4/5 Still has music issues but better than Season Two Volume Two
  by John L. Kinser (Anderson, Indiana United States)
The Fugitive Season Three Volume One
On October 27th, CBS/Paramount continued their release of the greatest TV series ever made: The Fugitive!
This release was a much anticipated release for Fugitive fans all over. For months we sat and waited to see if Paramount/CBS would continue their previous mistakes from the Season Two release or if they really did put classic TV on a pedestal and gave Fugitive fans what they wanted and what this classic show deserved: a night of broadcast release with all of its original music intact.
The answer for the most part is actually no, they did not. But, as others have noted and I confer, this release was a much better attempt of making the replacement music at least sound like the original. I must admit that there were many places where music had been replaced that I did not even catch the first time I watched this release. This release actually feels like The Fugitive release from Season One. (For a more complete list of music replacements please see the excellent review posted by Mr. Dahl.)
One part that I found annoying is that in some episodes, when the actors are in a garage or a building, it seems Paramount/CBS added an echo effect to the audio. I don't recall this echo on my old VHS tapes or on the A&E showings of the show. If this was an added effect added by Paramount/CBS, it was unnecessary. Paramount/CBS, if you are reading this, The Fugitive is one show that does not need any modern day improvements. It is the only show that I know of that was absolutely perfect the way it was originally made and modern day effects to "make it better" or "more lifelike" are not necessary.
As noted in other reviews, there are places in the two part episode "Landscape ...." where the music was removed and replaced with nothing. In my opinion, this is a better decision than adding new music that does not fit. Season Two would have been better had they taken this approach instead of adding fake music by Mark Heyes and/or whoever else destroyed the season two episodes.
The picture on these are like the previous releases, EXCELLENT! As Mr. Dahl noted, the disclaimer that these episodes were transferred from the original negatives is missing on the back of the box. Were these transferred from the original negative? I don't know but they look excellent none the less. I am very pleased with the picture quality and the care and effort Paramount/CBS has been putting into the release of The Fugitive on DVD.
I haven't had any issues with the audio dropping in and out as was noted in another review. I have played mine with my surround on and with it off. To me, they sound excellent both ways with the exception of the echo effect I noted above. If anyone else knows if the echo effect was added to these DVD's or if it is original and is more noticeable due to Paramount/CBS cleaning the audio up please let me know. I am interested to know if it was added or original.
It may be trivial to most, but I was very pleased with the art on the cover of this volumes release. I was somewhat disappointed with Season Two Volume Ones cover and Season Two Volume Twos cover was just plain awful. But this first volume of Season Three has an excellent cover and was very nicely done. Whoever designed this cover at Paramount/CBS, my hat goes off to you!
I have debated on what I am going to give this release in terms of star rating. I would like to give it a 5 star rating because this series deserves nothing less. And for the series, I give it a 5 as it was originally produced. So my rating goes only on Paramount/CBS production release of the series.
In my opinion, Paramount/CBS at least TRIED to please Fugitive fans with this release in terms of music replacement. Outside a few instances, unless you know this series really well, the replacement material is hard to detect in most instances. It is not like Season Two where the music was loud and obtrusive and took away the feel of The Fugitive that the original musical release gave this show. Paramount /CBS went the extra mile with Season Three. But, with that said, I have to still be upset to the point that music has nonetheless been replaced and the question remains why? Is it because of the Capitol music rights? If so, that is understandable but Paramount/CBS could least give the fans some type of explanation in writing instead silence. The silence makes one wonder if it is a rights issue or a money issue and the studio just does not want to pay royalties. To me, if the title has "Star Trek" or "The Beverly Hillbillies", or "I Love Lucy"( or anything to do with Lucy to be matter of fact), Paramount/CBS bends over backward to obtain the musical rights and numbers. Fugitive fans deserve the same respect. To me, it is funny that CBS/Paramount replaces a musical number written specifically for a Season Two episode but can release musical numbers written for "Star Trek" (the episode "Charley") and all of the Desi Arnaz musical numbers in "I Love Lucy". So again, is it a rights issue or a financial issue and the studio just don't want to pay the money out? My fear is in the next volume of Season Three of "The Fugitive", Paramount/CBS will destroy the episode "ILL Wind". There is a song written for this episode and played throughout the episode and plays a big part in this episode. Much like the song written for Season Two's episode "Ballad for a Ghost". Paramount/CBS removed the original song entirely and destroyed that episode. If they do the same with "ILL Wind" they might as well not even include it on the volume two release.
With all of that said, I will go on good faith and applaud Paramount/CBS for their continued release of "The Fugitive" and their excellent work or restoring the picture and audio, and making the replaced music on this release at least sound like the originals and maintaining it at the same level. I will only remove one star from a five star review for the musical changes.
If you are pondering on buying this Volume of Season Three, please do not ponder no more. CBS/Paramount did not disappoint this time! You will not regret buying this volume! It is VERY close to Season One Volume One and Twos release of "The Fugitive".



5/5 comparing dvd's
  by Tom K. (wi)
I'm curious as to the quality of dvd series like the fugitive that come from suppliers that offer all 4 seasons for $45.00.They say the video and audio is excellent , anyone had experiences with companies like BlueDVDBox? Thanks for your considerstion.

3/5 Okay but seems to have audio issues
  by Biff Malibu
I've watched the first two discs of the four disc set, and the audio levels are really messed up. Even with the "night" setting enabled on my a/v receiver (which is essentially a compressor), the volume level seems to fluctuate without warning. I expect there to be a gap between quiet dialog and the louder parts, but this is all over the place. Be prepared to do a lot of "gain riding" (adjusting the volume constantly) while you watch these shows.

I won't get into the replacement of the music, I don't find that nearly as frustrating as the audio level described above. Also, another review covers the music replacement in detail. Personally I didn't find it a huge distraction. I was too busy turning the volume up and down.

The picture quality is fine, no problems there.

5/5 The Fugitive Season Three Vol. One
  by F. Fields (Australia)
i love The Fugitive im so glad Paramount CBS Restored these Episodes the only slight draw back was changing the sound track but to be fair not much has been alterd still has its original music score at the start & the end with some breaks in between i look forward to the next volume. old 60,s shows like the fugitive its great to see them digitaly remasterd on to dvd and preserved for collectors highly recommended.

5/5 Can't wait for Volume 2
  by Kimble (Ohio, USA)
Just finished watching Season 3 Volume 1 .... With the exception of a few changes to the original music score I thought Paramount / CBS did an outstanding job .... The video is great .... What a great show this was and all the episodes in this set kept me wanting more .... The acting in most of the episodes was fantastic and I couldn't imagine anybody else playing Kimble .... I'm looking forward to the second half due out just before Christmas .... Again well done CBS/Paramount on continuing this classic series