This compilation of eight never-before-released episodes from the 1972-73 incarnation of the seemingly never-ending animated series follows goofy Great Dane Scooby and his human friends at Mystery Inc. as they solve capers (frequently being chased by ghosts, often ogling food, and eventually unmasking some villain). I do think that the newer titles are jumping the shark (see my review of the head-scratching Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery Original Movie in VL-9/15), but these episodes are old school. "Sandy Duncan’s Jekyll and Hyde" takes a trip to a film studio and finds the actress shooting a movie in which she and her stand-in look just like Scooby’s friend Daphne in their wigs. The studio stages provide wacky settings and costumes to add to the corny drama ("That’s no waiter…that’s a mummy!" says Shaggy; to which Scoob replies "Not mine!"). Other Hanna-Barbera characters show up, such as in "The Haunted Showboat," with Josie and the Pussycats and I Dream of….spin-off stars Jeannie and her genie pupil Babu. I was most starstruck with "The Secret of Shark Island," watching Sonny and Cher bicker (he makes jibes her about her nose and calls her "Pocahontas") and "The Spirited Spooked Sport Show" with the late Tim Conway, who hilariously tells Scooby-Doo to be "Quiet! Dogs can’t talk," and makes a joke about kicking the bucket. Bottom line: this is still pretty dated, although it will likely appeal to hardcore fans. A strong optional purchase. [Note: the episodes here are also featured in the more comprehensive and also newly available The New Scooby-Doo Movies: The (Almost) Complete Collection.] Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)
The Best of the New Scooby-Doo Movies: The Lost Episodes
(2019) 2 discs. 337 min. DVD: $29.99. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. Volume 34, Issue 4
The Best of the New Scooby-Doo Movies: The Lost Episodes
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