Question Dick Van Dyke show DVD vs Blu ray set (1 Viewer)

[morasp]

Does anyone know if the “remastered from 35mm negatives” 2015 Dick Van Dyke DVD set is the same remaster as the three year older 2012 Blu ray set?

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[LeoA]

I only own the original complete series DVD set and the Blu-Ray successor, so this isn't 1st hand confirmation of what you're seeking an answer for. But the press release at the time stressed that these were the same transfers from the original 35 mm negatives as those used for the earlier Blu-Ray set, so it should be a safe bet (The older transfers were a generation removed from the negatives, as I recall).

Going off on a bit of a tangent, I wonder if those "episodes-only" DVD season set rereleases from 2014 that appeared after the Blu-Ray's (but before this complete series DVD reissue followed the next year), actually were only the episodes themselves with no bonus content? Their thinking was that the people buying this were only doing so to upgrade and would still have the old DVD's on hand if they wanted to view the extras that largely didn't see an upgrade.

But the press release for the compete series set from 2015 makes it clear that these discs are also the remastered versions, yet with all the extras included. So if the 2014 standalone season set reissues really were lacking all bonus content, that means they had to re-encode everything for the 2015 release.

Doesn't make much sense, especially since the standalone season set reissues still are 5 discs per season which has been the standard for this series on DVD. Why leave the extensive selection of extras off if it isn't going to enable you to drop the disc count from 5 discs to 4?

 

[morasp]

I only own the original complete series DVD set and the Blu-Ray successor, so this isn't 1st hand confirmation of what you're seeking an answer for. But the press release at the time stressed that these were the same transfers from the original 35 mm negatives as those used for the earlier Blu-Ray set, so it should be a safe bet (The older transfers were a generation removed from the negatives, as I recall).

Going off on a bit of a tangent, I wonder if those "episodes-only" DVD season set rereleases from 2014 that appeared after the Blu-Ray's (but before this complete series DVD reissue followed the next year), actually were only the episodes themselves with no bonus content? Their thinking was that the people buying this were only doing so to upgrade and would still have the old DVD's on hand if they wanted to view the extras that largely didn't see an upgrade.

But the press release for the compete series set from 2015 makes it clear that these discs are also the remastered versions, yet with all the extras included. So if the 2014 standalone season set reissues really were lacking all bonus content, that means they had to re-encode everything for the 2015 release.

Doesn't make much sense, especially since the standalone season set reissues still are 5 discs per season which has been the standard for this series on DVD. Why leave the extensive selection of extras off if it isn't going to enable you to drop the disc count from 5 discs to 4?

Thanks, how does the Blu ray set look? The HD episodes on Hulu were very good until they dropped most of them.

 

[Regulus]

Thanks, how does the Blu ray set look? The HD episodes on Hulu were very good until they dropped most of them.

The episodes I've seen are in excellent condition! When I purchased this set it only cost about 1/2 what the DVD set costs. What a bargain!

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I only have the Blu-ray set but I am extremely satisfied with it. In a word: perfection.

 

[BobO'Link]

The episodes I've seen are in excellent condition! When I purchased this set it only cost about 1/2 what the DVD set costs. What a bargain!

I still had S1 & S2 unopened from Sams when I got the BR complete series for ~$45. I quickly returned them and got back almost enough to pay for the full series upgrade!

 

[warnerbro]

The blu ray set looks stunning -- a definite upgrade from DVD.

 

[morasp]

The blu ray set looks stunning -- a definite upgrade from DVD.

Did you compare them to the 2015 DVDs or the older ones?

 

[warnerbro]

Yes, I had the original DVDs. And Amazon had the whole set for a dirt-cheap price for a long time. It's a steal. Grab it while you can because the ones they have on Netflix are not as good. Amazon had the whole bluray series for as low as 30 bucks at one point. Now you can buy individual seasons or the whole thing.

 

[morasp]

Yes, I had the original DVDs. And Amazon had the whole set for a dirt-cheap price for a long time. It's a steal. Grab it while you can because the ones they have on Netflix are not as good. Amazon had the whole bluray series for as low as 30 bucks at one point. Now you can buy individual seasons or the whole thing.

It looks like it's really gone up. I was happy with Hulu until they dropped seasons 2-5. Guess I'll just suffer through with Netflix for 2-5 until the price comes down.

 

[warnerbro]

It was originally 300 bucks, then it went down to 150, then for a long time it was 30! Now it's back over 100 bucks. So keep an eye on it and grab it when it goes back down. It probably will.

 

[LeoA]

I'm not sure it will go back down. Probably supply is finally starting to dry up a bit.

I'm not sure how many potential sales are left here, but maybe CBS will reissue it like they did with The Twilight Zone.

 

[warnerbro]

They are starting to release individual episodes in HD colorized so I guess there is continued interest. I'm waiting for the rest of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW and I LOVE LUCY seasons. They are breathtaking in the blu-ray sets. The quality of THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW episodes on blu-ray are also like nothing I have seen anywhere else.

 

[Garysb]

A 60th Anniversary Documentary of the Dick Van Dyke Show I found on Youtube.

 

[Harry-N]

^I just stumbled onto that yesterday. Quite enjoyable.

 

[Harry-N]

This comment applies mostly to the syndicated broadcast version of THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW as it is currently being run on the Catchy Comedies channel and MeTV.

These run for one hour (two episodes) on Catchy at 10 PM eastern, and MeTV Sundays at 11 PM eastern.

As I sometimes put these on as I'm heading off to sleep, something's been bugging me. The closing theme doesn't seem right. I believe that Paul Brownstein productions has edited the closing theme and shortened the credits. It seems that every night, I hear the theme start at the proper speed and then it jumps to a later section.

When I get out my DVD or Blu-ray sets, or even watch on Pluto or Tubi or FreeVee (this show is streaming everywhere!), the theme is correct and the credits run their normal length.

I certainly understand why - the shorter they make any part of the show, the more commercial time they can squeeze in.

I come at this factoid because music has always been an important part of my life. There have been many shows that I never watched, but I still paid attention to the opening and/or closing themes. An example is PERRY MASON. I was never into that legal show back in the day, but the theme is indelibly printed on my brain. So when I hear the Van Dyke show theme sort of chopped up, it bothers me a little bit. (I know, stop being lazy and watch your DVD and Blu-ray discs, Harry!)

It's just something I noticed and wanted to report to maybe some like-minded folks. If you're the "Skip Credits" type, just move along, nothing to see here.

 

[Todd_Z]

The episodes on MeTV and Catchy (both running the same as they are owned by the same companies) are edited down for broadcast length and most run around 22:05 versus the 25:00 plus of their original length. The closing credits definitely appear to have been time compressed to shave some time off of the show. Really a shame someone hasn't started a classic tv station running shows at their uncut length. At least we have physical media releases (in most but not all cases) we can rely on for that.

 

[Wiseguy]

This comment applies mostly to the syndicated broadcast version of THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW as it is currently being run on the Catchy Comedies channel and MeTV.

These run for one hour (two episodes) on Catchy at 10 PM eastern, and MeTV Sundays at 11 PM eastern.

As I sometimes put these on as I'm heading off to sleep, something's been bugging me. The closing theme doesn't seem right. I believe that Paul Brownstein productions has edited the closing theme and shortened the credits. It seems that every night, I hear the theme start at the proper speed and then it jumps to a later section.

When I get out my DVD or Blu-ray sets, or even watch on Pluto or Tubi or FreeVee (this show is streaming everywhere!), the theme is correct and the credits run their normal length.

I certainly understand why - the shorter they make any part of the show, the more commercial time they can squeeze in.

I come at this factoid because music has always been an important part of my life. There have been many shows that I never watched, but I still paid attention to the opening and/or closing themes. An example is PERRY MASON. I was never into that legal show back in the day, but the theme is indelibly printed on my brain. So when I hear the Van Dyke show theme sort of chopped up, it bothers me a little bit. (I know, stop being lazy and watch your DVD and Blu-ray discs, Harry!)

It's just something I noticed and wanted to report to maybe some like-minded folks. If you're the "Skip Credits" type, just move along, nothing to see here.

I also don't like the changes to The Honeymooners closing theme and the shortening of the Star Trek closing music. And not to beat a dead horse but syndication is sales of series to local stations not networks like MeTV who often show different versions of episodes, still edited but with original full length openings and tags that weren't seen in reruns in syndication, which today Is mostly game shows, judge shows, entertainment news shows with only a few reruns, mostly recent sitcoms. "Syndication," as it Is mostly used is a term that needs to be retired.

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[Harry-N]

I also don't like the changes to The Honeymooners closing theme and the shortening of the Star Trek closing music. And not to beat a dead horse but syndication is sales of series to local stations not networks like MeTV who often show different versions of episodes, still edited but with original full length openings and tags that weren't seen in reruns in syndication, which today Is mostly game shows, judge shows, entertainment news shows with only a few reruns, mostly recent sitcoms. "Syndication," as it Is mostly used is a term that needs to be retired.

I was about to add that yes, the STAR TREK theme is also shortened on H&I and MeTV. What's amazing to me about all of these is the idea that shaving a few seconds would make that much difference. Still, I think I prefer this to the butchery that Antenna TV and cable channels do by reducing the credits to a small screen while the next show is starting in another window. I really HATE that.

So sorry that I used the term "syndication" in a manner that offended you enough to beat a dead horse...

 

[Dan McW]

Isn't the trombone solo in Gomer Pyle's closing credits sometimes edited out?