Click here for the previous episode review.
[I am updating this review on April 9, 2011, as I have recently seen this episode for the first time on Museum.tv - as I explain here. The updates appear in brackets.]
Season #1, Episode #21.
Once Upon a Savage Night
Original Air Date - April 2, 1964. There is some question as to whether this episode was a two parter. Episode 1.22 would air two weeks later on April 16, 1964. There is no entry in the IMDB.com episode list for April 9, 1964. [Update - this episode was not a two parter. Near the end of the Museum.tv posting of this episode, there appears an original commercial for the Perry Como musical special that often appeared in place of KST during its original run. Perry Como would replace KST on April 9th with guests Bob Newhart, Ray Charles and others.]
Setting/Time - Chicago in the present [Update - the episode takes place near Christmas].
Plot/Review/Discussion - I have never seen this episode, so this part of the review will be difficult. [Update - I have now (March 2011) seen this episode at Museum.tv. See this link for an updated explanation.]
According to The Encylcopedia of Television (p. 82), this episode was intended as a pilot for a new series. That plan did not work out, but the episode was later released as a TV movie called "Nightmare in Chicago."
The episode is a crime story about a serial killer. The story is told from the point of view of the murderer. There also appears to be a secondary story about transportation of nuclear missiles on the highway.
This was the third and final KST episode written by William McGivern. This story appears to be based on his novel, Death on the Turnpike. McGivern was a prolific crime writer whose stories often appeared on television police shows, such as Kojak and Adam-12.
Robert Altman directed this episode. This was the final episode of KST that he directed.
[Update - This story was, in fact, the story of a serial murderer who played cat and mouse with the police as he tried to escape on the Illinois Turnpike. The existence of the military convoy complicated the plot, as it hampered police efforts to capture the killer, while the manhunt interfered with the convoy.
The convoy looked impressive as it rolled with flashing lights down the highway at night. The convoy's imposing appearance added to the drama.
The conflicting goals of the police (catch the killer v. protect the convoy) constituted the secondary plot, which complicated the main conflict while helping to provide the resolution.
This episode tried to present a psychological explanation for the killer's actions. The explanation was confusing and incomplete.
Despite the plot and psychological complications, the story's race to the climax was simple and effective. All of the complicating factors were resolved with the completion of a simple physical task.
Despite the sometimes seedy nature of the story, this episode (much like the other KST episodes) showed class. Everyone (including the killer) wore a suit and tie and drove big American cars.]
Miscellaneous - This episode's title is not to be confused with "A Cruel and Unusual Night" (episode 1.28). This is another pairing of KST episodes with confusingly similar names, with both titles sounding like they were written by Snoopy.
Cars - I do not know what cars were used in this episode, but there were undoubtedly many opportunities to see classic vehicles. This opportunity provides a reason that I hope to see this episode one day.
[Update - The cars were difficult to discern, as most of the action took place at night and musuem.tv's version is black-and-white. The killer drove a 1964 Chevy station wagon for a time. The police drove a 1964 Chrysler. During the highway scenes, one could spot the back of a 1960 Chevy going through a toll booth.
At one point, the killer caused a major accident in his attempt to stall the police. The cars in that accident were all from the mid to late 1950's. The KST producers were hampered in this regard by the great difference in appearance between 1950's cars and 1960's cars. The producers could not destroy a large number of new cars (for budgetary reasons) so they were forced to stretch the viewer's credulity by staging an accident in which the cars all happened to be obviously older than the cars from the rest of the episode. Today, that problem does not exist, as ten year old cars look very similar to new cars.]
Actors
Philip Abbott played the murderer. He acted for nearly 50 years until his death in 1998. He starred earlier in KST episode The Long, Lost Life of Edward Smalley (1.08) along with John Alonzo (who also appeared in this episode). Abbott's longest running role was on The F.B.I. , in which he both acted and directed.
Ted Knight starred as (I believe) a police official. He would later become famous for his role in Mary Tyler Moore. [Update - After seeing Knight for so long as Ted Baxter, one has to fight to remember that he is not playing his KST role for laughs. Once I forgot about Ted Baxter, Knight's role as the police commissioner was relatively strong, as he struggled to balance his duties to catch the killer with his need to see that the convoy proceeded smoothly.]
Charles McGraw played in the first of his two roles on KST.
The IMDB.com entry for this episode lists Andrew Duggan and Carroll O'Connor, but one of the reviews of "Nightmare in Chicago" states that these references are erroneous. [Update - O'Connor and Duggan did not appear in this episode.]
Showing posts with label John Alonzo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Alonzo. Show all posts
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Kraft Suspense Theatre; Long, Lost Life of Edward Smalley;
Season #1, Episode #8
The Long, Lost Life of Edward Smalley
Original Air Date - December 12, 1963
Setting/Time - The main story takes place in a modern office building. The flashback (occupying most of the show) takes place at the end of World War II as the allies march through Western Europe.
Plot/Review/Discussion -
This episode presents a challenge to review because the real plot is more subtle than simply waiting to see the outcome of the trial.
James Whitmore plays J. Marvin Bean, a modern attorney that cares only about winning. We see him in the opening scene upbraiding his employee for caring about right-and-wrong instead of winning. That dialogue sets the stage for the plot of the episode.
Bean is then confronted by an armed visitor to the office (Smalley), whom Bean has forgotten. Smalley tells Bean and his associates (at gunpoint) the story of Bean's representation of Smalley during World War II. The action switches to Smalley's flashback of World War II Europe, as Smalley shoots his superior officer. The issue in Smalley's court martial is whether he intended to shoot the officer or whether it was an accident. Bean is appointed to represent Smalley.
It becomes apparent through the flashback that Bean cares little for the actual truth, a position that is consistent with his instructions to his young associate in the beginning of the episode. But he develops an effective strategy for winning the case, relying on technicalities and strategy instead of anything that reflects faith in Smalley's story. That Bean was concerned only with winning weighs heavily upon Smalley, as he apparently lacked any other source of validation in the two decades since his trial. Bean was thus forced to confront the issue of a client's actual guilt or innocence, instead of a mere checkmark in the win or loss column.
While Smalley was the main/title character, Bean's confrontation with his entire approach to clients and the practice of law provided the main conflict in the story. That conflict was more important to the final resolution than the outcome of the court case. Rather than simply waiting to find out who wins in court, the viewer sees the attorney forced to confront the truth. That is a much more interesting conflict.
Cars - Vehicles played no part in the episode, except for possible military vehicles.
Actors -
James Whitmore starred as attorney Bean. Whitmore starred in film and television from the late 1940's through 2007. This was the first of two KST episodes for Whitmore. His credits include many of the well-known television shows from the past generation, including Twilight Zone, Big Valley, Bonanza and KST spinoff Run For Your Life. He had a commanding presence and often played military/authority figures, including Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Truman.
Richard Crenna played Edward Smalley. Crenna worked as an actor and director from 1950 until his death in 2003. His most famous role came as Luke McCoy in The Real McCoys.
Ron Hayes enjoyed a long career that included a second KST episode in season #2. Philip Abbott, John Alonzo and Arch Johnson also starred in season #2. Alonzo and Abbott both starred in "Once Upon a Savage Night."
The Long, Lost Life of Edward Smalley
Original Air Date - December 12, 1963
Setting/Time - The main story takes place in a modern office building. The flashback (occupying most of the show) takes place at the end of World War II as the allies march through Western Europe.
Plot/Review/Discussion -
This episode presents a challenge to review because the real plot is more subtle than simply waiting to see the outcome of the trial.
James Whitmore plays J. Marvin Bean, a modern attorney that cares only about winning. We see him in the opening scene upbraiding his employee for caring about right-and-wrong instead of winning. That dialogue sets the stage for the plot of the episode.
Bean is then confronted by an armed visitor to the office (Smalley), whom Bean has forgotten. Smalley tells Bean and his associates (at gunpoint) the story of Bean's representation of Smalley during World War II. The action switches to Smalley's flashback of World War II Europe, as Smalley shoots his superior officer. The issue in Smalley's court martial is whether he intended to shoot the officer or whether it was an accident. Bean is appointed to represent Smalley.
It becomes apparent through the flashback that Bean cares little for the actual truth, a position that is consistent with his instructions to his young associate in the beginning of the episode. But he develops an effective strategy for winning the case, relying on technicalities and strategy instead of anything that reflects faith in Smalley's story. That Bean was concerned only with winning weighs heavily upon Smalley, as he apparently lacked any other source of validation in the two decades since his trial. Bean was thus forced to confront the issue of a client's actual guilt or innocence, instead of a mere checkmark in the win or loss column.
While Smalley was the main/title character, Bean's confrontation with his entire approach to clients and the practice of law provided the main conflict in the story. That conflict was more important to the final resolution than the outcome of the court case. Rather than simply waiting to find out who wins in court, the viewer sees the attorney forced to confront the truth. That is a much more interesting conflict.
Cars - Vehicles played no part in the episode, except for possible military vehicles.
Actors -
James Whitmore starred as attorney Bean. Whitmore starred in film and television from the late 1940's through 2007. This was the first of two KST episodes for Whitmore. His credits include many of the well-known television shows from the past generation, including Twilight Zone, Big Valley, Bonanza and KST spinoff Run For Your Life. He had a commanding presence and often played military/authority figures, including Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Truman.
Richard Crenna played Edward Smalley. Crenna worked as an actor and director from 1950 until his death in 2003. His most famous role came as Luke McCoy in The Real McCoys.
Ron Hayes enjoyed a long career that included a second KST episode in season #2. Philip Abbott, John Alonzo and Arch Johnson also starred in season #2. Alonzo and Abbott both starred in "Once Upon a Savage Night."
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