"The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review - Page 2

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Yes, that's about right. They said that when THE FUGITIVE aired in Germany everyone stayed in to watch it, thus giving the street sweepers an opportunity to clean the streets.

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

I can see now (after watching the V1 set) why that's true While Mom and I have been watching this series, she has mentioned a couple of times that even though she was working during most of the "prime time" TV viewing hours in the 60's, she knew where most of the viewing audience was tuned in on Tue nights. She said that everyone back then in her age group was into this show big-time. She's mentioned to some of her peers lately that we're watching these DVD's and almost to the person, they always say "You mean, this is available on DVD?" OT here, but does that sound familiar with what we've been saying here (HTF) on several threads? It seems to tell me that we (the TSoD, HTF, Digital Bits, etc, "surfers" are the minority population.

Back on-Topic, Thanks Gary and "Prez" for the "spoiler" concerns but it's not you guy's problem if something gets posted here Hey, after all, I think I'm the ONLY one here that hasn't seen this show I laugh at myself when I read a mini-spoiler here at HTF since, as I see it, I should have seen this great show before now. But, I have to admit, as Gary and I have talkd about, it's sure a blast to see this caliber of series on A+ Xfrs, uncut (no missing scenes), without commercials for the first time. Anyway, I got "spoiled" at how the series ends when I read the Barry Morse Obituary in my local paper a couple of weeks ago. I had already known more or less that the series was given a "closeure" since QM knew into S4 that David Janssen had declined returning for S5. I won't spoil it here for anyone else that hasn't seen this show and mention what was in that Obituary article. Besides, I'm thinking I'm the only one on this forum that hasn't seen this show until the DVD release. Any "takers" on this bet? That's what I get for watching Combat!, Lost in Space, Time Tunnel, Star Trek (TOS), etc, back then. When the Fugitive's 1st season aired, I was a little too young to stay up that late and also the show would have been too intense of a dramatic series for me at that time. I was busy watching reruns of the Rifleman and Lone Ranger also

Hey, gang, I forgot to ask in that earlier post but how many of you own a copy of the "Viewers Guide" book by Ed Robertson? I received a copy from an online store earlier this week but haven't checked it out yet. I plan on using that book as I watch the show. I've been doing that with another series, "Combat!" with Jo Davidsmeyer's Viewers Guide book and that's sure added to the enjoyment of the DVD viewing with Combat! .

BTW, you're welcome, "Prez" for Post #22. I forgot to mention that I copied/pasted the text of both of your Fugitive Reviews and printed them out for my Mom to read them. She was very impressed with both reviews. "Tell us something we don't know", right? It reminded me of that scene in "See Hollywood & Die" episode....remember when "Kimble" was driving them all to LA and what he said to "Miles"?

[Miles] "What do you think I am....crazy?" [Kimble] "Next question."

Man, that's classic. Mom really loved that "comeback" from Kimble. "....Hollywood..." was one of our favorite eps from V1. Just like Gary said it would be......"Next question" Even the "alias" that the writers came up with, "Al Fleming", it fits the story like a glove.

As for S1V2, I'm glancing at the Fugitive online Ep Guide as I post this.....what a list of guests in this show! Robert Webber, Telly Savalas, Diane Ladd, Pat Hingle, Paul Picerni (one of my favorites from the Untouchables), Nancy Malone (Naked City), Parley Baer, Eileen Heckart, Albert Salmi, Ken Lynch, Malachi Throne, Warren Oates, Ken Lynch, Ruta Lee, Carroll O'Connor (is that who VP called "Lard Belly"? Lee Grant, Tim O'Connor, Madlyn Rhue, Claude Akins, Joseph Campanella.....

Like Charles said, it's a regular "who's who" in this series. "Field Day"'s right, Charles!

Gary, thanks again for watching my back with the spoilers. If it happens here, "no problem-o", Fuge fans. I should have sneaked out after bedtime in '63 and at least tried to turn on that Zenith Tube TV to watch Kimble

Jeff "That's what I get for going to bed too early in '63" W.

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Jeff, I can certainly appreciate the "too young" for THE FUGITIVE scenario in 1963, though for me it was borderline. I would have been twelve that year in 1963, and for me TV was at its best when I was watching either cartoons or comedy. So shows like THE DICK VAN DYKE show or MY THREE SONS would always win out over any kind of drama.

Whenever I was into drama, it seemed to be of the "weird" variety with science fiction programs like THE OUTER LIMITS and THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

As a result, when Tuesday's at ten rolled around, my preference was for the long-running comedy-variety show on CBS called THE GARRY MOORE SHOW. There I was mesmerized by the likes of Garry, Durward Kirby, Carol Burnett, Marion Lorne, and popular comedians and musical acts of the day. I'd been with that show since the late '50s and wasn't about to give it up for that "train wreck" show on ABC!

But never one to be with the popular trends of the day, I was apparently pretty alone in my choice as THE FUGITIVE trounced GARRY MOORE in the ratings, ultimately leading to its cancellation. I even bucked the trend in my own family, as I can recall my mom, dad, and sisters all opting for THE FUGITIVE while I went upstairs and watched GARRY MOORE.

But the following year, I joined in for some FUGE-fun and was easily hooked on the show. Then I had to play catch-up when the show ran in daily reruns on ABC daytime whenever I was out of school (summertime, sick days, etc.).

It was then that I realized that THE FUGITIVE was indeed the best of its kind on television and it got me to appreciate the dramatic form much more. I then began to investigate the other "Act" shows from Quinn Martin, and enjoyed THE F.B.I., TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH, THE INVADERS, etc.

So THE FUGITIVE was sort-of my growing-up show - the one that helped me leave the childish things behind. Oh, I still gravitated towards comedy for a lot of years thereafter, and whenever a science fiction show popped up, I'd be around to check it out, but now I had quality drama in my catalog of TV-watching.

Today, there's not a single comedy show that I watch. I think the last one I watched with any regularity was FRIENDS. But I still appreciate great drama, thanks to Quinn Martin, David Janssen, the late, great Barry Morse, Bill Raisch, and a host of superb guest stars who really made THE FUGITIVE shine as something special.

And yes, I do remember the whole world stopping on Tuesday nights, particularly those two final episodes in August of 1967.

Harry

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Harry, you didn't mention Time tunnel? Kidding....

Since we're telling all and revealing ages , I was 8 in '63. I wasn't watching too much prime-time stuff back then but I remember watching the same ones as you were; Outer Limits & Twilight Zone. I was watching mostly some of the "after-school" shows in syndication at the time back then. The first clear memory for me with the prime-time slot shows seems to be Combat!'s 3rd season '64-'65, and Lost in Space S1, around that time frame.

Although I didn't watch the final episode of the Fugitive, I still remember Dad getting home from work early that Tuesday to get the lawn mowed and some of those "Honey-Do" chores wrapped up before 9pm Central Time

As for the "growing up" drama shows, that's an interesting point. I guess I'd say the same as you, The Invaders and the FBI were among the 2 that I remember watching after the Fugitive had been around awhile. I remember the perception that I had about the Fugitive at the time was that it was one of those "boring grown-up" shows

As for somehow missing The Fugitive during the syndication years, in particular the A&E runs, I can't explain that except that during that time frame (was that in the early 90's?) I was watching mostly sports during prime-time on the C-Band Dish and only 1 or 2 prime-time shows at the time. "Earth 2" was one that I really liked. I haven't watched any network prime-time show since about '96.

Jeff "Until recently I'd picked the 70's as my favorite decade for TV, but now it's the 60's by a wide margin, thanks to TV/DVD and the info here" W.

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Yeah, well, I DID mention the sci-fi aspect of my viewing, so we can assume that it was lumped in there. But if you really missed a reference, then I'll throw one in here.

Many of the great guest stars and character actors that Irwin Allen used also got duty in the Quinn Martin shows like THE FUGITIVE. In this set alone as TIME TUNNEL "crossovers" we've got:

- Carroll O'Connor, who did double duty in the TIME TUNNEL episode "The Last Patrol" was in "Flight From The Final Demon"

- Arthur Batanides who really enjoyed playing the role of Batu in the TIME TUNNEL episode "Attack Of The Barbarians" appeared here in "Search In A Windy City"

- Malachi Throne, who managed two different TIME TUNNELs, "The Death Merchant" and "Night Of The Long Knives" did FUGITIVE duty in "Rat In A Corner"

- Rodolfo Hoyos, who also covered two TIME TUNNEL episodes, "The Alamo" and "Idol Of Death" was in FUGITIVE's "Angels Travel Lonely Roads"

- John Zaremba, a regular on THE TIME TUNNEL as Dr. Raymond Swain, played a druggist in "Taps For A Dead War"

- Paul Comi, in TIME TUNNEL's "Massacre", appeared as a deputy in "Never Stop Running".

One could do similar lists with actors who appeared in other popular shows of the day, like STAR TREK, etc. and some of those lists would be lengthy indeed.

These days I really get a kick out of seeing these familiar actors exercise their crafts in these old shows.

Harry

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

I really enjoyed the the half of season one and couldn't wait for the second half to arrive. (I saw the series in the original run as a kid but not having cable I haven't seen it since; so it's almost like seeing them fresh.)

But what a let down starting off with The Garden House. That was so bad I wish they would have just "misplaced" the master. Not only was it a complete waste of 50 minutes; but worse it brings the level of the whole show down a notch. Campy acting. (The sister; but the character was so bad it was probably the direction.) Trite characters. (The husband's a boring stereotype. The wife was schizophrenic - which might have been fun if they played it out that way.) Just ... blecch!

Sorry, I just had to rant after watching that episode this morning. On the plus side the next one, Come Watch Me Die, is one of my favorites so far.

If I were a complainer about packaging...

I'd probably have at least one complaint about THE FUGITIVE releases so far.

And that complaint would be that the spine printing doesn't quite match up between the two half-season releases. Though the words "THE FUGITIVE" printed in red on a black background are the same size and font, they don't line up when next to each other on the shelf. One is printed higher up than the other.

The CBS DVD logos at the top are of different sizes; Kimble's picture is skewed lower on the volume 2 release; the Season One Volume Two designation is in a slightly larger font; and the insert itself is slightly shorter than its Volume 1 counterpart. Even items like the [CC] and the Paramount logo at the bottom differ slightly between the releases.

Now as I said, this is all "if I were a complainer". Personally, though I DID notice these things, they don't really bother me. Really, they don't...Really...

Harry
...not bothered at all, really...no, really...

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

I also own The Fugitive Recaptured as well. I first purchased the book upon its release way back in 1993--believe it or not!?

It is very well-written, full of antedotes about the series as well as other fun appendencies such as The Phewgitive, a 1964 Mad Magazine TV satire which caputed the essence of the classic TV series as only a Mad Magazine, IMHO, can!!!! As with anything else Mad like Mad, I laughed heartily at this fine story.

I have always known of The Fugitive my entire life, the first of which was the 1966-7 color season which culminated with the landmark two-part series-ending conclusion, "The Judgment". And I knew of David Janssen more directly from Harry-O than I did as Dr. Kimble--at first!!!! His obit helped set things better for me upon his tragic passing at 49 in 1980.

Then, when the Harrison Ford movie came to pass in 1993, I knew instantly that this was a movie I instinctively had to attend right away--which I did at a multiplex in Atlanta on August 16, 1993. This Fuge fan had finally come home.

In the months to follow, I quickly picked up all the video tapes from the TV show as they were available (Camelot Video had some marked down for $5 a pop; Suncoast had others for $9) as well as the original pilot and The Judgment (sold seperately as stand-alone titles from the other Nu Venture Video collection) and bought the Ed Robertson book all within months before 1993 ended.

It was as if, somehow, this series was part of my subliminal DNA.

Recaptured also helped me fill in some of the blanks on the entire 120-episode run when a local TV station began airing some of the old episodes late in the summer of 1994. I managed to get all but a handful of them on video tape as a result. The tapes are still solid but are showing their age being that they all hail from the early-mid 1990s.

However, now, thanks be to these wonderful DVDs, I can finally enjoy The Fugitive with stronger video and audio than ever before. May this entire classic come to pass with ALL 120 episodes available on DVD right all the way through to The Judgment!!!!

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

I must have no self-discipline at all. Since getting the Volume 2 set, and with the full intention of stretching the viewing out to one per week, I've now competed five(!) episodes.

I started with that nearly-unseen-by-me "Storm Center" and have now totally finished off Disc One as of last night.

It's just been one of those weeks where viewing TV shows isn't a problem, timewise, so I found myself watching one after the other.

So much for making this set last till June. At this rate, it won't last till St. Patrick's Day!

By the way, as I watched last night, I actually took notice of the sound of the episode that was playing, and it sounded unusually good for a show of this age. I can't remember if the sound on Volume One was as well done as this one.

Harry

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Just checked and verified another very small music alteration. This one came in "THE HOMECOMING" when Kimble was listening to the radio in his room. As with the other alterations, this one is not intrusive to me at all.

Gary "admittedly, I am thankful this show didn't depend on any 'pop music' of the day to advance the plot - otherwise I think we'd be in trouble because Paramount is not clearing very much" O.

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

The Fugitive Databank does it again Thanks for the info, Gary. Do you know the name of the original tune was that got edited out of the DVD version? I'll guess and say that it wasn't a Beatles tune from the era


Thanks for the words, VP. Your Fugitive reviews are the 'est

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

In my marathon of viewing this week, I discovered yet another of those TIME TUNNEL (and STAR TREK) actors who also appeared in THE FUGITIVE, this one uncredited.

Peter Brocco, who often played frail older men, politicians, or scientific types, seems to have had an uncredited part in "Where The Action Is." He plays the part of a driver who reports back to Telly Savalas on his recent assignment, but he's not listed in the opening or closing credits at all. The role isn't even listed in the IMDb, where he gets credit for both "World's End" and "A Clean And Quiet Town" from later in the series run.

In THE TIME TUNNEL, Mr. Brocco played the part of Kashi, a blind Afghani in "The Night Of The Long Knives", also playing a role in the later episode, "Idol Of Death.

In STAR TREK, Mr. Brocco played the part of Claymare (one of the Organian elders) in the "Errand Of Mercy" episode.

Harry

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

So I'm very much enjoying this Season One second half run of The Fugitive with quality writing and spectacular acting turns such as Eileen Heckart in "Angels Travel On Lonely Roads." But I gotta ask one question: In almost every episode his identity is discovered by the fourth act and usually reported to the authorities ... How come they never update the wanted poster to reflect his dyed black hair? I mean, come on, they don't need photoshop; any black magic marker would do. I guess I get the same answer Jack Nicholson's character got in another noir classic ... "Forget it, Jake ... it's Television." Or something like that.

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

I was just thinking that with the accelerated release schedule it would be really neat if Paramount coordinated the schedule so that the final set of episodes comes out next year on August 29th. The day the running stopped. But I'm sure Paramount wouldn't have that much foresight, would they?

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

We just finished watching the two-parter, "Angels Travel On Lonely Roads".

It's funny, I always liked this episode, but as a two-parter, it somehow always got skipped in my viewings of my old VHS tapes. It's easier to squeeze an hour of viewing in, but two hours takes a bigger commitment - and at that length, a movie choice is valid too.

So it's been quite a while since I'd seen the episode. I'd totally forgotten about the great acting turn here by Albert Salmi. And I hadn't recalled Ruta Lee being in the episode at all.

Anyway, good stuff! Eileen Heckart was magnificent in the role of Sister Veronica. And poor Ken Lynch - I guess after not bagging Kimball, he left Earth and went off to run a pergeum mining facility! (Star Trek reference).

Harry

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

One of the things I have always liked about The Fugitive is that the series had such high-quality guest actors, from the soon-to-be-famous (like Robert Duvall and Bruce Dern) and journeyman character actors (Pat Hingle and Albert Salmi). No matter how big or small the role, these actors really gave it their all and complimented David Janssen's performances!

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

That's for sure. This series is amazing.

Ok, it's "question time" for you Fugitive fanatics.

I just finished with the V1S1 set and after having wached "Home....Hunted" episode with Mom, she asked me how often that "Kimble's" family members had recurring roles in the series. I seem to recall that Jacqueline Scott appeared in several later episodes. How many and did "Ray" (Andrew Prine) or Kimble's Dad make any future appearances in the series?

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Jacqueline Scott and her immediate family are the only ones who ever appear again in the balance of the series (not counting the in-laws), and her husband is played by rotating actors.

Kimble's father, I believe is mentioned as having passed away. Ray is never mentioned again.

Jacqueline Scott mentioned a mother once, but we never saw her or heard of her again.

Harry

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Harry,

Thanks for the info. I've started reading the Robertson book a couple days ago. I did a quick look-over at some of the upcoming episode storylines. There are some very interesting stories coming up for a first-time viewer. It's another indication of how this series stands apart from almost any other show in existance.

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

One of the things about THE FUGITIVE as it relates to today, is that though it was one of the first, if not *the* first, series that wrapped up its story in the final episode, it was still a product of '60s television.

Though we were introduced to Kimble's family, it wasn't done in a soap-opera fashion, or even story-arcs. The appearance of Donna Kimble was done to tell an individual story. The casting of Jacqueline Scott was a coup early on, and the producers knew it. The fact that she was available for several subsequent appearances was a bonus. And she says that people told her that she had a similar facial structure to David Janssen, particularly in the eyes.

Her husband in the show was more or less a disposable role, and could have been played by any of the many character actors of the day. And just like Lt. Gerard's wife, it didn't matter who was cast, since they weren't major characters.

The idea back then was that by the time Mrs. Gerard or Len Taft were to appear again, no-one would remember who'd played them before. TV was supposedly disposable entertainment that wasn't to be studied ad infinitum.

If the series were being done today, I'm sure that the producers would consistently cast the same actors if they were available. Back then, it just wasn't important.

That's also the reason that a Suzanne Pleshette or a Carol Rossen could be hired multiple times throughout the series run to play totally different characters. The important thing was *that* week's story and who best to be cast in the guest roles.

And that leads to one of the reasons that the series is so compelling - that the best actors in the business were hired week after week to enhance the Kimble saga.

Harry

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Very well stated, Harry. Something I've always felt viscerally but never really cohesively expressed in so many words. Part of the great charm of shows of this vintage is that dramas like "The Fugitive" have their own unique universe which mirrors reality, but in an imprecise and fascinating way. IMO the move towards perfecting the story arc, maintaining strict continuity, etc. ironically makes for less enjoyable viewing. And then, maybe I can't adjust because I'm just too damn old... I love that character actors were used over and over in shows such as this. Albert Salmi was mentioned a couple of times earlier--I've been a huge fan for years and can recall the elation I felt decades ago when I'd spot his name in the opening credits for say, "Kung Fu". Heck, who gets excited by a guest actor in the current crop of shows? I believe that Dabs Greer and Harry Townes, who played the two smarmy cops in "Fear in a Desert City" appear no less than 9 more times between them in subsequent episodes of "The Fugitive" and I'll look forward to seeing them in every episode they appear in.

BTW, I'm following the Harry-N approach to viewing vol. 2 and it appears to be working so far, but after seeing "Come Watch Me Die" yesterday evening, I'm not sure if I can last until this weekend for the third installment.

I've really been enjoying this thread eventhough I haven't contributed of late but it's been great reading the enthusiastic input by Jeff, Gary and others!

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Gee, if only I could've followed the "Harry-N" approach. I'm already through seven full episodes and almost watched another one this morning. The show is like Lays Potato Chips. I can't watch just one!

Harry

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Yes, Harry. Robert Keith, whose son, Brian, appeared as Ed Welles in the "Fear In A Desert City" pilot, potrayed Dr. John Kimble that one time in the "Home Is The Hunted" episode. The elder Keith passed away in 1966 at age 68--right around the time of the "Running Scared" episode disclosing the elder Kimble's death.

One reason given for the different castings of the actors who played Donna's husband lent itself to actor availability at the time those particular episodes went into production.

And speaking of actor availability...one thing I always respect The Fugivitve for particularly, on a more personal level, is the use of black actors and actresses throughout the course of this fine series. And it was not just that these actors were cast as they were in the seriers, but also in the roles in which they were presented during the time this series originally aired back in the 1960s. James Edwards...Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis...Janet MacLachlan...Lloyd Haynes...Percy Rodriguez...Diana Sands...Bill Gunn...and Greg Morris, just to name a few.

And one particular actor was cast twice amongst those brought back for different roles a la Robert Duvall, Telly Savalas, Bruce Dern, Diana Hyland, etc. That actor was none other than Ivan Dixon himself.

Every last one of them gave no less than stellar performances, IMHO, in the roles in which they were cast.

Seeing such fine, strong women as Ms. Dee, Ms. MacLachlan and the late Ms. Sands, particularly, during this classic TV series truly put a smile in my heart as well as on my face.

Re: "The Fugitive: Season 1, Volume 2" -- A Personal Review

Well, since I already mentioned STAR TREK in a post above, I guess I get credit for one of them. Ken Lynch played Chief Vanderberg in the STAR TREK episode "Devil In The Dark", where he was the administrator of the pergeum mining facility.

What do I win?

Harry