StreedTV Reviews: The Fugitive #1 Fear In A Desert City (1963)
Review#5
September 4th 2022 I discovered The Fugitive on PlutoTV, the premise sounded really interesting and despite being a classic television aficionado I had never heard of this show
I fell in love with the show immediately after watching the first episode alone, it's a real shame this show is so obscure and rarely talked about and whenever it is, people are always Referring to the Harrison Ford fugitive film which I never knew existed until after I finished season 1
this episode perfectly introduces the mainstay characters like Richard Kimble & Lieutenant Gerard, David Janssen's performance as Kimble was the main reason I grew so immediately attached to the show
Kimble has an endearing sensitivity to him, he's masculine and courageous while still having a heart and sympathy for those in need and I absolutely adore that about him
Barry Morse as the fierce obsessive Lieutenant Gerard does an impeccable acting job, Gerard is less of a man and more of A force of nature as a loved one of mine put it, you can't tell right away his true intentions
all you know is that he's downright obsessed with capturing and apprehending kimble, could it be out of sadism? who knows, one of the things i noticed is that the narration is longer in the first episode
I remember that bugging me when i watched it for the first time but luckily the narration is trimmed down as the show moves along and to be transparent for a second, William Conrad's voice is very seductive and I don't care what anybody says
there's a few familiar actors present here as well, such as Dabbs Greer, Harry Townes and Barney Phillips, the antagonist of the episode Ed Welles is a startlingly realistic adversary
I've known many men precisely like him, I was raised by men like him, I was friends with men like him, I even dated a few men like him.. cold unfeeling brutes devoid of empathy that have left lasting psychological injuries...
that's what makes him so frightening, he's a very real man we all knew or could potentially meet, he's clearly insecure consumed by suspicion, leading him to be violent and destroy everything that comes his way
Vera Miles also does a fantastic acting job as Ed's vulnerable wife Monica Welles, I felt so bad for her situation and she conveys the sorrow of being in an abusive relationship perfectly
one line particular I found haunting was "his face changed" it's something you notice when someone you love deteriorates and transforms into a completely unrecognizable person.. they look the same but different in a subtle way
the music as well was incredible as ever, with a heavy usage of intense orchestral music, another thing I appreciate about The Fugitive so much is just how cinematic it is, everything from the shots, the music and the camera angles makes it feel like a feature length film
over all, this was an incredible beginning to a superlative show, I wholeheartedly consider it the Breaking Bad of the 1960s with it's immaculate writing, rich interesting characters and it's evocative themes redolent of A time when quality was valued in television
i'd like to give a special thanks to my dear friend who ordered the complete series out of the kindness of his heart so now I can have the pleasure of watching this exceptional show on my own screen, Thank You
Rating: 10/10










