The Psychiatrist (TV Series) Par for the Course (1971) User Reviews

Steven Spielberg showed greatness even before "Duel"

[Cheyenne-Bodie · 10/10 · 10 March 2006]

Steven Spielberg's stunning direction of this brilliant episode put him on the map, and he never looked back. Roy Thinnes had the title role of "The Psychiatrist". Guest star Clu Gulager (giving his finest performance) played a professional golfer who was an old friend of Thinnes. Gulager is dying of cancer, and Thinnes tries to help him deal with his emotions during the last days of his life. Joan Darling played Gulager's wife, who felt she wasn't pretty enough for him. No melodrama and no big life affirming ending. Amazingly adult for 1971, or now. It is hard to understand why Spielberg wasn't nominated for an Emmy. I wonder if the producer even submitted it. Maybe there was some jealousy or competition involved. Somehow Spielberg's work was head and shoulders above other directors. Maybe he went over budget and over the time allowed, but if he did it was worth it. It was clear to anyone watching this episode that the director was someone to watch. Spielberg's next job after this was the Jack Cassidy/Martin Milner episode of "Columbo" and again it was amazing how much more stylish his direction was than the other first season directors, even though they were all much admired professionals. Spielberg had the magic touch from the beginning. A DVD of Spielberg's two superb episodes of "The Psychiatrist" would be a fine footnote to film history, and great entertainment.

This Series Ended on a High Note

[timoirish34 · 10/10 · 24 September 2023]

This was the final entry in a remarkable limited series--one which deserved at least a full season on its own. This Steven Spielberg-helmed entry is especially notable for both its striking visuals and the complex emotional interplay of its characters. Avoiding cliche at every turn, one would expect this story of the lifelong friend of Roy Thinnes' psychiatrist--a champion golfer--to be about the old friend dealing with his own impending death. Instead, it it tells its story from the point of view of Thinnes' character--how difficult the psychiatrist finds it to deal with the looming mortality of a person Thinnes cared for, admired and regarded as a winner in all things. A true Spielberg touch is the dream sequence which comes at the mid-point of the episode and then is referenced at the ending. How rare to find a network hour devoted to the confusion and internal conflict death can cause for the survivors. I so recommend this hour and all of the hours of the remarkable series.