The Life of Riley Collection
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DVD Cover Information
DVD: Region Code 0Product features:
- Collectors Set
- Very Rare DVD Collection
- 32 Classic Shows
- Nostalgia Merchant Production
Movie Reviews of The Life of Riley Collection
Movie Review: The Life Of Riley, Timeless great TV!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have really enjoyed this DVD collection of "The Life Of Riley" (TLOR) episodes. This collection is truly a "blast from the past" and brings back fond memories of very entertaining, laugh out loud TV comedy. Unlike so many TV "sitcoms" of the TLOR time period TLOR is well written, very well acted, directed and produced and could easily fit in today as an entertaining "slice of life" period piece. Riley is a believable character who is part of the Southern California aerospace culture and although Cunningham Aircraft, Riley's employer, is fictional, places and events mentioned in the show like the Riley's hometown, El Segundo, and surrounding cities such as Glendale, Burbank on so forth give the show a sense of historical reality. Plus, in exterior shots you will see period history such as the back yard incinerators used to burn household trash and compliment the LA smog!!
TLOR is about a middle class family with both parents still married and supportive of each other. Peg, the Mother, is a stay at home Mom raising the Riley's two children Jr. and Babs and manages the Riley household. The two children contribute to the family, respect their parents and each other. Despite Chester A. Riley not always making the right decisions he always gets the love and support of his "TV" family. Of course, the Riley's neighbors and good friends Gillis and Honeybee add to the show's comic antics.
It is apparent that the collection's DVDs are produced from either direct film or video tape transfers and neither video nor audio appear to have been digitally re-mastered. Despite a very few episodes having an old unrestored film look around the edges the majority of the episodes look extremely well. The audio is good in all episodes. The episodes do appear to be random selections from the various seasons and do jump around chronologically on each disc, e.g., a single disc may have episodes from several different seasons and randomly ordered. But, this is a minor issue for true LTOR fans. I would have preferred that the NostalgiaMerchant not display their Logo from time to time during several of the episodes.
A couple of the earliest episodes have a different actress playing Honeybee and in the later seasons Gillis and Honeybee are replaced by what seems to be a washed up, hack Catskills type comedian full of the quick and biting insults one expects from today's TV sitcoms and complimented by his long suffering wife. Despite the Catskills "schtick" William Bendix keeps center stage through these episodes and seems to have single handedly pioneered the "deadpan" straight on look at the camera. In the later seasons you do get to see a young Martin Milner dating and finally marrying Babs Riley. And don't forget Sterling Holloway who plays Riley's other friend and neighbor Waldo Benny.
If you remember TLOR and enjoyed it back in the 50s you will enjoy the show just as much today. I have been disappointed in many of the old TV sitcoms and ended up wondering what I ever found to be entertaining when I watched them back in the 50s and 60s. This is not the case for me with TLOR. I can honestly say that this is one of the old TV sitcoms that has gotten better with age.
Although not a complete collection of all TLOR episodes, I highly recommend this collection for any TLOR fan.
Enjoy!!
Summary of The Life of Riley Collection
The Life of Riley Collectors Set contains 8 volumes with 32 Classic Life of Riley Shows. The producer spent several years putting together this great collection using the best available assets. It is beautifully packaged, shrinked wrapped and ready for gift giving. It comes in one case for easy storage. Episode Titles: Disc 1 Riley Camps Out Riley's Operation Riley Steps Out Riley, Animal Lover Disc 2 The Hamburger Stand Young Man's Fancy Love Comes to Waldo Babs Dream House Disc 3 Riley's Burning Ambition The Boss's Niece Bab's School Election Riley, The Worrier Disc 4 Junior's Secret The Dog Watch Riley Teaches Junior Boxing Junior's Double Date Disc 5 Riley's Seperation Destination Brooklyn Riley's Anniversary The Heart of Texas Disc 6 Bab's Wedding Junior Quits School Help For Honeybee Del Mar Vista Disc 7 The Executive Type Family Reunion Vacation Junior, Juvenile Deliquent Disc 8 Come Back, Little Junior Do It Yourself Riley's Stomach Ache Riley Balances The Budget All video assets ©2007 by The Nostalgia MerchantTM