Back in the late 1960’s Saturday morning cartoons gained a new hero (or perhaps set of heroes) whose appeal has not diminished in the current day. That hero was Scooby-Doo, a large canine with a good heart and the determination to help his fellow man, in spite of his nerves of Jello.
He was accompanied in his adventures by four teens, Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne who made up an amateur detective team, Mystery Inc. If you are not singing the theme song with the opening episode, you will be by the end of this DVD trip down memory lane.
Everyone loved Scooby-Doo. In the late sixties, whole families gathered to watch the adventures of the teen sleuths of Mystery Inc. and the big funny dog Scooby-Doo. It is said that many tot’s first words were Scooby-Doo, and that generations of family dogs have lovingly been given this name.
Each week Scooby, Shaggy his rumpled owner, Daphne the gorgeous cheerleader type, Fred the square jawed hero, and Velma the brainy girl outwitted criminals, exposing their wicked plans. One source of appeal was that these plans usually involved ghosts, monsters, mummies, and the supernatural.
All those delicious spooky things that delight children of all ages were wrapped into mysteries that only the gang could solve. And of course a musical number featured highly in the action. The show and the characters were instant hits with the public. The younger kids played endless pretend games of Scooby-Doo, each taking a role and acting out their favorite episodes or creating “new” adventures.
The older kids secretly wishing they could do the same spent many a lunch hour in the cafeteria discussing how babysitting jobs often ended in making up Scooby stories to tell their charges to get them to go to sleep.
Scooby-Doo Where Are You? Volume 3: Hello Mummy has collected four adventures from those early days that should bring a smile to many faces. First up is “The Backstage Rage” which has the gang uncovering a counterfeiting plan and some convincing puppets. After this adventure the gang goes to the circus in “Bedlam in the Big Top.” It is up to Scooby and his friends to find out what is causing the circus to be cursed by a ghost clown.
As if one monster isn’t enough, Scooby-Doo and the kids arrive at a castle that has been transported from Transylvania and find it is home to a vampire, a werewolf and a Frankenstein type creature.
This episode is called “A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts” and the kids must fight down their superstitious fears after being told by an old Gypsy that Franken Castle will be their doom. Archeology and ancient Egyptian curses occupy the gang in “Scooby-Doo and a Mummy Too.” The local college has acquired the mummy of Ankha.
Trouble is, the ancient king put a curse on his tomb that seems to be coming true on the college campus. The gang must solve the mystery behind the strange occurrences including people turning to stone.
Scooby-Doo Where Are You? Volume 3: Hello Mummy is presented on single disc in a format that preserves the original television broadcast. It is available in English, French and Spanish for both audio and subtitles. The running time is 88 minutes.
The special feature is an episode from the new Scooby-Doo series Shaggy and Scooby-Doo Get a Clue. This episode is titled “High Society Scooby,” and is an excellent example of how the character has bridged the generations.
This is modern Scooby-Doo, different animation, the Mystery Machine van is now a vehicle that can change into anything mobile, and the humor is full of current icons and references. Have some fun watching the old Scooby-Doo and see how he has changed and yet remained the same loveable character.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!: Season One, Vol. 3 - Hello Mummy is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for this version of the DVD in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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