 | |
List Price: $44.99 | | Label: Shout! Factory
Salesrank: 7339
Released: March 20, 2007 |
| Our Price: $23.37 |
| Used Price: $17.99 |
|
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
From 1962 to 1966,McHale s Navy was the ABC networks must-see comedy series. With an amazing cast, including Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine (Lt. Commander McHale), comic genius Tim Conway (Ensign Parker), the one-of-a-kind comic talent of Joe Flynn (Captain Binghamton) this series remains second only to M*A*S*H as a truly funny military sitcom.
Veteran seaman Quinton McHale is commissioned into the Navy Reserve at the start of WWII. He becomes Skipper of the Torpedo Patrol (PT) Boat #73 stationed on the island of Taratupa in the Pacific. Assigned to his command are six free-spirited, good-hearted swabbies who love to have fun. McHale and his men are constant irritants to their base commander, Captain Wallace B. Binghamton. Binghamton is forever trying to find a way to get rid of McHale and his rule-bending crew, while McHale & Co. are forever scheming to keep him from succeeding. Despite their hilarious party-boy shenanigans and utter disregard for Navy regulations, when duty calls, the crew of PT 73 does its job and does it well.
With its talented stars, great writing and solid supporting cast, including Gavin McLeod (Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Love Boat), McHale s Navy is classic television at its finest and funniest.
Bonus Features:
* The Crew Reunion Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway, Carl Ballantine, Bob Hastings and Edson Stroll reunite and share their memories of the show.
* A special Colorized episode.
Description of McHale's Navy - Season One:
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 One Reviews:
McHale's Navy DVD is a clear winner! 
2009-07-19 - Bravo! Cheers! I am completely happy with the McHale's Navy Season One DVD set. The video quality is superb, the audio is as clear as a bell. The original music is there too (unlike some other DVD manufacturuers who, for some incredibly dumb reason, change the original music on other classic series).
If you're a fan of Ernest Borgnine, Tim Conway and the late, great Joe Flynn, this set is for you. I am so impressed with the quality that I ordered season two as well. I give the men a well done!
One of the best comedies of that or any era
2009-06-26 - McHale's Navy season 1 has 36 episodes, which immediately makes it a bargain. most television shows only have around 25 episodes per season for the price. I won't give anything away about the show, but say if you like F Troop, Hogan's Heroes, and/or Sgt. Bilgo (The Phil Silvers Show), you'll want to add McHale's Navy to the mix. Tim Conway, Ernest Borgnine, and Joe Flynn are one of the funniest trio's ever on TV.
A classic sitcom released on DVD
2009-06-24 - I used to watch McHale's Navy as a kid and it is as hilarious now as it was then. The greatest part about having it on DVD is that I get a chance to see all of the episodes including the ones I missed or didn't remember. I've always enjoyed the exploits of McHale's crew as they thwart of efforts of their scheming commanding officer Capt. Binghamton (Ol' Lead Bottom)to have them transferred or sent to the brig. This set is a must for those who remember how humorous sitcoms used to be. McHale's Navy is a milestone from the golden age of comedy that has been long since gone.
Good Job
2009-04-22 - The DVD arrived on just in time for the birthday and it was a hit.
Mchale And The Gang Are Back
2009-03-09 - Watching this dvd reminds me and brings back lots of memories of 1960s T.V. Lt.Quinten Mchale,Ensign Parker, LeadBottom, Groober,they are all here. So take a trip down MEMORY LANE and enjoy this great series with the crew of PT 73.
