The Original Magnum P.I. Appreciation Thread (1 Viewer)

[Jeff Flugel]

Great story, Randall!, thanks for sharing!

 

[Jeff Flugel]

1.10 "Lest We Forget"

Really enjoyed this episode. No, there isn't much "mystery" in this week's case, but it's an engrossing story, with the legacy of Pearl Harbor looming large, buoyed by a stellar guest cast. Magnum is asked by an impending Supreme Court judge (Jose Ferrer) to find an old flame (June Lockhart) who he lost contact with 40 years previously. Not a lot of danger or action this time out, just an interesting tale with some great moments of humor, as Higgins showers Magnum with uncharacteristic acts of kindness in order to secure his help in an upcoming bridge game - mistakenly thinking Thomas is a former U.S. team champion bridge player. Needless to say, Magnum does not disabuse him of this notion.

There's a nice moment of sober reflection at the site of the USS Arizona Memorial, preceded by footage cribbed from some WWII epic (I'm guessing Tora! Tora! Tora!) It works well enough though the image during these scenes is painfully squeezed when it should have been panned and scanned or cropped to fit in better with the rest of the episode.

One of the nice conceits of the show is that the older stars' children, Miguel Ferrer and Anne Lockhart, portray them in the 1941 flashbacks. We also get a nice cameo by Scatman Crothers, and our first featured native Hawaiian, Elizabeth Lindsay, as the pneumatic Magnum "Babe of the Week." A certain song by the Commodores comes to mind.

 

[Robert Crawford]

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One of the nice conceits of the episode is that the older stars' children, Mel Ferrer and Anne Lockhart, portray them in the 1941 flashbacks. We also get a nice cameo by Scatman Crothers, and our first featured native Hawaiian, Elizabeth Lindsay, as the pneumatic Magnum "Babe of the Week."

View attachment 50295

You mean Miguel Ferrer, not Mel Ferrer. Miguel was a fine actor that died last year at a young age from cancer.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

D'oh! I always mix those two actors' names up, even though they look nothing alike and are not related...thanks for the correction.

 

[Blimpoy06]

1.10 "Lest We Forget"

This episode has always been a favorite of mine. Series creator Donald Bellisario tells a classic love story involving a Supreme Court nominee whose youthful indiscretions may keep him off the bench. (Yes, I see the parallels to current events. No comment.) The cast is one of the best in the show to that point.

(This shot is so nice, I had to show it twice!)
The beautiful woman next to Tom Selleck is Elizabeth Lindsey. She was Miss Hawaii 1978 and began her acting career shortly before appearing in this episode. She would have a small role in Bellisario's next TV series, Tales Of the Gold Monkey.

In 1999 she earned her PhD in Cultural Anthropology and become the first female National Geographic fellow. She was also the first Polynesian explorer at the National Geographic Society. She received the Visionary Award from the United Nations for her work in intercultural understanding.

“True navigation begins in the human heart. It’s the most important map of all... For centuries, cultures throughout the world have used indigenous technologies to navigate life’s complexities. From navigator-priests in Micronesia to mystics in India, vast sums of knowledge are available if we but recognize it.” - Elizabeth Kapu'uwailani Lindsey

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Thanks for the additional information on Elizabeth Kapu'uwailani Lindsey, Darin! Not only is she a highly accomplished woman, she's perhaps even better looking now than she was as a young starlet!

 

[Jeff Flugel]

1.11 "The Curse of the King Kamehameha Club"

Well, this was different - good, but different. About as close as Magnum P.I. probably comes to a Halloween seasonal outing (in other words, not very), as Thomas has to deal with kahunas, curses and other sinister goings-on that threaten to close down the King Kamehameha Club, right before a big surf-ski competition. An old kahuna puts a curse on Rick and the club, one of the athletes competing in the event suddenly dies, and business at the club plummets. It's up to Magnum to lay the so-called curse to rest.

This episode does a good job showing the brotherly bond between Magnum, T.C. and Rick - especially when Rick's health takes a turn for the worse. Of course, just because they're close doesn't mean his buddies have enough faith to bet on Magnum winning the surf-ski competition...

We also get a good look at the behind-the-scenes operations of the club, beginning with Higgins annoying other board members with his "complaints corner " (all complaints specifically targeting Magnum). There's not much action here, other than an aborted chase in a cane field fire (where it looks like Selleck and Roger E. Mosely got pretty dang close to actual flames) but the story is engaging in its own right. There are nice guest turns from Gretchen Corbett (James Garner's lawyer friend and sometimes squeeze Beth Davenport on The Rockford Files) as an obnoxious reporter, and Lew Ayres as the old man who owns the land lease on the club.





All in all, a nice change of pace episode, with lots of screen time for all four main cast members, and a mystery that zigs and zags to a satisfying conclusion.

But I'm still waiting for the "real" Magnum P.I. theme to kick in during the opening credits...

 

[Bob Gu]

Things have been rather quiet on the estate, without Magnum, allowing Higgins and the lads to enjoy other pursuits.

But they always knew it would not last. Or will it?

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Heh. Never fear, Bob...Magnum will once again return to the estate, to keep Higgins on his toes.

Just taking a little break. I'm not one to binge a series, generally. I breezed through the first 11 eps of Magnum season one, and then got distracted by other shiny objects. Will resume at some point soon...Thanks for taking a peek into the dusty corners of this thread, anyway. Not sure where my compadre in crime, Darin a.k.a Blimpoy06, has gotten to. Life does tend to get in the way of these fun pursuits of ours.

 

[mark-edk]

FYI the complete Magnum series in HD is on sale again at iTunes, this time for just $29.95.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Dusting the cobwebs off this thread...

1.12 "Thicker Than Blood"

And finally, we get the proper Magnum P.I. theme, at the start of the episode.

Also finally, Magnum gets a chance to repay T.C. for all the times he's saved Magnum's life, when T.C. gets nabbed by the coast guard while on a clandestine helicopter run to smuggle an old army buddy off a merchant ship and onto Oahu. The friend happens to be a drug-addicted deserter who once saved T.C.'s life in 'Nam, and T.C. feels honor-bound to help him out, even when it might result in serious prison time. Magnum soon figures out that T.C. was set up by the crew of the ship, and goes undercover as a dock worker to sneak on board and find out what's really going on.



T.C. is on a real grump this episode, and there's even a moment when he and Magnum really go at each other. Magnum also gets so fed up with Higgins bartering with his privileges at Robin's Nest in exchange for a favor, that he heatedly volunteers to move off the estate. Higgins is naturally surprised at this dramatic gesture and finds a very Higgins-like way of undoing the bargain. It's obvious at this stage that he's rather fond of Magnum, in his own peculiar way.



There's no Magnum "Babe of the Week" at all this episode - at least, not one we see. Magnum listens to a tape recorder left by an unseen writer's agent and sometime lover, and seems pensive at her premature departure...but will we hear more about her ever again? Highly unlikely.

All in all, this was a good character-based episode, penned by series creator Donald P. Bellasario, and yet another example of the wide variety of stories that this show can handle.

There's a sad postscript to this episode reported on the IMDB, relating to the Coast Guard helicopter seen near the beginning, but I'll let our resident Magnum guru Darin, a.k.a. Blimpoy06, give more details on that...if and when he feels so inclined.

 

[Bob Gu]

Jeff, the Higgins and Magnum scene at the end is actually touching. And, as usual, Higgins provided Magnum with the clue that broke the case. But at this point, seeing that episode weeks ago on COZI, I don't remember what it was.

COZI is on Season 4, now, and recently ran the episode with Higgins teaching his posse, Kung Fu, pictured in post #88.

It is S4Ep2, "Luther Gillis: File #521". This is the first episode with Eugene Roche as, mainland private gumshoe , Luther Gillis.

Funny episode with Magnum and Gillis providing their own point of view narration.

Gillis and Kolchak must shop at the same men's store.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Thanks for the reply, and for the screencaps of those season 4 episodes, Bob! Looking forward to getting there at some point.

Agreed re: the final scene between Higgins and Magnum. If Higgins doesn't exactly like Magnum (yet), he definitely respects him, and the lengths he'll go to in order to help his friends.

 

[Blimpoy06]

The penultimate episode of the first season, "J Digger Doyle".


This one is a classic. Written by the man himself, Don Bellisario. It's got it all. Action, humor, plot twists and an awesome woman in Erin Grey. What more is there to say?

 

[Jeff Flugel]

It's got it all. Action, humor, plot twists and an awesome woman in Erin Grey. What more is there to say?
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Welcome back, Darin! I'm looking forward to getting to "J. Digger Doyle" (and Erin Grey) eventually. In the meantime:

1.13 "All Roads Lead to Floyd"

Magnum is hired by Cindy (Anne Bloom), a young woman just flown over from Kansas, to find her father, Floyd (Noah Beery Jr., here credited without the "Jr."), whom she hasn't seen for 10 years. Seems Floyd is an inveterate con man and has left a dubious trail of short-changed bosses, skimmed tills and the like throughout Oahu. But Cindy and Magnum aren't the only ones looking for Floyd; he's also the target of a mob hitman (Red West) and mixed up with a local Japanese crime boss (Seth Sakai).

This one's a light, easygoing runaround, with several amusing bits, including Floyd's reckless driving causing Thomas to suffer a rear-end collision in the Ferrari. Needless to say, Higgins is not best pleased. Circumstances lead to Magnum having to fold himself into Lloyd's little beater for the rest of the episode.

The producers make up for episode 12's lack of feminine pulchritude by peppering a host of lovely ladies throughout, so we get a main "Babe of the Week," plus some walk-ons: the wide-eyed Ms. Bloom, who at first seems somewhat dowdy, but surprises Magnum (and the audience) with her penchant for bourbon and how she looks in a bikini; a sultry secretary at a tour guide agency (Deborah Hedquist); and a waitress (Elissa Hoopai) who is a member of some kind of pyramid scheme / escort party scenario (must admit, I couldn't quite figure out 100% what this subplot was all about...other than there was something decidedly hinky going on).

For Rockford Files fans, it's fun to see Jim's dad, Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.), sharing scenes with Lance White (Tom Selleck). Rick gets a little more screen time than T.C., but neither one has much to do with the story proper this time out. I don't know what make of car Magnum is forced to drive here, but it is a real piece of junk, and Magnum's cool status drops several pegs when people see him in it. And of course, we get one more "Breaking the Fourth Wall" moment, with another of Selleck's patented winks to camera.

 

[Blimpoy06]

1.13 "All Roads Lead to Floyd"

This episode, and many others of the first season, has what I call the "Stephen J. Cannell vibe" to it. And it's no surprise as both writers of the episode and this first season's producer would all work on many of Cannell's shows in the 80's. J. Rickley Dumm and Babs Greyhosky would produce the first season of Riptide together.

It's a fun little romp with Magnum running all over town and encountering interesting characters (and eye candy) along the way. Red West being the most interesting to me. West has a long list of TV and film credits as a stunt performer and actor. He's in a fight scene in nearly every Wild, Wild West episode. He was part of Elvis Presley's "Memphis Mafia" and wrote several songs in the 60's. Look him up online, he had an interesting life.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Red West being the most interesting to me. West has a long list of TV and film credits as a stunt performer and actor. He's in a fight scene in nearly every Wild, Wild West episode.
View attachment 56418

Oh, yeah, I remember ol' Red West well from The Wild Wild West. He was a highlight of this Magnum episode, for sure. I saw him recently in an episode of Mannix, as the thug enforcer to a Vegas mob boss played by Warren Stevens.

Not sure which episode of Magnum is up next...maybe the one where Thomas has to guard a horse, or something? Will try to get through this first season in the next month or so. It might just be me, you and occasionally Bob Gu in this thread, Darin, but I'll plug along anyway.

 

[Bob Gu]

For any other, Disc free, folks that want to play along, the MAGNUM, P.I. COZI broadcasts will start over again, with Season 1, on Monday, March 18, at 8 AM, Eastern, Monday thru Friday.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

1.14 "Adelaide"

Magnum is charmed by Adelaide (Christine Belford), a forthright, schoolmarmish horse breeder from Iowa, into protecting her racehorse, Norman, from threats on his life - against the wishes of her uncle (Cameron Mitchell), a ill-tempered ex-Navy surgeon who once saved Magnum's life. The threats soon seem real enough...especially when it's revealed that Norman is due to be sold as a stud horse for a cool quarter million bucks.

Another low-key episode, this one starts promisingly enough but Magnum's detective skills seem on a temporary hiatus this time out. He doesn't seem to do much at all this episode except hang out with and comfort Adelaide, and when the actual plot lackadaisically kicks into gear near the end, it's all wrapped up rather abruptly. Still, even a mediocre Magnum episode remains a pleasant, breezy time, and carries some reliable compensations. Thomas' friends all have a good laugh at his expense, when they find out he's guarding a horse. Higgins' reaction is typical:

Magnum once again ropes in T.C. and Rick to help him out at the horse show. At first reluctant to get involved, they change their minds when offered Robin Masters' box seats at the event. The guys seem to think they're on their way to Ascot, and overdress for the occasion. Predictably, Higgins shows up, too, and kicks them out. Magnum might have to actually pony up some cash for once in his life to make it up to them. Not that he's likely to collect much of a fee.

Cameron Mitchell is an actor I always have a lot of time for, but here he's given very little to do and only gets a few scenes. I've never found our Magnum "Babe of the Week," Christine Belford, particularly attractive, but she's a good actress. She did good work as a rival insurance investigator and sophisticated, on-and-off again lover to George Peppard's Banacek, and she's equally fine here, playing a very opposite type. Selleck once again shows what a kindhearted guy Magnum is, and he treats the innocent Adelaide tenderly.

That's nice and all, but here's hoping things get at least a little more hard-boiled in the next few episodes...

 

[Blimpoy06]

1.14 "Adelaide"

I agree there is nothing special here other than seeing Rick and T.C. make fools of themselves. In these early episodes, T.C. and Rick are both equally out of place in high society. Later seasons will start to show that T.C. may have a broader knowledge of high class living than Rick or Magnum and can fit in easier in that environment.

I've never found our Magnum "Babe of the Week," Christine Belford, particularly attractive, but she's a good actress. She did good work as a rival insurance investigator and sophisticated, on-and-off again lover to George Peppard's Banacek, and she's equally fine here, playing a very opposite type.

I don't particularly like Belford here at all. She doesn't convey the meekness needed for the role in my opinion. She does a decent enough job avoiding eye contact at times, but here voice and body language is still too strong. I enjoyed here earlier work as villains in -
Wonder Woman

and Battlestar Galactica