Worth Getting? "The Adventures of Spin & Marty"

[BATBfan1]

I bought the two cartoon Walt Disney Treasures that came out last month, but is Spin & Marty worth getting? I know the other live action isn't but I am still ify on this one.
If you guys can help me out on this, it would be awesome!

[Loomis]

To repeat some comments I made elsewhere:

I have watched a few episodes from this serial and a number of factors will determine how much you will enjoy it.

The show was originally screened as part of the Mickey Mouse Club, so we wind up with a series of 10-15 minute installments of the show. The show is a 'serial' and each part generally follows on from the previous installment. If we all remember, MMC was a daily show in its original broadcast.

By today's standards, the show is a little hokey. There is some overacting, and some very simplistic plotlines. Once again, we must keep in mind that this was designed for a young television audience in the 1950s. As such, it was never designed to push the boundaries of story development or characterisation. Indeed, if you are expecting wild adventure in the vein of Davy Crockett or Elfego Baco, you will almost certainly be disappointed. The stories are very whimsical, very much in the vein of the Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn stories. The pairing of a stuck up city kid and a wild rebel boy makes for a good combination, and provides the catalyst for much of the first half of the series.

In the end, how much you enjoy this will depend on your tolerance and general enjoyment of vintage television. More to the point, vintage children's television. The show isn't designed to shock or excite, but rather give children some pure, escapist fun. I enjoy it at any rate...

[Hennie]

I watched it completly in 2 days, if you like old Disney movies or series, then buy it, like Loomis said don't compare with series of today.

[BATBfan1]

I mean but is it really worth the money? Are the extra's good? Is it a complete set?

[Lars Vermundsberget]

Well, it is a complete first season, which doesn't sound so bad.

"Really worth the money"? That would be up to you to decide, I guess. Compared to what some people paid for Disney material a few years ago, it could be argued that all of the Treasures are easily worth their rather low prices. There are no absolutes in "value for money".

[BATBfan1]

Thanx guys!

[MikeyMouse]

I'm only 29, and as such never saw the original airing of this serial, but I did watch reruns of the old MMC back when the Disney Channel aired more than the kiddie fluff it does now. I was fascinated with Spin & Marty, and this set certainly didn't disappoint me. I received it for Christmas and watched the entire season and the extras in about a day and a half. Sure it's campy and simplistic compared to today's offerings, but it's got alot of nostalgia and charm to it, too...primarily because it's campy and simplistic. If you are old enough to remember it, were a fan of the original MMC, or just like watching older, less offensive television and can appreciate it for what it is, then I don't think you could go wrong. Enjoy!

[Dafydd]

Yeah, I'm coming late to this party; but I absolutely love the Spin and Marty series... all 2.4 of them that I've seen (more about that below).

It's based on Marty Markham, a 1942 novel by Lawrence Edward Watkin, which I've also read; and the translation to live-action series is excellent.

(Off-topic, but "Annette" is based on the 1950 novel Margaret, by Janette Sebring Lowrey, which is dull as dirt; the Annette Funnicello series is much better. By contrast, the original Hardy Boys novels by "F.W. Dixon" -- house name -- are much better than the Disney series; I like the series, but the original books from the 20s and 30s are better.)

Sadly, during all the years I watched the shows on Vault Disney, they never, ever broadcast the complete second Spin and Marty series, "the Further Adventures of Spin and Marty." They would get a ways into the series, then abruptly switch to the third series, "the New Adventures..."

When Disney came out with the DVD, I was ecstatic; I assume they would quickly follow up with the other two series, "the Further" and "the New." I also foolishly believed they would release season 2 of Zorro.

Well, here we are, a couple years later, and no more S&M (maybe I'd better avoid that abbreviation), and no more Zorro.

I think I'll start a new thread and ask if anybody knows whether they're coming. In the meanwhile, for anyone interested in kid shows from the 1950s, I think the Spin and Marty which is available is first rate, and the DVD is well worth the money. There are great interviews with the actors and lots of fun facts.

Dafydd

[ichabod]

Well to throw in my comments, I had never seen Spin and Marty and had never even heard of it until the DVD was announced. The completist in me bought it anyway back in December 2005 when it was first released.

Anyway it sat there for about 15 months completely unwatched until around early 2007 and when I wss looking for something to watch I stumbled across it and reluctantly shoved it in.

Anyway, I ended up going watching it right up until I went to bed and finished the rest of the following day. Yes as has already been said it is "hokey", but if you're familair with the 50s and 60s Disney movies such as "The Parent Trap", "The Shaggy Dog" etc it's very in keeping with them.

Anyway, I just wish that they'd release the other two seasons.

[Escapay]

Recently watched the first season and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get into and how enjoyable and down-to-earth the characters were, even if the story was as Loomis said: hokey and simplistic. Also, it felt more about Marty than about Spin, but I guess "The Adventures of Spin & Marty" sounded better than "The Adventures of Marty Markham".

The bonus features on the DVD are okay, though I felt "Return to the Triple R" could have been (and likely was) longer than the 10 minutes that it was. Then again, space on the second disc was rather slim since the 15 episodes took up a lot of space. Still, I wouldn't mind if future sets shone the spotlight on the supporting cast with like, a cast reunion featurette or something.

It's too bad Disney sees this kind of stuff as only fit for a nostalgic Treasures set. They could easily release the three seasons as two-disc sets that nostalgic parents can buy and show to their kids. If the Treasures are the only way to get this material, I sincerely hope that the other two seasons get released, along with the second "Hardy Boys" serial (even if it's not as good as the first, according to what I've read).

albert

[goofystitch]

I'm a big fan of Disney's Spin & Marty. I somewhat remember it from when I used to watch the original Mickey Mouse Club on Vault Disney, but I never got to see it in order like this. I agree that season sets would be nice, or at least a continuation of this serial in the Treasures line.

I must admit that I didn't find The Hardy Boys to be anywhere near as captivating and while I wouldn't mind seeing the second season released in the Treasures line, I wouldn't be disappointed if it never happened. I like Spin & Marty for the simplicity that you don't find on TV today and the nostalgia of it all. I felt the same way about Annette. It was a nice break from the typical shows that I watch nowadays. Both serials make you feel good and the characters are so likable that it is easy to forgive all of the other criticisms.

[merlinjones]

I like the two "Spin & Marty" sequel serials even better because they also feature Kevin "Moochie" Corcoran, Annette and Darlene! I hope those make it to disc one day.

[a-net-fan]

Glad to hear that im not the only "younger person" who enjoys these nostalgic shows and doesnt mind a little "hokeyness and sentimentality" in their entertainment.


I REALLY hope we see the next two Spin and Marty serials come to DVD soon. They are better then the first season on many levels. Its been a long time since I have seen them tho. Id really like to see them again.

[rspezzano]

I loved the series when it ran on vault Disney and would highly suggest the Walt Disney Treasures to any Disney fan.

I also hope we eventually see the next 2 "seasons" of Spin and Marty as a treasure someday!

Robert
co-host of alwaysdisney.com