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Harry O and Richard Diamond

post #1 of 24
3/1/09 at 11:34am
Thread Starter 
As a big David Janssen fan, I was wondering if there is an news on the future of Harry O and Richard Diamond coming to DVD ?

Would love to see both series digitally remastered !!
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post #2 of 24
3/1/09 at 1:24pm

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I bought alternative copies of these last year and was glad I did. At least I have something to hold me over in case they don't get released while I am still above ground.
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post #3 of 24
3/1/09 at 1:35pm

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Don't forget Janssen's other show "O'Hara: U.S. Treasury" which had a brief renaissance on A+E in the early 90s.
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post #4 of 24
3/1/09 at 2:04pm

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I'm also a Janssen fan and that "Diamond" series interests me. Never seen any episode. If I recall, Bob (H) mentioned some partial release in PD (or near-PD picture Q), perhaps in a "detective" collecton. I'd be interested in a cleaned up remastered release though.
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post #5 of 24
3/1/09 at 2:17pm

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I'm with you totally on "Richard Diamond" and (especially) "Harry O." "Harry O" was a small masterpiece that fit Janssen like a glove. It had me from the first voiceover of the first show as he walked past the ringing phone and into his house: "Where I really wanted to be was Idaho Falls, Idaho, because that's where the circus was in town . . ." The voiceover finished, "I thought I'd answer the phone if it rang 18 times" as he picked it up, heard his client-to-be and we were off into the plot.

If you think about it, the voiceovers in "Magnum" owed a lot to "Harry O." Both would start totally off the subject of what would become the plot (Magnum's most frequent was a rumination about the problems of living in paradise) before getting to the subject at hand.

I've come to the conclusion that Tom Selleck has basically turned into David Janssen. Both had hugely successful series, had (in Selleck's case, have) TV movies that always draw high ratings, and their movie careers never quite hit the big time. Plus, they both had/have that laid-back charm that make you root for them.

As for "O'Hara", that was a Jack Webb by-the-numbers production. I'll worry about it if we ever get more "Richard Diamond" beyond that two-episode DVD that came out a few years ago. But before "Richard Diamond," give me "Harry O."
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post #6 of 24
3/1/09 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I agree Rick, I got that 2 episode Richard Diamond and it is very hard to watch and needs remastered badly.
I have never seen an episode of Harry O nor O'Hara, so it will be all new to me!!
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post #7 of 24
3/1/09 at 6:23pm

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I would also like to see harry o get released out on dvd
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post #8 of 24
3/2/09 at 5:56am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Willis
I'm also a Janssen fan and that "Diamond" series interests me. Never seen any episode. If I recall, Bob (H) mentioned some partial release in PD (or near-PD picture Q), perhaps in a "detective" collecton. I'd be interested in a cleaned up remastered release though.

Yes, Jeff, there are a couple of "Richard Diamond" episodes on the TV Detectives collection from Mill Creek.

Mill Creek Details Page
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post #9 of 24
3/2/09 at 9:20am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I love to see harry o out on dvd , I think it only ran 2 or 3 seasons so it be good whole series to collect. It was fun show perfect for Janssen sadly he died short after harry o ended.
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post #10 of 24
3/2/09 at 9:40am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Great show, hope Warner wakes up to this. Doesn't The Rockford Files owe a lot to Harry O, too? Like the voiceover thing, the sparse living quarters, etc. The Janssen show is a much more depressing, philosophical and downbeat show, too bad it only lasted two seasons because it's Janssen's best. Perfect for him, the private detective forever working on his beach boat, bullet in his back, using public transportation, and likes a drink. I find it more realistic and interesting, than the lighter (and slicker dressed) Garner show.
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post #11 of 24
3/2/09 at 6:09pm

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I don't believe "Rockford Files" used voiceovers at all. Even if they had, "Rockford" would have owed nothing to "Harry O." They both premiered at the same time.
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post #12 of 24
3/2/09 at 7:50pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

That was a good catch Rick, both shows premiered in 1974.
It just seems Rockford was on later due to the fact it lasted until 1980, the same year David Janssen passed away.
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post #13 of 24
3/3/09 at 11:13am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Actually, Harry O's (first) pilot premiered in early 1973, undoubtedly making that particular one a 1972 production, the show itself also premiered before the Garner show.
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post #14 of 24
3/3/09 at 11:33am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I would buy these as blind buys as I love The Fugitive along with a couple of other shows David Janssen guest-starred in including Follow the Sun (1961), The Millionaire (1955) and Frontier Justice (1958)
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post #15 of 24
3/4/09 at 8:39am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Thompson

I've come to the conclusion that Tom Selleck has basically turned into David Janssen. Both had hugely successful series, had (in Selleck's case, have) TV movies that always draw high ratings, and their movie careers never quite hit the big time. Plus, they both had/have that laid-back charm that make you root for them.

A theatrical film in which Janssen played the lead was released to DVD several years ago: Warning Shot. The DVD is now apparently out-of-print, although several sellers at Amazon are offering copies for what seem to be reasonable prices. Also at Amazon, many of the customer reviews indicate this was one of Janssen's best films.
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post #16 of 24
3/4/09 at 8:55am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I saw Warning Shot last year through Netflix. It's definitely worth checking out. Not only is Janssen great, but the cast has a ton of great 60s and 70s TV character actors (Ed Begley, Keenan Wynn, Caroll O'Connor just to name a few.)

Count me in for Harry O. Everything I've read about this show says it rivals Rockford for best TV private eye. As for Richard Diamond, I hope it's released for fans, but I didn't care for the episodes I saw. I prefer Dick Powell's radio Diamond - "radio's singing gumshoe."
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post #17 of 24
3/4/09 at 11:28am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Quote:
Originally Posted by jamoon2006

Count me in for Harry O. Everything I've read about this show says it rivals Rockford for best TV private eye.
And it also wipes the floor with Magnum PI, too much silliness in these later 70s/80s crime shows, in my humble opinion. I just watched some first season Kojaks last night, grim and dark as they come, dirty streets, grimy alleys, rainy docks, and no nonsense. No gimmicks. Everything that doesn't sell a show today, unfortunately. You know, realism, seasoned actors, and professionally written good scripts & evolving stories.
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post #18 of 24
3/6/09 at 12:43am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Quote:
Originally Posted by HenryDuBrow
And it also wipes the floor with Magnum PI, too much silliness in these later 70s/80s crime shows, in my humble opinion. I just watched some first season Kojaks last night, grim and dark as they come, dirty streets, grimy alleys, rainy docks, and no nonsense. No gimmicks. Everything that doesn't sell a show today, unfortunately. You know, realism, seasoned actors, and professionally written good scripts & evolving stories.


Henry I loved Kojak too, but the last season when it went "broadway" with new opening theme music and less serious story lines. I like rockford files too but I cant stand any episode with Angel in it and again like most series the early seasons 1-3 are the best. Harry O was different, Orwell had his police disability pention as was doing the private eye thing on the side for extra money , it always had lighter tone but still very good as a drama season two premier were Orwell hunts down the killer of his Manny Quinlan was the high point of the series I love to see it on dvd soon
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post #19 of 24
3/6/09 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

jamoon, I agree with you, "Warning Shot" is an excellent movie and is a must for any David Janssen fan.
Sure wish he had gotten to make more films !!

I've only seen two Richard Diamond episodes, but would love to see the entire series remastered !
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post #20 of 24
3/7/09 at 10:40am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

One curiosity I seemed to notice from the "Richard Diamond" tv-series is that the early episodes from 1957 are a bit on the dated side, more akin to some early/mid-50s crime show. But by 1959-60 the series really developed into a much more slick, modern-feeling atmospheric, sort of heralding a 60s-tv vibe. Seemed quite a jump for a simple three-year time span.
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post #21 of 24
3/7/09 at 8:54pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Not sure if this had anything to do with, but I believe after season 1, the show moved from New York City to LosAngeles, where shows like Dragnet and Perry Mason were being done.
Not sure though !
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post #22 of 24
3/12/09 at 5:21pm

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack P
Don't forget Janssen's other show "O'Hara: U.S. Treasury" which had a brief renaissance on A+E in the early 90s.

"O'Hara: U.S. Treasury" is running on Retro Television Network on Saturday nights. If you like the Universal hour and 90 minute episodic library you'll love this station! "Laredo", "The Virginian", "Banacek", "The Bold Ones" and lots of other long-lost shows are in the rotation. It's mostly on digital subchannels (like 10.2 in Providence) so you might have to hunt around.
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post #23 of 24
3/12/09 at 6:05pm

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

Unfortunately I'm in the NYC market and they don't carry Retro anywhere. Nice to hear though that there's still some kind of outlet for these more obscure shows!
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post #24 of 24
3/13/09 at 7:21am

Re: Harry O and Richard Diamond

I should add the great thing about RTN is most of the shows are uncut! Some need restoration, but at least they're being aired as intended.
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