Most horror fans are familiar with the two primary kooky families, The Munsters and The Addams Family, which dominated the small screen televisions sets in September 1964 (by the end of the following year both ended in cancellations), and rival each other created to interesting wonderful enjoying levels, still exist today. Some consider the Munsters a more down to earth, friendly with a batty uncle, while the Addams as wealthy sophisticated delightfully maddening family. However, this review focuses on the entire series of The Addams Family, a three-volume set packaged in a nice box, though to some disagree with double side discs inside, if they were single sided, likely raise the price far out of reach of fans, therefore this practice is quite normal of other television or cable series. While doing a recap of each episode might delight some, it likely would become an endless article with over 60 shows (over 1,600 minutes) to cover, therefore enjoy a recap of the Addams and some of the macabre breakthroughs of this family and other highlights. The main core of the family characters presents for all the episodes, reinforcing the term of family, always inclusive, and the view to everyone else as the ones with oddities.

First, a majority of the Addams show takes place in their living room, which actually took reference from their creator Charles Addams, a New Yorker magazine cartoonist, and the actors in their respective characters became spot-on lookalikes with the cast. In fact, Charles’ work also inspired Maila Nurmi, to create the persona of a ghoulish ‘Vampira’ in reference to Morticia. The selection of props, for show did a fair assessment of Charles’ Manhattan apartment, which included, suits of armor, an antique crossbow collection, a vast library and many other strange items, likely a home to rival the Bleak House of Guillermo del Toro. Therefore, the spooky and ooky Addams family, had a solid foundation from their kooky creator, and lasts to entertain the fans for countless years.

One must understand the family and how they relate, as well as the homey features in store, in addition to many of the firsts such as the love displayed between Gomez (John Astin (Gremlins 2: The New Batch [1990])) and Morticia (Carolyn Jones (House of Wax [1953])) their marriage highly implies a sex life, as Gomez goes to ravenous kissing every time his wife speaks French. Gomez was a wealthy eccentric lawyer, then there was Lurch (Ted Cassidy (The Intruder [1975])) the butler, who enjoyed playing his harpsichord and Thing to assist him, which often appeared as Cassidy’s right hand (though few times his left). However, when Lurch appeared on camera, Thing’s duties fell to either associate producer Jack Voglin, or if he found himself unavailable, then another crew member fill the position. The entire family’s ancestral roots became clear with the episode Morticia’s Romance: Part 1, in which one learns that Gomez, actually a sought-after bachelor and to a prearranged marriage to Opehlia (Morticia’s sister) played by Jones too. Herein the understanding of Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan (The Prey [1983])) was on Morticia’s side and Grandmama (as Blossom Rock aka: Marie Blake (She Devil [1957])), who often referred to Gomez as her son, but wait, Granny Frump (the maiden name of Morticia) portrayed by none-other-than Margaret Hamilton (13 Ghosts [1960]). In addition, the occasional appearance of Cousin Itt (Felix Silla, portrayed the character, but voice comes from producer Nat Perrin, who spoke gibberish and nonsensical words and played back at a higher speed). As for their lovely children, Wednesday (Lisa Loring (Blood Frenzy [1987])) who often mentioned playing with her doll Marie Antoinette (headless of course – after she did lose her head on October 16, 1793) and her pet spider Homer. While her older brother Pugsley (Ken Weatherwax), creating weapons and using them, including bouts with dynamite. Gomez had the happy-go lucky mentality of everything is completely ok, regardless of the display entertaining him with odd aerobatic positions of mediation (yoga – way before its popularity), stock market trades, dancing, sword fighting, bull whips and playing with his crossbow. However, in the end, Gomez cares about his train set, especially crashing or blowing them up often to maddening smile with his cigar well clenched, but he always showed the concerned father, husband, and neighbor. They became the first television family with their own home computer UNIVAC, showing their wealth a few times, hence rising above some, and appearing as an elitist.

Many times the Addams referred to a motto, that many horror fans agree and wish for “every day is Halloween” and Gomez noting “a bit madness fine luxury” it was serious quirky phrases, which made watching the entire series a wonderful trip down memory lane. Even today, their famous Victorian home has numerous model kits to dollhouse designs, and for some fans, they recreated the Gomez’s trainset with their house on the platforms. Hence all showing the influence of their home life created from recycled sets of The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) and of course heightening the search for a fully function growling bear rug for the fans, though most likely to pass on their version of a pussycat (a lion). This family’s curiosities extended further, than most fans could ever hope to recreate, with love affair for piranha fish and, washing a pet octopus, though the option to clip of roses and leave just thorns always option to explore.

This reviewer like many others always sought to have neighbors similar to the Munsters or in this case The Addams and perhaps the Collins from Dark shadows, but the gothic charms, and macabre grandiose mannerisms always stay fresh for home decorating tidbits. The Addams home budding up against swamps and graveyards, two aspects explore often in the horror cinema, with examples extending from The Hound of the Baskervilles [1959] (near the moors) and The House by the Cemetery [1981]. As other qualities, the cost reasonable and the humor doesn’t feel stale, and in some areas fits nicely into the modern world, with reference to storylines. The basic meaning behind the shows, not judging others on their behaviors, The Addams held strong beliefs in family structure, always accepting of others, politeness, and kindness (taking one’s hat – thanks Lurch).  Therefore, one should invest the time and money, to revisit this classic show and long for time of macabre bliss.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057729/

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

Baron’s Rating: 8.0/10