"The Picture Pirates" is a very timely episode for 1978...as well as for today. With the introduction of home videocassettes in 1975-76 (then Betamax and VHS were brought out), pirated movies were sometimes being illegally distributed BEFORE films were released in theaters....a practice that still goes on today. In fact, the problem is a bigger problem now than it was in the 1970s.
When the story begins, a film producer realizes his new unreleased movie was snuck out of the studio by one of his employees and he gives chase. However, the employee is working for some VERY dangerous types...and there are millions to be made selling pirated copies of the film. And, not surprisingly, the producer is killed when he confronts them! As a result, Barnaby enters the scene.
All in all, this is a very original story and one that holds up well. And, fortunately, this story is NOT about Betty or Jedediah's friends...like too many prior episodes.
When the story begins, a film producer realizes his new unreleased movie was snuck out of the studio by one of his employees and he gives chase. However, the employee is working for some VERY dangerous types...and there are millions to be made selling pirated copies of the film. And, not surprisingly, the producer is killed when he confronts them! As a result, Barnaby enters the scene.
All in all, this is a very original story and one that holds up well. And, fortunately, this story is NOT about Betty or Jedediah's friends...like too many prior episodes.