Ray Bradbury Theater Vol 1

Rating:
Summary: A great show at a great price
Review: If you like "the Twilight Zone" then you will probably like "the Ray Bradbury Theatre". This bargain priced DVD offers 13 episodes of the show that ran on HBO in the mid-80s. HBO did not skimp on production costs either. Great sets and effects for the era, HBO recruited the likes of Peter O'Toole, Jeff Goldblum, Drew Barrymore Leslie Neilsen, and even William Shatner to star in the episodes. All the shows are based on short stories written by Mr. Bradbury who we see in the opening credits typing away and telling us how he comes up with his ideas. Some of the shows are horror, some sci-fi, some just kind of fun. You cannot go wrong with this one. Some of the best stuff produced for TV in the 80s. "The Town where nobody got off" is a personal favorite.

Rating:
Summary: Nice little series
Review: Volume 1 contains these episodes and actors:

1. The Crowd (Nick Mancuso)
2. Marionettes, Inc. (James Coco)
3. The Playground (WIlliam Shatner)
4. The Screaming Woman (Drew Barrymore)
5. The Town Where No One Got Off (Jeff Goldblum)
6. Banshee (Peter O'Toole)
7. The Coffin (Dan O'Herlihy)
8. Gotcha! (Saul Rubinek)
9. The Emissary (Helen Shaver)
10. The Man Upstairs (Feodor Atkine)
11. The Small Assassin (Cyril Cusack)
12. On the Orient, North (Ian Bannen)
13. The Fruit at the Bottom of the Bowl (Michael Ironside; Robert Vaughn)

The quality of the transfers is, I would say, 93% there. They look duped, without restoration, from syndicated broadcast copies. The main image problem is a slight faded look. I noticed subtle pixelation in only a couple of spots. Rest easy that the episodes on this disk are complete and free of signs of wear.

It's good to see these again, and especially at this sort of price. Apparently Volume 1 and 2 are available three ways: singly, as a two pack, and as part of a five volume set. Buying Volume 1 first -- to sample the quality of the transfers and the character of these adaptations, if you are unfamiliar with the series-- may be a good idea.