The Loretta Young Show: 100th Birthday Edition

Silver screen star Loretta Young hosted this anthology series, which ran from 1953 to 1961, and she herself starred in over half of the 250-plus episodes, introducing most with her trademark entrance—sweeping into a room in a glamorous gown to the applause of an unseen audience. The episodes themselves were a mix of comedy, romance, family drama, and crime stories, all with original scripts and—for the most part—new characters. The exception was Young's portrayal of Inga Helborg, a Farmer's Daughter–like role, in four multi-part narratives (all included here). The demands of a weekly production proved overwhelming for Young (this was an era when seasons ran as many as 36 episodes), and guest hosts regularly stepped in to ease her workload, starting in season three. The segments in this set, authorized by the Loretta Young Estate and released to celebrate her 100th birthday, were mastered from 16mm TV syndication prints or pre-HD video masters, and there are moments of missing audio and other damage. While not stellar, the quality is still acceptable, especially given the scope of the project. Presenting 146 episodes on a whopping 17 discs, DVD extras include archival interviews with Young, her children, and co-star Beverly Washburn; home movies; and an actress bio. Offering good value, this will mostly be of interest to nostalgia buffs. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)