Don't need the playlist! Make it go away!

[pbasch]

Used to be I'd click on a video file, and VLC would open up and play it. No fuss, no muss. Easy.
Now it opens up a playlist, requiring (a) visual deciphering, and (b) further clicking.
Can I make the behavior revert to what it used to be?
Thanks.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

That's still the default behaviour.

[Lotesdelere]

Menu "View" then untick "Docked Playlist".

[pbasch]

Thanks! That worked.
Now I'm having another problem... I double-click on a video file and VLC doesn't play it. I can't figure out why... I get a player window (without the annoying playlist - thanks again), but it doesn't play the file I clicked on.
This used to be such a great, bare-bones, no-nonsense program. Now it's gotten all gepotchked up. If I want something complicated that doesn't work predictably, I'll use Windows Media Player!
Is there an alternate VLC install that dispenses with everything that isn't "player"?