7 Brides for 7 Brothers...that credit alone should have told me she could really sing!
Kaye was on stage in Roger and Hammerstein’s Carousel at the Long Beach Municipal Auditorium in 1958.
Yes as Julie Newmeyer at the time.
When I first read Neyer’s episode capsules I was suitably impressed.
And Mr. Spencer and I thank you!Episode Commentary
"The Well-Selected Frame" (S1Ep8)
A double entendre title that's a nice little compact story with Roger Smith in the lead as Jeff Spencer. There's enough tongue-in-cheek attitude in this early season one episode that probably helped propel the hipness factor of the series.
The opening has Jeff trolling the park for a female. After a few mistaken masher-type encounters, he finally finds his quarry in the lovely form of Valerie Stacey (Peggy Castle). The two immediately repair to Dino's for "the smoothest cocktails in town", where she confesses to Jeff that her wealthy husband (Bartlett Robinson) is trying to knock her off. Spoiler Alert: She's not exactly what she claims to be. A scheme is concocted for Jeff to pose as an architect ("what I know about architecture wouldn't even fill a grain of rice", he admonishes) at the Stacey home to ostensibly undertake some renovations. Jeff meets Mr. Stacey and Valerie's "brother", Alec (Captain Midnight himself, Richard Webb) and tippy-toes around some architectural chatter trying desperately not to reveal his true purpose.
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Peggy Castle, Richard Webb, Frances Fong
Upon repairing to his room to unpack, Jeff encounters Lotus Wong (Frances Fong), Mr. Staley's devoted and stunning secretary. It's a credit to the scriptwriter that she comes across as a well-educated and sophisticated Asian-American as opposed to some stereotypes of this period.
The story progresses into a dubious frame-up of Jeff Spencer by the wife and her "brother" for the shooting death of Mr. Stacey. A rather ludicrous chase scene by cops through the house to find Spencer ends in Lotus hiding him in her bubbly bathtub. The two later reconnect at a beach house in Malibu (back when these were laughably referred to as "shacks") in order to concoct a plan to expose Valerie. In a not too surprising ending, her brother Alec turns out to actually be her first husband, a pilot reportedly killed in Korea. Valerie kept this a secret so as to inherit $20 million smackaroos from her now dead faux husband. Trying to bribe Jeff to take the fall, a courtroom scene ensues--which would have hit a wall of a million objections in a Perry Mason court--and unveils the whole plot.
We happily end with Jeff and Lotus sipping cocktails at Dino's while Frankie Ortega loudly bangs out a jazzy 77 SS theme rendition.
Not a top line episode, but certainly serviceable with appearances from Kookie and Stu to round out the cast.
NOTE: A brief and amusing scene has Hal Smith (town drunk Otis in The Andy Griffith Show) as a chatty motorist picking up hitchhiker Jeff while police cars whiz by looking for him.
Confession: I apologize for not spending as much time as usual on this particular episode--it's a bit room temperature compared to some of my other posts--but I felt that the thread was dragging a bit and needed a tiny injection of energy. And, by golly, I spelled Spencer correctly.
When I first discovered Neyer's 77 SS thread many months ago (in a Classic Horror Movie forum of all places), I did weigh in and invite him and the few other participants to our own thread here. I got not so much as a nod of acknowledgment or interest. I took a bit of umbrage to that rebuff. One would think that love of the series would kindle some curiosity to at least peek into our window.
Why thanks, Lutz. It should be a fine day— the kids will be here to give their old man grief about my age and ability to move about as fast as sidewalk gum. Homemade pizzas are on the menu, and more than a few cocktails and spirited discussions.
