Post by zimmerman on Jul 13, 2013 16:20:51 GMT -5
This particular episode is one of the series' better entiries into the Murder Mystery genre. I actually prefer this episode over Tottering Tontine.
I really did enjoy Dub Taylor as the wagon driver in this episode, as he brought some great humor to the proceedings.
The undead girl and the man masquerading as "Miss Enzo" turned out to be a great plot twist, and made for a real interesting fight as James tackled with him toward the end of the program.
Artie's two disguises in this episode really show off the kind of range of characters that he created on a regular basis. Of the two, I actually prefer his "Jonathan Ashley Kingston" disguise over the bald-headed, older waiter, which in my opinion was one of the ugliest disguises ever donned by Artie in the series.
Going back to "Jonathan Ashley Kingston", Artie once again revels in the opportunity to be in his element as a Shakesperian actor again, in one of the more delightful portrayals by him in the series as a character of that elite supergroup of actors. I really like the green jacket that he wore throughout the disguise, and, besides that, he had quite a funerals to administer on that wagon train trip!
James' fights in this episode are really good. We may not have the "James-brings-down-an-entire-group-of-criminals with one slick move" approach, but we do have some great individual fights, one very close one with the strongman, the aforementioned scene with "Miss Enzo", and what is perhaps my favorite fight scene of the entire episode, James brutally beating up Ken Swofford's mountain man character. Also, the opening scene where James is almost strangled by the masked stranger was very intense, and turned out to be a real challenge for James to get loose out of its clutches.
The actor who played Jeff Smith, Dante DiPalo, was a dancer and a choreographer who later became the last husband of Jazz-pop singer Rosemary Clooney.
Also, whoever played the accordion on the wagon train did a real good job. In my opinion, he ranks right up there with Morty Nevins of The Three Suns. . (Authors Note, Since I originally wrote this, I have since found out that the accordion music was reused from TNOT Gypsy Peril)
The two tags for the price of one in this episode were outstanding as well. Artie trying out the "Cherries Jubilee" molasses dessert was funny and very well-done, plus it made me hungry for some Ice Cream after I watched this episode.
The second tag, with James and Artie playing with the deck of marked cards, was real interesting to watch as well. It is there we learn that James West learned how to play cards on his daddy's knee, and we briefly get a glimpse of the revolving wine-table that would be used again later in the season in the tag of TNOT Underground Terror. Did you notice that the Poker chips stuck to the table as well, not even falling as the table moved?
Overall, a very good mystery-flavored episode of WWW, one that I watch from time to time whenever I want something different.
7 out of 10 from me. .
I really did enjoy Dub Taylor as the wagon driver in this episode, as he brought some great humor to the proceedings.
The undead girl and the man masquerading as "Miss Enzo" turned out to be a great plot twist, and made for a real interesting fight as James tackled with him toward the end of the program.
Artie's two disguises in this episode really show off the kind of range of characters that he created on a regular basis. Of the two, I actually prefer his "Jonathan Ashley Kingston" disguise over the bald-headed, older waiter, which in my opinion was one of the ugliest disguises ever donned by Artie in the series.
Going back to "Jonathan Ashley Kingston", Artie once again revels in the opportunity to be in his element as a Shakesperian actor again, in one of the more delightful portrayals by him in the series as a character of that elite supergroup of actors. I really like the green jacket that he wore throughout the disguise, and, besides that, he had quite a funerals to administer on that wagon train trip!
James' fights in this episode are really good. We may not have the "James-brings-down-an-entire-group-of-criminals with one slick move" approach, but we do have some great individual fights, one very close one with the strongman, the aforementioned scene with "Miss Enzo", and what is perhaps my favorite fight scene of the entire episode, James brutally beating up Ken Swofford's mountain man character. Also, the opening scene where James is almost strangled by the masked stranger was very intense, and turned out to be a real challenge for James to get loose out of its clutches.
The actor who played Jeff Smith, Dante DiPalo, was a dancer and a choreographer who later became the last husband of Jazz-pop singer Rosemary Clooney.
Also, whoever played the accordion on the wagon train did a real good job. In my opinion, he ranks right up there with Morty Nevins of The Three Suns. . (Authors Note, Since I originally wrote this, I have since found out that the accordion music was reused from TNOT Gypsy Peril)
The two tags for the price of one in this episode were outstanding as well. Artie trying out the "Cherries Jubilee" molasses dessert was funny and very well-done, plus it made me hungry for some Ice Cream after I watched this episode.
The second tag, with James and Artie playing with the deck of marked cards, was real interesting to watch as well. It is there we learn that James West learned how to play cards on his daddy's knee, and we briefly get a glimpse of the revolving wine-table that would be used again later in the season in the tag of TNOT Underground Terror. Did you notice that the Poker chips stuck to the table as well, not even falling as the table moved?
Overall, a very good mystery-flavored episode of WWW, one that I watch from time to time whenever I want something different.
7 out of 10 from me. .