All In The Family 20th Anniversary Vhs Deals on Isabel Sanford

All in the Family 20th Anniversary [VHS]

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Editorial Reviews

Long before 1990s sitcoms made dysfunctional families fashionable, America had Edith and Archie Bunker. Every week as the war in Vietnam raged on, they could be counted on, seated at the piano, singing of the good old days as they welcomed America into their fractured-fairy-tale home for another episode of All in the Family.

Equal parts comedy and social commentary, All in the Family offered a televised mirror to a nation struggling to redefine itself in an increasingly complex world. The show shocked and seduced, arousing its audience as it continually reflected society in ways unprecedented and still unequaled.

Norman Lear, the show's creator, hosts this 20th anniversary best of the Bunkers, offering scenes from the finest and funniest episodes: Archie slinging ethnic slurs, Meathead Mike ranting on Richard Nixon, Edith and Archie confronting his impotency, and Edith learning of the lump in her breast. These and many more highlights remind how the show scandalously addressed topics taboo at the time, yet undeniably present in everyday life.

As the warning screen indicated when the show made its debut: The program you are about to see seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns. By making them a source of laughter, we hope to show--in a mature fashion--just how absurd they are. Indeed. --Stephan Magcosta

Customer Reviews

A retrospective on one of the best television shows ever aired and one that helped change the country

Reviewed by Charles Ashbacher, 2009-05-25

It has been almost 40 years since "All In the Family" made its' network television debut, so much of the controversy it generated has passed deep into the archives of history. It is nearly impossible for the young person to realize how revolutionary it was at the time. Until the show appeared, network television shows about families were bland and noncontroversial fare along the lines of "Leave It to Beaver" and "My Three Sons." Suddenly, topics such as rape, atheism, homosexuality, bigotry, racial and ethnic prejudice, and conflict over the war in Vietnam were passionately being discussed in the Bunker household. By openly airing these previously taboo topics, the nation was forced to examine them and in its' own way, the show helped the nation cope with and overcome some of them.
This tape, hosted by the show's producer Normal Lear, shows highlights from the show as well as comments from a wide range of viewers, conservative Christians to older couples where the partners have different views. While their reactions range from the extremely positive to extremely negative, this is an accurate portrayal of the national reaction to the show. Even the people offended by the show admit to the extent it affected them. To say that "All In the Family" was revolutionary television is an understatement, it completely changed the concept of network television from one where blandness was in and controversy was avoided to a position where difficult topics could be openly discussed. It is impossible to overstate the social change driven by this show and some of the most significant is demonstrated on this tape.

Some of the best moments of a landmark series

Reviewed by C. MacNeil, 2003-01-31

"All in the Family" has been reviewed, re-reviewed, analyzed and re-analyzed till little anything original is left. Who cares? This series was a true revolutionary for its time and had the gonads enough to tackle real-life social issues and problems in real-life fashion, something that comedies then didn't do. This video, a compilation of highlights from the series, comes no where near capturing ALL the highlights of the program: you'd have to get cassettes of literally every episode to savor all those other highlights for which not enough time exists in this compilation. We do get the treat of some classics, like the historic kiss Sammy Davis Jr. plants on Archie while a camera captures it, "Meathhead" Michael's frustrating rantings to Archie about "Tricky Dick" and a then-bold episode where "Dingbat" Edith finds a lump in her breast. But some of the other highlights you won't see here are those showing Edith's evolution from passive to formidable wife, and her standing up with a strength the comes from unflappable conviction of her beliefs. We miss the powerfully devastating show where Edith escapes a sexual assault by decking her victimizer with her own birthday cake, nor do we see (or are we likely to as long as Norman Lear has his way) Archie's heartbreaking acceptance of his wife's death. Still, this compilation is a dandy and gives us just enough of an appetite to ask for more. In that respect, the late Carroll O'Connor, who pumped an amazing life into the character of Archie Bunker, and a cast of stellar other performers, has left us with an indelible and priceless legacy.

Innovative, creative, topical and a one of a kind milestone!

Reviewed by Mike, 2002-01-28

In a television world sadly beset with mediocre programs aplenty, violence, endless, insipid talk shows and total insipidness, "All In The Family" dared to tackle sensitive issues with outstanding results. In a time when "its just talked about in polite company," it dared to be nonPC (Politically Correct). Not only did it stimulate endless debates and converations, but provided vehicles for spinoffs. Today in an climate of "eggshell"non-controversial world of television/movies, other media, in an effort not to offend, PC has watered down controversy to pablum. Save the insipid, sensationalized, endless parade of talk shows and expose shows, nothing is ventured. What a shame that this program cannot be resurected and hold again a mirror to American society.

Great synopsis of the series as a whole

Reviewed by A. Sarkar, 2001-08-28

This video has loads of scenes from many different episodes of All in the Family; with emphasis on everything from Archie's prejudice to Edith's ever-present kindheartedness and innocence to Meathead's liberalism and Gloria's squeaky voice, with Norman Lear, the castmembers, and some fans/naysayers of the show interspersed in between. This trip down Memory Lane is well worth the money! The only thing that is not in the video is any appearance or mention of the little girl named "Stephanie" played by Danielle Brisbois. "Joey" does make a few appearances; when Archie "baptizes" him and when Gloria and Mike decide to "move out West" with Joey in tow and say their tearful goodbyes.

All in the Family 20th Anniversary Special

Reviewed by Dave, 2001-04-20

Whatever I try to write about this show will not credit everyone involved enough to do the show justice but I will do my best. Everytime I see the repeated episodes on Nick at Nite I can remember watching those same repeated shows with my parents in the 80's when I was just a kid. The nostalgic feeling I get is unlike anything I have experienced watching television. The show strikes a nerve in all of us that can't occur watching any other TV program or movie in my opinion. Archie was brilliantly created by Norman Lear and directed as perfectly by Hal Cooper. Jean Stapleton may be one of the best actresses in entertainment history. Her ability to play a character like Edith had to take all her strength and talents because it was done perfectly. Rob Reiner's and Sally Struthers' characters will never be duplicated by any TV couple now and forever. The show's stories were the most powerful messages any sitcom has achieved and will never be achieved again. The rape episode when Edith overcame the situation could have won an emmy on its own for best actress. Another example of this with regard to Edith is when she stood up to Archie about her working at the senior citizen's center. Archie could have won emmies on single episodes many times over. The two we can never forget and must never ever forget is the Christmas episode with Mike's friend who was a draft dodger sharing the dinner table with not only Archie in Archie's house but Archie's friend who lost his son in the war. The performance put forth by Archie in this episode will never be duplicated by any actor in a sitcom again. The other stand out performance has to be the emotional roller-coaster we are put through when we find out Edith has passed on and see Archie express his sadness like no other actor will do more perfectly again on any tv show for the rest of eternity. Their are countless episodes that will never be recreated again. It is not because they are dated like I've seen some comments reflect it is because no one can perform at such a high level like the entire cast and crew did on this show for years. They made us laugh, cry, think, hope, question, philosophize, regret, love, hate, sympathize, and much much more. Most of all they left a mark on our lives like very few people in their position will ever do again throughout the course of our life while we and the entire population of the world are alive on this planet. In closing all I can say is: "THOSE WERE THE DAYS."