Theatrical Release Date:March 9, 1976 Release Date:September 5, 2006 Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Editorial Reviews:
Product Description The everybody knows & loves! join the lawrence family as they deal with life love health & more in the 70s. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 09/05/2006 Starring: Sada Thomspon Kristy Mcnichol Run time: 1288 minutes
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
Where are the rest of the Seasons! Why make us wait and wait!December 22, 2008 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I feel like the studios are 'teasing' us by releasing one or two seasons of our favorite shows then the rest of the seasons are lost in oblivion!! Why bother to get us hooked again then we are left 'holding the bag, and an empty bag' at that. It is so unfair to the fans of a great show like 'Family'. When I saw the 1st & 2nd seasons come out on DVD, I ran to buy the set. I think I must have watched all the episodes within 2 days. I just love this show; it had interesting plots, great characters and true to life stories. I felt like I was 13 again. What a terrific show and to not continue with the entire show's run on DVD is extremely irritating- Why not just put the rest of the seasons out in one big set and end the debate. I would rather buy all the seasons at once then in dribs and drabs.... PLEASE! We need more 'Family'!!!
Beautifuly written, heartbreakingly nostalgic.December 17, 2008 I grew up on this show and remember loving it, but ironically I don't recall a single episode. So I bought this DVD set last week and have spent every night addicted, watching one or two episodes each evening.
This is a show that is both of its time, and still quite relevant. Why wouldn't it be, since drama, conflict and families are eternal? Be prepared to fall in love with these people.
"Family" is headed by and stars Sada Thompson who is an aristocratic, dignified and funny mother. There is a touch of Hollywood unreality to her, in the way she cleans her house, cooks meals and drives in high heels and dresses. People who were not alive in the 1970s might assume this is how women looked back then, but they really did not. This is television.
The setting is Pasadena, and the home is lush and well furnished, but these people drive Pintos and Mavericks. (supplied by the Ford Motor Company). You will see the properly attired attorney Doug (James Broderick), his blonde, pretty, divorced daughter Nancy (Meredith Baxter Birney), creatively inclined high school dropout Willie (Gary Frank) and little boyish Buddy (Krisy McNichol). McNichol has perhaps the most endearing performance as kind hearted but self-loathing rebel who is trying to navigate the tumult of her early teen years. Guest stars like Willie Ames and Helen Hunt play friends of Buddy's.
The most artificial part of the show is the way life shattering problems (alcoholism, divorce, cancer, murder, custody battles) are solved in less than 60 minutes. There is always a tearful dramatic moment, where people cry, hug, apologize and then...it's morning in America again. But the viewer is lulled into a belief in both the power of the words and the strength of the performances.
"Family" has some of the a folksy, granola naturalness that characterized the 1970s, a time when the war, drugs and protest cooled down, and the self-absorbed 1980s loomed ahead. Like "The Waltons", the Lawrence family showed that any trial or tribulation could be overcome with the right amount of family unity, love and courage. Maybe that is the best thing to come out of this very well done drama.
when is season three coming out??November 22, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I always loved this show. I just can't understand what is taking so long for the rest of the series to go to DVD. What is the hold-up?
So-so.....September 28, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Although I enjoyed watching the show. It was like I remembered it, the quality of some of the disks were not so good. They froze up and I had to skip certain parts of the DVD in order to get the DVD to move on.
When is the next season coming out on DVD?September 25, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Family is one of the best shows to have ever been on TV. Why is it taking so long to get all the seasons out on DVD. I have watched the first season over and over and am ready for more. Please, please, please put out more seasons.
