The Flintstones Complete Series Blu-ray set includes every episode that aired from 1960 to 1966, in addition to an edited theatrical version of The Man Called Flintstone(1966). This release from Warner Home Video is recommended even with its flaws, as it falls short of the high standard already set by Warner Archive in its releases of Hanna-Barbera series.
The Production: 5/5
Fred Flintstone is a volatile blue-collar working guy living in the Stone Age with his wife Wilma, a stabilizing influence on the mercurial Fred who always has a get rich quick scheme or an angle. Fred’s best friend is his next door neighbor, Barney Rubble. Fred and Barney love bowling and attending meetings at the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes. Barney’s wife, Betty, is close friends with Wilma. If this sounds a lot like The Honeymooners, that is no coincidence as William Hanna and Joseph Barbera conceded their admiration of Jackie Gleason’s show, and transplanted the principal characters to a prehistoric setting in a gentle satire of suburban living in the 1960s.
Since this is the Stone Age, the Flintstones do not have a dog, but rather a pet dinosaur named Dino. All of the technology in The Flintstones is based on the idea that people lived, loved, and worked in the Stone Age in a reflection of modern America circa 1960. Since engines were not yet invented, the automobiles were foot powered or propelled by a small creature on a pulley. Since airplanes were not yet invented, air travel was done by pterodactyls. Since indoor plumbing was still in the future, a shower would be taken by having a wooly mammoth spray water from its trunk. The Flintstones did not really originate this concept either, since earlier animated shorts had dealt with the same concept. The most influential of these was probably Tex Avery’s “The First Bad Man”(1955), an MGM theatrical cartoon which actually shares character design elements with The Flintstones. Hanna and Barbera were undoubtedly aware of this cartoon since they were also working as directors at MGM during the same period.
The Flintstones did not just borrow heavily from The Honeymooners but also other then contemporary television series like I Love Lucy, Peter Gunn, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Bonanza, 77 Sunset Strip, and others. In later seasons, the show would parody other series like The Addams Family and The Munsters with its own version, the Gruesomes. In its final season, one episode even featured Samantha and Darrin Stephens from another ABC series, Bewitched, moving in as neighbors to the Flintstones and the Rubbles. As it was a situation comedy, The Flintstones borrowed more heavily from comedies than anything, but sometimes it would blend the two. As an example, in “Alfred Brickrock Presents”, Fred and Barney become voyeurs watching the Brickrocks through the window as they bicker until Mrs. Brickrock disappears mysteriously, and Alfred Brickrock asks Fred if he may borrow a shovel.
Many of these clever stories were hatched by Warren Foster and Michael Maltese, formerly of Termite Terrace at the Warner Brothers cartoon unit. Mel Blanc, the man of a thousand voices from Warner Brothers cartoons, even spoke as Barney Rubble and other incidental characters, with Jean Vanderpyl as Wilma, Bea Benaderet as Betty, and Alan Reed as Fred Flintstone. The combination of voice talent, character design, story, and music created lightning in a bottle that lasted originally for 166 episodes, and numerous spinoffs after that.
The Flintstones The Complete Series on Blu-ray consists of 10 discs with an average of 17 episodes per disc. Each disc begins with a mandatory 20 second disclaimer to remind us that these shows were produced in a different era of norms and standards. There had been some concerns that prologues before the opening credits might be missing, since that had been the case for the episodes presented this year on HBO Max. Thankfully, all of the episodes seem to have teasers and prologues intact, with episodes all having run times of no less than 25 minutes.
Special features are also spread around on the 10 discs as noted in the Special Features section of this review.
The episodes are in order of airdate rather than production order with run-times and original airdates as follows:
Disc 1
“The Flintstone Flyer” (26:25) September 30, 1960“Hot Lips Hannigan” (26:22) October 7, 1960“The Swimming Pool” (26:26) October 14, 1960“No Help Wanted” (26:28) October 21, 1960“The Split Personality” (26:26) October 28, 1960“The Monster from the Tar Pits” (26:27) November 4, 1960“The Babysitters” (26:26) November 11, 1960“At the Races” (26:24) November 25, 1960“The Engagement Ring” (26:26) November 25, 1960“Hollyrock, Here I Come” (26:27) December 2, 1960“The Golf Champion” (26:25) December 9, 1960“The Sweepstakes Ticket” (26:27) December 16, 1960“The Drive-In” (26:27) December 23, 1960“The Prowler” (26:26) December 30, 1960“The Girls’ Night Out” (26:24) January 6, 1961“Arthur Quarry’s Dance Class” (26:23) January 13, 1961“The Big Bank Robbery” (26:23) January 20, 1961Disc 2“The Snorkasaurus Hunter” (26:19) January 27, 1961“The Hot Piano” (26:23) February 3, 1961“The Hypnotist” (26:26) February 10, 1961“Love Letters on the Rocks” (26:26) February 17, 1961“The Tycoon” (26:23) February 24, 1961“The Astra’ Nuts” (26:28) March 3, 1961“The Long, Long Weekend” (26:29) March 10, 1961“In the Dough” (26:26) March 17, 1961“The Good Scout” (26:26) March 24, 1961“Rooms for Rent” (26:27) March 31, 1961“Fred Flintstone: Before and After” (26:29) April 7, 1961“The Hit Songwriter” (26:22) September 15, 1961“Droop-Along Flintstone” (26:25) September 22, 1961“The Missing Bus” (26:10) September 29, 1961“Alvin Brickrock Presents” (26:12) October 6, 1961“Fred Flintstone Woos Again” (26:13) October 13, 1961“The Rock Quarry Story” (26:10) October 20, 1961Disc 3“The Soft Touchables” (26:10) October 27, 1961“Flintstone of Prinstone” (26:11) November 3, 1961“The Little White Lie” (26:12) November 10, 1961“Social Climbers” (26:13) November 17, 1961“The Beauty Contest” (26:16) December 1, 1961“The Masquerade Ball” (26:16) December 8, 1961“The Picnic” (26:10) December 15, 1961“The House Guest” (26:12) December 22, 1961“The X-Ray Story” (26:12) December 29, 1961“The Gambler” (26:10) January 5, 1962“A Star is Almost Born” (26:09) January 12, 1962“The Entertainer” (26:11) January 19, 1962“Wilma’s Vanishing Money” (26:13) January 26, 1962“Feudin’ and Fussin'” (26:10) February 2, 1962“Impractical Joker” (26:10) February 9, 1962“Operation Barney” (26:14) February 16, 1962“The Happy Household” (26:09) February 22, 1962Disc 4“Fred Strikes Out” (26:10) March 2, 1962“This is Your Lifesaver” (26:12) March 9, 1962“Trouble-in-Law” (26:13) March 16, 1962“The Mailman Cometh” (26:10) March 23, 1962“The Rock Vegas Story” (26:10) March 30, 1962“Divided We Sail” (26:11) April 6, 1962“Kleptomaniac Caper” (26:07) April 13, 1962“Latin Lover” (26:10) April 20, 1962“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (26:06) April 27, 1962“Dino Goes Hollyrock” (26:09) September 14, 1962“Fred’s New Boss” (26:11) September 21, 1962“Barney the Invisible” (25:43) September 28, 1962“Bowling Ballet” (25:46) October 5, 1962“The Twitch” (25:43) October 12, 1962“Here’s Snow in Your Eyes” (25:41) October 19, 1962“The Buffalo Convention” (25:40) October 26, 1962“The Little Stranger” (25:42) November 2, 1962Disc 5“Baby Barney” (25:41) November 9, 1962“Hawaiian Escapade” (25:43) November 16, 1962“Ladies’ Day” (25:48) November 23, 1962“Nuthin’ But the Tooth” (25:38) November 30, 1962“High School Fred” (25:42) December 7, 1962“Dial ‘S’ for Suspicion” (25:43) December 14, 1962“Flash Gun Freddie” (25:45) December 21, 1962“The Kissing Burglar” (25:40) January 4, 1963“Wilma the Maid” (25:43) January 11, 1963“The Hero” (25:42) January 18, 1963“The Surprise” (25:40) January 25, 1963“Mother-in-Law’s Visit” (25:43) February 1, 1963“Foxy Grandma” (25:44) February 8, 1963“Fred’s New Job” (25:44) February 15, 1963“The Blessed Event” (25:41) February 22, 1963“Carry On, Nurse Fred” (25:43) March 1, 1963“Ventriloquist Barney” (25:40) March 8, 1963Disc 6“The Big Move” (25:40) March 22, 1963“Swedish Visitors” (25:42) March 29, 1963“The Birthday Party” (25:43) April 5, 1963“Ann-Margrock Presents” (25:23) September 19, 1963“Groom Gloom” (25:24) September 26, 1963“Little Bamm-Bamm” (25:24) October 3, 1963“Dino Disappears” (25:26) October 10, 1963“Fred’s Monkeyshines” (25:23) October 17, 1963“The Flintstone Canaries” (25:20) October 24, 1963“Glue for Two” (25:24) October 31, 1963“Big League Freddie” (25:23) November 7, 1963“Old Lady Betty” (25:23) November 14, 1963“Sleep On, Sweet Fred” (25:24) November 21, 1963“Kleptomaniac Pebbles” (25:27) November 28, 1963“Daddy’s Little Beauty” (25:23) December 5, 1963“Daddies Anonymous” (25:23) December 12, 1963“Peek-a-Boo Camera” (25:26) December 19, 1963Disc 7“Once Upon a Coward” (25:27) December 26, 1963“Ten Little Flintstones” (25:27) January 2, 1964“Fred El Terrifico” (25:27) January 9, 1964“The Bedrock Hillbillies” (25:18) January 16, 1964“Flintstone and the Lion” (25:23) January 23, 1964“Cave Scout Jamboree” (25:25) January 30, 1964“Room for Two” (25:22) February 6, 1964“Ladies’ Night at the Lodge” (25:22) February 13, 1964“Reel Trouble” (25:20) February 20, 1964“Son of Rockzilla” (25:24) February 27, 1964“Bachelor Daze” (25:22) March 5, 1964“Operation Switchover” (25:28) March 12, 1964“Hop Happy” (25:19) September 17, 1964“Monster Fred” (25:22) September 24, 1964“Itty Bitty Fred” (25:22) October 1, 1964“Pebbles’ Birthday Party” (25:23) October 8, 1964“Bedrock Rodeo Round-Up” (25:23) October 15, 1964Disc 8“Cinderellastone” (25:25) October 22, 1964“A Haunted House is Not a Home” (25:22) October 29, 1964“Dr. Sinister” (25:25) November 5, 1964“The Gruesomes” (25:23) November 12, 1964“The Most Beautiful Baby in Bedrock” (25:23) November 19, 1964“Dino and Juliet” (25:24) November 26, 1964“King for a Night” (25:26) December 3, 1964“Indianrockolis 500” (25:25) December 10, 1964“Adobe Dick” (25:25) December 17, 1964“Christmas Flintstone” (25:18) December 25, 1964“Fred’s Flying Lesson” (25:25) January 1, 1965“Fred’s Second Car” (25:23) January 8, 1965“Time Machine” (25:24) January 15, 1965“The Hatrocks and the Gruesomes” (25:20) January 22, 1965“Moonlight and Maintenance” (25:22) January 29, 1965“Sheriff for a Day” (25:26) February 5, 1965“Deep in the Heart of Texarock” (25:24) February 12, 1965Disc 9“The Rolls Rock Caper” (25:19) February 19, 1965“Superstone” (25:24) February 26, 1965“Fred Meets Hercurock” (25:03) March 5, 1965“Surfin’ Fred” (25:17) March 12, 1965“No Biz Like Show Biz” (25:10) September 17, 1965“The House That Fred Built” (25:13) September 24, 1965“The Return of Stony Curtis” (25:07) October 1, 1965“Disorder in the Court” (25:13) October 8, 1965“Circus Business” (25:12) October 15, 1965“Samantha” (25:11) October 22, 1965“The Great Gazoo” (25:08) October 29, 1965“Rip Van Flintstone” (25:08) November 5, 1965“The Gravelberry Pie King” (25:13) November 12, 1965“The Stonefinger Caper” (25:04) November 19, 1965“The Masquerade Party” (25:07) November 26, 1965“Shinrock A Go-Go” (25:09) December 3, 1965“Royal Rubble” (25:06) December 10, 1965Disc 10“Seeing Doubles” (25:07) December 17, 1965“How to Pick a Fight with Your Wife Without Really Trying” (25:03) January 7, 1966“Fred Goes Ape” (25:11) January 14, 1966“The Long, Long, Long Weekend” (25:10) January 21, 1966“Two Men on a Dinosaur” (25:09) February 4, 1966“The Treasure of Sierra Madrock” (25:09) February 11, 1966“Curtain Call at Bedrock” (25:08) February 18, 1966“Boss for a Day” (25:06) February 25, 1966“Fred’s Island” (25:12) March 4, 1966“Jealousy” (25:13) March 11, 1966“Dripper” (25:07) March 18, 1966“My Fair Freddy” (25:13) March 25, 1966“The Story of Rocky’s Raiders” (25:11) April 1, 1966
Video: 4.5/5
3D Rating: NA
The episodes are presented in their original 1:33.1 screen aspect ratio as originally broadcast. The video presentation is excellent, with minimal grain present. Proponents of grain in animation are understandably concerned when fine detail is scrubbed electronically from the animation along with the grain. This is not an issue here, perhaps because of the limited animation style, as images are largely grain free, with only a few exceptions. The grainiest presentation is evident at the beginning of “The House Guest” as pictured below.
On a large screen, the cave wall background in this scene has excessive graininess in motion, but is probably imperceptible in this still. Overall, video presentation is excellent with vibrant tones and such exquisite detail that you can sometimes observe where paint was applied more heavily on objects in animated motion. Even gradations in black outlines of the animation are visible at times to appreciate the artistry of the design elements.
Audio: 4/5
The Flintstones is presented with Dolby Digital 2.o audio in English, French, and Spanish. The English audio is fine for what it is, with dialogue mixed consistently to appropriate levels in relation to music and sound effects. You cannot expect Dolby Atmos audio for an early 1960s TV series, but the audio is flawless, with the exception noted of “The Big Bank Robbery” on Disc 1, which omits the sound effects and music score for the length of the episode. The review score for audio is based on the assumption that the studio will make replacement discs available to consumers to correct this defect.
Special Features: 2.5/5
Special features are spread out among the discs in standard definition, and include all of the following:The Flagstones: The Lost Pilot(1:35)(Disc 1): This long lost pilot produced in 1959 was rediscovered in the 1990s with faded colors (presumably Eastman film stock) and grease pencil marks on some of the frames.How to Draw Fred Flintstone(6:47)(Disc 1): William Hanna and Joe Barbera appeared in this featurette videotaped in the 1990s.Carved in Stone: The Flintstones Phenomenon(20:42)(Disc 2): Animation experts Jerry Beck and Earl Kress appear with artists Harvey Eisenberg, Iwao Takamoto, and Scott Shaw! in this featurette discussing the influence of The Flintstones.Songs of The Flintstone Album(27:57)(Disc 3): Accompanies the audio from the LP record from the 1960s with video imagery.All About The Flintstones(5:21)(Disc 4): Brief featurette about the creation of The Flintstones at Hanna-Barbera.Wacky Inventions(5:44)(Disc 4): Featurette about the stone age inventions featured on The Flintstones.Bedrock Collectibles: Collecting All Things Flintstone(6:42)(Disc 5): Artist and Flintstones collector Scott Shaw! shows off his impressive collection of Flintstone collectibles.The Flintstones: One Million Years Ahead Of Its Time(8:33)(Disc 5): Artists Iwao Takamoto and Scott Shaw! appear with Jerry Beck to discuss the cultural influences of The Flintstones.First Families of the Stone Age(7:06)(Disc 6): Featurette with producers and executives discussing the characters.Hanna-Barbera’s Legendary Music Director Hoyt Curtin(7:05)(Disc 6): Tribute to the composer of The Flintstones theme song and numerous other Hanna-Barbera series themes with Earl Kress and others.The Flintstones Meet Pop Culture(11:29)(Disc 10): Stephen Baldwin, the actor playing Barney Rubble in the theatrical feature The Flintstones(1994), hosts this featurette discussing aspects of pop culture borrowed by The Flintstones and influenced by the series.The Great Gazoo: From A To Zetox(3:49): Earl Kress hosts this featurette about the recurring 6th season character.The Flintstones and WWE: Stone Age Smackdown!(51:39): Presents the recent direct to video Flintstones movie in standard definition.The Man Called Flintstone(1:29:00): Presents the 1966 theatrical feature in 1.85:1 aspect ratio and standard definition. The humorous gag of Wilma holding the Columbia Pictures torch is missing here, so hold on to your VHS and laserdisc copies if you want to have the complete unedited film in open matte screen aspect ratio.You will NOT see this on The Man Called Flintstone in this release.The film presentation flows well in the widescreen aspect ratio, although at the loss of animation and backgrounds visible in the open matte version. This widescreen presentation crops the top and bottom off the open matted image presented in the DVD version, as pictured below.First is a scene from the widescreen version of The Man Called Flintstone included with this release.
Next is the same scene in open matte presentation on the earlier DVD.The new cropped widescreen version appears softer than the DVD version.Many of these special features have been ported over to this release from the previous DVD season releases of The Flintstones. These special features are in standard definition, as previously noted, as many of them appear to have been produced originally on videotape, the notable exceptions being the 2 animated feature films included on disc 10.All of the special features from the DVD season releases have not been ported over to this blu-ray release. One notable omission is The Flintstones commercials and bumpers featuring One-A-Day vitamins and other sponsors. The sublime laserdisc release of the first half of season one also included animated commercials and bumpers for Winston cigarettes, a sponsor of The Flintstones during its first 2 seasons. None of these sponsor segments featuring The Flintstones are included in this new release. In this respect, the laserdisc release of the early episodes in a collector’s set remains the gold standard. The laserdisc release included bumpers and commercials featuring the original sponsor, Winston cigarettes. (The laserdisc also included the closing credits with the ABC Network logo carved appropriately on a cave wall, which has never been seen since on DVD. The laserdisc also included an audio option to view the episodes with or without laugh track, according to individual preference.)
Overall: 4/5
The Flintstones The Complete Series Blu-ray is highly recommended with the caveat that this reviewer does not know when the studio will issue replacement discs for the bungled audio on “The Big Bank Robbery” on Disc 1. The video and audio presentation are excellent, but the special features could have been so much more, given the special features already produced for earlier DVD releases. Whether you are a fan or not, The Flintstones is unquestionably one of the greatest television series of all time, and repeat viewings are a pleasure when repetition might be a chore with other series.
The Flintstones: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]
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Timothy has worked background in theatrical features and television, just for the fun of it, in films directed by Peter Segal and Christopher Nolan. His favorite film star is Bugs Bunny, and Timothy has discovered that most of the problems in life can be solved successfully (strangely enough) by asking “What would Bugs Bunny do?” Timothy has been involved with the Home Theater Forum since 2007 and has reported from Comic Con, interviewed Bruce Campbell and Danny Trejo, and reviewed classic animation and new theatrical releases on disc.
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