The FBI: The Fourth Season

I'm a boomer, so this show is one that our whole family anticipated every week. Right up there with "The Fugitive" and many others. Each episode is based on an actual FBI case, but with dramatic license and diverse locations. There's no swearing, but lots of smoking, and everyone is wearing suits, even the bad guys. The series was sponsored by The Ford Motor Company, and stated as such at the beginning of each episode, and that's been edited out, so there's a little "jump" at the opening where the sponsorship was deleted. But they couldn't edit out the overwhelming abundance of Fords in every episode. Every parking lot is filled with Fords, and every agent drives a Ford. There's an occasional Mercury, or a Lincoln or a Thunderbird sprinkled here and there, but it's definitely a world of Fords. Even when they push one over a cliff, it's an old Ford. The episodes all deal with serious Federal crimes committed by really bad people who are either career criminals or sometimes good people who get dragged into situations not of their making. The stories are all riveting. The nature of the crimes can be kidnapping, extortion, bank robbery, securities theft, embezzlement, espionage, crimes on the high seas, interstate transportation, crimes on government reservations or properties, white collar crimes, and other Federal crimes. The acting is first rate, with Efrem Zimbalist Jr. playing the part of Inspector Lewis Erskine, as do other regulars, Phillip Abbott as Assistant Director Arthur Ward, and Steven Brooks as Tom Colby, Inspector Erskin's faithful squeaky clean sidekick. Director Ward is constantly on the phone with F.B.I. Director Hoover, who you never see. A special treat is that you get to see a huge number of up and coming actors who later hit the big time. The list is too long to mention all of them, but believe me, they're in every episode. The Producer, Quinn Martin, was highly adept at picking talent, and giving those folks a big boost to their careers. So if you're into crime dramas from days gone by, you've met a real winner. You won't be disappointed.

I gave this boxset five stars because it arrived promptly, was in great condition and the episodes so far have been first class with top notch guest stars.I haven't been watching the episodes in order, but my favourites so far have been: 'The Cober List' (written by the great John D F Black), 'The Nightmare' (guest starring the wonderfully quirky Bruce Dern), 'Wind It Up And It Will Betray You', 'Out Of Control', and 'The Maze' (with great performances from Steve Ihnat and Simon Oakland).I'm glad to see the dvds are now packaged in clear plastic dvd cases, which has eliminated the problems I experienced with the Season 2 boxset.By the way, I live in Ireland so I'm delighted that these dvds play over here as I had given up hope of ever seeing this series on tv again. And I now realise that it was never properly shown over here in the first place, ending prematurely with "Caesar's Wife' in September 1971.So, I urge all you fans of 'The FBI' series, to buy this boxset. You won't be disappointed!Jimmy

Sometimes the videos stop or skip

It is so good to see these shows again. Season 4 is great and although I don't remember many of the episodes because it was so long ago, the nostalgia of those shows, the quality of the acting back then and the story lines along with the familiar actors of yesteryear are great to watch again. I watch one episode a week because that is the way they originally aired and I am putting my library together so once I have watched the entire season I will get season 5. It is still good, clean television.

This was our first CD set in the series, and the show scripts held up so well. It has been a joy to watch as the guys who are supposed to protect the public work as a team to get the job done. Each set lists the guests who appear - but be prepared to see your favorites in the role of the villian - even little Ronnie Howard! But, it all ends as it is supposed to end, or at least the way we expect it should end.

Probably 5 % of these episodes open as they originally did when aired. "Next!...THE FBI IN COLOR.......FORD MOTOR COMPANY PRESENTS....THE F B I !!!. Amazons editorial description does not warn you that the majority of these episodes are the ones hacked for syndication. At the end of the original broadcast prints were pleas to be on the lookout for Top Ten Fugitives who were profiled. Shame on Warner Brothers for being so lazy and conniving. How about a "Cheap" INSERT LISTING EPISODES WITH GUEST STARS AND A SYNOPSIS. Custom On Demand DVD'S -----------PHOOEY!!

The fourth season of "The FBI" was as good as it gets. The show was well formed at this time. Its formula was well developed. The stories work well. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. was the idealized FBI agent. William Reynolds was the stalwart sidekick partner. The stories taken from the files of the FBI make for great drama. The guest stars were a veritable who's who from that time. This set was great as you get the entire season for one price.

I never watched this show when it was shown originally and after watching a couple of episodes on DVD I remember why. It's boring. Perhaps J Edgar should have appeared every so often...in a dress....

In the same league as contemporary series Hawaii 5'0, Mission Impossible, and Columbo, the FBI is one of the greatest police TV series in its time, in fact, of all time. Although set in the midst of the cold war, a now long-forgotten era, watching the episodes in this day and age is still both entertaining and enriching.The picture quality of the DVDs is excellent; the packaging also met my expectations.

great dvd great veiwing