Change Your Image
summerfields
GREETINGS FROM SALEM, OREGON!
Jean and I especially enjoy watching films made in Hollywood's Golden Era of 1930-1970.
Enjoy listening to Soft Rock, Folk & Swing music from the Big Band era.
My hobbies include camping, hiking & reading good books. Hugely interested in metaphysics (creative visualization), psychic sciences (astrology, ghosts, UFOs etc.)
We have two white cats: Lucy and Desi. Feel free to send me an e-mail @ kircoobry@yahoo.com if you'd like to discuss anything about old Hollywood, films, actors, whatever.
[cheers]
Heath and Jean McEwan (scotsladdie@Amazon.com)
Reviews
I Love Lucy: Lucy Does a TV Commercial (1952)
Public's Favorite!
What more can be said about this famous gem which was voted TV comedy's #1 moment? The show has minor faux pas: the wee peek into the Ricardo bedroom and Lucy's "couldn't you just hire good musicians?" line sounds nearly flubbed - but nobody cares.
As most fans know, Lucy drank apple pectin in the Vitameatavegamin bottle.
This is Lucille Ball at her very finest: how she could hiccup on cue is beyond me - but she does manage it.
Ethel doesn't appear in this episode at all.
This is a universally loved episode dubbed in countless languages - it makes folks laugh from Kentucky to Cameroon!
I Love Lucy: The Saxophone (1952)
Great Fun
This is the one where Lucy gets to actually play in Ricky's band ("haha - isn't that the craaazziesst 'A' you ever heard" - "slip me some skin, Gates!" - "Or don't you dig bebop-bebop?") says Ms Ricardo.
The scene where Lucy opens the closet door to find a strange man hidden therein is split second perfection - hilarious.
Of course, Lucy gets revenge on Ricky's dirty trick in the end.
They will never make a show like this one ever again.
Thank God for the gift of film - Desi was so wise to film this evergreen joy: he had foresight!
I am partial to the first four years of the show: there is a certain elusive magical quality the show exuded which vanished after Jess Oppenheimer (a real genius) left over control issues with Desi.
But the final two seasons are still grade A!
Just not A+
I Love Lucy: The Kleptomaniac (1952)
Corny but funny
This show is such a gem! Even when things are ridiculous - such as Lucy keeping a baby elephant in the bedroom and having it appear at the fadeout - we love the show so much that we simply don't care! Lucy and Ethel are sensational in their scenes in the Ricardo living-room shocking Ricky and Fred into thinking that they may indeed be crooked.
Fans of baby boomer telly will notice Mr. Wilson of "Dennis the Menace" show up: Joseph Kearns is a psychiatrist who's posing as Ricky's friend.
Lucy's Ginger Rogers ("The Major and the Minor") type baby talk is a hoot as is her treatment of Ethel and her collection of purses.
Timing is so great and essential to real comedy and this show had it all. In spades.
Nearly 60 years ago this show premiered on television; doubtless it will never go off the air: it'll 'outlive' all of us.
Lucy herself once stated: "It's a nice thing to leave the world": millions of us agree, dear Lucy!
I Love Lucy: Lucy Tells the Truth (1953)
Hilarious
One of my very favorite episodes of this beloved classic TV comedy is this one.
Lucy is notorious for telling fibs; therefore it's fun viewing time when the boys and Ethel bet the whacky redhead that she cannot tell the whole undiluted truth for 24 hours.
Well, folks got more than they bargained for: not only does the former Miss MacGillicuddy tell the truth, but she tell each of her friends and Ricky - exactly what she thinks of them.
A riot of laughter is the scene at Carolyn Appleby's bridge game.
Priceless and timeless comedy which will likely never be equalled.
And Lucy's timing whilst smoking a cigarette and thinking a knife will slice it is split-second perfection in Miss Ball's best style.
The Big Valley: Day of the Comet (1966)
Audra finds Love - Again..
Bradford Dillman is such a natural actor that he makes this rather average - but with a twist - episode worth a look.
Whilst camping on Barkley property - Audra discovers his campfire - Dillman plays Eric, a romantic drifter/philosopher who reads poetry.
Audra is most taken by this unusual man who charms her in subtle but deep ways: the acting makes you believe.
Eric saves Audra's life when she - foolishly - goes down on a very dangerous ledge which overlooks the huge gorge below.
Linda Evans looks particularly gorgeous in this one, if anyone cares to know...
Oh, I would like to say that the average episode of this show rates an *8*, but *7.5* is more realistic: and I am an enormous fan!
The Big Valley: A Noose Is Waiting (1967)
Weird, Contrived, Essential
This episode is really weird.
Bradford Dillman is a good actor and I like him: it's why I find it interesting - a less-talented actor would have made the already hokey and implausible theme hopelessly ridiculous.
Audra has another beau here: in the form of a young M.D. who studied medicine in Vienna (!) That poor generic house we've seen maybe a dozen times on the show in various stories is shown as a deserted hovel here! The doctor Dillman plays goes insane and scares the petticoats off Miss Audra: thank goodness her big brothers are nearby...
It's really a hokey and far-fetched episode, but then that stuff can be winning entertainment - sometimes!
Enjoy at your leisure
The Big Valley: Court Martial (1967)
Clever and Entertaining
Our Mr. Jarrod is in on this one.
Without giving any more clues plot-wise, I'll just say that this one is definitely worth catching.
A classic episode.
Rarely does a TV show rate a "9" on the IMDb - ("I Love Lucy" does!), but I will have to admit that as much as I am enthralled by this show (at 9, my heart would literally beat faster when the opening credits appeared!) that the average show rating - in my humble and trying-to-be-honest-without-prejudiced-mind - is *7.5*.
As a boy, I had pics of Nick, Heath and Jarrod all over my bedroom walls (from the fanzines of the day).
And to this day, I have a rare LP with the music by George Duning.
There. Now watch this great offering!
The Big Valley: Hide the Children (1966)
Very Good.
I like this episode for it's unusual storyline.
Mr. Nick gets mixed up with a gypsy woman who's engaged to be married.
They encounter prejudice when they arrive in the obvious gypsy-inhabited wagon and get fruits and veggies pelted on them.
Naturally, there's a 'mini-romance' between Nick and the gypsy maiden.
For the most part, the acting is excellent.
That great character actor, Royal Dano is superb as usual: what a fantastic presence! Dano appeared in another installment where he was equally impressive.
Gotta review that one right now! Cheers and have fun watching Gypsies traveling in The Big Valley!
The Big Valley: Brother Love (1967)
Interesting Corn
Robert Goulet, of all people plays the phoney, money-scheming Brother Love, and dang if he doesn't do a credible acting job: he's not bad at all.
Goulet is almost too handsome here: the scene where he enters the Saloon and does the male version of Carry Nation bit, Heath says "I wouldn't do that" (Love was about to toss away Mr. Barkley's beer for heaven's sake!) A great scene, finely executed.
Naturally, there is going to be a wee romantic interlude with our Audra (who goes temporarily blind in the interim) Not a great episode but definitely a memorable one - if not only for the 'right' reasons - Goulet had presence.
Gavin McLeod and Strother Martin are fine in their supporting roles.
The Big Valley: Presumed Dead (1968)
Sweet and Lovely
A very nice episode which offers the unique Lew Ayres as a romantically involved with Victoria setting with a catch: Ms Barkley has amnesia this time.
The chemistry between Ayres and Stanwyck is fine: they're two old pros doing what they do best: act.
The allegory of having a certain type of hairbrush was cute (cannot remember - pine bristles?) It's great seeing Barbara playing along with such a group of talented co-stars with the stature of say Mr. Ayres.
As an exciting episode, it's only fair: what makes this one work is the heart-felt chemistry between the leads.
Quite good and a bit off the path.
The Big Valley: The Challenge (1968)
Great Chemistry
James Gregory plays a Senator who is framed with an innocent photo taken by a corrupt enemy in typical Political corruption-flavored stuff.
Stanwyck and Gregory have genuine star chemistry between them and they are great to watch.
After reviewing this particular title, I am going straight to Simon Carter's adventures with Victoria in the desert (Gregory played another role - Simon Carter - in two episodes.)
Their chemistry is fantastic.
This isn't always the case with Stanwyck: her chemistry with Gable is not so hot: they were too tough for each-other!
Try watching and see for yourself: "To Please a Lady" (1950)
The Big Valley: Last Train to the Fair (1966)
I Like it - somewhat
First of all: Richard Anderson is tops in the acting department here as a doctor with a rather shady past.
The gang is on the train from Stockton to Sacramento (the trip would take a scant hour in reality - an infamous faux pas is the time spent on this trip to the fair!) Audra gets a sudden attack of appendicitis and thankfully, a doctor with some of that wonderful laudanum is on hand! Heath does a Mexican-like jig with a rose in his teeth and he's a riot. Jarrod helps himself to something yummy at the buffet table (they have their own private car, natch) and his little-boyish look is great.
A neat little touch: Audra and her lady friend are discussing their pickles which they are going to enter in the fair in Sacramento. Miss Barkley's lady friend's secret? A little cinnamon!
The Big Valley: By Force and Violence (1966)
Missy's Prize
For this particular episode, the Emmy Award folks decided to give the prize to Barbara "Missy" Stanwyck.
Stanwyck had won a previous Emmy for "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" in 1961 and was nominated for the Oscar four times. Stany finally got a belated honorary Oscar which she so richly deserved.
Never a great beauty (and she'd be the first to tell you this) she nevertheless had an astounding natural way of acting that - in certain instances, in "The Strange Love of Martha Ivers", for instance - she could by downright chilling.
In "The Lady Eve", she was hilariously funny.
Stanwyck had an inner fire which transferred magnificently on the screen - both big and small.
I will not spoil this special installment by giving away plot hints.
Barbara admitted to friends: "I never received as much fan mail during my years as a movie star as I have while appearing in this show" The answer was simple: Being a star on a prime-time TV show made her acting accessible to literally millions of people! And most of us admired her than not, I think
(My Aunt DeeDee couldn't stand her - and she resembled her somewhat!)
For some, Stanwyck was simply too tough.
I liked her.
The Big Valley: Showdown in Limbo (1967)
Good Character Study
A finely mounted episode which concerns an old pal of Heath's who's something of a hero. The man's son Chad is a rather withdrawn, perhaps book-ish type who has a talent for drawing fine etchings of horses, for instance.
This does not go down well with tough and macho Papa.
Heath doesn't think there's anything wrong with the young man's artistic talent and the kid looks up to Heath, who wins him over for being genuinely helpful instead of critical.
Not a great episode but a good one in which fans of the genre should relish.
The Big Valley: Danger Road (1969)
Overrated but okay
Not a terribly great episode.
Maurice Evans, that great Shakespearean actor who play dad to TV's Samantha Stephens is out of place in Barkleyland.
The storyline is fair but not too hot.
The scenes inside the rural general store are alright: it's cute watching Maurice make up a pot of chili for Victoria using his own packages of spices, etc.
Simply a mediocre offering which isn't up to par with many better ones.
Classy Englishmen just seemed out of place in the San Joaquin Valley, it seems!
The Big Valley: The Midas Man (1966)
Merely Adequate
The beginning of this one is cute and sexy: Audra meets a man named Scott Breckinridge whilst skinny dipping in the local stream.
But the storyline kind of fizzles out and i ain't gonna tell anymore.
Tom Tryon was a far more successful writer of fiction than as an actor.
His looks are ugly/handsome and his speaking voice is oddly unique - and not very appealing.
Our noble Audra was going to do something which she needn't bothered.
Like watching this episode, unfortunately.
A stronger male lead (a more fascinating actor) would have made the difference here. Tryon hardly has charisma in the acting department.
The Big Valley: Tunnel of Gold (1966)
Merely alright
Not a greatly admired episode personally, but it's fair.
Jeanne Cooper appears in the show for the second time, this time as a kindly old friend of the widow Barkley.
There is a underground (literally) band of thieves planning their gold heist and it's a bit contrived and mediocre in every sense.
I will say the that mastermind man is pretty despicable: a good actor, but hardly a likable personality! He's simply creepy.
The ending is trite (Audra's picking out a dress) but it's not unwatchable either: just an average 'filler' type.
Like Bradford Dillman, Jeanne Cooper appeared in the show twice: both performers did great jobs with their varied roles.
The Big Valley: The Invaders (1965)
Not a personal favorite
To me, this is a rather silly 'filler' episode. I didn't think the acting very good (excepting the girl who knew her herbal remedies and nurses Heath back to health).
I have never been a John Dehner fan and his personality grates on my nerves as the cunning man his outfit refers to as "Daddy"...
As I have already mentioned, this episode seems to be a 'meat-and-potato' filler and it's pretty lame in all departments.
No series is going to have solid-gold episodes so this one is forgivable.
But just barely.
The Big Valley: By Fires Unseen (1966)
Much ado about not too much
A very mediocre episode. Theme is a gal whom Nick has romantic intentions towards and she's an insincere San Franciscan who flirts with Heath instead.
And big brother Heath gets socked by his misunderstanding big brother in the interim.
Big deal!: let's have more neato action, Jackson! This junk was the kind of tosh which made 9 year old boys more interested in eating their tootsie rolls instead of looking at the screen in movie theatres....
At fifty, i am still that kid in many ways, apparently.
Oh,well: so i'm young-at-heart...gonna write Lee Majors a fan letter!
The Big Valley: The Profit and the Lost (1968)
Acting Excellence
This is a fine episode.
While not going into the plot, Victoria is at the apex of her 'look' dressed in black and appearing at the hotel room confronting a notorious hired killer.
She is magnificent while writing him a check and mentioning that there is nothing that can be done for men like him: 'the dead'....as she states.
Stanwyck was over 60 here and she was never more attractive in her life (in my opinion, she was one of those rarities - like Dinah Shore, for instance - who grew far more beautiful with age.
With her youthful lithe figure and her gorgeous mane of silvery-white hair and a remarkable complextion: she's a stunning woman for 61.
Barbara had such a great presence in episodes like this: no actress of her era could remotely touch her in this show - certainly not the likes of Joan of Crawford or even Bette Davis - they'd have been laughed off the screen.
The graciousness coupled with a (genuinely) gutsy quality made Victoria so real: nothing phoney about this character or actress: she is merely superb!
The man who plays the gunman is superb and this is the kind of episodes that we baby boomer relished watching: a good storyline combined with acting excellence makes for a super-duper time in Jolly old Stockton (or anywhere else, for that matter!)
Boy Howdy!
The Big Valley: The Battle of Mineral Springs (1969)
Curious, funny and dumb
Okay: here we having Jarrod and Victoria connived into going into a town which is seriously hurting in the economy arena.
The duo dine at a diner and have a really lousy meal and are charged an astronomical price for eating their two bitefuls! The hotel charges for their guests to read books.
Stanwyck, essentially a self-confessed serious individual played this one for laughs and she's quite funny.
But the story lacks realism and the script isn't very inspiring, to say the least.
A forgettable 50 minutes is this installation.
The Big Valley: Devil's Masquerade (1968)
Contrived but fun
I am not as huge a fan of this one as apparently others are but it's alright.
Mr. Heath is suspicious of his buddy's school-teacher/soon-to-be wife from the get-go and it bugs the 'sweet' young thing...
Turns out that she isn't who she appears to be at all.
these stories of someone taking another's identity are fascinating but hardly real-life-like.
I must say that I didn't find the gal (Anne Helm) who plays the tart terribly talented and her performance falls rather flat.
An actress with more fascinating verve and presence could have done wonders with this role.
Really unbelievable is the contrived happy ending which i will let viewers of this review guess upon...
The Big Valley: Time After Midnight (1967)
Showcase for Richard Long
As a hefty admirer of Richard Long - not for his versatility, heaven knows - but rather for his extremely likable personality = he seemed to be a very cordial man in real life.
I thought he was brilliant in "Nanny and the Professor" as well but he pretty much went from 1878-1970: his personality was that of a sincerely kind man - or he was a far better actor than i assumed! Anyway, without giving out spoilers, Jarrod has been temporarily blinded in a nasty (foul play) explosion in his office.
Long gives a well-modulated performance and he's excellent.
I remember as a boy asking my mom just why Victoria was so mean to Jarrod "You've lived in this house all your life" - in reference to his getting around without sight "Because self-pity is a very bad thing" was mom's wise answer.
The Big Valley: The Murdered Party (1965)
A personal Favorite
I really dig this episode. Korby Kyles is accused of a murder and Jarrod is called upon to take his place.
The Kyles are the never-do-well types of the Valley who even take to stealing coins from Jarrod's saddlebag: a Kyle's brother 'cleverly' hid them were Mr. Barkley figured: in the rim of his hat!...
The acting is wonderful. There is a scene where Korby is jail and says "Why, thank-you, Jarrod" to which our respectable Mr. Barkley replies "Don't you EVER call me Jarrod!" I'm not going into details here, but this is the type of episode which made this show a baby boomer classic: it's just wonderful, well-written & well-acted entertainment.
An interesting footnote I must include somewhere - so why not here?
Lee Majors was adopted by an aunt and uncle and as a young man had a lot of anger himself: it is safe to say that there was a LOT of Lee in his playing of Heath - and Heath is the most beloved of all the characters. Perhaps the general public could feel empathy for his character.
I know i did!!!!
The Big Valley: Hell Hath No Fury (1968)
Corny but funny
This episode has the rather untalented Carol Lynley guest star as Dilly - who eventually develops a crush on our Heath.
Ms Lynley has never been a favorite actress of mine and this installment proves my reasons = she plays as if she's in a cartoon, not a Western! Her 'energy/delivery' whatever - is weak and insincere and we all know that Heath and she would make a ridiculous pair.
The scenes where Heath confesses his deep feeling for Dilly (to Victoria) are not even remotely believable.
Sometimes the writers got desperate for stories and stars and this episode is a good example.
A minor misfire for a great series.