"The Fugitive" (1963): Season 1; Volume 1 Rumored To Be In The Works! - Page 15

David Von Pein · 08-15-2007, 12:37 AM

I never saw even one episode of the 2000 (Daly) "Fugitive" variant on TV. Although I've heard some people (probably here) saying that it was a pretty good series.

I cannot possibly believe it could beat the "original" Dr. Kimble and the 1960s version, however.
But YMMV.

Seems like a good day to shamelessly plug this item again......

A REPRISE: MY "FUGITIVE DREAM DVD COLLECTION" (IF ONLY WE COULD TALK PARAMOUNT INTO PRODUCING THIS).

David Von Pein · 08-15-2007, 02:11 AM

Re. the opening title sequence for "Fear In A Desert City" --- A fellow Fuge fan has informed me of a little tidbit of info regarding a possible music change in the opening credits....which comes just before Kimble stumbles into the water after fleeing the train wreck.

The music heard on the DVD is the same short dramatic cue that is also heard at the start of the Season-Four shows (the same music used when we see the little running man on the screen, accompanied by the voiceover "Next: The Fugitive: In Color").

I've been told that that particular music cue is not the same music found in all versions of the "Desert City" opening credits.

I've checked my "Desert City" WorldVision VHS tape (from 1993), and the opening lacks the croaking frog and it does have the dramatic music cue mentioned above (same as the "In Color" cue).

So, I suppose if that opening is technically different from the one that originally aired on ABC in September 1963, that single revision on the DVD could conceivably be the reason for both of the disclaimers found on the DVD's packaging -- e.g., "Music Has Been Changed" and "Some Eps. May Be Edited".

Just a possibility anyway. And I hope that's the explanation. If it is, I'll certainly be pleased.

Jeff# · 08-15-2007, 02:28 AM

The beautiful and exciting theme music to the newer Fugitive series is one thing that beats Pete Rugolo's original. Then there are the flashy opening graphics.

I too was disappointed by the unresolved cliffhanger ending at the end of its only season in 2001,
since Tim Daly's version was cancelled. Although Daly is no David Janssen, the storylines were getting more intriguing as the year wore on. The show had some promise, but CBS didn't give it much of a chance.

It's amazing that the original CSI premiered that same season, and it's still on the air....

Harry-N · 08-15-2007, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Von Pein

Re. the opening title sequence for "Fear In A Desert City" --- A fellow Fuge fan has informed me of a little tidbit of info regarding a possible music change in the opening credits....which comes just before Kimble stumbles into the water after fleeing the train wreck.

The music heard on the DVD is the same short dramatic cue that is also heard at the start of the Season-Four shows (the same music used when we see the little running man on the screen, accompanied by the voiceover "Next: The Fugitive: In Color").

I've been told that that particular music cue is not the same music found in all versions of the "Desert City" opening credits.

I've checked my "Desert City" WorldVision VHS tape (from 1993), and the opening lacks the croaking frog and it does have the dramatic music cue mentioned above (same as the "In Color" cue).

So, I suppose if that opening is technically different from the one that originally aired on ABC in September 1963, that single revision on the DVD could conceivably be the reason for both of the disclaimers found on the DVD's packaging -- e.g., "Music Has Been Changed" and "Some Eps. May Be Edited".

Just a possibility anyway. And I hope that's the explanation. If it is, I'll certainly be pleased.

David, I've been focusing in on that moment in the opening too. Something's not right about it. My initial thought was that since the shorter opening was used, they'd have to splice in the original announcer parts which come in after the creek scene. A logical edit point, if one were to be attempting this, would be just with the frog, since it's a sudden cut from the hissing train.

I'm going to check my taped versions. I have a Worldvision tape, one taped from WOR, and another one I taped from somewhere, maybe A&E.

Harry

Joe Karlosi · 08-15-2007, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary OS

Joe, I think that's a good question and it serves to differentiate the previous generous from the one today.

Gary "today's society pushes the 'me first' mentality - but it wasn't quite that way 40 years ago" O.

Gary, I don't know how old you are, but I'm in my mid-40s. I'm all for the "let's help others" creed, but I was just saying that common sense might prevail if my very life was at stake and I was on the run, that's all I was saying. However, I accept that this is the type of perosn Richard Kimble is, and I always have a policy of trying to remember that not all characters on TV or in movies necessarily are required to handle situations as we, the viewers, might. And it's true that Kimble was a doctor, which adds to his desire to help.

I have now seen the first three episodes and am enjoying them. I'd say THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN has been my favorite of the first three.

Harry-N · 08-15-2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Von Pein

I've been told that that particular music cue is not the same music found in all versions of the "Desert City" opening credits.

I've checked my "Desert City" WorldVision VHS tape (from 1993), and the opening lacks the croaking frog and it does have the dramatic music cue mentioned above (same as the "In Color" cue).

OK, I checked my three tapes, and all of the tapes are identical, with no frog, and using the "in color" music cue (for want of a better title) before the spoken announcements about tonight's episode.

The version on the DVD is different, putting in the frog, and using a pounding piano music cue prior to the spoken announcements. And to me it really seams like the frog is an edit point. Now, the source of that edit, where it originated is the question here.

I have a couple of theories as to why this first episode has these oddities about it. First, it is a pilot episode. We know from other series, that pilots get made and then get "adapted" to a regular series format for airing on TV. Examples are STAR TREK, TIME TUNNEL, TWILIGHT ZONE, and I'm sure many others. Styles of fonts, music used, and editing a pilot to make it conform with how the series is being done is quite common. And I propose that this could have happened with THE FUGITIVE. It could have originally been filmed markedly different from how it aired, and then "retrofitted" to look like the rest of the series, once they got it under way.

Or, it's possible that on that premiere night in September of 1963, viewers saw a very different style episode of THE FUGITIVE, and when it was needed as a summer rerun, got a retro-fit that ended up being used in syndication and that survives to this day. I wasn't around for the premiere, and probably wouldn't remember the differences anyway, since it would have been a first viewing of an unfamiliar show. Heck, even when aired out of order originally by NBC, I never really noticed the differences in STAR TREK's "Where No Man Has Gone Before" pilot, even though I now had seen two other episodes. It still wasn't familiar enough to me to notice.

And then there's the DVD factor. We don't know if the compilers of the DVD did any kind of a "restoration" process and came up with this edit. As I said earlier, it looks (and sounds) like a splice job to graft a standard shorter-length opening onto the back half of a longer original opening. Just my theories - total speculation, from someone who cares about such trivial matters.

None of this, by the way, detracts at all from the enjoyment of the episode, but it could account for the disclaimer. If that's so, then we're in good shape with the rest of the set.

Harry

michael_ks · 08-15-2007, 09:23 AM

I'm very encouraged with the ranking this set has attained on Amazon today at #43. Currently "The Fugitive" is the only non-contemporary show in the top 50 under the "television" category.

The fact that this dramatic series actually had a conclusion (a first, was it not?) and its obvious continued popularity nearly 45 years later bodes well for a complete series release. But we could use a bit of alacrity here please, Paramount, as your releases to "Untouchables" and "Rawhide" are rather agonizingly slow.

michael_ks · 08-15-2007, 09:32 AM

Some sound theories here on the difference in the opening to "The Fugitive". I favor the "retrofit" concept as it has been known to occur (the various series you cited).

David Von Pein · 08-15-2007, 09:46 AM

So, I guess I must have gotten it reversed re. the "in color" musical cue being on the DVD, which I thought it was, per another Fuge fan with the discs in his hands. Perhaps I misunderstood him.

So, the "in color" type music cue is NOT on the DVD...is that right?

Does Kimble splash water on his face on the DVD version? He does do this on my "Desert City" VHS tape from WorldVision.

Anyway, regardless of exact version of the credits, it can't possibly take away from the greatness of the episode...or the series on the whole. (IMHO.)

Jeff# · 08-15-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Von Pein

So, the "in color" type music cue is NOT on the DVD...is that right?

There's no reason why it should be, since the first 3 years are in black & white. That only would apply to the 4th season, David, so we have a long way to go until that's released.