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Reviews
The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (1963)
Portent of things to come.
Although the series ran for only 1 season (26 episodes), it gave us a glimpse of mighty things to come for a young Kurt Russell. The show follows the travels from Missouri to the gold fields of California in the pre-Civil War times. Jamie (Russell) is with his Dad, Dr. Sardius McPheeters (Dan o'Herlihy) and assorted other folks headed for California. Characters came and went and the original wagon master Coulter (Michael Witney) gets killed off in episode 10, but shows up in several more episodes that are usually introduced as flashbacks. He was replaced by Charles Bronson. Jamie and his Dad were also accompanied by a orphan girl (Jenny played by Donna Anderson) who Jamie was convinced had her eyes set on the Doctor. She later became attracted to Coulter until his death. The show was geared towards younger males with Jamie invariably wandering off and either getting kidnapped or into other misfortunes requiring wither his father, Coulter or others to rescue him. Another entertaining part was having the Osmond Brothers as part of the group and their singing in a lot of the episodes along with the end theme song.
Way... Way Out (1966)
It was truly, Way...Way Out!
Our narrator informs us at the start that our film takes place near the turn of the century, so we must assume it is 1998 or 1999. NASA is now NAWA and is in a pickle. Both the Americans and the Russians are maintaining weather stations on the moon. The Americans have 2 male astronauts while the Russians have a male and female. The problem is, one of the Americans keeps attacking the Russian female because he has gone mad. The head of NAWA sees a publicity coup by arranging for a married American team to replace the 2 men, but everything falls apart when the newly married couple starts fighting. Enter Lewis as Peter Mattemore, the oldest trainee who always finds a way out of actual space flight. Mattemore manages to convince Eileen Forbes (played by the lovable Connie Stevens) to marry him and go to the moon with him. Hilarity ensues after they arrive at their destination to find the 2 Russian cosmonauts (played by Dick Shawn and Anita Eckberg) and find Shawn's character is a sex crazed cossack.
For most of the film Lewis is rather subdued in his acting, only letting some of his comic genius burst out for a few seconds at a time. It isn't until we are 2/3's through the film that the true slapstick that we recognize as Lewis trots out during the party scene with all 4 main characters. Stevens is her usual sexy yet girl next door type. She really makes those clear plastic couches and pillows look good. Eckberg, although more statuesque and built than Stevens, takes a back seat to Connie. Shawn is a zany lunatic that is about the only equal to Lewis when it comes to over the top acting.
Rango (1967)
Missed Opportunity
Rango was one of those shows that you either loved or hated, no in between. It was ahead of it's times in the fact that it starred one of the great comedic minds of the 60's and 70's but apparently the writers had no clear idea of what to do with him. They tried to cash in on the success of F Troop by having Conway play the part of Ken Berry, who as we all remember, was the bumbling Captain who accidentally rode into command by accident and by the prodding of his brave family tree. Had Rango premiered before F Troop and had some better writing, perhaps we would all remember Rango, and F Troop would be relegated to the pile of "Also rans".
Have Gun - Will Travel: The O'Hare Story (1958)
2 For the Price of 1
This was perhaps one of my favorite episodes for several reasons. I was intrigued when I saw that Victor McLaglen was the guest star. I have been a fan of Victor for most of my adult life. Although this was one of his last appearances, it was done with loving care by both his son, Andrew, as Director, and Richard Boone as the star. The other commentator mentions that there is no reason for Boone to take such a quick liking to McLaglen, but apparently he failed to comprehend what Boone tells him in the dialog, Boone, as an educated man, has Hadrian as one of his idols because Hadrian was a builder as is McLaglen. As both a builder, an older man, and someone who comes off as polite as Boone is, it was only natural that Boone would be immediately drawn to McLaglen's character. It must have been wonderful (and a bit scary) for Andrew to direct his father in this episode. You have Boone and McLaglen who worked with John Wayne and Andrew who directed the Duke so many times. Like a big family.
Always (1989)
You never told me how much it would hurt!
What a glorious, feel good movie. I've always liked "A Guy Named Joe" and found this charming piece an equal to the original. True, Dreyfuss is no Spence, Hunter sure isn't Dunne, and Johnson can't hold a candle to Van, but all in all as remakes go this was great. The set up scenes where Dreyfuss buys Hunter the dress and then at the bar has to share her with all the fliers is funny. Showing Johnson first catching a glimpse of her and seeing in his eyes what we will come to find out later in the movie sets the whole plot up quite nicely. Dreyfuss' last night spent with Hunter where she explains to him how she feels and her comment about risking his life for trees seems hollow, that she could understand if he was doing what he did to save a life was prophetic to say the least for as we see in the next scenes, Dreyfuss does indeed give his life to save his best friend, Al Yackey played by Goodman. Goodman plays (quite well I might add) the role of Dreyfuss' best buddy, but also takes on the wonderful added role of friend, confidant, and protector of Hunter. When he brings her back to the base to face her loss and then sees her interaction with Johnson you realize how much he really does care for those around him. Audrey Hapburn as Hap was simply marvelous. Although she did appear tired, she gave the role something that brought the whole movie together. Her quiet demeanor as she leads Dreyfuss to his, shall we say, redemption is a masterpiece. Watch both films and see just how a remake should be done.