The Fugitive: Season One – Volume One

DVD Reviews, Reviews

Available at Amazon.com

Created by:
Roy Huggins

Cast:
David Janssen….Dr. Richard Kimble
Barry Morse….Lt. Philip Gerard
William Conrad….Narrator

Paramount Video presents The Fugitive: Season One – Volume One. Fifteen episodes on 4 DVDs. Episodes aired from Sept. 17, 1963 to Jan. 7, 1964. DVD released August 14, 2007.

The Show

Once there was a man arrested for killing his wife. He swore he was not the real murderer. His flight from the law became a prime time television sensation. Three decades before O.J. Simpson’s Ford Bronco freeway chase interrupted regular programming, America was glued to The Fugitive. On that drama, Dr. Richard Kimble made an effort to locate his wife’s real killer. While O.J. was able to beat the criminal court case, Dr. Kimble’s lawyers weren’t as crafty. He was sentenced to death. The train derailed on his trip to deathrow. Kimble escaped the handcuffs of Lt. Philip Gerard and thus began his four year journey to track down the one-armed man that took his wife’s life.

For those familiar with the movie version starring Harrison Ford, the series didn’t make things short and sweet. This isn’t merely a marathon pursuit. Each week Kimble assumes a new identity and an honest flunky job. He attempts to stay one step ahead of Lt. Gerard without having to turn to a life of crime to prove his innocence. He tracks down leads on the mysterious one-armed man, but that’s not the only focus on the series; most of the episodes involve him helping the local characters. At his core, Kimble is a doctor and has the constant urge to help others. This often turns out to be the weakness that exposes his true identity to the locals.

“Fear in a Desert City” was the premiere episode. We’re not given an origins show with the murder of Kimble’s wife, the trial, and his escape. The set up is the opening credits where we see Kimble handcuffed to Lt. Gerard on the train. William Conrad’s narration explains how Kimble was falsely convicted of the murder of his wife. The train wrecks and Kimble flees through the wilderness. His flight is not towards freedom, but the truth that will set him free. The first episode takes place months after Kimble’s escape. He arrives in Tucson, Arizona and takes a job as a bartender. He gets involved with the saloon’s piano player (Vera Miles). She’s an abused wife. Her husband (Brian Keith of Family Affair) doesn’t like this stranger meddling with his dysfunctional family. Kimble realizes that her only chance is to also have her flee the husband and take a new identity.

“The Other Side of the Mountain” has Kimble arriving to a dying West Virginia mining town. He merely wants to get a connecting bus, but the locals aren’t too thrilled at a new face. He has to flee to the mines in order to escape Lt. Gerard. This episode is star packed. Sandy Dennis (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) plays the local woman who gives him refuge. R.G. Armstrong is the sheriff who sees through Kimble’s disguise. The deputy is none other than Bruce Dern. The biggest surprise is Frank Sutton as a local tough. Thrill to the sight of Sgt. Carter from Gomer Pyle – USMC with long hair and a scruffy beard.

“Never Wave Goodbye” is a two-parter that gave the audience the first clue that Kimble was extremely serious about tracking down the one-armed man. Kimble has found the perfect job at a small business that makes sails for boats. The owner’s daughter (Susan Oliver) has fallen in love with him. His only problem is the owner’s adopted son (Oscar winner Robert Duvall) is jealous and suspicious. While Kimble could put down roots and live this false life, he discovers the L.A.P.D. has caught a one-armed man known for violence against women. He enters the lion’s den by visiting the jailed suspect. By coming out of hiding, he ends up exposed to Lt. Gerard. This episode gives a more human side to Lt. Gerard. We see him as a family man. By discovering Kimble was willing to risk it all to see this one-armed suspect, Lt. Gerard ponders if Kimble is innocent. But either way, the lawman has to capture his fugitive.

“Decision in the Ring” has Kimble working as the cut man for a rising boxer. The episode touches on race issues since the black boxer gave up medical school for glory in the ring. He points out that he gets more respect in white America being a champion boxer than a black doctor. “Smoke Screen” has Kimble hiding out as a migrant farmer picking crops. During a forest fire, he has to blow his cover in order to deliver a baby. “Terror At High Point” has Kimble working on a massive construction job above Salt Lake City. Jack Klugman (Quincy) runs the site. James Best (Rosco P. Coltrane of Dukes of Hazzard) torments a mentally challenged waterboy. Kimble wants to help the kid, but keeps having to step back to not expose himself. Klugman asks, “Who made you a doctor?” Kimble has to bite his tongue instead of giving his credentials.

It isn’t till the 14th episode of the season, “The Girl from Little Egypt,” that we finally get flashbacks to what went on that fateful day. If you’ve seen The Fugitive movie, you’ll remember Kimble and his wife were blissfully in love. But in the TV series, we discover that the Kimbles were not happy. There was a reason why the jury could see the doctor as less than a healer. We also get our first view of the one-armed man. After months of being told about this character, we know that he’s not just a creation of Kimble.

The final episode in this box set is “Home Is the Hunted.” Kimble returns to his hometown to see his family and to patch things up with his ailing father. What makes this visit extra dangerous is that Lt. Gerard also lives here. Will Kimble’s homecoming end with him taking a second trip the electric chair? Clint Howard (Gentle Ben and Billy Mumy (Lost in Space) play Kimble’s nephews.

The series has the great Quinn Martin trademark of announcing each act after returning from commercials. They even note the epilogue. The DVD box set gives a warning of music replacements and “Some episodes may be edited from their original network versions.” None of the 15 episodes are the slashed syndication prints. Most of the episodes are 51 minutes and 20 seconds long. The shortest of the bunch is “Fear in a Desert City” which has a running time of 50 minutes and 50 seconds.

The Fugitive is one the best shows of the ’60s. The acting and scripts put it into rare air for episodic television. The series plays like a collection of short crime films. David Janssen absorbs the characters of Dr. Kimble. His eyes show a man conflicted between his desire to survive and his urge to heal. He wants to hide, but not at the expense of others. It’s easy to see how women trust him and assist in his flight. The Fugitive is prime viewing that needs to be tracked down.

The Episodes

“Fear in a Desert City,” “The Witch,” “The Other Side of the Mountain, “Never Wave Goodbye” (two parter), “Decision in the Ring,” “Smoke Screen,” “See Hollywood and Die,” “Ticket to Alaska,” “Fatso,” “Nightmare at Northoak,” “Glass Tightrope,” “Terror at High Point,” “The Girl from Little Egypt” and “Home Is the Hunted.”

The DVD

VIDEO:
The picture is 1.33:1 full frame. There’s a platter scratch near the right side of the picture on “Fear in a Desert City.” They do a pretty good job filling it in. For the other fourteen episodes, the black and white transfers are nearly pristine.

AUDIO:
The soundtrack is Dolby Digital Mono. The levels are pretty solid. You can hear the twigs snap under Kimble’s feet when he racing from the law.

EXTRAS:
None.

The DVD Lounge’s Ratings for
The Fugitive: Season One – Volume One
CATEGORY
RATING
(OUT OF 10)
THE SHOW

10
THE VIDEO

9
THE AUDIO

8
THE EXTRAS

0
REPLAY VALUE

9
OVERALL
9
(NOT AN AVERAGE)

The Inside Pulse
Even if you know how The Fugitive ended, rewatching this series is amazing. Shame they busted this series into half season boxsets because after these first 15, I’m eager to see the rest of this first season.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.