Mcdonald, Frank

Get Smart - Season 1

McHale's Navy - Season One

The misadventures of a misfit PT Boat crew during World War II.These are the adventures of the misfit crew of PT-73 during World War II. They're one of the best fighting crews in the Navy but break regulations when it suits them. Their commander LCDR McHale is at times as roguish as his crew but he puts his foot down when things go too far. They are assigned an XO Ensign Parker who is by-the-book but too much of a klutz to command too much respect. They have a house-boy Fuji who deserted the Japanese Navy who wears a POW outfit just in case he's caught so he won't be shot at. Their nemesis is CAPT Binghamton and his aide LT Carpenter. They're initially stationed in the South Pacific but move to Italy in the last season.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: UNRATED UPC: 826663104189 Manufacturer No: D5D10418

Something of a cross between M*A*S*H* (it's set in wartime) and Sgt. Bilko (the emphasis in on ensemble acting, with a ringleader and his band of merry pranksters), McHale's Navy isn't on a level with those two immortal sit-coms. But this amiable show, debuting on DVD with all 36 black & white episodes from its first season (1962-63) on five discs, stands the test of time surprisingly well. Not that there's any important new comedic ground broken here. These half-hour episodes are pretty much all about the same thing: Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale (the always reliable Ernest Borgnine), skipper of Navy PT boat #73, and his crew are stationed "somewhere in the South Pacific, 1943." They're capable sailors, engaging the Japanese enemy when duty occasionally calls, but most of the time they hang out on their own private island and have a good time--much to the chagrin of their blustery commander, Capt. Wallace Binghamton (Joe Flynn), who's constantly trying to rid himself of the regulation-defying McHale and his fun-loving band of miscreants. In that respect, McHale's Navy is much like Bilko. But unlike the latter show's brilliant Phil Silvers, Borgnine isn't really a comedian; with his unmistakable cackle, the actor's McHale, while not above taking part in a good-natured prank, is a less a Bilko-esque con artist than a regular guy, a kind of cheer- and ringleader intent on looking after his boys. The real laughmeisters on this show are Tim Conway, who brings his whole bag of shticks to the role of the bumbling Ensign Charles Parker, and Flynn, who's consistently hilarious. Among the crew, Carl Ballantine stands out as fast-talking Brooklyn native Lester Gruber; TV lovers will also recognize Gavin MacLeod in his first extended TV role before moving on to The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat.

It's always a bit strange to see war scenes played for laughs--the Pacific Theater in World War II was hardly comedy central, after all. But they are pretty funny. And while the Japanese characters are treated fairly stereotypically, it could have been a lot worse, considering the show's pre-political correctness provenance; hell, many of the roles are actually played by Japanese actors, which was not a given (then or now), and in one episode ("Movies Are Your Best Diversion"), they speak un-subtitled Japanese. Fact is, McHale's Navy is just too mild and good-natured to offend anyone. The sole bonus feature is a dull reunion interview with Borgnine, Parker, and some other cast members.--Sam Graham

McHale's Navy - Season Two

From Quinton McHale's first onscreen appearance on a pair of water skis 1960s audiences knew the hero of the title wasn't a typical navy officer. Set in World War II this military sitcom features a band of unlikely shipmen led by McHale (Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine MARTY) that were more at war with their staid superiors than with the Axis powers. In addition to moonshine makers and skirt chasers this motley crew features a con man and a Japanese deserter. Borgnine is supported by a stellar cast including comedic luminaries Tim Conway (THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW) Gavin McLeod (THE LOVE BOAT) and Joe Flynn (BATMAN). This collection presents the classic sitcom's second season in its entirety.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 826663105742 Manufacturer No: SF10574

The ever-popular Ernest Borgnine, one of the all-time great "regular guy" stars, anchored McHale's Navy, a cheerful, rambunctious '60s sitcom set in the South Pacific during World War II. By its second season, the show had perfected its formula (a formula already lifted wholesale from The Phil Silvers Show): Lt. Commander McHale (Borgnine) and the scrappy crew of his PT boat (including Tim Conway, later of The Carol Burnett Show, as bumbling Ensign Parker and Gavin MacLeod, later to helm The Love Boat, as seaman "Happy" Haines) scheme, swindle, and romance their way through the war, avoiding the enemy whenever possible, and making life miserable for their petty, tyrannical commanding officer, Capt. Binghamton (Joe Flynn, later to appear in numerous Disney live-action movies like The Love Bug and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes). Though some episodes reflected real world issues of the 1960s (for example, Ensign Parker feels less of a man when a pretty nurse turns out to be better than him at pretty much everything), by and large the show existed in a bubble of slapstick and classic vaudeville schtick--and the show's fans wouldn't want it any other way. Despite the backdrop of WWII, McHale's Navy aimed young. McHale and his crew are basically a gang of rascally kids getting away with pranks and defying the adult authority figures around them. Though the guys routinely pursue nurses, their "dates" amount to little more than stolen kisses and light petting--compared to the leering Hogan's Heroes, McHale's Navy is strangely prepubescent. Of course, this innocence is much of the show's charm, and makes the occasional Asian and Pacific Islander stereotypes a little easier to take (though it's worth noting that the Japanese characters on the show were always played by Japanese actors, something not common at the time). In addition to the original 36 episodes aired in 1963-64, McHale's Navy: Season Two features brief interviews with Borgnine and Conway (regrettably, Flynn died in 1974). The fairly bland Borgnine interview has at least one good anecdote, but the Conway interview is charming throughout. --Bret Fetzer

McHale's Navy: Season Three

ALL 36 EPISODES FROM THE THIRD SEASON STARRING ERNEST BORGNINE TIM CONWAY AND JOE FLYNN Lieutenant Commander Quinton McHale Ernest Borgnine Ensign Parker Tim Conway and the rest of the misfit crew of PT73 are back in action on the Taratupa Island Naval Base setting sail for 36 more adventures in hilarity. From 1962 through 1966 McHale s Navy was a mustsee staple of ABC television. By the show s third year on the air the nowfamiliar crew had become a classic embodiment of American culture an unforgettable gang of funloving guys who were constantly at odds with authority. System Requirements:Running Time: 900 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: G UPC: 826663107203 Manufacturer No: SF10720

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp - From Ellsworth to Tombstone

The most celebrated lawman of the Old West rides again in this first-ever collection of thrilling episodes from the popular TV series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. Hugh O'Brian stars as the famed marshal whose exploits with Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, and the Clanton Gang are boldly brought to life in episodes based on actual events. With his signature "Buntline Special" in hand, Wyatt Earp held posts in a series of increasingly lawless towns and battled dangerous men in his efforts to keep the peace. Through Ellsworth, Wichita, Dodge City, and Tombstone, Earp's reputation as a just and formidable marshal grew, culminating in a storied gunfight that would seal his legend.

Gene Autry Collection, Cowboy Kid Mary Lee, Vol. 3

This special collection includes: Back In The Saddle; Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride; Rancho Grande and Melody Ranch

Back In The Saddle: Dust off your best cowboy hat and polish up your spurs as America's first and favorite singing cowboy gallops across the silver screen into your living room. Gene Autry, star of radio, records, film, TV and rodeo, invented the musical Western, capturing America's hearts as a guitar-slinging, song-singing, six gun-toting good guy. Riding Champion, the World's Wonder Horse, Autry became a beloved American hero whose popularity remains strong today. Now, for the first time on DVD, Gene Autry's rollicking big screen adventures and unforgettable tunes are brought home in these Western classics fully restored and uncut from Autry's personal film archives. When pollution from a nearby copper mine poisons hundreds of cattle, two-fisted ranch foreman Autry faces a heap of trouble from all sides. Features Gene's signature song and his lovable sidekick, Smiley Burnette.

Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride:Cowboy Gene Autry inherits the Belmont Packing Company and the management duties that come with it. When a rival company owned by a pretty socialite plots to force Gene to sell, a feud soon ensues between the lady, who uses her womanly wiles to take business from Gene, and the cowboy who tries to recover by using old-time rally methods, including parades and bands.

Rancho Grande: Gene Autry is the foreman of a ranch mortgaged to the hilt with a fast approaching deadline to build a dam. When the owner dies and leaves the Rancho Grande to his three madcap grandchildren, Gene must straighten out the rebellious young folks and make them work to pay off the debt and foil the villains. It will take brawn, brains, and of course a few songs, to uncover the secret plot to take over Rancho Grande.

Melody Ranch:Lawlessness runs rampant in Gene's hometown of Torpedo until the movie and radio cowboy returns as Honorary Sheriff for a Frontier Days celebration and cleans up the town! Featuring Jimmy Durante, Ann Miller, and such classics like "We Never Dream the Same Dream Twice" and the title song, this musical was Gene's biggest theatrical production upon its release and remains one of his best-remembered big screen journeys!

Joe E. Brown Comedy Collector's Set

This collection of films starring Joe E. Brown is one for all who enjoy easy-going, lighthearted humor. On Disc One, The Gladiator, (1938) Hugo Kipp (Brown) is a nerdy type college student who is injected with a super-serum by a mad scientist (Lucien Littlefield). The result causes the normally unathletic Brown to be quite the campus stud who catches the attention of pretty coed Iris Bennett (June Travis). Plus, Wide Open Faces (1938) A fortune has been stolen and every thug in town is looking for it. They all end up staying at a young woman's inn. The crooks all end up jailed thanks to the effort of a naive fountaineer (Brown). On Disc Two, Flirting with Fate, (1938) Dixon (Joe E. Brown), the manager of a third-rate vaudeville cast stranded in a South American country. Penniless, Dixon comes up with a plan to finance the actors' trip home: he'll take out a huge life insurance policy, and then arrange to get himself killed by bandit chieftain Sancho (Leo Carrillo). Plus, Earthworm Tractors, (1936) Alexander Botts (Brown) is a fast-talking salesman who really knows nothing about tractors, trying to push the big sale on the grumpy, unconvincing lumberman Johnson. The sell is not easy, but Botts pushes on with the help of Johnson's daughter. Bonus Features: Trailers| Actors Bios| "Fractured Flickers" Sampler. Specs: 2-DVD9s; Dolby Digital; 274 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - NR; Year - 1936-1938; SRP - $19.99.

Gene Autry: Twilight on Rio Grande (New Version)

Gene Autry saddles up for Mexico in a fabulous fiesta of flying fists and sparkling songs the way only Gene can swing 'em and sing 'em. When his partner is killed Gene finds himself in a border town where he must solve the murder and round up a gang of border smugglers. A beautiful Cantina singer sidekick Pokie the Cass County Boys and Champion Jr. are along for the ride in this film full of hell-for-leather action of a western combined with a thrill-packed whodunit.System Requirements:Running Time: 71 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: WESTERN/CLASSICS Rating: NR UPC: 014381447828 Manufacturer No: ID4478UQDVD

Gene Autry Collection - Texans Never Cry

When Texas Ranger Gene Autry saves a family from eviction, he discovers that their money was used to purchase counterfeit Mexican lottery tickets. Gene is then on a do-or-die mission for Texas and Mexico as he tracks down the ring of counterfeiters.

Happy Trails Theatre: Sunset in el Dorado