Change Your Image
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjQ4MTY5NzU2M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDc5NTgwMTI@._V1_SY100_SX100_.jpg)
joenic-29279
Reviews
The Winning Team (1952)
Solid Baseball film even With Poetic License
I first saw this film on the late show when I was a youth in the 1970s, and it has been a favorite of mine ever since. It doesn't hurt that I am a lifetime St. Louis Cardinals fan.
The film is an autobiographical look at the baseball life of Grover "Old Pete" Alexander, and his wife Amy. The real Mrs. Alexander served as a technical advisor for the film. This did not stop the filmmakers from adding much poetic license to the story; but much of this was to streamline it into an hour and a half movie, and mostly chronological. Example, Alexander actually played for House of David after his MLB career, not between teams.
The film is very honest about Alexander's health issues (double vision from an earlier baseball accident, aggravated by shell shock from WWII), and his heavy drinking. In reality, Alexander also suffered from epilepsy, and according a Paul Harvey "Rest of the Story," he would sometimes fein being drunk rather than let anyone know the truth. Back then, getting drunk could land you in jail, but an epileptic fit could land you in a sanitarium.
One interesting note. I have heard and read that it was in Doris Day's contract, that she sing at least one song in each film she was in. There is a Christmas scene where she breaks into a song, briefly turning the film into a musical; and really out of place in this story. All in all very enjoyable.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Mystified Miner (1962)
An Erle Stanley Gardner Gem
By Season 5, it had become a rare treat to see an episode based on one of Gardner's books. And this episode might be one of the best of the season.
Over the course of the series' 9 seasons there were many excellent original episodes created by the writing team however, plot elements exist in Gardner's stories often missing in the former. Having watched each episode multiple times, it is hard to put one's finger on the subtle differences, but they are there. One may be a few more twists and turns.
This episode is based Gardner's novel, "The Case of the Spurious Spinster." The name change may have to avoid confusion with a Season 3 episode, "The Case of the Spurious Sister" that wasn't based on one of his works. The episode includes the great scene stealer, Josephine Hutchinson, prominent 60s actress, Kathy Browne, and the often oily Bartlett Robinson. It is a great ride, and highly recommended.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Impatient Partner (1961)
Not a Particularly Good Episode
Perry Mason is one of my favorite TV series. I have seen every episode thanks to METV and a DVR; most multiple times. It is rare that I give an episode anything less than an 8 (certainly 7) rating. I find this episode to be poorly written, and acted.
Wesley Lau is really over the top in the early scenes as a business owner investigating a fire at his company, while suspecting his wife of infidelity with his partner. A season later, Lau would gradually move into the role of Lt. Andy Anderson, when Ray Collins became ill. It is not my favorite casting decision from the show, but that is a subject for another time.
The courtroom confession might be the most ridiculous in the show's history; a serious case of overacting.
Leave It to Beaver: Lumpy Rutherford (1958)
Hilarious Episode
This is tied with "Water Anyone?" as my favorite LITB season 1 episode. It introduces us to one of the show's important characters, throughout the run of the series, Clarence (Lumpy) Rutherford. At this point, Lumpy is much bigger than Wally and at least a grade ahead in school. He is also the neighborhood bully.
Of course, as all LITB fans know, in later seasons Lumpy will have to repeat a grade or two and winds up as one of Wally's best friends; also backing down when Wally threatens to clobber him.
In Season 1 Wally isn't going to clobber Lumpy, so the boys come up with an idea--actually sewed into their minds by Ward--to get even with him. This results in a hilarious sequence of events. The great Richard Deacon, as the bombastic Fred Rutherford, steals the scene here; as he often would throughout the show.
Interestingly, Deacon's recurring role as Fred coincided with his more famous "Mel" character on the Dick Van Dyke Show (from 1961 until LITB ended). How he found time to do both, is anyone's guess.
I recommend this one to anyone who hasn't seen it.
Leave It to Beaver: Water Anyone? (1957)
This Episode Would Rank in My Top 10
This might be the best Season 1 episode (in my opinion). Perhaps a tossup with the episode that introduces Lumpy Rutherford, later in the season.
Wally and his friends are doing chores to earn money for baseball uniforms. Beaver wants to earn a little money as well. Beaver decides to sell water, an idea that initially falls flat. That is until he discovers that the water in the neighborhood is about to be shut off while a pipe is being repaired. Beaver winds up with the money that the older boys earned doing their chores.
But Wally and the others come up with their own plan when the electricity goes out.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Twice-Told Twist (1966)
Fair Episode, but Thank God the only one in color
Had Perry Mason been picked up for another season, it would have been in color as all CBS programming went to color. It is actually interesting Perry Mason was not in color for its final season, since almost every other program went to color that year. A little history, NBC was the only color network until the mid-1960s.
I am a fan of the Perry Mason series. I've every episode, probably each one multiple times. I always felt, especially in the early seasons the show had a film noir aspect to it. While the show became more polished and lost some of that noir quality, the black and white gives it much character. Gunsmoke, Andy Griffith, Wagon Train, and other showsl seemed to lose something when they went to color. Perry Mason was made for b&w.
I am sure many will disagree, but this is one man's opinion.
The plot, guest cast, etc isn't horrible, but I'm happy it is the only one in color.
Leave It to Beaver: Wally's License (1962)
I Love This Episode
This episode brings back memories of Driver's Ed, in my case back in the 70s. Like Wally, I was very nervous the first day, and almost drove the car into a ditch. Like June, my mom tried to prolong it as long as possible. I can even remember a know-it-all (like Shirley in this episode, who failed the test.
I always found it funny this episode landed after the beginning of Season 6, where it would have been logical to have it in Season 5, especially before Wally buying that first car, a heap he wound up junking. Certainly it would have made sense to at least Season 6 with this episode. Episode 1 was about Wally having a dinner date.
Regardless, this is one of the best Wally-centered episodes in the series.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Pint-Sized Client (1958)
Interesting Plot Device Nails the Actual Killer
Without giving anything else away, a loud air conditioner nails the killer. I tend to favor the episodes that are actually based on Gardner's writings. However, this one (which is not) is quite good. Some characters right out of "Noir Alley," including Eisha Cook.
Perry Mason: The Case of the Restless Redhead (1957)
Great Premier Episode.
I am a fan of the Perry Mason TV series, Season 1-9. However, I find Season 1 to be superior for the reasons many have stated here. I also love the film noir quality of these episodes (and to some extent in Seasons 2-3). As the series progressed this aspect was lost as the production quality became more polished; something seen on television as a whole.
In Season 1, all but a handful of episodes were directly or adapted from Gardner's books. For the obvious reason he wrote a finite number, with each season we saw fewer from his works in favor of what came from the mind of the screenwriter. Many of those are fine episodes, but there was something special (at least to me) about the scripts based on the original source material.
The Case of the Restless Redhead was a great introduction to the series and the cast. It was not the first episode filmed; which was the outstanding episode, Case of the Moth Eaten Mink.
The Andy Griffith Show: Barney and the Choir (1962)
Good Old 14A.
One of the funniest episodes from The Andy Griffith Show. "Good old 14A" became a buzz phrase for TAGS fans over the years. In fact it made it's way on to the Reunion movie in the 1980s.
14A was the song number the choir sang in this episode, aka."Welcome Sweet Spring Time."
This was the first of 3 episodes shown over the course of the series, that dealt with Barney's bad singing. Ironically, in an interview before his death, Griffith claimed Don Knots in fact had a great singing voice.
Leave It to Beaver: The Black Eye (1957)
Memorable as the Episode Introducing Fred Rutherford
While the story is centered on Beaver and a classmate, Violet Rutherford it is memorable for me because it introduced the ever-bombastic blowhard,Fred Rutherford; who would soon be better known as Lumpy's dad. Richard Deacon was a brilliant character actor, and I always thought his portrayal as Fred hilarious. Fred Rutherford remained a recurring character through all 6 seasons, with Deacon playing the role at the same time he appeared as Mel on the Dick VanDyke Show.
The character, Violet would appear in several episodes over the course of the series, later played by Veronica Cartwright. She appeared in one episode of the latter series, "Still the Beaver" as well.
Of course the Rutherford character we will eventually see the most, is Lumpy. Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford was introduced to LITB viewers several episodes after this one.
Leave It to Beaver: The Clothing Drive (1963)
Definitely a Head Scratcher Why It Was Second to Last Shown
The Clothing Drive was the 4th episode shot for the 6th season. Why it was shown when it was will likely remain a mystery, as the decision-makers have all likely passed away by now. Someone mentioned it was thrown in as a contractual obligation; and perhaps initially was meant to be canned. As a stand-alone episode, it doesn't (in my opinion) live up to other LITB episodes.
This is episode 16155, the 4th 6th season episode filmed. 152 is missing from the list (151 Wally's License was the first filmed), which tells me they did can some episodes along the way; and is why I think that may have been the original intention here. On the other hand, TV episodes during this era were meant to be stand-alone stories, not having to do with preceding or follow-ups, the rare two-parter notwithstanding. Today, shows tend to follow a story arc, and are often serialized. This was rare in the early 60s.
Leave it to Beaver is currently being shown 8a CT -- 2 episodes -- each morning on METV. The episode was shown again this morning, in order. Interestingly thought, the last cycle they ran for series, the showed The Clothing Drive before the graduation episode. While better, it still doesn't make sense with the different cast of school characters, different teacher, etc.
Gunsmoke: Love Thy Neighbor (1961)
Directed by Chester
I love the half hour Gunsmoke episodes. The storylines tended to be a bit darker than they would be a few years later. This episode is not exception. It is an excellent episode, with a great cast of character actors like Warren Oates and Harry Dean Stanton. Interestingly, this is the first of 4 episodes directed by Dennis Weaver.
The Andy Griffith Show: Banjo-Playing Deputy (1965)
Jerry Van Dyke Almost Became the New Deputy
I have seen this along with all the other TAGS episodes scores of times, and I have to say I like it better than many of the previous reviewers. What I find fascinating about this episode is that it is apparent this was meant to introduce Van Dyke to the show. In fact, he was the first choice to replace Don Knotts. According to a book I have about the series, aptly named "The Andy Griffith Show" Jerry Van Dyke backed out of the role after he was offered his own series, "My Mother the Car."
The short-lived "My Mother the Car" is often ranked as one of the worst shows in TV history. Outside of a few minor film roles, and a few guest appearances on shows, Van Dyke became a largely obscure figure until "Coach" where he finally enjoyed stardom. Van Dyke could be very funny, as he showed as Luther in that series; and also when he appeared on his brother's show in the 60s.
Now how would it have been with Jerry Van Dyke as the new deputy, instead of the ill-casted Jack Burns. Hard to say. Had they tried to force the character on the audience, as they did with Burns in early Season 6 episodes, it may well have failed. But I believe Jerry Van Dyke would have had a better shot at succeeding than Burns, and if he had we might look at those (often dismissed) in-color seasons much differently today.
Gunsmoke: Lynott (1971)
Decent Episode, Writers Appear to Pay Homage to Kiley's Broadway Role
Not much to add to the already well-written, detailed reviews. As noted, Richard Kiley was an accomplished Broadway performer. I found it interesting that one of the lines Kiley utters in this episode, "It takes all kinds to make a world," a famous saying that originates from Don Quixote. Kiley won a Tony for playing Cervantes/Quioxte in Man of La Mancha. Coincidence? Maybe, but I doubt it.
The Andy Griffith Show: The Battle of Mayberry (1966)
One of the best episodes from the "in-color" seasons.
This is a very funny episode, that is in my opinion the best during seasons 6-8, which didn't include Barney, in one of his return guest shots.