Reviews

I happened onto The Dick Tracy Show when it ran on WPIX in New York; we got that on cable in Upstate New York, where I grew up. As a kid, I was always game for cartoons, but this one left me cold.

On the plus side, I liked what Everett Sloane did in voicing the lead character. Had there been a live-action version done during that decade, I would have chosen Robert Stack, not Ray MacDonnell for the role. I wanted to see more of Dick Tracy myself.

But that wasn't to be in this 1961 series.

We instead get these assistants, two of whom are these offensive ethnic stereotypes. And honestly, the producers should have known better by this period in time. Really inexcusable, and a real abomination of an animated production. Period.

I was seven when I saw "Kimba the White Lion" back in 1966, and was immediately hooked onto the show. I'd tune into WPIX, which my family and I got through cable, and it was a real favorite of mine.

And I think I can see why.

Sometime ago, when I was in my 50s or so, I saw a DVD of one episode that had the voices redone. Evidently, this was done in Canada, as you could occasionally hear a Canadian accent. But what amazed me was how GREAT the story line was!!! This has held up much better than so many of the American cartoons produced in the Sixties. The original theme was also interesting to listen to as well.

I should try to locate more of these episodes to see if any of them jog this 65-year-old's memory!!!

I managed to obtain the Blu-Ray disc for Wonderwall, and made a point of seeing both the theatrical release and the director's cut. I had seen the movie some time ago, and liked it very much. It made me a fan of Jack MacGowran.

And for good reason.

During this time period, he seemed to be playing a lot of eccentric characters, from the two Roman Polanski films he made to "The Winged Avenger" episode of The Avengers. That last role seems to have a sort of connection, which I will explain in a bit.

The movie concerns an eccentric professor who leads a drab, lonely life, a life that gets upended when a fashion model, played by Jane Birkin, moves in. What we seem to get after that are vignettes that seem to get played out in the professor's mind. Some might think it was drug imagery, but it struck me as something pertaining to the fantasies and desires the protagonist has.

This obsession seems to get the better of him, as he misses work in order to spy on his neighbor. It leads to him wearing formal wear, a cape and a top hat (somewhat like his character in The Avengers), dropping in on the model who, by this time, has decided to end her life. Instead of taking a creepy turn, he instead rushes to save her life, and becomes a hero.

The movie's ending is really poignant in 2023, since Ms. Birkin recently passed away. It is very much a period piece, since it was likely filmed in the latter part of 1967, but it is extremely entertaining in its own right. Both Mr. MacGowran and Ms. Birkin lead what is an excellent cast. It's well worth the watch.

Barbie is simply a mind-blowing experience, and in a truly fine way! I was taken aback with the 2001 opening, since I have a personal aversion to seeing toys get destroyed, but then it starts to unfold.

And what we have is a combination of The Twilight Zone and 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

It really focuses in on one Barbie (Margot Robbie) who finds herself out of her element, and her struggle to comes to terms with herself. Though the film has some weirdness to it, it sets us up for the second half of the film which really shines.

And its messages pack a wallop!!!

The casting is top notch, starting with Ms. Robbie in the title role. Ryan Gosling also delivers a fantastic performance as well, with a wide range. But one actress truly deserves a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, and that is America Ferrara. The other performers are likewise great!

I'm also struck by how Mattel allowed itself to be show in a fantasy way that isn't always flattering. And toward the end, we have the Barbie doll's creator, Ruth Handler (Rhea Perlman) tell Ms. Robbie's character some facts about herself that are less than flattering. That scene alone is incredibly powerful.

And of course, the visuals are something to behold!

On the whole, a truly incredible film that has a lot of originality! Highly recommended!

For the first four seasons, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" has had a very linear storyline. In Season Five, we have flash-forwards to 1981, 1984 and 1987.

This episode is basically set in 1990, when Susie gets honored by the Friars Club. And we get flashbacks to 1961, 1963, 1970, 1973 and 1985 that really establish the storyline on what happens during those years.

And yeah, we find out how Joel ended up in federal prison, and that he got released in 1990. And you realize it was out of his love for Midge.

The ending is simply incredible, and very touching. One of the very best episodes of the entire series!!! As this is written on 7 May 2023, we still have three episodes to go, and I look forward to what unfolds!!!

"Secrets of Playboy" isn't perfect, but it paints a picture of a cultish situation that I am familiar with. Add to that the power that comes with money and celebrity, and the picture that emerges here is not a surprise.

But it is a truly sad story.

While I enjoyed the nudity and the great articles that appeared in the magazine (including the interviews), I was no admirer of Hugh Hefner. And that world looked too much like a fantasy to me to be really believable, especially when these women looked so impossibly gorgeous when compared to those I would see around in Upstate New York and New England.

I am glad these women are stepping forward to tell their tales. And if they are doing so after Hugh Hefner's death, it is not surprising, given the power he had on so many levels. I'm sure not all of the Playmates would agree with what is presented here, but so it goes.

As for the dynamics of the situation, I did say earlier that I know this for myself, albeit in a different setting. But when you already are dealing with people who got damaged, and you have those who are predatory, then you have a real potential for that perfect storm. No more, no less.

"Making Montgomery Clift" is a really illuminating documentary from one of the famous actor's nephews. And it indicates that there was something less tragic about this performer, given how so many of his great roles came AFTER his sad 1956 auto accident.

While it's clear that Monty's sister and her family weren't involved, they didn't have the recordings that his brother Brooks had. For better or worse, these recordings shed a lot of light on the life that he had, providing us with what made him tick.

The drug and alcohol addiction isn't really touched on, but it is clear that Montgomery Clift's battle with John Huston when making "Freud" was apparently what sent the gifted actor on his downward spiral. Not being able to work for four years would indeed take its toll.

Highly recommended!!!

When I first saw this production, it was underwhelming, but the technical aspects of the film are great. I finally finished it last night, and while it is still a little underwhelming, it has potential.

The actor playing Grandpa does a great job, and so does some of the supporting cast. The plot isn't the worst, but it could have been better. What I applaud are the references to the different storylines that first appeared in the 1964-1966 series. I also like that the two surviving series regulars make appearances, even if it's their voices.

I have to say in the end that I actually wanted more of the movie by the time it ended. Once it got going to Los Angeles, that's when the fun seems to have begun.

And while there was room for improvement, it could have been much worse. Not a bad effort.

"The Animal" was NOT the final new episode to air. That was "Survival."

However, this was the final episode of the entire series to air on ABC, on 8 September 1974. And this was, hands down, the best episode of the final season. We not only have Inspector Lew Erskine and Agent Chris Daniels, but we are also graced with William Reynolds as Tom Colby and, in his final guest appearance, frequent baddie Peter Mark Richman.

And for Mr. Reynolds, especially, the episode was a matter of things coming full circle. Back in 1962, he appeared in "FBI Code 98," which was a precursor of the 1965-1974 ABC series, as an agent. He guested in the first two seasons, starred in seasons three through eight, and then guest starred again in the final season. By this time, his acting career was basically over, but he brought something special to the show.

And he does so here.

This air date is also notable for the fact that President Gerald Ford pardoned disgraced former president Richard Nixon. Clearly an interesting day, and thankfully, we have the entire series on DVD. Well worth a watch!!!

"Brenda Starr" is a very interesting watch, especially when you consider it was filmed nearly 50 years ago. It took this pilot a full year to air, and ABC passed on it.

The plot line is a bit strange-millionaires falling victim to voodoo-but the performances are really good, starting with Jill St. John in the title role. She brings not only depth, but also a real sense of humor and comedy. Victor Buono is also terrific, as is Sorrell Booke.

The plot line has a touch of "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" in it, but one is reminded also of "The Green Hornet" from nearly a decade earlier, which was also partly set in a newsroom.

Given better treatment, I think this could have been a companion piece to "Wonder Woman," which was starting up around this time. This definitely had potential.

I rank "The Vendetta" as one of the very top episodes of Adam-12, in considerable part because it deals with someone who had suffered under the Ustashe, Croatian Nazi sympathizers who terrorized and mass murdered Yugoslavs during World War II. Their actions even horrified the Nazis, and we're talking about major atrocities.

A tailor is dealing with a former captor, and we follow his tale as he finally encounters his adversary. Fortunately, things turn out as hoped for, and we have Reed and Malloy wrap things up.

Given the recent issues with nationalism in Croatia, this episode seems appropriate, even with Yugoslavia no longer in existence. The episode also deserves a very solid "10" with the performances from Nehemiah Persoff, who remains with us in March 2022 at age 102, as well as Peter Brocco as Fr. Janos.

And in something unrelated as well, we also have an appearance as well of Barbara Nichols. Always a pleasure to see her, even if it is unrelated to the Ustashe main plot. Another fine episode!!!

This iteration of Perry Mason is a most interesting watch. It starts with PM himself as an investigator, and we see him evolve into the lawyer that he is so known for.

I would have much preferred if the story had been done more as a proper period piece, without the profanity. I don't remember profanity being used so widely in the 1960s, let alone the 1930s. That is what keeps me from giving it 10/10. Seeing naked corpses and the nudity doesn't bother me, though. That helps to give this the grittiness that makes it good.

How the case ends is a far cry from the Raymond Burr series, and it seems more realistic. That is what really struck me, and I understand how this production stands out from what CBS (and later, NBC) aired. But both productions are superb, and are very much products of their time.

The 2020 Perry Mason series starts slowly, but it picks up speed, and it delivers. It has a grittiness that was at times lacking from both the original CBS series and then the NBC movies.

My one concern is that the writing needs attention. I don't seem to believe that profanity was that widespread in 1932 Los Angeles, and it certainly wasn't in 1965. As stated on IMDB, Paul Drake refers to himself as "black," whereas he would be referred to as "Colored" or "Negro."

That said, this is an interesting take on Perry Mason.

"The Case of the Moth-Eaten Mink," filmed in 1956, if proof the series was such a hit. It has a gritty noirish quality that is less evident as the series went on. Based on Erle Stanley Gardner's novel of the same name, it concerns a waitress whose mink, taken from a pawn shop, figures in what turns out to be the murder of a police officer.

One little bit of background information: If Raymond Burr's hair was different, chances are he was coming off of filming "A Cry In The Night," which also starred future PM supporting player Richard Anderson. Whatever the case, he already had a busy year in 1956.

We don't see the polished lawyer with the fancy convertibles here, and his office is clearly different. That would remain the case through Season 1, at least partially. But what we have is a terrific plot line, and an episode that clearly sold the series to CBS. And the rest is history.

I've managed to see clips of "On The Flip Side" on YouTube, and what I've seen of it, it is really fascinating to watch. This story is about a rock singer trying to make a comeback, and the story it tells looks really entertaining.

Both Joanie Summers and Rick Nelson excel here, both with the acting and the song material. And they have two of the best composers from that time period, Burt Bachrach and Hal David.

And this outing from ABC Stage '67 is also a remarkable time capsule of when the music industry was really flourishing in this country. I just wish it would come out on disc or on streaming media.

I came in with an open mind concerning Wonder Woman 1984, and left at the very tail end of the movie not disappointed in the least. What hit home for me was the time frame of the 1980s. I came of age, and turned 25 that year. And so much of what was shown, including the attitudes, were things I sadly remembered. So much for the good old days.

Too many people have the expectation that superhero movies are all about fight scenes and CGI. What I really loved about this movie was its having a real story, and showing not just the heroine Wonder Woman, but also Diana Prince. We get to see her growth as a person, even if she's from Paradise Island.

It also doesn't hurt to see a special cameo in the end credits as well. You'll need to see this for yourself!!!

As someone who's done comic book fan films, I absolutely appreciate the effort that was put into this film. And I think it will stand up very well years from now. Here's hoping for another WW film!!!

"Zombo" is about Eddie Munster's winning an appearance on The Zombo Show and a number of prizes. It also involves Zombo the character displacing Herman for Eddie's affections.

Though a comic episode, as one may expect, the episode plays much like something out of "Leave It To Beaver," in that we get to see Eddie receive a life lesson: That what one sees on television with actors isn't quite what one expects in real life.

And "Zombo" also illustrates something that happened with local television in the 1950s and '60s (and even later): Local programming, including children's productions. Here, we get to see comedian Louis Nye as the title character, and the set used for his show. We do get to see Eddie's disappointment and his life lesson, but in 2020, we also get to see a piece of broadcasting that long ago passed into history.

Make sure you get to see the complete, uncut version of this outing. It's worth watching!

"Excessive Force" is one of THE most important episodes ever produced for Adam-12. We finally get to see a lead character's warts, when he gets brutal when arresting a suspect. The usually unflappable Pete Malloy loses it, and the episode examines what happens. And Pete knows it could adversely affect his career.

The show, in my opinion, never "jumped the shark," and this outing shows why. Television shows were becoming more realistic, as the medium was maturing, and "Excessive Force" shows much the Adam-12 had progressed since its first season.

And speaking of which ...

Those in charge likely knew this would be the show's final season. Ratings were slipping during this season. Yet, the quality of the shows never (IMO) sagged, and the series ended on a high note (and deservedly so).

"The Case of the Shattered Dream" is the first Perry Mason case for 1959, and it begins the year on a very strong note. Right off, the music is very different, in that it is crime jazz that seems to take cues from the NBC show Peter Gunn, then beginning its run.

The story has a real noirish feel as well, and it has a real style to it. Hans Breel (aka Hugo Werner) has a stylish convertible, and is the one who ends up dead. Lots of rough characters, and we get to see Perry Mason's apartment.

The music soundtrack, which was used for a time on Season 2, adds something special, especially given the show's black and white look. On the whole, a cool, yet hard-boiled episode.

When Stephen J. Cannell wrote "Badge Heavy" in 1972, little did anyone realize that it would resonate 48 years later when an incident happened in Minneapolis. By that time, the Los Angeles Police Department had banned it after several problems had happened.

One can speak out about the issues police departments face. And when they can behave like paramilitary operations, there's some validity to those complaints. But give this show credit for confronting a nasty situation within a police agency and the frustrations connected with it.

Overall, a very powerful episode, and one of the best!

"Officer's Wife" is most definitely a different sort of story line for Highway Patrol. Right away, we get to see officer Jerry March get shot and killed by a criminal who is himself shot to death.

What follows is the fallout from this, and the effects on both the widow, as well as a fellow patrolman and his family. Even given the limitations of 1950s television, this is a very effective outing that shows the human cost of working for the Highway Patrol.

The acting, as always, doesn't disappoint, and Broderick Crawford's Dan Mathews has a lot more dimensions to him than Dragnet's Jack Webb. No disrespect is meant toward Mr. Webb, who was a pioneer in his own right. However, Mr. Crawford already had won an Academy Award, and clearly had a presence that could be more imposing, yet show empathy-truly a winning combination!

Even among the fine outings of Highway Patrol, this one is a real standout!

"Log 105: Elegy for a Pig" is, hands down, the saddest episode of the entire series, and the starkest. I first saw it when it originally aired on 21 November 1970, a day before the seventh anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination, so as an 11-year-old, this show hit really hard.

Looking at this now, during this time of great unrest, it's good to see a more human side of police life. Mark Goddard, who had been on Lost In Space as well as the 1959-1962 NBC series The Detectives, plays a police officer who loses his life in the line of duty. We get to see how he and Pete Malloy went through police academy and then police service together.

It's a very sad episode, but also very striking in its semi-documentary style of storytelling. And it is clearly one of the very best episodes!

"Cruise Ship To The Stars" is a very interesting watch. I didn't see it when it first aired at the end of 1979, but recently saw it on MeTV. It's a time capsule from that period of time, with its use of disco music (which was already on its way out then-I know, I was around at that time).

It also has the late Dorothy Stratten, the doomed Playmate of the Year, in a featured role that, in 2020, seems a little like a precursor of Jeri Ryan's character of Seven of Nine. Both women look very much alike, and Ms. Ryan is the same age has Ms. Stratten's younger sister, Louise.

And we have a Jekyll/Hyde character intent on getting Ms. Stratten, playing a genetically perfect female, sliced up so that the parts can be sold on the black market. Interesting plot. And it all gets resolved in the end.

I don't know how Dorothy Stratten would have fared as an actress, had she lived, but we know about Jeri Ryan. But this episode remains a most interesting watch because we get a chance to see the late actress. And we get a chance to see something from a very different time period in more ways than one!

I was 7 years old when "Munster, Go Home!" was released in 1966. Had I seen it then, I would have been disappointed because Pat Priest wasn't in it.

But this is 2020, and overall this is a fun watch. This especially makes a great watch during Halloween. As for the film itself, it takes elements from the series and uses them here (such as Grandpa turning into a wolf, first explored in Season 1). Seeing them in color for the first time is also fun as well.

As per Marilyn: Universal was trying to build up Debbie Watson's career. When this film debuted, her 1965-1966 series "Tammy" was winding down. Sad part was, it went nowhere. Debbie Watson gives a fine effort, though.

Overall, a fun watch.

Directed by a known Sixties actor, David Nelson, "Ladies Night" is a very fun episode that has Aneta Corsaut as Judy, the erstwhile girlfriend of Pete Malloy (Martin Milner). It's fun seeing someone associated with Mayberry appearing here, and she seems age appropriate for Officer Malloy.

We also get to see Kris Harmon, the then-sister-in-law to David Nelson. She and Kent McCord had known each other from the time that he began his career with appearances on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" back in the early 1960s. And one special treat is seeing Mr. McCord driving his circa-1959 Chevy Corvette, a car similar to what Mr. Milner drove on "Route 66" over a decade before. And the low-key car chase that takes place in the last quarter of this outing is alone worth the watch, especially when the 1974 Ford Mustang that is being pursued crashes!

We're also treated to a bar brawl that has Len Wayland in it, as well as a gorgeous blond pulled over for running stop signs and riding her bicycle too fast.

I noticed that, toward the very end of the series, we DO get to see the more personal side of the lead characters. Some may not like that, but I think that added something very special to the show, and-in my view-the show did not jump the shark. Overall, a fine episode.