Bewitched - The Complete Series Blu-ray (1964-1971) - In 1.78

[MifuneFan]

Bewitched: The Complete Series will finally be coming to Blu-ray in time to celebrate its 60th Anniversary. The bad news? It's being released by Mill Creek. After the disastrous release of I Dream of Jeannie, I don't have a lot of hope that this release will turn out okay. This set will include all 254 episodes across 22 Discs, and the release is set for September 17th November 4th February 4th 2025 July 22nd. It will include 16 commentary tracks, a new 40-minute documentary, and booklet.

Bewitched: The Complete Series Blu-ray in 1.78

Elizabeth Montgomery stars as Samantha, a beautiful young witch who falls in love and marries an ad exec, trying her best to fit into the straightlaced suburbia. D. York and, later, D. Sargent star as her hapless husband Darrin Stephens, while Emmy(r) Award winner Agnes Moorehead steals every scene she's in as Endora. Samantha's meddling mother. Rounding out the ensemble is Darrin's boss, Larry Tate (David White), and the Stephens' precocious daughter Tabitha. Join this unforgettable cast of characters in an enchanting 22-disc comedy collection, including the first two seasons in their original black & white presentation!

Bewitched: Behind the Magic – An all-new documentary about the making of Bewitched, featuring special guest appearances by actor David Mandel (Adam Stephens), Steve Olim (who worked in the Make-Up Department at Columbia), Bewitched historian Herbie J Pilato, film and television historian Robert S. Ray, Bewitched guest star Eric Scott (later of The Waltons), and Chris York, son of D. York (the first Darrin).

16 New Episodic Audio Commentaries: Herbie J Pilato serves as moderator during “behind-the-scenes” conversations with Peter Ackerman (son of Bewitched executive producer Harry Ackerman), David Mandel, Bewitched guest star Janee Michelle (from “Sisters at Heart”), Steve Olim, Robert S. Ray, former child TV actors and Bewitched guest stars Ricky Powell (The Smith Family), Eric Scott (The Waltons), and Johnny Whitaker (Family affair, and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters), and Chris York (son of D. York).

Exclusive 36-page Booklet featuring pieces by Bewitched historian Herbie J. Pilato, as well as an episode guide

[jshaide]

What a weirdly provocative picture of Elizabeth Montgomery they used.

[Bradsdadg]

To be fair, she was an absolute knockout, so any picture of hers looks great

Interested in the set but will probably hold off for the time being, until reviews start coming out. Mill Creek...

[ElectricPeterTork]

Same as everyone else. Interested, but waiting so make sure this isn't another Jeannie fiasco.

Another consideration is whether seasons 1 and 2 are B&W or the colorized versions.

[JupiterMission]

Originally Posted by jshaide

What a weirdly provocative picture of Elizabeth Montgomery they used.

If there are non-provocative pictures of Elizabeth Montgomery, I'd like to see them!

[RetroRobert]

Was excited to see this until... Mill Creek

I didn't even know Mill Creek was releasing anything anymore. They were doing those Blurays with retro slipsleeves and suddenly stopped.

But for all good intentions, they really messed up I Dream Of Jeannie. So I am not expecting much from this release. Why does Sony license to them? Kino would do much better for Sony than Mill Creek ever could.

[DavidRoylance]

If this is a good release and they have learned from their horrific I Dream of Jeannie set, then I shall be very happy.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by RetroRobert

Was excited to see this until... Mill Creek

I didn't even know Mill Creek was releasing anything anymore. They were doing those Blurays with retro slipsleeves and suddenly stopped.

But for all good intentions, they really messed up I Dream Of Jeannie. So I am not expecting much from this release. Why does Sony license to them? Kino would do much better for Sony than Mill Creek ever could.

They're apparently Sony's biggest partner I believe. I believe Kino Insider said something to that effect at least. I'll need to find the quote.

edit: Here it is. Posted in 2021.

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

Inability/reluctance? It's not a conspiracy theory.

I don't know how many times I have to say this, but SONY is not interested in doing deals with anyone except the 3 or 4 partners they currently deal with. Mill Creek is their major partner, they've licensed hundreds if not a thousand or more titles from them.

Twilight Time had to license most of their Sony titles through Mill Creek.

Shout and Criterion have also licensed titles from Sony, some through Mill Creek and others direct.

In the past, Sony had licensed titles to Image Entertainment (now RLJ), but I don't think they've licensed anything in the last 5 years. They had also done some deals with TCM.

International deals have nothing to do with US deals, different people in different departments.

[Video Ghoul]

I hope the episodes originally aired in black & white are still black & white and not colorized.

[Bolty]

I don't need all the episodes. I just want the ones where Endora puts a spell on Darrin.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Video Ghoul

I hope the episodes originally aired in black & white are still black & white and not colorized.

Should be. They released the series on DVD, and the first two seasons were in B&W. An Amazon reviewer posted this pic of the back cover highlighting just that too:

[Show spoiler]

[GeoffOliver]

Excellent news. This is one of my favorite shows of all time. It’s smart, quirky, funny, has memorable characters, and actually has some deep themes about tolerance and acceptance that were ahead of its time. Elizabeth Montgomery was such a beautiful presence too.

I assume this will use new HD masters. If so, Seasons 1-2 should be the ACTUAL black and white versions. The DVDs (both Sony and Mill Creek) use the colorized versions with a black-and-white filter. I’m not kidding.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by GeoffOliver

The DVDs (both Sony and Mill Creek) use the colorized versions with a black-and-white filter. I’m not kidding.

Wow, had no idea

[DocMario90]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

They're apparently Sony's biggest partner I believe. I believe Kino Insider said something to that effect at least.

If this is why Sony's licensing deals with Kino Lorber and Arrow pretty much died just as they were beginning to take off (although the latter will be releasing Robert Rodriguez's Mexico Trilogy on Blu-ray next month with Desperado also getting a 4K upgrade), that explains a LOT. I seriously don't know why they can't just adopt a strategy similar to Universal and Paramount for both licensing deals and their MOD output seeing as large chunks of their library have received Blu-ray editions from Mill Creek that were pretty much lackluster on every level, and it's even more baffling since they reclaimed at least four titles from the label (Last Action Hero, the first two I Still Know What You Did Last Summer movies, and Can't Hardly Wait being among them) over the past three years.

As for Bewitched, I've been meaning to check this series out for a couple of months, but I'm probably going to be waiting for the reviews to pop up first seeing as Mill Creek is now handling this as well.

[drak b]

Absolutely heartbreaking that this is coming from Mill Creek. Whatever you do, DO NOT pre-order this, no matter how much you love the show. Wait for reviews.

I Dream of Jeannie is the only show (or movie) that I have ever purchased on blu-ray and then subsequently 'downgraded' to DVD. That release is shameful beyond belief.

[MrHT]

This is a tempting buy, for sure. I love this show! But I hope they don't screw this up like they did with "I Dream of Jeannie."

[RetroRobert]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

They're apparently Sony's biggest partner I believe. I believe Kino Insider said something to that effect at least. I'll need to find the quote.

edit: Here it is. Posted in 2021.

Yeah, I have known that but it's just frustrating. Why any company would feel comfortable licensing to Mill Creek over Kino or Arrow is baffling. The product is simply not good. Paramount and Universal have the right idea and the common sense. Their properties are out there working for them and, in most cases, coming out in a fine product.

[steve_dave]

Too bad Sony can’t borrow from their partner Disney and make the discs for Mill Creek to distribute. It would cut down on presentation issues.

But Sony just provides the untouchable elements, whatever happens after that is “out of their hands.” The Shield never got fixed after all these years.

Originally Posted by RetroRobert

Yeah, I have known that but it's just frustrating. Why any company would feel comfortable licensing to Mill Creek over Kino or Arrow is baffling. The product is simply not good. Paramount and Universal have the right idea and the common sense. Their properties are out there working for them and, in most cases, coming out in a fine product.

Mill Creek’s acquisition team more than likely offered a considerable compensation package that Sony preferred. Mill Creek’s disc producers also were compliant with Sony’s restrictions too. That would explain why MC was the first boutique allowed to make new extras and can continue to do so today.

[GrouchoFan]

Originally Posted by jshaide

What a weirdly provocative picture of Elizabeth Montgomery they used.

One might even say she looks...bewitching!

This should have a lenticular slipcover--one angle with Dick York, other angle with Dick Sargent.

Will wait for reviews. I have the first five seasons on DVD--couldn't bring myself to purchase the Fake Darrin years. But I catch the occasional rerun on cable, and, damn, Elizabeth Montgomery is so smokin' HOT in those years. And that Pandora Spock was no slouch either.

[dsfan1]

My favorite classic TV series of all time and it's being released by Mill Creek! After the horrible release of IDoJ, I will wait for reviews. But it sure is tempting after I saw the first two seasons in black and white streaming on Great American Country a few years back. Even though it was cropped to widescreen it sure was beautiful. And it had the original black and white openings without the sponsor.

Mill Creek, please don't screw this release up!!!!