Darren McGavin guest stars in the first episode of Magnum, p.i. this week. Mad Buck Gibson (McGavin) was written by Robert Hamilton and aired 26 November, 1981. Thomas is hired by Joan Gibson (Vera Miles) to help her keep an eye on her ex-husband, Buck, until she can finally serve him with his alimony…
Author: TD Rideout
The Last Policeman (2012) – Ben H. Winters
This week’s perusal of the Book Shelf brought me this, the first in a trilogy, that combines a whodunnit with some light science fiction. Not too long from now, an asteroid, Maia, is discovered, way too late to do anything about it, on a direct collision with Earth. They have until the beginning of…
The Rockford Files (1977) – Forced Retirement & The Queen of Peru
This week’s investigations starts with Forced Retirement. This episode was written by William R. Stratton and aired 9 December, 1977. The phone message this time is an automated call asking if he’s interested in having something sold by computer calls. Beth (Gretchen Corbett) asks for Jim’s help on a case, after someone breaks into…
Children of Paradise (1945) – Marcel Carne
I like when I come across a film I’ve never heard of, and discover a new favorite. Thanks to the next Drama title in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, I’ve discovered my new favorite French film, Children of Paradise. Clocking in at just over three hours, this wonderfully character-driven film…
Shanghai Express (1932) – Josef von Sternberg
The next entry in the Romance and Melodrama category for my viewing of The Blue Angel from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is this very enjoyable film, that again features von Sterberg directing, and Marlene Dietrich starring. The film follows a collection of passengers aboard the Shanghia Express, amongst them,…
Doctor Who (Patrick Troughton) – The Enemy of the World
And there we have it. The first Troughton story I didn’t like. The Enemy of the World is a six-part story that was written by David Whitaker and ran from 23 December, 1967 to 27 January, 1968. Set on Earth in the far distant year of 2018, the only thing that made this story…
Morocco (1930) – Josef von Sternberg
My foray into romance and melodrama following my screening of The Blue Angel for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book continues with this film starring Marlene Dietrich in her first Hollywood picture opposite Gary Cooper. It was also von Sternberg’s movie Our characters all arrive in Morocco, Gary Cooper as Tom…
Magnum, P.I. (1981) – Tropical Madness & Wave Goodbye
Robert Hamilton writes an episode this week, well, originally aired 12 November, 1981, that causes some great strain on Thomas’ (Tom Selleck) and Higgins’ (John Hillerman) relationship in Tropical Madness. When a young English woman, Jennifer Chapman (Devon Ericson), seems to prefer Higgins to Magnum, Thomas is a little suspicious, but Higgins, flattered by…
Solo (2013) – William Boyd
Bond is back in this continuation of the original Ian Fleming novels featuring 007. It’s 1969, and James Bond has just celebrated his 45th birthday when he is given his latest assignment by M. And thus begins an adventure that is far more in line with the literary Bond than his big-screen interpretation, that…
The Rockford Files (1977) – The Mayor’s Committee from Deer Lick Falls & Hotel of Fear
This week finds Jim (James Garner) in all kinds of trouble as he gets caught up in a murder scheme, and Angel (Stuart Margolin) becomes a target of a hitman! First up is The Mayor’s Committee from Dee Lick Falls, which aired 25 November, 1977, and was written by William R. Stratton. The phone gag…
