Stars:
Red Foxx and Demond Wilson
Disc
One Episodes: “Crossed Swords,” “Happy Birthday, Pop,” “Here Comes The
Bride,” “There Goes The Bride,” “The Copper Caper,” “A Matter Of
Life And Breath,” “We Were Robbed,” “A Pad For Lamont”
Disc
Two Episodes: “The Great Sanford Siege,” “Coffins For Sale,” “The
Barracuda,” “TV Or Not TV,” “The Suitcase Case,” “Return Of The
Barracuda,” “The Piano Movers”
Writers:
Aaron Ruben, Everett Greenbaum, and Jim Fritzell
Based
On “Steptoe And Son” Created By: Ray Galton and Alan Simpson
Directors:
Bud Yorkin, George Tyne, Coby Ruskin, Bob Lahendro, Peter Baldwin, Charles S.
Dubin, and Everett Greenbaum
Executive
Producers: Bud Yorkin (A Bud Yorkin Norman Leer Tandem Production)
Approximate
Episode Lengths: 26 Minutes Each/ Approximate Total Length: 364 Minutes
Languages:
English Monaural
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Gatefold Within A Glossy Cardboard Slipcase
Number
Of Episodes: 14
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Television Broadcast: 1971-1972/DVD Release: 2002
Home
Video Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
It
seems like every classic sitcom from the 1970s was based upon an English
counterpart, as was the case with “Sanford And Son,” which was based on
“Steptoe And Son” created by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
After the success of “All In The Family” on CBS, which itself was
based on an English sitcom, Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin bought “Sanford And
Son” to the small screen on NBC. Starring Red Foxx as “Fred Sanford” the
cantankerous owner of a Watts Junk Shop and Demond Wilson as his son
“Lamont,” whose dreams of a better life outside of the family business are
frequently sabotaged by his well meaning, but manipulative father.
The
series was the number one show on NBC for four out of the five seasons it aired
on primetime and was resurrected later in syndication as “Sanford” though
never to the degree of success as the original 1972-1977 run. The production
date of the pilot is 1971 so in an effort to remain as factually accurate as
possible I have detailed the first season as 1971 to 1972. I have vague memories
of the series back when it was on primetime Friday night’s on NBC, but the
majority of the episodes I have seen were in syndicated reruns and to my
surprise of all 14 season one episodes of “Sanford And Son” I barely recall
two or three of them.
The
series is somewhat different in season one than I remember it. It is a bit
bleaker in tone with Lamont coming to terms with the realities of taking care of
his widower father and watching his friends, who we never see on screen, get
married and move on with their lives. Lamont wants and tries to move on with his
life, but for better or for worse his fate appears to be wrapped around his
father’s. Fred is a bit bitterer at times and there are more racial jokes than
I recall from later episodes. Perhaps the most interesting difference I noticed
is how much season one depended almost entirely on Red Foxx and Demond Wilson
for the comedy. Side characters like “Aunt Esther” as played by Lawanda Page
and “Grady” as played by Whitman Mayo are not seen at all in this season as
well as a number of other characters that obviously enriched the series as it
developed through it’s five year run.
My
favorite episode in the set is “The Great Sanford Siege,” which has Fred and
Lamont trapped in their home with no heat, no gas, no electricity, and gathering
bill collectors at their door. Dick Van Patten appears in this episode and the
resolution to the problem is nothing short of hilarious. Columbia TriStar Home
Entertainment presents “Sanford And Son: The First Season” to DVD on two
discs with seven episodes each. Like “All In The Family: The Complete First
Season” on DVD, there are no extra features, but the set is an improvement on
“All In The Family” in a few ways. Instead of three DVDs, all 14 episodes
are on two discs so there is less need to switch and the set, which includes an
insert containing information on all of the shows within, is packaged in a
gatefold with a pocket for the insert and a glossy cardboard slipcase. All are
presented in the original (1.33:1) aspect ratio of the original analogue
videotaped broadcast presentation with an English Monaural Soundtrack and
English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as Spanish
Language Subtitles are encoded on to both discs as options.
“Sanford
And Son: The First Season” will debut on DVD-Video from Columbia TriStar Home
Entertainment on Tuesday, August 6, 2002 day and date with the DVD release of
the first season of “The Jeffersons” from Columbia TriStar as well. “All
In The Family: The Complete First Season” is also available on DVD-Video now
from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.