Please allow me to add my review of "My Living Doll". Other reviewers have captured the essence of the series, so I can only add my own thoughts on the recently-released MPI Home Video 11-episode DVD 2-disc set.
1964 was a long time ago, and I can well remember watching Julie Newmar as Rhoda the Robot, and Bob Cummings as her protector-cum-human-sidekick in this comedy series. (I know that he was supposed to be the star, but all us guys only ever watched it for Julie...)
Truly, as a 13-year old, I was quite smitten with Newmar and her Amazon- like beauty, but I never cared very much for old Bob, at least not in this particular role. He was 54 years old when he made this, and he was portraying an man at least 20 years younger. It still shows.
After watching my way through all the episodes, I can see much more in it than I ever did as a kid, but I still cannot see any real reason why I purchased it, except as a curio....
Almost 50 years later, I understandably found the comedy to be a little on the dry side. There are some genuine laughs, but they are a little few and far between. Julie is stuck like an attractive fly in amber, and just as Amazon-esque as I recall, but some of the lines that she has to deliver are indeed, cringe-worthy these days. Bob still looks out of place, and extremely uncomfortable in the role. The supporting actors, Jack Mullaney and Doris Dowling do their best with what they are given, and they both tend to liven up the proceedings whilst on screen.
The eleven surviving episodes are just a random smattering of the original 26, and if those missing parts are one day re-discovered and re-released, then the whole thing might just make a little more sense. As it is, it is naturally, quite difficult to follow. Interestingly, the DVD cover is tagged as "The Original Collection, Volume One" so perhaps MPI have some idea that they may be looking at a future "Volume Two"...
The B&W picture quality is quite good, and the sound is crisp and clean, but I feel that the series would only be something of value to an aficionado. I doubt whether any of the younger generation these days would be able, or willing, to try and make any sense of it at all.
The final episode on disc two (number 6 in the series) is obviously from a source other than the main episodes, for the picture quality is not on par with the others. A disclaimer warns of this. It is still watchable, however.
Among the 'extras' included are an interview with Julie Newmar on the making of the series, and a transcript of a couple of interesting radio interviews conducted by Lucille Ball. These extras even extend to a brace of 1960s commercials - for products such as "Aqua Velva Silicone Lather" shaving foam, "Alberto V05" hairspray, "Norelco Comfort Shave" electric razors, and "Taryeton" cigarettes, whatever they were......
And, oh yes, that 'alternative' opening credit shot with Julie in the baby-doll outfit is there, as well....
The episode list is as follows. The eleven numbers are from the original episode listing:
1) Boy Meets Girl? 2) Rhoda's First Date 3) Uninvited Guest 6) Something Borrowed, Something Blew (This is the above-mentioned 'lesser quality' episode, and is actually presented in the 'extras' menu.) 7) The Love Machine 9) My Robot, the Warden 10) The Beauty Contest 14) I'll Leave It To You 17) Pool Shark 19) The Kleptomaniac 21) The Witness
Indeed, a tiny time capsule from 1964/5.
