What did you watch this week in classic TV on DVD(or Blu)? (10 Viewers)

[Jeff Flugel]

October is here, which means it's time for a turn to the spooky side of the classic TV on DVD aisle...

Kolchak: The Night Stalker - 1.17 "Legacy of Terror"
Someone or something is hacking the hearts out of young, healthy victims and some ancient Aztec spirit is involved. This one breaks from the familiar formula a bit, as the grisly murders our intrepid seersucker suit-wearing reporter is investigating have a very human background...at least until the very end. Erik Estrada is good as the handsome but lunkheaded young Latino who volunteers to be sacrificed after one year of getting everything he could possibly desire - including a retinue of beautiful handmaidens attending to his every whim. Also with Ramon Bieri, Pippa Scott and a very un-"Boss Hogg" type performance from Sorrell Booke.

The Andy Griffith Show - 5.2 "The Haunted House"
A sort of dry-run for The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, this is a very fun episode involving a spooky old house and some googly-eyed shenanigans from Knotts as a scared witless Barney Fife. All credit to Barney, though, who shows he's not a coward as he draws his pistol and heads back into the house to rescue Andy, despite his fear.

Scooby Doo, Where Are You?
1.4 "Mine Your Own Business"
1.15 "Spooky Space Kook"
Another couple of good episodes from the classic 1969-1970 run of the show. The Space Kook is a pretty creepy monster (gotta love that insane cackle!) and Shaggy and Scooby's antics are always good for some chuckles.

The Twilight Zone
5.32 "Mr. Garrity and the Graves"
5.34 "Come Wander with Me"
It's been a long while since I gave my Image DVDs of this landmark series a spin. The wonderful John Dehner stars in "Mr. Garrity," a light little comic outing that ends with a nicely creepy stinger. "Come Wander with Me" is much more eerie, and includes some striking cinematography and direction (including a really spooky shot early on in the episode), but Gary Crosby's brash, opportunistic character works against the haunting spell the show is trying to weave. Still a good watch, and one I don't remember seeing before. I know this series got a sterling Blu-Ray release several years back, but a good friend gifted me the complete 5 seasons on DVD and they look pretty dang great already...so not sure I need an upgrade.


And of course, the Magnum P.I. marathon continues, albeit at a slower, once a week pace that I find a lot more comfortable. This week I watched 1.10, "Lest We Forget," a strong episode which Darin and I covered in more detail in that other thread.

 

[JohnHopper]

Kolchak: The Night Stalker - 1.17 "Legacy of Terror"
Someone or something is hacking the hearts out of young, healthy victims and some ancient Aztec spirit is involved. This one breaks from the familiar formula a bit, as the grisly murders our intrepid seersucker suit-wearing reporter is investigating have a very human background...at least until the very end. Eric Estrada is good as the handsome but lunkheaded young Latino who volunteers to be sacrificed after one year of getting everything he could possibly desire - including a retinue of beautiful handmaidens attending to his every whim. Also with Ramon Bieri, Pippa Scott and a very un-"Boss Hogg" type performance from Sorrell Booke.

I remembered back then when I experienced that one: frightening, especially the first ritual heart sacrifice of a soldier.
An excellent entry.

 

[JohnHopper]

RAWHIDE SEASON 5

Episode #25
“Incident of the Black Ace”
written by Dean Riesner
directed by Thomas Carr
guests: Walter Slezak, Robert Strauss, Chris Alcaide, Karen Sharpe

After the clown, find the ‘light’ gypsies narrative. Two wandering travelers (father and daughter) join the camp of Gil Favor to get a fresh horse. The trouble starts especially from Wishbone fooled by the old gypsy as well as a big land owner buying his daughter. One episode of season 7 will exploit the theme of the gypsies in “A Man Called Mushy”.

 

[Jack P]

Spotlight: Gayle Hunnicutt

Get Smart, S2-"It Takes One To Know One"
Switch, S1-"The Man Who Couldn't Lose" (Boot)
The Love Boat, S4-"The Mallory Quest etc...."
Matt Houston, S1-"The Good Doctor"
Taxi, S5-"Louie Moves Uptown"

I'll be closing it tomorrow with the one Brit TV appearance of hers I have, the debut episode of the Jeremy Brett "Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes" where she played Irene Adler in "A Scandal In Bohemia."

 

[Jeff Flugel]

I remember the gorgeous Ms. Hunnicutt more from movies than from her TV appearances, particularly from the George Peppard private eye flick P.J. and Legend of Hell House. That said, she's very good in "A Scandal in Bohemia," the very first episode of the Jeremy Brett series.

 

[JohnHopper]

RAWHIDE SEASON 5

Episode #26
“Incident of the Hostages”
written by Charles Larson
story by Paul King
directed by Don McDougall
guests: Leslie Wales, Suzanne Cupito, Rudolpho Acosta, Joseph Perry

“Muy bien, Señor Rowdy. There are many ways to skin a cat, huh?”
—Hey Soos describing how Yates achieves to make eat the eldest child.

It’s a light but serious entry. Three dovers (Yates, Quince, Scarlet) of the outfit are forced to make a deal with an Apache leader: trading three Apache children slaves against forty steers. For the background, the children are former Americans raised by Apaches after the killing of their parents by six bandits. Yates must now face a new ordeal: educate three stubborn children! But other members (Wishbone, Favor) of the outfit help. Later on, leader Ulzana demands to get the children back otherwise a war will be triggered.

This episode deals with the theme of Indian childhood that we see in John Ford’s The Searchers. Actor Clint Eastwood plays the guitar and sings in the back of a chuck wagon to entertain three Apache children—Clint sings good, by the way. Later on, Scarlet plays the harmonica and Hey Soos and Yates teach the eldest teenager to dance.

 

[Montytc]

The FBI
Sn.3 Episode 1 - The Gold Card
Sn.3 Episode 2 - Counter - Stroke
Two very solid episodes. Jessica Walter and Kevin McCarthy both guested in the second episode, but I think I would give the edge to the first episode in terms of quality. This series was obviously operating at a high level at this point in it's run.

 

[Flashgear]

RAWHIDE SEASON 5

Episode #26
“Incident of the Hostages”
written by Charles Larson
story by Paul King
directed by Don McDougall
guests: Leslie Wales, Suzanne Cupito, Rudolpho Acosta, Joseph Perry

“Muy bien, Señor Rowdy. There are many ways to skin a cat, huh?”
—Hey Soos describing how Yates achieves to make eat the eldest child.

It’s a light but serious entry. Three dovers (Yates, Quince, Scarlet) of the outfit are forced to make a deal with an Apache leader: trading three Apache children slaves against forty steers. For the background, the children are former Americans raised by Apaches after the killing of their parents by six bandits. Yates must now face a new ordeal: educate three stubborn children! But other members (Wishbone, Favor) of the outfit help. Later on, leader Ulzana demands to get the children back otherwise a war will be triggered.

This episode deals with the theme of Indian childhood that we see in John Ford’s The Searchers. Actor Clint Eastwood plays the guitar and sings in the back of a chuck wagon to entertain three Apache children—Clint sings good, by the way. Later on, Scarlet plays the harmonica and Hey Soos and Yates teach the eldest teenager to dance.

There is a very nice behind the scenes color photo that was taken on the set of Incident of the Hostages...with Eric Fleming, Leslie Wales, Robert Cabal and director Don McDougall with his back turned to the camera...

 

[Doug Wallen]

Gunsmoke - Season 4
Grass (4.12) Philip Coolidge, Chris Alcaide, Charles E Fredericks. Greenhorn trying to make his way as a farmer after the death of his wife. Neighbors are full of mischief that escalates.
The Cast (4.13) Robert F. Simon. A Doc Adams story concerning the distrust people have for doctors.
Robber Bridegroom (4.14) Burt Douglas, Jan Harrison. This one plays with our ideas. The "wronged" man isn't necessarily the good guy and the bad guy isn't so bad. Nice one.
Snakebite (4.15) Andy Clyde, Warren Oates, Charles Maxwell. Nice guest turn by Warren Oates. Story does not follow the happy ending model. Nicely played by all.
Gypsum Hills Feud (4.16) William Schallert, Anne Barton, Hope Summers, Albert Linville. Mountain feud with a sadly uplifting ending.
Young Love (4.17) Charles Cooper, Joan Taylor, Wesley Lau, Jon Lormer. Theft by murder and a love story. Pedestrian entry.
Marshall Proudfoot (4.18) Dabbs Greer (not Jonas this time, Chester's Uncle). Confused identity by Chester again, (he lets his uncle believe that he is the Marshall and Dillon is his assistant). Dennis Weaver really sells confused and embarassed better than most anyone. Comic episode with Matt trying to escape to his bed as he is sick but so many shenanigans are taking place he just can't stay in bed. Excellent episode.
Passive Resistance (4.19) Carl Benton Reid, Alfred Ryder, Read Morgan. A pacifist sheepherder moves in and the neighbors kill his sheep and systematically destroy Gideon. After being nearly dragged to death, Gideon still will not name his tormentors. Matt the detective appears.

Star Trek - Season 3 - Remastered Bluray
The Tholian Web (3.9) Great Spock - McCoy interactions throughout this episode, a personal favorite.
Plato's Stepchildren (3.10) Michael Dunn, Liam Sullivan, Barbara Babcock. From the prior episode to this in just one week. A braying Kirk, flamenco dancing Spock, love slave Uhura, only Alexander comes out looking OK in this one. Revisiting the third season of Trek presents some interesting challenges.

The Twilight Zone - Season 2 - Remastered Bluray
The Odyssey of Flight 33 (2.18) John Anderson, Sandy Kenyon, Paul Comi. Time travel with a twist. I lkie this one even with the childish looking dinosaur.
Static (1.20) Dean Jagger, Robert Emhardt, Alice Pearson, Arch Johnson, Carmen Matthews. Living in the past to try and correct a past mistake. thought provoking look at the path not taken. (Video episode)
The Prime Mover (1.21) Dane Clark, Buddy Ebsen. A modern fable about the ills of gambling. Some people have to be convinced that their current life is actually full of riches.
Long Distance Call (1.22) Bill Mumy, Philip Abbott, Patricia Smith. A grandchild has an unnatural connection to his deceased Grandmother. Grandmother cannot accept her daughter-in-law and tries to steal her grandson's affection, even from the "other" side.

Perry Mason - Season 5
The Case Of The Shapely Shadow (5.16) Elaine DeVry, Robert Rockwell, James T. Callahan, Dorothy Green.
The Case Of The Captain's Coins (5.17) Jeremy Slate, Arthur Franz, Joan Patrick, Jay Novello, Herbert Rudley, Parley Baer. Complex mystery.
The Case Of The Tarnished Trademark (5.18) Karl Swenson, Marie Windsor, Malcolm Atterbury, Dennis Patrick, Morgan Woodward. Great cast of some favorite character actors. Dennis Patrick as the victim - excellent. No one else can play smarmy better.
The Case Of The Glamorous Ghost (5.19) Mary Murphy, Jeanne Cooper, Ziva Rodann, Merry Anders, Douglas Dick, Coleen Gray. Another great cast full of all types of cheesecake goodness.

Deep Space Nine - Season 7
Once More Unto The Breach (7.7) John Colicos. Kor's swan song advancing the Dominion War storyline.
The Seige of AR-558 (7.8) Raymond Cruz, Patrick Kilpatrick, Annette Helde, Bill Mumy. A season 7 highlight. Tight action in the vein of "just following orders" that has major consequences for our intrepid band.

 

[JohnHopper]

RAWHIDE SEASON 5

Episode #27
“Incident of White Eyes”
written by Edward J. Lakso and Shimon Wincelberg
story by Paul King
directed by Christian Nyby
guests: Nita Talbot, William Schallert, Nehemiah Persoff, John Vivyan, Diana Millay


“The foster child of silence is death, Lieutenant. Not every battle is fought with bugle and cavalry charges.”
—Domingo to the blue coat Lieutenant Carter.

“Jicarillas don’t need a reason to fight, señor. Blood is their wine of life.”
—Domingo to stage actor Beau Butler.


It’s a solo Gil Favor adventure. It’s also a solid dramatic existential huit-clos in which the passengers of a stagecoach along with wounded Favor end up marooned in a deserted stage station because a band of silent indian criminals surrounding the place to get a former member named White Eyes alias Domingo alias the legendary outlaw Joaquin Murrieta. The ensemble of actors is excellent especially from Nehemiah Persoff playing a former cruel bandit named Domingo whose character is uncanny and even spooky, according to Hey Soos’ superstitious mindset. It’s very Film Noir with low-key lighting. This episode truly shines as one of the best of that season. The script is based on a story by season 5 story consultant Paul King. The music heard for the runaway stagecoach at the start of Act 1 is Jerry Goldsmith’s hectic CBS cue “Jailbreak” and, later on and at the start of Act 2, when the stagecoach stops at the next station, we can recognize “The Meeting” cue from Jerry Goldsmith’s score of Gunsmoke entitled “Doc Judge” (season 5, CBS air date: February 6, 1960).

Highly recommended!

 

[JohnHopper]

RAWHIDE SEASON 5

Episode #28
“Incident at Rio Doloroso”
written by Paul King
directed by Thomas Carr
guests: Madlyn Rhue, Carlos Romero, Michael Ansara, Ernest Sarracino, Cesar Romero

It starts out as Yates and Wishbone coming to a poor Mexican village to get a dentist for Wishbone.
It’s a Mexican land owner family drama in which Favor and Yates end up judged and sentenced to death
and must dig their own graves! Actor Carlos Romero returns from “Incident of Decision”.
The raid of the Mexican land owner posse leading to a stampede is punctuated by Jerry Goldsmith’s hectic CBS cue “Jailbreak”.

 

[Peter M Fitzgerald]

July 4th - October 7th:

The Beverly Hillbillies: "Duke Becomes a Father" (Season 1, Episode 30, 1963) Streaming
The Beverly Hillbillies: "The Clampetts Entertain" (Season 1, Episode 31, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "The Clampetts Go to Court" (Season 1, Episode 32, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "The Clampetts Get Psychoanalyzed" (Season 1, Episode 33, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "The Psychiatrist Gets Clampetted" (Season 1, Episode 34, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "Elly Becomes a Secretary" (Season 1, Episode 35, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "Jethro's Friend" (Season 1, Episode 36, 1963) DVD
The Andy Griffith Show: "The New Doctor" (Season 1, Episode 24, 1961) Streaming
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife" (Season 1, Episode 26, 1958) DVD
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Desperate Daughter" (Season 1, Episode 27, 1958) DVD
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Daring Decoy" (Season 1, Episode 28, 1958) DVD
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Hesitant Hostess" (Season 1, Episode 29, 1958) DVD
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Screaming Woman" (Season 1, Episode 30, 1958) DVD
Columbo: "Prescription Murder" (TV-Movie pilot, 1968) DVD
Gumby: "The Fantastic Farmer" (Season 1, Episode 4, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "The Black Knight" (Season 1, Episode 5, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Too Loo" (Season 1, Episode 6, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Robot Rumpus" (Season 1, Episode 7, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Toy Crazy" (Season 1, Episode 8, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Lion Around" (Season 1, Episode 9, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Eggs and Trixie" (Season 1, Episode 10, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Outcast Marbles" (Season 1, Episode 11, 1956) DVD
Dark Shadows: Episodes #706 - #709 (1969) DVD
The Outer Limits: "Nightmare" (Season 1, Episode 10, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "It Crawled out of the Woodwork" (Season 1, Episode 11, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "The Borderland" (Season 1, Episode 12, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "Tourist Attraction" (Season 1, Episode 13, 1963) Blu-ray
Trackdown: "Chinese Cowboy" (Season 2, Episode 3,1958) DVR from MeTV
Trackdown: "The Set-Up" (Season 2, Episode 4,1958) DVR from MeTV
The Fugitive: "The Glass Tightrope" (Season 1, Episode 12, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "Terror at High Point" (Season 1, Episode 13, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "The Girl from Little Egypt" (Season 1, Episode 14, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "Home Is the Hunted" (Season 1, Episode 15, 1963) DVD
Wagon Train: "The Patience Miller Story" (Season 4, Episode 16, 1960) DVR from MeTV
The Californians: "The Regulators" (Season 1, Episode 7, 1957) DVR from Grit
The Californians: "The Man from Boston" (Season 1, Episode 8, 1957) DVR from Grit
The Californians: "The Barber's Boy" (Season 1, Episode 9, 1957) DVR from Grit
The Californians: "The Magic Box" (Season 1, Episode 10, 1957) DVR from Grit
The Californians: "Little Lost Man" (Season 1, Episode 11, 1957) DVR from Grit
WKRP in Cincinnati: "Real Families" (Season 3, Episode 3, 1980) DVD
Dragnet: "The Big Prophet" (Season 2, Episode 18, 1968) DVD
Gunsmoke: "Wrong Man" (Season 2, Episode 29, 1957) DVD
Coronet Blue: "A Charade for Murder" (Episode 9 in production order, 1967) DVD
Coronet Blue: "The Flip Side of Timmy Devon" (Episode 10 in production order, 1967) DVD
The Immortal: "The Rainbow Butcher" (Episode 5, 1970) DVD
The Simpsons: "Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodly" (Season 7, Episode 3, 1995) DVD
The Simpsons: "Bart Sells His Soul" (Season 7, Episode 4, 1995) DVD
The Simpsons: "Lisa the Vegatarian" (Season 7, Episode 5, 1995) DVD
The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo: "Doctor Frankenstein" (Episode 14, 1965) YouTube
The Last Dinosaur (TV-Movie, 1977) DVD

Also watched Westworld: Season 1 (DVD), Legion: Season 1 (DVD), Better Call Saul: Season 4 (DVR) and the remainder of Luke Cage: Season 2 (Streaming) and Ray Donovan: Season 5 (DVD). Recently started watching Twin Peaks: The Return (DVD) and Legion: Season 2 (DVR).

 

[JohnHopper]

Columbo: "Prescription Murder" (TV-Movie pilot, 1968) DVD

Excellent telefilm: good ensemble of actors (Gene Barry, Nina Foch, Katherine Justice), good story, good music score.

The Outer Limits: "Nightmare" (Season 1, Episode 10, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "It Crawled out of the Woodwork" (Season 1, Episode 11, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "The Borderland" (Season 1, Episode 12, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "Tourist Attraction" (Season 1, Episode 13, 1963) Blu-ray

I adore "It Crawled out of the Woodwork" and "The Borderland".

Trackdown: "Chinese Cowboy" (Season 2, Episode 3,1958) DVR from MeTV
Trackdown: "The Set-Up" (Season 2, Episode 4,1958) DVR from MeTV

I wish I could watch that show and witness the performance of actor Robert Culp. Let's hope they will release it on DVD.

The Fugitive: "The Glass Tightrope" (Season 1, Episode 12, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "Terror at High Point" (Season 1, Episode 13, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "The Girl from Little Egypt" (Season 1, Episode 14, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "Home Is the Hunted" (Season 1, Episode 15, 1963) DVD

Excellent episodes from the excellent season 1.

Coronet Blue: "A Charade for Murder" (Episode 9 in production order, 1967) DVD
Coronet Blue: "The Flip Side of Timmy Devon" (Episode 10 in production order, 1967) DVD

A fun and odd series that I enjoy all the way.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

July 4th - October 7th:

The Beverly Hillbillies: "Duke Becomes a Father" (Season 1, Episode 30, 1963) Streaming
The Beverly Hillbillies: "The Clampetts Entertain" (Season 1, Episode 31, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "The Clampetts Go to Court" (Season 1, Episode 32, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "The Clampetts Get Psychoanalyzed" (Season 1, Episode 33, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "The Psychiatrist Gets Clampetted" (Season 1, Episode 34, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "Elly Becomes a Secretary" (Season 1, Episode 35, 1963) DVD
The Beverly Hillbillies: "Jethro's Friend" (Season 1, Episode 36, 1963) DVD
The Andy Griffith Show: "The New Doctor" (Season 1, Episode 24, 1961) Streaming
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Half-Wakened Wife" (Season 1, Episode 26, 1958) DVD
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Desperate Daughter" (Season 1, Episode 27, 1958) DVD
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Daring Decoy" (Season 1, Episode 28, 1958) DVD
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Hesitant Hostess" (Season 1, Episode 29, 1958) DVD
Perry Mason: "The Case of the Screaming Woman" (Season 1, Episode 30, 1958) DVD
Columbo: "Prescription Murder" (TV-Movie pilot, 1968) DVD
Gumby: "The Fantastic Farmer" (Season 1, Episode 4, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "The Black Knight" (Season 1, Episode 5, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Too Loo" (Season 1, Episode 6, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Robot Rumpus" (Season 1, Episode 7, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Toy Crazy" (Season 1, Episode 8, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Lion Around" (Season 1, Episode 9, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Eggs and Trixie" (Season 1, Episode 10, 1956) DVD
Gumby: "Outcast Marbles" (Season 1, Episode 11, 1956) DVD
Dark Shadows: Episodes #706 - #709 (1969) DVD
The Outer Limits: "Nightmare" (Season 1, Episode 10, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "It Crawled out of the Woodwork" (Season 1, Episode 11, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "The Borderland" (Season 1, Episode 12, 1963) Blu-ray
The Outer Limits: "Tourist Attraction" (Season 1, Episode 13, 1963) Blu-ray
Trackdown: "Chinese Cowboy" (Season 2, Episode 3,1958) DVR from MeTV
Trackdown: "The Set-Up" (Season 2, Episode 4,1958) DVR from MeTV
The Fugitive: "The Glass Tightrope" (Season 1, Episode 12, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "Terror at High Point" (Season 1, Episode 13, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "The Girl from Little Egypt" (Season 1, Episode 14, 1963) DVD
The Fugitive: "Home Is the Hunted" (Season 1, Episode 15, 1963) DVD
Wagon Train: "The Patience Miller Story" (Season 4, Episode 16, 1960) DVR from MeTV
The Californians: "The Regulators" (Season 1, Episode 7, 1957) DVR from Grit
The Californians: "The Man from Boston" (Season 1, Episode 8, 1957) DVR from Grit
The Californians: "The Barber's Boy" (Season 1, Episode 9, 1957) DVR from Grit
The Californians: "The Magic Box" (Season 1, Episode 10, 1957) DVR from Grit
The Californians: "Little Lost Man" (Season 1, Episode 11, 1957) DVR from Grit
WKRP in Cincinnati: "Real Families" (Season 3, Episode 3, 1980) DVD
Dragnet: "The Big Prophet" (Season 2, Episode 18, 1968) DVD
Gunsmoke: "Wrong Man" (Season 2, Episode 29, 1957) DVD
Coronet Blue: "A Charade for Murder" (Episode 9 in production order, 1967) DVD
Coronet Blue: "The Flip Side of Timmy Devon" (Episode 10 in production order, 1967) DVD
The Immortal: "The Rainbow Butcher" (Episode 5, 1970) DVD
The Simpsons: "Home Sweet Homediddly-Dum-Doodly" (Season 7, Episode 3, 1995) DVD
The Simpsons: "Bart Sells His Soul" (Season 7, Episode 4, 1995) DVD
The Simpsons: "Lisa the Vegatarian" (Season 7, Episode 5, 1995) DVD
The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo: "Doctor Frankenstein" (Episode 14, 1965) YouTube
The Last Dinosaur (TV-Movie, 1977) DVD

Also watched Westworld: Season 1 (DVD), Legion: Season 1 (DVD), Better Call Saul: Season 4 (DVR) and the remainder of Luke Cage: Season 2 (Streaming) and Ray Donovan: Season 5 (DVD). Recently started watching Twin Peaks: The Return (DVD) and Legion: Season 2 (DVR).

Long time no see, Peter! Maybe I've asked you this already, but how do the ME-TV Trackdown episodes look? Decent transfers? I sure wish Shout! would put this long-rumored as coming to DVD series out.

 

[JohnHopper]

RAWHIDE SEASON 5

Episode #29
“Incident at Alkali Sink”
written by Thomas Thompson
directed by Don McDougall
guests: Ruta Lee, Russell Johnson, Roy Barcroft, Judson Pratt

It’s a marital drama with a furious/jealous father/beeves owner named Cliff Stanton and it starts out with the wedding of a drover/40 beeves owner (actor Russell Johnson) named Burt Harvey with Lorraine Stanton (actress Ruta Lee) followed by a dancing party at the camp. Mr. Favor is out in Denver so Yates take over the drive. Oddly enough, scout Clay Forrester vanishes so Quince does the scouting job. A modest entry to finish off the season.
Actress Ruta Lee returns from “Incident of the Reluctant Bridegroom” and she sings well the tune “Jimmy crack Corn and I don’t care” while washing clothes at the camp.

END OF SEASON 5

PS: The season 5 sets feature two anomalies, meaning two episodes from other seasons (the season 6 “Incident of El Toro” to start the first volume and the season 4 “Abilene” to finish the second volume).

Footnote
For the anecdote, there used to be a 1951 feature film entitled Rawhide starring Tyrone Power with no connection to cattle drive but the real origin of the series lies in two films: Red River (1948) directed by Howard Hawks and Cattle Empire (1958) directed by Charles Marquis Warren and written by Endre Bohem.

TOP SEASON 5 RAWHIDE EPISODES
“Incident of the Portrait”
“Incident of The Four Horsemen”
“Incident of the Dogfaces”
“Incident of the Querencias”
“Incident at Quivira”
“Incident of the Trail’s End”
“Incident At Crooked Hat”
“Incident of Judgment Day”
“Incident of the Gallows Tree”
“Incident of the Pale Rider”
“Incident of White Eyes”
“Incident of the Hunter”
“Incident At Cactus Wells”
“Incident of The Lost Woman”
“Incident at Sugar Creek”

 

[Ron1973]

Vudu recently sent me a $5 coupon to use, and after I posted about it on Facebook, a friend remembered he had a $5 coupon he hadn't used and sent me the code. I will list the particulars in a moment, but I sprung for an episode of Dallas and three of Gilligan's Island.

Dallas 3:25 "A House Divided" First off, do the DVD prints really look that crappy? The prints look pretty beat up, at least for this particular episode. I don't think this episode needs any introduction! J.R. is ticking off everybody left and right, wheeling and dealing. Cliff becomes a partner in one of the Ewing fields, a field J.R. has shut down pronto. After making everybody mad, including trying to put Sue Ellen in the sanitarium, somebody decides to plug a few holes in Major Nelson, I mean J.R. We all know who done it now, naturally, but even as a kid, I remember the "Who Shot J.R.?" hoopla! I wasn't even 10 years old and had to tune in for the season opener the next season.

Gilligan's Island 2:4 "Smile, You're on Mars Camera" Before I go into the synopsis, let me say I bought the HD version of this episode. Holy moley, this show deserves the blu-ray treatment! You can clearly make out the 5 o'clock shadow on Bob Denver's face! Such a clear, sharp image! A space vehicle equipped with a camera is supposed to be going to Mars, instead it lands on the island. NASA's scientists are assured there's life because they see a hut, then the camera lens pops out. The castaways search frantically for it, only for Gilligan to find it and think it's a magnifying glass. In typical Gilligan fashion, he breaks it trying to toss it to the professor. Our MacGyver like professor has to do something to put the lens back together, so he devises using a resin from the trees. Suddenly, all is well with the world, the lens if magically fixed as if there are no cracks in it, and NASA is once again looking at the island. Ya know, I'd have to kill Gilligan and repent later! He's cooking more resin and puts the lid over the boiling resin. It explodes all over the castaways, covering them with resin. Gilligan is hiding feathers for Mr. Howell in the supply hut, and he runs off to the supply hut only to be chased by the castaways. They're all covered in feathers and NASA scientists think Mars is inhabited by chicken people!

Gilligan's Island 2:10 "Hi-Fi Gilligan" I purchased the SD version of this one. Still quite presentable, and it certainly looks ten times better than VHS tapes I have of where I taped this episode and others from the local UHF station in the 80's. This is a silly premise even for this show, but it's still enjoyable! The Skipper accidentally punches Gilligan turning him into a radio. The Professor goes on about how it's a common occurrence with Gilligan having metal fillings. There's a typhoon headed for the island, so the castaways seek shelter in a cave. The cave is too small to fit everyone, so the men draw straws to see who stays outside. Gilligan plays martyr, breaking his straw in half. The Skipper feels bad for him and goes out to be with him. In no short order, The Professor and Mr. Howell (who suddenly turns brave!) follow suit followed by Maryann, Ginger, and Lovey Howell. Just as they all get out, lightning strikes the cave causing a cave in which would have killed them. For once, Gilligan saves the day instead of fouling it up!

Gilligan's Island 2:32 "Meet the Meteor" A meteor lands on the island. The Professor warns Gilligan and Skipper to get away because it could have deadly radiation. Our MacGyver like Professor builds a Geiger counter only to determine there's no deadly radiation. A few minutes later, he would be proven wrong as a sapling next to the meteor turns into a full grown tree within minutes. He suddenly determines they'll all be dead within a week. Gilligan falls asleep dreaming of what they'll all look like 50 years older. In the meantime, The Professor decides to take advantage of a brewing storm headed for the island and builds a lightning rod to insert in the meteor in hopes of destroying it. Gilligan takes it upon himself to put the lightning rod in, but not before he gets hit by lightning! He flings the lightning rod which just happens to poke right in the meteor which immediately gets hit by lightning and is destroyed! I bought this one in HD. The only thing wrong was the S1 ending theme was tacked on at the end instead of the correct S2 ending theme.

Ya know, I'd forgotten I used to enjoy Gilligan's Island. I got bored with it years ago and quit watching. Sign me up if it ever comes out on blu!

 

[JohnHopper]

RAWHIDE SEASON 6

Let’s keep them moving! And now, let’s ride into the sixth season of Rawhide. It’s the same production team: producer Vincent M. Fennelly and cinematographer Jack Swain but story consultant Paul King is promoted to associate producer. The only change is the main titles and the departure of the Clay Forrester character. The outfit of Gil Favor remains the same: Rowdy Yates, Jim Quince, Joe Scarlet, Hey Soos, Wishbone, Mushy, Toothless.

Episode #1
“Incident of the Red Wind”
written by Dean Reisner
directed by Thomas Carr
music composed and conducted by Leon Klatzkin
guest: Neville Brand


“Well, there’s something about that man. A cold-eyed man with a pussy cat smile, I’ll tell you something, I don’t like him.”
—Wishbone about the intruder.


It’s a fine premiere episode that deals with superstition and fate through the figure of the uncanny intruder. It’s also a realistic hot desert episode with great outdoors in which a stranger pop-up from nowhere to sign up and leads the herd into the unknown of San Marcos. The stranger has a devilish flavor and provokes catastrophies among the leading drovers: Favor is severely injured during an arranged horse accident and falls down from a cliff, Quince is also injured while recovering a stray (a lost cow) and Yates’ authority is called into question and fails to quit. Only religious Hey Soos smells and feels the bad omen of the stranger. Gil Favor remains in bed in the chuck wagon of Wishbone during this drama but gives orders to Yates and the stranger willing to replace the ramrod. The introduction of the stranger scene is splendid: after his horse broke down, Yates crosses the desert on foot while carrying his saddle, stumbles at the bottom of the hill and spots a wild black horse that he wishes to catch with a rope when the stranger appears! The outcome is fantastic and meaningful (I won’t spoil it). The sign off scene and the end titles will be recycled in the late season 7 episodes. The music score by Leon Klatzkin is very atmospheric; Klatzkin is a prolific Gunsmoke composer, by the way. Writer Dean Riesner used to pen the spooky doppelgänger season 5 “Incident of the Pale Rider”. Oddly enough, the theme of the supernatural figure will influence future Clint Eastwood films: High Plains Drifter (ghostwritten by Dean Reisner) and Pale Rider.

Highly recommended for the friends of the unusual!

Here comes the season 6 logo still under Vincent Fennelly and his team.

Here comes the season 6 opening credits for the three leading actors.
Notice the Alfred Hitchcock Presents shadowgraph style.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

Magnum P.I. – 1.11 “The Curse of the King Kamehameha Club”

The Andy Griffith Show
3.26 “Andy’s English Valet”
4.13 “Barney and the Cave Rescue
More Andy Griffith Show goodness. Bernard Fox turns in a sweet performance as an English tourist who causes a minor traffic accident and has to work off his debt as a “gentleman’s gentleman” to Andy and Opie while Aunt Bea is away. In "Barney and the Cave Rescue," Andy and Helen briefly get trapped in a cave in, and Barney – already smarting from making a fool of himself in front of many townspeople earlier in the day – mounts a major rescue operation. The only trouble is, Andy and Helen manage to escape on their own. Can they get back into the cave in time for Barney to rescue them and salvage his reputation? Two strong episodes which exemplify this series and how it manages to be very funny without losing sight of the truth of its characters.

After the time spent in Mayberry, it was back to more Halloween seasonal viewing:

F Troop – 2.22 “V is for Vampire”
F Troop does Abbott and Costello, as a Transylvanian count (Vincent Price, hamming up a storm) arrives at the fort and moves into a supposedly haunted house. Very silly but amusing hijinks ensue. The make-up job on Price brings new meaning to the word “paleface.” Price is clearly having a ball, Ken Berry and Larry Storch bring the broad comic schtick, and Forrest Tucker plays straight man, as Parmeter, Agorn and O’Rourke run through all manner of hoary Old Dark House gags. And of course we have the curvaceous beauty, Wrangler Jane (Melody Patterson), the only one who shows any common sense. A memorable second season episode (if a further example of the dumbing down of O'Rourke Enterprises). This is another show (like Hogan’s Heroes) graced with sharp, colorful transfers on the DVD sets.

The Munsters – 1.8 “Herman the Great”
Herman becomes a wrestler to earn some extra cash to send Eddie to college. Despite his massive strength, Herman is just too nice a guy and keeps buying the sob stories his opponents whisper to him during the match, letting them win the fights. Another show that never fails to bring a big smile to my face. Since this is an earlier episode, it features my preferred Marilyn, Beverly Owen. Lots of what seem like actual wrestlers (judging by their colorful names and ugly mugs) appear here, but as usual it's Fred Gwynne's show all the way.


The Dick Van Dyke Show – 4.2 “Ghost of A. Chantz”
When Mel Cooley (Richard Deacon) forgets to make lodge reservations for them, Rob, Laura, Sally and Buddy are forced to stay the night in a haunted cabin. A fantastic episode of this justly-famous comedy. The jokes fly fast and furious, and it even manages to be spooky in places. And was there ever a prettier, sexier 60s sitcom housewife than Mary Tyler Moore in her prime? (OK, maybe she and Elizabeth Montgomery would have to duke it out for the top spot…)

Happy Days – 2.6 “Haunted”
Growing up in the 70s, I absolutely hated this show. Imagine my shock when, while trawling through YouTube looking for Halloween specials and TV episodes, I came across this, and loved it! The 50s nostalgia is palpable, and the centerpiece of the episode focuses on a groovy haunted house party thrown by Ralph Malph. After watching him in many Andy Griffith Show episodes, it was fun to see Ron Howard as the grown-up Richie Cunningham, the essential mannerisms and decency displayed in his performance as Opie fully intact. A very young and super cute Linda Purl appears as Richie's girlfriend, Gloria. I can’t say I’ll be buying the DVDs any time soon, but judging from this episode, I may have to re-evaluate my opinion of this show – or at least the first few seasons,

 

[JohnHopper]

The Twilight Zone
5.32 "Mr. Garrity and the Graves"
It's been a long while since I gave my Image DVDs of this landmark series a spin. The wonderful John Dehner stars in "Mr. Garrity," a light little comic outing that ends with a nicely creepy stinger. "Come Wander with Me" is much more eerie, and includes some striking cinematography and direction (including a really spooky s

Anything with the great John Dehner is welcome, my friend.

 

[JohnHopper]

RAWHIDE SEASON 6

Episode #2
“Incident of Iron Bull”
written by Carey Wilber
directed by Christian Nyby
guests: Michael Ansara, James Whitmore, Judson Pratt, Richard X. Slattery


“War is no good. But peace, that is also no good. Where are the buffalo? You kill the buffalo.
Where once was buffalo land now you feed your ‘whoa-haws’ [cows]. When buffalo die, Comanche die.”
—Comanche drover Joseph, formerly Iron Bull, to Mr. Favor.


At first, it’s a doubtful Comanche worker infiltrating the cattle drive story in which a drover bears a nasty grudge against him because of the Indian war. The plot is eventually a re-tell/rework of the season 5 “Incident of the Dogfaces” dealing with bitter revenge and inner tension. Mr. Favor is first in Dacklin Mill on business to get an army pass and Yates takes over the drive until his return. The episode starts with the death of a drover in the middle of the night during rainy time: gloomy. Actor James Whitmore returns from “Incident of the Dogfaces” and still playing an iron blue coat officer and here veteran Colonel Macklin of the Washita River. DP Jack Swain shoots some superb ‘day for night’ scenes highlighting delicate shades of grey. Find another opening main titles with new footages. Season 6 tends to renew his look and here the film-making shines, especially when Colonel Macklin remembers and tells the last battle against the Comanches at Washita River and displays his madness.