"The Fugitive" (1963) TV series 1963-1967

Creator:

Roy Huggins
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

17 September 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

A doctor, wrongly convicted for a murder he didn't commit, escapes custody and must stay ahead of the police to find the real killer.

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Fugitive | Wrongful Conviction | Obsession | Chase

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

David Janssen	...	Dr. Richard Kimble / ... (120 episodes, 1963-1967)
William Conrad	...	Narrator (119 episodes, 1963-1967)
Barry Morse	...	Lt. Philip Gerard (117 episodes, 1963-1967)

Series Directed by
Jerry Hopper		(14 episodes, 1963-1966)
Walter Grauman		(11 episodes, 1963-1965)
Alexander Singer		(9 episodes, 1965-1966)
James Sheldon		(7 episodes, 1963-1967)
William A. Graham		(7 episodes, 1963-1965)
Robert Butler		(6 episodes, 1964-1966)
Don Medford		(6 episodes, 1965-1967)
Gerald Mayer		(5 episodes, 1966-1967)
Abner Biberman		(4 episodes, 1964-1965)
Ralph Senensky		(4 episodes, 1964-1965)
John Meredyth Lucas		(4 episodes, 1967)
Ida Lupino		(3 episodes, 1963-1964)
James Goldstone		(3 episodes, 1964)
Leonard Horn		(3 episodes, 1966)
Christian Nyby		(2 episodes, 1963-1966)
Andrew McCullough		(2 episodes, 1963)
Joseph Sargent		(2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Richard Donner		(2 episodes, 1966)
Gerd Oswald		(2 episodes, 1966)
Lewis Allen		(2 episodes, 1967)
Claudio Guzmán		(1 episode, 1963)
Vincent McEveety		(1 episode, 1963)
Robert Ellis Miller		(1 episode, 1963)
Laslo Benedek		(1 episode, 1964)
John Erman		(1 episode, 1964)
William D. Gordon		(1 episode, 1965)
Sutton Roley		(1 episode, 1965)
Robert Gist		(1 episode, 1966)
William Hale		(1 episode, 1966)
Alex March		(1 episode, 1966)
James Neilson		(1 episode, 1966)
Joseph Pevney		(1 episode, 1966)
Mark Rydell		(1 episode, 1966)
Jud Taylor		(1 episode, 1966)
Richard Benedict		(1 episode, 1967)
Murray Golden		(1 episode, 1967)

Series Writing credits
Roy Huggins		(120 episodes, 1963-1967)
Harry Kronman		(11 episodes, 1963-1967)
George Eckstein		(10 episodes, 1963-1967)
Daniel B. Ullman		(9 episodes, 1964-1966)
Philip Saltzman		(6 episodes, 1964-1967)
William D. Gordon		(5 episodes, 1963-1965)
Jack Turley		(5 episodes, 1965-1967)
Don Brinkley		(5 episodes, 1965-1966)
Barry Oringer		(5 episodes, 1966-1967)
John Kneubuhl		(5 episodes, 1966)
Arthur Weiss		(4 episodes, 1963-1965)
Stanford Whitmore		(4 episodes, 1963-1964)
Sheldon Stark		(4 episodes, 1964)
Jeri Emmett		(4 episodes, 1966-1967)
Oliver Crawford		(3 episodes, 1963-1967)
Stuart Jerome		(3 episodes, 1963-1964)
Al C. Ward		(3 episodes, 1964-1966)
Lee Loeb		(3 episodes, 1966-1967)
Sam Ross		(3 episodes, 1966-1967)
Robert C. Dennis		(2 episodes, 1963-1964)
Peter Germano		(2 episodes, 1963-1964)
Hank Searls		(2 episodes, 1963)
Larry Cohen		(2 episodes, 1964-1965)
Richard Levinson		(2 episodes, 1964-1965)
William Link		(2 episodes, 1964-1965)
Leonard Kantor		(2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Norman Lessing		(2 episodes, 1965-1966)
Anthony Wilson		(2 episodes, 1965)
E. Arthur Kean		(2 episodes, 1966)
Michael Zagor		(2 episodes, 1967)

Series Produced by
Quinn Martin	....	executive producer (120 episodes, 1963-1967)
Alan A. Armer	....	producer (90 episodes, 1963-1966)
George Eckstein	....	co-producer / associate producer (30 episodes, 1965-1967)
Wilton Schiller	....	producer (30 episodes, 1966-1967)
Arthur Weiss	....	associate producer (27 episodes, 1963-1964)
William D. Gordon	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 1964-1965)
John Meredyth Lucas	....	co-producer (9 episodes, 1966)

Series Original Music by
Pete Rugolo		(79 episodes, 1963-1967)
Bernhard Kaun		(unknown episodes)
Franz Waxman		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Meredith M. Nicholson		(67 episodes, 1964-1966)
Robert Hoffman		(30 episodes, 1966-1967)
Fred Mandl		(17 episodes, 1963-1964)
Lloyd Ahern		(2 episodes, 1963)
George J. Folsey		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Walter Hannemann		(17 episodes, 1963-1967)
Marston Fay		(13 episodes, 1963-1966)
Robert L. Swanson		(12 episodes, 1964-1966)
Jerry Young		(11 episodes, 1963-1964)
James Ballas		(8 episodes, 1966-1967)
Richard Cahoon		(7 episodes, 1966-1967)
Jodie Copelan		(6 episodes, 1967)
John Post		(3 episodes, 1964-1965)
Larry Heath		(2 episodes, 1963)

Series Casting by
Meryl O'Loughlin		(37 episodes, 1965-1967)
Kerwin Coughlin		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Claudio Guzmán		(1 episode, 1963)

Series Art Direction by
Serge Krizman		(37 episodes, 1963-1965)
James Dowell Vance		(18 episodes, 1965-1967)
James Hulsey		(16 episodes, 1966-1967)

Series Set Decoration by
Sandy Grace		(72 episodes, 1963-1967)

Series Costume Design by
Edward McDermott		(unknown episodes)
Bob Wolfe		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Jack Wilson	....	makeup artist (46 episodes, 1964-1967)
Lynn Burke	....	hair stylist / hairdresser (42 episodes, 1963-1966)
Walter Schenk	....	makeup artist (25 episodes, 1963-1964)
Carol Meikle	....	hair stylist (25 episodes, 1966-1967)
Jean Austin	....	hair stylist (4 episodes, 1967)
Lavaughn Speer	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Fred Ahern	....	production manager (120 episodes, 1963-1967)
John Elizalde	....	post-production supervisor (120 episodes, 1963-1967)
Arthur Fellows	....	in charge of production (30 episodes, 1966-1967)
Adrian Samish	....	in charge of production (30 episodes, 1966-1967)
Bud Brill	....	unit production manager (19 episodes, 1966-1967)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Rubin	....	second assistant director (33 episodes, 1965-1967)
Read Killgore	....	second assistant director / assistant director (20 episodes, 1963-1964)
Lloyd Allen	....	assistant director (18 episodes, 1963-1965)
Lou Place	....	assistant director (17 episodes, 1966-1967)
Jack Barry	....	second assistant director / assistant director (14 episodes, 1964-1966)
Phil Cook	....	assistant director (14 episodes, 1966-1967)
Paul Wurtzel	....	assistant director (13 episodes, 1963-1964)
William Shanks	....	second assistant director / assistant director (9 episodes, 1963-1964)
Wesley J. McAfee	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 1964-1965)
Russ Haverick	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
David Salven	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Don Smith	....	property master / property manager (39 episodes, 1963-1967)
Irving W. Sindler	....	property master / property manager (32 episodes, 1963-1967)

Series Sound Department
John K. Kean	....	production sound mixer / production mixer / ... (70 episodes, 1963-1967)
Chuck Overhulser	....	sound editor (69 episodes, 1963-1967)
Clem Portman	....	sound re-recordist / sound re-recording mixer / ... (40 episodes, 1963-1966)
Eddie Campbell	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 1966)
Chuck Perry	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Thol Simonson	....	special effects (30 episodes, 1966-1967)

Series Stunts
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dick Dial	....	stunt double: David Janssen (unknown episodes)
Bill Hickman	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)
Carey Loftin	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)
Troy Melton	....	stunt double: David Janssen (unknown episodes)
Fred Stromsoe	....	stunt double: David Janssen (unknown episodes)
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunt double: David Janssen (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Vaughn Ashen	....	chief electrician (51 episodes, 1964-1967)
Joseph A. August Jr.	....	second camera operator / second cameraman / ... (37 episodes, 1963-1966)
Edward E. Nugent	....	second camera operator / second cameraman (30 episodes, 1966-1967)
Ray Rich	....	key grip (30 episodes, 1966-1967)
James Potevin	....	chief electrician (18 episodes, 1963-1964)
Richard A. Kelley	....	first assistant camera / second camera operator (2 episodes, 1964)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elmer Ellsworth	....	costume supervisor (33 episodes, 1963-1966)
Edward McDermott	....	costume supervisor (30 episodes, 1966-1967)
Bob Wolfe	....	costume supervisor (7 episodes, 1963)
George Herrington	....	costumer (unknown episodes)
Karlice Hinson	....	costumer (unknown episodes)
Stephen Lodge	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Carl Barth	....	editorial coordinator / editorial consultant (42 episodes, 1964-1967)
Tom Neff Jr.	....	assistant film editor / assistant editor (22 episodes, 1963-1967)
Harry Kaye	....	assistant film editor / assistant editor (13 episodes, 1964-1967)
John Post	....	assistant editor / assistant film editor (8 episodes, 1963-1964)
John Shouse	....	assistant film editor / assistant editor (8 episodes, 1963-1964)
Martin Fox	....	assistant film editor (4 episodes, 1966-1967)
Orven Schanzer	....	assistant film editor (4 episodes, 1966-1967)
Anthony Friedman	....	assistant film editor (4 episodes, 1966)
Carl Mahakian	....	assistant film editor / assistant editor (3 episodes, 1963-1964)
O. Nicholas Brown	....	assistant film editor (3 episodes, 1967)
Ron Meredith	....	assistant film editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Ken Wilhoit	....	music supervisor (72 episodes, 1963-1967)
Dominic Frontiere	....	composer: additional music / composer: stock music (2 episodes, 1966)
John Elizalde	....	music supervisor (unknown episodes)
Ted Roberts	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Frank Khoury	....	driver: cast / driver (9 episodes, 1963-1967)
Chris Haynes	....	driver / production driver (6 episodes, 1965-1966)

Series Other crew
John Conwell	....	assistant to producer / assistant to executive producer (73 episodes, 1963-1967)
Arthur Fellows	....	assistant to executive producer / assistant to the executive producer (47 episodes, 1963-1966)
Kenneth Gilbert	....	script supervisor (36 episodes, 1965-1967)
Duane Toler	....	script supervisor (25 episodes, 1963-1964)
Bud Brill	....	location manager (17 episodes, 1965-1966)
Richard Chaffee	....	script supervisor (12 episodes, 1964-1965)
Billy Vernon	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Quinn Martin Productions (QM) (as A QM Productions)
• United Artists Television (in association with) (as United Artists Television, Inc.)

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1963-1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Image Entertainment (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Television (1999-) (USA) (TV) (syndication)
• AXN Mystery (2009) (Japan) (TV)
• Pack-In-Video (199?) (Japan) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment Finland (2008) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD) (Season One, Vol. 1)
• Paramount Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Season One, Vol. 2)
• Paramount Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Season Two, Vol. 1)
• Paramount Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Season Two, Vol. 2)
• Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) (1964-1967) (Japan) (TV)
• Worldvision Enterprises

Special Effects

• Howard Anderson Company, The (special photographic effects)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

51 min (120 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (season 4) | Black and White (seasons 1-3)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-18 (2007) (DVD) (self applied)

Filming Locations:

Corriganville, Ray Corrigan Ranch, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company:

Quinn Martin Productions (QM)

Trivia:

Some sources incorrectly state that an alternate ending for the series was planned in which Kimble would be seen removing a false arm, revealing him as the true killer. In the book "The Fugitive Recaptured" (and its later audio adaptation) Barry Morse reveals that this rumor may have started with a never-realized plan that he and David Janssen had for pulling a "false arm" gag at public appearances. Janssen also often joked that Kimble killed his wife because "she talked too much". Morse also said that he and Janssen conceived for fun an alternate epilogue to the series finale, in which Kimble awakens in bed with his wife Helen, and reveals to her that he "just had the most horrible nightmare". Janssen also gave an interview to TV Guide at the time of the finale in which he said that his idea for resolving the show was to have a final scene in which Kimble is seen on a beach reading a newspaper account of how the one-armed man has just been executed for the murder. Then, with his trademark half-grin, Kimble would stand up, detach his prosthetic arm and walk off into the surf. It's not known whether he was serious or just kidding.

Quotes:

Dr. Kimble:You think being a fugitive has done something to my mind, you're forgetting my story is exactly the same as it was the night of the murder.
Lt. Gerard:And it was, and is, a lie.
Dr. Kimble:Are you so God-like, because you couldn't find a one-armed man, you don't believe he exists?
Lt. Gerard:I've done everything humanly possible to find him!
Dr. Kimble:I think you have. I wonder why.
Lt. Gerard:It's my job.
Dr. Kimble:It's also a curse, isn't it, Gerard? I think you have nightmares, too. Your nightmare is, after I'm dead you'll find him.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 1st to Die (2003) (TV)

Four Years in the Twilight Zone

According to both my ears and the book 'TV's Biggest Hits' by Jon Burlingame, much of the music we hear in the episodes of the original version of the TV series 'The Fugitive', first appeared on 'The Twilight Zone'. In fact the musical director of 'The Fugitive', once he heard that the show was coming to an end, went up to the late, great, Jerry Goldsmith, who has composed the original tracts when they were used on 'The Twilight Zone', and said 'What's this I hear: they're going to cancel 'our' show!'.

Still, it was an appropriate choice as Richard Kimble spent four years in his own, personal 'Twilight Zone'. If you look at most of the classic episodes of the earlier show, they involve a troubled hero finding himself in a world that doesn't seem to make any sense any more. He convinces himself if he can figure it out, or find a way out of it, things will be OK again. But he never seems to make it- just like so many of our dreams. Kimble's world is shattered by an argument with his wife and her subsequent murder. He's on the run in his own country, now suddenly hostile to him. He has to suppress his emotions and hide his identity while he pursues 'the way out': the one-armed man; and avoids pursuit by Lt. Gerard, the symbol of all his fears. Goldsmith's music was very well used.

I heartily agree with those that rank this as the best TV series ever. Leonard Goldenson was right: it's the best concept for a show ever. Also the best execution. David Janssen's performance is amazing. He's deprived of most of an actor's tools: he keeps his head down and says as little as possible in order to avoid recognition. Yet he conveys this character's feeling perfectly. The tremendous array of guest actors, playing characters in their own little psychological prisons adds great depth to the show. The directing was sharp, well-paced and uncluttered with too many obvious 'techniques'. The writing was consistently good. Pete Rugolo's wonderful main musical theme could be played allegro for excitement or largo for poignancy- and this was the most poignant show ever. It was about psychological alienation. The only other shows I can think of that reached this deep were 'The Twilight Zone' and, occasionally, 'Star Trek'.

This was one of the few classic TV shows of which a movie version was later made that was any good at all. Roy Huggins, the creator of the show, had some input into the Harrison Ford film. That film, compared to the TV show, is rich in money, production values and excitement. It has flashes of characterization that give the action more meaning than most modern day flicks. However the TV was rich in time, with four years of hour long episodes to tell all its various stories. In the end that made it far more moving. If only the film could have been the ending of the TV show, ('The Judgment' is not really all that good, despite its historical ratings).

My dream ending for the show is Kimble leaving the courthouse and suddenly finding himself surrounded by the women who fell in love with him in all his travels, and then running down the street to escape from them! Actually, I think it would have been nice if he found Vera Miles and the boy from 'Fear in Desert City' waiting for him. That would have been the most poetic ending of all. I wonder what Goldsmith might have written for that.