Built around the unique talents of three-time Academy Award winner Walter Brennan, as ostreperous Grandpa Amos McCoy, the show also featured then red-hot Richard Crenna, just off his long stint on Our Miss Brooks, as Amos' son, Luke, and Kathleen (Kathy) Nolan as Luke's wife Kate. In a show not exactly known for being ground-breaking, a non-stereotyped Hispanic character, Pepito, the hired hand (played by Tony Martinez), is actually portrayed as about the most consistently on the ball person (with the possible exception of Kate) in the group.

The show is consistently sweet-natured and good-hearted, if entirely predictable and formulaic per most late-50s sitcoms. You know before watching any given episode that Amos is going to get into some kind of jam, lose his temper, and then see the light and make amends. Brennan has a field day with his characterization, which, at least here in the early run of the series, hadn't yet devolved to self-caricature. Crenna and Nolan make an appealing couple, with Crenna graduating nicely from his geekdom on the Brooks show. The series features abundant guest stalwarts of what would become CBS' literal "farm team," including Madge Blake, Nancy Kulp and Charles Lane, among others too numerous to mention.

Subject matter is suitably family-friendly, and includes such momentary predicaments as buying a new car, snagging a new boyfriend (for Luke's sister), and trying to qualify for the school band (for "Little Luke," the cute Michael Winkelman). It's of course a foregone conclusion that by episode's end all will be well with the world and the McCoys will be a solid and strong family unit, despite any temporary fractious activity.

The DVD

Video:
The source elements for this DVD set seem not to be "Image-worthy" negatives (a la the Twilight Zone sets), but rather fairly well preserved film masters which nonetheless exhibit scratches, debris and occasional warping. Contrast is very good and saturation is for the most part just fine.

Sound:
The original mono soundtrack is generally excellent, though the highs can be a bit grating, especially when one of the source score cues or omnipresent laugh tracks pours out over the proceedings. Dialogue is unfailingly well-rendered.

Extras:
None are offered.

Final Thoughts:
Infinity Entertainment boasts on the liner notes for this boxed release that they have licensed all 224 episodes of this series. While that may be a bit much for all but the most ardent fan, this 5 disc set provides a nice starting point, with characters well-established and the series hitting its stride. Fans of Brennan, Crenna and late 50s t.v. in general should find this a more than worthy rental for a few evenings' entertainment.

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"G-d made stars galore" & "Hey, what kind of a crappy fortune is this?" ZMK, modern prophet