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(More customer reviews)As the most fanatical McCloud fan in the world (I'll arm wrestle anyone who says I'm not) it is an understatement to say that I am delighted that the series has been issued on DVD--AT LAST! The three double-side DVD's, housed in sturdy slim cases, contain Seasons One and Two. The episodes are arranged in chronological order, with a filler episode of "MacMillan and Wife." The transfer has obviously been done with some care--the series has never looked so good on TV--one can even make out the texture of the tweed in McCloud's jacket. Despite some occasional graininess, it looks as if the series might have been filmed yesterday! There are Spanish and English subtitles, and each episode has a helpful and informative synopsis menu.
Are the episodes complete and uncut?...well, yes and no... First, the good news--Season Two appears to be uncut. Nowadays, when McCloud runs on TV, the first few minutes of "establishing scenes" preceding the opening credits are invariably omitted. Frequently, the "summing up" scenes at the end are cut, too. These are often really funny vignettes, such as McCloud roping a crook from a moving taxicab at the beginning of "Fifth Man in a String Quartet." Most of these scenes have not been shown on TV since about 1986. They usually contribute little if anything to the central story, and were obviously cut to allow more commercials. On the other hand, they contribute a LOT to the establishment of character. This is important--one of the strengths of the series was that it successfully managed the tricky mixture of believable character comedy and detective story--more in the subtle manner of "The Thin Man" rather than the situation comedy of "Barney Miller". Without this comic leavening, police dramas can become unbearably grim. It is absolutely wonderful to have these scenes back!
It's also great to have the pilot episode, which I don't recall seeing on TV since about 1985. Viewers will notice an inconsistency in Chris's account of how she first met McCloud. In the first episode of Season One, Chris says that she met him while vacationing in New Mexico. The pilot has it otherwise--their real first meeting was in New York--of course, this doesn't affect one's enjoyment.
Now, the bad news. Season One originally consisted of six one-hour episodes. UNIVERSAL studios later combined these into three one-and-a-half hour programs. Contrary to the misinformation disseminated from some internet sources, these DVD's give Season One only in this later, mutilated form. Maybe the original material no longer exists, or perhaps no one cared enough to search for it, or maybe UNIVERSAL thought no one would notice. Heaven knows how much good stuff we'll never see again.
I have never seen the first season in its original form (it's difficult to get to a TV exactly when you want to when one has been drafted into Army basic training). However, back issues of TV GUIDE are a valuable source of information. Doubtless, much must have fallen to the cutting room floor during re-editing. A case in point is episode two ("Horse Stealing on Fifth Avenue"), which was grafted onto episode four ("The Stage is All the World") producing a hybrid called "Manhattan Manhunt." The "horse stealing," which gives "Horse Stealing" its title, was completely removed, and all that remains is the subplot about a drugstore bandit.
Further observations: I don't understand the point (other than advertising) of including an episode of "McMillan and Wife." Surely there were more appropriate fillers, such as the sequel, "The Return of Sam McCloud," or maybe the episode of the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries in which Weaver appears as himself filming an episode of McCloud, or "Murder Can Hurt You" in which Buck Owens delivers a McCloud parody as "Sheriff Tim McSky!" Even interviews with the cast about the making of the series would be nice--most of them are still around (update of 4/09--Weaver died a few years ago). A recent e-mail to UNIVERSAL inquiring about the exact contents of the DVD's and offering suggestions for fillers, elicited the reply that there were "no plans at present to issue this series on DVD." Make of THAT what you will...
Another caveat: check disk one carefully--I have already gone through two defective copies. On both, the second episode on side B ("Murder Arena")froze and refused to play any further. On the first copy, this occurred at about 36:00, and on the second, at about 49:00. I tried two different players, both recent Toshiba models, with identical results. Hopefully, Universal will correct this problem.
So, is this set worth your investment?--yes, definitely! Notwithstanding my agonizing about Season One, this is probably as close as we'll ever get to having McCloud on home video. Because of my disappointment about Season One, I had originally intended to give this release just four stars, but this series is too good for that. Indeed, I'd give it more than five stars if Amazon's rating system allowed it! That off my chest, it's great to have this excellent series in such a fine DVD transfer. Despite my complaints, I wouldn't be without it, and enthusiastically recommend McCloud to viewers who are unfamiliar with the series. Now, let's have the other five seasons (Three and Four should fit nicely onto three double-sided DVD's!)--hopefully, it won't take another 35 years!
Click Here to see more reviews about: McCloud - Seasons 1 and 2 (1970)
"There ya' go." Rustle up some action and adventure aspolice drama McCloud rides on to DVD for the first time ever! Emmywinner Dennis Weaver stars as the brave Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud, thetoughest cowboy to ever take on the mean streets of New York, as well asthe by-the-book detectives on the NYPD. Despite the demands of hisstrict supervisor, Chief Peter B. Clifford (J.D. Cannon), McCloud findshimself in an endless showdown with some of the meanest criminals eastof the Mississippi. This amazing DVD set from the popular NBC MysteryMovie Series features all 11 thrilling episodes of McCloudSeasons 1 & 2 ' including the series' pilot, as well as a gripping bonusepisode of the popular McMillan & Wife. Saddle up withentertaining guest stars including Milton Berle, Pat Morita, StefaniePowers and more in the series that proved that sometimes all you need tosolve a crime is a little good ol' country know-how.20
Click here for more information about McCloud - Seasons 1 and 2 (1970)
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