I suspect it was a little of both - the compelling story and the
actor who brought Dr. Kimble to life. David Janssen was certainly
perfect for the part and made the series unforgetable.

I viewed the pictures with the slideshow feature - really neat!

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Hi Liv,
Thanks for being here and for being the first person to break the ice so to
speak and post. Especially since, as you mentioned, you are unfamiliar with the
series, at least until you receive some tapes from me which will be shortly.

You can hardly write about this series without bringing up the acting of David
Janssen first and foremost.
He was not the greatest actor in the world either then or now. But he may well
have been the very best at
showing emotion while using very few words. He was an absolute joy to watch not
only in The Fugitive but in his many other tv series and feature films.

If you are playing the part of Richard Kimble, you obviously need to convey to
the audience the fear that you experience on a daily basis as you are
relentlessly pursued by one person
intent on capturing you.

David Janssen could have taken the easy way out and simply let the writers put
words in his mouth. Instead he chose to do it all simply by the way he looked,
the way he walked, the way he reacted to things around him. Every little move,
like the ones I described in this very first episode telegraphs to the audience
what it is like to be a fugitive.

From the very first moments in this pilot episode when he arrives in town on a
bus, and then walks through the station, the narrator tells us how careful he
must be. How he can't trust anyone, how he needs to avert the gaze of everyone
he passes, lest he be recognized.

But it's David Janssen the actor who
brings it to life.  I don't know that I have ever seen it done to perfection
like this either before or since.

Was that the reason that people became glued to their seats from the very first
episode? The story in Fear In A Desert City is fairly routine.
Was it the actor or was it the compelling story of a wrongfully accused man on
the run?

I don't know, but I'm glad  you brought it up. I  hope people who are familiar
with this series, will come here now and give their views.

Thank you Liv.

Bobbynear

Hi from Norway to everyone in this group! I'm glad to be here.

Bobbynear,

In one of your first posts here you wrote:  "I realize that many of
you are not at all familiar with the original series which ran from
1963 to 1967."
I have to admit, I'm one of them. So far, I'm much more familiar
with The Fugitive starring Tim Daly.

However, thanks Bobbynear, for giving us your first review and
screencaps, it's great! I especially enjoyed your description of
David Janssen, his acting, his appearance and his body language.

Bobbynear, you once told me that if I begin watching the original
Fugitive, I will probably "love it immediately". I'm assuming that
is what happened to all the people "around the country and the world
who found themselves permanently glued to the edges of their seats"!

Liv

"The Fugitive" Starring David Janssen

Season Number 1

Episode Number 1

"Fear In A Desert City"

Original Air Date - September 17, 1963

Guest Stars

Vera Miles

Brian Keith

Barry Morse as Lieutenant Phillip Gerard

Written By - Stanford Whitmore

Directed By - Walter Grauman

Review by Bobbynear - 10/29/03

Screencaptures in the photos section
__________________________________

The time is late 1963. JFK's Camelot is about to end, few people have
heard of Vietnam, and the turbulent sixties have yet to take hold.
But when a man named Kimble steps off a bus into the arid air of
Tucson, Arizona, the American TV viewing public is unknowingly about
to embark on an odyssey the likes of which it has never before
experienced.

The story begins after the crime and the subsequent escape. The
opening sequence and the memorable voice-over narration by the
sonorous William Conrad, set the stage and the mood to perfection as
Dr. Richard Kimble, fugitive, wanders through a bus station, afraid
to so much as glance at strangers.

There is no peace or security for this man on the run, even in his
own hotel room where danger seems to be behind every door and
suspicions are easily aroused. Armed only with some meager
belongings, a suitcase and a bottle of black hair dye, the lonely
desperation of Richard Kimble is readily apparent as he checks his
image in a bathroom mirror for tell-tale signs of gray that might
give his identity away.

At the same time, many miles away, a stern and determined looking and
sounding police lieutenant named Gerard stands before a map and
defiantly announces, "I enforce the law." It is obvious to all, that
Richard Kimble will find no solace or reprieve from this defiant and
stubborn law enforcement official.

It is the perfect blending of fictional character and actor, as David
Janssen, fresh from his role as Richard Diamond, private eye,
instantly transforms himself into Richard Kimble, public enemy. Even
in this first episode, Janssen creates a memorable, mesmerizing and
sympathetic character out of thin air. Reaching far beyond his
matinee-idol good looks, his use of unique mannerisms: the hang-dog
expression, the permanently cast down eyes, the slightly upturned,
yet hesitant smile, the slight body twitches at the first sign of
danger, and the furtive glances become instant classics. David
Janssen turns body language into an art form, years before anyone has
even heard of it.

The story itself in this pilot episode is admittedly fairly routine.
The jealous and abusive husband and the good Samaritan who only wants
to help, finds himself caught in the middle. We have seen it all
before, but it is the acting here that more than carries the day. Big
screen actors, Vera Miles, looking positively radiant and beautiful,
as the innocent victim of her violent husband, played to perfection
by Brian Keith, who snarls through clenched teeth at everyone he
meets. The best line in the entire episode occurs when, during a
confrontation between the two, Kimble loudly advises him, in a rare
flash of anger, to "See a psychiatrist!".

The story is really unimportant in this early stage of the series, as
the set-up for the future is everything. From the opening montage of
crime, trial, and escape to Kimble's relating of the story of how he
came to be in his current  predicament, we find out all we need to
know about the respected doctor now falsely accused and convicted of
the murder of his wife Helen.

More important, is David Janssen's uncanny ability to convince
viewers from the get go, that his character really is innocent, to
make us care and to want to come back from week to week. From the
opening scene, when the camera closes in on a lonely frog as Richard
Kimble escapes through the woods, to the closing scene of his
stopping to pet a stray cat, it becomes obvious that this is not only
a cat and mouse game but also a tale of survival. A man with all the
human comforts of home, thrust suddenly beyond his control, like a
lost animal, into a wilderness where predators lurk behind every
corner. Fear and paranoia are the order of the day.

At the end of this first story, Gerard appears menacingly out of the
shadows to confirm our worst fears that he will relentlessly pursue
this wrongfully convicted man. Richard Kimble makes his first of many
escapes, but the viewing audience around the country and the world
finds itself permanently glued to the edges of their seats.

Bobbynear's rating on a scale of 1 to 5
4 1/2

Hi everyone,

greetings to all members of this new fugitive group! I'm glad to be
here. Wonderful idea to review all fugitive episodes systematically!

I'm looking forward to your reviews!

Margrit

--- In THE-FUGITIVE-VIEWS-AND-REVIEWS@yahoogroups.com, "bobn425"
<BobN425@w...> wrote:
> Hello everybody and thank you for joining this group.

Hi, Bob:

I'm really looking forward to (re)reading all the reviews you've
already written, and even more to read the new ones you're going to
write... You have quite a few left.... LOL

I think your plans are just great, and I know you'll be able to stick
to the schedule you have planned.

I'm also willing to discuss anything related to this show, or at
least the things I know about it....

It'll be pleasant reading indeed. Thanks for creating this site, and
thanks Nel for helping Bob so much. : )

Julia90

Hi Bobbynear!

This is a terrific picture and adds much to the site!  A big thumbs
up!  Looking forward to the first review!

Kitty

Shemp47:
The very first two-part episode "Never Wave Goodbye" will be coming up shortly.
I have already written that review for another website.
I reviewed each part on its own merits and gave a numerical rating to each.
I did not combine them. Two part stories can vary greatly in how good or bad
they are and I feel they should be rated that way.

However, that is me. You or anyone else who wishes to write reviews, are free to
do as you please.

The other two-part episodes are,
Angels Travel On Lonely Roads,
Landscape With Running Figures and of course, The Judgment.

I only ask one thing and that is that my formal reviews of each episode appear
FIRST. And that we do this series in the order in which it was aired from number
1 to number 120, and not skip around which would be terribly confusing.

After I've posted my review, anyone is free to do as they please and in any way
that they want.

Thank You.

Bobbynear

There were at least 4 two-part episodes that I can think of, including
"The Judgement" conclusion. I assume it would be best to reveiw these
with one reveiw as if they were one long episode.

Hello everybody and thank you for joining this group.

I just wanted to write a little something a day or so in advance of
the first review being posted, to talk a little bit about future
plans and what I hope to accomplish with the creation of this site.

The first review of the Fugitive pilot episode, "Fear In A Desert
City", will appear on this board, early on Wednesday and there will
be a limited number of screencaptures in the photos section.

That review and the next ten that will follow it have already been
published at another website, where I am still writing and reviewing
a different series. Some people who know me may have already read
them while others have not.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, I hope to post a new review and
screencaptures once every two weeks. Although I cannot promise that,
I will do everything to try and stay close to that schedule.

As I have always done in the past, I will be assigning a numerical
value to each episode on a scale of 0 to 5. Zero being the lower end
of that scale and five being the upper end which would mean, as good
as an episode could possibly be.

Regarding screencaptures, they will have to be limited in number and
size. I am used to creating up to 24 for each episode, but space
limitations here will make it necessary to keep to 10 and under. Some
episodes may require more, some may require less.

It may also be necessary at some point in the future to delete some
or to at least rotate them from week to week in order to get them all
posted and save space. We are after all talking about 120 hour long
episodes and that means hundreds upon hundreds of screencaptures.

Anyone who finds one or more that they like and want to see in the
future would be well advised to save them to their computer just in
case they are removed at some point. Every effort will be made to not
do that however.

In conclusion, let me say that when I started this project two years
ago, I had only one thought in mind. And that was to stimulate
conversation and debate about one of television's finest dramatic
series. I do not consider myself the ultimate authority on what is
right and what is wrong about individual episodes of The Fugitive.
Anything written here by me, is one man's opinion and nothing more. I
will however always strive to be entertaining.

I can assure you that I am at least as interested in what  you think
as you are in what I think. I want everyone in this group to always
feel free to post their own opinion and give their own numerical
rating to an episode, regardless of whether or not it is in agreement
or disagreement.

Of course, not everyone is up to doing that. Some people prefer just
to read and that is fine. But I've had the experience of getting
involved in spirited talks with others about this show and the result
can be fascinating.  The Fugitive is the kind of program that can and
does often create endless discussions, not only about what is good or
bad about it, but why.

I would hope one day to reach the point, where people who have chosen
not to join this group, may be surfing the web and will stop by here
and wonder just what all those people are talking so excitedly about
and why anyone would be discussing a tv program that has been off the
air for over 35 years.

With your help we can accomplish that.

I would like to publicly thank Nel, a member of this group for what
has been and will continue to be her invaluable assistance and
support in posting reviews and screencaptures and the everyday
running of this site.

My sincere thanks to all who have elected to join me on this
adventure.

Pleasant reading to all.

Bobbynear
10/28/03

--- In THE-FUGITIVE-VIEWS-AND-REVIEWS@yahoogroups.com, "nfrules03" <LOfan@m...>
wrote:
> Could the Fugitive photo of that silhouette they used to show in the
> fourth season before the announcer said "The Fugitive, In Color" be
> added to the photos file or does someone here know where I can find
> it?
___________________________

I have created a series of three screencaptures for you in different stages of
that silhouette.

If this is not what you are looking for, please let me know.

They will be placed in the photos section early on Tuesday.

Thanks.
Bobbymear

--- In THE-FUGITIVE-VIEWS-AND-REVIEWS@yahoogroups.com, "nfrules03" <LOfan@m...>
wrote:
> Could the Fugitive photo of that silhouette they used to show in the
> fourth season before the announcer said "The Fugitive, In Color" be
> added to the photos file or does someone here know where I can find
> it?
____________________

Sure...I can make at least one screencapture of it and add it to the photos
section.

Just give me a day or two.

Bobbynear

---
> Cool, look forward to it.  Hi everyone from kimble.com and all new
> people.
___________________________

Hi to you...Thanks for joining...
Look for a special introductory message from me right here on Tuesday morning.

We open for good on Wednesday.

Bobbynear

Could the Fugitive photo of that silhouette they used to show in the
fourth season before the announcer said "The Fugitive, In Color" be
added to the photos file or does someone here know where I can find
it?

--- In THE-FUGITIVE-VIEWS-AND-REVIEWS@yahoogroups.com, "bobn425"
<BobN425@w...> wrote:
> Here is a sneak preview of the pilot episode ( # 1 ) of The
Fugitive 1963 t=
> o 1967
>
> "Fear In A Desert City."
>
> A full review and selected screencaptures will follow shortly.
>
> ______________________________________
>
> "Fear in a Desert City"
>  
> Dr. Richard Kimble applies for work as a bartender in Tucson,
Arizona, and =
> soon becomes involved with a fellow employee -- a beautiful pianist
(Vera Mi=
> les) estranged from a murderously jealous husband (Brian Keith).
>
> Bobbynear

Cool, look forward to it.  Hi everyone from kimble.com and all new
people.

--- In THE-FUGITIVE-VIEWS-AND-REVIEWS@yahoogroups.com, "melissa_1949"
<lford@g...> wrote:
> Glad to be here. I'm looking forward to reviews of the episodes I
> have seen and those I have not. Thanks, Bob, for all your effort.
_____________________________

You are very welcome Melissa.
And thanks to YOU and all the others who have joined this group today.
I am very gratified to have received such a response.

The first review and screencaps will appear here by Wednesday morning.
Please feel free to comment on anything you wish.

Bobbynear

Glad to be here. I'm looking forward to reviews of the episodes I
have seen and those I have not. Thanks, Bob, for all your effort.

--- In THE-FUGITIVE-VIEWS-AND-REVIEWS@yahoogroups.com, "waterop2002"
<kevrm@c...> wrote:
> Glad to be a member, looking forward to seeing more.
> Thanks
_____________________

Thank YOU and the other people who have signed on overnight and the last few
hours.
I appreciate this very much and will work hard to make this an interesting site
to visit.

Feedback from members is critical to the success of any discussion group so I
hope everyone will feel free to post any opinions they wish on this message
board.

I hope to have the first review and screencaps up by Wednesday.

Thanks again to all of you.

Bobbynear

Glad to be a member, looking forward to seeing more.
Thanks

Here is a sneak preview of the pilot episode ( # 1 ) of The Fugitive 1963 t=
o 1967

"Fear In A Desert City."

A full review and selected screencaptures will follow shortly.

______________________________________

"Fear in a Desert City"
 
Dr. Richard Kimble applies for work as a bartender in Tucson, Arizona, and =
soon becomes involved with a fellow employee -- a beautiful pianist (Vera Mi=
les) estranged from a murderously jealous husband (Brian Keith).

Bobbynear

Thanks Bill to you and the other member from the original Yahoo Fugitive Group
and the others who have signed on this evening. I am very appreciate of your
support.

I did not recognize your name right away until you mentioned the tapes I had
sent. Now I do. I've sent so many tapes to so many people, it's hard to keep up
these days.

I hope to have the first review and some selected screencaps up within a day or
two.

Thanks again very much.

Bobbynear

Hi Bob,

Great new site! Thanks again for the DJ tapes you sent a few months
back. I look forward to your, as well as other Fugitive fans, insights
that will appear here. Congrats to your creativity.

Regards,

Bill Z from Phoenix



--- In THE-FUGITIVE-VIEWS-AND-REVIEWS@yahoogroups.com, "bobn425"
<BobN425@w...> wrote:
> Thanks very much Nel for being our English connection.
>
> And thanks AJ...it has indeed been far too long since we've
discussed the original Fugitive on a message board.
>
> Nice to have you both here.
>
> Bobbynear

Thanks very much Nel for being our English connection.

And thanks AJ...it has indeed been far too long since we've discussed the
original Fugitive on a message board.

Nice to have you both here.

Bobbynear

Hello to everyone who got here before me!

I look forward to talking Fugitive with you all.

Cheers,

Nel.

Thanks very much Julia and Liv for joining my new group.
It is great to have both of you here.

As you both know, I have already reviewed the first 11 of 120 original Fugitive
reviews and they are currently posted at the website..dr-richard-kimble.com,
where the saga of the wrongly accused doctor is continuing.

I will shortly begin transferring them over here one at a time starting with the
pilot episode, "Fear In A Desert City."

I realize that many of you are not at all familiar with the original series
which ran from 1963 to 1967.
I plan to send out tape copies to some of you in the future so you can become
better acquainted with the series which was reprised for one season on CBS in
2000.

Video tape copies of the very best
of the original series will be available on a limited basis from me to anyone
who joins this group.

Thanks again for joining!!

Bobbynear

Hi Bobbynear!

Thanks for inviting me to your new group.

I've read many of your reviews on another web site, and I always
enjoy them.

I'm looking forward to more reviews!

Liv

> (... )congratulations to you for having the intelligence and the
good taste to join my new group. : )

Well, I hope to have the same intelligence and good taste...
I sure think that's what this group is going to be unique for. : )

> I'm looking forward to discussing our favorite show with you and
many others.

Me too!
Congratulations!!! : )

Julia90

--- In THE-FUGITIVE-VIEWS-AND-REVIEWS@yahoogroups.com, "kittykatkus"
<kittykatkus@y...> wrote:
> Hi Bobbynear!
>
> I'm looking forward to your reviews!  I think this website will be
> terrific!  Congratulations!
>
> Kitty
______________________________

Thanks Kitty..and congratulations to you for having the intelligence and the
good taste to join my new group. : )

I'm looking forward to discussing our favorite show with you and many others.

Bobbynear

Hi Bobbynear!

I'm looking forward to your reviews!  I think this website will be
terrific!  Congratulations!

Kitty