Fantasy Island (the original television series)

[OceanBlue]

Have done a thread search and was surprised to not find an existing thread for the DVD releases to date of the original Fantasy Island television series. Haven't selected a flag icon as there have been DVD releases of the show in more than one country.

In the States, I think they got as far as the third season (I remember Shout released Season 3 on DVD, but the releases stalled after that). In the UK, I only recall the first season getting a release.

When checking Amazon.fr for a DVD release of another series that was on during some of the eighties, I found out that boutique label Elephant Films have been releasing Fantasy Island on DVD, and as of the time of writing they're up to the fifth season (of a total of seven seasons), two seasons further than Shout! Factory.

How are the transfers on Elephant Films' DVD releases of Fantasy Island? Are the episodes at PAL speed (I assume they are)?

Below are the Blu-ray.com listing page thumbnail links for the US, Canadian and French DVD releases so far of the original series:

[Show spoiler]
US:



Canada:



France:

[CarbonUnitM78]

In the United States, it looks like Sony put out the first season and Shout Factory put out seasons two and three. I would like to collect these. I was always fond of this show.

[OceanBlue]

Have updated the original post of this thread with the Blu-ray.com DVD listing page thumbnail links for the US, Canadian and French DVD releases so far of the original Fantasy Island television series (many thanks for the help from fellow member McCrutchy).

Note, that Elephant Films released the first season in one DVD set, with Seasons 2-5 split into half season volumes. They have also released the first three seasons in a separate DVD boxset.

In the DVD section of the database here, there has also been an Australian DVD release of the first two seasons.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by CarbonUnitM78

In the United States, it looks like Sony put out the first season and Shout Factory put out seasons two and three. I would like to collect these. I was always fond of this show.

When visiting Elephant Films' website earlier, after seeing a new post on their Facebook page about their October slate, I saw that they have Fantasy Island: Season Six on DVD available to pre-order. The release date (subject to change) is Tuesday 29th October. But this season will be like how the boutique label released the first season (in one DVD set instead of split across two DVD volumes for Seasons 2 to 5). Below is the DVD pre-order listing page link:

https://www.elephantfilms.com/l-ile-...vd-c2x41239087

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

When visiting Elephant Films' website earlier, after seeing a new post on their Facebook page about their October slate, I saw that they have Fantasy Island: Season Six on DVD available to pre-order. The release date (subject to change) is Tuesday 29th October. But this season will be like how the boutique label released the first season (in one DVD set instead of split across two DVD volumes for Seasons 2 to 5). Below is the DVD pre-order listing page link:

https://www.elephantfilms.com/l-ile-...vd-c2x41239087

Yes, here is the pre-order for Season 6:



Back cover:

[Show spoiler]

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Yes, here is the pre-order for Season 6:



Back cover:

[Show spoiler]

Thanks for adding the sixth season DVD set to the database McCrutchy. Have added it to the original post (placed it after the Season 5 half-season volumes and before the Seasons 1 to 3 boxset).

Some of the half-season DVD volumes seem cheaper on Amazon.fr than directly from Elephant Films (depending on reviews, I would though like to purchase the Law & Order: Seasons 1 to 5 Blu-ray set directly, but with Fantasy Island I may get some of the DVD volumes from Amazon.fr).

I noticed on the rear sleeve boxart for Season 6, the runtime average of 52 minutes (which would suggest they're at NTSC speed (despite "PAL" being in the bottom right-hand corner), but even for the early-eighties that seems a few minutes longer per episode than it would have been).

[McCrutchy]

Season 7 is out in France on 19 November 2024:

[MONTYC]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I noticed on the rear sleeve boxart for Season 6, the runtime average of 52 minutes (which would suggest they're at NTSC speed (despite "PAL" being in the bottom right-hand corner), but even for the early-eighties that seems a few minutes longer per episode than it would have been).

That could mean these episodes are the old style standard conversion from NTSC to PAL, where the running time is the same as NTSC. The problem with this kind of conversion is the picture quality can be quite blurred and suffer from motion judder.

[OceanBlue]

Have added the Blu-ray.com thumbnail artwork link for Elephant Films' DVD boxset release of Fantasy Island's seventh and final season to the original post of this thread.

[UnionJackMix]

Thank you OceanBlue for the thread. I didn't find it until you made me aware of it. I am going to place my order for the second box for sure, but I'd need to check if I want to buy the first one too so I have a consistent collection. I do have the US releases of seasons 1-3 from the US.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Thank you OceanBlue for the thread. I didn't find it until you made me aware of it. I am going to place my order for the second box for sure, but I'd need to check if I want to buy the first one too so I have a consistent collection. I do have the US releases of seasons 1-3 from the US.

No problem. Glad this thread is of some help.