Meet The Flintstones in this prehistoric Hanna-Barbera production. Primetime's first animated series was also the longest running until The Simpsons came along. Not so coincidentally, the two shows aren't all that different--even if the former emerged in the sixties, the latter in the eighties. Fred (Alan Reed), patriarch of the cave-dwelling clan, may be marginally more intelligent than the similarly blue collar Homer, but most storylines still revolve around his more dunderheaded moves. Fortunately, wife Wilma (Jean Vander Pyl) and Barney (Mel Blanc) and Betty Rubble (Bea Benaderet), their neighbors, are usually able to set things right. That was also true for Ralph Cramden of The Honeymooners , a direct influence (Reed even sounds like Jackie Gleason). But Ralph didn't have a pet dinosaur and he did live in the Modern Age--if you can call the fifties "modern"--rather than the Stone Age. This long-awaited DVD set includes all 28 episodes of the first season, including the lost Flagstones pilot. Notable segments include "Hot Lips Hannigan"--one of several riffs on beatnik culture--in which Fred, aka "The Velvet Smog," sings and Barney beats the traps and "The Creature From the Tar Pits," in which Fred fills in as Gary Granite's stunt double in a Bedrock-set horror flick. The Flintstones 's first season introduced two timeless couples from another time. Its success led to a theatrical release, two live-action features, and countless specials and spin-offs. New viewers may be surprised to find that Dino doesn't make his official entrance until episode 18 ("The Snorkasaurus Story"), that Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm aren't in the first season at all, and that the famous theme won't hit the airwaves until the third (replacing instrumental "Rise and Shine"). Those quirky quotes, however, were in effect from the start: "Wiiilmaaaaaaa!," "Droll, very droll" and, especially, "Yabba-dabba-doo!!!" --Kathleen C. Fennessy Flintstones, The: The Complete First Season (DVD) Join the fun in the town of Bedrock with the this fabulously famous modern Stone-Age family. Mowing the lawn with a saw-toothed dinosaur, showering with water sprayed from a woolly mammoth's trunk and eating brontosaurus burgers are everyday events for the lovable Fred and Wilma Flintstone and their friends Barney and Betty Rubble. Living in prehistoric times has its drawbacks, but the Flintstones and their neighbors survive in style. So have a yabba-dabba-doo time with the The Flintstones. Review: I YABBA-DABBA-DO LIKE THIS COMPILATION! - I have been a big fan of the Flintstones since watching their episodes first-run in the early 60's on ABC when I was a small child and have been an avid watcher since. Happily, this DVD set does not disappoint! Not only does it include all 28 episodes from the first season, but it also includes some vintage commercials that were run during that first season(ones that I vaguely remember), as well as the original, original pilot when it was still called "The Flagstones." The other extras are worth seeing as well, including the history of "The Flintstones." Taking "The Honeymooners" premise and putting it in a stone-age setting, "The Flintstones" pokes fun at suburban life in the early 1960's. Even though one reviewer complained that they didn't remember Fred's behavior being so boorish, nor of him & Barney fighting so much or lying to their wives, just remember that this cartoon series was originally geared toward ADULTS (especially considering that three of their earliest sponsors were One-A-Day, Alka-Seltzer and Winston Cigarettes!). This also harkened back to an earlier time when life was simpler and people could laugh at themselves more easily. And, no, the "adult" plot lines did not affect me as a kid -- I just enjoyed watching the goofy-looking characters, clever sight gags, stone-age contraptions and slapstick humor! Even though the drawings may look a bit cruder than those in the later seasons, the animation itself was more fluid and stylized, and less stilted than in the later seasons, and the timing, as always, was impeccable. Notice Fred's overly expressive face, his and Barney's eyes bugging out upon discovering they have been drafted to the army for a 3-year term in "The Astra'Nuts," the tuba player in the orchestra pit in "The Flintstones Flyer," Perry Gunnite's "strut" in "Love Letters on the Rocks," or Left-Foot Charlie's "dancing" with Wilma in "The Golf Champion." And who of us could forget Fred & the 4 cops -- with Barney at the piano -- singing the William Tell rendition of "Happy Anniversary" in "The Hot Piano"? Probably the biggest thrill for me -- much to the dismay of other reviewers -- was seeing the ORIGINAL ("Rise and Shine" instrumental) leader and trailer that was used for the first 2 seasons after more than 40 years! (For those of you who grew up with the syndicated versions of "The Flintstones," the "Meet the Flintstones" theme actually didn't appear until Season 3!) I hadn't seen nor heard the original instrumental theme since I was 7 years old, but I vividly remembered seeing all the lights in the neighborhood turning back on when Fred was banging on the door and yelling "WIL-MA!!" But whenever I mentioned there being a different leader and trailer than "Meet the Flintstones," people looked at me as if I were crazy! What a kick it was to see it again after all these years -- and feeling vindicated at the same time! I Yabba-Dabba-Do recommend buying this DVD set. You'll have a "gay old time"! Review: Perfect Yabba Dabba Doo fun!!! - I received my DVD set last Friday, and within 30 minutes was watching the first episode. This was a true classic in it's time. It really is amazing that this is from 1960. It could be from last week. Well, with one major difference. 100% less crudeness. Compared to today's, and even "yesterday's" current animated shows, this one is heads and shoulders above it's competition. I watch this show with my young, under 10 kids, with no fear of them being offended, or grossed out. I love the very start of this show, it's looseness, and care-free funny nature. One thing, I notice already is it's old fashioned-ness. The show is supposed to be back in the 60's, when young men and women married young, and because "settled" at a young age. Fred seems "old" to me in today's terms. He seems settled, but he doesn't even have any kids yet, in this first season. Pebbles shows up later, around 3rd season. If this were modern times, we would have seen Fred and Barney take a trek to a strip club, perhaps called: "Flint Brothers' O'Farrell Theater." Something racy like that. I really love the sound effects. When Fred bowls, and runs toward the bowling alley, on his toes, we hear this adorable little scampering sound on a keyboard, to make the sound effect of his "toes running." The Flintstones is filled with these little treasure treats. I recommend it highly for any fan of good television, animated sorts, or clever humor. Very nice. MC White said: Two thumbs way up!!!
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,752 Reviews |
C**G
I YABBA-DABBA-DO LIKE THIS COMPILATION!
I have been a big fan of the Flintstones since watching their episodes first-run in the early 60's on ABC when I was a small child and have been an avid watcher since. Happily, this DVD set does not disappoint! Not only does it include all 28 episodes from the first season, but it also includes some vintage commercials that were run during that first season(ones that I vaguely remember), as well as the original, original pilot when it was still called "The Flagstones." The other extras are worth seeing as well, including the history of "The Flintstones." Taking "The Honeymooners" premise and putting it in a stone-age setting, "The Flintstones" pokes fun at suburban life in the early 1960's. Even though one reviewer complained that they didn't remember Fred's behavior being so boorish, nor of him & Barney fighting so much or lying to their wives, just remember that this cartoon series was originally geared toward ADULTS (especially considering that three of their earliest sponsors were One-A-Day, Alka-Seltzer and Winston Cigarettes!). This also harkened back to an earlier time when life was simpler and people could laugh at themselves more easily. And, no, the "adult" plot lines did not affect me as a kid -- I just enjoyed watching the goofy-looking characters, clever sight gags, stone-age contraptions and slapstick humor! Even though the drawings may look a bit cruder than those in the later seasons, the animation itself was more fluid and stylized, and less stilted than in the later seasons, and the timing, as always, was impeccable. Notice Fred's overly expressive face, his and Barney's eyes bugging out upon discovering they have been drafted to the army for a 3-year term in "The Astra'Nuts," the tuba player in the orchestra pit in "The Flintstones Flyer," Perry Gunnite's "strut" in "Love Letters on the Rocks," or Left-Foot Charlie's "dancing" with Wilma in "The Golf Champion." And who of us could forget Fred & the 4 cops -- with Barney at the piano -- singing the William Tell rendition of "Happy Anniversary" in "The Hot Piano"? Probably the biggest thrill for me -- much to the dismay of other reviewers -- was seeing the ORIGINAL ("Rise and Shine" instrumental) leader and trailer that was used for the first 2 seasons after more than 40 years! (For those of you who grew up with the syndicated versions of "The Flintstones," the "Meet the Flintstones" theme actually didn't appear until Season 3!) I hadn't seen nor heard the original instrumental theme since I was 7 years old, but I vividly remembered seeing all the lights in the neighborhood turning back on when Fred was banging on the door and yelling "WIL-MA!!" But whenever I mentioned there being a different leader and trailer than "Meet the Flintstones," people looked at me as if I were crazy! What a kick it was to see it again after all these years -- and feeling vindicated at the same time! I Yabba-Dabba-Do recommend buying this DVD set. You'll have a "gay old time"!
D**9
Perfect Yabba Dabba Doo fun!!!
I received my DVD set last Friday, and within 30 minutes was watching the first episode. This was a true classic in it's time. It really is amazing that this is from 1960. It could be from last week. Well, with one major difference. 100% less crudeness. Compared to today's, and even "yesterday's" current animated shows, this one is heads and shoulders above it's competition. I watch this show with my young, under 10 kids, with no fear of them being offended, or grossed out. I love the very start of this show, it's looseness, and care-free funny nature. One thing, I notice already is it's old fashioned-ness. The show is supposed to be back in the 60's, when young men and women married young, and because "settled" at a young age. Fred seems "old" to me in today's terms. He seems settled, but he doesn't even have any kids yet, in this first season. Pebbles shows up later, around 3rd season. If this were modern times, we would have seen Fred and Barney take a trek to a strip club, perhaps called: "Flint Brothers' O'Farrell Theater." Something racy like that. I really love the sound effects. When Fred bowls, and runs toward the bowling alley, on his toes, we hear this adorable little scampering sound on a keyboard, to make the sound effect of his "toes running." The Flintstones is filled with these little treasure treats. I recommend it highly for any fan of good television, animated sorts, or clever humor. Very nice. MC White said: Two thumbs way up!!!
W**1
BEDROCK'S TWO MOST FUNNIEST FAMILIES!
I have wanted to get this Collection for a while and after reading the reviews, I decided to go for the individual Seasons, and when I noticed the Price drop...well I did not think twice. I really like each year to be in a separate box, much better Packaging, and no problems getting the DVDs in and out of the box, no scratches, The Flintstones Season one has 28 Episodes in 4 DVDs with Special Features, All about the Flintstones, Wacky Inventions, Early TV Commercials the Studio and the people who worked on the Series, Trailers and so much more, all very interesting I particularly like all the colorful Drawings all over each box, they are Cool. Considering the shows were done in the 60's they are beautifully restored and look so good, so Crisp and with a Great Sound; Since this is the First Season every Episode has that Old Big Band Music Theme Song which is very similar to the new one the difference between them, in the First and Second Season it's only Instrumental, and in Season Three that's when they start to sing the old Familiar Song, I Posted the lyrics in Season Three, Each Episode is Entertaining and Fun to watch, even the story lines are much better than many Cartoons now days. The Flintstones and the Rubbles are Bedrock's two Families with a lot of Prehistoric Fun! Thank You
G**Y
So fun to watch a classic from our childhood with our kiddos! Wow how the show evolved, too!
It is such a blast to revisit our childhood with our own children and enjoy the classics...The Flintstones has been an enjoyable throwback for us and our kids love a great "drive-in" movie night where we put down a picnic blanket and watch a couple of Flintstones episodes while we have dinner. It was funny to see Dino in various colors as they tried to figure him out..and the opening song was completely different (not just for the Pilot!)...so many things that my husband and I had forgotten! Still, even many many moons later (ha ha) we chuckle at the creative explanations the writers came up with for how to make various modern gadgets work in the "prehistoric" Flintstone era. While many people might consider it a misogynistic show, I think it is imperative to point out that while Wilma and Betty stayed home and worked hard for their ungrateful husbands...they are the smarter characters on the show! ha ha! They are a prehistoric version of the classic 1950's-60's housewives..always looking well coiffed and adorable in their dresses and pearls/choker...and you can see who REALLY runs the show. I'm a stay at home mom and former CEO and I am not offended by how they are portrayed. ;-)
J**W
When you watch the Flintstones….
Family film fun for everyone. Love this real life character trip to Bedrock. A lightheaded movie to watch with kids that spans all generations of the Flintstones.
M**R
I'm gonna say this is a good quality disc
I'm gonna say this is a good quality disc, However, it is the first season so I think they made a few changes. I personally don't remember this but for hard core Flinstone fans this is gonna be good. Me I wanted the popular opening and characters. Barney's voice, for example, is not the same as in the later episodes. I'm not sure which one to buy now. I'll try season 2 and see if I'm complete then.
H**G
"WiillMAAAA!"
I knew I had great memories of this series for a reason. I can remember watching this series in prime time when I was a kid with my parents, and all of us laughing. I think it is difficult now, after the glorious onslaught of great prime time animation like the Simpsons and Family Guy, to appreciate what a revolutionary show the Flintstones was. These 28 episodes aired in 1959-60, and the concept of airing an animated situation comedy for adults was pure lunacy - not to mention that the show was set in the Stone Age. I can only imagine the blank stares or nervous sideways-glances cartoon geniuses William Hanna and Joe Barbera must have gotten in television's executive boardrooms. Luckily, sometimes cream really does rise to the surface. All I can say is if you are a baby-boomer like me, watching the first season of this classic series is a pure pleasure. Not to wax nostalgic, but man - what a great rush. The writing on this series was always sharp with a hip edge (not quite as caustically brilliant as the Bullwinkle Show, but more warm and human). The vocal talent was unbelievable. I can remember feeling as a boy that the gentle yet sometimes sarcastic voice of Wilma (Jean Vander Pyl) and the sweet, bubbly voice of Betty (Bea Benaderet) were somehow the template for how adult women sounded and talked. And somehow whenever Barney spoke, it was funny, for which we can credit the acting prowess of Mel Blanc. Finally, as with all the currently released Hanna/Barbera DVD sets, these cartoons look fantastic. The colors are brilliant and the sound is beautiful (remember that fantastic sound Barney always made when chomping into a pterodactyl drumstick or sandwich?). If you were too young to catch this series the first time around, do yourself a favor and meet the Flintstones. They're a modern, Stone Age family and they live right down the street. All in all, a real gift on DVD. --- Mykal Banta
R**A
good - better - Flintstones!
Finally got this DVD and from the minute I watched the first episode I immediatly loved it. The colors are crisp, bright and sharp (I wonder if they enhanced them or is a broadcast making them look bad?) and although the sound is in mono it still sounds good. Besides that, they kept the intros and outros to every episode and there's even a snippet of every cartoon just before the one you selected starts to play. People are complaining about the lack of certain extras... well... even one bonus film is already an extra. You buy this set for the 28 episodes and not for the bonus stuff, so having all the commercials or the pilot shot is just a nice filler. When they weren't on the last disc I might not even miss them. Anyway, I love this set and I expect to see more volumes some day (why else would they put a number '1' on the side of the packaging?). Keep it coming!
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