"The Fugitive" (1963): Season 1; Volume 1 Rumored To Be In The Works! - Page 12

Gary OS · 08-09-2007, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay*W

DVD Beaver has now posted a review:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe..._tv_series.htm

Excellent review. I'm sure we will see more as the actual release date draws near. And the screen caps look fantastic!

Gary "counting down the days" O.

michael_ks · 08-09-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

DVD Beaver has now posted a review:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDRe..._tv_series.htm

Now there's a review that gets me excited. It also alleviated some fears about the video and sound quality following what I read over at dvdfile. Perhaps just a notch down from "The Untouchables" for softness/graininess-- it's hard to tell precisely. But still, very nice indeed.

Some nice screen captures too of Harry Townes, Barry Morse, Susan Oliver, Leslie Nielson and Janssen as well. For composition, lighting and balance, the shots are just exceptional. Its looking like one could just about lift any frame of film from the series and have a great still. And how about the last image featuring Bill Raisch, the one armed man. Does anyone doubt the impact of B&W over color for projecting such riveting starkness and mood?

Gary OS · 08-09-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_ks

And how about the last image featuring Bill Raisch, the one armed man. Does anyone doubt the impact of B&W over color for projecting such riveting starkness and mood?

You read my mind, Michael. That one image alone settles the question as far as I'm concerned!

Gary "those screen caps would lose something if they were in color" O.

Bert Greene · 08-09-2007, 05:03 PM

When I first encountered "The Fugitive" in reruns (in the 70s), it was the color episodes, so I guess that prevented me from finding them particularly jarring. (Indeed, when the rerun strip went back to the b&w ones, I was rather startled to learn that there were 'b&w' episodes!). But, I do agree, the series tends to work better in b&w, especially when it capitalizes on the noirish touches. I'm not sure if it kept this up, though. Didn't the latter b&w episodes (from the latter half of 3rd-season) have rather flat, non-noirish photography? Sometimes I recall watching those episodes, and thinking, for all practical purposes, they were filmed almost in the 'style' of color film, not really taking advantage of the b&w dichotomy as before. On the other hand, maybe my memories are too swayed by some low-contrast video transfers.

It is odd how so many (virtually ALL!) series went downhill when they switched to color. It's long been one of those weird little mysteries, and I think Mark-P pretty much echoed my own conclusions. One of the only shows I can think of right now that maintained a fairly even keel through the process was "My Three Sons." And, I might slightly disagree with my good friend Gary OS, in that I found "Hazel" also pretty much maintained its standards, when it went from b&w to color in its sophomore season (wow, can't believe I found something to disagree with Gary on! we're in-sync on these matters 99% of the time!). I don't know about "Gunsmoke" particularly going downhill with color. The last b&w season and the first color season were pretty similar, and perhaps a tad tired, despite a few pretty good episodes here and there. Although, curiously enough, the series picked up again in the 67-68 season with a renewed vibrancy, which lasted for a while, before the clampdown on tv-violence tended to put the squeeze on it, slowly doing it in.

michael_ks · 08-09-2007, 05:03 PM

In the series of screen captures at dvdbeaver, I love the shot of Richard Kimble walking down a dark street (the one posted just above Leslie Nielson). Without even uttering a word, Janssen consummately projects an aura of lonely despair and dejectedness as a result of his plight. What a tremendous actor he was.

Gary OS · 08-09-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert Greene

And, I might slightly disagree with my good friend Gary OS, in that I found "Hazel" also pretty much maintained its standards, when it went from b&w to color in its sophomore season (wow, can't believe I found something to disagree with Gary on! we're in-sync on these matters 99% of the time!).

Don't sweat it Bert. My memory of HAZEL is actually fairly dim at this point (only having the first b&w season on dvd to really refresh it). Were I to watch that series now I might very well end up agreeing with you. And I'd say your comments about "MY THREE SONS" is correct too. I didn't find that show to really sink during the transition.

Gary "and yes, there was a very slight dip in THE FUGITIVE episodes toward the back half of season 3 - but it wasn't a major dip as far as I'm concerned" O.

Mark-P · 08-09-2007, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert Greene

I don't know about "Gunsmoke" particularly going downhill with color. The last b&w season and the first color season were pretty similar, and perhaps a tad tired, despite a few pretty good episodes here and there. Although, curiously enough, the series picked up again in the 67-68 season with a renewed vibrancy, which lasted for a while, before the clampdown on tv-violence tended to put the squeeze on it, slowly doing it in.

Yes, you have a good point, I probably shouldn't have included Gunsmoke in my criticism, as the 9 color seasons of Gunsmoke were certainly not shoddy. It's just that overall, the black & white years seemed to have much stronger episodes than the color years. I'm still going to buy all 20 seasons, if I'm ever given the opportunity.

DVDBeaver's screencaps of "The Fugitive" look awesome! I can't wait to get my set!

Jeff Willis · 08-09-2007, 07:35 PM

Gary, Bert... this is downright

scary how much we are sync'ed about this B/W Color thing. I agree on those exact 2 examples, Hazel, and My 3 Sons. I know that I see it that way with my "holy grail" Combat! since the last season was the only color season. Same opinion on that series as well.

Dave S: Don't feel too bad if "they got you"

I'm getting this set no question about it. The only decision I have to make is to order online or chance-it at a local store. You guys seem to be fairly certain that I'll be able to find this one at the local BB or Walmart, right? I rarely do it, but I may go that route next week.

Harry-N · 08-09-2007, 07:49 PM

I'm happy looking at those menus that Gary Tooze posted at DVDBeaver. I noticed they avoided one of my pet peeves with DVDs - the splitting up of two-parters on two different discs.

Here, they chose to just have three episodes on Disc One, leaving the two-parter "Never Wave Goodbye" intact on one disc. So many other sets I have, notably STAR TREK:TNG and DS9 seem to invariably have a two parter start at the end of one disc and conclude on another.

Harry
...who's shipped set was still in Indiana at this hour, online...

Jeff# · 08-09-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_ks

Does anyone doubt the impact of B&W over color for projecting such riveting starkness and mood?

Yes, and surely I can't be the only one who feels that way. It's just that I have the courage to go against the popular grain here.

Once again, black & white is OK. I don't hate it, but at the same time I don't feel it adds more mood or tension to drama. In fact it's just the opposite: Monochrome is more limiting and unrealistic. The ONLY reason The Fugitive was in black & white was because it was produced during an era when most shows were made that way....and it was strictly budgetary on the part of the networks. The switch to color for this show, 12 O' Clock High, Combat, etc. in 1966 was the next logical step in TV production, as color film became more affordable. Quinn Martin's series The FBI was in color from the start in 1965, and ABC spared no expense there. The problem with those two WWII action shows I just listed is that they relied on 1940s combat stock footage, of which there was very little shot in color during the war.