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75 of 76 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In one of those good news-bad news scenarios, the real Sergeant Bilko - the original Phil Silvers Show - has finally made it onto DVD in time for its 50th anniversary, but Paramount have definitely erred on the side of caution with the treatment.
Not that Sergeant Bilko - The Phil Silvers Show 50th Anniversary Edition isn't a bad presentation: it is, with more extras than you could realistically expect from a show this old, including the unseen 33-minute pilot episode when the show was still going to be called You'll Never Get Rich, vintage interviews, audio commentaries (including one by George Kennedy, who began his screen career as the army's advisor and sometime extra on the show) and much, much more. But rather than opting for a season-by-season release, Paramount have gone for a 'Best of' three-disc set. With a show as strong as Bilko, that ensures that a lot of great episodes are missing (including one of the greatest, The Empty Store, as well as Mardi Gras, Hollywood, The Rest Cure, Bilko and the Beast, The Song of the Motor Pool and Bilko's Perfect Day), and, even worse, it also means that this is probably all we'll ever get. And boycotting this release will only drive sales figures down even further until the chance of a full release is even more remote.
It's a good overview of the show from first to last episode, and some of the episdes are 100%-proof classics, like The Twitch (where Bilko runs a nationwide book on how many times a lecturer brought in to stop the men from gambling will compulsively twitch), The Court Martial (the one where a chimp on rollerskates is inducted into the army as Private Harry Speakup, coming third in the intelligence test in the process!) and The Eating Contest. But it just ain't nearly enough for a show with such a consistent standard of great writing, outrageously anarchic satire and some brilliant improvisation from Phil Silvers... More, please, and soon - that's an order!
Not that Sergeant Bilko - The Phil Silvers Show 50th Anniversary Edition isn't a bad presentation: it is, with more extras than you could realistically expect from a show this old, including the unseen 33-minute pilot episode when the show was still going to be called You'll Never Get Rich, vintage interviews, audio commentaries (including one by George Kennedy, who began his screen career as the army's advisor and sometime extra on the show) and much, much more. But rather than opting for a season-by-season release, Paramount have gone for a 'Best of' three-disc set. With a show as strong as Bilko, that ensures that a lot of great episodes are missing (including one of the greatest, The Empty Store, as well as Mardi Gras, Hollywood, The Rest Cure, Bilko and the Beast, The Song of the Motor Pool and Bilko's Perfect Day), and, even worse, it also means that this is probably all we'll ever get. And boycotting this release will only drive sales figures down even further until the chance of a full release is even more remote.
It's a good overview of the show from first to last episode, and some of the episdes are 100%-proof classics, like The Twitch (where Bilko runs a nationwide book on how many times a lecturer brought in to stop the men from gambling will compulsively twitch), The Court Martial (the one where a chimp on rollerskates is inducted into the army as Private Harry Speakup, coming third in the intelligence test in the process!) and The Eating Contest. But it just ain't nearly enough for a show with such a consistent standard of great writing, outrageously anarchic satire and some brilliant improvisation from Phil Silvers... More, please, and soon - that's an order!
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched and laughed at the Phil Silvers show with my Dad when I was a young nipper in the 1950s. Now my own son, 50 years later, can see and enjoy what amused me in my young days. It says something when you observe that the quality of the humour in this show hasn't changed or aged with time. Bilko was a legend thanks to the extraordinarily brilliant Phil Silvers, but he had a wonderful support cast and all of them from the Colonel to Doberman made a major contribution to the success of the show.
If you want to see what good comedy is all about, this is the perfect example. After all this time, all we want now is for the rest of the episodes to be released, and despite all the requests, this is not Amazon's fault. It all depends on the American CBS channel.
If you want to see what good comedy is all about, this is the perfect example. After all this time, all we want now is for the rest of the episodes to be released, and despite all the requests, this is not Amazon's fault. It all depends on the American CBS channel.
123 of 127 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I once bought all 144 (I think it was) episodes of Bilko of a guy on ebay. They were of course awful quality, but it was better than nothing. Now we AT LAST have 18 top quality episodes of one of the greatest sitcoms of all time on DVD and it's time for the world to re-discover for me, the greatest single sitcom performance of all time. Phil Silvers' portrayal of Sgt Ernest Bilko is awesome to behold. It almost takes your breath away, except of course what breath remains you need of course to laugh. This DVD set gives you 18 cracking examples of Bilko and although I don't buy DVD's for extras, the extras here are ok. But really you should be buying it (a) to laugh (b) to marvel at Phil Silvers and (c) to participate in TV history. There will never be anything like it again. Bilko - what can you say, the funniest, most brilliantly written and best cast sitcom ever made.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great collection for the price
The only way this collection could have been surpassed is if every episode was included. The picture and sound are brilliant as are the schemes that the fast talking Bilko involves... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Peter J. Chambers
the great phil silvers
This selection of 50 of the 143 episods of The Phil Silvers Show (Sergeant Bilko) is truly representataive of this top notch sitcom. Read more
Published 2 months ago by martinwright
Not quite as good as I remembered it
Very enjoyable, classic Bilko but I have to say some of it is better in the memory than on the screen.
Published 4 months ago by P. Barrett
Good service
DVD was a present for someone but the service and delivery speed were excellent. Arrived much earlier than the time stated.
Published 7 months ago by Hannah
Ernie for President
Just as fresh as it was when I first saw it in black & white as a teenager.
I never tire of it, especially 'The Horse' & 'Doberman's Sister'. Well done Amazon, & thanks.
I never tire of it, especially 'The Horse' & 'Doberman's Sister'. Well done Amazon, & thanks.
Published 9 months ago by aquazon
BILKO AT HIS BEST
Brilliant! Haven't seen these for years...literally about forty years! First saw Bilko when I was a child in the 1950s and was a bit apprehensive as to how I'd find them now (I... Read more
Published 16 months ago by R. Stansfield
Sgt Bilko - 50th Anniversary
An excellent DVD, given as a present to a big fan of the show. He had over 20 videos - now deteriorating, but now has all the editions in one place with excellent reproduction.
Published 16 months ago by Pearl
Still essential viewing
This box set has been superseeded by the complete Season 1 box set (released 2010 with 34 episodes) but still is still a must buy (at least until the other seasons come out) for... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Darrendarren
Classic Phil Silvers
Tremendous 50th Anniversary Edition - 18 classic episodes - including the outstanding 'chimpanzee being drafted into the army'. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. C. Williams
Buy it for the extras alone
Like many reviewers here, I suspect, I have seen and enjoyed all the episodes many times over - but I had never seen the audition show nor the clips from Ed Sullivan, the Emmys or... Read more
Published 22 months ago by gadg17
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