The Original M.D. Show Finally Comes to DVD
Robert Young plays Dr. Marcus Welby, a dedicated family physician who made house calls a priority in life. From week to week Welby was tasked with some of the most devastating disorders and serious situations an M.D. can face, but confronted them with a fierce honesty and dedicated compassion that made him a virtual superhero with a stethoscope. But he could not do it alone.
Enter Dr. Steven Kiley, portrayed by the strapping and very new James Brolin in his first regular television role. As any doctor will tell you, looks can be deceiving. The show mixed up the common formula, with the older and wiser Welby embracing the unorthodox treatments while the young gun, Kiley, had the straitlaced approach. The chemistry was electric, and the results were positively award-winning, as both actors earned Emmys for their roles.
Marcus Welby, M.D. ran for seven seasons on ABC from 1969 1976, earning it a top spot in the medical drama lexicon and paving the way for such hits as House, M.D.
Bonus Features
* Original 2-Hour Pilot Movie: A Matter Of Humanities: Dr. Marcus Welby enlists the help of a young Doctor Steven Kiley to help run his Santa Monica practice. Airing on March 26, 1969, this two-hour made-for-TV movie set the stage for the one-hour series that would be viewed regularly in about one of every four American homes that year.
Buy “Marcus Welby, M.D.” For Only $34.99
March 5, 2010
#1
It stars Robert Young, one of the best all-time actors. The story lines were sensitive and compassionate. The writing on this show was excellent. The series was broadcast in color. All of these add up to a very great TV show. What more do we need to know, except to say PLEASE RELEASE SEASON ONE now! I’ll be the first one to buy it. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
March 5, 2010
#2
Words cannot express how happy I am to see that Marcus Welby M.D. Season One is planned for release this coming May. MWMD was one of my favorite TV shows when I was growing up and I hoped that it (like Hawaii Five-O and Mary Tyler Moore Show before it) would eventually be available on DVD. But after years of hoping, I thought the show was simply lost in the noise of the vintage/retro TV landscape probably never to be found. So imagine my surprise when I did a “drive-by” search for it today (as I had done for years) and found there was actually an item listing with a release date?!
I was fortunate to have a few episodes of MWMD on video and they served as constant reminders of how good the show was, and how much I wished I could have had Dr. Welby as my primary care physician
. But what really impressed me was how honestly the show portrayed real life, everyday people with health and human issues. And yes, occasionally kindly Dr. Welby had to be stern and put his foot down (rarely unsuccessfully) when a patient was not doing the right thing, wouldn’t take his advice, etc. And sometimes, things didn’t end happily, just like in real life. But in today’s world of corporate medical practices, manic hospitals, insensitive and/or incompetent doctors, etc, who wouldn’t want to visit Dr. Welby, Dr. Kiley, and Nurse Consuelo at their peaceful suburban office-residence, providing their personal and humane medical care? AND they even made house calls!!!
I look forward to this release and hope that Shout! Factory will commit to following up with every season of this wonderful TV series.
March 5, 2010
#3
Out of all the medical dramas that surfaced on network TV in the late 1960′s (and there were many) “Marcus Welby M.D.” outshined all others both in terms of writing and acting. Robert Young, who had a medicore film career, but became known as the dad on “Father Knows Best”, starred as Dr. Welby, a sensitive, yet intelligent family physician whose job week after week was to help those in crisis. The series also starred Mr. Barbra Streisand himself James Brolin, a hunky, motorcycle driving doctor who worked with Dr. Welby in his practice in Southern California. The series tackled many issues including rape, impotence, veneral disease, depression, and many others, and by the show’s second year (1970-1971) the drama hit the top spot in the Nielsen ratings and became the first series on the ABC network to become the #1 show of the season. Both Young and Brolin won Emmys for their work and “Marcus Welby M.D.” would win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. The show was not without controversy, however, as two episodes the series filmed were aimed at basically demoralizing homosexuals. One of these episodes called “The Outrage” dealt with a gay teacher sexually assaulting one of his male students. Gay rights groups picketed the ABC studios, and ultimately 17 network affiliates refused to air the program marking the first time such an incident happened on one of the big three U.S. networks. This boxset contains all 26 season one episodes that began airing on September 23rd, 1969 along with the original pilot movie that aired in the spring of that year. This set contains seven dics and the episodes have been remastered from their original master tapes. Enjoy a true television classic.
March 5, 2010
#4
I am anxiously waiting for the release of Marcus Welby MD. I loved that show. PLEASE bring it back on dvd!!!!
March 5, 2010
#5
I can say this that the SHOUT factory is looking into this but I think the hold up is rights issues as to who owns the show…at least thats the story I have. Theres alot more left in 2009 so lets hope!