Magnum, P.I. – The Complete First Season

  • Title: Magnum, P.I.
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magnum-pi-first-season-dvdThe Ferrari, the twin Doberman Pinschers, the Detroit Tigers baseball cap, the Aloha shirts, the women, murder, mayhem, and getting himself (and his friends) into all kinds of trouble every single week, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Hawaii. For those of us who grew up in the 1980’s it’s hard not to look back fondly on Magnum, P.I.

Living on the estate of reclusive mystery novelist Robin Masters, former Naval Intelligence officer turned private detective Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) provides security services to the estate while bartering with the estate’s caretaker Jonathan Quail Higgins III (John Hillerman) and relying on the assistance of old Navy buddies Rick (Larry Manetti) and T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) to help solve the cases that come his way.

The First Season is highlighted by an elderly Jewish couple (Hanna HertelendyRobert Ellenstein) apparently fleeing from Nazis, a secret love affair between a prostitute (Anne Lockhart) and a current Supreme Court nominee (José Ferrer) that ended tragically at Pearl Harbor, a bored widow (Judith Chapman) playing out her noir fantasies, and Buck RogersErin Gray guest-starring as hired security to help protect Robin Masters’ latest book. Early on the series is still trying to find its footing, and all the episodes certainly aren’t winners as Magnum’s clients include a lounge singer with ESP (Rebecca Holden), a dog, and a racehorse.

The four-disc collection includes all 18 episodes including the two-part series pilot “Don’t Eat the Snow in Hawaii.” The set includes no extra features but does come with both episodes of Season Three’s two-part crossover with Simon & Simon.