After enjoying Seasons 2 and 3, I was very much disappointed with this latest collection. I agree with the comments of a previous poster, Dr. Juengling, about major changes in the situations and characters. Previously, Gomer was an intolerable clod who made problems wherever he went. This season, he is sensitive, intelligent and helpful while it is Carter who acts like a complete boob. I don't know what the producers expected to get out of reversing the relationship of their lead characters. It's comparable to switching the roles of Abbott and Costello and still expecting them to be funny. Also, Nabors and Sutton often seem run down in scenes. Sutton's performance, in particular, is no longer as sharp and energetic as it was in previous seasons. Old plots are recycled with less effect. The most obvious example is "Love and Goulash," which is a retread of the second season episode "Arrivederci, Gomer." The show was certainly missing Ronnie Schell. The camaraderie that Gomer enjoyed in the barracks when Ronnie Schell and Ted Bessell were playing his best friends is largely absent at this point. The earlier seasons depicted a good deal of interaction between the Marines in the barrack scenes. Now, though, Gomer usually spends his time in the barracks sparsely surrounded by non-speaking extras. This is especially evident in the episode "Leader of Men," when Gomer is put in charge of his unit and his fellow Marines respond to his repeated orders with nothing more than nods. It's like this is the Marine's special all-mute unit. The one improvement this season was the fact that more scenes were shot on location. Previously, Gomer's off base experiences were confined to a street set at the Desilu Studio. This set, which included a movie theatre, a diner, a hotel and a few shops, had gotten to be claustrophobic after three seasons.
September 6, 2008It is terribly disappointing to get these DVD's only to find they have been edited.
The entire point of purchasing the DVD sets/seasons is to watch the show in a clear, complete manner, without commercials. Also to avoid the constant nagging of station bugs (logos) in the corners, and if that weren't enough, now commercials scroll across the screen during the shows. It has become so bad, I no longer watch most TV. For TV shows I really like I'll purchase the DVD sets just to get away from the constant irritants.
Yet, we don't get the full shows. Dialog is cut, songs edited out, etc. All for the sake of saving a few cents per copy, and done only to avoid literally pennies in royalties.
Note to CBS: I would much rather pay a little extra per season and get the unedited, uncut versions. The show was timeless just the way it was.
July 21, 2008 |  | Edited, again, and it's not just the music |  |
The history of these DVD sets since season one has had the episodes literally butchered when it came to the music in the show. Even a small snipit of Sargent Carter singing "The Night Was Meant For Love" in one episode, or a full version of Gomer singing "This Train is a Going Home Train", the cheapsakes that are producing these DVD sets of Gomer Pyle make even Season 4 a disappointment. However, in watching these episodes I'm finding that it's not just music that's cut; there is also dialog in scenes that's been hacked out. Because of the electronic graphic and CG era that we live in, I look forward to shows being released on DVD because there are no "bugs" in the corners of the screens, no animated graphics promoting upcoming shows, or any other distractions. The shows for the most part are the way they should be seen, uncut and commercial free. This is not the case with the Gomer Pyle DVD's including season 4. Dialog, music and other scenes cut because the production companies don't want to pay the royalties for the music included in the original releases. Why dialog is cut, I'm not sure. I was such a fan of this show, and really wanted a complete collection of the episodes, but I'm very disappointed in the results that have come about on my store shelves. If we continue to purchase these edited sets, the production companies will continue to put out these cheap imitations of the real show. I've written a letter to CBS with a formal complaint, but I know it will fall on deaf ears. But if more enthusiasts like us continue, maybe we'll make a difference. If you're an avid fan of Gomer, then this is the best we can get for now. I only wish they were complete episodes.
July 19, 2008I find this set to be very enjoyable just as the previous versions. Good color, sound and all of the epispodes. I do not mind a missing song here and there like some others. I rather this version than none at all..
July 13, 2008Well, you probably already know the Gomer Pyle series, so I won't explain what it's all about. However, this season is a real departure in some ways from the other seasons. First, Gomer's buddy, Duke (Ronnie Schell) is gone. OK, I guess his other buddies can pick up the slack. Second, Gomer sings a lot in this season. It seems that every time you turn around, Gomer is singing. If you like Jim Nabors' or ballads by baritones, then you'll love this season. If not, you'll find yourself pressing the fast forward button pretty often. Finally, Gomer's and Sergeant Carter's roles in the show are quite different. In the earlier years, the show is based on Gomer antagonizing/irritating Carter. Carter would blow up and then somehow everyting would work out. But in this season, Carter is to a large degree the source of his own problems. He's the one who causes the problems--not in a comic way, but by his own vices. Then Gomer, through his flawless character, saves Carter. It's an interesting relationship.
One more thing: some of the basic story lines are very similar to ones from earlier years. Did the writers run out of ideas?
I don't write these things as criticisms, just observations. The show is still fun and worth a thousand laughs. It's good, clean fun, fit for the whole family.
July 10, 2008More reviews at Amazon.com ...
