I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete First Season

 
Sony, B&W/color, NR, 11 hours plus supplements, Dolby Digital mono, fullscreen, Street: March 14, $39.95; First Run: NBC-TV, Sept. 1965

Sony continues to tap into its library and serve up TV compilations featuring the "magical" starlets of the '60s—the first season of The Flying Nun and season three of Bewitched are both due March 21. For Jeannie, 30 episodes featuring the girl in the bottle (Barbara Eden) and the astronaut (Larry Hagman) are included, available in either the show's original black-and-white or in newly colorized editions. On hand in Light Source & Imagery's 15-minute featurette is 89-year-old Sidney Sheldon, the show's producer and creator, who explains the financial squeeze that forced him to produce the first season in black and white at a time when most other TV series were making the jump to color. Eden, Hagman and co-star Bill Daily also contribute to the featurette (as well as a commentary on the pilot episode), offering the little known fact that Eden was pregnant during much of the production of the first season and that clever camera placement and a couple of well-placed veils kept her delicate condition under wraps. As Hagman and Eden reminisce about the show, it's obvious they have a strong affection for each other, both as friends and actors. At one point, Eden speaks of Hagman's "impeccable timing" and how he was the finest performer she ever acted with. She's so exuberant in her praise that we almost expected her to call him "Master!"


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