All In The Family DVD: Some Advice

Mark Talmadge · 01-17-2006, 01:07 PM

I need to know something from everyone here who has purchased the first five seasons of this series on DVD. I grew up watching this series in the seventies along with other classic shows such as the Original Star Trek series, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers and MASH. I've been looking at finally picking up the All In The Family DVD sets since Best Buy is now running their buy one get one free TV DVD set offer and I've been hearing problems left and right that some fans have been having with some of the season sets.

These problems range everywhere from blurred video footage from some episodes along with red stripped lines on some of the episodes. These are comments from fans over at the Amazon.com website and while I'm skeptical about those revgiews I'd like to know if anyone here has experienced any distracting problems with any of the sets that they have purchased.

I'm hoiping to pick up some of these sets by end of this week so any comments are welcomed.

Ethan Riley · 01-17-2006, 03:04 PM

All I have to say is that the tape quality of some of the AITF is fair-to-poor. That's not the fault of the dvd producers or the dvd itself; the original air tapes were simply not well cared-for. I am noticing the same blurring as I do when the series is aired in syndication. This is not a constant for ALL episodes, just some. The same problem happens with "Soap," very washed out, blurry episodes.

Other than that, AITF is what it is. I never did notice those red lines; I have no idea what that's about, although I believe those who point out that problem. I don't expect to see any kind of upgrading for this release anytime soon. I think you should go out and buy them if they're on sale. I'm fairly happy with the release as is; really, the problems with poor quality video can't be fixed. If you improperly store an old video it's hell to try and restore it to original broadcast-grade quality...quite unlike film. AITF is still within acceptable viewing limits and to me, it's looked the same as it has for the last 30 years. And how is it, that we got 2 seasons in one month?? And how rare? LOL

Mike*SC · 01-17-2006, 03:29 PM

This has been discussed in other threads, but here goes.

What was "broadcast quality" when "All in the Family" was shot (on tape) was quite a different thing from what we expect now. Televisions were not nearly as sharp (and I'm not just talking regular def vs. high def -- I mean in general), most people received mediocre over-the-air signals, sound was mono and came from that one tinny speaker. That's just how it is. With filmed shows, you can go back to the original film elements, and if they're in good shape, you can get a DVD of higher resolution than the show was ever shown originally. Not so with videotape.

Because lower quality was acceptable, there are occasional video problems from the original production that are quite visible now -- blur, the occasional reddish dot burned into one of the cameras, etc. I've never seen those lines, either, but I haven't started the fifth season yet.

Even if the show could be magically sharpened, and all the blemishes removed, what would we have as far as audio/video quality? A show that's over-lit, fairly flat looking, and in a dull mono (as the one track is all there is).

And so what? The show is great. I don't mean this as a slight to anybody who simply cares more about other things, but I don't think one would ever watch "All in the Family" for its technical achievements. That wasn't what it was. Somebody on a similar thread said he simply wouldn't get around to watching something that looked bad, and that's fine, but I love this show for the comedy, the characters, the acting... all of which is on fine display, even in lousy video quality.

ElijahS · 01-17-2006, 03:49 PM

I think everything I'd say has already been said, so I'd like to support the two previous posts. And in any case, the price isn't all that high for the sets (you might want to check out Amazon.com's deal before you purchase, though).

Joe Karlosi · 01-17-2006, 04:44 PM

Bottom line is, I love the show and have had a wonderful time with all 5 seasons on DVD and I look forward to the rest. Quality of certain episodes may vary, but this show has never looked 'great', and it was always a "dingy videotape" affair, even when it was first on television in the 1970s. Some episodes are very nice; some are lacking; ALL are enjoyable. I am usually very concerned with video quality, but I just think some people are severely over-criticizing this DVD series. I hope nobody takes offense to this, but I think it's a shame that some people are so uptight about wanting some kind of sterling quality that will never exist for this show that they're missing the comedy, the actors, the "heart" and feel of the experience of enjoying ALL IN THE FAMILY.

**HTF Ads**

Al_D · 01-17-2006, 06:43 PM

I think that the quality is most likely as good as it will ever be, so if you like the show then get it. I do not regret my purchase.

Ethan Riley · 01-17-2006, 07:06 PM

Me either. I really like looking back. I did watch this show with my parents in the early 70s (go figure; at age 6, I graduated from "Green Acres" to AITF in about a weeks' time). I do vividly recall watching this back in the day. I will say (with some uncertainty) that the colors were brighter and the picture sharper. That's just how I remember it. Other shows like 3's Company look exactly as I remember them. Almost all filmed series look a little worse than I remember them. It's all in how well the films and tapes were preserved over the years. AITF wasn't preserved as well as it could have, but I doubt they thought we'd be watching 35 years later, either.

And I notice something else; I figured AITF to be the most dated of all the sitcoms, yet it's not. Most of the feelings and opinions are still being discussed today...! There's plenty of contemporary references (season 5 starts off with a discussion about Watergate), but for the most part, what the Bunkers have to say is still being said.

Mike*SC · 01-17-2006, 07:23 PM

Quote:

for the most part, what the Bunkers have to say is still being said.

Indeed. Replace the names and the debates sound disconcertingly current. The more things change...

Rob P S · 01-17-2006, 10:43 PM

Quote:

but for the most part, what the Bunkers have to say is still being said.

The strike episodes are a good example of this.

Ravi K · 01-18-2006, 12:12 AM

Do shows like Soap, AITF, etc. which were shot on tape look as good as they can on DVD? I've never seen them look great in syndication, so I assume that this is as good as it gets. In that case, go ahead and buy them.

Is the problem really the aging of the tapes or just that the quality was limited in the first place?

ElijahS · 01-18-2006, 12:27 AM

I think it's both.

David Rain · 01-18-2006, 12:30 AM

Yes, the video and audio simply are what they are. I don't expect the show to ever look better than it does. But as far as quality of the SHOW (which is what matters most) you simply cannot go wrong with the first few seasons. It does run out of gas in the later years. It, like most long-running sitcoms, simply stayed on too long. Stephanie, anyone ? I didn't think so.

If you want classic television, this is it.