Two of the more intriguing episodes strike right at the heart of the series. “Corner of Hell” has a role-reversal as moonshiners threaten to kill Gerard when they wrongly blame him for beating a man’s daughter. Kimble is his only hope. “The Survivors” are Kimble’s in-laws. He goes to see them when he learns of their financial troubles, but while Helen’s father and sister think Kimble innocent, her mother believes he is guilty.
The show had many guest stars familiar to classic television fans, such as Barbara Barrie and Harry Dean Stanton. Although likely common practice for the time, what’s surprising is how often some actors returned to the series playing different characters. During this half of the season, Celeste Holm, Norman Fell, James Doohan, and Jack Klugman each make one of their two appearances. For Michael Constantine, Edward Asner, and Savalas it’s one of three. Richard Anderson and Dabney Coleman make one of four while Bruce Dern tops the list with one of five.
The video has been remastered from the original negative and the black and white photography looks very good for the most part with occasional dirt and marking. The audio has been restored although the disclaimer the “music has been changed” will likely disappoint some completists. The new work sounds too modern and doesn’t mesh with the original music. Also, “some episodes may be edited from their original network versions.”
Even though the programs show their age at times due to some of the performances and situations being melodramatic and the pacing being a tad slow, the writing and acting of the leads will make you want to continue pursuing The Fugitive.
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