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Post by alpha128 on Dec 9, 2023 22:23:41 GMT
THE WILD WILD WEST - The Night of the Simian Terror - Almost takes place completely at night-except for the funeral scene. The guy playing the patriarch-I know him best from the Twilight Zone "Hocus Pocus and Frisby" as the guy exasperated by the implausibilities of his lies. In Season Four, you'll get to: "The Night of the Kraken"I will say however that this episode has great atmosphere. This is one West that truly earns its prefix "The Night of". And despite the deja vu, this is an entertaining, action packed hour. The patriarch was played by Dabbs Greer, who will return (playing a different character) in Season 4, Episode 09, The Night of Fire and Brimstone. EDIT: I mention that because he looks very different and you might not recognize him.
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Post by Prime etc. on Dec 30, 2023 6:58:20 GMT
"The Night of the Death-Maker" I would give it a high rating just for Angel Tompkins--who I did not recognize at first due to her hair.
I noticed the Vulcan nerve pinch being used on her. And did wonder about the "major" business.
On to season four!
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Post by alpha128 on Dec 30, 2023 16:19:43 GMT
"The Night of the Death-Maker"On to season four! Glad to hear it! In my Season 4 recap I wrote I actually preferred it to Season 3, despite the events of "The Night of the 800 Pound Gorilla". Your mileage may vary. Looking forward to reading your thoughts on the final season.
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Post by Prime etc. on Dec 30, 2023 16:51:04 GMT
I am happy to finally be on the season with all the fill-in characters and the big-headed guy I had seen in Famous Monsters. Some series watch in order--others like Mannix I just around. What was the episode where Robert Conrad gets injured and replaced with a stunt man?
I noticed in Death-Maker--some of those explosions looked dangerously close to the people who were targeted. What are those called--smudge pots or something? You could get hurt from debris flying out of those things. Or maybe it was forced perspective but it looked like a couple of them went off with the people very close.
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Post by alpha128 on Dec 30, 2023 17:09:05 GMT
I am happy to finally be on the season with all the fill-in characters and the big-headed guy I had seen in Famous Monsters. Some series watch in order--others like Mannix I just around. What was the episode where Robert Conrad gets injured and replaced with a stunt man? Conrad was severely injured in The Night of the Fugitives, which started shooting during the Season 3 production run, but finally aired as Season 4, Episode 7. Tycho, AKA "the big-headed guy", appears in The Night of the Winged Terror: Part 1 (S4 E15) and The Night of the Winged Terror: Part II (S4 E16). Christopher Cary played Tycho, and IMO is unrecognizable under the extensive makeup.
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Post by Prime etc. on Dec 30, 2023 17:32:27 GMT
There's a funny moment early in that episode where they make Conrad look much taller than the actor who is standing on the porch. If you notice--the other guy is standing a few steps down-and Conrad very rapidly passes him so as not to make the height difference noticeable.
It makes me think of Kojak--how many shows where the co-stars with hair--either have really bad hairstyles--his brother has the worst hairstyle ever---and you can't tell me this was by accident. It is make Kojak look more organized and cool.
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vrkalak
Sophomore
@vrkalak
Posts: 512
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Post by vrkalak on Dec 31, 2023 0:50:16 GMT
I am happy to finally be on the season with all the fill-in characters and the big-headed guy I had seen in Famous Monsters. Some series watch in order--others like Mannix I just around. What was the episode where Robert Conrad gets injured and replaced with a stunt man? I noticed in Death-Maker--some of those explosions looked dangerously close to the people who were targeted. What are those called--smudge pots or something? You could get hurt from debris flying out of those things. Or maybe it was forced perspective but it looked like a couple of them went off with the people very close. It is still The Wild Wild West, and it has some good episodes, however, S4 is by far the weakest of the series. Artie is missing from nine episodes, which is the main reason, in my opinion. They did a good job though, mixing in Artie with non Artie episodes. As I kid, I had no idea Ross Martin had a heart attack and was “missing” until his return in “The Night of the Diva.”
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Post by Prime etc. on Dec 31, 2023 19:16:32 GMT
It is still The Wild Wild West, and it has some good episodes, however, S4 is by far the weakest of the series. Artie is missing from nine episodes, which is the main reason, in my opinion. Maybe I will watch those nine episodes first.
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Post by alpha128 on Dec 31, 2023 19:27:41 GMT
It is still The Wild Wild West, and it has some good episodes, however, S4 is by far the weakest of the series. Artie is missing from nine episodes, which is the main reason, in my opinion. Maybe I will watch those nine episodes first. If you were to deviate from the air date/DVD order, I would recommend watching the episodes in air date order through "The Night of Fire and Brimstone" and then switch to production order as noted below. Once Artie departs, events will make a whole lot more sense when viewed in production order. "The Night of the 800 Pound Gorilla"If the remaining Season 4 episodes had aired in production order, it would have looked like this:
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Post by Prime etc. on Dec 31, 2023 23:20:02 GMT
Ok I will do that.
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Post by alpha128 on Jan 1, 2024 0:07:51 GMT
Cool! Believe me, things will make a lot more sense with that viewing order. As you'll see, a recurring theme throughout my reviews in the latter half of Season 4 is how messy the original air date order was.
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Post by Prime etc. on Jan 1, 2024 7:19:36 GMT
So I watch them in this order
S4 E01 The Night of the Big Blackmail 09/27/1968 S4 E02 The Night of the Doomsday Formula 10/04/1968 S4 E03 The Night of the Juggernaut 10/11/1968 S4 E04 The Night of the Sedgewick Curse 10/18/1968 S4 E05 The Night of the Gruesome Games 10/25/1968 S4 E06 The Night of the Kraken 11/01/1968 S4 E07 The Night of the Fugitives 11/08/1968 S4 E08 The Night of the Egyptian Queen 11/15/1968 S4 E09 The Night of Fire and Brimstone 11/22/1968
Right? And then I switch to..
84 The Night of the Pistoleros Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) 85 The Night of the Spanish Curse Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) 88 The Night of the Avaricious Actuary Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) 93 The Night of Miguelito's Revenge Jeremy Pike (Charles Aidman) 94 The Night of the Camera Jeremy Pike (Charles Aidman) 95 The Night of the Pelican Jeremy Pike (Charles Aidman) 96 The Night of the Janus Jeremy Pike (Charles Aidman) 97 The Night of the Winged Terror: Part 1 Frank Harper (William Schallert) 98 The Night of the Winged Terror: Part II Frank Harper (William Schallert) 99 The Night of the Sabatini Death Ned Brown (Alan Hale) 100 The Night of the Bleak Island Sir Nigel Scott (John Williams) 101 The Night of the Tycoons Lionel (Steve Carlson) 102 The Night of the Diva Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) 103 The Night of the Plague Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) 104 The Night of the Cossacks Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin)
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Post by alpha128 on Jan 1, 2024 17:27:36 GMT
So I watch them in this order Right? And then I switch to.. Absolutely right! For your convenience, I have changed my Season 4 episode index (with hyperlinks to each of my reviews) into this alternate viewing order. So now you have one comprehensive list to work with. I'll think you'll want to bookmark this post. The Wild Wild West - Season 4 - Alternate Viewing OrderAfter finishing the season in production order, you can read my Season 4 Recap (which is attached to my review "The Night of the Tycoons").
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Post by Prime etc. on Jan 13, 2024 4:52:30 GMT
"The Night of the Big Blackmail" This was really good--despite the lack of all the four elements--it had a lot of good scenes. The gas scene was particularly memorable. That smoke--how does one make smoke like that?
I was surprised to see Harvey Korman--it was a bit jarring-I expected Tom Conway or Vicki Lawrence to walk in.
I liked that we got to see Artie's invention and makeup area on the train--I don't think it was shown before. Also the bit with the train dummies (I knew the cat would be involved). The lever fight--was also a really good sequence.
The film switcheroo at the end was very funny though--great ending--and the conversation about people paying to see it.
What a start for the season. One thing I wasn't too keen on--the music. It sounds different from the previous seasons--I am not sure I like that new sound.
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vrkalak
Sophomore
@vrkalak
Posts: 512
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Post by vrkalak on Jan 13, 2024 14:24:50 GMT
"The Night of the Big Blackmail" This was really good--despite the lack of all the four elements--it had a lot of good scenes. The gas scene was particularly memorable. That smoke--how does one make smoke like that?
I was surprised to see Harvey Korman--it was a bit jarring-I expected Tom Conway or Vicki Lawrence to walk in.
I liked that we got to see Artie's invention and makeup area on the train--I don't think it was shown before. Also the bit with the train dummies (I knew the cat would be involved). The lever fight--was also a really good sequence.
The film switcheroo at the end was very funny though--great ending--and the conversation about people paying to see it.
What a start for the season. One thing I wasn't too keen on--the music. It sounds different from the previous seasons--I am not sure I like that new sound.
Blackmail is a fun 4th season opener. Lots of action and gadgetry. Artie is great as usual. Fun trivia, one of the henchmen also played the same type of role in “Die Hard.” The music is kind of funky, kind of a sign of the 1968 times.
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Post by Prime etc. on Jan 13, 2024 17:05:06 GMT
Fun trivia, one of the henchmen also played the same type of role in “Die Hard.”
YES! I knew that guy was familiar. I was trying to place him.
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Post by Prime etc. on Jan 13, 2024 18:04:12 GMT
I thought they would have a dragged out fight the way he was posturing and told his henchmen to bring him over. That ferris wheel move by West was rather neat too.
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Post by Prime etc. on Jan 13, 2024 19:26:14 GMT
I liked the Hans scene but that President Grant with his pants down bit has got to be in the top 5 Artie disguises.
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Post by Prime etc. on Jan 27, 2024 4:13:07 GMT
"The Night of the Doomsday Formula" I liked the use of the fist cane to build suspense but they abandoned it--Kevin McCarthy never had it from what I remember. I did like his entrance and his mannerisms--it made the encounters with Artie's arabian arms customer more humorous that he was so taciturn--and that guitar sequence--I was laughing out loud. I still don't like how the music shifts to a Brady Bunch style.
That singing though--was so absurdly funny.
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vrkalak
Sophomore
@vrkalak
Posts: 512
Likes: 419
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Post by vrkalak on Jan 27, 2024 13:53:30 GMT
"The Night of the Doomsday Formula" I liked the use of the fist cane to build suspense but they abandoned it--Kevin McCarthy never had it from what I remember. I did like his entrance and his mannerisms--it made the encounters with Artie's arabian arms customer more humorous that he was so taciturn--and that guitar sequence--I was laughing out loud. I still don't like how the music shifts to a Brady Bunch style.
That singing though--was so absurdly funny.
Blooper right before the third picture. The Bismarck glass was clear on both sides. Mr Ortuglo was a funny Artie character. Kroll was not content to sit around and listen to his arteries harden. I now have a hankering for a Shenandoah.
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