Father Knows Best: Season One DVD Credits:

Region: 1

Father Knows Best: Season One DVD Release Date: 4th January 2008

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Father Knows Best: Season One DVD Review:

Just because something is new does not necessarily mean that it’s better. Even though Father Knows Best came out in the decade when television was first made for mass audiences, it still holds its humor better than many of the shows airing today. Not only is the show a great historical artifact, but its just pure entertainment.

Father Knows Best rises above the 1950s parody presented in Pleasantville. Robert Young as Jim Anderson has spot-on comedic timing. His family seems to live the stereotypical post-war suburban lifestyle, but Jim brings a light sarcasm that is appealing to modern television audiences. In “Bud Takes up the Dance”, Jim makes fun of his son for hiding in the basement, saying that he is going to “grow mildew”. Again, the character plays against expectations in “Close Decision” when he goes behind his wife’s back to let Bud play in the baseball game. Jim Anderson basically paved the way for all television dads to come.

Of course, just because the main character is not so cookie-cutter doesn’t mean the rest of the world isn’t. Bud’s room is covered in school pennants, pictures of the football team, and posters of the US Marine Corps (propaganda anyone?). Betty is a sorority girl who wears sweaters and poodle skirts. Sunday school and church are a large part of the Anderson’s lives. Even though audiences know how fake this façade is, it is nice to live in this world for 30 minutes. It is comforting to participate as an observer in such a safe world. The most serious drama ever encountered is about as bad as being trapped in a cabin on Christmas Eve. Everything in the world of Father Knows Best takes you back to a better time, even if it didn’t really exist.

The Season One DVD set of Father Knows Best has numerous extras, many of which are well-worth the time. Probably the most interesting extra is an episode entitled “24 Hours in Tyrantland”, which was made by the US government as propaganda to be shown exclusively in schools and churches to help sell war bonds. Looking back on it, the outright propaganda is almost laughable (Betty: “I’m so lucky to be living in America.”) in the sense that the public would see right through a similar campaign today. “24 Hours in Tyrantland” gives a lot of insight into the minds of Americans during the Cold War.

There is also an interview with the two actresses who played Betty and Kathy, which gives a good behind the scenes account of the show. Robert Young’s home movies and a short behind the scenes montage, both narrated by Young’s grandson, would be interesting for the die-hard fan, but probably not for the average viewer. The same can be said with Young’s pilot of “The Return”. However, the extras definitely add a lot to the DVD box set and are worth checking out.

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Father Knows Best: Season One DVD review written by: Kirsten Moore