Gatitia, Florey, and that Bed!!
Jul 2, 2013 16:01:08 GMT -5
Mojave Mike, Lone Rider, and 3 more like this
Post by zimmerman on Jul 2, 2013 16:01:08 GMT -5
"Now how can works of art and lobster on ice be a threat to the United States?"--Artemus Gordon
"Help you? After the way you tried to tuck me into bed?.....Well, you had me garotted, blown up. and carved up in the bed. You show me a man who wouldn't believe you, and I will show you a coward."-- James West, to Gatitia
After dazzling and introducing audieces of all ages to The Wild Wild West with the previous weeks TNOT Inferno, the executives at CBS had the viewers coming back for more the following week with TNOT Deadly Bed, a good example of the "James Bond in the West" concept that Michael Garrison had originally envisioned for the series. Like most of the Bond movies, it has a major power-hungry megalomanic, gorgoeous girls, and only a minimal use of Artie ala "Q" in the original James Bond Movies.
Veteran character actor JD Cannon, perhaps better known to '70's TV Audiences as gruff Chief Clifford in McCloud, here turns in a masterful performance as the power-hungry Florey, who determined to take over Mexico and plans to become Napolean the Fourth in his quest to "Re-establish Napoleanic rule in the Western Hemisphere." The only wrench in his plan though, is the "Great Railway system" which he plans to abolish through hus great "Engine of destruction!" As Florey explains to James, I have laid secret tracks leading from here into the main trunkline in the US. My monster will seek out its prey destroying, returning under the cover of darkness...I do not have a toy as you shall see. My monster will soon be sent out to play." Other interesting characteristics of Florey include the fact that he hates the sight of blood, he raises his own pheasant under glass, and he admires culture and bleeding. Plus he has a deep love for his prized German Shepherds.
This episode also gives us a little bit of major Latin flavor by having BarBara Luna "lending a spice to the wooing" of James West, to quote the pop song "I Surrender Dear" as Gatitia, the little pussycat, who promises James that she won't scratch, but she nearly gets him killed by activating the Deadly Bed in the episodes title. For some reason, Gatitta is fascinated by James' eyes, spending most of the time complemeting them, or telling him in one scene that "It would be a shame if someone stole them." She is along with Florey's plan in order to help save her people. She really is a great villan to watch. You could say that she helped pave the way for future hot Latin Senoritas like Charo!! .
Alas, the character of Roxanne is wasted on this episode. It seemed she was there to get into trouble and get killed!
There are several things to enjoy in this particular episode. For one, it contains several wonderful fight scenes by James, especially in the teaser, and later in the program, when he knocks two of Florey's men in the barrel in Florey's headquarters. I also enjoy watch James tipping his hat to Gatitia the first time he encounters her at the bar, plus escaping from TWO close encounters to an early grave: First, from the aforementioned Deadly Bed, which encounters some great facial reactions from James, the closest Wild Wild West ever got to reaching "Psycho"-esque proportions, , followed by getting permenantly gonged (where is Jaye P Morgan when you need her? ), by using Artie's reflective coin mirror which helps burns the ropes, and frees James, before Florey shoots Artie's pouch of knockout gas and causes everyone to be unconscious for a few moments.
Speaking of Artie, this episode could have been better if the writers gave him more to do, but the few moments he does appear on the screen, he does have some wonderful moments, including the conversations with James on the Wanderer, wherein in one comment, Arte claims that he "Makes the sun rise in the West every morning." Also great watching Artie the Scientist explain the disguised dynamite coal, plus, his wonderful brief disguise as the drunk Mexican peasant wherein he gets to create his first diversion in the series.
Of note is the direction by William Witney, who went on to direct several episodes of the short-lived "Virginian" spin-off "Laredo", becoming that shows Irving J. Moore, and the Spanish guitar player playing in one scene the music that would serve as the theme music for scene One in several "Laredo" episodes. Very interesting to hear it on a WWW episode.
Another great highlight in this episode is the wonderful explosion of Florey's headquarters, and Artie's deep concern for Jim as he waits and (hopefully) prays that James will make it out in time before the explosion.
Overall, great episode of WWW that could have been better in places, but for a second episode, is not too bad, and is very enjoyable to watch.
Despite its shortcomings, TNOT Deadly Bed gets a score of....
8 out of 10 from me. .
"Help you? After the way you tried to tuck me into bed?.....Well, you had me garotted, blown up. and carved up in the bed. You show me a man who wouldn't believe you, and I will show you a coward."-- James West, to Gatitia
After dazzling and introducing audieces of all ages to The Wild Wild West with the previous weeks TNOT Inferno, the executives at CBS had the viewers coming back for more the following week with TNOT Deadly Bed, a good example of the "James Bond in the West" concept that Michael Garrison had originally envisioned for the series. Like most of the Bond movies, it has a major power-hungry megalomanic, gorgoeous girls, and only a minimal use of Artie ala "Q" in the original James Bond Movies.
Veteran character actor JD Cannon, perhaps better known to '70's TV Audiences as gruff Chief Clifford in McCloud, here turns in a masterful performance as the power-hungry Florey, who determined to take over Mexico and plans to become Napolean the Fourth in his quest to "Re-establish Napoleanic rule in the Western Hemisphere." The only wrench in his plan though, is the "Great Railway system" which he plans to abolish through hus great "Engine of destruction!" As Florey explains to James, I have laid secret tracks leading from here into the main trunkline in the US. My monster will seek out its prey destroying, returning under the cover of darkness...I do not have a toy as you shall see. My monster will soon be sent out to play." Other interesting characteristics of Florey include the fact that he hates the sight of blood, he raises his own pheasant under glass, and he admires culture and bleeding. Plus he has a deep love for his prized German Shepherds.
This episode also gives us a little bit of major Latin flavor by having BarBara Luna "lending a spice to the wooing" of James West, to quote the pop song "I Surrender Dear" as Gatitia, the little pussycat, who promises James that she won't scratch, but she nearly gets him killed by activating the Deadly Bed in the episodes title. For some reason, Gatitta is fascinated by James' eyes, spending most of the time complemeting them, or telling him in one scene that "It would be a shame if someone stole them." She is along with Florey's plan in order to help save her people. She really is a great villan to watch. You could say that she helped pave the way for future hot Latin Senoritas like Charo!! .
Alas, the character of Roxanne is wasted on this episode. It seemed she was there to get into trouble and get killed!
There are several things to enjoy in this particular episode. For one, it contains several wonderful fight scenes by James, especially in the teaser, and later in the program, when he knocks two of Florey's men in the barrel in Florey's headquarters. I also enjoy watch James tipping his hat to Gatitia the first time he encounters her at the bar, plus escaping from TWO close encounters to an early grave: First, from the aforementioned Deadly Bed, which encounters some great facial reactions from James, the closest Wild Wild West ever got to reaching "Psycho"-esque proportions, , followed by getting permenantly gonged (where is Jaye P Morgan when you need her? ), by using Artie's reflective coin mirror which helps burns the ropes, and frees James, before Florey shoots Artie's pouch of knockout gas and causes everyone to be unconscious for a few moments.
Speaking of Artie, this episode could have been better if the writers gave him more to do, but the few moments he does appear on the screen, he does have some wonderful moments, including the conversations with James on the Wanderer, wherein in one comment, Arte claims that he "Makes the sun rise in the West every morning." Also great watching Artie the Scientist explain the disguised dynamite coal, plus, his wonderful brief disguise as the drunk Mexican peasant wherein he gets to create his first diversion in the series.
Of note is the direction by William Witney, who went on to direct several episodes of the short-lived "Virginian" spin-off "Laredo", becoming that shows Irving J. Moore, and the Spanish guitar player playing in one scene the music that would serve as the theme music for scene One in several "Laredo" episodes. Very interesting to hear it on a WWW episode.
Another great highlight in this episode is the wonderful explosion of Florey's headquarters, and Artie's deep concern for Jim as he waits and (hopefully) prays that James will make it out in time before the explosion.
Overall, great episode of WWW that could have been better in places, but for a second episode, is not too bad, and is very enjoyable to watch.
Despite its shortcomings, TNOT Deadly Bed gets a score of....
8 out of 10 from me. .