TV CLASSICS VOLUME 2: MORE FORGOTTEN CLASSIC TV PILOTS

There are arguments among fans of television as to when the golden age of TV actually took place. Some feel it was when TV first began while others look for the current fare as the best TV has ever had to offer. Still others remember shows from when they were growing up that are the best. It’s very subjective but everyone has to agree that the early TV series that were made while quaint in some ways today led the way to where we are now.

VCI released TV CLASSICS VOLUME 1 (reviewed in this blog previously) and now they’re releasing a second volume. This time around they’re presenting 4 half hour pilots for series, at least one of which became a regular series and another that did the same with a different lead actor. At 30 minutes they offer a nice entertainment and an interesting look at TV from the times.

First up is “Case of the Sure Thing”, a story about con men that was part of the series RACKET SQUAD. A businessman meets a woman on a train as he comes into the big city only to be caught up in a con game where he believes he killed a man and has all the money he has taken from him. Fortunately the Racket Squad was already keeping an eye on this group. One thing I thought about while watching was how similar this story was to that used in the movie THE STING years later. Then again con games tend to repeat themselves.

Second on hand is “Cool and Lam”, introduced by and based on the series of books by Erle Stanley Gardner. If that name sounds familiar it should. He was also the creator of Perry Mason. This story features the two main characters, partners in a private investigation company, looking for a woman who disappeared long ago. Bertha Cool runs the office with penny pinching efficiency while Donald Lam does the legwork. A murder later and they find not only the woman but those responsible for the murder.

Third up is “The Life of Riley”. If this sounds familiar that’s because it did become a long running series with star William Bendix in the lead role. But the pilot here features Lon Chaney Jr., famous for his roles in horror films, as the hard working head of his household who always seems to have troubles. This time around there is missing money from a cream pitcher and the fear that his son stole the money. Watching him have to deal with his son is hilarious. Who knew Chaney could create laughs?

Lastly is the best of the bunch in my opinion, “Nero Wolfe”. Based on the crime series about the same character we’re presented with the portly crime solver as played by Kurt Kaszner and William Shatner (yes that William Shatner) as his assistant Archie Goodwin. The film opens with the blast off of a rocket to the moon and a scientists watching with a group of other scientists who keels over dead as the rocket launches. From little more than a newspaper article describing what took place and footage of the event Wolfe is able to solve what took place but not before he forces the group of scientists to pay his high fee to give them the solution.

All of these films are in remarkably good shape for being as old as they are. Some were shot on film and those make it much easier on the eyes than the transfer of kinescopes we’ve seen in other series. VCI has done a nice job with this group of shows.

While they rarely offer extras this disc contains one of the better extras I’ve seen in some time. It’s a CBS blooper reel made for franchisees around the country and hosted by GUNSMOKE star James Arness. The best of the bunch is one often seen involving a cow on live TV being led by Red Skelton. If you’re a fan of classic TV then by all means pick this one up. It will be worth your money and your time.

Click here to order.