Change Your Image
atash
Reviews
Peter Gunn: The Chinese Hangman (1958)
Odd details in an interesting episode
In his first interview with a client, Gunn often remarks, "I'll need a few more details." This episode encourages the same reaction.
Gunn is sent looking for a woman who has stolen $200,000 according to his client. That's the figure he eventually brings up when he talks to the woman. But in voice-overs, he quotes a figure of $100,000.
During his search, he's followed by a rumpled fat man with staring eyes. The character has a few words with Gunn in the final scene--and the lines are for some reason dubbed by a familiar-sounding voice-over artist, possibly Paul Frees. The actor on screen, Bob Jellison, has a perfectly good voice which can be heard in many TV shows and movies (e.g. towards the end of AFFAIR WITH A STRANGER, 1953).
At its heart, the episode is a condensed version of OUT OF THE PAST with some amusing flirtatious scenes between Craig Stevens and Marion Marshall, which are a good sample of the witty romance that Blake Edwards could bring to television. There's no evidence of rush or skimping, so the loose ends are puzzling.
Edwards, who often worked with friends, family of friends, and old colleagues, featured Marshall in his theatrical version of the series, GUNN (1967).
Sabaka (1954)
Related to TV show
SABAKA appears to be a feature version of the "Gunga" adventures that were featured on a children's show, hosted first by Ed McConnell and later by Andy Devine. I am only familiar with the Devine episodes, which were called ANDY'S GANG. Devine took over in 1955 after the death of McConnell, who had created the show for radio in the late 40s and brought it to TV.
The show is best remembered for its puppet characters, especially Froggy the Gremlin. But each episode began with the host cracking a fat book to read stories of the adventures of "Gunga, the East Indian Elephant Boy." A ten- or fifteen-minute filmed drama ensued, featuring a lot of Indian location footage.
Nino Marcel, Vito Scoti, and Lou Krugman appeared in the same roles listed for SABAKA. Closing credits for the ANDY'S GANG (which is available on EBay etc) list Frank Ferrin as producer.