Top Cat was the second Hanna-Barbera prime-time series on broadcast on ABC from 1961-1962. But after a one season it was cancelled. But it would become a classic in reruns.
Now this year (2024) as we are celebrating the 63rd anniversary of this TV series debut, Warner Archive Collection have restored and released the Top Cat the Complete Series on Blu-ray!
Synopsis: The smooth-talking New York City cat, known as T.C. (Arnold Stang) to his gang of cohorts Benny the Ball, Choo Choo, Spook, The Brain and Fancy Fancy. These cats were always on the make toward a big score or swindle. And the bothersome and ever exasperated Officer Dibble, voiced by Allen Jenkins, is relentlessly on Top Cat's case, although always one step behind.
I so enjoyed the adventures of Top Cat and his friends! Probably one of the major reasons is that Top Cat was a parody of The Phil Silvers Show. That show also known as Sergeant Bilko is one of my favorite classic sitcoms of all time. Bilko was known as the fast-talking con artist and T.C. is that same kind of con artist.
Hanna-Barbera was known for being inspired by classic TV and movies. The Flintstones was inspired by The Honeymooners, The Jetsons by Blondie and Dagwood. So no doubt Top Cat was inspired by Sgt Bilko. Arnold Stang voice work as T.C. is even an impression of Phil Silvers, and a pretty good one at that. Sadly Top Cat only lasted 30 episodes. Oh how I wish there were more of these classic 60 episodes. But the episodes we do have are amazing.
Warner Archive Collection have transferred these amazing 30 episodes to 4 Blu-ray discs. These episodes are in 1080p and presented in the original 1.33:1. The audio is an English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Now these transfers are more than just transfers to Blu-ray. These feature brand new 4K scans from the original camera negatives. These new scans bring such life to these classic cartoons. These cartoons have never looked as crisp and the colors as bright as they do on Blu-ray!
Disc 1: Hawaii, Here We Come / The Maharajah of Pookajee / All That Jazz / The $1,000,000 Derby / The Violin Player / The Missing Heir / Top Cat Falls In Love
Disc 2: A Visit From Mother / Naked Town / Sgt. Top Cat / Choo-Choo’s Romance / The Unscratchables / Rafeefleas / The Tycoon / The Long Hot Winter
Disc 3: The Case of the Absent Ant Eater / T.C. Minds The Baby / Farewell Mr. Dibble / The Grand Tour / The Golden Fleecing / Space Monkey / The Late T.C. / Dibble’s Birthday
Disc 4: Choo-Choo Goes Ga Ga / King for a Day / The Con Men / Dibble Breaks the Record / Dibble Sings Again / Griswald / Dibble’s Double
Now all thirty episodes of the original prime time series newly restored and scanned on Blu-ray would be enough to call this a must own. But Warner Archive added some extremely cool bonus features to this set. Take a look at what is included.
* 2 Documentary:
- Back to Hoagy's Alley: The Making of Top Cat
- Cool Cats in Interview Alley with archival interviews with members of the voice-cast including Arnold Stang, Marvin Kaplan, Leo de Lyon and writer Barry Blitzer
* Commentaries on episodes Hawaii, Here We Come, A Visit from Mother and The Late T.C.
* Storyboard/Finished Cartoon Sequence for The Missing Heir
* Top Cat Sing-Along
* Top Cat Collection of Art, Stills, Sketches, and backgrounds
* Vintage Commercials
Warner Archive Collection previously released Top Cat on DVD. I am glad to say that the bonus features above have been ported over to this Blu-ray! While they may be in standard definition, to me It is just great to see them all in one collection! This Blu-ray is a tremendous upgrade!
If you love the cartoons of Hanna-Barbera as much as I do. You need to have this new Blu-ray release of Top Cat The Complete Series in your collection. Head over to MovieZyng and order your copy today! You won't be disappointed!
Out of 4 TV Sets (4 Being the Best) The Blu-ray of Top Cat The Complete Series receives....
 Warner Archive Blu-ray Review){kind=link}
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