Father Knows Best: Season One (1954)

Maybe he didn't always know best, but insurance salesman Jim Anderson (Robert Young) of Springfield, Ohio, was America's favorite head of household. Father Knows Best premiered on CBS in October 1954 and has been part of the American cultural fabric ever since. Every week families gathered around the television set to join Jim, Margaret, Princess, Bud and Kitten in their very first year as everyone's favorite 50's family. On DVD for the first time ever, this 4-disc set contains the Complete first season. BONUS FEATURES *New cast interviews *Robert Young's home movies *Rare behind the scenes color footage *24 Hours In Tyrantland, special episode created for the U.S. government. *Window On Main Street pilot episode, Robert Young's very next TV series.

 Great season!!!
I purchased this DVD on the day it was released & I don't find anything wrong with it. Some of the reviews were just terrible & I didn't know if I would buy it. But I did & there is nothing wrong with it. The picture was very good. Some of the episodes may be cut by a few minutes but, I didn't notice that at all. Also, the shows that one person said aren't on this DVD set are on there. The pilot episode was there also. If you like Father knows best then buy it today. You won't be sorry!! May 3, 2008

 Father knows best
I bought this dvd because it was one of my favorite shows back in the 50's & 60's. Then before I even got it I looked at it again and found out it was in color. This show was never meant to be in color so why do the company's that put out these dvd's coloreise them????? just runions the whole dvd. This was made in Black & White and should be left in Black & White. I can't answer for everyone, but I want these old shows in Black & White like they were meant to be. Good luck on unloading these dvd's. I sent mine back when it arived without even opening it up. So sad these company's would do this to such a fine show. When they bring it out in Black & White I will pruchase it. May 3, 2008

 yours to remember!
This SEASON 1 of the "FATHER KNOWS BEST" show is MORE
than I expected! It brought back many memories of sitting
with the family on Wednesday nights in the early 50's enjoying
the antics and problems of the Anderson family. The BONUS
features are exceptional! ANYONE wanting good, clean FAMILY
fun and entertainment should get this set. As for us older
folks, there's plenty of nostalgic memories to test the senses!
CAN'T WAIT FOR SEASON 2!!! April 29, 2008

 Good old fashion TV. I love it!
This has been one of my all-time favorite shows ever since I was a kid in the late 1960's and early '70s.
I just got (Season 1) a few weeks ago and am loving it.
When discussing 1950's TV shows there is always talk about Real life vs the way it is portrayed on TV.
Well ofcourse no family is as perfect as they are portrayed on 'Father knows best' or 'Leave it to Beaver' but the point is that these shows used the families as role models so that we could see what we all should aspire to be like.
I know that when I was a child the values in these shows helped to teach
me what proper behavior and improper behavior looked like and what the consequences of each were.
Sure my parents taught me these things too but seeing it played out on TV really brought the lessons to my attention.
The core family and life values in this show are still valid today because they are timeless.
So I highly recommend 'Father knows best' to anyone who wants to see good clean television that will make you laugh and warm your heart.
I sure hope all 6 seasons get released as I will buy them all. April 29, 2008

 Even With Some Edited Episodes Included, These Shows Are So Good I Can't Give This Set Anything Less Than A Full 5 Stars
Upon watching all of the episodes on Disc 1 of this 4-Disc "Father Knows Best" DVD set (none of which I remember ever having seen before, even though I recall watching this series many times in reruns over the years), I had simply forgotten how truly good these shows really are -- and right out of the gate too, from the very beginning of Season 1, which is a rather remarkable achievement all by itself.

And while some episodes in this DVD collection have been trimmed to 22+ minutes (which I don't like seeing), not every show seems to have fallen prey to the syndication axe, with some of the shows running more than 25 minutes.

The video quality on the DVDs looks pretty good to me too. Not perfect, but quite decent nonetheless, IMO. (Okay, shoot me...I'm just not going to complain a lot about this set at all, despite some cut shows.)

Maybe I'll sound like a sentimental sap by saying this, but some of these shows are so good and have such good acting that I found myself experiencing a large lump in my throat near the end of the last act -- particularly during the final minutes of "Live My Own Life" (where Bud leaves home to live in a shabby room above the local feed store) and "The Motor Scooter", which contains a very tender scene near the end between Bud and "Mrs. Knows Best" (played by the great Jane Wyatt).

Do any 21st-century TV programs ever leave a lump in your throat after watching them? If so, I'll bet there aren't many (especially comedies).

Even though it's not a perfect DVD set in every way, I'd still highly recommend "Father Knows Best: Season One" on Digital Versatile Disc.

Or, as Betty Anderson might put it, these FKB shows are simply "excruciatingly divine!"

David Von Pein
April 2008
April 28, 2008

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