusting to their new surroundings.
Now older, Bobby (Mike Lookinland) and Cindy (Susan Olsen) receive more independent time in this season. They are no longer only reacting to and commenting on their older family members. Their wanting to fit in-and sub sequentially get along with the rest of the family is explored throughout several episodes.
In "Law and disorder" Bobby is upset after being given the `dorky' position of "safety monitor" until Carol and Mike convince him that it is an important job. Success then goes to Bobby's head while he attempts to `protect' his family from every safety infraction possible, becoming a LARGE pain in the process. Bobby also learns the truth about his idol in "Bobby's hero". Exasperated with Bobby's idolization of Jesse James, the principal then calls Mike and Carol in for a conference. Subsequently, they introduce Bobby to descendants of the people whom Jesse James hurt. Bobby's natural empathy for people consequently makes him think what if his family had been hurt by Jesse James. His `idol' subsequently is eliminated.
Of course, Cindy has growing experiences of her own. In "you can't win them all" she becomes a prima-donna after winning a commercial spot. The rest of the family likes Cindy but is unwilling to spoil her just because she is appearing on TV. They believe that their own lives are just as important. I really wish that modern `family' shows would study this season to understand the very critical difference between youth acting and cloying.
However, The Brady Bunch's oft-mythologized `hokeyness' gets shown throughout "The show must go on". Both parents and kids are genuinely enthusiastic about participating together in the school talent show. The Brady Bunch then debuts as a singing group in "Amateur nite", because the kids want to buy a silver plate for Mike and Carol's wedding anniversary and can get necessary money through appearing on a talent show. Although most parents would have been happier with a gift period, this episode also launched the Brady Kids into a quasi-real singing group off-camera. In addition to filming the series, the kids also would sing around the country.
Other famous episodes include "The subject was noses" (the `football to Marcia's nose'
episode), "A room at the top" (Greg ultimately creates his `pad' in the attic after a fight with), "Career fever" (Circumstantial evidence convinces Mike that Greg wants to follow in his footsteps and also become an architect), and "Love and the older man" (when Marcia learns that Stanely Vogel, the `groovy' new dentist whom she has a crush on, only wants her as a babysitter while he and his wife go out).
The one episode which cannot translate well at all is "You're never too old". Mike and Carol Brady actually fix up their parents with each other, seemingly oblivious of the legal or at least cultural restrictions on their arrangement. Since Mike and Carol Brady are married to each other, why on earth are they trying to get their own parents romantically together? I just can't think of a reason why this episode was created during the era of heavy `family show' policing, unless somebody at the production studio and/or network fell asleep on their script review job. This plot just does not make any sense. However, this same episode CAN be used today to show people that `the good old days' also had questionable `family' content on television.
I also noticed the credits glitch at the end of "Love and the older man". I thought it was just my player and or DVD copy.
Overall however, this is a good season, perhaps best of the entire series. The sheer volume of `famous episodes' in this one collection means that this is THE season which both devoted and informal Brady fans MUST purchase for their DVD libraries. If you're on a budget or live in a world where only one Brady Bunch DVD can be purchased, this is the season for you.
Summary of The Brady Bunch - The Complete Fourth Season
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