TV and Movies

[Pearlee]

The Fugitive "Passage to Helena" starring David Janssen, co-starring James Farentino, Percy Rodriguez, J. Pat O'Malley

Kimble is passing through the small mining town of Wyler City in northern Montana and sticking out like a sore thumb as a stranger. He buys a one-way bus ticket to Helena (from seen-in-everything-in-that-era J. Pat O'Malley) thinking the bus was leaving that day, but it isn't until the next.  Kimble is anxious to get out of town and is now nervous about staying.

When deputies on patrol try to stop him and  Kimble,  not heeding all the advice he's been given these 4 years to not act guilty of something, first runs and then resists arrest. Two deputy sheriffs, Percy Rodriguez and his young protegee (sp?), will escort Kimble and another criminal in the jail, James Farentino, to Helena the next day.  Even though Kimble has been already cleared from being a possible truck thief, Percy R has a feeling Kimble is wanted for something and taking him to Helena with the other jailbird will give Percy time to think about who Kimble might be. 

Naturally, trouble ensues en route because Farentino has family members all along the way in the mountains who want to free him. 

I liked this epi OK. But again it is more plot recycling. Farentino recognized Kimble from reading crime magazines.  The major plot is similar to the one with Arthur O'Connell and Don Gordon trying to traipse across rough terrain to bring Kimble in, and someone needs medical help.

  I think one reason I like this one (it's just OK though) is because of the actors. Percy R is a fine actor who was in many TV shows and films of this era as one of the too-few black actors back then on TV. He is always dignified and classy (in this epi too) and often angry (not here). And oh, that wonderful voice! His acting is always riveting. Farentino is another one who made the TV rounds back in the day; he reminds me of the tough gang characters in West Side Story.  And I always used to confuse J. Pat O'Malley with John McGiver (the actor who looks like he could be Paul McCartney's father) because they look a bit alike and used to play the same kinds of roles and seemingly popped up everywhere on TV and in movies.

I have to comment on how Janssen does some of the best "worried look" acting I've ever seen. Note how he squirms when Farentino reads his crime magazine. 😄

[Tique]

Epilog

[Pearlee]

One thing that bothered me in this epi were how guns and rifles were just tossed aside, even by law enforcement. Granted the trek to Helena was out in the middle of nowhere, but still, kids could end up finding those weapons and doing real harm (that woman friend  has a child) and so could all the "family members" who lived in the mountains. 

An observation: I liked some of the direction in this epi.  The overhead shot in the jail of Kimble and then how Farantino is shown with his hands on bars and emerges into sight. And later, we see the men's reflections first in the water they ended up drinking, before we see them.  Some interesting camera work there.

[twinsister]

I did not like this episode and was bored with it.  As @Pearlee said, Kimble running away and then resisting arrest is ridiculous on his part.  A sure fire way to be detained.  Also, Farentino immediately recognizing Kimble was a bit much, even though he read crime magazines.  

[Pearlee]

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@twinsister wrote:

I did not like this episode and was bored with it.  As @Pearlee said, Kimble running away and then resisting arrest is ridiculous on his part.  A sure fire way to be detained.  Also, Farentino immediately recognizing Kimble was a bit much, even though he read crime magazines.  

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@twinsister  All valid, so fair enough!

I meant to mention that the sheriff who was in the Epilog with Percy  was, I think, the actor who was The Hardy Boys' father in that very early TV series (part of the Mickey Mouse Club?) for those seniors like myself who remember that series. 😁

[twinsister]

@Pearlee  -The sheriff in the epilog did look familiar to me, but couldn't remember from what show.  I did watch the Mickey Mouse Club, but wouldn't have thought of the Hardy Boys.  My senior memory!!

[chloe4578]

@twinsister @Pearlee 

I agree with both of you.  There was no reason for Kimble to resist an arrest and then knock out  a police officer to boot.  This was not the way Kimble's character was portrayed in other episodes.  Both are crimes, even in the sixties Montana.  The story was disjointed, Kimble hardly tried to help Percy, except save his life in the end.  

Farentino was just a bigot and a killer with no remorse who deserved to die.  End of conversation.

I was also bored and would not watch this episode again..

As an aside, James Farentino was married to Michelle Lee, later divorced as Michelle became popular on Knots Landing.  The guy who played the Sheriff was a popular actor but I really can't place him.

[Pearlee]

@chloe4578   Thanks for mentioning Farentino was married to M. Lee.  I had forgotten that! 

I'm surprised I wasn't bored by this epi. As I said above, Percy usually holds my interest.

[drizzellla]

Don't have alot to say about the episode EXCEPT James Farentino annoyed me. Didn't like the character he portrayed. But I guess his character helped to add to the suspense during the episode. So he was a necessary evil.

[twinsister]

@drizzellla - I didn't like Farentino's character either and that may have added to my dislike of this episode. 

Apparently he wasn't such a nice person in real life.  He was charged with stalking and harassing Tina Sinatra.