H.R. Pufnstuf: The Complete Series

Great item. Delivery and price were great too.

I've been wandering down memory lane after giving my young nephews a DVD set of the complete series H.R. Pufnstuf. ("The adventures of a boy trapped in a fantastic land with a dragon friend and a witch enemy.") This Saturday-morning series was a huge part of my childhood; I had many fond memories of it, but hadn't seen it for nearly 40 years. So I thought, what the heck---I went ahead and viewed the discs before giving them as a Christmas gift. And I was surprised at just how well I remembered the show! It all seemed very familiar, despite the many years that had passed since I watched it. A handful of episodes contained musical interludes, and I remembered every single song after hearing just a few notes. I was also surprised to find that there were only 17 episodes ever produced. It was shot in 1969, and the network just kept repeating these same episodes over and over---it was on television constantly for about five years. The producers definitely wanted to shoot more episodes for additional seasons, but the network was cheap and figured that kids would keep on watching the same ones. It's a shame, because storywise I think a lot more could have been done with the basic premise. However, the following year the producers (the Krofft brothers) did at least shoot a feature-length film version of the show before the cast was let go and all the sets and costumes put into storage. I'll have to talk more about the film later... So, how does this series hold up as an adult? Hmmmm.... It definitely has the sheen of nostalgia for me, though watching it now I have to wince a bit about how LOUD and over-the-top it is. And all the very silly slapstick doesn't do much for me; this was intended for a young audience, to be sure. So what's in it for an adult? Well, all the drug references---ha! Man, talk about psychedelic; you have to assume that everyone involved with this show knew their way around a bong (and more). What I got a kick out of, however, was the fact that all of the costumed characters speak in voices based on classic Hollywood actors. So, it's fun trying to figure out just who everyone is supposed to be. (For instance, the talking skull is Boris Karloff, Judy the frog is Judy Garland, etc., etc....) Due to the fact that yes, to my aged ears and eyes a fair amount of the show now is slightly annoying, I'm not sure it is something I'd watch over and over, but I would get a kick out of viewing little bits and pieces every now and again... Oh, in conclusion I'll add that one of the chief pleasures of H.R. Pufnstuf for me was Billie Hayes' over-the-top performance as Witchiepoo. Okay, I'm contradicting myself---I've only now just said that I didn't care for the much-too-loud, much-too-broadly-played antics in this show! But for some reason I feel a great fondness for that character and the actress who played her. She isn't so much a witch as a clown in witch make-up; very silly, not scary. It's good to know that Billie Hayes, at 82 years of age, is still around. I viewed a few fairly recent videos of her on YouTube---she seems so nice!

I had to have this, can't wait to watch it.

HR Pufnstuf series is the collection-Magical island adventures and memorable for kids of all ages. Highest quality DVD production collection, featuring Billie Hayes, and starring BAFTA and Oscar nominated Jack Wild (Oliver!), who brings his character Jimmy to life so delightfully. This entire series is so playful,musical,and has so much color, vibrancy, and imagination brought to life by superb talents, it is irresistable. Perhaps quite modern and progressive for the day, it holds up brilliantly today, nearly 4 decades later, and never ceases to be entertaining. My memories of some of the characters had faded over the years, but marvelous to rediscover them again on this 3 dvd set. Highly recommend this H.R. Pufnstuf series, if simply for the sheer joy of the music, colors and characters, all from Living Island. And of course-a very great talent now lost to us prematurely-RIP Jack Wild.

I rate this series as a 5 star with a disclaimer. Disc one was defective, thereby rendering the last part of episode 4, and all of episodes 5, 6, and 7 unviewable. The rest of the 17 episodes were fantastic, although there is one episode in particular (I forget which one) on disc 2 with really bad video and soundtrack quality. The rest of the episodes are high quality and entertaining, and looked and sounded better than I ever saw it as a kid. We do have to be careful if our two year old daughter sees this and constantly remind her that hitting is bad. There is quite alot of hitting and slapstick involved, especially from Witchiepoo towards her pet bird, Seymour the Spider, and Stupid Bat. The extra interviews were interesting although I was a little dissappointed in the fact that Marty Krofft was so belittling and condenscending to his younger brother Sid. Sid seemed to be the fun and creative one, whereas Marty was the older and more serious one. But Marty wasn't very nice to Sid, and that put a damper on my enthusiasm for their work. Overall, worth $32, but I need to send back disc one and get a copy where all seven episodes play.

If you were a fan in the late sixties or early seventies, you *have* to have this set. If you've never seen it, you absolutely *must* see it! I mean, who doesn't love Witchiepoo and her Vroom Broom??? Step into the portal to a time where Saturday morning TV was anticipated by children all week: before cable TV, when you only received three channels (maybe four if you ran outside and turned the antannae on the roof until someone inside yelled, "Okay!!! Stop right there! I can see it!) Cartoons and children's shows weren't available 24/7/365 like they are now. These shows were a treat and so much better than the ones available today. I thoroughly enjoyed repeating my journey with Freddie and Jimmy and I know I will visit them again and again.

Alright, so I'm 27 - so I was obviously not around when this was on TV, my parents and other family members have never mentioned this ... so what drove me to buy this DVD, I really have no idea ... but I seem to have missed out. Big time. I love it! I've just finished watching the entire 17 episodes AND the film ... and, to be honest, I'm going to sit and watch them all again when I can because I was really disappointed when I got to the end. *sad* I'm quite mad about puppetry and 'surrealism' and this has got to be one of the more quirky programmes I've ever seen. The only way I can describe it is a bit like 'The Banana Splits' meets 'The Wizard of Oz' with a bit of 'Charlie Chalk' thrown in (though C.C. came afterwards, so I wonder if that was inspired by Pufnstuf.) Although it's a kids' programme, it's not all that wholesome, which I think is where today's kids' programmes go wrong. I mean, I'm 27 and I don't find it patronising at all and it doesn't underestimate its potentially young audience. If you look at things like Fraggle Rock, Dangermouse and several other Children's Cult Programmes of the past, there's a reason why adults still embrace and enjoy watching them and I think it's a shame that things like 'Pufnstuf' have been replaced by the horrors of Boobahs, Tellytubbies and the monstrosity of CGI Fireman Sam (it's almost a crime - do not watch it - stick to the original). Pufnstuf is very well made, it doesn't take itself too seriously, you can see that everyone is having a whale of a time and I think that's partly why it works so well. The acting is very good and, besides acting, there's a lot of other talents in there - there's dance, music and, of course, the lovely art of puppetry. I picked up on a few recognisable voices in there, which I kept looking up. Each character, although they might be stereotypical (for want of a better word), I can't really think of one character I don't like or any particularly weak characters. Freddy annoyed me a little bit at first, but now I'm used to him. I love Jack Wild in 'Oliver!' and it was nice to see him in something else and, to be honest, as good as he is in 'Oliver!', I think he outshines himself in this. Cling and Clang remind me of Lemmings and of course you've got the two contrasting characters of Witchiepoo and Pufnstuf himself. Kids today should be allowed to enjoy things like this. In fact, if you love children's programmes or a good trip down memory lane or have kids of your own - get this on DVD because it's excellent. It really is and I, for one, am extremely happy to welcome it into my collection.

I LOVED this TV Show as a child and only recently leaned that they only made 16 episodes the year I was born because the Kroft brothers fought hen asked by the studio to down-size the lavish sets. This collection is better than the movie they made after the show went off thr air by Universal. The music is great but remember it is the 60's so it has a different feel Jack Wild Sings great. Billie Hayes best known by many a decade later as introducing us to Robert Scorpio on ABC'S General Hospital pulls in a memorable iconic role as Witchiepoo who wanted the boy's talking flute Freddie

The product came in great condition and I really love the series.

You don't need to be high to love this show ... Sid & Marty are just that good ... my wife was all about this as a kid so I got it for her and ... well... even more magic ensued !!!

I bought this for my grand daughter - she is too small to understand it at the moment but likes the movement, singing and bright colours. I also bought it for myself - remembering the original series when a little kid and wanting to watch it again. The acting is good, and the puppets wonderful. The story line is surreal as are the sets. The whole series brims with happiness and suspense. Witchypoo is especially good, as are her two bumbling sidekicks. Although, Jimmy the Flute I could quite happily snap in half - he has the whiniest voice ever. The series was made in the days when adults were unafraid of letting their children watch stuff that also had some dark suspense to it - evil trees, being captured and imprisoned in a witches castle. Everything ends happily and evil is always defeated - just like it should be.