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By
FRANK BEHRENS
Fans of "The Honeymooners"
know that Ralph and Alice Kramden first appeared
as part of one of Jackie Gleason's weekly shows
and that these early sketches are the so-called
"lost" episodes that Gleason kept in his vaults
all through the run of the second series of
half-hour episodes. All of these earlier episodes
are now available on DVDs issued on the MPI label,
but I want to report on a seasonal item called
"The Honeymooners - Holiday Classics."
Actually the title is misleading, since only two
of the four episodes, culled from the complete
sets, have to do with holidays. In "Christmas
Party," we are treated to many of the Gleason
characters -- Joe the Bartender, Reggie Van
Gleason, Rudy the Repairman, Fenwick Babbitt and
the Poor Soul -- who drop in one by one to do
their turn. The sequence with the Poor Soul is
especially touching. A visit from Frances Langford
leads to two songs, while a singing pint-sized
neighborhood kid had me reaching for the fast
forward button.
"New Year's Eve Party" is really an excuse to
feature the combined playing of Jimmy and Tommy
Dorsey -- and great playing it is -- after the
comedy of Ralph trying to stir up an argument to
avoid going out on Christmas Eve and then, when
offered a free evening by the Dorseys, faking an
illness to his boss, who naturally turns up at the
same nightclub.
"Two-Family Car" and "Forgot to Register" are
shorter, standard episodes with surprise endings,
the second of which is ruined by the title. But
there are still laughs aplenty and you don't have
to wait until Christmas or the New Year to
purchase this item. |
