Tributes To Your Favorite Classic TV Stars (1 Viewer)

[The 1960's]

Continued from The Fugitive The Judgement Part 1

The following Photo Commentary contains spoilers.

The Fugitive (1963-1967)
Stars David Janssen William Conrad Barry Morse​

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Please enjoy Peter Rugolo’s music score below while viewing this photo commentary.​

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Opening Narration:

A man may travel many roads and one day find his way home again, but for Richard Kimble, this road is not of his choosing and this day has come too soon. Two men, traveling together, joined by links of steel and the memory of a senseless murder committed years before. Two hunters, one of whom has finally caught his elusive quarry.

S04E30 The Judgment: Part II (Aug.29.1967)

Stars
David Janssen … Dr. Richard Kimble
Richard Anderson … Leonard Taft
J.D. Cannon … Lloyd Chandler
Jacqueline Scott … Donna Kimble Taft
Diane Baker … Jean Carlisle
Barry Morse … Lt. Philip Gerard
Louise Latham … Betsy Chandler
Bill Raisch … Fred Johnson/ Fred Carson
Johnny Jensen … Bobby Taft
Diane Brewster … Helen Kimble

Rest of cast
Dick Cherney Ken Clayton William Conrad Hank Robinson
Director
Don Medford Jesse Hibbs Paul Wurtzel
Writing Credits
George Eckstein Michael Zagor
Creator
Roy Huggins
Produced by
George Eckstein … Co-Producer
Quinn Martin … Executive Producer
Wilton Schiller … Producer
Music by
Pete Rugolo
Cinematography by
Robert Hoffman … Director of Photography​

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Today we celebrate the life of David Janssen. His greatest achievement in film and television was The Fugitive and this two-part finale to that series was the pinnacle of his career. In The Judgement Part II, Richard Kimble informs Gerard that he’s found something that might lead him to the truth. He feels someone may have been present when his wife was killed and posted bail for the one-armed man. He persuades Gerard to give him 24 hours to clear himself, agreeing to turn himself in if he fails. This turns out to be a fantastic episode filled with twists and turns. ALL the actors so superb, so convincing! In particular is the performance of Barry Morse where we see a softer Lt. Gerard who comes to terms with his denial. And Jacqueline Scott, Kimble’s sister Donna (Kimble) Taft, for her never-ending love and support. I’ve viewed this many times over the years and it remains one of the very best concluding episodes in the history of classic television and it’s hard not to become extremely emotional. Quite honestly, it usually brings me to tears each and every time I view it. The impact is unforgettable. But you had to have been there throughout the entire journey of Richard Kimble’s battle to prove his innocence. If you haven’t, don’t even bother to watch The Judgement Parts 1 and 2. You would be doing yourself a disservice.

So many of us have been deeply influenced by this historic television series. I’d like to take a moment and share my personal thoughts. In my late teens and early 20’s Richard Kimble (David Janssen) made quite the impression on me. When important decisions needed to be made or even when responding to people in every day life I would ask myself, ”what would Richard Kimble have done”? Along with my recently departed mother and father, his behavior helped to shape who I became as a person. That is the absolute truth and it has served me well throughout my entire life!

I have not gone into great detail here about the plot of this classic storyline because if you’re a longtime fan of The Fugitive you already know all about it. If not, then it isn’t my intent to spoil it for you. A review should entice and create curiousity not reveal so much that there’s no longer the need to watch. I chose to tell this story through screen caps and video clips. However both contain spoilers of all kinds. You have been warned.​

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[The 1960's]

 

[The 1960's]

 

[The 1960's]

 

[The 1960's]

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Spoiler

End Dialogue:
Gerard: (after shooting Fred Johnson dead off the amusement park tower) All right, you can relax, Chandler. I just did your killing for you. (watching Kimble climb down) You've had a good day, haven't you? I guess we both have. After all, for four years now, we've -- both of us -- kept an innocent man in hell. Well, how are we going to end all that? You could keep that man alive. (after Chandler doesn't answer) But you won't, will you?
Lloyd Chandler: Lieutenant: Lieutenant, I saw that man, Johnson, murder Helen Kimble.
Gerard: Are you willing to testify to that effect?
Lloyd Chandler: Yes. I will.

Closing Narration:
Tuesday, August 29. The day the running stopped.

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Climax @ The Old Amusement Park

Epilog

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You can stream it here.

The Fugitive: The Judgment Parts 1 and 2

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Historical Data
1. According to Ed Robertson's book The Fugitive Recaptured (the first book written about the series), the final episode aired in Canada on September 5, 1967, with an alternate closing narration, giving that date.
2. The "Special Features" DVD states that the final episode was interrupted in some parts of the U.S. This version was also seen in some areas in syndication and was later released on VHS tape. Both versions are available on DVD.
3. Part two of the finale was the most-watched television series episode up to that time. It was viewed by 25.7 million households (45.9 percent of American households with a television set and a 72 percent share), meaning that more than 78 million people tuned in. That record was held until the November 21, 1980 episode of Dallas, titled "Who Done It", viewed by 41.47 million households (53.3 percent of households and a 76 percent share), which was later surpassed by the series finale of M*A*S*H, titled "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen", on February 28, 1983, viewed by 50.15 million households (60.2 percent of households and a 77 percent share).
4. According to producer Leonard Goldberg, the network was simply going to end the series with a regular episode without any kind of denouement, as network executives were totally oblivious to the concept that a television audience actually tuned in week after week and cared about the characters of a TV series. The timing of the broadcast was unusual: Rather than ending the regular season, the finale was held back while suspense continued through the summer reruns. (Wikipedia)

Bonus Features

The Fugitive Promo 1

The Fugitive Promo 2

Music

Composer Dominic Frontiere Special Feature - The Color Of Music

Memories of a Maestro Dominic Frontiere

Music in THE FUGITIVE television series [Herrmann/Garriguenc]



Bernard Herrmann Music in THE FUGITIVE Color 4th season



The Tradewinds Orchestra And Chorus
The Hidden Island - Narrated By David Janssen - Originally released 1965.



David Janssen: The Man

The David Janssen Story



David Janssen—Our Conversations by Michael Phelps


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David Janssen has been gone for a very long time. Forty-Three years to be exact. But he will never be forgotten and will always be loved. His memory and his achievements will live on forever and he’ll continue to entertain us and influence many lives. Happy Birthday Mr. Janssen!

Thank you to all my fellow HTF members for taking so much time to salute David Janseen, the American icon!!​

 

[ponset]

Nice tribute to David Janssen. BIG around of applause to you all.

 

[Bryan^H]

Harry Morgan birthday memorial (April 10, 1915 - December 7, 2011)



Harry Morgan, born Harry Bratsberg in Detroit, Michigan was a one of a kind actor. He could play bit parts, lead characters, and companion roles all as easily as breathing. And we believed it. The versatility he showed was also impressive. From funny likeable impish goofball, to serious as a heart attack no nonsense straight shooter...with philosophical pondering that could make the gods take note.
He got my attention in Dragnet, but in M*A*S*H as col. Sherman Potter he was a dream come true, and never has casting for a character been more spot on.

 

[JohnHopper]

GUNSMOKE SEASON 16

Episode #11
“The Witness”
producer: Joseph Dackow
executive producer: John Mantley
post production executive: Ron Honthaner
executive story consultant: Calvin Clements
assistant story consultant: Paul F. Edwards
writer: Shimon Wincelberg
director: Philip Leacock
director of photography: Monroe Askins
composer: Leon Klatzkin
guests: Harry Morgan, Tim O’Connor, Barry Brown, June Dayton, Annette O’Toole, Dack Rambo, I. Stanford Jolley, Ray Young, Herb Vigran, Robert Swan

summary
Aboard a train, a mature Texan (actor Robert Swan) accuses laid-back passenger Ira Pickett (actor Dack Rambo) of his brother’s killing. Three other passengers seem concerned by this unexpected event. The mature man grabs Pickett who fires his handgun and makes a statement when an old man named Beecher (actor I. Stanford Jolley) accuses him of murder and receives a slap. A young man named Jared Sprague (actor Barry Brown) beats Pickett with his lunch box and threatens him with a handgun and declares he makes a citizen arrest and will bring him to Dodge City while his father Arnie (actor Tim O’Connor) confiscates Pickett’s gun. At the train station of Dodge, two Pickett riders stop near Nathan Burke who informs them that their relative Ira is in jail. The Sprague’s come out of the marshal’s office and joins the buggy of young Edda (actress Annette O’Toole) and leaves town while Osgood Pickett (actor Harry Morgan) talks to the old Beecher at the livery stable and later swears to get rid of the witnesses in order to avoid the trial of his son Ira. The first victim is Beecher who used to work under a wagon. Next, Osgood Pickett threatens Sprague father who stops by Beecher’s ranch with his son and sees his dead body. At the trial with Judge Brooker (actor Herb Vigran), Arnie Sprague lies and therefore Ira Pickett is released but Dillon suspects something wrong. Returning home and believing to be free, Arnie Sprague now faces a stronger predicament: unlimited blackmail … To make the matter worst: Edda Sprague gets along well with Ira Pickett.

review
It’s a tense family drama and a very good cynical blackmailer-manipulator episode that is served by two fine character actors: Harry Morgan as a hardened criminal talking like an evil preacher and keeps on saying “brother Sprague” and Tim O’Connor as the responsible father acting against his nature for the common good. As in the two-parter “Snow Train”, one scene takes place in a train. The prologue starts with a train footage recycled from The Wild Wild West. This is the first episode that introduces the character of Judge Brooker that is played by Herb Vigran.

 

[Mysto]

Harry Morgan birthday memorial (April 10, 1915 - December 7, 2011)



Harry Morgan, born Harry Bratsberg in Detroit, Michigan was a one of a kind actor. He could play bit parts, lead characters, and companion roles all as easily as breathing. And we believed it. The versatility he showed was also impressive. From funny likeable impish goofball, to serious as a heart attack no nonsense straight shooter...with philosophical pondering that could make the gods take note.
He got my attention in Dragnet, but in M*A*S*H as col. Sherman Potter he was a dream come true, and never has casting for a character been more spot on.

Hey Bryan - I'm older than you. Harry first caught my eye in
December Bride

Then the spin off Pete and Glady's

And don't forget the forgotten (but not by me)
Blacke's Magic

Thanks for remembering one of my favorite actors.
Cheers

 

[Doug Wallen]

I remember watching Pete & Gladys as a youngster - probably in morning syndication.

In my viewing of Gunsmoke, The Witness popped up. Excellent episode with Harry playing a kindly father with a sadistic streak a mile long. If you only know him as Col. Potter or Joe Gannon, prepare to be stunned.

 

[Bryan^H]

Hey Bryan - I'm older than you. Harry first caught my eye in
December Bride

Then the spin off Pete and Glady's

And don't forget the forgotten (but not by me)
Blacke's Magic

Thanks for remembering one of my favorite actors.
Cheers

I was going to use some screen caps from Black'es Magic but the resolution on YouTube wasn't up to my liking. Great series, so sad it ended so suddenly.

Harry graduated from the same high school I went to in Muskegon, Michigan and lived only a mile away from me (long before I was born unfortunately) growing up. In the library there is a special locked room with all important artifacts from the school history. Every year book dating back to 1901 I believe.
In that room I found Harry's graduating yearbook in 1932 I think. He was very popular. President of the debate club, class president, and more (I wish I could remember). It was neat seeing that.
He was the only star I ever wanted to write fan mail to. Unfortunately with my procrastinating ways, I waited too long. Great person according to Alan Alda, and many others who knew him.

One year before he passed in this video. I love this:

 

[ponset]

Radio Spirts article on Harry Morgan.

Happy Birthday, Harry Morgan!

Writer Parke Levy, who became a millionaire with the creation of the TV sitcom December Bride, liked to take credit for giving character great Harry Morgan–-born Henry Bratsberg on this date in 1915 in Detroit, Michigan–-his start as a comedian. December Bride originated on radio, running for...

store.radiospirits.com

Harry and John Wayne in "How The West Was Won".

 

[ScottRE]

SUSAN OLIVER TRIBUTE​

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Today we commemorate the life and career of Susan Oliver, who left us on this day in 1990. Born Charlotte Gercke on February 13, 1932 in New York City, she changed her name in 1949 and embarked on a long and successful career as a respected actress. A woman of great beauty and beguiling eyes, Susan would also branch out into directing in the late 1970’s. She was also an accomplished pilot.​

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Pancreatic cancer took her at the obscenely young age of 58.​

STAR TREK “The Cage” (originally “The Menagerie”).
Starring Jeffrey Hunter, Susan Oliver, co-starring Majel Barrett, Leonard Nimoy, John Hoyt and Meg Wyllie.
Written by Gene Roddenberry
Directed by Robert Butler​

The USS Enterprise, under the command of Captain Christopher Pike, receives a radio distress call from the fourth planet in the Talos star group. A landing party is assembled and beamed down to investigate. Tracking the distress signal to its source, the landing party discovers a camp of survivors from a scientific expedition that has been missing for eighteen years. Amongst the survivors is a beautiful young woman named Vina.

Captivated by her beauty, Pike is caught off guard and is captured by the Talosians, a race of humanoids with bulbous heads who live beneath the planet's surface. It is revealed that the distress call, and the crash survivors, except for Vina, are just illusions created by the Talosians to lure the Enterprise to the planet. While imprisoned, Pike uncovers the Talosians' plans to repopulate their ravaged planet using him and Vina as breeding stock for a race of slaves.

Thank you Wikipedia.

Continued in Part Two…

 

[ScottRE]

Susan Oliver’s place in “Star Trek” History is an important one. As Vina, she brings enormous pathos to the story. As her backstory unfolds and her sad loneliness becomes clear, you can see why Captain Pike falls for her. Nothing is as it seems by the climax and this pilot, which boasts Gene Roddenberry’s best and most sensitive writing. Stands among some of the best science fiction television of the era. There is plenty of maturity and the screenplay is brimming with sexual innuendo. Susan's frustrated cry of "no let me finish!" is loaded.

As a kid, I was more than excited by Vina as the Orion Slave Girl, but it is only one of the layers she brings to the role (but is the most famous). Ms. Oliver has a great deal of emotional depth to plumb and she does so masterfully. Her chemistry with Jeffrey Hunter is obvious and like everything else she does, Ms. Oliver brings humanity and grace.

While this pilot is but an embryonic version of the series to follow (Nimoy is hilariously different - "the women!"), it is feature quality storytelling. The money spent is obvious on screen. When the first season of the series was going wildly over budget and behind schedule, Roddenberry had the idea to use this story as a flashback in the famous two part “The Menagerie” (the original name of this pilot changed on retroactively to an earlier title to differentiate). Most of the scenes trimmed to fit the running time of the average episode – as well as to add scenes of the series’ regulars – were well chosen. Some of the more dated and dare I say cheesy aspects were dropped. However, these were products of their time and for this tribute, I stuck with the original pilot.

She was taken from us far too soon, but her work remains and her story will continue to be told as long as her fans remain.

 

[Flashgear]

Lovely tribute to Susan Oliver, Scott! Beautifully written, and spectacular screen caps!

I was ten years old when Star Trek debuted, and I well remember the thrill of seeing it's first episodes. And to finally see excerpts of the as yet unseen first pilot in the S1 two-parter, well that was mind blowing!

That first Star Trek pilot stands the test of time as a brilliant SF artifact of 1960s television. Surprisingly ambitious and profound, and expensive. In turning it down, an NBC or network sponsor bigwig reportedly said "it's too good for television". And with the visual feast and engaging story, what do we remember first and foremost? Susan Oliver.

She had the authenticity of a fine actress to match her obvious beauty. I don't think we'll ever know what forces and life experiences yielded her depth as an actress...daughter of a high profile NY World journalist father and 'Astrologer to the Stars' mother...as a young actress already with success on Broadway, turning down a highly desired 7 year movie contract with WB...never married, no kids and her extraordinary drive to be one of the most remarkable women pilots in civil aviation of her era.

Beyond her most famous work in The Cage/The Menagerie, some of her best performances in the TV realm are seen in Route 66 and The F.B.I.

Of course, the fine feature length documentary The Green Girl is required viewing for fans of Susan Oliver...

 

[ponset]

Nice tributes Scott and Randall.
I will add a couple of magazine covers.

 

[Bryan^H]

Royal Dano memorial (November 16, 1922 - May 15, 1994)

Royal Dano was an actor that I first noticed back in 1981 in the first of the Planet of the Apes telemovies ('Back to the Planet of the Apes') which sandwiched two of the episodes of the tv series from 1974. He had an unique look and voice that I learned after was common for many, many TV Westerns in the 50's through the 70's.
Death Valley Days, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Bonanza, the list is numerous. I even saw him in a very late episode of Little House on the Prairie. I enjoyed him in the many TV Westerns, and random B movies (also in the critically acclaimed fantastic film "The Right Stuff") that he starred in. He seemed like a gentle person, and the classic TV landscape would have had a huge void without his presence.

 

[Mysto]

Royal Dano
From one of my guilty pleasure movies

 

[JohnHopper]

IN MEMORIAM ROYAL DANO (November 16, 1922-May 15, 1994)

RAWHIDE SEASON 7

Episode #4
“The Lost Herd” (1964)
producers: Bruce Geller and Bernard L. Kowalski
associate producer: Del Reisman
writer: Archie L. Tegland
director: Vincent McEveety
assistant director: Lee H. Katzin
director of photography: Howard Schwartz
guests: Harry Townes, Royal Dano, Paul Comi, Leo Gordon, Peter Bourne, Bill Williams, William O’Connell, Jon Lormer, Allen Jaffe, Bill Hart

“There’s another way that a horse and a man are alike. They can both lose something almost overnight. Pride or confidence or integrity… or whatever it is that it takes to win.”
—Mr. Teisner to Rowdy Yates.

summary
Trail boss Gil Favor sees his herd destroyed after he takes a calculated risk in taking a dangerous short cut in Devil’s Patch Quilt to get the herd to market ahead of a friendly rival named Tom Bickle (actor Bill Williams). Favor and the owners have to decide if he is up to bossing another herd. As an insurance man, big boss of the Tri-State Cattlemen’s Association Stock Raisers Mister Teisner (actor Royal Dano) investigates on the case of Gil Favor and interviews his close acquaintances.

comments
It features two optical zoom shots (the logo of the cattlemen’s association staircase) that Geller will apply on Mission: Impossible. As in the season 7 “The Enormous Fist”, Favor gives a punch to a drover and here because he spits on his wages and throws his six dollars coins out. Find a magnificent naturalistic and sharp picture composition thanks to the director (Vincent McEveety who will become a prolific Gunsmoke craftsman from season 10 to 20) and the DP who exploits the art of shadows with harsh light like a Film Noir and the depth of field of the wide angle lens while shooting low angle and playing with the scales of shots: notice the impressive interrogation/hiring scene between Teisner and Bickle at the Dry Well saloon.

actors notes
A new semi-regular pops up: cattle man Yo Yo (actor Paul Comi) who appears six times this season. This is the first credit for 1st AD Lee H. Katzin who will work on Mission: Impossible. Actor William O’Connell as the hotel owner will play in many Seventies films with Clint Eastwood, including High Plains Drifter and as the scared barber. Actor Harry Townes returns from the season 6 “Incident at Seven Fingers” and this is his fourth and final appearence. Actor Royal Dano portrays an unusual type of character far away from his notorious folkish persona a la Buddy Ebsen and, here, appears for the first time at the saloon from Act 3 as a clean-cut, well-dressed and cool businessman—the DP even shoots him from the rear and through his arm and leg as a symbol of dominating power. Dano guests in four times on the series: see the season 5 “Incident at Quivira”, the season 6 “Incident at Ten Trees”, the season 7 “The Lost Herd” and “Texas Fever”. Dano was a veteran of television western and western films and appeared in thirteen episodes of Gunsmoke, starting from season 1.

review
It’s a very good Favor-oriented piece, a disguised trial drama but not done by the law, a harsh economical, pessimistic and semi-satirical entry in which Gil Favor is depicted as a tired failure and a laughing stock who stays confined to his hotel room—and even remembers his past fiasco during a nightmare produced by booze—and makes his men angry because of the bad pay. Don’t miss the big brawl at the Dry Well saloon when the rival cattlemen team led by Yo-Yo enters and provokes! Trail boss Gil Favor fails to deliver a whole herd—only nine head—and loose too many and must face his responsibility in front of his big client, the boss of the cattlemen association named Teisner (actor Royal Dano) talking like a “remorseless” corporate businessman obsessed with high profits supported by ruthless and nasty gunman Brock Dillman (actor Harry Townes), ready to annihilate any errors. Big boss Teisner must select one man amongst three candidates to manage an ordeal of 2200 head: Favor’s friend Tom Bickle, looser Favor and Favor’s ramrod Rowdy Yates. This story is subversive from a character’s standpoint of the 1960’s and written like a Mission: Impossible’s season 5 in which Bruce Geller toys with the weakness of the flawless leading man.

Rawhide | The Lost Herd | Introducing beef big shot Mister Teisner

Pictures of beef big shot Mister Teisner (actor Royal Dano).

 

[Capt D McMars]

I alway remember Royal Dano as the "The Lighting Rod Peddler" in Something Wicked this way Comes ~