Daktari The Complete First Season (5 Discs)

Childhood memories at it's best

The highlight of this series is the interaction of the animals, lions, tigers, bears, leopards, cheatahs, llamas, camels, giraffe, elephants both Asian & African, various African deer & antelope, ocelot, various birds etc. What young child (or older one) would not like to pet and interact with such amazing animals. Of course, the animal stars are Clarence the cross-eyed but magnificent lion who is much like a huge gentle sleepy housecat during the day. But he has a great interactive personality. And especially Judy the chimpanzee who is very smart & very mischievous. But she also often saves the day. Some of the science experiments are silly. But for children to observe & get to know the antics and personalities of such amazing animals is a real treat. It also shows wild animals can be dangerous and are not all friendly like trained ones are. But wild animals have their place on our earth and they add to our enjoyment of life. This is a good clean family series.

I really liked this program when I was a kid...oh how time flies. So I was very happy when they released them on dvd..not so crazy about the price and the fact that we only have the first two seasons to choose from...want them all! Now the print quality of season one is very good..be aware that the "full" Daktari theme is not heard in this season..that sadly doesn't come into being until the second season. Also that this is a very "lame" program. The show or rather the plots are great, but the finale scripts and the acting leave much to be desired. Don't get me wrong I Love This Series...the problem is I don't know why?!? The acting is so "laid back" or there seems to be something, or someone in the background who's screaming "there will be no action". It might be the editing or the direction, but this show should be boring and it's not!?!I don't know how many times Daktari or someone was almost killed and they just "pat" the bad guy on the back and let him (her) go. AND Paula, everyone loves Paula, fans love Paula, well now that I'm older I'm not so sure about that...what a pain in the butt she becomes! Still I Love This Show

I was about ten years old when I became a huge Daktari fan. I remember those Saturday nights eagerly waiting for that adventuresome Daktari theme song. I fantasized about living in Africa on the Wameru compound, having a heroic dad like the great African doctor, being as pretty and charming as Paula Tracy, having a cute boyfriend like Jack, and all the exotic pets I could ever imagine owning. Oh, and of course riding on the back of Clarence the cross-eyed lion! And here I was, a middle aged mom and grandmother, eagerly waiting for this beloved show to come out on DVD. I knew it was just a matter of time... but it's about time!I am totally impressed with the quality of the video and sound. Very well put together, and worth every penny. I couldn't help but get a little misty-eyed when I started remembering those old episodes and exactly why I fell so in love with this show. Okay, I AM a sappy sentimentalist, but I can't wait until my grand kids are old enough to share these with them. I realize they may not be as impressed, but it would be cool if they could capture just a bit of the magic I experienced as a kid, so much in love with my television heroes - both furry and human!

I bought this DVD purely for nostalgic purposes.I remember seeing this series as a kid and wanted to see if it was as good as I remember.It is.There is hardly any violence here but plenty of adventure.This is a family show.Marshall Thompson is perfect as Dr Marsh Tracey.I read that he was interested and cared about wildlife.His sincere performance in this show shines through.He would be more involved in the production of season 2 and I have read that the show gets even better.He was actually bitten by one of the animals in the second season and needed stitches while the animal was sedated.This was kept in when the episode was aired.The only other person I know who sincerity shines through in his performance was Fess Parker in his own series "Daniel Boone"While I was a kid,for me it was all about the adventures.But now,I have come to appreciate more the hi-jinks of the chimp called Judy.She steals every scene she is in.There is plenty of action and adventure in these stories ranging from poachers,jewel robbers,escaped prisoners to forest fires as well as trying to save the endangered wildlife.As this is a family show,you can watch this with your kids or grandchildren.I'm sure they will enjoy it too.

Introduced Daktari to my grandkids and they loved it! Looking into purchasing next few seasons.

There are other more detailed reviews here so I will keep this brief. Daktari is on my personal top ten favorite TV series list. The series is well written and well acted. The scenery is beautiful, the animals are a delight. Who wouldn't like Clarence the friendly, cross-eyed lion? Or Judy the smart and sassy chimp? They are adorable! The doctor and his daughter as well as their associates at Wameru Animal Center are kind and caring individuals. This series has warmth, intelligence and compassion - qualities that are missing from today's bag of reality housewives/gossip/hip hop/nonsense that is the new TV. I am grateful to be able to enjoy Daktari again (never thought it would be released on DVD but I am so glad it's here). As far the DVD-R format my understanding is that these recordings will hold up for between 10 to 15 years. With proper care peraps they will last even longer. No complaints from me.

This is old time classic TV show involving the animal kingdom it's a little corny at times but if you like animals and you like old TV shows you'll like this.

GOOD

A spin off From the 1965 film CLARENCE THE CROSS EYED LION,, time has been kind to this well remembered TV series. The setting is Africa, Daktari is Dr Marsh Tracy (Marshall Thompson),a vet who runs the Wameru Study Centre For Animal Behaviour along with his daughter Paula (Cheryl Miller) and also two capable assistants Jack and Mike. However, possibly the two biggest stars of the show are Clarence the Lion and Judy the Chimpanzee. I think it would be difficult to resist the appeal of two characters like this, who are as much a part of the cast as the actors. It is often the combined efforts of Clarence and Judy, who save a sticky situation. Throughout the 18 episodes, there are plenty of animal rescues, and a variety of animals from big cats to birds, pass through Daktari's Hospital, but this is no mere animal Hospital drama. Daktari and co. face danger from a variety of sources, including hunters, trappers, bush fires, ruthless killers evading justice, kidnappers, diamond smugglers and gun runners. The well paced and plotted episodes of fifty minutes (there are two double episodes) blend tension and drama, good humour and plenty of animal antics and a cast of actors who are skilled at blending all these elements together. It is said that animals and actors are not a good mix, but they all fare well here, Marshall Thompson and Cheryl Miller are particularly outstanding in this respect with many moments that are both funny and moving. A few example episodes- THE KILLER LION, a tame Lioness suddenly turns vicious and attacks a local farmer. Daktari investigates the cause, but can he prevent the man who was attacked from taking his revenge on the Lioness. THE ADVENTURE OF THE LION CUBS - Plenty of animal antics in this episode. Judy finds three abandoned Lion cubs, who's mother has been caught in a net trap With the help of Clarence, she leads the cubs back to Wameru, but can the cubs survive without their mother? THE MANEATER OF WAMERU - A renowned lady action photographer visits Wameru, but she puts lives in danger including that of Clarence, in order to get the shots that she requires. CRISIS AT THE COMPOUND - Certain protocols have to be observed, when a high ranking diplomat visits Wameru. Tensions rise when the Diplomat wants to shoot a Leopard, to take home as a trophy and Judy becomes the centre of a diplomatic argument. THE DIAMOND SMUGGLERS - Two Frenchmen are ostensibly collecting fossilised bones, but are really illegally mining diamonds. Their German Shepherd dog, Prince, appears in two later episodes, THE KILLER DOG and THE HOSTAGES. A great episode for Judy's acting talents JUDY AND THE HYENA. Everyone is too busy to pay attention to Judy and she and Paula are not getting along. There are some lovely moments in this episode, Judy sitting alone with tears in her eyes and the scene where she takes two apples from the bowl and hands one to Daktari.. In JUDY AND THE GUNRUNNERS. A skillful mix of plot elements that includes, some experiments in animal scents, a legend of hidden treasure and a gang of gunrunners. Can Judy save the day?. All great entertainment , great for nostalgia lovers and it still works well today with wide family and age appeal. A few words on the region one coding of this set. I have had no difficulty playing these discs on region two machines, but this set now seems to be available on a four disc region two version.Are we likely to get further releases of Daktari? I don't know if it's true, but I have read that CBS are not particularly good at following up initial releases of old TV series?.The episodes are: DISC 1 - THE ELEPHANT THIEVES, PREDATOR OF WAMERU, THE KILLER LION, ADVENTURE OF THE LION CUBS. DISC 2 - TRAIL OF THE CHEETAH, LEOPARDS OF MDALA GORGE, THE DIAMOND SMUGGLERS, THE CHIMP WHO WENT APE. DISC 3 - THE KILLER DOG, RETURN OF THE KILLER PART 1, RETURN OF THE KILLER PART 2, THE MANEATER OF WAMERU. DISC 4 - CRISIS AT THE COMPOUND, THE HOSTAGES, JUDY AND THE HYENA, WALL OF FLAMES PART 1. DISC 5 - WALL OF FLAMES PART 2, JUDY AND THE GUNRUNNERS.

Absolutely the best animal show . I grew up with this show and I was thrilled to see it comes in English and playable on North American DVD players . I have Now ordered season 2-4 As well. Can’t wait to start watching . This show is Highly to recommend !!!

Loved it.

This was a great series and I bought it for my son who use to watch it as a kid