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Episode guide: 615- Kitten with a Whip

Movie: (1964) A naive senate candidate finds a reform school escapee hiding in his home.

First shown: 11/23/94
Opening: Mike and Tom prepare Crow for a secret mission
Intro: Crow’s mission to Deep 13 ends in failure
Host segment 1: Mike gives Crow and Tom bionic noises
Host segment 2: A kitten with a whip visits on the Hexfield
Host segment 3: Mike hazes himself, much to the Bots horror
End: On the SOL, Mike opens up a Dr. F. piñata and reads a letter, Dr. F. has a Frank piñata
Stinger: “I’ll be a celebrity! And so will you!”
1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (222 votes, average: 3.88 out of 5)

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• In his introduction on the Shout DVD, Mike acknowledges that this episode is not a fan favorite. I’m sure we’ll find some folks who adore it, and I like it okay, but he’s right, it’s not a standout. The movie is dumb, the characters are dumber, but it is a competent Hollywood product, featuring several recognizable Hollywood stars, a rarity for MST3K. The riffing is somewhere between good and great most of the time. Plus the host segments have several notable moments.
• This episode can be found on the Mystery Science Theater Collection, Vol. XXV.
References.
• This episode was the kickoff ep of the 1994 Turkey Day marathon, the one hosted by Adam West.
• The biggest problem with the movie, of course, is that the senator character is so crushingly stupid, and blows, like, four opportunities to extricate himself from this situation, only to be saved by random chance and the good intentions of strangers, when, let’s face it, he doesn’t really deserve it. But as dopey as the plot may be, it does become a bit engrossing at points. Even Mike appears to get into the poor guy’s predicament at one point when he hollers “Just go, you idiot!” at him.
• The opening segment, with Crow being launched down the umbilicus into Deep 13, only to be met by Dr. F. (or somebody wearing Dr. F’s coat) caused much excitement on the internet. “The Squab is in the hole” was a phrase that was repeated often.
• Who knew Mike smells like rain?
• Callback: “The Crawling Eye!” “Uh-uh, no way…” (Sinister Urge)
• Segment 1 is a slight bit of fluff without a real payoff, but it’s one of those segments that works because the performers are so comfortable with each other.
• Segment 2, well, give Kevin credit for valiantly diving into the role. Again, not much of payoff. Who is working Kevin’s tail?
• The riff “Typical road trip with a headliner,” is a reference to the stand-up comedy road trips many of the cast and writers lived through in their younger days. Four or five comedians would pile into a car and drive from comedy club to comedy club in the upper Midwest, and according to all the reports, whoever the headliner was among the group tended to be a prima donna.
• Segment 3 is hilarious, especially the bots’ reaction. And, I have to admit, I’d completely forgotten it.
• This is another one of those movies from that era of ’50s-’60s sophistication that depict middle-aged couples cheerfully taking in the show at a strip club (another place you see it is TISCWSLABMUZ). I do not think this happened much in real life.
• Non-spaghetti ball bumpers: datebook, beaker, bulletin board, movie canister (a rare four-fer!).
• I definitely hear Bridget among the kids’ voices at the end. Not sure about any others.
• Oh, and I love that the guy who resolves all the plots is named Sgt. Enders.
• Cast and crew roundup: cinematographer Joseph Biroc also worked on “The Amazing Colossal Man” and “SST: Death Flight.” Art director Alexander Golitzen worked on “This Island Earth,” “Revenge of the Creature,” “Leech Woman,” “Mole People,” “Deadly Mantis” and “The Thing That Couldn’t Die.” Set designer John McCarthy also worked on “Radar Men from the Moon” and “San Francisco International.” Joseph Gershenson was head of the music department at Universal Studios, so you’ll see his name on many credits as composer or arranger.
In front of the camera, Ann Doran was also in “Painted Hills.” Patrick Whyte was in “The Mole People.” Leo Gordon was also in “Attack of the Giant Leeches.” Gary Lockwood was also in “Magic Sword.”
• CreditsWatch: Host segments directed by Jim Mallon
• Fave riff: “Hey! Bingo-balls! Siddown!” Honorable mention: “Dear Penthouse Forum, I’m an average stuffed animal at a small midwestern college…” and “It’s my gin distributor.”
——————-
Next week: we step out of order and do episode 521-SANTA CLAUS.

128 Replies to “Episode guide: 615- Kitten with a Whip”

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  1. Trilaan says:

    Mike makes a classy looking mid-to-late 1700s courtesan. In fact, he might be just a little too into it.

       0 likes

  2. Green Switch says:

    #49 Tarlcabot: “I’d watch it more often but Anne Margret pisses me off SO MUCH in this movie and John Forsythe is such a spineless idiot that it takes away all the joy that Mike and the bots attempt to put into it.

    I own the episode but I think I’ve watched it a total of 1.5 times.”

    I don’t know, I think it’s BECAUSE John Forsythe is such a raging moron that I find this episode to be hilariously enjoyable.

    It’s not one of the series’ best, no, but it’s a fun episode that I don’t mind revisiting, especially those awkward scenes where John Forsythe is in a compromising situation and bumps into the people he knows.

    I also love the alternate movie titles that Mike and the ‘Bots give the film when they see the words “Kitten with a Whip” on the screen.

    And this episode might have one of my favorite stingers of the entire series.

       2 likes

  3. rockyjones says:

    I must admit…ALL of Mike’s drag appearences crack me up to no end. When it comes to dressing and looking like anything even remotely female, Mike’s big, square-shouldered, manly frame is just SO badly suited for the task…it elevates the whole concept to a classic, Monty Python-esque level. However, in Mike’s defense, you could at least say that he’s “slightly” more attractive in a dress than John Cleese or Graham Chapman. Only slightly, though…

    Especially love that magic moment when his Kate Capshaw impression eerily morphs into Tina Turner. “I nevah, evah do anything nice…and easay…”

       6 likes

  4. Trilaan says:

    #53 You probably realized this already but you mean Kate Mulgrew. I agree, though, I also find Mike’s drag appearances to be quite funny. I’m not sure which I enjoy more, the Bots’ reactions from Kitten With A Whip(ie, backing away slowly) or Laserblast (fleeing in terror). My fav Mike in drag moment, though, is Where Oh Werewolf. Yes, drag and a song, yet a song that doesn’t drag.

       7 likes

  5. DamonD says:

    I like this one. The “I’ll just dust for fingerprints” woman particularly got a lot of laughs from me, because you see that kind of strangely obsessed character pop up in stories like this to try to build up dramatic tension. They’re suddenly hyper-curious and pedantic to the nth degree. She’s just so damn nosey and M&tB rip on her excellently.

    And yes, the terminal stupidity of our male ‘hero’ makes for a lot of fun as well.

       2 likes

  6. crowschmo says:

    #54 – If you’ve ever seen The Kids in the Hall, Mike’s Where – oh – Werewolf moment reminds me of Bruce Mcculloch’s female characters.

       4 likes

  7. Dave says:

    Sampo – Tom Waits? Yeah but could be more like Satchmo.

    (Ann getting in bed w/teddy bear) –

    “Russ Meyer’s Goldylocks!” / “Dear Penthouse, I’m an average stuffed animal from a small mid-western college”

    (Buck in the streets of Tijuana) –

    “cinnamon cripanos! where can I get cinnamon crispanos!”

    (at the strip club)

    “Wow! Amy Grant has really crossed over!”

    (Senator yelling “Officers! over here! this man keeps annoying me, trying to sell me marijuana!”)

    “one of my ideas worked!”

    Not a top 10 for me, definitely above average though – – –

       2 likes

  8. Creeping Terror says:

    I concur with others on the board who have called this movie (despite its Idiot Plot) one of the more watchable flicks from MST3K. I also think that “Girls Town” and “Stranded in Space” should be added to that list.

       0 likes

  9. Cornjob says:

    “Well, she’s always been straight with me so far”

    “This is for NAFTA! And this is for GATT!”

       1 likes

  10. The Toblerone Effect says:

    I can’t believe how much negative feedback this episode has received. This is a personal fave of mine, and I think among Season 6’s best episodes. The riffing is fantastic; when they aren’t making hilarious remarks about the sexual innuendo between Ann Margaret and John Forsythe, they rip into the “hip” lingo and styles of Jodie’s friends. The host segments aren’t top-notch, but are reasonably funny.

    All this, and Doodles Weaver too?! :razz:

    fave riff: as John is watching Ann walk away towards the bus terminal, you hear Crow blurt out, “There isn’t a shower cold enough for this man!”

    I always put the scenario of finding a young, hot fugituve woman hiding out in my home – and in my bed – along with the abduction scene from “The Violent Years”: under the category of “Never Gonna Happen to Me”! :neutral:

       5 likes

  11. losingmydignity says:

    A just okay one for me. It’s an ep I always thought would grow on me because I really like the movie a lot. But liking the film, or finding it fun to watch, really has nothing to do with how much an ep will make me laugh in the end and that is how I rate eps. Similar story with Village of the Giants which is one of my fav movies but not really a A quality ep laugh-wise.

    I wonder if it’s because both these films are too camp. Campiness doesn’t seem to work too well for MST…if I’m getting it right. That might be it.

    And as for middle-aged women going to strip clubs in the 50’s and 60’s…why not? Of course they did. Do a little reading about burlesqe/stripper history, guys. I mean, come on. There are plenty of women who did, and still do, love the art of the tease.

       0 likes

  12. losingmydignity says:

    Forgot my grade: B (good but not very good)

       0 likes

  13. annmargretfan says:

    I wish they would give Tommy the MST3K treatment. That would be a trip.

       1 likes

  14. John says:

    Maybe not a fan fav, but for me, a sentiental fav. First episode I saw from start to finish, and I laughed a lot. My favorite riff: “Ann, can you move? We want to see Sylvester.”

       0 likes

  15. robot rump! says:

    i’ve watched the DVD acouple of times. i probably should watch it more, but the ineptitude of John Forsythe’s character is just too draining.

       1 likes

  16. touches no one's life, then leaves says:

    #50: movie characters who are supposedly intelligent, rational people, and yet they allow themselves to be victimized over and over again by one or more mental midgets

    Uh, do you know much about ACTUAL senators…?

    ;-)

       2 likes

  17. Stefanie says:

    This is one of my top 10 favorites. The guys are hilarious! Also, I think this movie is actually good by itself. Sure, John Forsythe is really stupid and there are some silly bits, but the acting is pretty much what you expect for the early 60s, and I have seen worse acting in films that are considered classics. Also, the movie actually kept me in suspense and even though I thought John Forsythe was an idiot to get himself in this mess in the first place, by the time we get to T-town and meet Richard Anderson and his group, I was like “Ack! This is nuts!”. I thought it was clever how the film had Anderson mention he was going to T-town way earlier in the movie, but I forgot and was genuinely surprised. All in all, A great episode!

       6 likes

  18. Peter says:

    I must admit that it’s a tough movie to watch but being a huge Ann MargRock fan, I sacrifice my sanity for a while. Wowwie Wow Wow!

       0 likes

  19. Sitting Duck says:

    The LOTR riff probably came from Paul, who was the biggest Tolkien fan at Best Brains at the time

    Isn’t Mike also a LotR fan?

    I’m not a medium, I’m a petite #3: Funny, she is the same age as my Mom, and the character she plays is my daughter’s age now. And I am now the same age that Forsythe was then. Freud would wet himself.

    But then Freud is all wet anyway. :P

    Stan McSerr #28: I vaguely remember Mike and the Bots pairing different animals with different weapons. Am i wrong?

    There was once a host segment where I believe Tom suggested ideal pets for various fictional detectives.

    Perhaps it’s just me, but does the Steve Vance poster for this episode creep out anyone else?

    FTW the tune Tom hums as they’re about to launch Crow is When Johnny Comes Marching Home.

    Regarding Mike’s crossdressing in this episode, why do so many seem to think he’s suppose to be Queen Victoria? IIRC he’s meant to be Marie Antoinette. Certainly the style of wig he’s wearing would fit in better at 18th century Versailles than at 19th century Buckingham Palace.

    So was the letter real or not?

    While Ann-Margret is easy on the eyes, her interactions with John Forsythe are painful. Even with the riffing, I have trouble sitting through this one.

    Favorite riffs:

    How am I going to get to the hobo gathering?

    We meet later and frag Shari Lewis.

    I think Senator Kennedy might have handled this differently.

    “Maybe your wife’s got some old thing she’s ready to throw away.”
    Aside from me?

    This car handles much easier after three martinis.

    I honestly expected more people at my senatorial fundraiser.

    All this and he still has a sense of humor.

    This changes nothing. I’m still selling you to white slavery.

       3 likes

  20. Dan in WI says:

    It is interesting how in the Shout! Factory Mike Nelson introduction he admits (as pointed out by Sampo) this is not a fan favorite. He further allows this film is way outside their wheelhouse as well.

    So looking at the opening, do you suppose Mike is truly a fan of Jeff Dunham? Or is he mocking him. I know I’m a fan but I just can’t decide how he truly feels.

    Last week we had three segments of Urkel. This week we get a minute of Crow in Deep 13. There is something I would have loved seeing arced through all the host segments of this episode. He could have created a little havoc there before being sent back.

    This was a strange episode. The host segments were blah, the riffing was meh and the movie itself was this close to good. The MST last movie I came close to accuse of being good was Tormented and this story holds me in the same way.

    Favorite Riffs:
    Senator grabs and shakes the fleeing Kitten. Tom “I think Senator Kennedy might have handled this differently.”

    “About this terribly funny thing that happened to you.”
    Senator “On second thought it wasn’t that funny at all.”
    Crow “Oh, Adam Sandler.”

    Ron “I minored in poli-sci. Political Science”
    Crow “You’re unemployed”

    Mike about Midge “She looks like a Dodge Neon.”
    Tom ”Hi”
    [That’s a dated riff. Remember that launch add campaign? The car was on a billboard with the word “Hi” below it. It was such a polite little car.]

       2 likes

  21. Prince of Space Chief says:

    Probably my least favorite of all MST3K. Not because the riffs aren’t funny (it has it’s moments), but because the immense stupidity of the characters infuriates me. Not just the supposed wanna-be senator not taking any of a number of opportunities to escape (he’s a politician! he can just pay off someone to keep it quiet), but the general horrible dialogue by everyone.
    Plus, I much prefer movies with sci-fi/fantasy elements. ‘Dramas’ are just boring.

       1 likes

  22. schippers says:

    This episode? It’s pretty creamy.

    Pretty blatant use of Chekhov’s Razor.

       0 likes

  23. jjb3k says:

    This one’s grown on me in recent years. I just watched it again this past November as part of a full-length re-enactment of the 1994 Turkey Day marathon, and I found myself laughing a lot more often than usual. Great riffs I’d never really noticed before kept leaping out at me (“CLOTHES! Gotta get her more clothes!”, “Just doing a little foreshadowing if you don’t mind”, “Isotope models! Get your isotope models!”). I still get the most laughs out of the very last scene in the movie, though. “Do you have a different face you could wear?” still makes me bust up every time. :D

    I’d agree that this is one of the better movies the show did. I think that’s why I like it – even when the riffing hits a dry spell (which does happen a couple of times in this one), I can still follow the movie.

       2 likes

  24. Cheapskate Crow says:

    I still don’t like this episode. The host segments were bad, the characters were stupid like everyone else has already said, the contrived ending was just ridiculous and I don’t think the riffing is good enough to save this episode.

    The intro was OK but Crow really needs some better code phrases, my favorite of all time is “The dolphins are in the jacuzzi” from Shakes the Clown.

       0 likes

  25. snowdog says:

    I’ll join the chorus and say that this isn’t that bad a movie despite the stupid characters (well, Forsythe was believable, he was playing a politician after all!) But it does have an odd title. I’m assuming that Ann was the titular “kitten”, and I guess the whip could be allusion to her dangerous personality disorder, but still…

    The host segments were mostly fun, but this is one of the very few low points for Kevin. Yikes!

    3 Stars

       0 likes

  26. Tom Carberry says:

    I should like this a little more than I do, but I’m giving this one the lowest rating so far–a 1 out of 5. The plot of this movie is tissue thin, Ann overacts, John underacts (he’d have more expression if he just phoned it in), and the supporting cast must have been embarrassed by the final product when they saw it on screen. I give Mike and the bots points for effort and riffing, but I think this was a poor choice for them. For me, this is Exhibit A in my overall rating of Season 6.

       0 likes

  27. Trilaan says:

    Crow: “You smell like rain.”
    Mike: “Well, thank you!”

    For whatever reason, this is one of my favorite MST3K moments.

       8 likes

  28. nekouken says:

    This episode is from the small batch of episodes I had when I first became a fan of the show. I watched it a number of times and as such it’s still a favorite of mine. I don’t know why, but the movies that I get the most into with MST are still the ones where there’s a sympathetic character. Senator Forsythe is sympathetic, even though he is a moron. He’s a good man; everything he does in the movie is done in good faith with the intention of helping somebody. That he’s stupid is the reason we have something to mock.

       2 likes

  29. sol-survivor says:

    In spite of the stupidity of the characters I do enjoy this episode. Things do seem to work out for David just as well as they do for John Forsythe’s character in the Hitchcock movie “The Trouble With Harry”. Check it out sometime. He gets involved with a very young and cute Shirley MacLaine and Jerry Mathers as a pre-Beaver Cleaver-type. The twist at the end is almost as much of a deus ex machina as this one, but in a much better and funny movie.

    Given everything he does and doesn’t do here, could I see David as a Senator? Sadly, yes…

       0 likes

  30. itsspideyman says:

    I try to get into this movie and every once in a while I’ll succeed, but I lose all sympathy for John Forsythe’s character cause he is SUCH A WIMP.

    Yep, some of the riffs are excellent, but this is one of those shows that goes under the heading “Shows that are hard to swallow down”.

       0 likes

  31. Droppo says:

    2 stars. An unmemorable episode except for Kevin dressed up a giant kitten. OK, maybe 3 stars.

       1 likes

  32. Cronkite Moonshot says:

    To me this episode in general is fine. Not a highly memorable one, but not a bad one either. Very watchable. The movie on the other hand is one of the few they did on MST3K that I actually consider to be a genuinely good film that is worth watching on it’s own (and not because it is “funny-bad” on it’s own).

       5 likes

  33. Depressing Aunt says:

    Yeah, I hate every character in the movie. Even David’s nosy, so-called friends. Why is your phone off the hook? Why are you in Mexico after all? Shut up, that’s why! It makes it a tough film to watch, though I really enjoyed it when I first saw it.

    In the 90’s I was thrilled to find a tee shirt that featured Jodi’s face and the movie title. You bet I bought it!

    I loved Mike’s take to the camera, twirling that curl and putting it in his mouth. It’s just crazy!

       2 likes

  34. Watch-out-for-Snakes says:

    More Doodles Weaver!

    This is not a great or classic episode, and as noted by others this is really outside of their wheelhouse, but it is a decent, okay, so-so episode and not the bottom of the barrel for Season 6 (that would be Dead Talk Back or Colossus and the Headhunters, for me).

    The opening segment, with Crow going down to Deep13 is interesting from a technical standpoint (folding Crow, the use of the Umbilicus), but it’s not really that funny. It makes me smile, sure, but it never elicits any true laughter. The Host Segments are okay, #2 with Kevin as the Kitten with a Whip is fun, and HS#3 is a simple skit, but I like the bots (appropriate) reaction to Mike in drag.

    As for Kitten with a Whip, John Forsythe is wooden and bland, Ann-Margret is sexy but also crazy and over the top (she’s just sexy and crazy in Carnal Knowledge (1971)), and this has to be the lamest home-invasion thriller ever. No threat, no thrills, and no tension. Forsythe is such a tool, why he puts up with any of these shenanigans is beyond me (oh yeah….she’s sexy..).

    RIFFS:

    Crow: “Hamster who writes a strong letter to the Times.”

    Crow: “C’mon, make with the kitten!” —–slight callback to Bloodlust!, when Crow says, “C’mon, make with the fright already!”

    gesturing at underwear,
    Crow: “You know, some of those filthy things.”

    Mike: “Oh no, I’m losing my buzz.”

    Mike: “You turned off Doodles Weaver!!”

    Forsythe is in the bathroom, sneaking out the window,
    Crow: “I’m still in here, kind of a rough one.”

    Crow: “I’ve never understood a single thing ever.”

    Servo: “I really have to go, my back teeth are floating.”

    Mike: “THRILL, as they exit.”

    Crow: “WOW! Amy Grant has REALLY crossed over!”

    cops chase after the supposed marijuana salesman,
    Crow: “Hey, I want some, just a lid for the weekend, that’s all…”

    This episode loses some of it’s creaminess as it goes on,

    only 3/5 kittens.

    :cat2: :cat2: :cat2:

       3 likes

  35. Depressing Aunt says:

    I just want to add, I thought it was awesome to see Ann-Marget in the movie “Magic.” Her character falls for the bonkers Anthony Hopkins character, and I had such empathy for her. She did a lovely job.

       2 likes

  36. MarcusVermilion says:

    I’m with the group that liked the riffed “Kitten With a Whip”. Not an all time classic like “Manos”, “Mitchell” or “Jack Frost” (and MANY others) but it’s good. It does have one of those “OWCH!” riffs where someone says “Mr. Letterman” referring to Dave’s late 80s and 1990s stalker. Her name was MARGARET too! I also got a kick of seeing “Charlie” and “Oscar” getting riffed as I was a child of the 70’s and watched both “Charlie’s Angels” and the “bionic” shows. BTW, were there any riffs about “Charlie’s Angels”?

       1 likes

  37. Matt D says:

    Finally got to see it when the DVD set came out recently, and I agree that it was okay but not great because of the inanity of the movie. But at least I now know why Kevin was the Kitten With a Whip in subsequent shows (like Turkey Day). Like they say, the creamy always rises to the top.

       2 likes

  38. big61al says:

    Jody is one crazy basket of fruit.
    That sums up the whole movie…

       1 likes

  39. Fred Burroughs says:

    The Host segments are hit-or-miss, as most of season 6; but the crowning moment of the entire episode is not the bots’ reaction to (overly-eager) Mike pre-hazing himself by dressing in drag; no, it’s Mike’s painfully extended take at the camera as we realize he has embraced his new coy-coquette image a little too much. That sent me to the floor the first time I saw it.

    @29, yes! and others who thought this movie was ‘too good’ to riff: Aside from the painful rock-stupidity of David, which the whole movie hinges on, the rest is a mess too. David, although well-meaning at first, is too weak/compliant in his own trouble for us to really care what happens to him, and the rest of the cast are loathsome enough that we cease to care about them either. The whole film-noir ‘lost night in Mexico’ vibe seems a cheap rip-off of “Touch of Evil.” Add to that, the common theme in MST films, the scary beatniks with their painfully beat lingo. I guess they’re scary because they are drugged-up or nihilists or something and therefore unpredictable, but it’s another cheap 60’s cliche instead of real story-telling. Add to that the embarrassing ending stapled onto this stinkfest, and you’ve got some major movie cheese. Even with all her scenery-chewing, Ann Margrock seems to retain the most dignity for appearing in this.

       2 likes

  40. This is one of the *very* few episodes that I literally cannot watch from start to finish. It’s true. I know this to be true. I tried a few days ago. Made it to just after the second host segment and thought “Why am I putting myself through this?” It’s the movie. I love Ann-Margret, but this movie…

    Wow. Just. Wow.

    I can’t…

    …I can’t…

    …think…

    …of what to say.

    It’s…

    …it’s…

    Gah!

    I can’t take this movie! No amount of riffing, no amount of jocularity or biting wit can save it!

    No.

    No.

    No! You can’t make me watch it.

    I won’t!

    I shan’t!

    No!

    No!

    Nooooooooooooooooooooo!

       3 likes

  41. pondoscp says:

    I love this episode. It’s one of my favorites of the Mike era. I find the whole thing to be absolutely hilarious. Middle of season 6 has an excellent stretch of episodes, the last truly good episodes, in my opinion.

    This movie is also a favorite of John Waters, who used to show it to friends at Christmas, and occasionally will host public screenings of it.

    Joe Bob Briggs wrote in depth about “Kitten With A Whip” in his book “Profoundly Erotic.”

       5 likes

  42. JCC says:

    I think Phillip’s post is in the deliberately over the top style of Ann-Margret’s acting in this film. Bravo!

    Hal Hopper, who plays Carter the put-upon yet patient chauffeur, is entertainingly loathsome(very loathsome) in the Russ Meyer movie Mudhoney. Ultra loathsome even.

    I highly recommend Mudhoney. And not just because of the glorious boobies. Too bad Ann didn’t star in a Russ Meyer picture… :(

    “the last truly good episodes, in my opinion.”
    Really? Wow!

       3 likes

  43. Joseph Nebus says:

    I believe this to have been the first episode I saw all the way through, no interruptions, no tape cut off, no missing-the-other-half-of-the-syndicated-half-hour thing. So it has a special place in my heart, and man but John Forsythe is a lunkhead in this.

    It’s a rare episode that’s actually professionally made, though. I mean, it’s bad, but the whole thing was filmed by people who knew tricky stuff like how to focus and light and edit and all that. It’s unusual for that.

       2 likes

  44. This is part of a long stretch of great episodes, but this one is hard to get through at times because of how hard it is to swallow the stupidity of Forsythe’s character.

    But it’s a change of pace to see a movie with at least four recognizable Hollywood actors, not counting Doodles Weaver. The riff about being in Carl Stalling’s house is exactly the kind of riff they mostly stopped making after this season (riffs about things from before 1975, that is).

    I think “one of the last truly good episodes” is a bit much, as there are a few episodes from Season 8 I like a whole lot – Riding with Death, Prince of Space, Overdrawn – but I’d say the show never reached the heights of Season 6 again. This episode, though, is not the best from this stretch.

       0 likes

  45. EricJ says:

    From the References page:
    I always thought it was Ann-Margrock. –Twitch! Twitch!”
    In the first episode of season four of The Flintstones, titled “Ann-Margrock Presents,” Ann-Margret played a prehistoric version of herself, who came to Bedrock to perform a concert and stayed with Fred and Wilma. She sang two songs in the episode, but “Twitch, twitch” is actually from a different song, “The Bedrock Twitch,” which Fred sang in the third season episode “The Twitch.

    Thank you, References, for at least partly pointing that out. Mike’s big loud gaffe has been bugging me for years.
    (The Bedrock-version Ann Margrock sang “I Ain’t Gonna Be Your Fool” in her episode–which itself came out of a crossover deal between Hanna-Barbera and Columbia/Screen Gems around the time Margaret was in the movie of “Bye Bye Birdie”–and Fred, in fact, only lip-synched “The Bedrock Twitch” from a record by prehistoric Elvis-clone Rock Roll. Not that I expected M&tB to know any of this, of course.)

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  46. Angie Schultz says:

    I have nothing but white-hot hatred for this movie. I tried to watch the episode again a couple of months ago, and had to quit before I did violence to the TV. I wanted to crawl into the movie and strangle Ann Margrock. And I like Ann Margrock!.

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  47. swh1939 says:

    My DVD has a bit of a glitch that stalled the playback at one point. I almost didn’t notice, and I suspect I’ll never try to get a replacement disc. This is one of the few episodes that, rather than being apathetic about, I actually avoid.

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  48. This is an episode that I do love (mostly because I absolutely am in love with Ann Margaret). However, this movie was one for years that I couldn’t remember anything about. The only reason I know I saw it on it’s premiere was because Crow going to Deep 13 was such an unforgettable moment that I knew I had seen it. Even when I watched it again when I managed to snag the entire series from a buddy (not talking as to how, I think we all know how) I still couldn’t remember the movie, just Crow in Deep 13.

    Forsythe is a moron, Ann is so deliciously sociopathic and gorgeous. Yet, she played that character with such sympathy that I actually did feel bad that she *spoilers*
    died.

    All in all a good episode but not great.

    CROW WAS IN DEEP 13!!! I can’t explain how awesome that moment was for me.

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