Viewers as a whole seemed to be underwhelmed by the debut of a new "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS last night - particularly viewers who loved the original series.
That's not surprising. Leonard Freeman's "Hawaii Five-O," which ran on CBS from 1968-80, set standards for location shooting and casting, as well as the quality of writing and directing; the show had some of the best of both in the business.
"Five-O" was a bridge between the "Dragnets" and "Hill Street Blues" - a bit personal with the lives of its police without getting too personal and socially conscious besides, with themes (terrorism, police conduct, rape, drug abuse, gun control) that still resonate today.
The most useful function of the new show might be to make viewers curious about the original. For those who haven't been exposed, here are 10 classic "Five-O" episodes to watch from the first five seasons (Everything through Season 9 has been released on DVD.):
*"And They Painted Daisies On His Coffin" (Season One; Air date: November 7, 1968): John D.F. Black, who wrote some of "Five-O's" best episodes, penned this one about the consequences when Danny Williams (James MacArthur) shoots a teenaged boy who is apparently unarmed. Directed by John Peyser, this episode includes a lot of hand-held camera work; the sequence in which Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord) goes over the shooting scene with Honolulu Police Department internal affairs investigators is especially good, as is the scene with McGarrett's admonitions to Williams about the consequences of shooting someone.
*"Once Upon a Time" (Season One; February 19 and 26, 1969): Freeman, who would die after heart surgery in 1974, wrote this two-parter based on some of his experiences with medical quacks. McGarrett's sister, Mary Ann Whalen (played by Nancy Malone), is desperate to save her infant son, who is dying from leukemia. When she can't, McGarrett sets out to have the quack who took Mary Ann and hubby Tom's money prosecuted - for murder. Joanne Linville plays the evil doc. Lots of great moments in these episodes, shot mostly in Los Angeles, without a gunshot fired. Look for Beah Richards in Part 2. Look for McGarrett crying in Part 1.
*"The Singapore File" (Season Two; November 19, 1969): One of the most fun episodes of the show, in which McGarrett heads to Singapore (which was played by Honolulu after dark) to rescue witness Nicole Wylie (Marj Dusay) from a mobster intent on murder. Jack Lord has never been looser than in this episode, where McGarrett is trying to keep romance out of his relationship with Nicole.
*"Three Dead Cows at Makapuu" (Season Two; February 25 and March 4, 1970): In a season filled with fantastic shows, this two-parter about a biological terror threat was the capper, with Ed Flanders in a heartbreaking performance as scientist Alexander Kline, who is debating whether to set off the destructive force he created on Oahu. A pre-"M*A*S*H" Loretta Swit is excellent as the telephone operator who tries to help him. Joseph Sirola, the best actor to play the government bigwig Jonathan Kaye, is chilling in his defense of maintaining the biological hazard, triggering this McGarrett quote: "You people frighten me." Indeed.
*"Over Fifty? Steal!" (Season 3; November 25, 1970): Hume Cronyn is memorable as Lewis Avery Filer, the master of disguise who takes McGarrett and Five-O on a wild goose chase. There is an undertone of sadness to Filer's actions, and it's nicely counterbalanced by the humor in E. Arthur Kean's script. Watch Jack Lord play the straight man to Cronyn in a scene involving a safe.
*"To Kill Or Be Killed" (Season 3; January 13, 1971): Freeman and Anthony Lawrence's script was no doubt inspired by the reporting of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam; McGarrett and Williams - and the audience - are sad observers as a military family literally tears itself in two over the war and the actions of one of its members.
*"Rest In Peace, Somebody" (Season 4; November 16, 1971): Who's out to kill someone connected to McGarrett? And who is to be killed? Another John D.F. Black-written episode does a great job with the twists and turns of this mystery, from the shooter to the target. Suggestion: Don't watch the episode promo first; it gives away the target.
*"The Ninety-Second War, Part 1" (Season 4; January 11, 1972): One of the best of the McGarrett battles with Wo Fat (Keigh Deigh), his nemesis throughout the series, features the Five-O boss temporarily paralyzed and framed for embezzlement. His quest both to walk and to find answers is compelling. Part 2 is so-so; this is the one to watch.
*"The Clock Struck Twelve" (Season 5: December 5, 1972): Season 5 was another terrific year, capped by the Vashon trilogy, but this is a suspenseful episode about Williams' efforts to disarm two bombs placed inside the old Honolulu courthouse.
*"I'm a Family Crook - Don't Shoot!" (Season 5: December 12, 1972): The following week saw a switch from suspense to humor, as Andy Griffith played a small-time con family patriarch who messes with the mob. Carol Burnett was originally supposed to play his wife, but Joyce Van Patten does just fine in the role (including her classic quote, "You're not Errol Flynn!" when hubby considers leaping out the window).
Those episodes will give a taste of this excellent series, which proves just how good it is by what follows.
Next week, be here. Aloha.
And until then, Happy Viewing!
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