Happy Days - The Complete First Season | 
| Directors: Art Fisher, Joel Zwick, George Tyne, James Tayne
Actors: Ron Howard, Henry Winkler
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $14.99
You Save: $14.99 (50%)
New (48) Used (22) Collectible (1) from $14.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  90 reviews
Sales Rank: 249
Format: Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Dolby, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 3
Running Time: 383
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.5 x 1
MPN: 097360537741
ISBN: 1415700761
UPC: 097360537741
EAN: 9781415700761
ASIN: B000291Q3Y
Theatrical Release Date: January 15, 1974
Release Date: August 17, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
The daily lives of the Cunningham family in 1950s Milwaukee, their friends, and their greaser tenant Arthur \""Fonzie\"" Fonzarelli.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: DVD
Artist: HAPPY DAYS
Title: SEASON 1
Street Release Date: 08/17/2004
Domestic
Genre: TELEVISION
Amazon.com
Less than a year after Ron Howard played a college-bound adolescent enjoying a final, summer-of-1962 romp with old friends in American Graffiti, he turned up as high school innocent Richie Cunningham in the memorable, ABC television network debut of Happy Days, set a few years earlier in Milwaukee. The show would last a decade and go through many changes in tone, cast, and character development, but that first season got a boost from the natural perception that it had some things in common with Graffiti: Howard, of course, but also fumbling teenage sex, drag races, drive-in food, pesky little sisters, and laconic greasers. Happy Days: The Complete First Season is a sweet trip back to the Garry Marshall-produced sitcom's 1974 entry in primetime television, before political correctness would make stories about clean-cut boys fixated on seducing girls unthinkable, and long before older kids were defined by angst on the WB and Fox TV. At least in its first year, before Happy Days developed more of a comic-book feel and energy, the show was about Richie's all-too-human inclination to grow up too fast, to bite off more than he could chew and learn poignant lessons in the process. He was a sympathetic naif, not the charming braggart he later became, and major characters appear to have been created to provide both ballast and motivation. Among them is best friend Potsie (Anson Williams), a superficial hustler who typically incites Richie's enthusiasm for booze, reputed nymphomaniacs, and sophisticated, older girls, and fast-talking Ralph Malph (Donny Most), owner of a fantastic, yellow hot rod. More important are counterparts Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli (Henry Winkler), a vaguely dangerous drop-out, and Richie's exasperated father, Howard Cunningham (Tom Bosley), each of whom provides Richie the validation of an experienced male: Fonzie's raw worldliness versus Mr. C's seasoned view of a man's responsibilities. First-season highlights include the pilot episode (co-written by Rob Reiner), "All the Way," in which Richie's typical decency allows him to see past the sex-mad reputation of an amiable girl from school. Season closer "Be the First on Your Block" finds the Cunninghams' plans to build a bomb shelter turning into a popularity contest as Richie's friends vie for a guaranteed spot in the event of nuclear war. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 85 more reviews...
 Happy Days Season 1, Better Than Later Seasons August 15, 2008
Before I had bought Season 1 of Happy Days I had watch a couple episodes from later seasons, and I have to say that I prefer these episodes from season 1. Here are my reasons: these season 1 episodes were filmed with a single camera setup which I think gives the show a more 50's feel which is the time period in which the show is based, also these episodes were made before the show was almost changed to "Fonzie's Happy Days" and therefore the main characters are a little more balanced. Also instead of being filmed in front of live studio audience like the later seasons, these episodes were filmed with laugh tracks, so you don't hear a scream every time Fonzie enters a scene.
A Great Show Fondly Remembered From Childhood August 12, 2008
I remember this series and a few others very fondly and with great joy to see them released on dvd finally. To those of us who watched the show growing up with the Cunningham's,Fonzie,Ralph the mouth Potsie, and the rest of the cast we will always see this show as one of the true classics in our lives. Of course I just remember most of the show after I think it was season six since I was still just a little kid at the time I saw the other seasons in repeats after words the show was both funny and at the same time with some seriousness with a deep inside morale about family and friendships I feel. The show also caused some other great shows to be made I feel like Laverne&Shirley and Mork&Mindy two other great classics. The picture quality is decent but not the greatest to be fair the show was made in the mid 70's so some of the picture quality won't be up to par like we see with the new t.v. series like C.S.I Las Vegas or Smallville.
Still to all those who either grew up with this series or to people looking for a great classic show this is the one to go for...
Please Come Forth, Fourth Season! July 19, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Being a naive 8-year old in a late-30s body, I tend to forget the business aspect of releasing Happy Days seasons. I know it's about money. That said (if I'm not mistaken), Season Three ranked much, much higher in terms of sales on Amazon's ranking system than Seasons 1 and 2. I thought for sure Season Four would come along in quick fashion. It hasn't... and no explanation, anywhere.
I had the thrill of meeting Henry Winkler at a Hank Zipzer book signing in May (2008). He was as electric, and gracious, as everyone has said he is (although I think he was somewhat cautious around a delirious fan who was neither female or a kid). Whatever the case, one of his handlers (for lack of the right word) said he would not be signing Happy Days merchandise (so much for bringing my Season 1 along), and it got me wondering just what is going on behind the scenes (granted it might simply be for the reason Mr. Winkler was there for the purpose of his book). I also wonder if all of us who are die-hard fans who criticized the DVD releases for lack of obtaining music rights from original episodes, lack of any "extras", and occasional poor print quality have done a disservice to the whole thing. We can't have everything the way we'd like it, but if CBS/Paramount pulls the plug on this, we might never see Happy Days in a home-playable form again in our lifetimes (so, yes, I would take what I can get in this case!).
After watching Season Three, I had forgotten how funny the show was at that point (and wildly electric and live). There is a palpable energy that is unmistakable. Yes, the "film" effect of one-camera/no-audience Seasons 1 and 2 are admirable, but Season 3 is like watching Elvis on Ed Sullivan. Pandemonium. And, Season 4 is probably the last "laugh-out-loud-funny" season of all eleven. Don't get me wrong: HD had many layers, but some of the later seasons are heavy on sentiment (like a video Valium pill for the mind) and high 70s TV drama (who can forget a blind Fonzie shaking his fists at God while crying in a Brando-esque way, "How could you do this to ME? I thought I was your favorite person."). But, even as a little kid I remember thinking, "HD that opens with Ron Howard's Richie in his blue high school letter jacket meant "funny"; HD that opens with Ron Howard's red college jacket meant, well, cleaner and often more schlocky fun." Season 4 is that classic "high school senior" season. No Fonzie black t-shirts here. Just edgy, often risque humor.
This was the height of Fonzie Mania before they felt the weight of little kids. Before episodes were built around Fonzie saying smoking wasn't cool, and eyeglasses were. Before the great Garry Marshall went all P.T. Barnum ("see the Amazing Fonzie Battle with the Woman of Catmandu!). ... Hey, it was the 70s. Everyone gets a free pass there.
I'm just pleading with Paramount (hell, anyone): tell us why the hold up? I'll buy five Season Tens (arguably the only really questionable season, whereas the final Season Eleven was brilliant, I think) if we can just get to the classic Season Four! Let's put it this way: Happy Days Season Four was the #1 show of ALL of American television in that 1976-1977 season (yes, above everything; MASH, All in the Family, you name it). And for great reason!
An answer, please. Somebody. Anybody! I'll be the guy trying to burn his 1984 Happy Days finale ("Passages") to DVD in the hope the tape doesn't unravel after 24 years if you're looking for me.
Please keep it going CBS/Paramount and TV gods that be...
Todd
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Arguably the best sitcom around July 16, 2008
Loved watching Happy Days as a kid. Too bad it got stupid later with the live audience. The series started off great and then went downhill fast. The first 2 seasons are the best by far. Season 3 is merely okay and then in later seasons the annoying live audience started behaving like they were part of the show. I give this season 1 dvd 5 stars.
Amazon - why the hell did you list the star of season 1 and 2 as Scott Baio when Ron Howard was the main character? Baio wasn't on season 1 at all and didn't make his first appearance until sometime after season 4!!! Someone on your staff really screwed up!
Rock Around the Clock July 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It's a shame there are no extra's. One they could've added is the original pilot from Love, American Style. What they should've done (since the 1st season started in January 1974 instead of September 1973, thus having only 16 episodes) is release Seasons 1 and 2 together, like they did with Seinfeld. One thing that's great about this is that the color looks better than it did in reruns (I remember how black the original episodes looked).
Richie (Ron Howard) was the original star, a nice teenage kid who's trying to grow up too fast. Potsie (Anson Williams) is his conniving best friend, similar to the friends Beaver had, but he was a little more sympathetic since he didn't get along well with his father (he'd later be known as the singer on Happy Days and one episode here, entitled Give the Band a Hand, he croons "All Shook Up"; he'd also be more anal retentive about his teeth). Ralph Malph (Donny Most) is the lovable prankster who somehow gets the women thanks to his nice car (I don't recall him saying "I still got it" much in the 1st season). Fonzie (Henry Winker) was a minor character here, a cool hood who's popular with the ladies; he'd be seen a grey windbreaker rather than his trademarked leather jacket. His character was a little more defined in Fonzie Drops In. You won't hear him grunt "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy" too much here, although he did use the thumbs up signal occasionally, most memorably at the end of Richie's Cup Runneth Over with dramatic flair! Also, Marion (Marion Ross) is Richie's doting mother, Howard (Tom Bosley) is his wise, conservative (and somewhat grumpy) father, and Joanie (Erin Moran) is his kid sister (she was a little more smart allecky here, and was often seen wearing her Junior Chipmunk uniform). There were 2 actors who played Richie's older brother Chuck, a 1-dimensional character who only lasted one season and had only one thing on his mind- basketball (perhaps he had a brain tumor while a basketball bonked him on the head!). If you'll notice in the 1st epsisode, All the Way, the local hangout place is called Arthur's (it would promptly be changed to Arnold's as of the next episode, with a sign inside reading "Notice Personell Change"). And of course, "Rock Around the Clock" is the original opening theme, while the better known "Happy Days" theme is the closing theme.
Highlights of Season One include Richie's Cup Runneth Over (Richie and Potsie attend a bachelor party and have too much to drink), The Lemon (Richie and Potsie buy a car which doesn't work too well; Fonzie helps repair the car and his repayment is the hood ornament-"He took the best part of the car!"), Guess Who's Coming to Visit (Potsie stays at Richie's house and they both sneak out to go winess a drag race with the Fonz- "You're grounded for life, son!"), The Deadly Dares (Richie and Potsie try to join the Demons, but 1st have to perform dares, including dressing up in drag), The Skin Game (Ralph Malph tells Richie and Potsie about an exotic striptease dancer, so they get fake ID's to get in, thanks to the Fonz), Fonzie Drops In (the Fonz re-enrolls in high school and relies on others, particularly Richie, to do his shcoolwork for him), Because She's There (Richie's blind date is an amazon- "Don't let height get in the way, son," Howard advises Richie, "After all, your mother is taller than me"), In the Name of Love (a new girl at school woos Richie, Potsie and Ralph but is only interested in Richie, as a friend), The Best Man (Howard is the best man at a friend's wedding; this episode deals with racism in a sensitive way); Be the 1st on Your Block (Howard Cunnigham makes a bomb shelter to protect the family, which turns out to be a hangout place for Richie's pals "What's d'matter? Haven't you seen a motorcycle in a bomb shelter before?!").
Although the packaging leaves a little to be desired, I'll give this 5 stars for the episodes themselves.
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