Barnes & Noble

The Andy Griffith Show's black-and-white years were its best, and classics abound in the fourth season, beginning with the heartbreaking "Opie, the Birdman," in which Opie ("Ronny" Howard) accidentally kills a mother bird and must listen to the plaintive cries of her chicks in their nest outside his bedroom window. Don Knotts, a four-time Emmy winner for his signature role as Deputy Barney Fife, enjoyed some of his finest half hours, including two of his better pulled-from-the-fire outings, "The Shoplifters" and "Barney and the Cave Rescue," as well as "Prisoner of Love" and "Barney and Thelma Lou, Phfftt." But this was arguably the "Year of Gomer." Jim Nabors enjoyed a breakout period as the simple-hearted Gomer Pyle, who reveals his inexplicable operatic singing voice in "The Song Festers," puts Barney under "Citizen's Arrest" (a series benchmark), and joins the Marines in "Gomer Pyle USMC," the pilot episode of his own popular spin-off show. Another momentous occasion: Gomer introduces his cousin Goober (George Lindsay), he of the clueless Cary Grant and Edward G. Robinson impressions, in "Fun Girls." This 1963-64 season unfolded during one of the darkest periods in American history. Now, as then, it is always a tonic to escape to Mayberry. Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

The fourth season of The Andy Griffith Show opens with one of the series' finest episodes, as well as the favorite episode of co-star Ronny Howard (now better known as film director Ron Howard). "Opie the Birdman" poignantly details the efforts by Opie Taylor (Howard), son of Mayberry sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith), to take care of several newly hatched robins after accidentally killing the mother bird with his slingshot. The rest of the season maintains the high standards of this opener, with such classic episodes as "Ernest T. Bass Joins the Army," featuring Howard Morris as the titular rock-throwing village idiot; "A Black Day for Mayberry," in which Andy and his nervous deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) prepare for the arrival of a top secret gold shipment from Denver; "Up in Barney's Room," the saga of the acrimonious falling out and tearful reconciliation between Barney and his landlady Mrs. Mendelbright (Enid Markey); "Barney's Side Car," or how a man can be corrupted by a WWI vintage motorcycle; "Divorce. Mountain Style," in which the rambunctious Darling family once more descend upon Mayberry, with a pre-Gilligan's Island Bob Denver along for the ride; "The Return of Malcolm Merriwether," another visit from Mayberry's favorite English valet (Bernard Fox); and the unforgettable "Citizen's Arrest," chronicling a war of nerves between Barney and indignant gas station attendant Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors). Speaking of Gomer, this would be the last year that this remarkable character would appear regularly on The Andy Griffith Show. The series' season finale, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.," serves as the pilot for the popular military sitcom in which Jim Nabors would headline from 1964 through 1970. Season four of The Andy Griffith Show found the series still flourishing in the ratings, ranking as America's fifth most popular program. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 097360473520
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: B&W, Pan & Scan
• Time: 13:31:00
• Sales Rank: 5,125

This set contains DVDs which may be available separately:

• The Andy Griffith Show: Opie the Birdman
• The Andy Griffith Show: The Haunted House
• The Andy Griffith Show: Ernest T. Bass Joins the Army
• The Andy Griffith Show: Sermon for Today
• The Andy Griffith Show: Briscoe Declares for Aunt Bee
• The Andy Griffith Show: Gomer the House Guest
• The Andy Griffith Show: A Black Day for Mayberry
• The Andy Griffith Show: Opie's Ill-Gotten Gain
• The Andy Griffith Show: A Date for Gomer
• The Andy Griffith Show: Up in Barney's Room
• The Andy Griffith Show: Citizen's Arrest
• The Andy Griffith Show: Opie and His Merry Men
• The Andy Griffith Show: Barney and the Cave Rescue
• The Andy Griffith Show: Andy and Opie's Pal
• The Andy Griffith Show: Aunt Bee the Crusader
• The Andy Griffith Show: Barney's Side Car
• The Andy Griffith Show: My Fair Ernest T. Bass
• The Andy Griffith Show: Prisoner of Love
• The Andy Griffith Show: Hot Rod Otis
• The Andy Griffith Show: The Song Festers
• The Andy Griffith Show: The Shoplifters
• The Andy Griffith Show: Andy's Vacation
• The Andy Griffith Show: Andy Saves Gomer
• The Andy Griffith Show: Bargain Day
• The Andy Griffith Show: Divorce, Mountain Style
• The Andy Griffith Show: A Deal Is a Deal
• The Andy Griffith Show: Fun Girls
• The Andy Griffith Show: The Return of Malcolm Merriwether
• The Andy Griffith Show: The Rumor
• The Andy Griffith Show: Barney and Thelma Lou, Phfftt
• The Andy Griffith Show: Back to Nature
• The Andy Griffith Show: Gomer Pyle USMC