DVD Review: Peter Gunn (The Complete Series)

DVD Reviews, Reviews

When Miles Davis released Birth of the Cool in 1959, he was a year late. The fall of 1958 was when cool sprung to life from the TV set with Peter Gunn. He was a bold new private eye in a genre of cloned Sam Spade and Mike Hammer gumshoes. Peter Gunn (Craig Stevens) lived in the present tense. He drove a new car, wore tailored suits and listened to the latest jazz. He had a level of sophistication in his manners and attitude. But he also had the ability to mix it up when the case called for it. He charged $1,000 a case. His clients knew he was worth the cost. He operated out of Mother’s nightclub instead of an office. No need for him to waste time at a desk waiting for the phone to ring. Blake Edwards (The Pink Panther) created a character worthy of such a cool name and Henry Mancini’s unforgettable theme song.

Gunn’s main connection on the police force was Lt. Jacoby (Herschel Bernardi). He would put up a little resistance before giving Gunn the necessary information. Gunn did have a girlfriend to keep him from falling in love with any suspects. Edie Hart (Lola Albright) was the main singer at Mother’s. She adores him even if she knows she’s second fiddle to the clients that can meet her man’s price. But Peter also knows that she’s equally devoted to her singing career. They’re a good flirty match without getting too mushy on screen.

Because this was only a 30 minute detective show, there’s a brisk pace to the action. Gunn doesn’t sit around for too long in the same room deducting the clues. He’s always on the go including hitting the road in a Plymouth Fury that comes complete with an early car phone. The numerous cuts, multiple locations and Gunn’s deliberate pacing makes it feel like an hour long drama. Some episodes find enough time for a musical act to perform at Mother’s. Most of the time it’s Lola. She has a glow on the stage with her backing band. But there are other real musicians that perform on the stage.

“The Kill” starts the series off right when mobsters shake down the owner of Mother’s. Mother refuses to budge so they blow up the club. Peter Gunn doesn’t like his hangout exploding so he goes after Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat). You don’t mess with the man’s free office space. “Streetcar Jones” gets a jazz musician framed on a murder charge. The guy’s lawyer doesn’t appreciate Gunn being on the case. This raises Gunn’s suspicions. “The Vicious Dog” attacks a newspaper owner. It’s up to Gunn to uncover what enemy let go of the leash. “The Chinese Hangman” opens with a victim being killed and then stuck in a staged suicide. “The Leaper” has a human fly stunt go wrong when a sniper takes out the performer. “The Fuse” has a mobster (The Wild Wild West‘s Ross Martin) hire Gunn to clear his name in a union leader’s death. Or is he making Gunn the patsy? “The Missing Night Watchman” puts Gunn on the trail of a jewelry heist before the real owner notices they’re missing.

“The Comic” swears that Shelley Berman’s wife is out to ice him. Gunn gets the idea that the opposite might be the case. “The Feathered Doll” turns midway prizes into evil devices. John Marley (The Godfather) needs a favor from the Gunnfather. “Kidnap” snatches Gunn’s main man on the police force. Can he get his buddy before the boy’s in blue? “A Kill and a Half” gives us two major stars with Billy Barty and Norman Fell (The Ropers. Fell needs to find his missing wife. Trouble is he needs to be missing since he snitched on a major mobster. Can Gunn keep his client safe? Barty plays a recurring info connection for Gunn over the three seasons.

Peter Gunn should have lasted longer than three seasons. Craig Stevens nailed the coolness factor of the character right from the start. The cases were interesting without getting too cartoony. Then again when a series hits 114 episodes that fast, it’s hard to mourn that it ended too soon. Peter Gunn made its impact in launching coolness on the small screen. This was the jazz version of Miami Vice‘s MTV cops. Peter Gunn: The Complete Series allows you to keep cool during the hottest of viewing days.

The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The black and white transfers bring out the noir quality in the cinematography. There’s a lot of shadows when the action switches to night. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The levels are fine for the show.

Peter Gunn Soundtrack has 12 of the instrumental tracks from Henry Mancini.

Peter Gunn: The Complete Series contains the first cool TV series. Peter Gunn was a private eye who didn’t look out of place for his time. His theme song alone announces what you’re about to see isn’t going to be your dad’s gumshoe show.

Timeless Media Group presents Peter Gunn: The Complete Series. Starring: Craig Stevens, Herschel Bernardi and Lola Albright. Boxset Contents: 114 episodes on 12 DVDs. Released: October 23, 2012. Available at Amazon.com.

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.