One of the best television adaptations of a comic book, The Incredible Hulk (1978-82) lent gravity and pathos to the fantastic premise--an experiment gone wrong causes a scientist to transform into a giant creature whenever he becomes angry--established in the popular Marvel Comics series. The network version stripped away the Hulk's outlandish foes (as well as his rudimentary speech) and instead focused on the loneliness of his human alter ego, David Banner (well played by the late Bill Bixby), as he traveled across the United States in search of a cure for his affliction... as well as an escape from a prying reporter (the late Jack Colvin, also terrific). But despite its Fugitive-like premise, the TV Hulk never lost its comic book audience thanks to the plausibly ferocious performance by actor/bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno (whose growls were dubbed by actors Ted Cassidy and Charles Napier) as the Hulk, who handled the action portions of the show with plausibly superhuman brawn. The Complete First Season set contains both of the pilots that kicked off the series ("Pilot" was previously released on a separate single disc) as well as all 10 episodes from the first season; among the adventures encountered by David and the Hulk are a gambling scandal in Vegas ("The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas"), a meltdown at a nuclear facility ("Earthquakes Happen"), and a runaway plane ("747," which reunites Bixby with his Courtship of Eddie's Father co-star Brandon Cruz).Extras on the set have been the subject of much Internet debate--the commentary by series writer/producer/director Kenneth Johnson on "Pilot" is the same as on the previous DVD release of this episode (as well as the introduction by Ferrigno), and a proposed gag reel mentioned in promotional material has been moved to a future DVD release. The sole fresh bonus material is "Stop the Presses," an episode taken from the series' second season. --Paul Gaita [show more]
25 years before Ang "don"t make him anglee" Lee, helmed the unjustly maligned 'Hulk' (which I loved), 'Marvel' comic"s not so jolly green giant was a regular on terrestrial TV, in an appropriately titled Saturday afternoon series: 'The Incredible Hulk'. Genial supporting actor Bill Bixby plays Dr. David Bruce Banner; a mild mannered scientist who, in a guilt wracked bid to release our inherent hidden strengths, zaps himself with too much Gamma radiation and creates an anger triggered alter ego in the Hulk (played with aplomb by champion bodybuilder Lou Ferringo). Season I has all ten episodes that aired from 1977-78 and is book ended by a pair of excellent double bills.
I"ll be the first to admit that nostalgia is the booze that"ll blur your judgement no end, the mind drug that"ll genuinely make you believe the 'A-Team', 'Knight Rider' and 'Streethawk' were some of the greatest shows ever made (and maybe they were!) but 'The Incredible Hulk', though dated, is still great fun. The special effects (including Banner"s now legendary magical jeans) are done with such care and attention to detail that they compliment the often overlooked performances from Bixby, Ferringo and John Colvin as annoying Tabloid reporter Jack McGee. Bill Bixby bought real pathos to his character; an outsider trying to get by, wronged at every turn, no one but Bill could"ve carried that 'Lonely Man' theme tune.
A classic programme loved by young and old, with its pitch perfect tone balancing serious drama and riotous Hulked out action, this show was way ahead of its time, and laid the foundations for all the good comic book movie adaptations we have today. Altogether now: "Don"t make me angry Mr McGee, you wouldn"t like me when I"m angry".
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The complete first season of the classic 1970s series based on the popular Marvel Comics character. Bill Bixby plays tormented scientist David Banner, who has become exposed to dangerous gamma radiation that causes him to transform into the monstrous Hulk (played by Lou Ferrigno). On the run across the USA in search of a cure, Banner rights wrongs and tries to keep control of his violent alter-ego. In this series, Banner awakens in a motel next to a dead woman and fears he may have killed her as the Hulk, and stumbles across an underground experiment to harvest DNA from newborn babies. Episodes are: 'Pilot'; 'Death in the Family'; 'The Final Round'; 'The Beast Within'; 'Of Guilt, Models and Murder'; 'Terror in Times Square'; '747'; 'The Hulk Breaks Las Vegas'; 'Never Give a Trucker an Even Break'; 'Life and Death'; 'Earthquakes Happen'; and 'The Waterfront Story'.
The Incredible Hulk - Series 1 - Complete [DVD] [DVD] (2006) Bill Bixby
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