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Family - The Complete First and Second Seasons |  | Directors: Gerold S. O'Loughlin, Marshall Herskovitz, Edward Zwick, Randal Kleiser, Ralph Senensky
Actors: James Broderick, Sada Thompson, Meredith Baxter, Kristy McNichol
Studio: Sony Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.95
Buy New: $14.99
as of 11/28/2009 00:05 CST details
You Save: $34.96 (70%)
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Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  113 reviews
Sales Rank: 1923
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 99
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 6
Running Time: 1382 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.5 x 0.9
MPN: D15622D
UPC: 043396156227
EAN: 0043396156227
ASIN: B000GFRI68
Theatrical Release Date: March 9, 1976
Release Date: September 5, 2006
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
FAMILY is the hit dramatic series that explores the lives loves and hardships of a contemporary 1970s American family told with heart and humor. Originally given a six-episode run the show became a surprise hit in the fall of 1976 and won two Emmy® Awards for the second season. This groundbreaking series is a Mike Nichols production (Academy Award® winner 1967 Best Director The Graduate) created by Jay Presson Allen (Cabaret) and executive produced by the powerhouse producing team of Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg (TV's "Charlie's Angels" and "Starsky & Hutch").FAMILY follows the saga of the Lawrence family of Pasadena California - parents Kate (Sada Thompson) and Doug (James Broderick) and their three children: young divorced mother Nancy (played by Elayne Heilveil in the first season and by Meredith Baxter Birney in the second season) high school dropout Willie (Gary Frank) and young teenage daughter Buddy (Kristy McNichol). Notable guest stars include Willie Aames Helen Hunt James Woods and Tommy Lee Jones.System Requirements:Running Time 1288 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 043396156227 Manufacturer No: 15622
Amazon.com
In the mid-'70s, Family was sort of the anti-All in the Family--dealing with the issues of the day, but far more sincerely and earnestly than Archie Bunker & tribe. In fact, the landmark series, which debuted in 1976 on ABC, quickly gained a following for its willingness to integrate controversy with a fairly typical upper-middle-class family. The Lawrences--headed by Sada Thompson as Kate and James Broderick (father of Matthew Broderick) as Doug--were close-knit but willing to face issues like infidelity, gay friends, alcoholism, divorce, and more--making it ground-breaking for primetime TV. The kids (divorcee Nancy, played in season 1 by Elayne Heilveil and replaced in season 2 by Meredith Baxter Birney; Willie, played by Gary Frank; and the heartbreakingly adorable Buddy, played by Kristy McNichol) knew they had mom and dad's support, even when the going got tough, and were there for each other when crises arose. And happily, the show's producers, which included Mike Nichols and Aaron Spelling, realized all this earnestness needed leavening with some humor. When Buddy is needling Willie for dance lessons so she can go to the Junior Jump with the babelicious Carl ("Hey, the Strawberry Shakes are playing!"), Willie balks. Then Buddy looks him square in the eye and says, "I need a personal triumph, Willie." She shoots, she scores. The show, which won Emmys for both Thompson and McNichol, boasts stellar writing and believable situations, and is still compulsive watchable years later. The boxed set includes all 28 episodes of the first two seasons. --A.T. Hurley
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 113
Exquisite 70s drama November 23, 2009
Westley (Stuck in my head)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was only 6 years old when "Family" debuted; my mom adored it. To my older siblings, it was one of the most boring things on television, and they protested loudly if my mom tried to watch it. So my mom only watched "Family" when just she and I were home. I remember that every episode seemed to be about weighty adult issues and was so talky. UGH! I just wanted to watch cartoons.
As an adult, I often enjoy weighty dramas, so I decided to try the first two seasons of "Family" on DVD. Not surprisingly I had a very different reaction this time. "Family" focuses on the Lawrence family of Pasadena, California. Doug (James Broderick) is a successful attorney married for 25 years to Kate (Tony winner Sada Thompson). The oldest child, Nancy (Meredith Baxter Birney) is a young newlywed with an infant (Timmy). Willie (Gary Frank) has dropped out of high school and does little but hang around the house. Finally, Buddy (Kristy McNichol) is a young teen tomboy struggling to find who she is. The family lives in a terrific older house with rambling stairs that was passed down from Doug's father.
The Lawrences are an idealized family of sorts, but they also have problems. During the first season, Nancy catches her husband cheating, and they soon divorce. Likewise, the family frequently argues and has communication break downs. However, in the end, they stick together and support each other. I love the warmth between the family members; it sometimes threatens to become sticky sweet but remains realistic. They're the kind of family many people wish they could have. In particular, Sada Thompson is superb as the mother. She is the perfect parent - warm and encouraging yet tough when she needs to be.
Like many 70s dramas, "Family" tends to be limited by its episodic nature. Most episodes present a new problem that is more or less tidily wrapped up by the time the end credits run. Too often, the storylines depend on a relative or an old friend from out of town reappearing and involving the family in some kind of drama. So one week Willie's old friend who is wanted by the FBI drops into town and nearly gets Willie arrested, and the next week an old flame woos Nancy until she finds out he has a drug problem. It just doesn't seem that realistic that an average family has this many old friends and relatives with problems who just happen to show up each week. Today's television dramas do a much better job of creating storyline arcs that last several episodes and therefore seem more realistic. However, this is a relatively minor quibble about what is otherwise an excellent drama. I think "Family" will appeal to fans of other 70s family dramas, such as "Eight is Enough."
The first season of "Family" was presented as a miniseries; this set contains Seasons 1 and 2 - a total of 28 episodes. The DVD set includes no extras. So far seasons 3-5 have yet to appear three years after the release of this set; hopefully they will eventually be released on DVD.
What's the holdup on Seasons 3, 4 and 5 ??? November 10, 2009
Logan Londres (New York, NY)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been on Amazon's "Sign Me Up When 'Family - Season 3' is Released" alert for three years now. Come on Sony, please do the right thing and release the final three seasons of this terrific show.
One of the best shows ever November 5, 2009
countrybookgal (Canada)
I remember watching Family back in the 70s and early 80s and loving it so I bought The Complete First and Second Seasons and am very glad I did! I fell in love all over again with the show and it's characters - it was like going back in time - I savoured every moment watching each show. This is a brilliant series - I sure wish Sony would release the remaining three seasons!
Even in Germany fans are waiting for season 3, 4 and 5 July 20, 2009
Hardy Koch (Solingen)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Dear people from Sony Home Entertainment: please release the next seasons of our FAMILY, too. Even fans in Germany are longing for more of this extraordinary series from the glorious 70s. The cast and crew is too brillant to honor them not with the next seasons. The productions show high quality standards. That becomes in our time very obvious. All episodes show a deep love for the stories and the people in it. So we like to see more from Sada Thompson, James Broderick, Gary Frank, Meredith Baxter-Birney, and last, but definetely not least Kristy McNichol. And for all who still hesitate: buy this edition of the first two seasons. I promise: you won`t regret it. Really not! Just sit and enjoy!
Where is the third season? July 3, 2009
Angel (Melbourne, Fl.)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I purchased this when it came out in 2006. Here it is 2009 and we are still waiting for the subsequent seasons. What is the hold up? Please bring them out!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 113
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