The Fugitive, Season Two Volume 1 - Reviews - Page 13

Professor Echo · 06-16-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gord Lacey

Harry, my skin has grown very, very thick since starting TVShowsOnDVD.com. I've been told where to go, and gotten a death threat if I didn't release a show on DVD, and that's just from today!

The most impressive aspect of TSOD and Gord and David is that they are usually very objective; they respect that every show has its fans, or even if it's just FAN, and always take that into account when reporting or reviewing a release. Would that such empathy, sympathy and tolerance were as evident on forums such as these.

As for Kimble, Gerard and the train, look, stopping a train is not always as easy as it seems in TV and movies, Lucy pulling the emergency brake and everyone goes flying. Even a man waving a badge might not get a train to stop until it went through at least a semblance of proper protocol, unless, of course, Gerard could prove that there was an immediate threat or danger to the passengers or the safety of the train itself. With Kimble's apparent harmless jump from the train, it is possible, though not likely, to land in such a way where nothing would be excessively injured. There are even verified stories of skydivers whose chutes didn't open and they hit the ground without much in the way of injury. It's certainly not common, but it's not IMPOSSIBLE. It's like the one karate chop to the back of the neck that always renders the villains unconscious in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. It is, in fact, possible to do that, but not easily. Never let your suspension of disbelief get too lazy when it comes to vintage television.

What I find hard to believe is Kimble always hurriedly tossing his duffel bag away presumably in order to run faster during a sudden pursuit. Yet that same duffel bag pops up again and again in later shows. Where does he keep buying these things, at the luggage store for transients and interstate fugitives?

Carabimero · 06-16-2008, 04:10 PM

I always assumed he either went back and found his flung bag later or bought them in bulk and stashed them somewhere so he could chuck them without a worry in the world.

Gord Lacey · 06-16-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

The most impressive aspect of TSOD and Gord and David is that they are usually very objective; they respect that every show has its fans, or even if it's just FAN, and always take that into account when reporting or reviewing a release. Would that such empathy, sympathy and tolerance were as evident on forums such as these.

A lot of that comes from experience, and from talking to the studios and understanding their point of view, and some of it came from when I consulted on the "Kids in the Hall" DVD set. I learned a lot about budgets, dealing with talent, and legalities of getting something on DVD, and I wasn't really THAT involved in the set. People often think it's a matter of encoding the episode, making some menus and packaging and sending it to stores, and it's so much more.

I'm planning a followup article to my "Stalled Series" piece from a few weeks ago which examines the dropoff between seasons. I was shocked at how dramatic some of the drops are, and it becomes pretty clear why the studios "abandon" some shows - the fans have abandoned the studios.

Gord

Joseph Bolus · 06-16-2008, 05:11 PM

Gord:

I'm sure every fan of "The Fugitive" is extremely appreciative of the editorial you just published at "TVShowsOnDVD.com".

Thanks for the support!

Professor Echo · 06-16-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carabimero

I always assumed he either went back and found his flung bag later or bought them in bulk and stashed them somewhere so he could chuck them without a worry in the world.

You might be right about the latter, Carab, but you have to take into account that it would have put a serious dent in his hair dye budget.

Cees Alons · 06-16-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

I always assumed he either went back and found his flung bag later or bought them in bulk...

My assumption was that the bag was always part of his (superficial) latest identity, for which he assembled some stuff, and throwing it away meant he gave that up (even if the bag would be found by officials they wouldn't find anything significant).

Well, one explanation is as good as another, I guess.

Cees

Carabimero · 06-16-2008, 05:54 PM

I never knew how he kept all the names straight...he did flub up once in LANDSCAPE WITH RUNNING FIGURES and signed his own name to a hotel register....Richard Kimble!

MattPeriolat · 06-16-2008, 06:24 PM

Great job on the editorial, Gord, but boy,that ad with putting TV DVD on a pedestal at the end... that stung. Not me personally, but does make a great point: releases previously like ILL, Twilight Zone, Perry Mason et al. have been so good, it does make one wonder how and why Fugitive when so horribly wrong.

Once again, there needs to be a resolution to the music rights problems plaguing TV DVD releases or honestly, I think the whole industry is at a tipping point that could end up ruining it all.

Paul_Scott · 06-16-2008, 06:31 PM

Oh boy.
I picked this up, giddily last week. I've loved the show a long time but, like Paul Mavis, haven't had a chance to see it since the early 90's A&E run.
After the extra mile they went to with The Invaders set, issues with this one were the last thing I was expecting. Ironically, the clerk that had to get it out of the case started talking about how much he liked the show too and asked me how the sets were.
"All the CBS/Paramount sets I've seen have been great...they put out great product" I told him. In the back od my mind I was thinking 'now watch...some of the prints on this set will be mangled or something'. I got home put it on the shelf and didn't give it another thought. I took it for granted this would be a competent, solid release.
Then I start to notice this thread ballooning past 10 pages in a week...
I still haven't opened it, but I'm really heart broken about this. I can't begin to envision the show without the genuine underscoring- it would be like taking the soul out of someone and leaving a zombie shell.
I will sadly be returning this now and resigning myself to the fact The Fugitive is now in the realm of 'abandoned' series.

And to think how happy most of us were when they kicked up the release schedule...

Professor Echo · 06-16-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carabimero

I never knew how he kept all the names straight...he did flub up once in LANDSCAPE WITH RUNNING FIGURES and signed his own name to a hotel register....Richard Kimble!

Yes, he did that while in a state of complete exhaustion and it was an incredibly effective way to initiate the tense drama of this sublime two part episode, among the series' finest.

The dilemma of always having to remember your alias was dealt with on THE FUGITIVE influenced THE INCREDIBLE HULK series, where the lead character on the run, Dr. David Banner, always used an alias with David as the first name and a name starting with a B for the last. Much easier to remember, but not as appropriate a measure for Kimble who was in a much more precarious situation than Dr. Banner and could ill afford to have ANY association with his real name crop up.

David Lambert · 06-16-2008, 06:41 PM

duplicate; see below

David Lambert · 06-16-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattPeriolat

Great job on the editorial, Gord, but boy,that ad with putting TV DVD on a pedestal at the end... that stung. Not me personally, but does make a great point: releases previously like ILL, Twilight Zone, Perry Mason et al. have been so good, it does make one wonder how and why Fugitive when so horribly wrong.

I had first mentioned the trade mag ad that Gord uses for the editorial back in April, in a pair of posts for The Invaders and Star Trek. It seemed appropriate for those releases, but I recalled the ad's message and urged Gord to include it in his new editorial, considering that with the most recent Fugitive DVDs the studio hasn't exactly lived up to their own standards, as stated in that ad!

Also, just a quick note, Matt...Twilight Zone was from Image Entertainment, not CBS/Par. I Love Lucy and Perry Mason are from CBS DVD, though.